April 10, 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)
‘. . . “Zechariah 2:1-5
Amplified Bible
God’s Favor to Zion
2 And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
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.
Well beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, if there was any doubt as to the truth of what I spoke to you, that, as far as I am aware, our LORD-GOD did not speak that covenant of protection over America or any other country as He did over Israel; I would say that our LORD’S Holy Spirit just slammed an exclamation mark after the revelation He blessed me with. Amen.
For right here in these verses, our LORD said that even after the wall around Jerusalem is down, our LORD-GOD promises;
““4Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’””
“For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her (Jerusalem) [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (TMS)
It is obvious beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, that that is true of no other nation or land, for beloved, history shows that when a nation, country, loses its wall of protection, shortly afterwards, it is in the history books, if it is remembered at all: except for Jerusalem and Israel. GOD Most High, says that He will be the wall around Jerusalem and in other Scriptures, Israel; why, for the sake of our man of GOD, “King David” through whom the Savior of the world would come—The Lamb of GOD; The only begotten Son of GOD Most High; The firstborn of the dead; The Redeemer-YESHUA CHRIST JESUS. Amen. Amen. Amen.
My point, our LORD’S Holy Spirit has just confirmed that I did in fact hear Him clearly that Israel is the only land and the Jew is the only people our LORD-GOD has a covenant with (other than the body of the Lamb of GOD, here on the earth—the Church of GOD (Jew and Gentile; black and white; man and woman), through the precious Blood, death, burial, and resurrection, on the third day, according to the Most Holy Word of GOD. Amen.
Therefore, I say again, the walls of these United States of America have fallen because it has rejected GOD Most High and Savior—His Lamb of GOD-YESHUA CHRIST JESUS; and, it does not have that covenant, as Israel does.
Therefore, if you have not asked GOD Most High, to forgive you of your every sin, through the One and Only Savior—His only begotten Son-YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, then I suggest that you humble yourself and fall down to your knees (right now!) and ask Father-GOD, in the precious Name of His only begotten Son-YESHUA JESUS, The CHRIST, to forgive you of your every sin, that you believe JESUS is His Only begotten Son, Who came and died for your every sin, that you believe JESUS is the Only Savior, asking Father to fill your heart with His love and His Holy Spirit, to be your LORD and Savior—forever. Amen.
Or else beloved, perish with the rest of these United States of America when they are condemned for not believing that JESUS is the Only Savior, and accepting Him as LORD. Amen. Amen. Amen.
“Romans 10:9-10
Amplified Bible
9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
“John 3:16-21
Amplified Bible
16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because [b]he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him]. 19 This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the [c]darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. 21 But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].”
Footnotes
- John 3:16 Jesus, God’s only Son, the One who is truly unique, the only one of His kind.
- John 3:18 The Greek refers to an unsaved person who has made the decision not to believe in the Son, Jesus Christ, that is, not to accept the salvation offered by the Son and commit to follow Him. Such a person stands condemned by God unless he changes his mind.
- John 3:19 See note 1:5.
Amplified Bible (AMP)”
“John 1:5
Amplified Bible
5 The Light shines on in the [a]darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].
Footnotes
- John 1:5 I.e. the world immersed in sin: all that stands in opposition to God and biblical truth.
John 1:5 in all English translations
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 Wednesday beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS. Amen.
With much awesome longsuffering-love, grace, and tender-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.