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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Revelations 11:1-19

Two Witnesses And The Seventh Trumpet
Revelation 11:1-19 Lesson 11 Key verse 11:15b Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
In this passage, we learn about the two witnesses and about God’s faithfulness to his people to protect his chosen ones and bring about his kingdom. The two witnesses are God's servants. During this limited time unbelievers will trample on what is holy, but in the midst of this, the two witnesses will preach God's word and make people very angry. After they finish their task, they will be attacked by Satan and killed. But God will raise them and bring them up to heaven and a time of destruction will come. Then will come the sounding of the trumpet of the seventh angel. He announces the time of final judgment and God's triumph when the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Through this passage may God make you into a faithful witness until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of God.
Part l: The Two Witnesses (1-14)
In the opening of this passage, we find John before a vision of the temple. Let’s read verse 1, “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, ‘Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there.’” Here, the temple is most likely a symbol of the church (all true believers). It is a symbol because we know that there is no temple in the New Jerusalem. God's temple is now the church, made of living stones who are the followers of Christ (Eph 2:19-22). John measured the temple to show us that God is building walls of protection around his people to shield them from spiritual harm. God’s people are all counted and protected. God is aware of their presence and their predicament. He cares for all of them one by one. God is protecting you today. Do you see it?
But there are those who are of the outer courts. They are not the people of God. Look at verse 2, “But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” King Herod, expanded the temple in Jerusalem in Jesus’ time. In his expansion, he included the courts of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were not allowed in the inner courts or they could be stoned to death. They were not Jews. In this case the Gentiles in the outer courts were not God’s holy people. In fact they were very hostile to God and the things of God. They trampled on the Holy City for 3 ½ years.
The Bible says that Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times have been fulfilled. (Lk 21:24) Ever since the besieging of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Roman General Titus, Jerusalem was being trampled on by the Gentiles. The temple was destroyed. The holy articles, possibly even the ark was carried off. There was a temple to Venus built over the birth place of Jesus for almost 300 years. Many others trampled have trampled on Jerusalem, including the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks, and many others, until 1967, when Israel took back Jerusalem during the Six Days War, thus bringing to fruition the fulfillment of the prophecy. The times of the Gentiles have been fulfilled.
Non-believers are trampling on what is considered holy even today. The institution of marriage is being trampled on. The holy institution of the clergy is being trampled on. Our young people are trampling on the holy Gospel and the Holy Bible by mocking and rejecting things they do not understand. Our minds and our hearts must be holy dwelling places for God to dwell, but we trample on this inner sanctum when we nurture unholy desires and allow them to grow. The same spirit filled the hearts of those who are trampling the Holy City in John’s prophecy.
What will happen to society during this time of trampling? They will see the entire culture rejecting God. Revelation 13:5 reads, “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.” And Daniel 7:25 reads, “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.” The people of God will witness the rise of the Antichrist. They will not be able to stop it nor will they be able to get the general population to listen to them about Jesus and his life saving gospel. They will be quickly shot down when they tried to open their mouths to speak. Or maybe they were visited by a death squad after they spoke publically. They will have to put up with widespread blasphemies spoken against Jesus. True believers will be oppressed, .persecuted, maybe tortured and killed. But God’s people will be spiritually protected. The Gentiles may think they are smart, in their pride, but they will not have God’s protection. Their reign of terror will have a limit to it…3 ½ years. They will suffer greatly. In fact, those who those who refuse to believe will be destroyed.
But in the midst of the persecution of the people of God, God will do something to demonstrate that he is in control and with his people of faith. Let’s read verses 3-6, “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” God will raise up two servants of God who will stand as powerful witnesses of the faith. Witnesses mean that they experienced Jesus personally and wanted to share what they knew about Jesus with the people. They will be lights to the people of their generation. Thus the reference to lamp stands. They will be strong, fruitful and essential thus the reference to olive trees. Moses and Elijah had such power. These two servants of God did not serve together. They were separated by centuries. But these two witnesses in this chapter were contemporaries of each other, serving as a team. They were following Jesus’ teaching to go out two by two. The two witnesses were to wear sackcloth (3). Sackcloth is a rough cloth for the making of sacks. It was worn as a sign of sorrow for sin, if not for one's own sin, then for the sins of others. Their clothes reflected what Christ felt for the sins of the sins of the world.

They were given great power. Look at verses 5-6, “5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” The fire from mouths could be the fiery message that they preached. God once told the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 5:14, “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: ‘Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood is consumes.’” (Jer5:14) Their words sure cut to the hearts of all who heard. Maybe those who heard their fiery message said, “oo…that hurts.” God opposed all who opposed them, sometimes even causing them to die by supernatural means. They prayed and they were able to control the forces of nature. God confirmed their ministry through powerful deeds that accompanied them to show the world that they are indeed from God.

God gives his power to Christians who decide to stand up against the current of their times and live as witnesses of Jesus and the Gospel. When Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the world mission command to his disciples. Matthew 28:18-19 reads, “18Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’” Jesus has authority. Authority is related to power for there is no true authority without power to back it up. Jesus will give his authority to his disciples of all times. This power is revealed in a similar passage in Mark 16:17-18, “17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." This power is infused in us via the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises his disciples power via the Holy Spirit. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The power of the Holy Spirit is manifested in many ways. There is power to preach, power to heal, power to communicate the gospel to people of different languages, power to have God’s vision, power to raise disciples. There are all kinds of power from God that will be given to those who decide to do the brave thing and stand up to be bold witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Are you tired of being tired? Do you want to be delivered from powerlessness? Do you want power to live as Jesus’ witnesses in your generation? It is all there for you. All you have to do is decide to stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ. We can be full of power when we repent of our sins and ask for the Holy Spirit of God. Then we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us.

What were the witnesses preaching about? Well surely they were teaching people to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior for there would be very little time left to do so. They were probably proclaiming what the angel proclaimed in verse 15, “"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever." Jesus began his earthly ministry with the words, “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near…Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15) It is a similar message that we are called to preach today.

People did not like what these two witnesses were saying and doing. They were making the waters polluted by turning them to blood. While they were preaching there was no rain for 3 ½ years and so famines were occurring. Their message of repentance and submission to Christ fell on stubborn and angry ears. People felt offended by what they preached. These servants of God caused trouble by saying what the people don’t want to hear- words about their sin, their need for repentance, and the coming punishment. They were probably facing all kinds of persecution from the enemies of God. Let’s face it…unrepentant people hate those who call attention to their sin and who urge them to repent. They hated Christ and they hated his followers. (1 John 3:13) When you obey Christ and take a stand against sin, be prepared to experience the world’s hatred. But keep in mind that they are not railing against you but against Jesus. We can see the grace of God here. God protected these witnesses for 3 ½ years as they carried on their very vibrant and life-giving ministry. They were an encouragement to all the suffering believers. They were like heroes of faith. They are like Billy Graham to many of us today.

But there was a time that their ministry would come to an end. Look at verse 7, “ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.” After they finish their task, they will be attacked by Satan and killed. The beast could be Satan or an agent of Satan. It’s not that they were doing something wrong. But just like John the Baptists’ and Jesus’ ministry and the ministries of all the apostles came to end, the ministry of these witnesses would come to an end so that God could continue on with his plan. Serving Jesus does not mean that you will live to 100, write many books and see your great grandchildren. Sometimes our lives are cut short. It could be that more work of God is carried on through our deaths than our lives. Many people may have repented when they saw the unjust treatment done to these two great servants of God.

We then see how demented these gentiles were. They didn’t honor the dead bodies by offering them burial. Look at verse 9, “8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” To leave a body out in the open is a way of bringing deeper shame to that person. We’ve seen such things done to our soldiers in the Middle East. Everyone was rejoicing at the deaths of these two great servants of God. Let’s read verse 10, “10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.” How heartless and cruel! They remind me of the soldiers who were casting lots for Jesus’ clothing while he and two criminals were dying on crosses above them.

There is also a sign of the end of the age here. The only way that all the inhabitants of the earth can gaze on their dead bodies is by digital broadcasting via satellite. People could see all the action on their wide screen TV’s and mock them on blogs on the internet. Such technology is only available nowadays.

However, God did not abandon his faithful witnesses to the grave and to shame and mocking. Look at verses 11 and 12. “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.” God was with them. His power is truly seen, for they are resurrected to life and ascend into heaven. All persecuted Christians can take courage from this, because though they may be killed and scorned, they will rise again when Jesus calls them heavenward, and they like these two witnesses will ascend to heavenly glory (1Th 4:13-18).

Through their resurrection, God, in his great love, helped multitudes to come to him, even at the last minute. Over six billion people, around the world, in local pubs, in student centers and in their living rooms could not believe their eyes or their ears as the witnesses were resurrected. They were shocked. They began to get worried about their own future. Then the drama began to unfold on CNN’s moment by moment reporting. Look at verse 13, “ 13At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. “ Everyone saw the coverage. In Jerusalem there so much destruction from an earthquake and seven thousand people died. Millions of Jerusalem residents, in their terror, repented and believed. I’m sure that millions in the viewing audience also repented and gave glory to God. God does not want to see anyone perish but all to come to repentance and saving faith and he will try his best to help people. Now he is helping you with grace and truth. Let’s take advantage of this time of grace and come to Jesus now…today.

Part ll: The Seventh Angel (15-19)
Afterwards an angel appears and sounds a trumpet. Let’s read verse 15, “ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever." This is the seventh trumpet. It announced the arrival of the King Jesus. Let’s remind ourselves of these angels and their trumpets. They first appeared in 8:2. Each angel brought wrath upon the unrepentant people of the world. The first angel brought hail and fire. (8;7) The second angel brought a huge mountain into the sea. (8:9) The third angel ushered in a great star that made the waters poisoned. (8:10) The fourth angel dimmed the light by 33%. (8:12) The final three angels sounding their trumpets, and heralded visions described as three "woes" (Rev 8:13). The first was the plague of locusts from the bottomless pit (Rev 9:1-11). The second was the killing horses (Rev 9:12-21). The third woe, in this passage, is (Rev 11:14-19) a vision of the day of judgment. This precedes seven signs —another complete set of visions starting in chapter 12. So now we are oriented to where we are in the Book of Revelation.

We can learn so much from the trumpet blast of the seventh angel. Look at verse 15b, “"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever." The kingdom of Heaven is not only in heaven, but also here on earth, in the hearts of true believers and made up of all the churches of Christ world wide. On earth the kingdom of God is mingled among the kingdoms of this world. But at the Second Coming of Christ, when he comes as the Judge of the Living and the Dead, no other kingdom on earth will exist after Judgment day. No kingdom of man and no kingdom of the devil. No kingdom except the kingdom of heaven alone. It is imperative that we find ourselves in the Kingdom of God. And there is only one way. Jesus said in Mark 1:15. Do you remember? ““The time has come, the kingdom of God is near…Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15) That's what this vision signifies.

John sees a very comforting scene. He sees the worshipping going on around the throne of God. Look at verse 16, “And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,” We first saw this worshipping on in Revelation chapter 4. It is very comforting for the persecuted Christians to know that even though the world seems to be going crazy, God is still God and he still reigns unaffected by all the craziness that is going on earth. We can still worship before his throne. That is comforting to me. No matter how many people seem to reject Jesus and now matter how bad the economy gets, you and I can worship a God whose kingdom can not be shaken. God is a constant, even more constant than the sun, moon and the stars.

How could these elders worship God so intensely? Look at verse 17, “7saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.’” They worshipped God for who God is and what he has done. They were thankful to God for reigning and bringing them into a kingdom that can never perish, spoil or fade. Our greatest reward will be eternal life in his Kingdom and in his presence. They were also thankful; for God’s justice and his grace. Let’s read verse 18, “18The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth." We worship a just and righteous God.
Through this passage we learn that in the midst of opposition and trials God knows who you are and your predicament. He places his wall of protection around you so that you will be safe from all spiritual harm. We must also decide to stand as God’s faithful witness and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to be manifest in us. Then God can use you to preach the word of God and lead many to Jesus. He will protect you and not allow harm until he is ready to take you to heaven. God will use you greatly when you take a stand and be a witness of Jesus. We can also worship God and rejoice that you are part of the unshakeable Kingdom of God. We will reign with Jesus. We have security now. We can all look forward the greatest reward, Jesus hugging us and saying, “well done my good an faithful servant” and receive a rich reward in the kingdom of God., Let us pray that the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdom of God.
Part l: The Two Witnesses (1-14)
1. What do ‘the temple of God and the altar’ symbolize? (1, 7:3) Why is it that he is told to measure them? What is a measuring stick?
2. Think about the outer court? (2) Who is there? Will they have God’s wall of protection? (2) What does it mean that the Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 42 months? (2, 13:5, Da 7:25)
3. In the midst of persecution, how does God empower his believers, and demonstrate his power and protection? (5,6) Who are the witnesses like? (Ex 7:17, 1 Kings 17:1) What do you think they were preaching? (15-18) What would happened to those who try to harm the two prophets? (5) What kind of power did they have from God? (6)
4. What would happen to the believers when they have accomplished their mission? (7,13:6-7) Who is the beast? (7; 9:11) Where did he come from? (7) Why is everyone rejoicing at their deaths? (10; 1 Jn 3:13) How will God bring them to life and lift them to heaven? (11,12, 14:14-16,1 Thess 4:17)




5. How would God judge the world? (13) How would the believers be comforted and strengthened by this hope?
Part ll: The Seventh Angel (15-19)
6. What does the seventh trumpet announce? (15) What does John see in heavenly scene? (16) Why truth about God caused them to worship so intensely? (17) Why were they thankful? (17b, 18)

7. What do the believers anticipate when Christ reigns? (18) Who will be judged? (Rev 9:20-21) Who will be rewarded? (Heb 11:6) What is our greatest reward?

8. Think about the vision of the throne of God. (19; Ex 37:1; 4:2-11) How would such heavenly scene comfort the believers who go through the tribulation?