Revelation 13, The two beasts and the Devil's program during the last 3 1/2 years

Rev 13:1a (NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

Rev 13:1-4 (ESV) And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"

• The dragon is standing on the seashore and the beast is coming out of the sea
• They are not the same, they are different
• Dragon has seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns (authority over the whole earth through his son, the Antichrist)
• Beast has seven heads and ten horns and ten crowns (He has the three crowns of the three rulers defeated in battle)
• Seven heads: These are the seven rulers
• Ten horns: These are ten regions
• Ten crowns versus seven crowns: The Antichrist wears the crowns of the three defeated rulers (this is the only distinction between the Antichrist and Satan -- the distinction is only in appearance -- I think that is a clue personally)
• It comes out of the sea
• Ancient world often associated evil with the sea and used the sea as a figure for the abyss
• The sea is also a symbol of the agitated surface of unregenerate humanity [NOT IN NOTES]
• Isa 57:20 (ESV) But the wicked are like the tossing sea; // for it cannot be quiet, // and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
• The beast resembles what? A picture from Daniel

Dan 7:2-8 (NIV) Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

4 “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

• Lion is Babylon
• Bear is Medo-Persia, somewhat large and bulky
• Leopard is Greece which under Alexander the Great swept across the East. He died early, and his kingdom was divided among his four Generals
• Fourth beast is terrifying, frightening, and very powerful. It starts out as Rome, but it is not clear the it has ever ended, for it is really imperialism
• Imperialism (www.yourdictionary.com)
• the policy and practice of forming and maintaining an empire in seeking to control raw materials and world markets by the conquest of other countries, the establishment of colonies, etc.
• the policy and practice of seeking to dominate the economic or political affairs of underdeveloped areas or weaker countries
• IMPLICATION: The beast is a ruler or system of government

• One of the head of the beast has a mortal wound that was healed (verse 3) -- that gives us the identity -- who is it?
• It is the Antichrist who is brought back from the dead by Satan
• Could also be Satan embodying the Antichrist
• Men worship the dragon, Satan
• Men worship the beast, the Antichrist (some of it may be out of fear of his military capabilities)
• APPLICATION: Men have had a desire to rule the world from all time. It is sin that gives people the desire to rule over others. Even today, we see bullies in the workplace because of our sinful desire to exalt ourselves over others. Show mercy at work. Treat people with kindness. Don't bully others

Rev 13:5-10 (ESV) And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. 9  If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10  If anyone is to be taken captive,

to captivity he goes;

 if anyone is to be slain with the sword,

with the sword must he be slain.

 Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

• The Antichrist now fully rules the earth for 42 months, the last half of the tribulation
• He is apparently an Atheist (He sounds like one of the new Atheists)
• He blasphemes God
• He slanders his name
• He slanders his dwelling place
• He slanders those who live in heaven
• He has authority to go after Christians (and conquer them, verse 7) -- God does not stop him
• Every atheist's dream: to finally take religion out of the world and show everyone how great humanity can be without the evils of religion
• Example: myth that most war is caused by religion. An actual analysis shows:
• Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod, three-volume Encyclopedia of Wars, a massive 1,502-page compendium compiled by nine reputable professors of history, shows 123 wars out of 1763 wars of 6.98 percent
• Half of the 123, or 66 wars were waged by Islamic nations
• He actually has authority over every person on the earth
• Everyone, who is not a believer, worships the beast
• The verse makes it clear that not everyone's name is in the Lamb's book of life -- so universalism cannot be true
• Verses 9,10 are fearful but also hopeful. There are two views, but in both God is control
• One thought is that the believer cannot stop what happens, it will happen. In vs 7, Satan is given power over the tribulation saints, and that is why patient endurance and faithfulness is required
• The second thought is that the perpetrator will be the one going into captivity or to be killed. In which, you still need to be patient to see God's justice
• The grammar and the context seem to suggest the first explanation
• APPLICATION: Atheism believes that the good of the many can allow it to take the lives of the few. The end justifies the means. Even today, we abort babies, because it makes life better for the individual. Ultimately, real life is only found in a relationship with Christ. Sin begets sin, and sin will never satisfy the true desire of your soul

Rev 13:11-18 (ESV) Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13  It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

• We have another beast, what is the difference?
• The first comes out of the water (which could mean the abyss). Second comes from the earth (lesser quality; also monsters from the deep are more scary than those from the earth)
• First has ten horns, second has two horns (lesser authority)
• Verse 11: Second is like a lamb (fools people with gentleness-emphasizes Christ as a prophet) but speaks like a dragon (his words are more like Satan)
• The second beast performs like a prophet
• Miraculous signs (Note that only then Antichrist is around!)
• Orders an image of the first beast to be worshipped
• He appears to give life to the inanimate object
• He kills those who refuse to worship
• He forces everyone to receive a mark in order to execute commerce
• The mark is required to conduct commerce. It is stated in conjunction with the requirement to worship the beast or be killed
• So, if you are not dead, then you have agreed to worship the beast
• It is not evil to get a mark on your forehead or your hand. It may be that because of theft that the world moves to this system. What is evil is the agreement to worship the beast in order to conduct business
• There are a number of suggestions as how to view the 666. The text gives us some clues
• Name of the beast
• Number of his name (number of man)
• You must calculate the number
• The Jewish alphabet has 22 letters. Give example of how you might use English
• תומאס וויליאם מיקס
• Thomas: (200+8+60+40+1+100) = 409
• William: (500+9+30+30+9+1+40) = 619
• Mix: (40+9+600) = 649
• Total is 409+619+649=1,677
• Jesus Christ is ישוע המשיח = 749 or 7 and 7x7
• Certainly there is also symbolism in the number. The three sixes are a trilogy. The six is just short of seven for God
• APPLICATION: We need to employ principle and not religious dogma as we view the future. There is nothing evil with a one-world government. The messianic kingdom will certainly have some aspects. There is nothing wrong with an NFC card inserted into your skin. Let's not confuse the real evil with actions that will occur at that time

Revelation 12, The Dragon and his hatred of Israel

Rev 12:1-6 (ESV) And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.


• We need to consider an episode of LOST to understand. This is a flashback. We need to understand in order to fully appreciate what God is saying
• First, what does John say he is seeing?
• A great sign
• Therefore, we can't treat this literally. Most of the time we prefer to treat scripture, even Revelation literally
• Remember: Our hermeneutical rule is that we use "common sense" reading of the scriptures
• Who is the woman? What are the possibilities?
• A women in scripture is used to represent a nation or a religion
• Jer 3:20 (NIV) But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, // so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel," //  declares the Lord.
• Isa 26:17-18 (NIV) As a woman with child and about to give birth // writhes and cries out in her pain, // so were we in your presence, O Lord. // 18 We were with child, we writhed in pain, // but we gave birth to wind. // We have not brought salvation to the earth; // we have not given birth to people of the world.
• Gen 37:9-11 9 (NIV) Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." // 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
• Also Hos 2:16-20; Isa 54:1-6; Ezek 16:8-14
• Who or what is the "enormous red dragon?"
• Satan (this will be obvious in the next section)
• Seven heads, 10 horns, 7 crowns: The Antichrist (the Devil's son) will rule the ten kingdoms. Three of the horns will rise up and be put down, and so there will be seven crowns and seven rulers, with the eighth, the Antichrist leading them all. Since the devil leads the Antichrist, he is identified with his son's rule
• Third of the stars -- some have suggested that these are the angels whom Satan led in rebellion
• Isa 14:12-15 (NIV) How you have fallen from heaven, // O morning star, son of the dawn! // You have been cast down to the earth, // you who once laid low the nations! // 13 You said in your heart, // "I will ascend to heaven; // I will raise my throne // above the stars of God; // I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, // on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. // 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; // I will make myself like the Most High." // 15 But you are brought down to the grave, // to the depths of the pit.
• Ezek 28:11-19 (NIV) The word of the Lord came to me: 12 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'"
• The dragon tries to destroy the baby. Who is the baby?
• We are given the clue in the passage (vs5, one who is to rule over the nations)
• Jesus
• Verse 5 represent a period of 33 years
• The woman fleeing to the desert would be a picture of what?
• Woman is Israel
• 1260 days is one-half of the tribulation (probably the latter half since the first half has a peace treaty and the second half begins with the breaking of the peace treaty)
• People fleeing to ?
• Israel's "place" of refuge (Rev 12:14) is not specified, but it could be Petra, in present-day Jordan: Zechariah identifies "Azal," a place associated with Petra, as Israel's refuge (see exposition on Zech 14:1-5); Isaiah portrayed a triumphant Christ coming from Edom (see Isa 63:1-6), of which Petra was the capital; Edom will be spared from the Antichrist (see Dan 11:41), perhaps so that it can protect Israel. (from Willmington's Bible Handbook by Harold Willmington Copyright © 1997 by Harold L. Willmington. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
• APPLICATION: Events affecting the end times have been in place for many years. Satan wants to destroy Israel -- he has always wanted to destroy Israel. That doesn't mean Israel is right in all that it does, but that we need to support their security


Rev 12:7-12 (ESV) Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"


• So we have a war in heaven, what do we observe?
• Michael and his angels are more powerful than Satan and his demons (former angels)
• Satan and his demons are cast down to earth
• This is not the first time that Michael and Satan have confronted each other
• Jude 8-10 (ESV) Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." 10  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.
• The dragon is very clearly identified as …
• Dragon - Grk drakon - a fascinating serpent; mythical; a monstrous winged lizard (only in Revelation and mostly in chapter 8) -- Probably frightening as well as fascinating
• Serpent - Grk ophis (of'-is); probably from NT:3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision);  snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person
• Ancient refers us back to Genesis 2-3
• Devil - Grk diabolos - a traducer (to cause humiliation or disgrace to by making malicious and false statements)
• Satan - Grk Satanas - an Aramaic origin, the accuser, the devil
• So when you read verses 7-10, what goes through your mind?
• Why is he even in heaven? (answered below)
• Why has it not happened sooner? Clearly it is tied to this middle of the tribulation ("… time is short")
• Why doesn't God just "make it happen?"
• Throughout Revelation God relies on Angels to do things
• Emphasizes a principle with God. He uses others to accomplish his will, thereby making them part of what he is doing
• Also, God doesn't seem to be forcing but relying upon others (which might explain why Satan is willing to play a "losing" game)
• Up to this point, Satan has had access to both earth (which he temporarily rules) and Heaven, where he is allowed to visit (and accuse the saints -- example is Job)
• "the time is short" can be viewed a couple of ways
• One, a defeatist view, well we only have a few years and it is all over
• Two, the time is really short. If we are going to still win, we need to go all out
• One of Satan's strategy to win has been to destroy the line of David
• Initially it was to prevent Jesus' birth
• Still, Jesus said he wouldn't return until Israel confesses him as messiah
• One, destroy Israel so that there is essentially no nation to welcome him back
• Two, convince Israel that there is no God protecting them
• Whatever his purpose, we also know that pride and anger drive Satan. An all-out campaign of anti-Semitism will be unleashed
• APPLICATION: Satan is an accuser. He accuses us before God, but he also accuses us (through his servants). And that is when we let ourselves get defeated


Rev 12:13-17 (ESV) And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.


• This further expands the discussion
• The dragon goes after the woman, Israel
• So, this answers the earlier question. In some way, Satan sees his key to victory in going after Israel
• The nation escapes on eagle's wings
• This is probably not the US
• It is an allusion to the Exodus
• Ex 19:3-4 (NIV) Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
• Deut 32:10-12 (NIV) In a desert land he found him,
in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them on its pinions.
12 The Lord alone led him;
no foreign god was with him.
• The time, times, and half a time is our reference to the 1260 days or 3 1/2 years. So this is one half of the tribulation. Since there was a peace treaty at the beginning, this would have to be the last half of the tribulation
• This brings up an interesting question: why did Satan bring about the peace treaty with Israel in the first place since it appears his key to victory is Israel's destruction?
• One thought is that he needed to gain power in the world first. The key is by ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was a stepping stone, but clearly not in Satan's interest long-term
• Key thought: Satan is dependent upon others doing his work. Unlike God, who chooses to use others, Satan does not have the power to not use people
• The destination for Israel is Petra or some similar place of protection
• The discussion of the serpent spewing water is difficult
• It could be literal water or flood
• A flood is used figuratively for an Army as in Daniel 9:26; 11:10; 11:40
• Zechariah in describing the end times, suggest that only 1/3 will survive
• Zech 13:8-9 (NIV) In the whole land," declares the Lord,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.
9 This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
• After failing to destroy Israel, where does the dragon put his attention?
• Tribulation saints
• Believers (obey the word)
• Children (in a spiritual sense from Abraham's blessing)
• APPLICATION: Repeated message -- what you do today could determine a person's destiny during the tribulation. It's okay if they won't listen, but don't withhold the gift of life on that perception

Revelation 11, The Two Witnesses

Rev 11:1-6 (ESV) Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."


4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.


• This chapter starts, ends, and infers in the middle with the temple
• Why measure the temple, what is the purpose of a measurement? And why exclude the outer court?
• Sometimes, the owner of property will measure what he owns (that is in the positive sense)
• There is also a negative sense but that seems excluded by the command to not measure the outer court
• So, one sense is that God will favor those who want to worship him (although they are worshipping in the wrong way) and he will exclude the Gentiles
• We also get a sense of when the age of the Gentiles ends. Since the Antichrist will break the agreement with Israel, anti-Semitism will rise during this period
• There is a lot of speculation on the two witnesses (which we will ignore). What do they do?
• They perform wonders, miracles, and especially plagues
• The plagues potentially are the same as the some of the last seal and bowl judgment
• And they can't be killed
• How long have they been operating? 3 1/2 years
• So how might people be viewing them? As the cause of all the world's troubles


Zech 4 (ESV) And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then 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 of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'"


8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9  "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10  For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.


 "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." 11 Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?" 13 He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."


• Zechariah is a book about the end-times
• Nehemiah rebuilt the walls. Zerubbabel and Ezra rebuilt the temple during a time when no one thought it was even possible. How does this fit with the Revelation passage?
• The people (of the end times) rebuild the temple in their own power
• Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple in the Spirit's power
• The two trees are the two anointed by the HS to preach against the world
• In Zechariah there was one lampstand and two trees. In Revelation, John sees two lampstands and two trees. Possibly, the allusion is to the olive trees supplying oil to the lamp, where the lamp then was Zerubbabel and the two olive trees (in Zechariah's time) are Ezra and Joshua (the High Priest at that time). But I am not sure nor do I know who they are in the end times
• Jewish writings identify the two anointed as Aaron and Moses or Aaron and David or Aaron and the Messiah
• Some suggest Elijah (which has good backing) -- predicted he would come before the terrifying day of the Lord
• Others add Enoch (because he did not die)
• Still others suggest Moses and Elijah since they were at the transfiguration
• In this case the two lamps are the two witnesses, anointed by the HS, who supply oil (encouragement and support) to all the believers of that time
• One very interesting point, this is only the fifth period of history where significant miracles occur. Often, miracles foreshadow or emphasize change
1. Moses and Joshua
2. Elijah and Elisha
3. Daniel
4. Jesus and the apostles
5. The two witnesses in the end times


Rev 11:7-10 (ESV) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.


• We have not yet defined the beast but this is the Antichrist. We will have to wait until later chapters to prove that
• He comes up out of the Abyss also suggests that this will be after Satan resurrects him from the dead
• Why are their bodies left out in the open for so many days?
• In Arabic society, it was a dishonor not to be buried within the day
• It probably arose out of the climate but then became a cultural tradition
• So, the world and the Arabs dishonor the two witnesses
• These verses have posed a problem for researchers in years past, before the invention of the television. How could the whole word view the bodies?
• We need to remember this when we struggle with other passages
• It is possible that there is something we don't yet understand or have that would make sense
• Where do they die? Jerusalem. Why the different names?
• The passage tells us that they are symbolic or mystical
• Sodom is obvious and represents the sexual downfall of mankind. Not too long ago, in our own country, we celebrated the exaltation of sin
• Egypt represents the wares of the world, the temptations to material things. The land of leeks, onions, and garlic but with slavery that is better than freedom with God
• Why the party and the giving of gifts?
• Because the world is so happy that the last 3 1/2 years of pain (scripture calls it torment) is finally over
• Without the witnesses, it might be difficult to form a cause and effect between God and the plagues. You can say something is from God but you can't prove it. Unless, you tell people to repent and then verbally fulfill your message with a plague
• Others had tried to kill these two men for the very same reason -- to put an end to the plagues
• The Antichrist is successful, because God allows him to succeed. But one could see how their death by the Antichrist might make people think that God is not so powerful or that "evil" might win in the end


Rev 11:11-14 (ESV) But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on 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, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.


14  The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.


• In an amazing and final act, God raises from death the two witnesses, 3 and 1/2 days after their death
• Also, at that very moment an earthquake hits the city, destroying a tenth and killing 7000 people (a very unique number)
• Their enemies watched them go up (possibly outside of the city)
• Inside the city, they were terrified and gave glory to God
• At the same time (I believe), we conclude the second woe and are in the exact middle of the tribulation
• The second woe was the release of the 200M demons
• And the death of 1/3 of mankind (representing 1/2 total)
• And a refusal to believe
• The third woe is the seventh trumpet which contains the seven bowl judgments


Rev 11:15-19 (ESV) Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,


"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
 who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."


19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.


• With the blowing of the seventh trumpet, three things happen
• A declaration that the kingdom of the world has now become the kingdom of Christ
• The 24 elders worship God and declare that God is reigning and that as a result, judgment is now being issued
• Lastly, the temple in heaven is opened (in contrast to earth)
• The first two statements suggest that Jesus' reign begins at this point
• One, it could be that God begins the reign by first succumbing the enemies under his feet
• Two, it could be so certain, that people refer to the future event as happening
• The temple is very interesting
• The ark of the covenant is revealed, referencing back to the original covenant with the people of Israel. The second half of the tribulation is a time for God to deal with Israel
• There is lighting, rumblings, thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm (Constable calls this a storm theophany)
APPLICATION:
1. Be careful about celebrating sin. What is wrong remains wrong. We cannot tell people how to live. They must choose their own actions but we can still maintain a correct response to sin
2. The earth is in for a painful (tormenting) time. We can't save everyone. But we can make people think differently so that when that time does come, they might choose to repent
3. Lastly, the more you are involved in sin, the harder it is to break the habit. The world would not repent because they loved their sin and they were hardened

Revelation 10, Second mighty angel, and the little scroll

• Middle of the tribulation
• Difficult to determine the order


Rev 10:1-11 (ESV) Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2  He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." 5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.


8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." 10 And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11 And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."


• Let's look at this mighty angel and makes some observations about the description
• This is the second of three "mighty angels" in Revelation (in the bible) [Rev 5:2; 10:1; 18:21]
• The first strong angel appears when the scroll with seven seals is in the hand of him who was seated on the throne, asking who is worthy to break the seals
• The second mighty angel appears carrying a little scroll with the declaration of seven thunders (unknown), and that God's mystery will be fulfilled
• The words of the thunders are withheld from us
• Thunders usually are a warning of an impending storm
• The third mighty angel takes a stones, a great millstone, and throws it into the sea symbolizing the throwing down of Babylon
• Robed in a cloud (emblem of God)
• Rainbow above his head (rainbow is both a symbol of God's mercy (to his people) and his last judgment on the earth (to his foes))
• Face like the sun (incredible brightness -- God's glory)
• Legs like fiery pillars (God led the nation with a pillar of fire during the Exodus)
• His feet are on both the land and the sea (emphasizes God's control over land and sea)
• He has a roar of a lion (the lion often refers to a king)
• We are Introduced to the "seventh" angel
• The seventh angel is going to sound the seventh trumpet
• The seventh trumpet contains the remaining bowl judgments
• This will finish God's judgment (plural "days" (verse 7) tells us that it extends over a period of time)
• The focus now shifts to this second scroll, called the little scroll
• The key to its contents is found in verse 11, it is prophecy
• Typically, people enjoy hearing prophecy (sells a lot of books) and it is sweet, but in the end the experience is bitter
• We end chapter ten in a calm before the storm
• APPLICATION: There is a certain excitement to look into the future to see the things that will take place (that's the sweetness of prophecy). But prophecy should also burden us with a desire to tell as many people as possible about Jesus (the effect of the sourness)


• Look ahead (middle)
• Temporary cessation of Judgments
• The second world wide war of the tribulation
• The Antichrist is killed
• Satan is cast down to earth
• The resurrection of the Antichrist
• Three kings are killed, seven submit (the Antichrist becomes the eight horn)
• Destruction of Ecclesiastical Babylon
• 7 Mid tribulation announcement
• The failure of the counterfeit trinity's attempt to usurp God's authority
• Proclamation of Political Babylon's fall
• Results of the approaching last seven judgments
• A final call to heed the gospel
• (3) Words of assurance, encouragement, and comfort  to the post-rapture saints
• The death of the two witnesses
• The worship of the Antichrist
• The False Prophet and 666
• The seven year covenant is broken
• The abomination of desolation is set up
• World-wide persecution of Jews
• 7th Trumpet (third woe) sounds declaring Messiah's kingship
• In heaven
• Judgment seat of Messiah
• The marriage of the lamb