Revelation (Written)

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Revelation 11:14

With the ascension of the two witnesses, followed by the great earthquake in Jerusalem, John now says, “The second woe is past.” With the first two woes complete, there is one more to come. The world has not woken up from the spiritual darkness they are in. Because of this, there will be more judgment before the tribulation period is over. With that understood, John next says, “Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”

When it says “quickly,” it doesn’t necessarily mean “immediately.” It means that when it comes, it will be sudden and abrupt. In the Revelation narrative, there is going to be a lengthy delay in the sequence of judgments. The next set, the bowl judgments, will not be introduced until Chapter 15, and they will not be poured out until Chapter 16. In the meantime, there will be more interludes to analyze.

Life application: Looking over commentaries of the past, there is an amazing diversity of opinion about the meaning of the events that are given in Revelation. Depending on one’s view of Scripture and the role of the church in history, some have seen all these events directed at the Jewish nation culminating in the destruction of the temple in AD70 (preterism). In this view, prophecy is complete. Other than the return of Jesus, the church is the center of all attention throughout history. Others take that a step further and say that all prophecy is complete, even including the return of Jesus (hyper preterism – a heresy).

Some see these events and their resulting judgments directed at the Roman Catholic Church and/or other historical figures as the narrative unfolds in history. Subsects and cults have invariably inserted themselves into the narrative, claiming they are the center of the presentation. Within these views, there are innumerable varied interpretations as well.

However, and has been clearly seen, these events are future, not fulfilled in the past or progressively unfolding in history. Israel of the future is the key to understanding coming prophecy. Unfortunately, for most of the church age, it was assumed that the church had replaced Israel (replacement theology) and that it alone was to be the center of prophecy.

Why would this be the case? The answer is that the Old Testament makes innumerable prophecies that had not been fulfilled. These were directed to Israel, and yet Israel was destroyed, and the people were scattered all over the world. It could not be conceived by the church that Israel would ever again hold a notable position within the world. Because of this, the church assumed that the unfulfilled prophecies were to be spiritually fulfilled in the church.

In Romans 11, Paul speaks of blindness coming upon Israel (meaning blindness toward who Jesus is) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. What the church has failed to see is that this time of blindness in Israel has been matched with its own time of blindness toward Israel. With Israel regathered, and with the nations lining up in the exact manner that the Old Testament prophecies revealed, it has become clear that replacement theology is simply incorrect.

The Lord has remained faithful to Israel despite Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him. The promises and prophecies will be fulfilled. Israel will receive her Messiah, and He will return to them after the woes of Revelation are complete. He will never let a word of His word fail because He is JESUS!

O God, thank You for allowing us to peer into your word and discover the riches of Your unfolding plan. In recent history, we have seen that it does include the faithful keeping of Your covenant with Israel. After a seemingly endless dispersion, they are back where You promised they would be, and the church is in the state Your word says it would be in these final days. Your word is trustworthy and sure. Now, we await the culmination of the ages and the return of Jesus. May that day be soon! Amen.

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

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. Revelation 11:13

In the previous verse, the two witnesses ascended to heaven in a cloud. With that event complete, it now says, “In the same hour there was a great earthquake.” The Greek reads, “In the hour there was…” It is a way of showing that the two events are connected and not merely coincidence. It is the same thought that is conveyed in Matthew at Christ’s death –

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
⁵¹ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:50, 51

And again, at Christ’s resurrection –

“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.” Matthew 28:2

The earthquakes coinciding with such major events are to alert those who experience them that they are more than chance events, they are perfectly time events to confirm they are of God. With the coming of the earthquake, it then says, “and a tenth of the city fell.” Of the number ten, EW Bullinger states –

“It has been already pointed out that ten is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called ‘decimals,’ because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole. Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.”

As Bullinger notes, “the first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system.” In a tenth of the city falling, it is revealing that the whole is judged. An example of a tenth representing the whole is the Old Covenant system of tithing. The first tenth is representative of the whole. The idea here is the “judgment has come upon the whole.” With that understood, John next says, “In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed.”

The Greek reads, “names of men.” It is a way of positively identifying those of a set number rather than a rounded number. It is the same number that was claimed by the Lord at the time of Elijah. In 1 Kings 19:18, the Lord said to him, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Surprisingly, a liberal newspaper in Israel, Ha’Aretz, reported in 2018 that this exact number is anticipated to die in a major earthquake. The title of the article says, “Minister: Major Earthquake in Israel Could Kill 7,000.”

It should be noted that it says a tenth of the city was destroyed, but it doesn’t say that seven thousand is a tenth of the people. The facts stand alone, but they are connected by the event. The number seven is the number of spiritual perfection. Thus, whether seven thousand are reserved by the Lord (as in the days of Elijah), or seven thousand are killed at the time of the earthquake, it is a spiritually perfect claim by God on the whole. Because of what occurs, John then says, “and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

The meaning of this is that they recognized God’s hand in what has occurred and acknowledged it as such. It cannot mean that all of them will turn to God and believe unto salvation. Later in Revelation, it will explicitly say that any who take the mark of the beast cannot be saved (vs. 20:4). For any who take the mark, there can only be condemnation. For those who do not, they can turn to God through belief in Christ and be saved.

Life application: God has given His word to us to lead us back to Himself. However, many carelessly fail to pick it up and read it. However, He will also work through natural events to wake people up by His judgments. Tragedy, in one form or another, has a way of causing people to seek out God and have a proper relationship with Him. If this results in a person turning his heart to the Lord, then the tragedy was worth it. In the end, no tragedy is worse than dying apart from God’s one and only means of restoration with Him. And that means is through His Mediator, our Lord JESUS.

Lord God, we in the world find every reason to ignore you and Your obvious call to us through the written testimony in Your word. Therefore, judgment is often the only remedy. Because this is so, and because it will bring You glory, let Your judgment come so that You may receive what we have otherwise failed to give. Amen.

Monday, 15 February 2021

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. Revelation 11:12

The two witnesses that were killed were brought back to life in the previous verse. There, it said that the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. John now continues with the amazing words concerning them, saying, “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them.”

A voice from heaven was last noted (twice) in Chapter 10. It now calls out again, this time directly to the two witnesses. One reason for taking these two witnesses as literal humans is this statement. If they are simply being used as metaphors of something not alive, it would be rather hard to understand why a voice is calling out to them.

It is true that they could be metaphors for categories of people, like Jews and Gentiles within the church, but that would mean that all of the believers on the planet would have been killed and left in the streets of Jerusalem for three- and one-half days. Such analyses are quickly found to be wanting. It is probably best to accept these as two literal people who have served the Lord all along (see comments on verse 11:4) and who are now being called out to after their deaths. With this thought in mind, the words of the voice are recorded, saying, “Come up here.”

In Revelation 4:1, this was recorded –

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”

As was seen, and which follows the carefully detailed timeline of Scripture, that was a picture of the rapture of the church. From chapters 1-3 the church was addressed, but after 4:1 – all the way up to chapter 19 – the church is never mentioned again. The world, however, was deceived into believing that no such thing as the rapture occurred. Paul explained in 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12 that this deception would happen. The people of the world will be blinded to the truth of the rapture, and they will accept some cunningly crafted story instead.

But when these two witnesses are brought back to life, there will be no doubt about what they have seen. In the same call as the church received, “Come up here,” they will be gathered to the Lord. And it will be in a similar fashion to the rapture as well, just as Paul explains –

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 

The comparison to the rapture as is being described by John now is purposeful. He continues saying, “And they ascended to heaven in a cloud.” Believers in Christ will be gathered to the Lord in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:50-52). It will be an immediate change from a state of death (Paul calls it “sleep”) for those who have passed, or a change from this earthly life to a new and eternal life for those who are still alive at the Lord’s coming. This will be so sudden and abrupt that it will allow for the great delusion to occur. However, the words of Scripture testify of the event. When the two witnesses are raised to life and taken to heaven, it will be a witness that such things are possible and that those who failed to believe after the rapture were without excuse. With the ascension of these two witnesses, the end will come. The timeline is referred to by Paul –

“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” 1 Corinthians 15:23, 24

This is the general order of things. Christ was raised. Christ will come for His church. The end will come. Paul was giving an overall summary of the timeline, not every detail. The ascension of the two witnesses comes three- and one-half years after the rapture of the church. The way it occurs here in Revelation 11 does not match Paul’s description in 1 Corinthians or 1 Thessalonians.

The ascension of the two witnesses is the conclusion of the matter though, because after that occurs, the time of the end will be at hand. Again, Paul’s words form an overall summary that is supplemented with greater detail elsewhere, both in his words and those of John in Revelation. With this understood, the verse closes out with, “and their enemies saw them.”

Unlike the rapture, which will be instantaneous, this is a visible event. Such events are recorded in Scripture to stand as a witness to the fact that it truly occurred, and those who beheld it could be confident of what they saw. It happened at the taking of Elijah in 2 Kings 2, it happened at the ascension of the Angel of the Lord in Judges 13, and so forth. It also happened in Acts 1 at the ascension of the Lord Jesus. Interestingly, it is probable that these two witnesses who are now being called to heaven after their resurrection were there at that time (meaning Enoch and Elijah) –

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:9-11

The raising and ascension of these two witnesses is not a picture of the rapture of the church. Instead, it is a sign to the people of the world that the words of Scripture concerning the rapture of the church were true. Rather than believing the word of God, most will have believed the lie.

Life application: These two men, most probably Enoch and Elijah, were taken directly to heaven to serve the Lord for the past thousands of years. If so, they were there with Him in the Old Testament, they were probably the two with Him at His ascension, and they will testify concerning Him at the end of the present age. Eventually, they too will be taken up in a cloud just as their Lord was. Imagine the stories these two men have concerning their service to the Lord!

But imagine the stories you too can have, right now, for the service of the Lord. The results of your judgment for rewards and loss at the Bema Seat of Christ is totally up to you. As long as you are alive, you still have a chance to do GREAT THINGS for the Lord. What may seem like a small thing can have immense effects.

If you give to a church or missionary, they may – in turn – bring many to Christ, build up and train believers, and so on. If you pray for the lost, your prayers may be responded to in a manner that will bring about the event that brings them to Christ. Doing something great for the Lord may involve helping out with the writing or editing of commentaries or sermons for your pastor. It may be that you can help with uploading sermons to the internet. Each of these things may seem insignificant, but the results of them may be enormous.

And remember that each and everything you do should be with one overall purpose – to reveal to a lost and dying world the majesty of the Lord, our Lord, JESUS!

Lord, the way you have tied things together in Scripture is simply astonishing. The small clues you have placed throughout the pages of Your word lead to immensely interesting patterns and parallels. They also testify to Your faithfulness to Your people. When the world is judged, Your people have nothing to fear. At the same time, the world at large will have no excuses. Hallelujah! Thank You, O Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 14 February 2021

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. Revelation 11:11

In the previous verse, John noted that those who dwell on the earth rejoiced over the death of the two witnesses. However, he now says, “Now after the three- and one-half days the breath of life from God entered them.”

The world saw and heard the witness, the prophecy, and the miraculous signs, wonders, and plagues of the two witnesses. However, they disregarded them, fought against them, and eventually killed them. After this, they shamelessly let them lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem for three- and one-half days. The bodies will certainly be in a state of decay and, knowing the way things are handled at such times, people will also probably abuse the dead bodies as well. However, their shameless conduct, along with their gloating, parties, and celebrations, will be short-lived. After this period, the “breath of life from God” will enter them.

If these two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah, meaning real people and not something being spoken of in metaphor, it seems incredible to even imagine. However, such an event is not without biblical precedent –

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:38-44

Lazarus really was dead for four days, and yet he was raised to life. From a biblical perspective, there is nothing impossible about the event now being conveyed in Revelation. This is because the God of the Bible is the Creator of all things. In His hand is the power to give life and to restore life. As for the two witnesses, it next says, “and they stood on their feet.”

The wording here carefully and precisely follows that which is recorded in Ezekiel 37 –

Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37:9, 10

First, the breath of life entered the nation, and then they stood upon their feet. Because of the symbolism, it is quite clear that the two accounts are being tied together for Israel to make the connection. Just as Israel was raised to life, became a nation again, and stands upon its feet, so have these two witnesses.

In fact, the death and resurrection of these two witnesses are to be considered the most powerful part of their mission for the evangelization of Israel. If they can see that the same Lord, who reestablished them as a nation, is also the Lord Jesus who these witnesses proclaimed, they will finally come to the point of calling out to Him. So incredible, however, will this event be that John finishes with, “and great fear fell on those who saw them.”

Again, whether two actual people or something else which is spoken of in metaphor, the event will be incredible. In viewing this, the whole world will fear greatly. It will be a clear indication that the God who was proclaimed by these two witnesses is, in fact, fully capable of doing anything. The assumed victory will be short-lived. This revivification of life will be the sign of their sure to come judgment.

Life application: The term “breath” and “spirit” are, at times, used synonymously in the Bible. They come from the same word in both the Hebrew and the Greek languages. The breath referred to here is surely the same breath mentioned at the creation of man in Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” These two are given the reanimation of their bodies. The “breath of life from God” surely includes the fact that they are born of the Spirit.

Their resurrection then is an eternal one. They have triumphed over death because Jesus went before them and has granted them the same eternal life that He has. This is an implicit indication that the rapture has already occurred. These two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah, were taken to serve the Lord in Old Testament times and returned to earth to witness. These two came as witnesses to the fact that it is in Jesus Christ alone that true life is found. Their death and resurrection will testify to this.

Paul explains in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 that “the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” These two are resurrected, demonstrating that the rapture is something that really happened, and the great delusion spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2 was exactly that. People will be convinced that a “rapture” never happened somehow. This will be proven false by the resurrection of the two witnesses.

All of this may seem incredible, or even impossible from our earthly perspective, but it is what the Bible proclaims. Enoch and Elijah were taken by the Lord in the past, Lazarus was raised, and we too shall be raised to eternal life and raptured to eternal glory. The two witnesses will testify of the truth of God in Christ, they will die, and they will be resurrected. All of this is possible because we serve the Living God. We serve JESUS!

Thank You Lord for the great hope we as believers in Christ Jesus possess – the promise of eternal life through the resurrection of the dead! Why should we fear when we know that Jesus has already triumphed over death for us? We need never fear; our hope is secure in You! Hallelujah and Amen.

Saturday, 13 February 2021

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. Revelation 11:10

The previous verses noted the killing of the two witnesses. It then mentioned that they were left in the street for three- and one-half days with the whole world able to see it. From there, John says, “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry.” The verbs are actually in the present tense in order to make the scene more graphic – “And those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them and make merry.”

John is describing the future in his words as if it is happening as he writes. It is understood that when someone’s foes are defeated, there is a sense of elation. In the case of these two witnesses, they were the enemy because the world hated the convicting message they spoke out. With that testimony ended, the world at large goes into a party of jubilation. Along with that, John says they will “send gifts to one another.”

The verb here is in the future tense, “and will send gifts to one another.” The change from the present to the future tense seems to convey a sense of revulsion by John – “They do this and this and then they will even do this.”

The sending of gifts is a middle eastern way of showing elation. For example, it is found in Nehemiah 8:10 –

“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

It is also seen in Esther 9 when the Jews gained victory over their own enemies –

“But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. ¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.” Esther 9:18, 19

Likewise, when the world thinks it has gained the final victory, they will send gifts “because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”

The word translated as “tormented” signifies to examine by torture. It can be literal or figuratively applied. The sense here is the same as in 2 Peter 2:8 where it speaks of Lot’s righteous soul being tormented by the wicked conduct around him. Where wickedness dwells, the soul of the righteous is tormented. And where righteousness is proclaimed, the souls of the wicked are tormented. This is the sense of what is being conveyed now. The earth wants to follow its own perverse path, but the call out – by the two witnesses – brings about unwanted conviction.

Life application: In John 16:20, Jesus said to his disciples – “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” The world rejoices when it seems that God’s plans are thwarted or defeated. It has always been this way, and it will continue on during the tribulation period. But what the world does not stop to consider: God is God, and He is above His creation. He knows what will occur – from beginning to end.

What may seem to be a defeat to us may still be a part of His plan. If so, it comes about because He determines it to be that way. This is a trick people. Instead, it is proof of His sovereignty over what happens. This is because He will tell, in advance, concerning what and how things will happen. When those things come about, we can then know that it was because He directed the events. Such is true with the entire redemptive narrative. God promised He would restore man to paradise, and He shall do so. And that promise is centered on the giving of His Son. The promise is fulfilled through our Lord JESUS.

Heavenly Father, it truly is heartbreaking to stand back and see people rejoice over deeds of evil and wickedness. There is a sense that there is no control at all left in the world. However, we know there is, and we know that it is found in You. Help us to change hearts and minds through the gospel of Jesus before judgment falls and it is too late for these wayward souls. Amen.