Study – Grow – Know

Revelation 11: Two Witnesses and 7th Trumpet

October 31, 2022 at 12:19 PM 5 comments

Audio for this article here: SermonAudio.com/StudyGrowKnow

Revelation 11 has several topics it reveals to us and though it reveals some things, other things are simply not revealed and we should be content with not knowing. However, most of us are not content. We want to know the details even when they are not stated or even implied.

Revelation 11:1-2 highlight information concerning the Temple. This is most undoubtedly the Temple that will exist during the coming Tribulation.

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months…”

John sees and hears an angel, who stands and directs John to measure the Temple of the God, the altar and the area where those will worship, with the reed like a measuring rod. The angel specifically tells John to ignore the court that is outside the Temple proper. We have to ask why because that area was normally where Gentiles could gather and not desecrate the Temple itself.

The angel provides the answer to John’s unasked question regarding why he should not include the outer court in his measurements. It is because that area has been handed over to the Gentile where they will “tread” (or “trample”) the holy city (Jerusalem) underfoot for 42 months. Forty-two months is three and a half years on the Jewish calendar of 360 days per year.

This all ties into Daniel 2, where the final four kingdoms were seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, which was interpreted by the prophet Daniel. All of these final four kingdoms are ruled by Gentile rulers. The final and fourth kingdom will be no different. What is coming to this world – however long it takes to come to fruition – will be the final global kingdom of Daniel ruled over by the Antichrist, who appears to be Gentile. However, he could also be a mix of Gentile/Jew as was Herod during Jesus’ day. Herod had Jewish lineage but was also Gentile.

The next several verses point out the two witnesses whom God raises up to make an indelible mark on the world.

3  And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

This is a fascinating look at these two men who evangelize and warn during this point in the Tribulation. Some commentators believe these two witnesses rise up during the first portion of the Tribulation, while others believe they have their ministry during the second portion leading to the end of the Tribulation. I fall into that group, but cogent points are made for each. In the end, we should simply know that their ministry will last for 1,260 days (42 months/3 1/2 years based on 30 day months).

Notice the miraculous ability these two individuals will have during the time they “prophesy” (v 3), which means to relay messages directly from God to the world). The fact that there are two witnesses (not just one), goes all the way back to the Old Testament when valid testimony under that covenant required two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Note also that Jesus, in sending out missionaries, sent them out in pairs (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:2; Acts 13:2; Acts 15:39-40).

It is clear from the text that people will not like what these two men have to say. This should not surprise us because of the way society is now where anyone who does not parrot the accepted narrative is often silenced, banned, censored, doxxed and may even lose their job. The “woke” culture is growing and has a serious grip on society.

The fact that these two men will shoot fire from their mouths to “devour” their enemies tells us that there will be tremendous hatred directed at these two people and all because they dare to tell the truth that people do not want to hear. People today prefer lies.

Case in point: we now know unequivocally that Pfizer did not do any testing at all on the CV-19 experimental vax prior to releasing it to see if it would stop the spread of CV. It simply was not done. Yet, what did we hear? We constantly heard that not only was the vax “safe” and “effective,” but that in taking it, the spread of the virus would be stopped in its tracks and those taking it would be protected from acquiring CV. We now know this was utterly untrue. In effect, we were lied to. Yet, how many people continue to believe that the vax is safe and effective and does stop the spread of CV? Many. It is almost impossible to talk to those people because of their cognitive dissonance that will not allow them to ponder a viewpoint that goes against what they currently believe. Because of this, their anger usually rises and they tend to dismiss any representation of the facts as “conspiracy theories.”

Imagine how much more this type of denial due to brainwashing will be increased during the coming Tribulation? I cannot imagine it but since these two men have supernatural ways to protect themselves as well as make their messages frighteningly real to the world (power to shut heaven with no rain, turn water into blood so that it’s undrinkable and to bring numerous plagues to earth), then it’s that clear that things are dire during the time these men have their ministries. Instead of the Left doing the canceling and doxxing, these two men will be doing that but it’s important to remember that they do so not out of vindictiveness, but out of love and concern for the people of this earth. What these men try to accomplish is to bring the world to repentance. Unfortunately, they fail on a global scale, though it’s probable that some (especially in Israel), will receive their truth.

The big question that often arises related to these two men is who are they? Well, the short and best answer is that we do not know! There is absolutely no sense in trying to figure it out either. God has not told us therefore He doesn’t think we need to know. All kinds of guesses have been made but I tend to agree with Dr. Thomas Constable who essentially says that it is likely God will simply raise two unknown men for this particular ministry when the time comes. Certainly, God empowers them as He did Moses, Elijah, Elisha and others, but to suggest that two of these will rise from the dead is a bit of a stretch. Of course, God can do this if he wishes, but I’m more inclined to think He will simply prepare two men alive at that time for that ministry.

In Revelation 11:7-10, the “beast” who rises out of the pit (son of perdition or Antichrist), successfully kills the two witnesses. He is allowed to do so purely because God allows him to do so. Why? Because the world has been warned for 3 1/2 years and their ministry is essentially over, however they will have one more thing to “say” to the world in three and a half days.

Notice in these verses, the bodies are simply not allowed to be buried. They lie dead in the streets for several days. Meanwhile the world is celebrating their deaths as if the wicked witch of the Oz has been killed! People are so ecstatic that they offer their adoration to the Antichrist who killed them. That murder cements for the world the fact that he is clearly superior to the witnesses who had the power to kill, but Antichrist was more powerful because he kills them. How? We don’t know, but the deaths are unmistakable.

Revelation 11:11-14 reveal what happens next.

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

What happens here is, in some ways, a repeat of what occurred during the resurrection and ascension of our Lord three days after He was killed and about 50 days after He rose from the dead. Of course, Jesus determined the exact moment of His own death and gave up His Spirit into the hands of His loving Father. In Acts 1, we see Jesus simply float up into the clouds as the disciples watched. I doubt it was an instantaneous event, like the blinking of an eye. It probably took a bit of time as Jesus slowly ascended to the Father and the third heaven.

These two witnesses are lying dead in the streets then God or an angel calls the two men from the dead and commands they “come up here” to heaven. Like Jesus, they ascended in a cloud and the world sees it. A few decades ago, we wouldn’t have been able to guess as to how this would be possible, but with the Internet and satellites, pictures and video are transmitted around the world instantaneously. Imagine all the folks who will grab their phones and start recording this event! As an aside, I do not believe this event is a mirror of the Rapture at all, though some folks do.

But God isn’t done because He sends a tremendous earthquake and a portion of the city falls and collapses. Roughly 7,000 people are killed. Notice here that people are afraid enough to give “glory to the God of heaven.” Does it last? No.

This is the “second woe” (v 14), and the third is on the way and comes after the 7th Trumpet judgment. A “woe” is something that causes severe grief, affliction or anguish.

Revelation 11:15-19 highlights what occurs at the opening of the 7th Trumpet. This is ultimately the beginning of the final consummation of God’s plan for the entire world. This plan was decided on before the foundations of this world were laid, in eternity past, in the councils of the Godhead. This entire process from the Creation, to the fall of humanity to everything that occurred in the Old Testament to the New Testament and Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension as well as the final judgment period of the Tribulation was designed by God to bring this world to heel and for God to regain what was stolen by Satan.

Ultimately, all of this leads to the revealing of Christ’s physical Kingdom to occur following the Tribulation (which Jesus ends upon His physical return), and which will continue for 1,000 years. After that, eternity future begins.

Notice Revelation 11:19.

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Imagine just how awe-inspiring and fearful that sight will be as the people of this world who have done everything possible to throw off God’s chains (Psalm 2), will realize that they never had any chance of defeating God and He now is getting ready to return to this earth as Victor, Judge and Sovereign King.

Is the world moving toward the final seven year Tribulation period? Without a doubt. How quickly will that Tribulation start? I have no idea. On the one hand, it certainly appears as though it is right around the corner, but it may not be. What we could be experiencing now are simply some very terrible events ahead in the form of economic upheaval, famine and other things which are not directly connected to the Tribulation. On the other hand, the Tribulation could still be years or even decades away from us. However, with what is said to be coming, we would all do well to make some preparations.

Next time, in this series on Revelation, we will look at Revelation 12, which has some extremely interesting and exciting things to reveal to us. Join me then!

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