The 7 Trumpets & 2 Witnesses

Revelation 8:7-11:all

The Seven Trumpets

Tr.	To	What	Effect	Effect for Man
1	the earth	hail & fire w/ blood	1/3 earth burned, 1/3 trees burned, 1/3 grass burned	less vegetation, food
2	the sea	mountain burning with fire thrown into sea	1/3 sea becomes blood	less food
3	the rivers & springs	star burning like torch fell	1/3 waters become wormwood	less usable water
4	sun & moon & stars	1/3 sun struck 1/3 mood struck 1/3 stars struck	day and night shine 1/3 less	darker, colder
5	the earth	locusts with sting like scorpion released from bottomless pit	non-believers tormented for 5 months	torture (physical + spiritual)
6	–	Four angels bound at the Euphrates released	Kill 1/3 mankind with 3 plagues (fire, smoke, brimstone)	massive death
7	–	Temple of God in heaven opened, ark of the covenant appeared	Lightning, thunder, earthquake, great hailstorm.	judgment

First thing to look at inductively is asking questions about the causations.

(4.1) 1st Trumpet: Hail-Fire

Rev 8:7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Angel sounded -> hail, fire mixed with blood, ice on fire with blood. Interesting. God is revealing something, part of God’s message.

(4.2) 2nd Trumpet: 1/3 Sea Blood

Rev 8:8-9 (8) The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, (9) and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.

2 nd sounds -> like a mountain of fire thrown into the sea. Its not a mountain of fire though, just like a mountain of fire. Its huge whatever it is. We’re not told “this is a meteorite” but…

Result: 1/3 of the sea becomes blood, 1/3 of sea creatures die, and 1/3 of ships destroyed. Notice its not 1/3 of the sea is LIKE blood, but that it IS blood. You could see why fish would die (they aren’t in water anymore)

(4.3) 3rd Trumpet: Rivers Poisoned

Rev 8:10-11 (10) The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. (11) The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

3 rd angel sounds -> burning like a torch, star falls on rivers. Wormwood = bitter. Not like SD tap water bitter, but poisonous.

(4.4) 4th Trumpet: 1/3 Light Removed

Rev 8:12-13 (12) The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

4 th angel sounds -> 1/3 of sun, moon, stars struck. Result: dark, cold (1/3 less sunlight). (Guess we don’t have to worry about global warming after all).

Try to imagine what all of this would be like. Drought, dark, cold, not enough food, smelly, etc.

(13) Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Eagle (Rev 8:19)

After this, we se an eagle flying in mid-heaven (between atmosphere and outer-space). This has got to be a pretty big eagle to be seen there. Not to mention the fact that the eagle is talking!! Eagle saying “woe” -> expression of great grief to inhabitants of earth. Circling planet with public announcement, you ain’t seen nothing yet, something substantially worse is coming.

(4.5) 5th Trumpet: Scorpion-Locusts From The Pit Of Hell

Rev 9:1-12 (1) Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. (2) He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

Fallen star – who isn’t stated, other than an individual (“him”), most likely a fallen angel (maybe not).

Given a key…to a bottomless pit. How can we have a pit on this planet that is bottomless? Its in the center of the earth, and the earth is spinning, so they are constantly falling, but never go anywhere because gravity combined with earth spinning…

Smoke comes out of bottomless pit, like a great furnace, black acrid smoke, not like coming out of a chimney, more like a volcano erupting.

(3) Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (4) They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. (6) And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.

Locusts come out of the smoke. Rain locusts…power as scorpions of the earth have power—a stinger (A pretty vulnerable creature but with a wicked sting). Locusts have marching orders, instructions; don’t hurt the vegetation or those with the seal of God (the 144k)…these are not typical locusts…they are not allowed to kill, only torment, and are to do so for 5 months. How bad is this? Have you ever been stung by a scorpion before? Two kinds of poisons: one attacks tissue, the other the nervous system (this is why there is a limited amount of time to get an anti-venom). Scorpions mess with the nervous system (very painful). So bad men will want to die rather than endure pain, but they can’t. How long? 5 months. That’s longer than a semester of school.

(7) The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. (8) They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. (9) They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. (10) They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. (11) They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. (12) The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

What do they look like? Very descriptive. Horses prepared for battle. Implication is they look feverish, edgy, snorting, eager to charge into battle). Heads like crowns of Gold, hair like woman (ie. long), faces like woman, teeth like lions, breastplate like iron (hard-shelled), wings like many chariots (big, noisy), tails like scorpions. The thought isn’t so much that they’re big so much as feverish to fight, aggressive, foaming at the mouth to go attack. Hyper-aggressive. These are not normal run of the mill locusts. Not only do they come after people rather than plants, they are also terrifying in appearance.

Their king = the angel of the abyss. Abaddon (Hebrew) or Apollyon (Greek) means destroyer.

Come out of bottomless pit with black smoke (ie. the abyss). To be king of that, got to be as bad as they get. Implication: seem to be demonic creatures, let loose to swarm over the earth and do what demons are meant to do. Demons don’t even want to go to the abyss (remember the pigs story from the gospels). Worst of the worse, locked up, and then here released. (my mental image: Dementors on steroids ;-))

What makes it a woe? Other destruction was natural and human, now the spiritual/demonic realm is unleashed. Here, literally, all of hell breaks loose. Not just physical torture, but spiritual as well (the sting affects the whole system).

(4.6) 6th Trumpet: 1/3 Of Man Killed [Rev. 9:13-21]

Rev 9:13-21 (13) Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” (15) And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.

6th causation: angel sounding -> four great angels bound (chained up), so destructive are they that its been unsafe for them to be loose. These angels were created for this moment, this is the only thing they were created for.

Their task: Kill 1/3 of mankind. Before: torture. Now: death. Who actually kills? The army of the horsemen.

(16) The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (17) And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. (18) A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. (19) For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

• color of fire
• heads like lions
• brimstone – burning stone, lava
• tails like serpents with heads

These are not your typical normal cute horses.

(20) The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; (21) and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Rest of mankind responds: They did not repent of the works of their hands (worshipping demons and idols). Don’t repent of murder, sorcery, immorality. Implication: these things that should cause them to repent, don’t; even in that they refuse.

What are we worshipping? You only repent of things you don’t worship. They are worshipping things that will only bring them torment, will only hurt them.

They worship idols, made of natural material, do nothing (do not respond), never producing what you hope it will.

What does it mean to repent? 
Repent – change directions. Repenting is different than just confessing, it indicates a change in action, engaging differently.

What are they not repenting of?

1. Murder: hatred in heart. More about the relationship than the life (when you kill the relationship). When you kill someone to get them out of existence (physically or relationally). If you hold onto that, it causes you not to repent. Grudges we feel most justified in not repenting of, hating that person’s presence.
2. sorceries (drugs): not repenting of drug use, things that create a distorted reality instead of dealing with reality. (what our culture says… ) Aside: (associative link vs. causative link” stuff such as low serotonin -> depression -> chemical patterns in brain. Medications = not a solution but eases the symptoms. Brain has the capacity to set its own environment (ph. 4:8). Repenting from a sedated life where you’re trying to ease life’s hurts: take life raw, have a good attitude about it.
3. Immorality (pornea): pornography, sexually explicit activities outside of marriage (doesn’t have to be sex itself). Broad word.
4. Thefts: wanting more than God has given you.
   

(4.7-4.9) Two Witnesses (“Intermission”) [Rev. 10:1-11:14]

Major repetitions: John, Two witnesses, angel, little book, prophesy, heaven
These segments are sort of an intermission between the first six trumpets and the final trumpet.

(ran out of time, Left to us to study)

Three Mysteries (in Rev 10)
1.	the mystery of the mighty angel whom John sees as the chapter opens
2.	the mystery of God which the angel proclaims
3.	the mystery of the little scroll that is held in the angel’s hand

(4.7) Revelation 10:1-7

(10:1) “I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;”

Angel Described As…	Significance?
coming down out of heaven	That heaven -> earth thing again
clothed with a cloud	bright glaring white? I can’t help but be reminded of how in the OT God followed his people around in a cloud. “A cloud is characteristic again of the nation Israel. Remember that when Israel was marching through the desert they were preceded by a cloud by day and followed by a pillar of fire by night…Later…this same cloud came down and filled the Holy of Holies. It was called the Shekinah, the cloud of glory, an indication of the presence of God.” -Ray Steadman
rainbow upon his head	Where have we seen rainbows before? 4:3 there was a rainbow around the throne. Now one like a crown.
face like the sun	This reminds me of the description of heavenly Jesus
feet like pillars of fire	Hot, matches rest of glowing, non-earthly appearance ?? Pillars of fire reminds me of the feet of Jesus from the vision which were like molten metal

DSB – “Clearly this angel has come from the very presence of God; some think that he is none other than the glorified Christ himself.”

“There are certain clues given in this symbolic book that identify this angel as the “Angel of the Lord,” or the “Angel of Yahweh;” the great angel who accompanied Israel through their wilderness wanderings. This Angel always appears when Israel comes to the forefront of God’s program.” -Ray Steadman

Angel Clothed in Cloud Gives John the Book, Matthias Gerung, c.1530

10:2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land;
10:3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, [] the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.

Item…	Significance?
open little book in hand	Its open, for one (commentaries suggest it might contain the list of impending judgments) “That is to say, he is giving John a limited revelation about a quite small period of time.” (DSB)
right foot on the sea, left on the land	This is a little supernatural, most of us couldn’t stand with one foot on the sea “is symbolic of worldwide dominion” -McDonald “symbolizes, of course, his ownership of the entire earth” -Ray Steadman “The angel has one foot on the sea and one on the land. This shows his size and power, for sea and land stand for the sum total of the universe. It also shows that the power of God stands as firm on the sea as it does on the land.” (DSB)
cried out with loud voice, as when a lion roars	again, reminds me of description of Jesus. “This goes back to the scene in Chapter 4 where we saw the slain Lamb who is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He roars in triumph over the earth” (Ray Steadman).
7 peals of thunder uttered their voices in response	Probably God’s voice. We’ve seen peals of thunder before in 4:5, as part of the description of what comes out of God’s throne.

“This mighty Angel should forever remove from our minds the concept we frequently have of angels as rather effeminate creatures who pluck languidly on harps. That is not what an angel is in Scripture. I like the way Eugene Peterson describes them: ‘Vast, fiery, sea-striding creatures, with hell in their nostrils and heaven in their eyes.’ That is more like it!” -Ray Steadman

(10:4) “When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.””

McGee – This is the only place in the Book of Revelation where anything is sealed—nothing else is.

BKC – While Revelation is primarily designed to reveal and not to conceal God’s purpose and future events, some revelation was kept hidden as illustrated by God’s prohibiting John to write what “the voices” of the seven thunders said.

Ray Steadman – thunder is always a symbol of the judgment of God, so it is something to do with judgment. I do not know why it was sealed. John does not tell us. Perhaps he did not know himself. He simply obeyed what he was told to do. If you want a possible clue as to what these seven thunders declared I would refer you to Psalm 29. In that Psalm, seven times the voice of the Lord thunders over the earth in judgment… Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”

DSB – “That is to say, he is being given a revelation which at the moment he is not to pass on. We get exactly the same idea when Paul tells us that he was caught up to the third heaven and “heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (2Cor 12:4). We need not even begin to speculate about what the secret revelation was. We simply know that John had experiences which he could not communicate to others. God sometimes tells a man more than that man can say or than his generation can understand.”

10:5 “Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,” 10:6 “and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,” 10:7 “ [contrast] but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.”

Raising of the right hand –

10:5 – “Raising the hand was a common practice when taking an oath (Gen. 14:22; Deu. 32:40; Eze. 20:5, 15; 36:7; 47:14).” -Tony Garland

“It is a sign that a solemn oath is about to be taken….Have you ever had to do that when you took an oath in a court, and swore to tell the truth? This is where that ritual originated.” -Ray Steadman

10:6 – “the angels swear to underscore the unchangeable nature of the message they give” -Tony Garland

10:6 – “who created heaven and . . . the earth and . . . the sea: Emphasis is placed upon the identity of God as Creator, for the declaration of the angel in this chapter is intimately connected with God repossessing the title to the earth (both land and sea, indeed the entire creation), which has been marred by the interposition of sin and Satan. Mention of God’s creative acts over both the earth and sea parallels his stance (Rev. 10:2+). God owns that which He has created (Gen. 2:1; 1Cor. 10:26)” -Tony Garland

the mystery of God is finished – “The meaning is that the whole purpose of God in human history will stand revealed.” DSB

McGee – This angel makes it clear that he could not be Christ, since he takes an oath by the eternal Creator…”For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself” (Heb_6:13). God could not swear by anything else because there is none greater than God. The angel swore by another, not by himself, because he is not God, and therefore he is not the Lord Jesus. VS. Steadman – “But,” you say, “I thought this was Christ the Creator himself; would he swear by himself?” Yes, it is Christ. But I remind you that, in the book of Hebrews, when God wanted to swear an oath to Abraham that he would keep his promises to him, we are told that because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself. That is what Jesus is doing here. He is swearing by the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — that there will be no longer any delay in explaining the mystery of God. God has apparently delayed for centuries in answering the questions of men.

 

(4.8) The Book [Revelation 10:8-11]

(Rev 10:8) Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” (9) So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” (10) I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. (11) And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

take the book (10:8) – “twice the seer is told to take the roll [scroll or book]. It is not handed to him; even when he asks the angel to give it to him, the answer is that he must take it. The meaning is that God’s revelation is never forced on any man; he must take it.”‘ -DSB

Item…	Symbolism
Eating the book	Tony Garland – “Eating God’s Word is a frequent theme of Scripture and indicates the acceptance, digesting of, meditating upon, and sustenance derived from that which is eaten (Jer. 15:16). Job declared, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Jesus, the Word of God, referred to Himself as the Bread of Life (Job 23:12; John 6:27-35, 48). In the same way that God made Israel dependent upon manna, so too are His servants to be dependent upon his Word.”  Receiving the Word of God with faith…Jeremiah likens the appropriation of the Word to eating it. -McGee  “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart…” (Jer. 15:16) BBC says eating the book is symbolic of reading and meditating on the judgments recorded in it DSB – “This picture comes from the experience of Ezekiel who was told to eat the [sc]roll and to fill his belly with it (Eze 3:1, 3). In both pictures the idea is the same. The messenger of God has to take God’s message into his very life and being.“
Sweetness in the mouth	“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Pro. 16:24) “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psa. 119:103) “The judgments of the LORD are…sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:9-10)  Commentaries give a variety of ideas about what about this message could be the sweet part: BBC – “For the believer, it is sweet to read of God’s determination to glorify His Son where He was once crucified, the triumph of God over Satan and all his hosts, [and] of the time when the wrongs of earth will all be made right.” McGee – It is sweet to know the Book of Revelation and what God intends to do. Barclay – It is sweet because it is a great thing to be chosen as the messenger of God…for John it was an infinite privilege to be admitted to the secrets of heaven…
but… Bitterness in the stomach	…A lamentation most bitter. For suddenly the destroyer Will come upon us. (Jer 6:26) McGee – When we find out that judgment is coming to the Christ-rejecting world around us, we cannot rejoice in that. The prophecy becomes bitter. BBC – “there is bitterness also connected with the study of prophecy. There is the bitterness of self-judgment, of viewing the judgments which must soon fall on apostate Judaism and Christendom, [and] of contemplating the eternal doom of all who reject the Savior” Barclay – The message itself may be a foretelling of doom and, therefore, a bitter thing…it was bitter to have to forecast the time of terror, even if triumph lay at its end. Tony Garland – “This is the very essence of the Word of God. For those who follow it, it is the Word of Life. For those who reject it, it is the Word of Death… The bitterness would develop after John had tasted its sweetness, when its contents were fully digested.”

A message of God may be to a servant of God at once a sweet and bitter thing. -Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)

Must prophesy again… (10:11) – “The remaining chapters of Revelation fulfill this mandate.” (BBC)

“All of God’s Holy Word is sweet (Ps. 19:10; 119:103), but especially the initial exposure to prophetic passages. Often, those who “eat” prophetic Scripture “sit on the edge of their seat” and focus on its quick fulfillment. Like a perpetual “sugar high,” it provides an initial surge of energy and motivation, but will never sustain like a balanced meal of God’s Word.” -Tony Garland

“The fourfold designation: peoples, nations, tongues, kings, indicates the global scope of the message John is prophesying.” -Tony Garland

“Both Ezekiel’s scroll and John’s book are closely related. Both contain prophecy. However, a significant difference occurs between what Ezekiel and John ingest: Ezekiel eats a message intended for Israel, but John eats a message for all nations. Ezekiel is told to prophesy to the “house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech” (Eze. 3:6), whereas John “must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” (Rev. 10:11+).” -Tony Garland

“John…ate the scroll, it was sweet in his mouth but turned sour in his stomach. But only then was he given a new assignment! The principle illustrated here is very instructive. It means that after you have personally entered into the meaning of judgment; God has judged you as well as others; and you have felt the hand of God upon you, then, and then only, are you are prepared to speak to someone else about the program of God. John is given here the privilege of ministering again to nations and peoples and languages and kings. That new ministry covers Chapter 11, 12, 13 and 14.” -Ray Steadman

John Eats the Book (Trinity Apocalypse)

(4.9) Measuring the Temple Rev 11:1-14

“Die Vermessung des Tempels und das Zeugnis der beiden Propheten”
“The Measuring of the Temple and the Testimony of the Two Prophets” by Matthias Gerung, c.1530

” So certain is he of the course of events that from Rev 11:11 he alters the tense of his narrative and speaks of things still in the future as if they were past. ” DSB

(11:1) Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. (2) “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

measuring rod like a staff (11:1) –

DSB – The word for measuring rod is literally reed. There were certain grasses which grew with stalks like bamboo canes as much as six or eight feet high; these stalks were used as measuring rods. The word rod actually stands for a Jewish unit of measurement, equal to six cubits. The cubit was originally the space from the tip of the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and was reckoned as seventeen or eighteen inches; so the rod is equal to about nine feet.

McGee – This reed is like a rod; a rod is used by a shepherd. In Ps. 2:9 we see that a rod is used for chastisement and judgment: “You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.” [likewise in 1Cor. 4:21] 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: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). Therefore, we have both judgment and solace in this chapter.

John MacArthur – kalamos (measuring rod) refers to a reedlike plant that grew in the Jordan Valley to a height of fifteen to twenty feet. It had a stalk that was hollow and lightweight, yet rigid enough to be used as a walking staff (cf. Eze. 29:6) or to be shaved down into a pen (3Jn. 1:13). The stalks, because they were long and lightweight, were ideal for use as measuring rods

Tony Garland – “Reed is κάλαμος [kalamos] , the same word which described the mock scepter given to Jesus along with His crown of thorns (Mt. 27:29). The soldiers used this “scepter” to beat Him on the head (Mt. 27:30; Mark 15:19).”

Steadman – “The act of measuring a certain area is clearly a symbolic action…a sign of God’s ownership. He is claiming the measured object as his to use, either for blessing or for judgment. That is the way we use measurement today. If you have a dispute with your neighbor over a property line, what do you do? You hire a surveyor who measures the property and establishes the boundaries. So here God has given the prophet a measuring rod with which he measures the temple and the altar, and even the worshipers who come there. But he is told to exclude the outer court of the temple.”

someone said – some manuscripts (TR, but not MT or NU) say the angel said. Others leave the speaker anonymous. Either way, the speaker has full divine authority.

measure the temple of God and the altar (11:1) –

McGee – “The temple of God” is limited to the Holy Place…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 the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:21-22).

Some such as McGee think that “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. Others think the altar is referring to the altar where the sacrifices were offered as the greek word used here is ambiguous in meaning.

DSB – The Temple in Jerusalem was divided into four courts, converging, as it were, upon the Holy of Holies. There was the Court of the Gentiles, into which Gentiles might come but beyond which they might not pass under penalty of death. Between it and the next court was a balustrade, into which were set tablets warning any Gentile that to come further was to be liable to instant death. Next came the Court of the Women beyond which women could not come; then the Court of the Israelites beyond which ordinary men could not come. Lastly, there was the Court of the Priests, which contained the Altar of the Burnt-Offering, made of brass, the Altar of Incense, made of gold, and the Holy Place; and into this court only the priests might come.

Tony Garland – “The act of measuring indicates a separation between a portion which God recognizes (the Temple, altar, and worshipers) versus a portion he rejects (the outer court).”

Monty S. Mills – “Verses 1 and 2 indicate there will be a distinction between Jew and Gentile in this period. The two earlier Jewish temples were divided into four areas: first, the sanctuary itself, which only priests (not even Levites) could enter (this is called the temple of God); second, the area the men of Israel could enter (this included the altar); third, the court of the women in which Israelite women worshiped God; and finally, the court of the Gentiles. John’s instruction was to measure the first three, thus symbolizing God’s interest in, and protection of, the Jewish nation. Chapter 12 confirms this interpretation, for it describes the divine protection symbolized here.”

DSB – The picture of measuring is common in the visions of the prophets. We find it in Ezekiel, Zechariah and Amos (Eze 40:3, 6; Zech 2:1; Am 7:7-9); and no doubt these previous visions were in John’s mind. We find the idea of measuring used in more than one way. It is used as a preparation for building or for restoration and also as a preparation for destruction. But here the meaning lies in preservation. The measuring is like the sealing which is described in Rev 7:2-3; the scaling and the measuring are both for the protection of God’s faithful ones in the demonic terrors to descend upon the earth.

DSB – the Temple is the Christian Church, the people of God. This picture meets us repeatedly in the New Testament. The Christians are living stones, built into a spiritual house (1Pet 2:5). The Church is founded on the apostles and the prophets; Jesus is the corner stone; the whole Church is growing into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:20-21). “Do you not know,” says Paul, “that you are God’s temple?” (1Cor 3:16; compare, 2Cor 6:16).

DSB – The measuring of the Temple is the sealing of the people of God; they are to be preserved in the terrible time of trial; but the rest are doomed to destruction.

42 months (11:2) –

DSB – Its meaning is three and a half years. That is what forty-two months, and twelve hundred and sixty days–by Jewish reckoning–are. A time, times and half a time is equal to one year plus two years plus half a year.

Aside about the later descration of the temple – “Jesus spoke of this temple and the Man of Sin, too. He said that the sign of the last days would be “when you see the abomination that causes desolation” {Matt 24:15, Mark 13:14} standing in the holy place. The holy place is the temple, and the abomination of desolation, which Daniel had predicted, is a description of the ministry and person of the Man of Sin, the antichrist. Paul tells us in his Second Thessalonian letter that “he will sit in the temple, magnifying himself as God,” {cf, 2 Th 2:4}. So the Lord Jesus and the apostle agree that a temple will be built on Mount Moriah, and will be occupied by the one whom John calls “the antichrist” (1 John 2:18). We shall meet him again when we come to Chapter 13 for he is the beast that rises from the earth, as recorded in that chapter. All of this is set against the dramatic background of the Man of Sin ensconced in the temple, claiming the worship of the earth for himself because, as representative man, he is really God. It is humanism raised to an infinite degree — man is his own god” (Ray Steadman)

(3) “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (5) And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (6) These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

What is significant about there being two witnesses? Two is the number of witnesses (to bear testimony) required for credibility. For someone to be put to death, testimony of two winesses was required. Here, God is about to judge the people of the earth for their sins, so it makes sense he would use two witnesses. “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deu. 17:6) “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private…but if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.” (Mat. 18:15-16).

What is significant about the length of time the witnesses will prophesy? 1,260 Days is another way of saying 3 1/2 years. “three and a half years, which, as we have seen, is the period always connected with terror and destruction to come”(DSB).

What is significant about the witnesses being clothed in sackcloth? Sackcloth was a rough fabric made out of black goat’s hair, and was the garb of people in mourning or sorrow, or that prophets wore when declaring judgment to come. Barclay suggests that they are wearing sackcloth becuase their message is somber, one of condemnation, a message that would not be well-received.

“Here, in the midst of the greatest time of apostasy that the world has ever seen, God still preserves a witness. It is manifest in the form of two individuals, two men, dressed in sackcloth (burlap, for you Baby Boomers). It was the traditional garb of a prophet when he was sent to declare some threatened judgment. These two individuals appear dressed in sackcloth because their ministry is to strip away the delusions, lies, and humanistic propaganda masquerading as the truth, which come from the Man of Sin in that day.” -Ray Steadman

What are the two witnesses presented as, metaphorically? Two olive trees and two lampstands. Note that olive trees produce oil, such as would be used in a lampstand. This illustration is an old testament reference to Zechariah 4:2-6, which had a vision of a lampstand and two olive trees which were explained to be symbolic of being by the power of the holy spirit rather than by might or strength. (“The candlestick was supplied with oil, from the two olive trees by the side of it, without the help of any man, to pour in the oil, and trim the lamps; so the temple should be built by Zerubbabel, not through the multitude and strength of men, but through the Spirit of God”, Gill). So here, it might be implying that the witnesses are not doing these great things by their own abilities, but by the power of the holy spirit. McGee asserts this metaphor is showing that the two witnesses were “enabled by the Holy Spirit to stand against insurmountable difficulties”.

“So here we have two men who symbolically are like lampstands giving light in the midst of the darkness of earth. They are fed by the Spirit of God himself, for olive oil stands for the Spirit; thus their witness cannot be extinguished. They cannot be eliminated until their work is done. They are especially protected by God for fire comes out of their mouths to destroy anyone who tries to harm them. They are human flame-throwers!” (Steadman)

Who are the witnesses? The text doesn’t say. McGee asserts that “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”. However, there has been much speculation as to who it could be. Some of the miracles seem quite similar to those done by Moses and Elijah. Others look to how Enoch and Elijah were translated (didn’t die) but were taken to be with God, or point to other well respected prophets like John the Baptist or Joshua. Or they could be to complete unknowns, we really don’t have enough evidence to be certain.

How are the witnesses described? They are described as having the ability to devour their enemies by fire, stop the rain, turn waters into blood, and strike the earth with plagues at will.

Like Elijah

Like Moses

power to stop the rain (1Ki 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”)DSB – It is said that fire proceeds out of their mouth and burns up their enemies, and that they can shut up the heavens so that the rain is withheld. That is what Elijah did with the company of soldiers sent to take him (2Ki 1:9-10) and when he prophesied to Ahab that there would be no rain upon the earth (1Ki 17:1).

ability to turn water into blood (Exo 7:14-18) ability to bring plagues

McGee – 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)
BKC – Like prophets of old the two witnesses will be able to do supernatural miracles, and fire will destroy those who will try to harm them (Rev_11:5).

DSB -It is said (Rev 11:6) that they have power to turn the water into blood and to smite the earth with all plagues, and that is what Moses did. It is said that fire proceeds out of their mouth and burns up their enemies, and that they can shut up the heavens so that the rain is withheld. … We have already seen that Elijah was expected to return to herald the end; and it would not be difficult to regard God’s promise that he would raise up a prophet like Moses (Deut 18:18) as a prophecy that Moses himself would return.

McGee – These men are accorded miraculous power to bring fire down from heaven—they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

(11:7) When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (9) Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

McGee – These witnesses live up to their name. Martus is the Greek word for “witness”; we get our English word martyr from that.

What is significant about the bodies being left in the street?

DSB – “In Jewish thought it was a terrible thing that a body should not be buried. When the heathen attacked God’s people, to the Psalmist it was the greatest tragedy of all that there was none to bury them (Ps 79:3); the threat to the disobedient prophet, a threat which came true, was that his carcase would not come to the sepulchre of his fathers (1Ki 13:22). Even worse, such will be the hatred of the people for the witnesses of God that they will regard their death as a reason for festival.”

McGee – “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.”

What is the great city? Jerusalem, as that is “where also their Lord was crucified”. Why is it mystically called Sodom and Egypt? “Because of the people’s apostasy and rejection of God” (BKC).

How could “people of every nation, tribe, language, and race” look at the bodies for those three days? Likely through the use of modern technology, such as television, that did not exist at the time John had this vision.

Why would the people of the earth disallow the bodies being buried in a tomb? Morbid curiosity? To instigate indignation among God’s followers? “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” (McGee).

How to the people on earth react to the death of the two witnesses? They rejoice, celebrate, and give gifts. The whole world is gloating. “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….”And shall send gifts one to another” indicates a lovely occasion on the surface, but this is the Devil’s Christmas” (McGee).

(11) But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. (12) And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. (13) And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (14) The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

What happens to the witnesses after three and a half days?

They are resurrected, or brought back to life. After this, they are called up to heaven, while their enemies watch.

“The scriptural word for resurrection is used here—the 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)”(McGee).

Three and a half (in a variety of forms) is again one of the key lengths of time in Revelation.

Who calls out to the witnesses from Heaven? Its a loud voice, such as the heavenly Jesus is described as having, but it could also be an angel…in either case, its from heaven, not from earth.

What happens on earth after the witnesses ascend into heaven? A great earthquake. 1/10 of the city fell, 7,000 killed.

How do the people watching react to all these supernatural events? They are struck with great fear. “The result was that those who had seen these terrifying events and were spared, gave glory to God. That is to say, they repented, for that is the only real way to give glory to God”(Barclay).

Are there any parallels in this passage to the resurrection of Jesus?

McGee – “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.”

DSB – “The great interest of this passage lies in the fact that the unbelievers were won by the sacrificial death of the witnesses and by God’s vindication of them. Here is the story of the Cross and of the Resurrection all over again. Evil must be conquered and men won, not by force but by the acceptance of suffering for the name of Christ.”

(4.10) 7th Trumpet: Third Woe, Judgment [Rev 11:15-19]

(15) Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (16) And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, (17) saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. (18) And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” (19) And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

How do those in Heaven react to the seventh trumpet? They are praising the eternal nature of God’s kingdom and rule. The elders fall on their faces and worship. They give thanks.

McGee – “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.

How do those on earth react? The nations become enraged about the coming of God’s wrath and judgment.

 

McGee – “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.”

DSB What makes this passage difficult is that it seems to indicate that things have come to an end in final victory, while there is still half the book to go. The explanation, as we have seen, is that this passage is a summary of what is still to come.

What is the significance of temple being opened and the ark of the covenant being visible?

“‘Was opened’ indicates worship and access to God” (McGee).

“The Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy of Holies, the inside of which no ordinary person had ever seen, and into which even the High Priest went only on the Day of Atonement. This must mean that now the glory of God is going to be fully displayed” (DSB).

“The reference to the Ark of the Covenant is as a reminder of God’s special covenant with his people. Originally that covenant had been with the people Israel; but the new covenant is with all of every nation who love and believe in Jesus…This is a picture of the coming of the full glory of God, a terrifying threat to his enemies but an uplifting promise to the people of his covenant” (DSB).

“‘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 time—that 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)” (McGee).

“When the temple of God is opened in heaven, the ark of His covenant appears, a symbol that all He promised to Israel will come to pass” (BBC).

What is the significance of lightning, sounds, thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm appearing?

These are all things associated with storms. McGee “Lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail” speak of judgment yet to come.

:19 – BKC – God’s temple in heaven was opened….Ark…This refers to the heavenly temple rather than to a temple on earth. The corresponding results in the earth, however, included lightning… thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm (cf. Rev. 8:5).

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