May 30, 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)
‘. . . “Matthew 25:24-25
Amplified Bible
24 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“Matthew 25:24-25
New International Version
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.” (BibleGateway.com)
“Genesis 2
New King James Version
The Garden of Eden
2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
4 This is the [a]history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.
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.
Life in God’s Garden
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel;[b] it is the one which goes toward the east of [c]Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Then the Lord God took [d]the man and put him in the garden of Eden to [e]tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[f] shall surely die.”
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to [g]Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He [h]made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called [i]Woman,
Because she was taken out of [j]Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be[k] joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Footnotes
- Genesis 2:4 Heb. toledoth, lit. generations
- Genesis 2:14 Or Tigris
- Genesis 2:14 Heb. Ashshur
- Genesis 2:15 Or Adam
- Genesis 2:15 cultivate
- Genesis 2:17 Lit. dying you shall die
- Genesis 2:19 Or the man
- Genesis 2:22 Lit. built
- Genesis 2:23 Heb. Ishshah
- Genesis 2:23 Heb. Ish
- Genesis 2:24 Lit. cling
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)
Let him who has an ear, hear what the Holy Spirit says to His church. Amen.
Beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, hear what satan says through the mouths of the world: GOD does not exist: Ok, well, He exists, but He put me in the wrong body: GOD is a hard taskmaster, He demands too much: GOD is not the only god: etc., etc., etc.
Let him who has an ear, hear what the Holy Spirit reveals of GOD Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, The GOD and Father of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS (Messiah—Savior of the world), The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; He Who created the heavens, the worlds, all that is good in the earth—water, nutrients, seed, gold, silver, precious stones, as well as His most beautiful creation, man and woman—marriage –family. Amen; all belongs to our heavenly Abba-Father-GOD. Amen. Amen.
“John 1:1-5
New King James Version
The Eternal Word
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.
Footnotes
- John 1:5 Or overcome
New King James Version (NKJV)”
“Colossians 1:15-23
New King James Version
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [a]principalities or [b]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Footnotes
- Colossians 1:16 rulers
- Colossians 1:16 authorities
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)
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 Thursday beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS. Amen.
With much awesome 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.