In the previous lesson I wrote about the Lord having His
people measured. At the beginning of the 7th trumpet, God’s purpose for His
“church (ecclesia)” will come to an end. Time for His message of salvation to
the unsaved is finished. He will have a people for Himself. In the remainder of
Revelation chapter 11 we see that God gives His testimony to the people of the
earth by sending His two witnesses. After their testimony is finished and they
are killed, the 7th trumpet will sound.
Revelation 11 has five main topics; measurement, God’s witness to the world, the enemy, judgment, and Jesus receiving the kingdom of the earth. Looking at each of these separately will help us to understand the remainder of the chapter. I taught about measurement in the previous lesson so today we will begin with God’s witness to the world.
It is God’s principle that, to bring a charge against anyone, there has to be 2 witnesses. The witnesses represent God’s standards and bring report against those who rebel against it. Having witnesses causes a division between right and wrong, error and truth. They precede final judgment. In Revelation 11 the two witnesses are given special powers. They can bring judgment of fire, drought, blood in the water, and plagues to mankind, not unlike the plagues of Egypt in the Old Testament. We see a foreshadowing of this time period in Egypt as a warning for those who resist God at the end of time. Moses and Aaron were two witnesses for God to the Hebrews and Egyptians, and those in Egypt either decided to stay in Egypt, or to leave for the promised land. In the New Testament Egypt represents the world, and the Promised Land represents the Kingdom of God. God’s two witnesses are the witnesses who will cause division, forcing people to choose if they will stay in the world or overcome, going into the Kingdom of God.
The two witnesses can protect themselves against their enemies by sending devouring fire, God’s immediate judgment, upon them. The purpose of God’s two witnesses is to represent God’s words to the last generation. God always brings a witness against those who are about to be judged. This is why true prophets (who prophecy God’s uncensored words) are hated, and false prophets (who prophecy peace and prosperity) are loved. As the time draws near for God’s words to increase on the earth, seeking to restore men to righteousness, we will see a parallel movement of false prophecies that are meant to tickle the ears of men. False prophets will turn the ears of their listeners dull to the point where they will not receive sound doctrine, nor will any prepare for the coming of the Lord. However, the true prophets will represent the Lord in the purity of His testimony, and many will be hated for speaking His truth. Indeed, the two witnesses will be slain by those in the world, both worldly Christians and the unsaved. This is not unlike when Jesus was slain by both Romans and Jews. His witness, crucifixion, and resurrection is paralleled by the two witnesses sent to the final generation.
The enemy is seen as the beast rising out of the abyss to slay the two witnesses, and he sets the atmosphere in which this happens. The beast is controlled by satan. The circumstances that precede the slaying of the witnesses are the release of satan and his demons from the abyss, and the weak state of the Church. The two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, which is the same amount of time that the Gentiles trample the holy city. This trampling occurs because many who call themselves Christians are still part of the world, looking from the outer court into God’s temple.
We find another reference to this same time frame in the book of Daniel. It is 3 ½ years, or as an angel told Daniel, “It will be for a time, times, and half a time.” The angel sets the events into this time frame which we also see occurring in Revelation. He continues, “When the power of the holy has been finally broken, all these things will be completed. . . . Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Dan 12:7-10). Though many will be saved and cleansed, there will come a time when the testimony of Jesus (which is the Spirit of prophecy), the strength of God’s church, is broken. When this happens we will see that men no longer choose righteousness. At that time the lost will grow more wicked, and the overcomers will grow more righteous. So we see that part of what sets the Church up to become weak is a move in favor of false prophets and false prophecies, and the counter move away from God’s truth.
The atmosphere of where the two witnesses’ bodies lay is referred to as “Sodom” and “Egypt”. Their bodies will lie in “the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” The great city is not a physical location, but a spiritual group of people. We will see the Lord use the names of cities in the book of Revelation to represent groups of people. (In Rev 19 the great city is also called Babylon). Both Sodom and Egypt once held God’s people in them. Those cities hosted the light of Christ in the face of His people, but were not converted by that light. It is fitting that the names of these cities should be used to describe the people of the world who do not value God’s testimony through His two witnesses. Sodom represents people who never were destined to inherit God’s kingdom, and forsook His light. They were destroyed by God’s wrath. Egypt represents people who shared God’s favor with His true people for a time, and then ended their fellowship. They were judged by plagues. We often hear that some Christians are like the Jewish nation who “came out of Egypt but never got Egypt out of themselves,” meaning that they are still of the world, and want to return to the world. Because of their union with the world, they then fail to recognize that God is speaking to them.
Remember that, in the beginning of Revelation 11, we are told that the Gentiles trample the “holy city.” Since this term is also used near the end of Revelation we need to understand what the Lord is referring to. The term “Holy City” in Rev 21:2 refers to the New Jerusalem; the city which comes down from heaven . Since the name of the city is written in capitals as the “Holy City” we know that John is seeing the everlasting city that God Himself built (Heb 11:10). However, the holy city (no capitals) mentioned in Revelation 11:2 is the type of that which is to come (Heb 13:14), and is included in the domain of the Church. Rather than being a physical location, it is a spiritual assembly of those who are called to a holy inheritance in Christ.
The next topic is judgment. Though God would rather give mercy than judgment, His judgment serves a purpose. God’s judgment restores righteousness by delineating good from bad, and righteousness from evil (it separates the wheat from the chaff). In Isaiah we hear the Lord pleading with His people “Is it not because I have been long silent that you do not fear Me? I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.” (Is 57:11b-12a) Religious people have a righteousness of their own (Phil 3:9), that is not from God. Jesus warns us in a short parable that some who do works in His name will come to Him saying that they prophesied, cast out demons, and did miracles in His name. Because they were “evildoers” He did not have a personal relationship with them, and sent them away (Mt 7:22 – 23).
The Lord also knows that the wicked do not learn in times of His grace. “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord.” (Is 26:9-10)
You might ask then, why does God judge His own people? God’s eye is on the preparation of the Bride of Christ, His precious people. It is by His spirit of judgment and His spirit of fire that we are cleansed. (Is 4:4) We have received the baptism of fire, which is the ministry of the Holy Spirit which sanctifies us. Also, “ When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” (1 Cor 11:32) We will read later in Revelation that the Lord does not intend for His own people to suffer His wrath and instructs them to leave before it falls.
Concerning the two witnesses, at the end of their testimony they are killed by the beast. Men hated the two witnesses and to dishonor them, refusing to bury them after their deaths (dishonoring them just as Jesus was dishonored by his death on the cross). However, God will raise them up after 3 ½ days (Just as Jesus’ resurrection was a sign, so too this will be a sign). All who rejoiced in their deaths will then see their resurrection. Then begins judgment, with an earthquake is so severe that it kills 7,000 people (a number indicating a perfect completion of the right amount) for the 7th trumpet is about to sound. The earthquake also destroys 1/10th of the city which the Gentiles are trampling. 1/10 represents a tithe and signifies that these people owe God a debt which He takes through the collapse of 1/10 of their city. (remember - the word “city” means people group). The second woe is passed. This is the judgment of those people who dwell in the world, and those who are in the outer court of the Church. Their destruction causes the survivors to give glory to God. Just as the plagues gave both Egyptians and Hebrews the opportunity to believe in God, this last witness will give both “churched and unchurched” their chance to decide where they will put their trust.
The measuring of God’s people and the testimony and judgment of men precede the sounding of the 7th trumpet. At the end of Revelation 11 the 7th trumpet sounds and God’s mystery is accomplished (Rev 10:7). It is the mystery of Christ and His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:32) At this time, and not before this time, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord. He will take His great power and begin to reign. This is the time of the wedding feast. At this time the Lord will reward His servants the prophets, His saints, and those who reverence His name. But it also is a time for judgment upon those who destroy the earth and those who were not ready for the wedding feast.
Revelation 11 has five main topics; measurement, God’s witness to the world, the enemy, judgment, and Jesus receiving the kingdom of the earth. Looking at each of these separately will help us to understand the remainder of the chapter. I taught about measurement in the previous lesson so today we will begin with God’s witness to the world.
It is God’s principle that, to bring a charge against anyone, there has to be 2 witnesses. The witnesses represent God’s standards and bring report against those who rebel against it. Having witnesses causes a division between right and wrong, error and truth. They precede final judgment. In Revelation 11 the two witnesses are given special powers. They can bring judgment of fire, drought, blood in the water, and plagues to mankind, not unlike the plagues of Egypt in the Old Testament. We see a foreshadowing of this time period in Egypt as a warning for those who resist God at the end of time. Moses and Aaron were two witnesses for God to the Hebrews and Egyptians, and those in Egypt either decided to stay in Egypt, or to leave for the promised land. In the New Testament Egypt represents the world, and the Promised Land represents the Kingdom of God. God’s two witnesses are the witnesses who will cause division, forcing people to choose if they will stay in the world or overcome, going into the Kingdom of God.
The two witnesses can protect themselves against their enemies by sending devouring fire, God’s immediate judgment, upon them. The purpose of God’s two witnesses is to represent God’s words to the last generation. God always brings a witness against those who are about to be judged. This is why true prophets (who prophecy God’s uncensored words) are hated, and false prophets (who prophecy peace and prosperity) are loved. As the time draws near for God’s words to increase on the earth, seeking to restore men to righteousness, we will see a parallel movement of false prophecies that are meant to tickle the ears of men. False prophets will turn the ears of their listeners dull to the point where they will not receive sound doctrine, nor will any prepare for the coming of the Lord. However, the true prophets will represent the Lord in the purity of His testimony, and many will be hated for speaking His truth. Indeed, the two witnesses will be slain by those in the world, both worldly Christians and the unsaved. This is not unlike when Jesus was slain by both Romans and Jews. His witness, crucifixion, and resurrection is paralleled by the two witnesses sent to the final generation.
The enemy is seen as the beast rising out of the abyss to slay the two witnesses, and he sets the atmosphere in which this happens. The beast is controlled by satan. The circumstances that precede the slaying of the witnesses are the release of satan and his demons from the abyss, and the weak state of the Church. The two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, which is the same amount of time that the Gentiles trample the holy city. This trampling occurs because many who call themselves Christians are still part of the world, looking from the outer court into God’s temple.
We find another reference to this same time frame in the book of Daniel. It is 3 ½ years, or as an angel told Daniel, “It will be for a time, times, and half a time.” The angel sets the events into this time frame which we also see occurring in Revelation. He continues, “When the power of the holy has been finally broken, all these things will be completed. . . . Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Dan 12:7-10). Though many will be saved and cleansed, there will come a time when the testimony of Jesus (which is the Spirit of prophecy), the strength of God’s church, is broken. When this happens we will see that men no longer choose righteousness. At that time the lost will grow more wicked, and the overcomers will grow more righteous. So we see that part of what sets the Church up to become weak is a move in favor of false prophets and false prophecies, and the counter move away from God’s truth.
The atmosphere of where the two witnesses’ bodies lay is referred to as “Sodom” and “Egypt”. Their bodies will lie in “the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” The great city is not a physical location, but a spiritual group of people. We will see the Lord use the names of cities in the book of Revelation to represent groups of people. (In Rev 19 the great city is also called Babylon). Both Sodom and Egypt once held God’s people in them. Those cities hosted the light of Christ in the face of His people, but were not converted by that light. It is fitting that the names of these cities should be used to describe the people of the world who do not value God’s testimony through His two witnesses. Sodom represents people who never were destined to inherit God’s kingdom, and forsook His light. They were destroyed by God’s wrath. Egypt represents people who shared God’s favor with His true people for a time, and then ended their fellowship. They were judged by plagues. We often hear that some Christians are like the Jewish nation who “came out of Egypt but never got Egypt out of themselves,” meaning that they are still of the world, and want to return to the world. Because of their union with the world, they then fail to recognize that God is speaking to them.
Remember that, in the beginning of Revelation 11, we are told that the Gentiles trample the “holy city.” Since this term is also used near the end of Revelation we need to understand what the Lord is referring to. The term “Holy City” in Rev 21:2 refers to the New Jerusalem; the city which comes down from heaven . Since the name of the city is written in capitals as the “Holy City” we know that John is seeing the everlasting city that God Himself built (Heb 11:10). However, the holy city (no capitals) mentioned in Revelation 11:2 is the type of that which is to come (Heb 13:14), and is included in the domain of the Church. Rather than being a physical location, it is a spiritual assembly of those who are called to a holy inheritance in Christ.
The next topic is judgment. Though God would rather give mercy than judgment, His judgment serves a purpose. God’s judgment restores righteousness by delineating good from bad, and righteousness from evil (it separates the wheat from the chaff). In Isaiah we hear the Lord pleading with His people “Is it not because I have been long silent that you do not fear Me? I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.” (Is 57:11b-12a) Religious people have a righteousness of their own (Phil 3:9), that is not from God. Jesus warns us in a short parable that some who do works in His name will come to Him saying that they prophesied, cast out demons, and did miracles in His name. Because they were “evildoers” He did not have a personal relationship with them, and sent them away (Mt 7:22 – 23).
The Lord also knows that the wicked do not learn in times of His grace. “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord.” (Is 26:9-10)
You might ask then, why does God judge His own people? God’s eye is on the preparation of the Bride of Christ, His precious people. It is by His spirit of judgment and His spirit of fire that we are cleansed. (Is 4:4) We have received the baptism of fire, which is the ministry of the Holy Spirit which sanctifies us. Also, “ When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” (1 Cor 11:32) We will read later in Revelation that the Lord does not intend for His own people to suffer His wrath and instructs them to leave before it falls.
Concerning the two witnesses, at the end of their testimony they are killed by the beast. Men hated the two witnesses and to dishonor them, refusing to bury them after their deaths (dishonoring them just as Jesus was dishonored by his death on the cross). However, God will raise them up after 3 ½ days (Just as Jesus’ resurrection was a sign, so too this will be a sign). All who rejoiced in their deaths will then see their resurrection. Then begins judgment, with an earthquake is so severe that it kills 7,000 people (a number indicating a perfect completion of the right amount) for the 7th trumpet is about to sound. The earthquake also destroys 1/10th of the city which the Gentiles are trampling. 1/10 represents a tithe and signifies that these people owe God a debt which He takes through the collapse of 1/10 of their city. (remember - the word “city” means people group). The second woe is passed. This is the judgment of those people who dwell in the world, and those who are in the outer court of the Church. Their destruction causes the survivors to give glory to God. Just as the plagues gave both Egyptians and Hebrews the opportunity to believe in God, this last witness will give both “churched and unchurched” their chance to decide where they will put their trust.
The measuring of God’s people and the testimony and judgment of men precede the sounding of the 7th trumpet. At the end of Revelation 11 the 7th trumpet sounds and God’s mystery is accomplished (Rev 10:7). It is the mystery of Christ and His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:32) At this time, and not before this time, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord. He will take His great power and begin to reign. This is the time of the wedding feast. At this time the Lord will reward His servants the prophets, His saints, and those who reverence His name. But it also is a time for judgment upon those who destroy the earth and those who were not ready for the wedding feast.
We see God’s “ark of the covenant” revealed from heaven at
this time. God is revealing His covenant with Man; the promise that His
presence will dwell among us. We are reminded that the fulfillment of God’s
mystery is not just to give Him a people, but that His purpose has always been
to live with them as a husband lives with his wife.
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