April 21, 2024
Revelation 11
New King James Version
The Two Witnesses
11 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. [a]And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the [b]God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also [c]our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [d]will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 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.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 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. 12 And [e]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. 13 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.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The [f]kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was [g]and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your [h]wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of [i]His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
Footnotes
- Revelation 11:1 NU, M omit And the angel stood
- Revelation 11:4 NU, M Lord
- Revelation 11:8 NU, M their
- Revelation 11:9 NU, M see . . . and will not allow
- Revelation 11:12 M I
- Revelation 11:15 NU, M kingdom . . . has become the kingdom
- Revelation 11:17 NU, M omit and who is to come
- Revelation 11:18 anger
- Revelation 11:19 M the covenant of the Lord
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“11:1, 2. Chapter 11 continues the parenthesis that began with chapter 10. John is told to measure the temple of God, which may be a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem during the Tribulation period or (more likely) the prophesied millennial temple (cf. Ezek. 40—42). The rod is a surveyor’s instrument (cf. Zech. 2:1-5). The measuring anticipates the building of a new temple on earth during the Millennium. The outer court represents the control of Jerusalem and Israel by Gentiles during the last half of the Tribulation period. The holy city is the earthly Jerusalem (cf. Dan. 9:24; 11:45; Zech. 13:8, 9; 14:2). The forty and two months show that Jerusalem will be under Gentile control for three-and-a-half years, probably the last half of the seven-year Tribulation period (cf. Dan. 9:24-27, where the period of the Great Tribulation is seen as the Seventieth Week—or seven-year-period—in God’s postexilic program for Israel).’
’11:3, 4. God’s two witnesses will prophesy or preach in Israel for 1,260 days (three-and-a-half years, based on prophetical years of 360 days each). Again, this will probably occur during the last half of the Tribulation period, while invading Gentile forces are in control of Jerusalem. The sackcloth symbolizes mourning, confession, and repentance. The “witnesses” will proclaim a message of judgment and the need for repentance. They bear similarities to John the Baptist, and will be the ultimate fulfilment of the promised return of Elijah (cf. Mal. 4:5, 6; John 1:21). They are also identified as the two olive trees and the two candlesticks. These symbols relate to Zechariah 4:2-6, where Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest are pictured as two olive trees furnishing oil for a lampstand (Israel). They provided help and power for Israel in a time of need. These two witnesses will be for Israel in the future what Zerubbabel and Joshua were in the past: the channels of God’s power and message to Israel during the Tribulation period.’
’11:5, 6. They will perform miracles similar to those performed by Moses (cf. Ex. 7:14-20; 8:12) and Elijah (1 Kin. 17:1; 2 Kin 1:10-12; Luke 4:25; James 5:17). They are protected from harm for three-and-a-half years. Their miraculous powers are apparently for the purpose of authenticating their divine message (as in the case of Jesus and His apostles). Their message will be twofold: (1) Jesus is the Lamb of God (Savior): and (2) Jesus is the King (Ruler). The miracles show that the King is coming again to set up His kingdom, and therefore Israel must repent.’
’11:7-10. The beast from the bottomless pit is apparently the same as the “beast” from the sea in 13:1, the Antichrist or false messiah. His place of origin shows his demonic character and the control of Satan. At the end of the three-and-a-half years of preaching, the witnesses will finally be killed by the beast in the great city, identified as the place where also our Lord was crucified. This must be a reference to Jerusalem, at this time under Antichrist’s control. As such it is called Sodom, referring to uncleanness and immorality, and Egypt, depicting oppression and bondage. Not allowing their dead bodies to be buried is the ultimate indignity. The unbelievers of the earth, having submitted to the authority of the Beast, will rejoice, because they hate the plagues and the message of the two prophets (cf. 1 Kin. 18:17; John 16:20).’
’11:11-14. The two witnesses are brought back to life, and then taken up into heaven. Their enemies react in fear, since their resurrection is incontrovertible proof that their message was true and that Jesus is God and Messiah. An earthquake kills seven thousand men. (Compare the earthquake that opened tombs and allowed many to be raised at the time of Chris’s death—Matt. 27:51-53.) The remnant are the “rest,” those who are not killed by the earthquake. Many of them repent and give glory to God. The parentheses begun with chapter 10 ends here. The third woe is the seventh trumpet, which comes next (v. 15).’
’11:15. The seventh trumpet results in the establishment of the millennial kingdom of Christ. The seven vials or bowls (16:1) are probably contained in the judgment of the seventh trumpet. They will occur in a very brief period of time at the end of the Great Tribulation. The second coming of Christ, while a great blessing for believers, will be God’s most severe judgment of the earth. The kingdoms of this world will be completely overthrown by the coming kingdom of Christ (cf. 19:11-21; Dan. 2:34, 35, 44), who will reign for ever and ever (cf. Dan. 7:13, 14, 27).’
’11:16-19. God is worshiped by the elders because what He promised is now accomplished. Their gratitude is for the establishment of the millennial kingdom (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24). The Gentile nations will be subjugated (cf. Ps. 2:1, 2). The wrath of God will take vengeance on His enemies (cf. Ps. 2:5; 2 Thes. 1:7, 8). The dead of all ages will be judged at the future Great White Throne (20:11-15). Old Testament and Tribulation saints who have died will be raised and rewarded (cf. Is. 26:19, 20; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25). Those who have tried to destroy the earth will themselves be destroyed by God (cf. 19:20, 21). The ark of his testament (covenant) is a symbol of the presence of God and of His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises.” (THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE) (KING JAMES VERSION) (THOMAS NELSON Since 1798)
‘. . . “1 Kings 7:1-2
Amplified Bible
Solomon’s Palace
7 Now Solomon built his own house (palace) [a]in thirteen years, and he finished all of his house [in that time]. 2 He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred [b]cubits (150 ft.), its width fifty cubits (75 ft.), and its height thirty cubits (45 ft.), upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 7:1 Solomon built God’s house first, then his own. That his took much longer is no reflection on Solomon, because David had made every possible preparation for building the temple, greatly reducing the time needed to finish it (1 Chr 22:2-5). David even left plans and patterns for the temple and loyal friends eager to help (1 Kin 5:1; 1 Chr 28:14-19).
- 1 Kings 7:2 I.e. one cubit is about 18 in.
Amplified Bible (AMP)”
“1 Chronicles 22:2-5
Amplified Bible
2 So David gave orders to gather the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and he assigned stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3 David prepared large quantities of iron to make nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps (trusses), and more bronze than could be weighed; 4 and cedar trees beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5 David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and an object of glory and splendor throughout all lands [of the earth]. So now I will make preparations for it.” Therefore, David made ample preparations before his death.
“1 Kings 5:1
Amplified Bible
Alliance with King Hiram
5 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
1 Kings 5:1 in all English translations”
“1 Chronicles 28:14-19
Amplified Bible
14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold and silver for all the gold and silver articles for every kind of service; 15 and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; 16 the gold by weight for each table of showbread, and the silver for the tables of silver; 17 and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the Lord’s covenant.
19 “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the work and details [to be done] according to this plan.”
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
Let him who has an ear, hear what the Holy Spirit says to His church. Amen.
“Adversity is the test of faith; prosperity is the test of integrity.”
(THE JEREMIAH STUDY BIBLE—DR. DAVID JEREMIAH—NEW KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE—WORTHY)
Have a blessed Sunday beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS. Amen.
With much precious love, grace, and mercy, from our heavenly Abba-Father-GOD, our Savior and LORD-YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, and His Holy Spirit, to Israel and to you and I; Sincerely: Mr. and Mrs. Timothy M. and Linda Shephard. Amen.