We do know from the NT, that the Anti-Christ will be very active in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
Daniel speaks of this, and so does 2nd Thessalonians 2.
We also know that there will be great trouble coming against Israel in the last days, and in 11:2, it speaks of a timeline of 42 months, or 3 1/2 years, ( this could be the second, or last part of the seven year covenant made by the Anti-Christ )
The Bible teaches that the coming of the Anti-christ, will also bring a 7 year covenant, that will bring peace to Israel, and the nations that have been involved in war with her.
We will see more of this revealed in the next few chapters in Revelation.
Now, on to the 2 witnesses.........
The two witnesses, will be active on earth, ministering the Word of God for 3 1/2 years also. Their ministry will probably take place during the last or second half of the tribulation period.
The two witnesses, will be given power, ( the power of the Holy Spirit ) to carry on their ministry, just as we are today.
These two witnesses are the two olive trees etc, etc, See 11:4 Olive trees are used in the OT as symbols of God's people. They are also called the two lampstands. They stand before the God of the earth.
The 2 witnesses will respond with fire coming out of their mouths towards anyone who wants to harm or hurt them. The fire we are told will devour their enemies. Additionally, if anyone wants to harm the 2 witnesses, they will be killed.
The power the Lord gives to His 2 witnesses is such that they can prevent rain from falling to the earth, ( always related to droughts ) They also can pollute the water supply, and then to strike the earth with plagues. They can do these things repeatedly, or as often as they desire. This seems to indicate that these droughts, these pollutions, these plagues will be repeated over and over again during the time of their ministry. No end to them as it were.
When their testimony, or their ministry is completed, the Lord will allow the beast ( more to be said about who he is in the next few chapters as well ) but, the beast, will make war against them, and he will overcome them, and he will kill them.
The world will see as their bodies lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem, and the world will prevent their bodies from being removed and buried, for 3 1/2 days. The world will be so happy, they will be rejoicing over the deaths of these 2 witnesses. I suppose one could say the world will view them as terrorists, who have now met their fate as it were. The world's population will be rejoicing over their deaths.
A miracle of God will take place at the end of the 3 1/2 days. God will breathe His life into these two corpses, and they will come to life, and stand up on their feet for all to see. The world that was rejoicing will now be fearing as a result of this resurrection. It will be seen by the entire world as it were.
A loud voice from heaven will be heard saying to them, "Come up here" and they will then ascend up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies will see this miraculous ascension.
Right at that same time, there will be a great earthquake, and 1/10th of the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed, along with 7000 people being killed in the quake, and the rest will become afraid and begin to give glory to God. Thus in the midst of this particular judgment, there will be those who at least recognize it's from the Lord, and or are brought to their senses as it were, and give God the glory He deserves.
We are told that the 2nd "Woe" is now past, and their is 1 more to go, in fact, it's coming quickly.
At this point, the 7th angel sounded, and in heaven are heard voices declaring, "The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever" So, this shift takes place, or the answer to prayers finally is coming to pass. "Thy Kingdom come etc, "
In closing out this chapter we see........
1. The 24 elders fall on their faces and worship God.
2. The content of their praise is explained. See 11:17-18, which essentially says,
We give you thanks O Lord God Almighty.
You are the eternal God, You were, You are, and You are to come. ( constant refrain the Bible )
You have taken Your great power and reigned. You are moving Lord to reign now on the earth.
The nations were angry.
Your wrath has come.
The time of judgement is coming
The time to reward Your servants is coming, the prophets and the saints.
The time to judge both small and great is here.
The time for You to destroy the earth is here.
It's at this point that the temple in heaven ( remember there is a temple in heaven ) it is opened and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. ( can this be the original ark that was in the original temple?. Or is it the same one that has been there, from which the earthly one was modeled after ? ) I don't know. I do know, it's now seen there.
And, there were lightings, noises, thunderings an earthquake and great hail, on the earth it would seem.
Some thoughts for reflection, explanation, and application.
1. God's plan according to this chapter, begins to move to it's finality. There truly as has been mentioned no more delay.
2. Even though God is witnessing to the earth in a spectacular and miraculous way, the enemies of God will not concede, they continue to resist leading to their own destruction.
3. God's plan will unfold according to His will, and not rushed or stopped by anyone. He will complete His plan in His good time.
4. Currently, Satan is the god of this world. But, the shift of him losing his power really begins to take place in this 11th chapter.
5. The plan of God is going to culminate in the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, and the establishing of His kingdom on the earth.
6. Just as there has never been tribulation like what is coming, so there has never been heaven on earth such as there will be, no not even in the garden of Eden.
7. We are moving towards the events seen in this book. In fact, we could ( I personally believe we are ) right on the edge, or right at the last moments of the worlds historical existence as we have known it, and the coming of the Lord for His church etc. In other words, we I believe are closer then we have ever been to seeing the Lord.
8. Even as I write this devotional, the nation of Israel has issued a warning today, that they will not "notify the US ahead of time if they launch an attack against Iran" This attack ( and I also believe is going to happen very soon ) could very well trigger with a rapidity, the events of revelation.
9. One of the things that we know will happen according to Scripture is that Russia will come against Israel, and 5/6ths of their invading army will be destroyed. The Anti Christ will rise into power. This 7 year covenant bring peace will begin.
10. The next few chapters in Revelation really focus on the anti-christ and all of his doings.
May God bless you in these days. May the power of His Spirit come upon you, and fill you, and lead you, and use you in these last days.
In Jesus name,
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
