In Revelation 1 John has a vision of Jesus and writes a description of what he saw. John is in exile on the island of Patmos for being a faithful witness for Jesus. In Revelation 2 and 3 Jesus has John send letters to 7 churches in Asia Minor. Each church was an existing church in Asia Minor at the time of John’s exile around 95AD. But each letter has applications in our modern day lives and churches.
In Revelation 4 we saw John’s vision or visit to God’s throne. In Revelation 5 we saw the scroll with 7 seals. And that the Lamb, Jesus, was the only One worthy to receive and open the scroll. The scroll represents God’s will and the deed or title of the universe.
Only Jesus is worthy to receive and open the scroll. And to bring on God’s wrath and punishment for Satan, his demons, and for sinners that refuse to repent and believe in Jesus.
Then in Revelation 6 we saw the Lamb, Jesus, open the first 6 of 7 seals of the scroll. Revelation 6 is the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation, and shows a progression through the first half of the Tribulation and into the 2nd half, known as the Great Tribulation period. And of God’s judgement and punishment of Satan, his demons, and anyone who rebels against God and refuses to repent and bow down to Jesus.
In Revelation 7 we saw a continuation of John’s vision of heaven and God’s throne. Revelation 7 is a break between the opening of the first 6 seals in Revelation 6 and the 7th and final seal in Revelation 8. And we saw 4 angels and the 4 winds of the earth, 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, and a great multitude.
In Revelation 8 we saw Jesus open the 7th seal of the scroll, which is the start of the 7 trumpet judgements of God. This takes place in the 2nd half of the 7 year tribulation, which is known as the Great Tribulation.
Then in Revelation 9 we saw the terrifying 5th and 6th trumpet judgements that God pours out on His enemies. The people that still refused to repent and bow down to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
And in Revelation 10 we saw John’s vision of a mighty angel with an opened scroll with a voice of 7 thunders. This takes place in the break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgements.
Now we will study Revelation 11. This is a continuation of John’s vision of the break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgements in the final 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, known as the Great tribulation.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
The Temple In Jerusalem
“Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.” – Revelation 11:1-2
The Old Testament prophet Zachariah had a vision similar to John’s vision here in Revelation 11.
“And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” – Zachariah 2:1-5
This is a vision of Jerusalem in the future 1000 millenial kingdom of Jesus. Note the no walls and the multitude of people there. And that Jesus will be their “wall of fire” or Protector. And that Jesus will be the glory in it.
John’s vision of the break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgements continues into Revelation 11. John is given a measuring rod and told to measure God’s temple and altar. This is the temple in Jerusalem.
Then John is told to not measure the court outside the temple. This is inferring that the things and message following this is for the Jews, and not for the “gentiles”, or the rest of the world.
The 2 witnesses John is about to talk about in Revelation 11:3-12 will be primarily sent to reach the lost Jews of Israel (as are the 144,000 witnesses we saw in Revelation 7).
Salvation For God’s People Israel
Many others in the world, the “gentiles”, are saved also during the tribulation because of the witnesses that God raises up during the tribulation. Namely the 2 witnesses in Revelation 11 and the 144,000. This is evidenced by the great multitude of martyrs from all nations also seen in heaven in Revelation 7 with the 144,000 Jewish witnesses.
Throughout the Old Testament and the history of God’s chosen people Israel, they have turned away from God in their hearts many times. And God sent His prophets to try to bring them back to Him.
“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good;
seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. 18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” – Isaiah 1:12-18
“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. 14 Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” – Jeremiah 3:12-15
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” – Ezekiel 18:30-32
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
God’s Remnant & The Salvation of God’s Chosen People Israel
In Isaiah 6 God calls Isaiah to go and preach and prophesy His word to Israel. And God mentions through Isaiah a “tenth that remains “, or a remnant.
“Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, 12 and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.” – Isaiah 6:11-13
In Romans Paul talks about the end times and a remnant of Jews. This infers that there will be some Jews, a remnant, that God will use to turn many lost people of Israel to the Lord Jesus in the end times.
“And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” – Romans 9:27-29
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” – Romans 11:1-5
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election (or God’s choice) is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.” – Romans 11:25-31
God will fulfill His promise to bring mercy and salvation to Israel. Sadly it will take until the terrible times in the Great Tribulation for the Jews of Israel to soften their hearts and repent.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
The Nations Will Trample Jerusalem & The Temple
Revelation 11:2 mentions that the nations will trample the holy city, Jerusalem, (and the temple) for 42 months. The nations mentioned in Revelation 11:2 is a Greek word that depicts the unrepentant rebellious gentiles of the world. This will occur in the 2nd half of the 7 year tribulation. This is when the antichrist reveals his true self, and declares himself to be god.
This is talking about the “Abomination of Desolation ” that Daniel prophesied about, and that Jesus talked about in Matthew 24.
The scene in Revelation 11 is Jerusalem in Israel. Specifically the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Today there is no Temple of God in Jerusalem. So this means that the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then altar mentioned in verse 1 shows that the Jewish tradition of offering sacrifices on the altar at the temple in Jerusalem will have been restored.
And the primary focus of the 2 witnesses John is about to talk about is the lost people of Israel, and the lost Jews that will come from all over to worship at the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
2 Witnesses From God
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” – Revelation 11:3-4
God will send 2 powerful witnesses to prophesy and preach the Gospel during the Great Tribulation. Which is the 2nd half of the 7 year tribulation period. John describes this time as 1260 days.
Like the 144,000 Jewish witnesses we saw in Revelation 7, the 2 witnesses will be part of God’s desire and attempt to get rebellious and sinful people to repent and turn to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Who Are The 2 Witnesses?
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” – Revelation 11:3
John says that God will give the 2 witnesses authority, or power, to prophesy and preach the Gospel for 1260 days.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
Clothed In Sackcloth
The 2 witnesses will be wearing sackcloth. Sackcloth is basically a sack or bag for potatoes.
God’s servants and prophets in the Old Testament would sometimes wear sackcloth. Sackcloth was worn to express humility, sadness, and sorrow. This is the first clue as to who the 2 witnesses will be.
Elijah is described in 2 Kings 1 as wearing “garment of hair”. Sackcloth was a coarse fabric typically made from goat’s hair.
“And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” – 1 Kings 1:6-8
Two Olive Trees & Lampstands
John describes the 2 witnesses in Revelation 11:4 as “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth”
The 2 olive trees and lampstands refers to a prophecy in Zachariah 4.
“And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” – Zachariah 4:1-3
“Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand? 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” – Zachariah 4:11-14
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
More Clues As To Who The 2 Witnesses Are
“And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may 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 kind of plague, as often as they desire.” – Revelation 11:5-6
There are several clues as to who the 2 witnesses will be. Fire from their mouths. The power to shut the sky and stop the rain. The power to turn the waters (oceans, rivers…) into blood. And the power to send all kinds of plagues to the earth.
Fire Pours From Their Mouth
God will give the 2 witness the power to send fire from their mouths to kill anyone that will try to harm them.
This is similar to the prophet Elijah. Although fire did not pour from Elijah’s mouth, he was able to call down fire from heaven to kill those that tried to harm him.
“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.” – 1 Kings 1:9-12
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
Power To Shut The Sky & Stop The Rain
“They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying.” – Revelation 11:6
The 2 witnesses will have the power to shut the sky and stop it from raining for the time they will be prophesying and preaching the Gospel. Which is 1260 days, or during the Great Tribulation.
1 Kings 17 describes how the prophet Elijah had the power to stop it from raining, unless he said for it to rain.
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” – 1 Kings 17:1
Curiously the drought that Elijah brought in 1 Kings 17 is the same length as the 2nd half of the tribulation, or the Great Tribulation.
Power To Turn Water Into Blood
“and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood…” – Revelation 11:6
When God sent Moses to deliver His people from Pharaoh and Egypt, He gave Moses power to turn the Nile River into blood. That was the first of 10 plagues God sent to Egypt.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water, and stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, “By this you shall know that I am the Lord: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.” – Exodus 7:14-18
Power To Strike The Earth With Plagues
“… and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.” – Revelation 11:6
God will give the 2 witnesses that will be in the Great Tribulation the power to send every kind of plague to the earth, as often as they desire.
Just like with the first plague of turning the Nile River into blood, God gave Moses the power to send 9 other plagues to convince Pharaoh to let His people go. And to punish Egypt for their evil and their many false gods and idols.
You can read about the 10 plagues God sent to Egypt in Exodus 7 to 12. Or here: 10 Plagues of Egypt
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
Elijah And Moses
Most likely Elijah and Moses will be the 2 witnesses that God will send in the 2nd half of the tribulation. To prophesy and preach the Gospel. They will be in Jerusalem continually prophesying and preaching the Gospel, primarily to the Jews that come to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple.
Elijah and Moses were seen talking with Jesus by Peter, James, and John during Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain.
“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” – Matthew 17:1-3
Jews Believe That Moses & Elijah Will Return
It is the belief of traditional Jews that someday Moses and Elijah will return. This belief is based on verses in Deuteronomy 18 and Malachi 4.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” – Deuteronomy 18:15-18
This promise of God to send a “prophet like Moses ” was fulfilled by Jesus. He came not only as a prophet to speak the words of God, but also as the promised Messiah, the Lord and Savior. But Jews still believe that Moses is the one who will come back.
And it appears that God will use this belief of the Jews to try to lead many to salvation in the Great Tribulation by sending Moses and Elijah as the 2 witnesses in Revelation 11.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch… Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” – Malachi 4:1,5-6
Malachi talks about how God promised to send Elijah “before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes”. The great and awesome day of the Lord is the end times in the Great Tribulation. The last half of the 7 year tribulation.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
The Beast That Rises From The Abyss or Bottomless Pit
“And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.” – Revelation 11:7
In verse 7 we see the introduction of the “beast that rises from the abyss, or bottomless pit”. We saw the abyss or bottomless pit in Revelation 9, when the 5th trumpet was blown by an angel and the 5th trumpet judgement of God began.
The abyss or bottomless pit is hell, where many demons were held imprisoned. The beast from the abyss is the antichrist. This is the first mention of the beast from the abyss or the antichrist in Revelation. There will be much more written by John about him in the remainder of the book of Revelation.
The antichrist is a human that is demon possessed and empowered by Satan. He is not Satan, but he serves Satan, and is set up by Satan to rule the world. The antichrist is the “Abomination of Desolation” seen by Daniel in his vision of the end times. Jesus also talks about the Abomination of Desolation in Matthew 24. He is the one that makes a short lived peace pact with Israel and the rest of the world.
And the antichrist is the one who declares himself god in the middle of the 7 year tribulation, and takes over and desecrates the temple in Jerusalem.
The Beast From The Abyss Defeats The 2 Witnesses
“And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.” – Revelation 11:7
The antichrist will war against the 2 witnesses and will kill them. This will take place in Jerusalem, right before the 7th and final trumpet judgement.
The 2 witnesses will be indestructible, and no one can harm them. But then all of a sudden the antichrist kills them.
Notice that verse 7 starts with “And when they have finished their testimony”. When they have completed their God given task of prophesying about punishment and repentance, and preaching the Gospel primarily to the Jews of Israel, God allows them to be killed. This is another example of God’s sovereignty and total control, even during the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
2 Witnesses’ Dead Bodies
“and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.” – Revelation 11:8-10
John tells us in his vision in Revelation 11:8-9 that after the antichrist kills the 2 witnesses their bodies will lie in the street in Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days.
3 1/2 days will be long enough for their bodies to begin to decay. In ancient times pagan nations would do this to their defeated enemies to dishonor and denigrate them. That is what the antichrist will try to do with God’s servants the 2 witnesses.
People Of The World Will Celebrate Their Death
“For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.” – Revelation 11:9-10
John tells us in his vision that the whole world will see the dead and decaying bodies lying in the street for 3 1/2 days. Everyone in the world will see because it will be broadcast on tv and on the internet all around the world.
What will be their reaction? Sadness? Horror? Disgust No. John tells us that the people of the world will celebrate the death of the 2 witnesses. And they will “rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents”.
Can you imagine people throwing parties and exchanging gifts because 2 men will be killed? And their dead and decaying bodies left for all to see?
Sadly today it is not hard to imagine this. There were many people celebrating the recent attempts to assassinate President Trump of the US. The only thing they lamented was that the attempts were not successful.
And recently there were many people that celebrated the killing of conservative Christian and political activist Charlie Kirk.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
Resurrection Of The 2 Witnesses
“But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at 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.” – Revelation 11:11-13
John then tells us that after the 2 witnesses’ bodies will be left to decay and be displayed in the street for 3 1/2 days, suddenly God will raise them from the dead. It will be a modern day Lazarus miracle.
Suddenly the parties and celebrations will end. And the exchanging of gifts too.
And everyone in the world will hear a loud voice from heaven telling the 2 witnesses to return to heaven. And everyone in the world will see them go back to heaven in a cloud. If everyone in the world doesn’t personally see this amazing scene, they will surely see it broadcast on TV or on the internet.
What will everyone’s reaction be then?
A Great Earthquake
“And at 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.” – Revelation 11:13
John tells us that after the 2 witnesses return to heaven in a cloud, that there will be a great earthquake. And a tenth of the great city Jerusalem will be destroyed.
And 7000 people will die in the earthquake. Curiously the Greek word used for the 7000 people that will die means that they will be important people or distinguished people.
The Reaction Of The People In The World
The rest of the people that were not killed by the great earthquake will be terrified. And some curiously will finally give glory to God.
After all of this time some finally give God glory. After the nearly 7 years of tribulation, and the 7 seal judgements, and 6 trumpet judgements. After billions of people have been killed, and most of the earth and vegetation burned up. And after most of the waters of the world turned to blood or poisoned. And after large swarms of demons have been terrifying them.
The ones that will finally give God glory are most likely the many Jews of Israel that stubbornly will hold onto their unbelief of Jesus and their hard hearts until then. And this will be the fulfillment of God’s promises to bring mercy and salvation to His chosen people of Israel.
This will occur just barely in time. Because next in Revelation 11 we will see the 7th and final trumpet judgement. And the 7th trumpet judgement is the final one that sets into motion the rapidly occurring 7 bowl judgements in a matter of days. And then Jesus will return and take over the reign of the universe and start His 1000 year earthly kingdom.
Revelation 11 – 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet Judgement
The 7th Trumpet Judgement
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, 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 shall 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 thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” – Revelation 11:15-18
Finally the time for the 7th trumpet judgement and the finale of the day of the Lord arrives in John’s vision. What will happen next is the rapid occurring 7 bowl judgements, or plagues. This will occur in a matter of days at the final part of the Great Tribulation. We will see the 7 bowl judgements in Revelation 16.
In Revelation 11:15 John sees in his vision the 7th angel that stands in God’s presence blow the 7th trumpet to initiate the final 7th trumpet judgement. He then immediately sees a scene taking place in heaven. He sees and hears loud voices in heaven. The loud voices in heaven are saying “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The worshipful voices in heaven have been waiting for this for a long long time.
24 Elders In Heaven
Then in Revelation 11:16-17 John also sees the 24 elders that are around God’s throne in heaven.We saw the 24 elders around God’s throne in John’s vision of heaven and God’s throne in Revelation 4. Remember the 24 elders represent the Old Testament and New Testament believers, or saints, that have been raptured before the tribulation begins. You can see the evidence in the Bible for the rapture of God’s church, or true believers in Christ here: Evidence in the Bible for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
The 24 elders bow down and fall on their faces to worship God. They are saying “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
The 24 elders and all believers, along with the 4 living creatures and all angels in heaven have been waiting a long time for Jesus to take ownership and the reign of the earth and the universe. And with the 7th trumpet judgement that long awaited moment will soon happen.
Lightning, Rumblings, Thunder, An Earthquake, And Heavy Hail
“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” – Revelation 11:19
John also sees the temple of God in heaven opened, and he sees the ark of His covenant in the temple.
Then John sees lightning, rumblings, thunder, another earthquake, and heavy hail. The rumblings and thunder are often associated with judgement and punishment in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament.
“When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 9:23
“The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” – 1 Samuel 2:10
“And in an instant, suddenly, you will be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.” – Isaiah 29:5-6
Next we will study Revelation 12. Revelation 12 shows the next part of John’s vision, and includes a scene with a “woman” and a “dragon”.
Pursuing Intimacy With God
Pursuing Intimacy With God is committed to helping you with the most important thing in your life… your intimacy with God , your fellowship with Him, and your partnership with God in His Kingdom work & mission.
There are hundreds of Bible verses and great truths & promises in the Pursuing Intimacy With God studies book
eBook version of Pursuing Intimacy With God
Pursuing Intimacy With God ebook Kindle version
Salvation: The Requirements for True Salvation
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Preview the Pursuing Intimacy With God Studies Book
God’s Promises In The Bible
God’s Promises In The Bible – Part 2
Seek God With All Your Heart
Seek God With All Your Heart – Part 2
The Names of God & Their Meaning
The Names of Jesus Christ
8 Keys to Intimacy With God
8 Keys to Intimacy With God – Part 2
Read God’s Word The Bible
Read God’s Word The Bible – Part 2
Meditate on God’s Word The Bible
Praise & Worship God
Praise & Worship God – Part 2
God’s Top Priority For The Church
Praise Is A Weapon for Spiritual Warfare
Kevin Bart has been a Jesus follower for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God after many years of seeking God and studying His word.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led an international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had 51 mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
