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                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                             Chapter Eleven

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine the remaining visions in the interlude between the 
   sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets, and what happens when
   the seventh trumpet sounds

2) To offer explanations concerning the significance of these visions,
   and to summarize what we have seen in the first half of the book of
   Revelation

SUMMARY

As the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets continues, two
more visions are seen.  The first involves John himself as he is given
a reed and told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those
worshipping there.  He is instructed, however, not to measure the court
outside the temple, for it has been given to the Gentiles who will
tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months (1-2).  This vision
may illustrate that while the church will undergo great persecution, 
and outwardly appear to be trodden underfoot, its inner spirit will not
be harmed.

Then there is the vision of the two witnesses, which falls into three
sections.  With power they prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Identified as the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing
before the throne of God, they have the power to devour with fire from
their mouths those who wish to harm them.  They also have power to stop
the rain during the days of their prophesying, to turn water to blood,
and to strike the earth with plagues (3-6).  But when their testimony
is completed, the beast from the bottomless pit makes war with them and
kills them.  For three and half days their bodies lies in the street of
the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt (where Jesus
was crucified).  Those who had been tormented by the two prophets
rejoice, make merry and exchange gifts (7-10).  However, after three
and a half days they are raised to life and ascend into heaven,
bringing great fear on those who saw them.  In the same hour a great
earthquake occurs in which a tenth of the city fell and 7000 men were
killed.  The rest were afraid and gave glory to God (11-13).

The two witnesses are certainly reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, but I
do not believe they portend two literal persons.  Rather, they 
represent the witness of the church, with the number two signifying the
strength of their witness (e.g., "two or more witnesses").  As 
suggested by Hailey, the first period may be the apostolic age during
which the witnesses could not be destroyed.  When their testimony is
completed, there will be a time of persecution by "the beast" and those
of "the great city" (who will be identified later).  Ultimately,
however, the witnesses (i.e., the church) will be victorious, 
symbolized by their resurrection and ascension to heaven.

The interlude ended, it is time for the third woe, and the final
trumpet.  As the seventh angel sounded, loud voices in heaven
proclaimed "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our
Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"  The 
twenty-four elders then fell on their faces and worshiped God, giving 
thanks to Him for having taken His great power and reigned.  While the
nations were angry, His wrath has come. So has the time for the dead to
be judged, for His servants the prophets and the saints to be rewarded,
and for the destruction of those who destroy the earth.  Then the
temple of God was opened in heaven, with the ark of the covenant in the
temple, accompanied by lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake
and hail (15-19).

With the seventh trumpet we reach the climax of the first half of the
Revelation, in which we have been shown an overall look at the
conflict.  In general terms, the conflict between the Lamb and His
enemies has been described, without really mentioning who those enemies
are.  What has been stressed is that the wrath of God and His Lamb was
coming!  Through the visions of the seven seals and seven trumpets we 
learn of the arsenal at God's disposal:  military conquest, civil war,
famine, pestilence, natural calamities, internal and moral decay,
external invasion.  Just as God used such instruments in His dealings
with the nations in the Old Testament, so His Son would use His power 
to reign over the nations with a rod of iron (cf. 1:5; 2:27; 3:21).

We have also seen visions designed to comfort the saints being 
oppressed by their enemies.  God has taken notice of their suffering,
and while persecution may temporarily be their lot, victory will
ultimately be theirs!  Even those who suffer death at the hands of
their enemies are promised salvation and the blessing of being in the
presence and care of the Lord.  But nothing can totally stop their
witness, and nothing can keep God from remaining true to His covenant
with them!

OUTLINE

I. MEASURING THE TEMPLE OF GOD (1-2)

   A. THE COMMAND TO MEASURE THE TEMPLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS (1)
      1. John is given a reed like a measuring rod
      2. Told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who 
         worship there

   B. THE COMMAND NOT TO MEASURE THE OUTER COURT (2)
      1. Told not to measure the court outside the temple
      2. For it has been given to the Gentiles, who will tread the holy
         city under foot forty-two months

II. THE TWO WITNESSES (3-14)

   A. PROPHESYING FOR 1260 DAYS (3-6)
      1. Two witnesses given power to prophesy, clothed in sackcloth
      2. Identified as the two olive trees and two lampstands standing
         before God
      3. Those trying to harm them are devoured by fire from their
         mouths
      4. Having power:
         a. To shut heaven so no rain falls during their prophesying
         b. To turn water to blood
         c. To strike the earth with plagues as they desire

   B. KILLED AND DEAD FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS (7-10)
      1. Their testimony finished, the beast will kill them
         a. The beast that ascends from the bottomless pit
         b. Who will make war against them and overcome them
      2. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city
         a. Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt
         b. Where our Lord was crucified
      3. The peoples, tribes, tongues, and nation who dwell on the
         earth
         a. Will see their bodies three and a half days
         b. Will not allow them to be put into graves
         c. Will rejoice over them, make merry, and exchange gifts, 
            because the two prophets had tormented those who dwell on
            the earth

   C. RAISED AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN (11-14)
      1. After three and a half days, the breath of life from God 
         entered them
      2. They stood, and great fear fell on those who saw them
      3. A loud voice from heaven tells them to "Come up here"
      4. They ascend to heaven in a cloud as their enemies saw them
      5. In that same hour there was an earthquake
         a. A tenth of the city fell
         b. Seven thousand men were killed
         c. The rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven
      6. The second woe is past; the third woe is coming quickly

III. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET:  THE KINGDOM PROCLAIMED (15-19)

   A. VICTORY PROCLAIMED (15)
      1. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet and there were loud 
         voices in heaven
      2. Saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms
         of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and
         ever!"

   B. THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS WORSHIP GOD (16-18)
      1. The elders fell on their faces and worshiped God
      2. Giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who
         was and who is to come
      3. Because He has taken His great power and reigned
      4. The nations were angry, and His wrath has come
      5. The time has come
         a. That the dead should be judged
         b. That His servants the prophets, the saints, and those who
            fear His name, should be rewarded
         c. That He should destroy those who destroy the earth

   C. THE TEMPLE OF GOD OPENED IN HEAVEN (19)
      1. The temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His 
         covenant was seen in His temple
      2. There were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and
         great hail

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Measuring the temple of God (1-2)
   - The two witnesses (3-14)
   - The seventh trumpet:  the kingdom proclaimed (15-19)

2) What was John given and told to measure? (1)
   - A reed like a measuring rod; the temple of God, the altar, and
     those who worship there

3) What was he told to leave out?  Why? (2)
   - The court outside the temple
   - It has been given to the Gentiles who will tread the holy city
     underfoot for forty-two months

4) What were the two witnesses to do? (3)
   - Prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth

5) How are they identified? (4)
   - As the two olive trees and two lampstands standing before God

6) What happens to those who try to harm them during this time of
   prophesying? (5)
   - They are devoured by fire from their mouth

7) What power do these two witnesses have? (6)
   - To shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their
     prophecy
   - To turn water to blood
   - To strike the earth with plagues, as often as they desire

8) What will happen when they finish their testimony? (7)
   - The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war
     with them and kill them

9) Where will their dead bodies lie? (8)
   - In the street of the great city spiritually called Sodom and 
     Egypt, where Jesus was crucified

10) How long will people see their dead bodies? (9)
   - Three and a half days

11) How will those on the earth react to their deaths?  Why?  (10)
   - They will rejoice, make merry, exchange gifts
   - Because the two prophets had tormented them

12) What happened to the two witnesses after three and a half days?
    (11-12)
   - The breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their
     feet
   - A loud voice from heaven called them to come up and they ascended
     to heaven in a cloud

13) What happened in that same hour? (13)
   - A great earthquake, in which a tenth of the city fell and seven
     thousand men were killed
   - The rest were afraid and gave glory to God

14) What was heard when the seventh angel sounded his trumpet? (15)
   - Loud voices in heaven saying "The kingdoms of this world have 
     become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall
     reign forever and ever!"

15) What did the twenty-four elders do? (16)
   - Fell on their faces and worshiped God

16) For what did they give thanks? (17)
   - The Lord God Almighty took His great power and reigned

17) As expressed in their praise, what had come? (18)
   - His wrath
   - The time of the dead, that they should be judged
   - That He should reward His servants the prophets and the saints
   - That He should destroy those who destroy the earth

18) What was then opened in heaven, and what was seen in it? (19)
   - The temple of God; the ark of the covenant

19) What then followed? (19)
   - Lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail
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