Revelation 11-12

Tribulation Overview

The Rapture happens first

Tribulation broken down into two halves, we do not know exact times or lengths of things that happen in the first half.

The first half has a short time of peace, Revelation 6:2 “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” Daniel 9:27 “And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.””

The peace ends with the arrival of the Second Horse - Revelation 6:3–4 “When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”

Bad things happen for the rest of the first half, but it can get worse. The Beginning of the Second Half

Around this time period, the events of Revelation 9:1–2 “And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.” and the events of Revelation 12:7–9 “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Chapter 11

Revelation 11:1–3 “Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.””

The Second Half is marked by the gathering of all the Jews, and the Arrival of the Two Witnesses

This is not a real measurement of length or width. This is a gathering of all the Jews who have gotten saved since the Rapture that are alive on the face of the earth, the people inside the temple. Possibly where the current nation of Isreal is located, but it doesn’t really matter.

The people outside the temple are the unsaved Jews and gentiles bent on destruction of the City of Jerusalem.

Revelation 11:4–14 ESV

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

Olive trees and lampstands, pictures of hope, peace, and light. Gods’ messengers to non-Jews who are unsaved, still giving them a chance to be saved.

The number two was significant in that Jewish culture necessitated two witnesses to verify something.

Their nature is verified by their power. Definitely from God, the plagues they’re causing are designed to both punish and gain attention.

Their message was hated. The Gospel angers people today, it makes them murderous in this passage. They could not be harmed until their message was delivered, God protected them.

They are finally killed by something that rises from the bottomless pit. This is the Antichrist, who is now visibly empowered by Satan and the opening of the Bottomless Pit.

Their bodies are left in the streets of Jerusalem, which is now symbolically called Egypt and Sodom. The People of God have been removed at this point, the city has been given over to non-Jews to ravage and sin amok.

People celebrate, this is sick. Giving gifts to celebrate death. People celebrating the removal of conviction and torment. They don’t have a clue about the torment they will endure eventually.

The Prophets will be resurrected, physically restored. Will be a shock, three and a half days in the streets did them no favors, now they’re alive and well. Fear strikes the people.

The Prophets are raptured to Heaven in a cloud. There is a huge earthquake, wiping out a tenth of the city, and killing 7,000 people. Do the math, there are now 63,000 people left. They are all terrified, and give glory to God. This is a moment where the Jews inside the city who had not believed in Jesus are repentant and receive salvation.

This is the second woe. Buckle up, it is about to get worse.

Revelation 11:15–19 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.”

Seventh angel, seventh trumpet. This is the last trumpet, which will be followed by the seven bowl judgements in chapter 16.

Loud voices. Probably the 24 elders, who are the redeemed, us. The kingdoms of this world change ownership. Satan has been given ownership and power in this world, but he loses that now. He also has lost access to Heaven, as we will see in chapter 12.

The 24 elders are worshiping. They thank and recognize God. They see that the nations have been angry and rebelled, and they are thanking God for ending the rebellion. The time has come for things to happen, they thank Him for it. They thank Him for protecting His own people, for justice, destroying those who destroy the earth.

The Temple is opened. Gods’ glory displayed for all to see. The commotion takes place in chapter 16, the climax of the final judgment.