Revelation 11. July 18,2023 (Also Review of Outline and the Epochs of Church History)
Revelation 11
New International Version
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Footnotes
- Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
- Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)
OUTLINE:
I. The PERSON of Jesus Christ — Christ in glory, Chapter 1
A. Title of the Book, v. 1
B. Method of revelation, v. 2
C. Beatitude of Bible study, v. 3
D. Greetings from John the writer, and from Jesus Christ in heaven, vv. 4-8
E. The post-incarnate Christ in a glorified body, judging His church (the great High Priest in the Holy of Holies), vv. 9-18
F. Time division of the contents of the apocalypse, v. 19
G. Interpretation of the seven stars and seven lampstands, v. 20
II. The POSSESSION of Jesus Christ — the church in the world, Chapters 2, 3
A. Letter of Christ to the church in Ephesus, Chapter 2:1-7
B. Letter of Christ to the church in Smyrna, Chapter 2:8-11
C. Letter of Christ to the church in Pergamum, Chapter 2:12-17
D. Letter of Christ to the church in Thyatira, Chapter 2:18-29
E. Letter of Christ to the church in Sardis, Chapter 3:1-6
F. Letter of Christ to the church in Philadelphia, Chapter 3:7-13
G. Letter of Christ to the church in Laodicea, Chapter 3:14-22
III. The PROGRAM of Jesus Christ — the scene in heaven, Chapters 4 — 22
A. The church in heaven with Christ, Chapters 4, 5
…I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)
1. Throne of God, Rev 4:1-3
2. Twenty-four elders, Rev 4:4, 5
3. Four living creatures, Rev 4:6-11
4. Book with seven seals, Rev 5:1-4
5. Christ: the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb that has been slain, Rev 5:5-10
6. A myriad of angels of heaven joins the song of praise and redemption, Rev 5:11, 12
7. Universal worship of the Savior and Sovereign of the universe, Rev 5:13, 14
B. The Great Tribulation in the world, Chapters 6 — 18
1. Opening of the seven-sealed book, Chapters 6 — 8:1
a. Opening of the first seal, Rev 6:1, 2
(Rider on a white horse)
b. Opening of the second seal, Rev 6:3, 4
(Rider on a red horse)
c. Opening of the third seal, Rev 6:5, 6
(Rider on a black horse)
d. Opening of the fourth seal, Rev 6:7, 8
(Rider on a pale horse)
e. Opening of the fifth seal, Rev 6:9-11
(Prayer of the martyred remnant)
f. Opening of the sixth seal, Rev 6:12-17
(The Day of Wrath has come — beginning of the last half of the Great Tribulation)
g. Interlude, Chapter 7
(1) Reason for the interlude between the 6th and 7th seals, vv. 1-3
(2) Remnant of Israel sealed, vv. 4-8
(3) Redeemed multitude of Gentiles, vv. 9-17
h. Opening of the seventh seal, Rev 8:1
(Introduction of seven trumpets)
2. Blowing of the seven trumpets, Chapters 8:2 — 11:19
a. Angel at the altar with censer of incense, Rev 8:2-6
b. First trumpet — trees burnt, Rev 8:7
c. Second trumpet — seas become blood, Rev 8:8, 9
d. Third trumpet — fresh water becomes bitter, Rev 8:10, 11
e. Fourth trumpet — sun, moon, stars smitten, Rev 8:12, 13
f. Fifth trumpet — fallen star and plague of locusts, Rev 9:1-12
g. Sixth trumpet — angels loosed at river Euphrates, Rev 9:13-21
h. Interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, Rev 10:1 — 11:14
(1) The strong angel with the little book, Rev 10:1-7
(2) John eats the little book, Rev 10:8-11
(3) Date for the ending of “the times of the Gentiles,” Rev 11:1, 2
(4) Duration of the prophesying of the two witnesses, Rev 11:3-12
(5) Doom of the second woe — great earthquake, Rev 11:13, 14
i. Seventh trumpet — end of Great Tribulation and opening of temple in heaven, Rev 11:15-19
3. Seven performers during the Great Tribulation, Chapters 12, 13
a. The woman — Israel, Rev 12:1, 2
b. The red dragon — Satan, Rev 12:3, 4
c. The child of the woman — Jesus Christ, Rev 12:5, 6
d. Michael, the archangel, wars with the dragon, Rev 12:7-12
e. The dragon persecutes the woman, Rev 12:13-16
f. Remnant of Israel, Rev 12:17
g. Wild beast out of the sea — a political power and a person, Rev 13:1-10
(1) Wild beast, description, vv. 1, 2
(2) Wild beast, death-dealing stroke, v. 3
(3) Wild beast, deity assumed, vv. 4, 5
(4) Wild beast, defying God, vv. 6-8
(5) Wild beast, defiance denied to anyone, vv. 9, 10
h. Wild beast out of the earth — a religious leader, Rev 13:11-18
(1) Wild beast, description, v. 11
(2) Wild beast, delegated authority, vv. 12-14
(3) Wild beast, delusion perpetrated on the world, vv. 15-17
(4) Wild beast, designation, v. 18
4. Looking to the end of the Great Tribulation, Chapter 14
a. Picture of the lamb with the 144,000, vv. 1-5
b. Proclamation of the everlasting gospel, vv. 6, 7
c. Pronouncement of judgment on Babylon, v. 8
d. Pronouncement of judgment on those who received mark of the beast, vv. 9-12
e. Praise for those who die in the Lord, v. 13
f. Preview of Armageddon, vv. 14-20
5. Pouring out of the seven mixing bowls of wrath, Chapters 15, 16
a. Preparation for final judgment of the Great Tribulation, Rev 15:1 — Rev 16:1
(1) Tribulation saints in heaven worship God because He is holy and just, Rev 15:1-4
(2) Temple of the tabernacle opened in heaven that seven angels, having seven golden bowls, might proceed forth, Rev 15:5 — Rev 16:1
b. Pouring out of the first bowl, Rev 16:2
c. Pouring out of the second bowl, Rev 16:3
d. Pouring out of the third bowl, Rev 16:4-7
e. Pouring out of the fourth bowl, Rev 16:8, 9
f. Pouring out of the fifth bowl, Rev 16:10, 11
g. Pouring out of the sixth bowl, Rev 16:12
h. Interlude: kings of inhabited earth proceed to Har-Magedon, Rev 16:13-16
i. Pouring out of the seventh bowl, Rev 16:17-21
6. The two Babylons judged, Chapters 17, 18
a. The apostate church in the Great Tribulation, Chapter 17
(1) Great harlot riding the wild beast, vv. 1-7
(2) Wild beast destroys the great harlot, vv. 8-18
b. Political and commercial Babylon judged, Chapter 18
(1) Announcement of fall of commercial and political Babylon, vv. 1-8
(2) Anguish in the world because of Babylon’s judgment, vv. 9-19
(3) Anticipation of joy in heaven because of judgment on Babylon, vv. 20-24
C. Marriage of the Lamb and return of Christ in judgment, Chapter 19
1. Four hallelujahs, vv. 1-6
2. Bride of the Lamb and marriage supper, vv. 7-10
3. Return of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, vv. 11-16
4. War of Armageddon, vv. 17, 18
5. Hell opened, vv. 19-21
D. Millennium, Chapter 20
1. Satan bound 1000 years, vv. 1-3
2. Saints of the Great Tribulation reign with Christ 1000 years, vv. 4-6
3. Satan loosed after 1000 years, vv. 7-9
4. Satan cast into lake of fire and brimstone, v. 10
5. Setting of Great White Throne where lost are judged and follow Satan into lake of fire and brimstone, vv. 11-15
E. Entrance into eternity; eternity unveiled, Chapters 21, 22
1. New heaven, new earth, New Jerusalem, Rev 21:1, 2
2. New era, Rev 21:3-8
3. New Jerusalem, description of the eternal abode of the bride, Rev 21:9-21
4. New relationship — God dwelling with man, Rev 21:22, 23
5. New center of the new creation, Rev 21:24-27
6. River of the water of life and tree of life, Rev 22:1-5
7. Promise of return of Christ, Rev 22:6-16
8. Final invitation and warning, Rev 22:17-19
9. Final promise and prayer, Rev 22:20, 21
Popular evangelical author Hal Lindsey, famous for his best-selling book, The Late Great Planet Earth, follows other dispensationalists in his interpretation of the seven churches. He believes that the seven churches were literal assemblies that existed in Asia Minor at the time John wrote, and that they prophetically describe seven ages extending from the apostolic church to the church of the last days. He presented the following associations in There’s A New World Coming, his commentary on the book of Revelation:
- The Church in Ephesus: Apostolic Church (A.D. 33–100)
- The Church in Smyrna: Era of Persecution Under the Ten Caesars (A.D. 100–312)
- The Church in Pergamum: Era of Church-State Union (A.D. 312–590)
- The Church in Thyatira: Era Spanning the Middle Ages (A.D. 590–1517)
- The Church in Sardis: Protestant Reformation (A.D. 1517–1750)
- The Church in Philadelphia: Era of Revival and Great Awakening (A.D. 1750–1925)
- The Church in Laodicea: Era of “Higher Criticism” (A.D. 1900–Tribulation)
https://www.cgi.org/the-seven-churches-of-the-apocalypse
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The Meaning of the Seven Churches Names
1. EPHESUS – ‘desired’ They were desired by their Lord.
2. SMYRNA – ‘myrrh’ or ‘bitterness’ through death. This is a type of the suffering Church in any century.
3. PERGAMOS or PERGAMUM – means ‘high towers’ or ‘thoroughly married’. (The Church to the State!)
4. THYATIRA – means ‘perpetual sacrifice’ or ‘a continual offering’. (ie. Transubstantiation/Rome)
5. SARDIS – means ‘those escaping’ (The Reformers coming out with others from Roman Catholicism)
6. PHILADELPHIA – means ‘brotherly love’. (Church now grows worldwide through correct doctrine. This then is the Church to emulate.)
7. LAODECIA – this means ‘the people ruling’ or ‘the judgement of the people’. Here is the last Church Age or Period. It is the worst of the cameo or types of Churches seen. The Lord does not really reign in their midst – they do!
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Zechariah 3
New International Version
Clean Garments for the High Priest
3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a] standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes[b] on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
- Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
New International Version
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I replied.
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line
- Zechariah 4:14 Or two who bring oil and
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