Revelation 11 – Two Powerful Witnesses
This is a continuation of John’s experience in the previous chapter. John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those that worship there. He is specifically instructed to leave out the court of the Gentiles. He is then told that Jerusalem will be under the authority of the Gentiles for 42 months. This is another indication to me that the LORD’s focus during this 70th week is on the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem (again as was foretold to Daniel).
Point is made that the LORD will send two witnesses clothed in sackcloth to testify of His truth for 1,260 days. They will be supernaturally protected from the attempts of men to kill them. Anyone who tries to hurt them will be destroyed when they breathe fire (the Greek specifies literally or figuratively) out of their mouths. They will also have the ability to prevent it from raining, to turn water into blood, and to send plagues among the nations during the days of their ministry as they so choose. Because of the prophecy of Malachi (chapter 4), most identify one of the witnesses as Elijah. Some speculate that the second will be Enoch since he never experienced physical death, which is unique to him and Elijah. Others speculate that the other witness could be Zerubbabel based on the prophecy of Haggai. I tend to agree with those that believe that the other witness will be Moses because the powers demonstrated by these two men are very similar to those that Moses and Elijah demonstrated during their time as prophets and because of their appearance together at the transfiguration. The truth is that the identities of the messengers are not what is important; it is their ministry and service to God and the declaration of His message that are important.
Only when the ministry of the two witnesses has been completed will the beast that ascended from the bottomless pit be able to kill them. Their deaths will be celebrated as their bodies are left lying in the streets of Jerusalem. The nations will be so happy that people will send presents to one another in celebration of the deaths of the prophets. After lying in the streets for 3.5 days, God raises them back to life, causing great fear among men. They then ascend to heaven in the sight of their enemies. As referenced earlier, this resurrection is accompanied by another earthquake that destroys a tenth of Jerusalem and results in the death of 7,000 men. This scares the believing remnant of Jews, and they respond by giving glory to God.
At this point the 2d woe, or 6th trumpet is declared past. This clarifies to me that the witnesses were serving during the first half of the 7-year tribulation period since their death comes at the midpoint. It also fits in with the events John will be shown in the next chapter regarding Satan being cast out of heaven and given 3.5 years to wreak havoc.
Finally, the seventh angel blows his trumpet and John hears great voices in heaven declaring that Jesus will soon establish His kingdom. John then sees the 24 elders again fall on their faces in worship of God and recognition that it is time for the dead to be judged, the saints rewarded and those who are destroying the earth to be destroyed (Satan and his followers). It’s interesting to note that the elders are talking about the prophets, saints and those that fear God’s name in reference to a category of beings different from themselves. This is just another verse that makes me think these elders could be the angels/watchers referred to in Daniel.
Next, John sees the temple in heaven open, revealing the ark of the covenant to be inside. I personally think this is “the ark of the covenant,” though many would argue that it is just the original from which the earthly ark was fashioned. My understanding is that the ark represented the throne of God and was distinct in that regard from other items associated with the earthly temple. God’s throne in heaven is very different. Only the future will tell.
Again, as with the 7th seal, those on planet earth hear voices and thunder, see lightning, and experience an earthquake—this time accompanied by great hail.
Revelation 12 – A Historical Perspective with Future Significance
Again, John’s attention is directed away from the judgments to observe another vision. He sees a great wonder in heaven—a pregnant woman clothed with the sun and wearing a crown of 12 stars who is about to give birth. This chapter is full of imagery, but scripture usually explains scripture. I believe this is a picture of the nation of Israel as descended from Jacob through his 12 sons, similar to what Joseph saw represented in a dream (Genesis 37).
Another wonder appears in the heaven—a great red dragon that has 7 heads with crowns and 10 horns. This dragon uses his tail to throw 1/3 of the stars of heaven to the earth. I think this is a picture of the rebellion of Lucifer and the angels that chose to follow him in rebellion. The dragon is then pictured ready to devour the child to whom the woman gives birth.
Point is made that the woman births a man child that is destined to rule the nations with complete power and authority, and He is safely caught up to God and His throne. This is obviously a picture of the birth of Jesus and His ascension to the throne of the Father after dying as our sacrifice for sin and conquering death through His resurrection.
John then sees the woman [Israel] flee into the wilderness to a place that God has prepared to protect and nourish her for 1,260 days, or 3.5 years. Many speculate from clues in scripture that this place of protection is Petra, Jordan.
The next thing John sees is a war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels. The dragon and his angels are defeated and thrown out of heaven to earth. The identity of the dragon is specific—“that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
At this point John hears a voice in heaven declaring that salvation and deliverance is about to come through Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom. Satan, the accuser of the saints, has been banished forever from heaven, and only has a short while remaining to wreak his destruction. Point is made that the saints have overcome him by the “blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”—even though many died because of that testimony. He declares that this is a time for those who dwell in the heavens to rejoice. For those who live on planet earth, however, the opposite is true. Satan has been banished to earth and is very angry; he is very aware that his time is short.
The first thing he does is to begin persecuting the nation of Israel. Many of the people of Israel are taken to the place in the wilderness in which God will protect and provide for them during the 3.5 years that Satan is in control. Again, I am reminded that Satan has supernatural powers. John sees him send a flood to destroy the people as they flee, but God causes the earth to open up and swallow the flood. Whether this is a real flood or not, I don’t know. The point is that Satan will unsuccessfully try to destroy the remnant that God is protecting.
Further angered at this defeat, Satan goes to make war with the rest of the Jewish people on earth that have chosen to follow God in obedience through faith in Jesus.
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