Revelation 11

CHAPTER 11THEME: Interlude between sixth and seventh trumpets; the seventh trumpet blownIn the first fourteen verses, chapter 11 continues with the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and in the concluding verses, we have the blowing of the seventh trumpet. In this chapter we learn that forty-two months remain of the Times of the Gentiles and that there are two witnesses who will prophesy for forty-two months. We also have the second woe and then the blowing of the seventh trumpet. This chapter brings us back to Old Testament ground. The temple, the dealing with time periods, and the distinction which is made between Jews and Gentiles all indicate that we are again under the Old Testament economy. Chronologically, the seventh trumpet brings us to the return of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation period.

Revelation 11:1

DATE FOR THE ENDING OF “THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES"Here we deal with an indication of projected time periods for the close of the Great Tribulation. Let me give you my own translation: And there was given me a read like a rod, saying, Rise and measure the temple (holy place) of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. And the court which is without the temple cast out [Gr.: ekbale, throw out] and measure it not; for it is given to the nations, and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.We are dealing here with that period that the Lord Jesus spoke of in Luk_21:24, “…and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” A great many people thought that when Israel captured Jerusalem, that was the end of the Time of the Gentiles. My friend, Jerusalem is still trodden down of the Gentiles. All you need to do is walk down the streets of the old city, and if you see a Jew, you let me know because I did not see any there myself. All other races are there. Non-Jewish religious groups are all over the place; they have built holy places everywhere in the old city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is still trodden down of the Gentiles. But when you get into the Great Tribulation period and come to the last half of it, the Time of the Gentiles will run out in forty-two months. Forty-two months is one-half of the Great Tribulation period. “And there was given me a reed like a rod.” Every time you see the beginning of measurements, in either the Old or New Testament, it indicates that God is beginning to deal with the nation Israel (see Jer_31:38-39; Zech. 2). This reed is like a rod; a rod is used by a shepherd. In Psa_2:9 we see that a rod is used for chastisement and judgment: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” What we are dealing with here is a measurement of time given for the Time of the Gentiles, after which judgment will come upon them. The rod is also for comfort: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa_23:4). Therefore, we have both judgment and solace in this chapter. “The temple of God” is limited to the Holy Place (notice that “holy place” is the literal rendering) and the Holy of Holies. The temple of God places us back on Old Testament ground, for there is no temple given to the church. The church is a temple of the Holy Spirit today; that is, believers (not a building) are the temple of the Holy Spirit: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph_2:21-22). “The altar” refers to the golden altar of prayer since the altar for burnt offering was not in the temple proper but in the outer court. Even the worshipers are to be measured. John is told to rise and measure, not only the Holy Place and the altar, but also “them that worship therein.” God does count the number of those who worship Him. “And the court which is without the temple cast out [Gr.: ekbale, throw out] and measure it not.” This excludes all that does not belong to the temple proper. The altar of burnt offering (and also the brazen laver) would be outside the temple. Since this altar was a picture of the Cross of Christ, it would seem that the implication is that the gospel of the Cross of Christ will still be available to all mankind during the intensity of this brief crisis. It is not be be measured, and it will still be available. “For it is given to the nations [that is, the Gentiles]” declares that although this period still belongs to the Gentiles, their dominion is limited to forty-two months. As we have said, this confirms the words of the Lord Jesus in Luk_21:24. “Forty and two months” is the three and one-half year period identified with the last half of the Great Tribulation period. We find this repeated in Rev_13:5: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” This is the last half of the reign of Antichrist here upon this earth. This period is mentioned again in chapter 12, verse Rev_12:14: “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wildernsess, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” “A time, times [dual], and half a time” means three and one-half years. Daniel adopts this unit of measurement for this period: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Dan_7:25). “A time and times and the dividing of time"again, this means three and one-half years. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Dan_12:11). Twelve hundred and ninety days is three and one-half years. We have yet another reference in Daniel which says: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Dan_9:27). Here the Great Tribulation is divided into two equal parts. This “week” of Daniel is seven years, and this seven-year period is the Seventieth Week of Daniel, or the Great Tribulation period.

Revelation 11:3

DURATION OF THE PROPHESYING OF THE TWO WITNESSES And I will give to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand, two hundred and three score [60] days, clothed in sackcloth. There is a great deal of difference of opinion as to the identity of the two witnesses. They are introduced to us without any suggestion as to who they are. Godet makes this comment: “They are one of the most startling features of the book.” If the identity of these two was essential for the understanding of this book, I think there would have been some indication given about their persons. It is always in these areas that the sensational preachers concentrate. They can tell you what the seven thunders said (John was told not to write it down, and he didn’t), and they can tell you the names of these two witnesses.

Those who have espoused the historical view of Revelation have named such men as John Huss, Pope Sylvester, Waldenson, and the two Testaments. You can see that you could come up with almost anything from that viewpoint. Men who hold the futurist viewwhich is the view I holdare not in complete agreement as to who they are. Seiss and Govett say that they are Enoch and Elijah. Govett (The Apocalypse Expounded by Scripture, p. 225) says that The Gospel of Nicodemus contains the following statement: I am Enoch who pleased God, and was translated by him. And this is Elijah the Tishbite. We are also to live to the end of the age: but then we are about to be sent by God to resist Antichrist, and be slain by him, and to rise after three days, and to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord. Dean Alford, Walter Scott, and Donald Grey Barnhouse state that they are Moses and Elijah. William Newell does a very smart thinghe does not even attempt to identify them. There is also the possibility that they are two unknown witnessesthat is, they have had no previous existence, and they have not yet appeared on the scene. That they are human witnesses seems certain from the description given of them. Two is the required number of witnesses according to the Law: “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death” (Deu_17:6). The Lord Jesus said the same thing relative to the church: “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Mat_18:16). Scripture has always required two witnesses to bear testimony to anything before it was to be heard. Therefore, we can definitely say that these witnesses are human beings and that there are two of them. These are the two things we know for sure. It seems to me to be almost certain that Elijah is one of them, since it was predicted that he would return: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Mal_4:5). It is also recorded in Matthew’s Gospel: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things” (Mat_17:11). It would seem that we can say with a certain degree of assurance that Elijah is one of the witnesses. It is said in verse Rev_11:4 that these two witnesses are two lampstands standing before “the God of the earth.” This was a favorite expression of Elijah who walked out onto the pages of Scripture, saying, “…As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand …” (1Ki_17:1). These witnesses are two lampstands; they are lights in the world. The presence of Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration further suggests this, but it would necessitate the second witness being Moses, which is more difficult to sustain, and after all, the Mount of Transfiguration is not the only point of similarity. I would like to make a suggestion about which I will not be dogmatic nor will I argue. My suggestion is that John the Baptist is the second witness. He was the forerunner of Christ at His first coming. He was similar to Elijah in manner and message. I am sure that those two fellows would get along with each other. Both knew what it was to oppose the forces of darkness and to stand alone for God against impossible odds. They surely have had good training in the past. John the Baptist would be the witness of the New Testament, as Elijah would be the witness of the Old Testament. John the Baptist actually was not part of the church, the bride of Christ. He very candidly said that he was a friend of the bridegroom. He wasn’t a bride; he was a friend of the bridegroom. It seems unlikely that Enoch would be one of the witnesses since he was a Gentile. The very fact that he did not die does not qualify him for the office for, by the time you come to the Great Tribulation period, the church has already been translated, and some of them were translated without dying. Let us say with some assurance that Elijah is one of the witnesses. As to who the other one is, your guess is as good as mine. “And they shall prophecy a thousand, two hundred and three score days.” The significant feature about the two witnesses is not their identity but the time they appear. Is this during the first half or the last half of the Great Tribulation? The first half seems to fit the text more accurately because they testify until the Beast appears, and then they are martyred. “Clothed in sackcloth” is the garb better suited to the period of the Law than of grace. It is becoming both to Elijah and to John the Baptist.

Revelation 11:4

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wishes to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if anyone wishes to hurt them, thus must he be killed. Everything here is associated with the Old Testament. The two olive trees immediately suggest the vision in Zechariah 4. There the lampstands are two individuals, Joshua and Zerubbabel, who were enabled by the Holy Spirit to stand against insurmountable difficulties. The explanation is found in the words, “…Not by might, nor by power [or, not by brain, nor by brawn], but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zec_4:6). The Holy Spirit will be present during the Great Tribulation period. These two witnesses are lights before the powers of darkness. These men are accorded miraculous power to bring fire down from heaventhey are filled with the Holy Spirit. Here again, the suggestion is strongly in favor of Elijah (see 1Ki_18:38; 2Ki_1:10). Also, John made an announcement about One baptizing with fire (see Mat_3:11). These two witnesses are immortal and immune to all attacks until their mission is completed. My friend, it is encouraging to know that all of God’s men are immortal until He has accomplished His purpose through them. This is one reason that I have had a weak and feeble faith through several cancer surgeries and other physical problems. I will be honest with you, there were times when I wondered if I would make it through or not. But I prayed to God and asked other people to pray that I might be enabled to finish the taping of our five-year “Thru the Bible” radio broadcastsand He has answered that prayer. That all of God’s men are immortal until God is through with them is a wonderful comforting thought for today. And when He is through with you, He will remove you from the earth.

Revelation 11:6

These have the authority [Gr.: exousianpower] to shut up the heaven, that the rain may not wet during the days of their prophecy; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they wish.These two witnesses are granted unlimited authority. They control rainfall on the earth, and they are able to turn the water into blood. This certainly reminds us of both Elijah and Moses. This is the verse that has caused certain outstanding men to decide that Elijah, who was the man that stopped the rain, and Moses, who was the one who brought the plagues upon Egypt, will be the two. They may have good ground for that, but anything you say about these two witnesses is speculation. “And to smite the earth"they are given the same power Christ will have when He returns (see Rev_19:15). “With every plague” suggests the plagues Moses imposed on Egypt, but the plagues here are greater in number as the territory is more vast. “As often as they wish” reveals the confidence God places in these faithful servants. God cannot trust you and me like this. He cannot trust some of us with money; certainly He wasn’t able to trust me with very much. He does not trust us with power, and this is the reason that He removes men from office after a period of timetime is always on His sidebecause He cannot trust men with power. It is a good thing that many of us do not have it.

Revelation 11:7

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the wild beast that cometh up out of the abyss, shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. The witnesses will finish their testimony. In the midst of the week, the Antichrist, who is the Beast, the Man of Sin who is moving to power, will bring back first the Roman Empire. Then, when he gets the whole world under his control, he will not hesitate to overcome and destroy these two witnesses. At that time he will be permitted to do so. This is the temporary victory of darkness over light, evil over righteousness, hell over heaven, and Satan over God, because God is going to let Satan loose during this period. These witnesses live up to their name. Martus is the Greek word for “witness”; we get our English word martyr from that.

Revelation 11:8

And their dead bodies (carcasses) shall lie upon the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. These men are not given even a decent burial. This reveals the crude, cold barbarism of the last days which will be covered with but a thin veneer of culture. There is a strange resemblance to the sadistic curiosity which placed two dead men, Lenin and Stalin, on display in Red Square in Moscow. They have removed Stalin, but at this writing Lenin is still there, and I understand that that body is beginning to deteriorate. The word used for bodies (carcasses) denotes the contempt and hatred the world will have for the two witnesses. They are treated as dead animals. “The great city” is Jerusalem. It is likened unto Sodom by Isaiah (see Isa_1:10). It is called Egypt because the world has entered into every fiber of its lifesocial and political. It is conclusively identified as Jerusalem by the sad designation, “where also their Lord was crucified.”

Revelation 11:9

And out of the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations do some gaze upon their dead bodies (carcasses) three days and one half and shall not permit their dead bodies (carcasses) to be put in a tomb. After Christ was crucified, even Pilate permitted His friends to take down the body and give it a respectable burial, but not so with the two witnesses. The world will be startled to hear they are dead. Some will be skeptical. Apparently, this future generation will have something that corresponds to a television camera, and a satellite will carry the picture all over the world, so that people everywhere will be able to look upon the features of these men for three and one-half days. The morbid curiosity of a godless society will relish the opportunity of gazing with awe upon these dead bodies.

This is the worst indignity that a depraved world could vent upon the men who denounced them and their wicked ways. Perhaps the witnesses had predicted their resurrection. We are not told that, but they might have. To prevent the possibility of another empty tomb, there was no burial. They will decide to just leave the bodies out there and keep the camera on them. I think all the television networks will have their cameras trained on these dead men.

Three and one-half days they are lying there.

Revelation 11:10

And the dwellers upon the earth rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented (vexed) the dwellers on the earth. The death of the two witnesses is an occasion for high carnival on the earth. The world engages in a modern Christmas and Mardi Gras, both rolled into one. The world has adopted the philosophy, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Dr. Newell describes it like this: “Now comes the real revelation of the heart of man: glee, horrid, insane, inhuman, hellish, ghoulish glee!” “And shall send gifts one to another” indicates a lovely occasion on the surface, but this is the Devil’s Christmas. The modern celebration of Christmas gets farther and farther from the birth of Christ and closer and closer to paganism. The day will come when it will be anti-Christianit is almost that now. Here is the celebration of what Antichrist has done instead of the celebration of the coming of Christ to Bethlehem. Then something happens

Revelation 11:11

And after the three days and a half the breath (spirit) of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them. While the world is celebrating in jubilation the death of these witnesses and while the television cameras are focused upon them, the witnesses will stand on their feet. And all of the networks will regret that they had their cameras pointed to them, because they will not really want to give the news as it is. The scriptural word for resurrection is used herethe Greek word histeme"they stood upon their feet.” These witnesses are among the Tribulation saints who have part in the first resurrection (see Rev_20:4-6). Any news like this would be a scoop, but I am sure that all of the networks will have their cameras on it. By that time they may well have some new gadget which will make television, as we know it, look very much antiquated and out of place.

Revelation 11:12

And they heard a great voice out of heaven saying to them, Come up here, and they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them. They are caught up into heaven. We have the resurrection of the two witnesses in verse Rev_11:11; we have the ascension of the two witnesses in verse Rev_11:12. The cloud of glory is associated with the ascension and the coming of Christ also.

Revelation 11:13

DOOM OF THE SECOND WOEGREAT EARTHQUAKEWe have had the blowing of the sixth trumpet, and we are in that interval or lull between the sixth and seventh trumpets. These are woe trumpets, and the second woe is connected with the sixth trumpetit is a great earthquake. And in that hour there came to pass a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell, and 7000 names of men were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven. This number of the slain was to be added to those already slain. A fourth of the population of the world was slain at first, and then a third of the population of the worldtotaling over one-halfand now seven thousand more are killed. It is little wonder that the Lord Jesus said, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved …” (Mat_24:22). The earthquake seems to be limited to the city of Jerusalem, just as it was when Christ rose from the dead (see Mat_28:2), and also at His crucifixion (see Mat_27:51-52). “Seven thousand names of men were killed in the earthquake.” This is an idiom to indicate that they were men of prominence. They were the ones who had gone along with Antichrist, men whose names got into the headlines when Antichrist came to power.

Revelation 11:14

This ends the second woe. The third woe begins shortly, though not immediately. The third woe is not the blowing of the seventh trumpet which will come next, as that leads us beyond the Great Tribulation into the Millennium. The seventh trumpet likewise opens up to us the seven personalities of chapters 12 and 13. The third woe begins when Satan, one of the personalities, is cast down to earth, and we will come to that in chapter 12, verse Rev_12:12.

Revelation 11:15

SEVENTH TRUMPETEND OF GREAT TRIBULATION AND OPENING OF TEMPLE IN HEAVENIn the middle of all the woes and judgments of the Great Tribulation period, this is inserted for the encouragement of the believers who will be left on the earth, those who were sealed. They are apt to get very much discouraged after several years, although the total length of the Great Tribulation is but seven years and the intensity of it breaks in the last half of that period. The Great Tribulation does not seem long to read about, but I have found seven days in the hospital to be the most trying experience of life. I thought those days would never end; so you do need a little encouragement as you go along. And the seventh angel blew the trumpet; and there followed (came to pass) great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world (cosmos) is become (the kingdom) of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign unto the ages of the ages (for ever and ever). And the twenty-four elders, sitting before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thanks to you, O Lord God the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power and didst reign. And the nations were angry (wroth), and thy wrath came, and the time (period) of the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to your servants the prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name, the small and great; and to destroy those who destroy (corrupt, the destroyers of) the earth. The blowing of the seventh trumpet is of utmost significance, and it is of special relevance in the understanding of the remainder of this book. In the program of God, it brings us chronologically to the breathtaking entrance of eternity where the mystery of God is finally unraveled. It brings us in God’s program as far as chapter 21 where eternity begins.

The broad outline of events which are significant to God is given to us here by the Holy Spirit. This section is a summary, a syllabus, or a capsule synopsis of events up to the door of eternity. The following list will help focus these events in our minds:

1. “Great voices in heaven” follow the blowing of the seventh trumpet. At the opening of the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven. The contrast should be noted, because here the blowing of the seventh trumpet reveals God’s program and clears up the mystery of God. All of God’s created intelligences can see the end now and are jubilant in anticipation of the termination of evil being so close at hand. It is a time of joy for them.
2. “The kingdom of the world (cosmos) is become (the kingdom) of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign unto the ages of the ages (for ever and ever).” It is not kingdoms (plural) but Kingdom (singular) which denotes the fact that the kingdoms of this world are at present under Satan, to whom there is no distinction of nations, no East or West, no Iron Curtainall are his; both sides are included in his domain. A great many people think that Satan is controlling Russia but that the Lord is controlling the United States and angels are hovering over the capitol at Washington, D.C. May I say that those angels may not be God’s angels who are hovering over Washington todayit certainly doesn’t look like they are. Actually, all of the kingdoms of this world are Satan’s. It is therefore called the Kingdomnot kingdomsof the world. It is the totality of a civilization and society of which men boast of self-improvement but which becomes more godless and wicked each day. It is a condemned civilization that is moving toward judgment. It is going to become the Kingdom “of our Lord, and of His Christ.” Satan’s kingdom is going to be subdued someday, but not by some little saccharine-sweet talk on brotherhood and love. It is going to be delivered to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is going to rule. We are told in Scripture: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psa_2:2-3). Rebellion broke out against the Lord and His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) at the arrest of Jesus. The early church understood that this was the condition of the world, for they quoted Psalms 2 when persecution broke out in the early church (see Act_4:23-26). We read in Psa_2:9: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” In Revelation 19 we are going to see the details of what is given here in this section.

The Lord Jesus is coming to put down rebellion. The seventh trumpet is moving along, step by step, toward eternity. 3. “And the twenty-four elders, sitting before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thanks to you, O Lord God the Alnighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power and didst reign.” This revelation causes the church in heaven to worship and celebrate the coming of Christ to the earth. This will be the answer to our prayer, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat_6:10). 4. “The nations were angry (wroth)” reveals the fact that the stubborn rebellion of man will continue right down to the very end. Right down to the wire, the stubborn heart of man is in rebellion against God. This old nature, this carnal nature that you and I have, is not obedient to God. My friend, you cannot make this old nature obey God. This is exactly what Paul says: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom_8:7). The human family could not bring this old nature under control; that is the reason God is going to get rid of it someday. 5. The nations were angry because “thy wrath came.” They had been fed all this putrid pabulum we hear today about the fact that God never intends to punish sin and that man is getting better and better every daywhile, actually, all the time he is getting worse and worse. 6. “And the time (period) of the dead to be judged” brings us to the Great White Throne judgment of the lost dead (see Rev_20:11-15). 7. “And to give the reward to your servants the prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name, the small and great.” The church has already gone into His presence, and the believers there have already been rewarded as indicated by the crowns we have seen on the heads of the elders. This refers now to Old Testament saints and tribulation saints, who are included in the first resurrection, but at a different time. They are now going to be rewarded as the kingdom begins. 8. “And to destroy those who destroy (corrupt, the destroyers of) the earth.” We believe that this refers to both man and Satan. Man is a destroyer as well as Satan. Peter warns us of Satan: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Pe_5:8). The next verse brings us to the glad gate of eternity:

Revelation 11:19

And the sanctuary (temple) of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His sanctuary (temple), and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail. When we see the church again, it will be in the New Jerusalem, and we are told definitely that there is no temple there. Here there is a temple in heaven. The temple which Moses made was made after the pattern in heaven. “And the sanctuary (temple) of God in heaven was opened” means that God is dealing now with Israel. “Was opened” indicates worship and access to God. All of this points to the nation Israel, for the church has no temple. The measuring of the temple on earth and the opening of the temple in heaven declare the prominence of Israel in this section. The next chapter will substantiate this. “And the ark of His covenant was seen in His sanctuary (temple)” reminds us that we are dealing with a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. He is going to keep the covenant He has made with Israel, and He will make a New Covenant with them at this timethat is, the Law will be written in their hearts instead of on cold tablets of stone (see Jer_31:31-34; Heb_8:8-13). “Lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail” speak of judgment yet to come.