Revelation 11:1- 19

In Revelation 11:1-2, the location of this temple it would seem is actually the temple in Jerusalem.
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

Revelation 11:1-6 The Two Witnesses Part 1

John was given a reed, that was like a measuring rod. He was told by an angel to get up, and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

He was also told what to leave out, or not measure. And, it was told John what would happen to the Holy City, ( Jerusalem ) for 42 months.

Additionally, it was told John, what the Lord would give to His two witnesses, and what they would do, and what they were, and what would happen to anyone who sought to harm them.

The 2 witnesses, would have power to keep the rain from falling, to turn waters into blood, and to strike the earth with plagues as often as they desired to do so.

We will look more closely at these two witnesses tomorrow, but below are just a few thoughts for your consideration and prayer.


Thoughts for reflection, explanation and application. 11:1-3

1. Just as John was given a task to do, so, God has given to each of us task also.
2. Our task, or our ministry comes from the Lord in each of our lives.
3. John's task, included detail as to what to do, and what not to do.
4. God is the one who sets the parameters of our ministries.
5. Jerusalem, will be undergoing some "treading upon "


Some additional thoughts for reflection, explanation and application: 11:4-6

1. God's two witnesses will be given power.
2. God will be "witnessing" to the world during the tribulation.
3. God will give power to these witnesses, just as He does to us today.
4. Acts 1:8 speaks of this great Holy Ghost power for God's people.
5. Jesus wants us to be a witness also.
6. The Holy Spirit gives us power to be witnesses.
7. Prophesy is the proclamation of God's Word.
8. The true witness is one who declares God's Word to others.
9. God sets the time and the limits for our ministries.
10. God's witnesses are in His hands, and He oversees them.
11. God's witnesses have very specific callings from Him.

Lastly......

1. What has God called you to do?
2. What is God calling you to do?
3. Are you doing what God has called you to do?
4. God has power for you, it comes from the Holy Spirit.
5. Jesus is coming, and now is the time for His servants to be active not sleeping.
6. Let God use you, it is the greatest blessing in our lives.
7. God used someone to affect your life, now it's your turn to be effective for God.
8. Praise the Lord what a joy to be moving along in His will.


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Revelation Part 2......The Little Book.

John went to the angel who was holding the little book, and said to him, "Give me the little book"

The angel replied, and said to John, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be sweet as honey in your mouth"

John took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it, and it was sweet as honey in his mouth, and when he had eaten it, it did become bitter in his stomach.

The angel then told John, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tonques, and kings"

What an interesting part of this chapter. It's also not really explained to us as to what this little book is, and why it was sweet, and then made John's stomach bitter.

However, it's believed that the little book simply includes the truth of what will happen in the future,  which means the coming judgement of God on the earth.

Some thoughts for reflection, explanation and application.

1. God has a plan for the future of our world.
2. That plan is contained in the book of Revelation ( and other books of the Bible )
3. For the Christian, there is a two-fold effect of seeing and understanding God's plan.
4. That two fold effect is both a blessing, and brings a sense of grief.
5. It's a blessing to know God's plan, and realize what God will do.
6. It's also a sad grief to realize the fact of God's coming judgement.
7. See 2nd Thessalonians 1 for a detailed explanation of this blessing and grief.

More thoughts for reflection, explanation and application.

1. God has a big book for us to take, receive and understand.
2. That book is the Holy Bible.
3. God's truth, plans, grace, mercy and peace are revealed to us in the Bible.
4. The Lord wants us to receive His Word, and have understanding of it.
5. God's Word does bring us great joy, and hope.
6. When we see what will happen to mankind, it also makes us sad.
7. The message of judgement is not a pleasant reality to consider.
8. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He thought about what would happen to them.
9. The rejection of God does not bring joy
10. Receiving God's truth is the greatest blessing there is.

Yet even more for reflection, explanation and application

1. Like John, God has more for you do to before you leave this world.
2. God used John, and was going to further use him.
3. God may have used you, and would like to use you further.
4. God wants His Word to shine through our lives.
5. Just think of how many people need salvation.
6. Who comes to mind, as you think about who needs Christ?
7. Will you take just a moment to pray for them right now?
8. How might God use you to reach them?
9. Just think if God saved you, He can save them.




The days we are living in, are perhaps the very last days of man's history on earth as we know it.
May we redeem the time, or buy up the opportunities to be used by the Lord to make a difference through His Word.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Revelation 10 Part 1

As John continues to explain what he saw, we are told of this other angel, a mighty angel, who came down from heaven, clothed with a cloud.

And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land. And, cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.

At this point John was about to write, but heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered and do not write them.

The angel that John saw standing raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be no more delay.

The last thing in our devotional today, is, "but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.


Some thoughts for reflection, explanation and application.

1. John was seeing what was coming. He was seeing the future.
2. We will be in heaven at this point in Revelation, and will no doubt see this also.
3. There really are angels, and they are ( the holy ones anyways ) the servants of God.
4. There really is a place called heaven.
5. This angel spoken of in Rev 10, came down from heaven.
6. One wonders, how many angels are there in heaven.
7. This one was dispatched to perform a duty for God.
8. Could this be Jesus Christ?
9. It almost sounds like Jesus, or looks like Jesus.
10. I'm not sure.
11. This angel stands with a sense of authority and power.
12. John is told to seal up the things that were taking place at that moment.
13. This angel was affirming the Lord in heaven.
14. John tells us that there would be no more delay.


Some additional thoughts for reflection, explanation and application.

1. Like John, to some degree, we are seeing the future as well.
2. Now, we see it through the pages of Scripture, but then from heaven.
3. Angelic beings are no doubt very delightful, powerful and wonderful to see.
4. Angels get to be with the Lord around the clock as far as we know
5. This chapter tells us that "heaven" was created by God. How interesting.
6. So, apparently, "heaven" has not always existed, but God has.
7. God has existed forever, and will exist forever.
8. Forever, Christians will be with God also.
9. The tribulation period, and the plan of God will come to a conclusion at some point.
10. No more delay in the plan, is mentioned twice in this chapter.
11. The Mystery of God is mentioned.
12. Mystery, means, hidden thing, secret, not obvious to the understanding.

Well, tomorrow, we will try and look at the rest of this interesting chapter, and then on Sat, take another broad overview, with some application of chapters 9-10

But, for now, may your day be blessed with God's peace and grace and love in your heart and mind. 

May You find God's will today, and May God use you today to communicate the truth of Jesus Christ to this troubled world. May the Lord bring someone directly into your path today, to minister to, and to love in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

Revelation 9:13-21

At this point, the sixth angel sounded, or blows the trumpet that was given to him. John also hears a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the 6th angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates"

These four angels ( who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year ) were released, and it was to kill a !/3 of mankind. Imagine that, one third of earth's remaining population is now about to be killed.

Without any introduction, or explanation, John now talks about this army of 200 million horsemen. John says, "I heard the number of them" which I assume means that someone, told him how many there were in this army.

John goes on to describe those who sat on the horses, and the horses.  The horsemen had very colorful breastplates, and the horses heads were like the heads of lions. And, out of the horse's mouths, came 3 things. Fire, smoke, and brimstone.

It was by or through these 3 plagues that 1/3 of mankind was killed. That is from the fire, the smoke and the brimstone.

The power was in the mouths and the tails of the horses. Their tails were like snakes, having heads, and it was by them, that they did harm.

The remaining 2/3rd's who were not killed by the fire, the smoke and the brimstone, are said to "not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear, nor walk"

Finally, John says, neither did they "repent of their murders, or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts"



What to make of all this..........

1. It's true, whether we understand it or not.
2. God's Word is true.
3. John is describing things he had never seen before.
4. God continues to control each and every event.
5. Terrible destruction of unheard of numbers take place.
6. Imagine every third person you know being killed.
7. Man will not be able to protect himself against these plagues.
8. The army could be demons, or demon possessed men.
9. Certainly, there will be huge demonic activity in one way or another.
10. Repentance is possible, but not chosen by the survivors at this point.

Some further and final thoughts for reflection, and application.

1. God is telling us in advance of what He will do.
2. This is called prophecy.
3. This day will not overtake the children of God.
4. We are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation.
5. See Rom 5:8, and 1st Thessalonians 5:8
6. In reading all of this, what should it do to us, or in us, or for us?
7. Perhaps, it's to motivate us now, to be instruments of service to Jesus Christ.
8. And, to make sure the good news of salvation is known far and wide.
9. God does use those who make themselves available to Him.


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

More about the bottomless pit of Revelation 9........Part 2

Who is this star fallen from heaven? I'm not completely sure. But, believe it's not a holy angel. But rather, an evil wicked angel. I say this because of his involvement with the bottomless pit, and the things that come out of it.

Nonetheless, it's not a point of great importance for us in our attempt to understand the Book of Revelation as we will see in our study through this book. By the way, much is said throughout the book of Revelation in our study through it.

For starters, it's a real place on the earth. It's sometimes referred to as the shaft. A shaft doing down into the earth.

The BP as I'll call it here, is locked up until this point in the future of man's history. This angelic being, be he a holy angel, or an evil and wicked one, we can't say for sure, but what we do see, is that when he opens the BP up, and troubling, tribulation type events take place on the earth,

John likens what come out, to the smoke of a great furnace, This smoke is so thick, that it causes those on the earth to not see the or breath the air as they had been.

Then, out of the smoke, as it's teeming out of the pit, come these locusts, to whom is given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Along with this power, they were restricted as to their destructive activities.

1. They were given this power.
2. They were  also commanded as to the extent of their destructive activities.
3. They were to harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
4. They could harm them, but not kill them. They were to torment them for 5 months.
5. Their torment is likened unto the torment of when a scorpion stings or strikes a man.
6. During this time, men will seek death, over the torment caused by these locusts.
7. Death will not be found by those seeking it.

A few closing thoughts about this section, and then we can resume looking at the rest of the chapter tomorrow.

It's clear that the Lord is in charge of everything from start to finish.
God has this pit, and what comes out of it under His control.
He is using it to do with it as He pleases.
Satan who tricks man, will now be hurting the men whom he has tricked and deceived
Christians will be preserved through this 5 month period.
These Christians will not be harmed in any way by these locust beings.


God will be both bringing judgement on the earth, controlling demons and their activities, restricting them as to what they can do. God will be preserving, and protecting His own people from these locusts. God is at the same time saving people who come to faith. Right now, God is saving people generally speaking, but during the tribulation, He will be carrying out dual roles, Savior and Judge.

These things are truly coming. And, right now, you and I know people who may very well go through these events, unless they get saved now, and are taken by Christ at the rapture of the church.

Our motivation for service, and evangelism, is indeed the love of God. Let's pray for God's love to so grip our hearts, that we are actively involved in, praying for, and doing something to see people come to faith. Judgment is coming on the earth, and the people you know that are not yet believers can become so, by coming to Jesus now, and escape what is coming down the road. Perhaps that which is coming is much, much closer then we can even imagine.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

The bottomless pit of Revelation 9.......

When the fifth angel sounded, ( blows the fifth trumpet of the seven ) John sees a star fallen from heaven to the earth. And, to this star was given the key to the bottomless pit.

As this star ( angel ) opens the bottomless pit, smoke arose out of it, just like the smoke one would see from a big furnace. The smoke caused the sun and the air to be darkened.

Out of this smoke were locusts that came upon the earth. And, to each of them ( the number of them is not given us ) was given power, like scorpions of the earth to have power.

Restriction was placed upon them, not to hurt the grass of the earth ( which had already been burned up ) or any other green thing, or any tree ( of which 1/3 have already been wiped out ) but only those men who do not have the seal of God ( the sealing of the Holy Spirit or Christian s) on their foreheads. So, in this case, they were allowed to torment non christians.

The authority they have was not to kill, but to torment for a period of 5 months. And, John describes their torment as the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.

During this period of the tribulation, men will seek for death, but not find a way, they will want to die, but, death will evade them. ( it's going to be so bad, that men would rather die then live, and are seeking to die, but are not able to do it )


These locusts were shaped like a horse when it was ready for battle. They had crowns on their heads, made of something like gold, and the faces were like the faces of men. Their hair was like a woman's hair, teeth like that of a lion. Breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings, was like the sound of many chariots, with horses, running into battle.

Their tails were like scorpions, and their sting was in their tails. Again, they were to hurt men for a five month period.

Their king, was the angel of the bottomless pit, whose Hebrew name is Abaddon, and in Greek, he has the name Apollyon.

One of the tree woes issued by the angel ( see Rev 8:13 ) Two more of the woes were yet to be accomplished.

Now, the 6th angel sounds. And, John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying, to the 6th angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the river Euphrates" So, these four angels ( who had been prepared for this very hour, day and month and year ) were released to kill 1/3 of mankind. Note: 25% of earth's population have already been killed, now a third of the remaining population are killed.

From 9:16-21, we are told of a 200 million man army on horses. John was told that this was the number. 200 Million. John also saw horses in this vision. Their riders are described. And, by 3 plagues, 1/3 of mankind was killed, that is by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came out of their mouths. The power they have is in their mouths, and in their tails, which are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do harm.

The rest of earth's population were not killed by these plaques, would not repent of the work of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and Idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. ( Materialism ? )

Additionally, they did not at this time repent of their murders, their sorceries, and their sexual immorality, or their thefts.



Thoughts for reflection, explanation, and application.

1. There is a bottomless pit. And, a certain un-named angel has the key to this pit.

2. We will hear more of this pit as we move through Revelation.

3. Hurtful things begin to come out of this pit, hurting the earth, and men on the earth.

4. At this point, God's people, ( who have His seal ) are preserved from this evil hurt.

5. The horror of this time will be so bad, that men will want death, seek death, but death will elude or evade them.

6. All of this horror is coming to the earth.

7. Right now, we are living in a very grace filled day as it were.

8. We also are living in a time when we can shine the light of God's truth into the darkness of this world.

9. If God has saved you, then God also has a plan to use your life, and the gifts He has given you, to accomplish His will.

10. Living for God, is the Biblical norm for God's people. It's at least the norm that God calls us to.

11. It's good to take stock of where we are at, and see how our lives are, in light of what God says in His Word.

May God bless you this week. Looking forward to digging in a little bit deeper in chapter nine and ten.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.