Day 15
Rev 11: 1- 19, the 2 witnesses.
VV 1-2, 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.
An angel gave John a reed to measure the temple and the altar but excluding the court of the Gentiles. This is the third temple, rebuilt as part of the 7-year peace treaty brokered by the anti-Christ. 3 1/2 years into the tribulation, the anti-Christ will defile the temple by sprinkling swine blood on the altar, and compelling the Jews to worship an image of him in the Holy of Holies, called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24: 15-16, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”.
VV 3-6, 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 the 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.
God will raise 2 witnesses to prophesy, preach, and evangelize for 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years in sackcloth. They are the two olive trees and two lamp stands. Zech 4:2-3, He asked me, “What do you see? I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
They had power to blow fire from their mouths, shut the heavens, turn water into blood, bring plagues to the earth, and kill. Most scholars believed them to be Moses and Elijah, based on Malachi’s prophesy, Malachi 4:5, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes” and the transfiguration, Matthew 17:3, “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus”. Elijah was raptured to heaven, 2 Kings 2:11, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind”. They did what Elijah and Moses did, blowing fire from the mouth, shutting the heavens, turning water into blood, and bringing plagues to earth.
VV 7-10, 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
When they had finished their testimony, anti-Christ will kill them, leaving their dead bodies in the streets of Jerusalem for the whole world to see through live cable news networks, BBC, CNN, and social media. The anti-Christ is called the beast 39 times in Revelation. Jerusalem is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt due to their rejection of Christ. The inhabitants of the whole earth rejoiced and celebrated their death.
VV 11-14, 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.
After 3 1/2 days, God will resuscitate them to life and rapture them to heaven. The people who saw this will be frightened. An great earthquake will destroy 1/10th of the city, and killed 7000 people. Those who survived will be frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven. The 2nd woe is over and the 3rd woe will follow soon.
VV 15-17, 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
When the 7th angel sounded the last trumpet, (3rd woe), a great voice from heaven declared loudly, “the Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”. The 24 elders fell, worshiped, praised, and gave thanks to the Lord, God Almighty, who is immutable and had great power.
VV 18-19, 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there was lightning, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
The inhabitants of the earth became angry at God’s wrath of destruction and judgment. God will reward His servants and prophets and those who fear Him, and will reveal the temple and the ark of the covenant in heaven. Lightning, noises, thunder, earthquake, and great hail will rain on the earth.