REVELATION 10-11:14
THE MIGHTY ANGEL
OF REVELATION 10
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We come now to the second interlude in the book of Revelation. Just as there was an interlude between the Sixth and Seventh Seals, there is now an interlude between the Sixth and Seventh Trumpets. This interlude extends from chapter 10:1 through chapter 11:13. These interludes are given in order to fill us in on things we need to know before we continue on with the judgments of the Tribulation. During the interlude between the Sixth and Seventh Seals (chapter 7), we were introduced to two groups: the 144,000 and an Innumerable Multitude.
In this second interlude, we are introduced to:
1. Three critical personalities of the Tribulation.
2. The assurance that understanding the mystery of God will come for every human being.
3. The sure existence of the Jews' temple in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation.
Here, in chapter 10, we are introduced to the first of the three personalities and, then, we are given a heads-up as to what the mystery of God is referring to in the Bible.
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Rev. 10:1-4
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders [NU changes: uttered their voices to: sounded] I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying, [NU omits: to me] ’Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.’
10:1
Someone has said, From a literary point of view, no greater scene, no more riveting passage or personage, no more majestic event is found written in ancient literature than the Mighty Angel of Revelation ten. That may certainly be true. Let’s look at him here. Can we determine his identity? What John saw was ... truly eye-catching.
He relates:
…he was clothed with a cloud. I take this to be a reference to the glory (Shekinah) of God (Revelation 1:7).
…a rainbow was on his head. Rainbows are signs God gave to himself as forever-present assurances of his covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:12-17). They are perpetually before God as visible statements of the fact that his Word is his bond and his promises are unbreakable. This is why the first thing John noticed about God's throne (Revelation 4:3) was its rainbow. Around the globe, there are literally thousands of rainbows at any given point in time.
…his face was like the sun. He had great glory. You will remember that Jesus had such resplendence back in Revelation 1:16, where we read, and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.
…his feet were as pillars of fire. This too is a parallel of the description of Christ back in Revelation 1:15, which spoke of the fact that Jesus is the Judge of the Whole Earth, and will execute all judgment from God.
…his voice was as when a lion roars. His voice added great authority to his overall demeanor. When he spoke, everyone listened.
…in his hand he held the now opened scroll first seen back Revelation 5:1. John described it as a little book now ... doubtless because most of its judgments had already taken place. There were still some yet to come ... but their actual number will be relatively few. Timewise, here in chapter ten, we are very close to the end of the Great Tribulation ... perhaps within days or even hours of Christ's Second Coming to earth.
If John had not specifically called this amazing person, another strong angel, who would you have taken him to be? Jesus, am I right? And, that is a very common interpretation. However, this is not Christ Jesus for several reasons which we will shortly see. But if he is not Jesus, who is he? I believe he is a very unique and specially created archangel of God. And, he is the only archangel who is named in the Bible. His name is Michael. His name means, who is like God. This explains his appearance, does it not? If you and I were to see the archangel, Michael, we would think we were looking at God himself! He truly must be a sight to behold and a personality extraordinaire. Apparently, God created him specifically to reflect many of his own attributes. Michael is also found in the following scriptures:
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you! Jude 9
At that time, Michael shall stand up , The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Daniel 12:1
Notice that, in Daniel's prophecy, it clearly says that Michael will play a key role in relation to Israel during the Great Tribulation. It specifically says that Michael will intervene on behalf of the Jews during a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Also, it predicts, at that time your people shall be delivered. So, Michael will be instrumental in helping the Jewish people during the Great Tribulation. He will do battle for them and be a key element to their help and preservation. We will get more details about his standing up for the Jews when we get to chapter 12. There, we will also discover that it is Michael who will ultimately toss Satan out of Heaven.
10:2-4
Back in chapter 4, John was told, come up here and I will show you things that must be hereafter. This event, shown to John here in Revelation 10, is one of those future things. This will actually occur in history one day, and you and I and John, will be there to see and hear for ourselves ... when Michael thunders his powerful proclamation and then sets out to stand up for God's chosen people down on earth.
As John witnessed this amazing event, he noticed that Michael was holding a little book in his left hand. It was the same book (scroll) that Christ had received from the Throne-sitter's hand back in Revelation 5:7. Clutching that great document in his left hand ... and lifting his right hand up to Heaven … as a mighty conqueror … he let out a lion-like roar of words calling to battle! Immediately, his cry was answered by seven thunders from Heaven up above. The term, seven thunders, is an ancient Jewish idiom for the voice of God. The scholar and grammarian, Vincent, says that the Jews spoke of thunder as the seven voices of God. John was about to write what the seven thunders said, when another voice said, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.
Why do you suppose John was told not to write God's response to his mighty angel's cry? Well, God has the right to be God, does he not? With him there will always be mysteries and unrevealed things. This is a reminder of that reality. I believe we will continue to encounter mysteries from and about God throughout eternity. The main thing though, is that we trust him ... even when he does not see fit to reveal all that we would like to know. In those times, when we are not given all the answers, we must simply lean on him ... even though our finite minds cannot grasp his purposes. Some time ago, I was made aware that a wonderful Christian leader and educator, who I greatly admired and respected, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. My first reaction was, Why, Lord? Of all people, why that dear saint? And you know what, God didn't answer. Most likely, it was just none of my business. God will be God. Our assignment is to trust him, not to understand everything that he does or allows. His secrets are his glory and our opportunity to exercise faith. As we have it in Proverbs 25:2a,
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter…
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Rev. 10:5-7
The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his [NU adds: right] hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets.
10:5-7
Next, the mighty angel swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it. No mistake about it, Michael’s oath was grounded squarely on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s unique Son is the one who lives forever and ever and created heaven and Earth. As we had it back in 1:18,
I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen.
Speaking of Christ as Creator, Colossians 1:16, says,
For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him.
And again, speaking of Christ Jesus in John 1:3,
All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made.
And, again, as we have it in Hebrews 1:1-3,
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…
Anchoring his oath in Jesus' name, the mighty angel swore that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished. Now, it is very important to get the translation right here. The problem lies in this phrase, about to sound. The King James correctly renders it when he shall begin to sound. Grammatically, it could be rendered either way, but it is clear from the whole of Scripture that although the Seventh Trumpet blast sets in motion all of mankind's understanding of the mystery of God ... it will not be finished (completed) ... until long after his all-important Trumpet SOUND is no longer heard. That's because, time-wise, the mystery of God cannot be finished ... until every human being from all of time knows who Christ Jesus is ... which will come about over a thousand years after the sound of the Seventh Trumpet's blast died out. Shortly, I will address this further.
Let's begin by thinking about this question, What is the mystery of God? Let’s look to the Scripture for the answer. Consider the following:
First Timothy 3:16 , says,
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Isaiah 25:6, says,
And in this mountain [Mount Zion at Jerusalem] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
The mystery of God, to which the mighty angel was referring to then, is Christ Jesus, himself ... namely, just who, exactly, Christ Jesus actually is. After the days of the sounding of the seventh angel ... Jesus, the God-Man ... will never again be a mystery. By the end of those days, there will no longer be a question in anyone's mind concerning Christ Jesus. Right now, he is a mystery to the vast majority of peoples in our world. Even here in gospel saturated America, his person is a mystery to most. At his Second Coming (at the end of the Great Tribulation), when every eye will see him ... the mystery of Christ will certainly be cleared up for everyone who is living at that point in time. However, after that ... the following generations who are born will only be enlighted if they place their personal faith in Christ and then, experience their faith being worked out in warm fellowship with him as they ... feast ... at his throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 26:6-7 above). But, even then ... the achievement sought of each and every human being understanding the mystery of God will still not be finished. No, not until every person from all-time knows who Jesus is. This won't occur until after the end of the Millennium (Christ's 1000-year reign on earth) ... because the Millennium itself falls under the sounding of the 7th Trumpet. Following the battle of Gog and Magog, at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:8) ... then, and only then, will the pophecy of the mighty angel of chapter 10 ... be fulfilled. What a wonderful day that will be when the mystery of God has been cleared up forever ... and the scripture in Philippians 2:9b-11 comes to pass...
…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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Rev. 10:8-11
Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, ’Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.’ So I went to the angel and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me,‘Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’ Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And [NU omits: he and adds: they] said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’
10:8-11
John was told to approach the mighty angel and take the little book from his hand. When he obeyed, the angel told him to take and eat it. This is familiar symbolism in the Bible. This same symbolism is found in the prophet Ezekiel. There we read,
Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Ezekiel 2:9
Moreover he said to me, ‘ eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that scroll. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Then he said to me: 'Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.' Ezekiel 3:1-4
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Ezekiel 3:14
Similar to what it was like when Ezekiel ate his scroll, John found his to be sweet to his tongue but bitter in his stomach. In Ezekiel's case, this was because the words in the book he ate contained both blessings (sweet), and curses (bitter), grace (sweetness) and judgment (bitterness) ... aimed at Israel. The scope is much broader, however, with Christ’s little book. It contained both blessings and curses upon the whole world. John would find them to be both bitter and sweet to write and speak about. Regardless, bitter or sweet, however, he was told he must tell them to many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. Likewise, this is why, when we read the book of Revelation, it is sometimes very sweet to us, yet, at other times, can be very bitter as well.
John's vision of the mighty angel ends with both the archangel and the Father saying, in effect, John, you’ve got your work cut out for you. I prefer the King James translation of verse 11 here, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. They were saying, You've gotta get this Word out to many people, John. So, way down here some twenty odd centuries later, we realize they were thinking of you and me, as well, dear reader. And, the Apostle John got these bitter-sweet words out to us, didn't he! Now it is up to you and I to get them out to others as well. May I share a quick thought before we move on? Both John and Ezekiel symbolically ate God’s Word. The Word of God is something to be experienced, beloved. We need to ask ourselves, Have I been experiencing it? Have I been eating it up? If not, we've been missing out on God's best for us. Jeremiah said,
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
Psalm 119:103, says,
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I am convinced that the greatest need of God's people today is that we regularly partake of the Word of God. Have we read our Bible today? Are we feasting on the Word of Christ? Have I been listening to the Holy Spirit's plea to us believers in Collosians 3:16? ...
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When you and I are doing this, we are sitting at Jesus’ feet, and we find that that is exactly where we need to be ... finding real salvation (1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Tim. 3:15), obtaining victory over sin (Ps. 119:9, 11; Jn. 17:17), reveiving wisdom (Prov. 1:2), acquiring knowledge (Prov. 2:1-5), discovering the joy of fellowship with God (Rev. 3:20), reaching others for Christ (Rom. 10:14, 17), getting answers to prayer (Jn. 15:7), being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), compare Col. 3:16, and much much more. None of these things, however, can be acquired apart from our in-take of the Word of God. There was a fellow where I once worked who gave his heart to Christ. The striking thing was, how he immediately began to devour the Bible In six short months he had read the entire Bible through and much of it, several times. Needless to say, his love for the Savior was just remarkable and his testimony for Christ was powerful and without reservation. Is it any wonder the Spirit of God began to use him in the lives of other people? There are no shortcuts, beloved. Read the Word.
…like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word , that by it you may grow in respect to salvation… First Peter 2:2 (NASV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom… Colossians 3:16a (KJV)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:7-8 (KJV)
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Rev. 11:1-2
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ’Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.’
Continuing the interlude between the Sixth and Seventh Trumpets, we will now receive three more crucial pieces of information before we return to the fast-moving events of the Great Tribulation.
We will learn that during the days of this Great Tribulation:
1. An all-important temple of the Jews will exist in Jerusalem.
2. Two ancient men of renoun will re-appear on earth and become unstopable witnesses for Christ.
3. A prophetic beast will reign over the entire world ... who is Antichrist.
Before we look at this, let me share a thought or two about this future temple at Jerusalem. For the past nineteen hundred plus years, the Jewish people have had no place or national identity in their biblical homeland. Only in this generation have they stepped back onto the world stage as a nation. In 1948, they achieved that status. Following that momentous declaration by the UN, many Jews have returned to the homeland of their fathers. It has been intriguing to watch, to say the least. In addition, after the Six Day War, they captured and now control their ancient capital of Jerusalem. However, prophetically speaking, there are still many pieces of the puzzle that are missing. A major piece is the temple. It must be rebuilt at Jerusalem in order to fulfill many Bible prophecies concerning the last days. However, as of the moment [9/9/2025], one of Islam’s holy places, the Dome of the Rock, stands squarely on the site where the Jews’ ancient temple once stood and must be rebuilt. To say the least, that is a problem and the temple mount continues to be a major source of friction between the Jewish people and the followers of Islam. Nevertheless, orthodox Jews still plan to build their temple there. As far back as 1967, a group of American Jews placed an ad in the Washington Post soliciting donations for the purchase of its building materials. Not long ago, I found there are multiple websites on the Internet that deal with the rebuilding of the Jew's temple at Jerusalem. It is a current affairs issue today. The prophet, Malachi, prophesying about the coming of Messiah, said,
Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, he is coming, Says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3
Daniel, speaking of Antichrist’s future seizing of the Jew's temple, mid-Trib, prophesyed,
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. Daniel 9:27
Jesus, speaking of this very scripture, said that this abomination would take place in the Holy of Holies, ναοῦ (naou) [from naos] the holiest inner sanctum of the temple saying,
Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [naos] (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:15-16
There are a good many things to study in these scriptures concerning the temple but first, let’s think about the time periods that are involved. Daniel 9:27 speaks of a week and the middle of the week during which Antichrist would make and then break a covenant with the Jews. Further, when this occurs, Daniel said, Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and offering to cease. These weeks that Daniel prophesied have been proven by biblical scholars to be prophetic weeks ... each one equaling a time period of 7 years. The middle of the week then, would be 3 1/2 years into it. See Appendix B, for a more detailed discussion of this. I refer you to Sir Robert Anderson's book, The Coming Prince, for the classic work on these prophetic years.
When the prophecy from Daniel 9:27 is carefully analyzed then, we glean fromit the following facts:
As Antichrist begins his rise to power ... one of his first official acts will be to enter into a 7 year treaty with the Jewish people (he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week). Very likely, a key part of that treaty will be to permit the Jewish people to remove the Dome of the Rock and rebuild their temple on its original site. It will be the 4th temple on the site. The first three were:
Solomon’s Temple … destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC
Ezra's Temple … rebuilt and completed on March 12, 515 BC (Ezra 6:15)
Herod’s Temple … Ezra's temple, remodeled and expanded during Jesus' lifetime and subsequently destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. There has been no other temple at Jerusalem since that time.
At the midpoint of Antichrist’s 7-year covenant with the Jews, he will break the treaty by seizing their temple at Jerusalem for himself. Then, he will institute the worship of himself, centered on the Jew's temple. Emperor Worship will have once again come about on earth, following its ancient practice by several Roman Caesars who were before him. Second Thessalonians 2:3-4 speaks of this:
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Jesus also warned his Jewish people that this day would come ... when Antichrist would break his treaty with them, saying,
…when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place spoken of by Daniel the prophet, let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:15-16
When Antichrist breaks his covenant with the Jews, like Hitler before him, he will at once begin a systematic attempt to exterminate them. That’s why Jesus warned them that when they saw Daniel's prophecy come to pass, they were literally not to waste a second getting out of town.
To summarize, there must be a temple at Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation so that these and several other key prophetic things can be fulfilled.
11:1-2
Now, let's look at our Revelation 11:1-2 scripture. In chapter 10, John’s vision of the mighty angel took place down on the Earth. John is still down there and he is shown a temple there and told to ... measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
There are two important things to note here:
First, this temple is real. The command to measure it, its altar and its worshipers emphasize their reality in that future day. They're things you can put a measuring tape to.
Second, it all belongs to God ... the temple, the altar, and the worshipers. Measuring is an act of ownership. All who worship there are his (primarily his chosen covenant people, the Jews). However, the angel also instructs John that the outer court of the temple is not to be measured because it has been given to the Gentiles who will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months (3 1/2 years). The outer court was called The Court of the Gentiles in Jesus' day because that was as far as a Gentile was allowed to enter the temple area. During the 3 1/2-year Great Tribulation, it will continue its function of providing access to Gentile worshipers.
When you put the pieces of the puzzle together, it goes something like this: At the beginning of the Tribulation, Antichrist will make a 7-year treaty with the Jewish people, allowing them to dwell safely in their homeland and to rebuild their temple and worship unhindered there (Daniel 9:27). However, 3 1/2 years in, Antichrist will break his treaty and, turning on the Jews, seize their temple for his own use. Then, blasphemously, he will set himself up there to be worshipped (Daniel. 9:27; Matthew 24:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). From that time on, Antichrist worshippers will travel from all over the world to stand in the outer court (the court of the Gentiles) bringing their gifts and sacrifices to Antichrist. That’s why the angel told John not to measure it. During those days, that area will have nothing whatever to do with the true and living God. This detail is fascinating because, apparently, Antichrist worship at the temple will have the same restrictions as was imposed in the Old Testament temple so that no one but Antichrist's priests will be allowed to enter the Temple proper. Satan is such a counterfeiter. And, so will his man, Antichrist, be! I suspect that only the False Prophet, acting as High Priest, will enter the Holy of Holies where the abomination of desolation (Antichrist's image?) will sit (Matthew 24:15).
So, the temple at Jerusalem is a key structure in the outworking of the events of the last days.
It will serve as:
… A place of Jewish worship, during the first half of the Tribulation
… A possession for Antichrist to seize as his own, at the middle of the Tribulation
… A center for Antichrist worship during the last three and a half years of the Great Tribulation
… The temple to which Jesus will return to at his Second Coming.
After setting foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4), our Lord will enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate and suddenly come to his temple (Malachi 3:1). All this was foreshadowed, by the way, when he rode the donkey colt into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, some two thousand years ago. Do you remember where he went? He went directly to Herod’s temple and unexpectedly trounced the thieves and extortioners who were selling their items there! Having made himself a whip, he cleaned the place out crying with a loud voice,
It is written, my house is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves! Luke 19:46
These things are very exciting. You and I are very likely living on the very edge of the fulfillment of these prophecies! There is such a stirring of the Jews in the land of Palestine today and there is such tension over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount there. Every day, thousands of Jews gather at the Wailing Wall (all that is left of Solomon's temple), to pray, as tensions with their enemies continue to escalate and escalate over that all-important city and its temple site. Never has the Church of Jesus Christ seen such exciting signs that the close of this current age is near!
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Rev. 11:3-6
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the [NU changes: God to: Lord] of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
11:3
The Old Testament prophets foretold that Messiah would have two forerunners. Because only one is specifically named in Scripture, the Jews only recognize one. The forerunner that the Scripture names is Elijah. As we have it in Malachi 4:5-6,
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
Orthodox Jews are still looking for Elijah to appear. Every year, during Passover, they set a place for him at their tables. Elijah will indeed be sent to earth before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (the Great Tribulation) just as Malachi prophesied.
The second prophesied forerunner appeared on earth at Christ's first coming. He was John the Baptist. When the Pharisees asked him who he was, he replied that he was the one of whom Isaiah was speaking when he said,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ’Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ Isaiah 40:3
It is important to note that Jesus also linked John the Baptist to Malachi's prophecy of his Second Coming. In Luke 7:27, concerning John, he said,
This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' Malachi 3:1a
Jesus ended his quote of Malachi 3:1, right in the middle of the verse. The rest of the verse reads and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his Temple. Christ's sudden return to his temple is an event that takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation, when Christ returns to earth to begin his 1000-year reign here. This is strong and compelling evidence that the second witness here in Revelation 11 is John the Baptist. Luke 1:17 also links these two prophets together. What a dynamic duo they will make, aye? Let's look a bit closer at them.
Verse three says, and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy. Clearly, they will be preachers. Both Malachi and Isaiah confirm that the Messiah’s forerunners will be preachers. Our text says they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (3 1/2 years), clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth was what ancient Jews wore when in deep mourning. There are several reasons why Christ's two witnesses will dress that way.
They will dress in sackcloth because:
…Daily, countless believers will be suffering and dying for their faith in Christ.
…Countless other souls will be perishing to go off into a Christless eternity.
…Two-thirds of the Jewish people will follow Antichrist, reject the two witnesses’ preaching, and adamantly refuse to believe in Christ Jesus.
…Satan's lies and distortions will be everywhere.
…Depravity, lawlessness and sin will be rampant.
…And last, but most important, Antichrist will sit in God's temple … being worshipped there.
Sackcloth will certainly be appropriate clothing to wear under all those conditions, wouldn’t you agree?
11:4-6
John continued … They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Lord of the earth. This is a direct reference to the symbolism of Zechariah 4. That passage refers to Joshua and Zerubbabel, who were two Spirit filled servants of God in their day. The meaning is transparent here. It is simply saying the two witnesses will be just like them ... two Spirit filled men as well. The Bible says that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother, Elizabeth’s, womb (Luke 1:15)! And, the prophet Elijah was so Spirit filled that when his successor, Elisha, asked him for a double portion of his Spirit … Elijah told him he didn’t even know if that was possible (2 Kings 2:9-10)! These two men were mighty Spirit filled prophets of God in the past and, doubtless, they will be again … during the hazardous, difficult and closing days of the Great Tribulation.
Notice the raw supernatural power they will possess. The text says, And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. Literally? Yes. They will be Christ's empowered ... formidable and invulnerable ... witnesses indeed. No doubt, there will be precious few attempts made on their lives once their enemies get a taste of the fiery consequences of such actions! Elijah, by the way, called down fire from heaven on his enemies when King Ahab tried to arrest him. Do you remember that? We read about it in Second Kings 1:9-10,
Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: "Man of God, the king has said, 'Come down!' So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Also, notice it says here that the two witnesses will have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. That was another thing Elijah did in the past. Further, it says they will have power over the waters to turn them to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire. Boy ... will they ever be thorns in the side of Antichrist and his followers! Some take this last statement as grounds for assuming the other witness is Moses because he too used such plagues. But, I believe the evidence that he is John the Baptist is much weightier and more compelling. King Herod had a great fear that John the Baptist would come back from the dead, by the way (Matthew 14:1-2), and I am confident it was not misplaced!
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Rev. 11:7-14
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also [NU changes: our to: their] Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them , and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here'. And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
11:7-10
We come here to the third personality introduced to us in Revelation 11. This is the first of thirty-six references to the beast in Revelation. It is a title used for Antichrist (1 John 2:18). We haven’t encountered him under this name in Scripture before. However, it will be used extensively to refer to him from here on. The text says that he ascends out of the bottomless pit. I believe this refers to his supernatural resurrection from the dead. We will look at that more closely when we get to Revelation 13.
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. [3 1/2 years] But the court shall be seated, and they [I take this to be a reference to the Trinity] shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Daniel 7:25-26
And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand [I take this to be the 144,000 and others] shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; [I take this god to be Satan] and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. Daniel 11:31-39
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Second Thessalonians 2:3-4
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Second Thessalonians 2:8-10
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. First John 2:18
Returning to our text, we read that when Christ's two witnesses completed their testimony the beast will make war against them, overcome them and kill them. Verse 8, tells us this will take place in Jerusalem. The phrase, where also their Lord was crucified tags that down for us. It went on to say that, spiritually, Jerusalem is Sodom and Egypt. The Lord dubs her Sodom because of the sin and perversions that will exist in Jerusalem during Antichrist's reign. And, he dubs her Egypt because she persecutes his chosen people, the Jews, like they were persecuted as slaves in Egypt so long ago. Now, this is not the first time that Jerusalem has been called Sodom. Isaiah also called her that...
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorra… Isaiah 1:10
After Christ's two witnesses are killed by Antichrist, the text says their dead bodies lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days, which brings about a worldwide viewing of their bodies and a celebration. This is further evidence of how ripe for judgment the earth will be in that day. The 3 1/2 days they will be dead, corresponds to the 3 1/2 years of their ministry. Someone has called this worldwide celebration, The Devil’s Christmas.
11:11-13
John continues … Now after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them and they stood on their feet. Won't that be something!? Then, John says, as they were being taken up to heaven, their enemies saw them. You know, for the past nineteen-hundred plus years, no one was able to make heads or tails of exactly how an entire world could possibly be able to see those two dead bodies arise and then ascended up to Heaven. So, for centuries, men chalked this passage up to, Just another inaccuracy in the Bible! They smugly pronounced that it was physically impossible for the whole world to watch those dead bodies arise, much less view them rising up into the heavens. With the advent of satellite television and the Internet, however, the How? of it is now completely understandable (this is another evidence of just how close we are to these actual actual events). Doubtless, Christ's two witnesses will raise from the dead and ascend up into Heaven in front of a viewing audience of billions! Can you picture it? I can almost hear someone at one of Satan's cocktail parties shout, Hey look!!! Then, as all eyes turn to their TVs, laptops, iPads, cell phones and the like … right before their eyes ... those two dead and mutilated bodies of Christ's two witnesses will be seen standing on their feet again. I think I heard a glass break!
Once again, John heard a voice from heaven say those three special words, Come up here, and Christ's two witnesses were out of there! The text says great fear fell on those who saw them. Celebration will turn to horror and then ... a great earthquake will strike the city called Sodom and Egypt. It says that seven thousand will perish and a tenth of the city will be knocked to rubble in retaliation for the atrocities Jerusalem had inflicted on the Lord's two witnesses. Because of the unprecedented and supernatural nature of these things, we read that even the ungodly will, in their own impulsive way, give glory to the God of heaven.
11:14
Concluding, our text warns the reader, the second woe (begun by the sixth Trumpet, back in 9:12-13) is past and the third woe is coming quickly. This also clues us that we have come to the end of the interlude between the 6th and the 7th trumpets and we will now return to the linear action of The Great Tribulation.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.
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