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C H A P T E R T E N
The Mighty Angel Rev 10:1 - 7
John Eats the Little Book Rev 10:8 - 11
Revelation 10-14 describes events occurring in the
middle of the Tribulation period; this explains John's
repeated mention of 3.5 years (Rev. 11:2-3, 12:6, 12:14,
13:5) - Jewish months have exactly 30 days
this is the time when Satan will begin to unleash his
power through the tyranny of Antichrist (ch. 12-13)
even in this period of turmoil, God has witnesses!
Revelation has more than 60 references to angels; they
are God's army sent to accomplish His will
this mighty angel has several characteristics that could
identify Him as Jesus Christ Himself:
(1) the rainbow first seen around God's throne in
Rev. 4:3 now sits like a crown on His head
(2) He is clothed with a cloud, often identified with
God (Ex. 16:10, Ex. 19:9, Acts 1:9, Rev. 1:7)
(3) His face is as the sun, like Jesus in Rev. 1:16
(4) His feet are like those of Jesus in Rev. 1:15
(5) His voice is like a lion roaring, as in Rev. 5:5 --
God's voice is powerful (Joh. 12:28-29, Psa. 29)
(6) God often appeared in the Old Testament as
"the angel of the Lord" (Ex. 3:2, Jud. 6:11-12)
(7) He holds the book containing the remaining
judgments; since Jesus was the only one worthy
to open the scroll (Rev. 5:5), it is probable that
He is the only one worthy to present this book
(8) His posture is that of a conqueror taking
possession of the world, a victorious Saviour!
"seven thunders" - another complete cycle of judgments
that are hidden from us at present
"write them not" - secret things of God (Deut. 29:29)
the seven thunders are the only sealed thing in an
otherwise unsealed book (Rev. 22:9)
"lifted up his hand" - solemn oath (Dan. 12:7)
God has placed Himself under oath before:
(1) covenant with Abraham (Heb. 6:13-20)
(2) Son of God declared High Priest (Heb. 7:20-22)
(3) messianic promise to David (Acts 2:29-30)
"time no longer" - delay no longer
eternal life - not absence of time but ever-continuing time;
time had a beginning but has no end
"mystery of God" - His purpose for Israel (Dan. 9:24)
the last stage (3.5 years) of the Tribulation begins when
the seventh trumpet sounds
John is told to "eat" this book; the messenger must
receive the message before he can preach it!
God's Word often compared to food:
(1) bread (Matthew 4:4)
(2) milk (1 Peter 2:2)
(3) meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)
(4) honey (Psalm 119:103)
"bitter / sweet" - God's judgment and His mercy
this is similar to Ezekiel's experience (Eze. 2:8 - 3:3) and
that of Jeremiah (Jer. 15:16)
Word must "become flesh" to be shared (John 1:14)
"before" = "concerning" (doesn't mean "appearing before
them" - John is not one of the two witnesses)
this vision is in the past (John's day), not the future!
C H A P T E R E L E V E N
The Two Witnesses Rev 11:1 - 6
The Witnesses Killed Rev 11:7 - 10
The Witnesses Resurrected Rev 11:11 - 14
The Seventh Trumpet Sounded Rev 11:15 - 19
to measure something is to claim it for yourself; the Lord
is saying "this city and temple are mine!" (see Ezekiel
40-41 and Zechariah 2:1-3)
Jerusalem will be overrun by the Gentiles for the last half
of the Tribulation period (42 months), immediately after
Antichrist desecrates the Temple
A third temple will be built in Jerusalem according to 2
Thess. 2:3-4, Matt. 24:15 & Dan. 9:27
the two witnesses prophesy during the first 3.5 years of
the Tribulation, then are killed by Antichrist at the same
time he breaks his covenant with Israel
two witnesses were the minimum number acceptable
under OT law (Deut. 17:6, 19:15)
the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth because they
call mankind to repentance (2 Kings 19:1)
Who are the two witnesses?
(1) "the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks" - this
parallels Zerubbabel the Governor and Joshua the
High Priest in Zechariah 4, two anointed men who
built the second Temple
(2) they have power to call forth fire and to shut Heaven
so it will not rain - this parallels the ministry of Elijah
(1 Kings 18:38, 1 Kings 17:1)
(3) they have power to turn water to blood and to smite
the earth with plagues - this parallels the ministry of
Moses (Exodus 7:20, Ex. 9:14-15)
(4) the Jews expect a new Moses and Elijah
(Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Malachi 4:5); it was these
two who stood with Jesus on the Mount of
Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3)
(5) it was Elijah and Enoch who were taken to Heaven
supernaturally (2 Kings 2:11, Genesis 5:24) and "it is
appointed unto man once to die" (Hebrews 9:27) -
they haven't died yet! (Moses body was taken after
his death - Jude 9)
the two witnesses can only be killed when they have
finished their ministry - God's obedient servants are
immortal until their work on earth is done!
they are killed by the beast from the bottomless pit, yet
his origin is not described until chapter 13; hence, these
visions are not chronological
the world will celebrate a "Satanic Christmas" (this is the
world's reaction to TRUE PROPHETS OF GOD)
"Sodom and Egypt" - immorality and persecution
their bodies will be left in the streets of Jerusalem for 3.5
days; the entire world will watch (via satellite TV) their
miraculous resurrection and ascension
the terror will be magnified by an earthquake which kills
7000 and destroys one-tenth of Jerusalem
"gave glory" - in awe without being converted
"third woe" (seventh trumpet) - see Rev. 8:13
the seventh trumpet unveils the temple of God in Heaven,
from which the later vial judgments come
verses 15-19 are PROLEPTIC (regarding future events as
so certain that they are spoken of as having already been
accomplished) - Rom. 8:30
the seventh trumpet signals the last half (3.5 years) of the
Tribulation, the beginning of the period of wrath Jesus
described in Matthew 24:15-21, also called the time of
Jacob's trouble in Jeremiah 30:7
the ark is seen in Heaven at this time - God will never
break His covenant with His people! |
