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Times of Total Confusion and Disorder IV

1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar with its worshippers.

2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

3 I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them.

8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city – which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt – where also their Lord was crucified.

9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.

10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small- and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumbling, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

John’s Reflection Concerning His Time and/or All Lifetimes

From the above passage it is seen that the message is bitter! There is a pause. Persecution persists in John’s lifetime – and in all the lifetimes to today.

11:3 Power is given to two witnesses…to “prophesy for 1,260 days”. This symbolic period of time has been mentioned earlier. This author, as mentioned, has a pre- millennial approach with a pre-wrath view of the actual end of time. Could this refer to the 1 260 days (3½ years) which are in the time of the wrath of the devil immediately before Jesus comes? Again – the pre-wrath view:

7 years – the 70th 7 – a week of years 2 periods of 3½ years, 3½ years = 42 months = 1,260 days

The Period of the 7 Year Tribulation

First 3½ years         – Beginning of birth pangs

Second 3½ years    – Wrath of the devil,

                                  persecuted by the Anti-Christ

Could this refer to Revelation 11?

Second Coming of Jesus – The Rapture – Wrath of God

The Millennium Begins

Of course, John could be thinking of events of his day. The two witnesses (prophets) may be saints persecuted and killed in Domitian’s time.

11:7 “the beast…from the Abyss kills them…”

11:8 “Their bodies lie in the street…” “Sodom and Egypt” – is this Jerusalem?

11:9-14 Could this be alluding to the death of Jesus and the destruction of Jerusalem (the Sodom) and His resurrection and ascension and c40 years later the extinction of Jerusalem in AD70 where thousands who gloated died?

Many people today look to protect Israel, Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Jerusalem is where the Lord Jesus suffered and died and rose for the elect to ensure our eternal life. This was the holy city. No more! God’s holy city is no longer on earth (John 2:19-22). The elect, as these two witnesses, now gather at the end of each lifetime in the Temple in Heaven – God Himself. Jerusalem on earth has no More Biblical significance! No theological significance.

The Seventh Trumpet

No more delay. The “mystery” of God – the gospel – the truth proclaimed by the two witnesses is repeated (cf10:6). The mystery in the midst of treachery and tyranny, confusion and destruction. Will there be repentance?

11:15 “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered. (cf 5:5-6). No more delay and the true reality and power of God is worshipped 11:16-19.  (cf Romans 16:25 – 27; Romans 11:25-32; 2 Peter 3:16).