REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 11.11

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Eleven

The Great Tribulation

(Parenthesis)

Two Witnesses (Continued)

 

 

Preface

Upon the death of God's two witnesses, there is a global viewing for three and one-half days. Overstricken with joy, the entire world is in a festive frenzy as they jeer, mock, and sneer at the so-called invincible corpses lying in the public square.

Once again, the inhabitants begin to witness:

1.  Rain returning to the earth

2.   Waters clearing of blood

3. Plagues and diseases vanishing

4.  Fire issuing from their mouths ceasing

5.  Life returning to normalcy

6.  Judgment is no longer being preached

7.  Antichrist's government back in control

However, after three and one-half days, something extraordinary happens…

 

 

(Verse 11)

 

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

 

The Spirit of Life

Suddenly God intervenes, the Spirit of life enters them, God miraculously resurrects His two witnesses, and they stand upright. Meanwhile, all viewers gasp as they watch and marvel. Interestingly, Job records:

Job 20:5 - The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.

 

Three Scripture readings are provided prototyping this event:

1.  The Spirit of Life at conception

Ecclesiastes 11:5 - As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

 

2.  The Spirit of Life entering Israel's dry bones

Ezekiel 37:9 - Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

 

3.  The Spirit of Life given at rebirth

John 3:8 - The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

 

The people soon realize that the power of God is greater than the power of the beast. And suddenly the world's great joy transitions into the world's great fear.

 

And great fear fell upon them which saw them

The word great means exceedingly great. So, their miraculous translation will strike exceedingly great fear in everyone witnessing this spectacular event. Recall, this same great fear once entered the soldiers guarding Christ's tomb:

Matthew 28:4 - The guards trembled in (great) fear of him (the angel of the Lord) and became like dead men.

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

 

Not only did the world visually observe the two witnesses rise from the dead, but they also audibly hear a loud exceedingly great voice say, come up hither (here). Equivalent to John's translation or rapture, the language is alike:

Revelation 4:1 - After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter [emphasis added].

 

And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them

It is a day of amazement. Just as the entire world watched the launch of the first man on the moon, the people will observe the two witnesses ascend to Heaven into a cloud of glory. The incident mirrors the Ascension of Jesus.

Acts 1:9b - While they beheld, He (Jesus) was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

 

It is a cloud that does not hide their view but enhances their glory – The Shekinah (divine presence represented by light) glory cloud. This is done expressively so the enemies of the two witnesses can see their triumph so to convict them of their unbelief.

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

 

The day of amazement for unbelievers continues. Within an hour of the Ascension, a great earthquake ensues. This is the second of three great earthquakes* in Revelation. The first great earthquake occurs when the Lamb opens the sixth seal.

Revelation 6:12 - And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.

 

Superseding all other quakes --- the third and final --- the largest earthquake the world has ever seen is yet to befall in Chapter 16.

Revelation 16:18-20 - And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake**, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell…And every island fled away (vanished), and the mountains were not found (disappeared).

 

Earthquakes*

Earthquakes are frequently found in Scripture. Often, they are symbolic of great upheavals relating to governments as well as social and spiritual order. Regarding the Holy Land, according to the Institute of Creation Research, "No other region of the earth has such a long and well-documented chronology of big earthquakes."

 

** The exceedingly great earthquake occurring in this text is localized to the area of Jerusalem, just as it was during Christ's crucifixion.  And as a result, a tenth part of the city collapsed.

 

Nonetheless, speaking about end-time events, Christ prophesied:

Luke 21:11 - And great earthquakes shall be in divers (various) places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

* (Review Earthquakes in Revelation Study 6:10)

** [Visit http://www.icr.org/article/greatest-earthquakes-bible/].

 

And the tenth part of the city fell

Significantly, a tenth belongs to the Lord. Failure to pay this tithe exacted heavy judgments. This was expressively meted out (cf. Leviticus 25:23; 27:30-34) because God reserved the rights for the redemption of the land.

 

And in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand

Consequently, at the partial collapse of Jerusalem, seven thousand persons (symbolic of a complete number) were killed. Many believe these men held positions of prominence in Antichrist's government.

 

And the remnant was affrighted (terrified, trembling in fear), and gave glory to the God of Heaven

The passage also describes God fulfilling His pledge to the Jews living in Jerusalem at this time – The Remnant. In hopes that one day they will rise, their stark reaction solemnly authenticates the sublime claim to forgiveness of sins on the part of Jesus, a day of deliverance.

 

This is also the first occurrence of anyone giving glory to God during Tribulation. Many will come to genuine faith during such a difficult time. Akin to the scribes and Pharisees who witnessed the miracle of the healed paralytic, those who remained (the remnant or survivors), needless to say, respond in fear and give glory to the God of Heaven (as opposed to the god of the earth and pagan deities or Antichrist) because of the manifestation of His power.

Luke 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear (terror), saying, We have seen strange things to day.

 

The God of Heaven

The God of Heaven is a phrase familiar to Old Testament recipients to distinguish the true Almighty God from false pagan deities.

 

Postface

Unequivocally, repentance must precede our ability to give glory to God. His ultimate goal is everything in creation will glorify Him. A preview of what is yet to come:

Revelation 19:1ff - And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God…

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

 

Three Woes

Concerning the woe judgments:

1.  The first woe is the fifth trumpet (cf. Revelation 9:1)

2.  The second woe is the sixth trumpet (cf. Revelation 9:13)

3.  The third woe is the seventh trumpet (cf. Revelation 11:15)

 

Consider the warning: The first and second woes have passed, and the third shall come shortly. The seventh trumpet sound in the next study. However, seeming that things have concluded, at this juncture there yet remains the last half of the Book of Revelation, i.e., before the vial or bowl judgments are dispensed (Revelation 16).

 

John is given a necessary treasure trove of information that recapitulates and discusses the Tribulation from a different perspective:

1.  The Woman with twelve stars - Israel (12:1-2)

2.  The Dragon with seven heads – Satan (12:3-4)

3.  The Man Child of the Woman – Jesus (12:5-6)

4.  The Archangel Michael wars with the Dragon (12:7-12)

5.  The Wild Beast from the Sea – Antichrist (13:1-10)

6.  The Wild Beast from the Earth – False Prophet (13:11-18)

7.  The 144,000 – Israel's sealed remnant on Mt. Zion (14:1-5)

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What happened to the dead bodies of the two witnesses?

2.   What happened to the spectators?

3.   What was the ultimate plight of the two witnesses?

4.   What happened in Jerusalem?

5.   How does the remnant react?

6.   What is God's definitive goal?

7.   What is recorded in Revelation before the next judgment?

 

 

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