Revelation 11: Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet
Revelation 11: Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet
v1-2: The Temple during Tribulation
John was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God and the altar, and to count the number of worshipers there. He is to exclude the courtyard outside the temple, which has been given to the nations whom will trample the city for 42 months. (v1-2)
This temple does not exist today. The second temple built by the Jews after being freed from Babylon, and renovated and expanded by King Herod. However the Romans destroyed in during a Jewish rebellion in 70 AD. Today, only a wall remains where the Jews visit to pray.
The temple mentioned by John is not the temple that was measured in Ezekiel 40 as well, for that is the final temple that was built by Jesus after his return. Therefore, John is referring to a temple that was built before or at the beginning of the 7 year tribulation. This is the temple where the antichrist will proclaim himself as god: “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thess 2:4)
However, the temple courtyard, or also known as the Court of the Gentiles, are occupied by the "nations" that will war against Israel for 42 months (ie, the Great Tribulation period in the second 3.5 years).
v3-14: The Two Witnesses
John wrote: "... I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (v3). As this is spoken in the first-person pronoun, it appears it was Jesus speaking about His witnesses who will be prophesying for 3.5 years.
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"Fires" will come out from their mouth and destroy those who wants to harm them, and they have the power to stop the sky from raining, to turn waters into blood and to bring plagues. (v5-6)
The "fire from their mouth" may be real or may be symbolizing protection over them by God, and those who tried to harm them will be killed. They also have the power that was given to Elijah and Moses. (2 Ki 1; James 5:17-18; Exodus 7-12).
Due to this, some scholars think that the two witnesses represent Moses and Elijah, who had also appear with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36.) Elijah was prophesied that he will return before the end of the age (Malachi 4:5-6).
For Moses, Satan seems to have a dispute with Michael over Moses' body - perhaps to stop Moses from this resurrection? (Jude 1:9) Both of them had their enemies killed by fire. (2Ki 1; Num 16:35).
Others think that they will be Enoch and Elijah, as both of them did not die but was taken to heaven. (Heb 11:5; 2Ki 2:11) They quoted Heb 8:27, that it is appointed for men to die once, and they will have to come down and die. However, this is a very strict interpretation of Heb 9:27, for Jesus resurrected a widows' son, Jairus daughter, and Lazarus of Bethany, and many other people by prophets, and many Christians who are raptured will not die.
Still other others believe these are not people but symbols of Old and New Testament, or Jewish and Christians. I believe that the witnesses are really people, due to the literal context of the passage.
When the witnesses had finished their testimony, the "beast from the Abyss" will wage war with them and kill them. "Their bodies will lie in the streets of the great city - figuratively called Sodom and Eqypt - where their Lord was also crucified." (v8) They would not bury them, but allows all the nations and races will view their bodies. They gloat over them and celebrate their death and send gifts to another, as they have been a torment to them. (v9-10)
The "beast" was mentioned earlier in Rev 9:11, likely Satan himself. He killed them but only after they finished their testimony. As Guzik said: "Witness is not something we do; it is something we are. Giving testimony is what a witness does."
John said that Jerusalem (where the Lord was crucified) was also known as Egypt and Sodom during the tribulation time. Egypt represent slavery and Sodom represent immorality. The people who were against antichrist must have given these nick names to Jerusalem, when it has a peace treaty with the antichrist for the first 3.5 years during tribulation period.
Their testimony, I believe, is to give a final chance to unbelievers to accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior before He comes and judge them. But most of the people hated them and celebrates after they died as if it is Christmas! Furthermore, their bodies were not allowed to be buried, “To have his dead body lie in view of all was the worst humiliation a person could suffer from his enemies.” (Johnson)
The only way that everyone in the world can see their bodies is through the television or social media, which did not exist during John's time. This is how accurate the Bible prophecies are. All the technologies are ready for Jesus to return again.
While they were celebrating, a miracle happen! God breath life into the witnesses, and they stood on their feet! Everyone there and those watching the TVs were extremely frightened! Who wouldn't, except those who have read the prophecy! The witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven, saying "Come up here." We do not know if others heard the voice or not, but they all saw them going up in a cloud.
Within an hour, there was a great earthquake and a tenth of the city was destroyed, and seven thousand were killed in the quake (v13.) This was also prophesied by Ezekiel 38:19-20: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great [e]earthquake in the land of Israel, 20so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
All the people in Jerusalem at that time were terrified, and some of them repented and gave glory to God. If these events do not convert you to into a believer, I don't know what else can.
Verse 14 concluded: "The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly."
v15-19: The Seventh Trumpet
Then the seventh trumpet was sounded, and a loud voice called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (v15)
This is a significant proclamation, for the world belongs to the devil, but now is the time that Jesus will take over rulership of the kingdom of the world! (2 Cor 4:4; 1 John 5:19)
The twenty four elders fell on their faces and worshiped God:
“We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” (v17)
They praised God, who had been patient with men, for he have a great power, but waited for thousands of years before reigning on earth, for men to believe in His salvation plan. Those who believed, as well those who worshipped him before the new testament will be rewarded. Those who still oppose God was "enraged" as Newell said: “Religion is decent, but surrender to God is intolerable to the nations of this world.”
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of His covenant appeared. There were lightning, thunders, and earthquake and a great hailstorm.
The ark of the covenant is “The symbol of God’s faithfulness in bestowing grace on His people, and inflicting vengeance on His people’s enemies.” (Henry Alford, theologian)
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