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Revelation Study

By Rev. Richard Puckett

Text and Reference from Parson's QuickVerse and there helps, Pictures from through out the Internet not for resale!!!!

Chapter 11

(Rev 11:1 KJV) And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Rev 11:1: Verses 1-2. This prophetical passage about measuring the temple seems to refer to Ezekiel's vision. The design of this measuring seems to be the preservation of the church in times of public danger; or for its trial, or for its reformation. The worshippers must be measured; whether they make God's glory their end, and his word their rule, in all their acts of worship. Those in the outer court, worship in a false manner, or with dissembling hearts, and will be found among his enemies. God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time. He looks strictly to his temple. The holy city, the visible church, is trodden under foot; is filled with idolaters, infidels, and hypocrites. But the desolations of the church are limited, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.

Five distinct temples are alluded to by the Scriptures. Solomon's temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged and consecrated to Jupiter the temple of Zerubbabel in 168 B.C. Herod's magnificent temple was reduced to ashes by Titus in A.D. 70. The fourth temple, the edifice described in this chapter, is to be the focus of attention during the Great Tribulation. Finally, the fifth temple will be the millennial temple described in Ezek. 40-47. In the measuring of this tribulation temple, the court is not measured because it is given to the Gentiles (or nations) for a period of 42 months, a period which corresponds to one-half of Daniel's Seventieth Week (cf. Dan. 9:24, note). This is also presented as a period of three and one-half prophetic years and as 1,260 days. Apparently the Antichrist will enter into covenant with Israel, a covenant which he will ruthlessly break after only three and one-half years. The remaining 42 months will be a time of incredible suffering for Israel during which the city of Jerusalem will be occupied by Gentiles.

(Rev 11:2 KJV) But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

11:2-3 LAST THINGS, Great Tribulation-- The holy city of Jerusalem is said to be trampled on by Gentiles for 42 months. This same period of time is mentioned in 13:5. It is a period equal to the 1,260 days in v 3 and in 12:6. Calculated as three and a half years, it is similar to the period of 12:14, "a time, times, and half a time.'' Dispensationalists apply these numbers to one-half of the seven-year tribulation period prophesied in Daniel. See note on Da 9:24-27. There is not total agreement among such interpreters as to which half of the tribulation period is being described. The only general agreement is that the last three and a half years will see the antichrist in power and the tribulations so intense as to earn for the latter half of the period the designation the Great Tribulation. Amillennialists see the passage and numbers as symbolic of God's protection of His witnessing church and of the danger of persecution the church faces. Whatever the details mean, the passage calls believers to witness for Christ and to know victory is ultimately His.

Two witnesses prophecy is sackcloth

(Rev 11:3 KJV) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Verses 3-13. In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small, yet enough. They prophesy in sackcloth. It shows their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the abominations against which they protested. They are supported during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of 1260 years, antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, would war against them, with force and violence for a time. Determined rebels against the light rejoice, as on some happy event, when they can silence, drive to a distance, or destroy the faithful servants of Christ, whose doctrine and conduct torment them. It does not appear that the term is yet expired, and the witnesses are not a present exposed to endure such terrible outward sufferings as in former times; but such things may again happen, and there is abundant cause to prophesy in sackcloth, on account of the state of religion. The depressed state of real Christianity may relate only to the western church. The Spirit of life from God, quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dying interest in the world. The revival of God's work and witnesses, will strike terror into the souls of his enemies. Where there is guilt, there is fear; and a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is a cowardly spirit. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this world, and at the great day, that they see the faithful servants of God honoured and advanced. The Lord's witnesses must not be weary of suffering and service, nor hastily grasp at the reward; but must stay till their Master calls them. The consequence of their being thus exalted was a mighty shock and convulsion in the antichristian empire. Events alone can show the meaning of this. But whenever God's work and witnesses revive, the devil's work and witnesses fall before him. And that the slaying of the witnesses is future, appears to be probable.

(vv. 3-10) Identification of the two witnesses has engendered a host of interpretations. Those who follow a spiritual or allegorical approach have identified them as the O.T. and N.T., others as Elijah and Moses because of the similarities in activity, and still others as Elijah and Enoch since these never experienced death. A better interpretation would seem to be that the two witnesses represent two last-day prophets who perform their ministries in the spirit and power of Elijah and Moses. These names are not provided, and they should not be identified with any previous biblical character. The place of the execution of these witnesses is Jerusalem. The remarkable effectiveness of their ministry may be observed in the universal rejoicing which follows their deaths (v. 10).

(Rev 11:4 KJV) These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

(Rev 11:5 KJV) And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

(Rev 11:6 KJV) These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

They are slain, after which they arise and ascend to heaven

(Rev 11:7 KJV) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

(Rev 11:8 KJV) And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

(Rev 11:9 KJV) And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

(Rev 11:10 KJV) And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

(Rev 11:11 KJV) And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

(Rev 11:12 KJV) And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

(Rev 11:13 KJV) And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Under the seventh trumpet, all antichristian powers are to be destroyed and there will be a glorious state of Christ's kingdom upon earth

(Rev 11:14 KJV) The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Rev 11:14: Verses 14-19. Before the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, there is the usual demand of attention. The saints and angels in heaven know the right of our God and Saviour to rule over all the world. But the nations met God's wrath with their own anger. It was a time in which he was beginning to reward his people's faithful services, and sufferings; and their enemies fretted against God, and so increased their guilt, and hastened their destruction. By the opening the temple of God in heaven, may be meant, that there was a more free communication between heaven and earth; prayer and praises more freely and frequently going up, graces and blessings plentifully coming down. But it rather seems to refer to the church of God on earth. In the reign of antichrist, God's law was laid aside, and made void by traditions and decrees; the Scriptures were locked up from the people, but now they are brought to the view of all. This, like the ark, is a token of the presence of God returned to his people, and his favour toward them in Jesus Christ, as the Propitiation for their sins. The great blessing of the Reformation was attended with very awful providences; as by terrible things in righteousness God answered the prayers presented in his holy temple now opened.

(Rev 11:15 KJV) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

11:15-18 GOD, Sovereignty-- Earthly rulers have temporary power. Evil in this world is temporary. God's sovereign authority and power are eternal, and thus His victory will be everlasting. This means persecution and suffering for Christians are also temporary. God will judge evil, reward faithfulness, and rule the world forever.

11:15 JESUS CHRIST, Kingdom of God-- The final victory will see Jesus rule openly and eternally over all creation.

11:15 LAST THINGS, Kingdom Established-- The declaration of loud voices in heaven announces an establishing of God's kingdom through conquest of the kingdom of the world. The world will ultimately come under the universal government of Christ, who will reign eternally. Compare Isa 9:6-7.

(Rev 11:16 KJV) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

(Rev 11:17 KJV) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

(Rev 11:18 KJV) And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

(Rev 11:19 KJV) And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.