Revelation 11

Intro:

Rev 10, was about a little scroll that John ate…

We really have no idea what happened in that chapter, kind of a weird one.

Now, we are in one of the most difficult passages to interpret.

We will be talking about the two witnesses.

There are 2 interpretations of this...

Literal 2 people ...

The church (rulers and priests)

V. 1-3

It seems like there is a new temple, during this time, and that the Gentiles would be in control of it and trample it for 42 months

During this 42 months, there will be two witnesses..

These 2 witnesses appear before the Beasts reign on earth, since his rise to prominence in the world is based on killing the 2 witnesses, which is found in v.7.

The time of the Gentiles will not end until the second coming of Christ to the earth to set up His kingdom.

Luke 21:24 NKJV

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

V.4-6

Olive trees and lampstands

These 2 were empowered to serve for 1260 days.

There has been speculation on who the two witnesses are.

Some believe that Elijah is one, since he hasn’t died yet and the prophecy in “Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Mal 4:5

Also, Elijah called down fire from heaven in 2 Kings.

He prayed, and there was no rain for 3.5 years

People think the 2nd one would be:

Enoch or Moses.

Moses:

Because he turned the waters to blood and brought plagues to Egypt.

on the mount of Transfiguration, Moses appeared with Elijah.

Then, Satan and Michael argued of the body of Moses in Jude 9, maybe because to prevent his resurrection as the witness?

V.7-10

Here is the first time we see the Beast, he is described in chapters 13 and 17.

When the two witnesses are done with their testimony, their powers go away.

They accomplish their goal and the beast kills them.

Their bodies will be there in the streets...

The city is identified in two ways:

Sodom and Egypt

Wickedness and Oppression

Great City

This term is often applied to Babylon (headquarters of Antichrist)

Here, we see a wicked picture..

The people in the streets will rejoice over them and make merry, exchange presents, because these two were killed.

This shows how wicked and evil people were.

The two witnesses message of repentance was a torment for the people, because they didn’t want to hear it.

V. 11-14

3.5 days is a comparison to Jesus being resurrected on the 3rd day!

God gives them breath and they wake up!

Great fear fell upon them.

Fear is a good thing, since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, according to proverbs 1:7

After the earthquake, it seems that many came to faith..

However, it could just be what people call “foxhole conversion” there is a momentary acknowledgement of the Lord but no authentic faith.

Second woe: predicted in 8:13

The New King James Version Chapter 8

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound

Seventh Trumpet

V.15

This verse should bring a sense of Joy to a believer, because Jesus is coming back and taking what is His!

He will reign forever and ever, it’s going to be soo good!

V.16-18

We see a beautiful picture of the 24 elders worshipping God!

afd

V.19

This temple is the heavenly temple