I think regarding the 3 1/2 years I shall begin by simply responding in this way. This period of time mentioned by Daniel as a time, times, and half a time describes the length of time allotted to the destruction of Jerusalem. This is the exact same thing that John mentions in Rev 11 and 12 as 1260 days and as 42 months.
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Dan 12:5-7,7, Yes, this 3 1/2ts is the time from Daniel until 70 ad.
This number 3 1/2 is half of 7, complete.
The other 3 1/2ts of Rev., the 2 witnesses and the woman of ch 12, would be the times of the gentiles Lk 21:20-24, 70 ad until the restoration of Israel to the physical city of Jerusalem.
============================
The two witnesses, witness in sackcloth, while the Gentiles for 3 1/2ts, tread the court which is without.
The 2 witnesses are shown in Jerusalem again, showing Israel restored to Jerusalem.
===========================
The woman, Israel, ch 12:6&14, is in the wilderness for the TotG, showing a time of limited duration.
The dragon, Rome chases Israel during this time but is limited.
This number 3 1/2 is half of 7, complete.
The other 3 1/2ts of Rev., the 2 witnesses and the woman of ch 12, would be the times of the gentiles Lk 21:20-24, 70 ad until the restoration of Israel to the physical city of Jerusalem.
============================
The two witnesses, witness in sackcloth, while the Gentiles for 3 1/2ts, tread the court which is without.
The 2 witnesses are shown in Jerusalem again, showing Israel restored to Jerusalem.
===========================
The woman, Israel, ch 12:6&14, is in the wilderness for the TotG, showing a time of limited duration.
The dragon, Rome chases Israel during this time but is limited.
I think you are going to have a hard time making the 3 1/2 years stretch from the time of Daniel to 70 AD. This period of time was the length of time from the day Cestius Gallus lay siege to the city in AD 66 until it was eventually destroyed by Titus in AD 70.
Would you be willing to take a look with me at Rev 11 and 12 to see how all of this fits together? In Daniel we are given the prophesy. In Revelation we are given the application of the things saw.
Would you be willing to take a look with me at Rev 11 and 12 to see how all of this fits together? In Daniel we are given the prophesy. In Revelation we are given the application of the things saw.
E
the three and a half years are yet future. 70 Ad has nothing to do with it, the destruction of Israel happened long in Daniels vision by th epeople of the prince who is to come, who will do the abomination of chapter 9, long before the 1 week agreement between that future prince of rome and the many, And 3.5 years before the abomination of desolation occures, Which then jesus said would lead to great tribulation (according to prophesy another 3.5 year period) which will only be put to a stop by the return of Christ,
as per matt 24, dan 9 and many other prophets
38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
if there were any gentiles at pentecoste, then peter would have known.
28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.Acts 10
paul ministry is gentiles.
.7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles)Galatians 2
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.Romans 2
if there were any gentiles at pentecoste, then peter would have known.
28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.Acts 10
paul ministry is gentiles.
.7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles)Galatians 2
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.Romans 2
Brother EG,
I didn't forget you, I've been very busy now that spring is here.
I put in the air conditioner, and brought in wood for the wood stove to keep warm, but that's just the way it is here.
=============================
After some thought, I wanted to ask you what you thought about the 3 1/2t of Dan 12.
I can't really see it as a literal 3 1/2 yrs.
Is this statement made over 2500 yrs ago, just about 3 1/2 literal years? You say yes.
==========================================
Look at the statue of Dan 2, this number 3 1/2 represents 1/2 (approx.) of the statue.
The other 3 1/2 would complete the statue, making a complete 7.
This number 7 would then be the complete statue.
The statue is showing the complete times otG, from the Babylon captivity, until the restoration of Israel to Jerusalem, 1967?
What do you think brother?
I didn't forget you, I've been very busy now that spring is here.
I put in the air conditioner, and brought in wood for the wood stove to keep warm, but that's just the way it is here.
=============================
After some thought, I wanted to ask you what you thought about the 3 1/2t of Dan 12.
I can't really see it as a literal 3 1/2 yrs.
Is this statement made over 2500 yrs ago, just about 3 1/2 literal years? You say yes.
==========================================
Look at the statue of Dan 2, this number 3 1/2 represents 1/2 (approx.) of the statue.
The other 3 1/2 would complete the statue, making a complete 7.
This number 7 would then be the complete statue.
The statue is showing the complete times otG, from the Babylon captivity, until the restoration of Israel to Jerusalem, 1967?
What do you think brother?
E
I think when God says 3 and 1 half years we should take him at his word, And not tryy to guess if he meant something else or not..
The time of the gentile is still in effect The things the final gentile ruler was said he would do has not yet been done.. In fact until the last 20 years. much of it could not be done, not sure it can be done now (like control the world finances)
The time of the gentile is still in effect The things the final gentile ruler was said he would do has not yet been done.. In fact until the last 20 years. much of it could not be done, not sure it can be done now (like control the world finances)
Because of the amount of material I will post this in three different posts.
Chapter Eleven
By oldhermit
I. The End of the Second Woe, 1-14
A. The measuring of the temple, 1-2
1. The measuring of the temple in verses one and two comes out of Ezekiel chapters 40, 41, and 42. Remember, chapter eleven is still part of the scene of the second woe which is part of the sixth trumpet which is all part of the scene of the breaking of the seventh seal. What is being done in chapter eleven is the separating of the sealed of God in Israel that began in chapter seven in the breaking of the sixth seal. John was told to measure three things, the temple, the altar, and the worshipers but was forbidden to measure the outer court. The purpose of the measuring according to Ezekiel 42:20 was to “divide between the holy and the profane (common).” That which was common was designated as unclean, profane, or unholy.
a. The temple here probably refers to the literal temple in Jerusalem rather than simply a metaphor for the people of God. If so, this would certainly be an indication that the book itself was written prior to 70 AD, perhaps as early as 65-69 AD since the Temple was still standing in Jerusalem.
b. The measuring of the temple was for the purpose of separating the redeemed of Israel from the unredeemed of Israel. He is separating out the 144,000 sealed ones from the tribes of Israel.
c. The measuring of the altar and the worshiper separated those who clung to the offering of bulls and goats from those who's altar was the cross.
d. The measuring of the worshiper separated those whose worship was still linked to the Levitical system from those whose worship was according to spirit and truth. “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” John 4:21-21. This prophesy had become reality.
2. The trampling for forty-two months
a. The courtyard was not to be measured because from now on it would be in the possession of the Gentiles. Clearly, measuring is linked to separation and preservation. This is the same idea as being weighed in the balances which message Danial interpreted to Belshazzar in Daniel 5. Whatever is measured is preserved, that which is not measured is assigned to destruction. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations.” In Matthew 23:37-38, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 1:21 and pronounced this judgment upon national Israel because of their unbelief. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” In Luke 21:24, Jesus told them that Jerusalem would be destroyed and trampled on by the Gentiles. “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” In Revelation 11, John is reiterating that same pronouncement of judgment given by the Lord in the gospels. “Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” is not talking about the saving of the Gentiles but the trampling of the court BY the Gentiles. For the Jews, the time of the Gentiles was a time of destruction.
b. The length of the time of the trampling of the Gentiles was to be forty-two months. “And they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” The historical significance of this shows that the temple that was to be measured was the actual temple in Jerusalem and not a metaphor for the Church.
Chapter Eleven
By oldhermit
I. The End of the Second Woe, 1-14
A. The measuring of the temple, 1-2
1. The measuring of the temple in verses one and two comes out of Ezekiel chapters 40, 41, and 42. Remember, chapter eleven is still part of the scene of the second woe which is part of the sixth trumpet which is all part of the scene of the breaking of the seventh seal. What is being done in chapter eleven is the separating of the sealed of God in Israel that began in chapter seven in the breaking of the sixth seal. John was told to measure three things, the temple, the altar, and the worshipers but was forbidden to measure the outer court. The purpose of the measuring according to Ezekiel 42:20 was to “divide between the holy and the profane (common).” That which was common was designated as unclean, profane, or unholy.
a. The temple here probably refers to the literal temple in Jerusalem rather than simply a metaphor for the people of God. If so, this would certainly be an indication that the book itself was written prior to 70 AD, perhaps as early as 65-69 AD since the Temple was still standing in Jerusalem.
b. The measuring of the temple was for the purpose of separating the redeemed of Israel from the unredeemed of Israel. He is separating out the 144,000 sealed ones from the tribes of Israel.
c. The measuring of the altar and the worshiper separated those who clung to the offering of bulls and goats from those who's altar was the cross.
d. The measuring of the worshiper separated those whose worship was still linked to the Levitical system from those whose worship was according to spirit and truth. “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” John 4:21-21. This prophesy had become reality.
2. The trampling for forty-two months
a. The courtyard was not to be measured because from now on it would be in the possession of the Gentiles. Clearly, measuring is linked to separation and preservation. This is the same idea as being weighed in the balances which message Danial interpreted to Belshazzar in Daniel 5. Whatever is measured is preserved, that which is not measured is assigned to destruction. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations.” In Matthew 23:37-38, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 1:21 and pronounced this judgment upon national Israel because of their unbelief. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” In Luke 21:24, Jesus told them that Jerusalem would be destroyed and trampled on by the Gentiles. “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” In Revelation 11, John is reiterating that same pronouncement of judgment given by the Lord in the gospels. “Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” is not talking about the saving of the Gentiles but the trampling of the court BY the Gentiles. For the Jews, the time of the Gentiles was a time of destruction.
b. The length of the time of the trampling of the Gentiles was to be forty-two months. “And they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” The historical significance of this shows that the temple that was to be measured was the actual temple in Jerusalem and not a metaphor for the Church.
By oldhermit
B. Two Witnesses, 3-14
The two witness could be either the two testimonies of God – the Old covenant and the New covenant or they may represent the collectivity of the Old Testament prophets “it is they that bear witness about me,” John 5:39,and the Apostolic testimony, “and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles.” Matthew 10:18
1. The speaker is Jesus, the strong angel of chapter ten. “I will grant authority...” Whatever authority these two witnesses have is from the Lord.
2. The number 'two' is significant with relation to witnesses.
a. In Deuteronomy 19:15 the Lord established that “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”
b.Also in John 8:17, Jesus confirms this again saying, “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.”
c. This is how Jesus said judgments were to be decided within the Church regarding matters of a person's sinful conduct. “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
d. In 1Timothy 5:19, Paul tells Timothy that no accusation is to brought against an elder “except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”e. In 2Corinnthians 13, Paul says regarding the conduct of the Church at Corinth, “This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
f.In Hebrews 10:28 the Hebrew writer again confirms that judgment against any accused must be established by at least two witness in order for judgment to be exercised against that person. “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
What is being confirmed by these two witness in Revelation eleven is the judgment against Israel. The testimony of the two witnesses was the preaching of the gospel. Rejection of the gospel and persecution of Christians was the evidence that stood against them. Even the Lord confirms testimony by two witness in accusing the nation.
3. “And they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are prophesying to Israel. The Lord has always sent prophets to warn the people of impending judgment urging them to repent. The 1260 days are the forty-two months of verse two which was the duration of time given to the trampling of the outer court by the Gentiles. This 1260 days or 42 months will be designated in chapter 12 as three and one half years, or time, times, and a half time. This was the exact length of time from the day Cestius Gallus lay siege to the city in AD 66 until it was eventually destroyed by Titus in AD 70. Why the symbolism of the sackcloth? This is the garment of humility and mourning. These two witnesses are in mourning because of a stiff-necked and stubborn people. The mourning is in response to the fate of the city. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed.
4. These two witnesses are described as “the two olive trees” andthe “two lampstands that stand before the Lord....” The background of this vision comes from Zechariah 4:11-14, “Then I said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?' And I answered the second time and said to him, 'What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?' So he answered me, saying, 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then he said, 'These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'” This may refer to the Law and the prophets
5. Their power
a. Over their enemies – “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.”
* Whoever seeks to harm those who preach the gospel, the judgment of the gospel is against them. They are condemned by the gospel.
* These are granted divine protection until they have completed their prophesying. The consuming fire is a judgment figure. The fire that proceeds from their mouths is the Word of God – the gospel, which holds both the power to save and to destroy.
b. They have power over the natural world. In other word they have the power to curse their adversaries.
* “These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying;” Elijah who cursed Israel with drought.
* “And they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” Moses who cursed Egypt with plague.
Thus here, both the Law and the prophets are represented.
This emphasizes the response of God to the prayers of the saints. Saints possess the power of blessing and cursing.
6. Their death – “When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.” It is only after their prophesying is finished that the Lord allows them to be overcome by the beast. This is the persecuting powers of Israel who will be described in chapter thirteen as the land beast. These two witness are slain in “the great city” – Jerusalem. “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” This is certainly not the first time God has described Israel in such a way (Ezekiel 16:48-56, Isaiah 1:9-10). We know the city herein described is Jerusalem because this was where the Lord was crucified.
7.There were two different responses to the death of the two witnesses.
a. Who are these who are “out of the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations”? They are those who were the redeemed from among mankind in 5:9 for they are “OUT of” every people, tribe, tongue, and nation. These stand as witnesses of the persecution as they “look at their dead bodies for three and a half days.”
* The three and one half days simply represents the brevity of those days.
* “Will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.” In other words the testimony of these witnesses will continue to be preached by those who are “from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations.” The cause of the two witnesses did not die simply because they were martyred.
b The persecuting powers – “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” The world celebrated the persecution of the saints represented by the two witnesses because through their preaching the world was tormented. Their rejoicing is in the expectation that their testimony has been silenced through their deaths.
8. The spread of Christianity once again began to flourish in spite of the persecution that was waged to silence the preaching of the gospel. “But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.”
9.The martyred saints (the witnesses) have been taken into the presence of the Lord. “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here.' Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.” These are those whose souls were seen in 6:9 underneath the altar crying “How long of Lord...will you refrain from judging and avenging?” They have been given their reward and are told to wait yet a little longer because they have overcome. Their faithfulness was maintained even in death.
10. Now, judgement is going to be poured out upon Jerusalem. This judgment is symbolized by the “great earthquake” which signifies great political upheaval. This is certainly what was taking place in the political climate between Rome and Jerusalem. “And in 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.”
a. A tenth is the tenth part of that which is represented by the 'city'.The use of one tenth again represents the fact that the destruction was only partial and not yet complete.
b. Seven thousand killed – represented by ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων – “names of men.” This number is directly proportionate to the one tenth. The number seven is generally used to represent the idea of a full period of time and when linked to one thousand it simply lays stress to the absolute nature of the completeness. This number is modified by the one tenth which signifies only a portion of the whole. So, how do both sets of numbers modify the level of destruction that is related to the city in this scene? I am not sure I have an answer for that. It may only imply that a full tenth of the city's population was destroyed in the pronouncement of the second woe, I do not know. In all of these scenes we have seen this destruction of Jerusalem played out in a series of progressive proportions represented by one third and one tenth.
* The first trumpet of 8:7 – one third
* The second trumpet of 8:8-9 – one third
* The third trumpet of 8:10-11 – one third
* The forth trumpet of 8:12 – one third
As the woes are poured out one after the other, each woe brings with it another level of destruction. Since this is only the second woe, this tells us that Jerusalem's destruction was not yet complete for another woe was yet to follow.
c. The rest “were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” The giving of glory is in direct response to the terror instilled by the second woe. How would this giving of glory to God be demonstrated in the 'rest'?
* Possibly in the fact that their persecution of the saints had ceased since they now had their own miseries to deal with.
* Possibly the recognition that this destruction was actually from God just as the two witness had prophesied.
* For certain the glorification of God lay in the very nature of the calamity itself that was brought upon them. God is always glorified in his judgment of the wicked. Jesus, whom they crucified in the “great city” is the judge of all the earth and he is clearly demonstrating in all of this that he is indeed Lord of lords and King of kings. This is the fulfillment of Jesus' words to Caiaphas in Mark 14:62, “And Jesus said, I am; and you shall see The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
11. “The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” God's death knellis about to descend upon Jerusalem and the sounding of the seventh trumpet will complete this series of scenes that began in chapter eight as part of the breaking of the seventh seal. In relation to the second woe, the third woe would be immediate. There would be no rest between the terror of the second woe and the final destruction of the third woe. In 8:13 the three woes were pronounce upon Jerusalem. Each of these three woes were to be heralded by the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels who were then about to sound.
a. The first woe was announced by the fifth angel in 9:1-12.
b. The second woe was announced by the sixth angel in 9:13-11:13.
c. The beginning of the third woe is never announced but we are told when the seventh angel sounded. According to 8:13, the sounding of each of these three angels was to bring with it a woe. We can also see when this woe was finished in 14:8 because we are told that “Babylon has fallen.”
B. Two Witnesses, 3-14
The two witness could be either the two testimonies of God – the Old covenant and the New covenant or they may represent the collectivity of the Old Testament prophets “it is they that bear witness about me,” John 5:39,and the Apostolic testimony, “and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles.” Matthew 10:18
1. The speaker is Jesus, the strong angel of chapter ten. “I will grant authority...” Whatever authority these two witnesses have is from the Lord.
2. The number 'two' is significant with relation to witnesses.
a. In Deuteronomy 19:15 the Lord established that “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”
b.Also in John 8:17, Jesus confirms this again saying, “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.”
c. This is how Jesus said judgments were to be decided within the Church regarding matters of a person's sinful conduct. “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
d. In 1Timothy 5:19, Paul tells Timothy that no accusation is to brought against an elder “except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”e. In 2Corinnthians 13, Paul says regarding the conduct of the Church at Corinth, “This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
f.In Hebrews 10:28 the Hebrew writer again confirms that judgment against any accused must be established by at least two witness in order for judgment to be exercised against that person. “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
What is being confirmed by these two witness in Revelation eleven is the judgment against Israel. The testimony of the two witnesses was the preaching of the gospel. Rejection of the gospel and persecution of Christians was the evidence that stood against them. Even the Lord confirms testimony by two witness in accusing the nation.
3. “And they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are prophesying to Israel. The Lord has always sent prophets to warn the people of impending judgment urging them to repent. The 1260 days are the forty-two months of verse two which was the duration of time given to the trampling of the outer court by the Gentiles. This 1260 days or 42 months will be designated in chapter 12 as three and one half years, or time, times, and a half time. This was the exact length of time from the day Cestius Gallus lay siege to the city in AD 66 until it was eventually destroyed by Titus in AD 70. Why the symbolism of the sackcloth? This is the garment of humility and mourning. These two witnesses are in mourning because of a stiff-necked and stubborn people. The mourning is in response to the fate of the city. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed.
4. These two witnesses are described as “the two olive trees” andthe “two lampstands that stand before the Lord....” The background of this vision comes from Zechariah 4:11-14, “Then I said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?' And I answered the second time and said to him, 'What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?' So he answered me, saying, 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then he said, 'These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'” This may refer to the Law and the prophets
5. Their power
a. Over their enemies – “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.”
* Whoever seeks to harm those who preach the gospel, the judgment of the gospel is against them. They are condemned by the gospel.
* These are granted divine protection until they have completed their prophesying. The consuming fire is a judgment figure. The fire that proceeds from their mouths is the Word of God – the gospel, which holds both the power to save and to destroy.
b. They have power over the natural world. In other word they have the power to curse their adversaries.
* “These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying;” Elijah who cursed Israel with drought.
* “And they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” Moses who cursed Egypt with plague.
Thus here, both the Law and the prophets are represented.
This emphasizes the response of God to the prayers of the saints. Saints possess the power of blessing and cursing.
6. Their death – “When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.” It is only after their prophesying is finished that the Lord allows them to be overcome by the beast. This is the persecuting powers of Israel who will be described in chapter thirteen as the land beast. These two witness are slain in “the great city” – Jerusalem. “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” This is certainly not the first time God has described Israel in such a way (Ezekiel 16:48-56, Isaiah 1:9-10). We know the city herein described is Jerusalem because this was where the Lord was crucified.
7.There were two different responses to the death of the two witnesses.
a. Who are these who are “out of the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations”? They are those who were the redeemed from among mankind in 5:9 for they are “OUT of” every people, tribe, tongue, and nation. These stand as witnesses of the persecution as they “look at their dead bodies for three and a half days.”
* The three and one half days simply represents the brevity of those days.
* “Will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.” In other words the testimony of these witnesses will continue to be preached by those who are “from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations.” The cause of the two witnesses did not die simply because they were martyred.
b The persecuting powers – “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” The world celebrated the persecution of the saints represented by the two witnesses because through their preaching the world was tormented. Their rejoicing is in the expectation that their testimony has been silenced through their deaths.
8. The spread of Christianity once again began to flourish in spite of the persecution that was waged to silence the preaching of the gospel. “But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.”
9.The martyred saints (the witnesses) have been taken into the presence of the Lord. “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here.' Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.” These are those whose souls were seen in 6:9 underneath the altar crying “How long of Lord...will you refrain from judging and avenging?” They have been given their reward and are told to wait yet a little longer because they have overcome. Their faithfulness was maintained even in death.
10. Now, judgement is going to be poured out upon Jerusalem. This judgment is symbolized by the “great earthquake” which signifies great political upheaval. This is certainly what was taking place in the political climate between Rome and Jerusalem. “And in 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.”
a. A tenth is the tenth part of that which is represented by the 'city'.The use of one tenth again represents the fact that the destruction was only partial and not yet complete.
b. Seven thousand killed – represented by ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων – “names of men.” This number is directly proportionate to the one tenth. The number seven is generally used to represent the idea of a full period of time and when linked to one thousand it simply lays stress to the absolute nature of the completeness. This number is modified by the one tenth which signifies only a portion of the whole. So, how do both sets of numbers modify the level of destruction that is related to the city in this scene? I am not sure I have an answer for that. It may only imply that a full tenth of the city's population was destroyed in the pronouncement of the second woe, I do not know. In all of these scenes we have seen this destruction of Jerusalem played out in a series of progressive proportions represented by one third and one tenth.
* The first trumpet of 8:7 – one third
* The second trumpet of 8:8-9 – one third
* The third trumpet of 8:10-11 – one third
* The forth trumpet of 8:12 – one third
As the woes are poured out one after the other, each woe brings with it another level of destruction. Since this is only the second woe, this tells us that Jerusalem's destruction was not yet complete for another woe was yet to follow.
c. The rest “were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” The giving of glory is in direct response to the terror instilled by the second woe. How would this giving of glory to God be demonstrated in the 'rest'?
* Possibly in the fact that their persecution of the saints had ceased since they now had their own miseries to deal with.
* Possibly the recognition that this destruction was actually from God just as the two witness had prophesied.
* For certain the glorification of God lay in the very nature of the calamity itself that was brought upon them. God is always glorified in his judgment of the wicked. Jesus, whom they crucified in the “great city” is the judge of all the earth and he is clearly demonstrating in all of this that he is indeed Lord of lords and King of kings. This is the fulfillment of Jesus' words to Caiaphas in Mark 14:62, “And Jesus said, I am; and you shall see The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
11. “The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” God's death knellis about to descend upon Jerusalem and the sounding of the seventh trumpet will complete this series of scenes that began in chapter eight as part of the breaking of the seventh seal. In relation to the second woe, the third woe would be immediate. There would be no rest between the terror of the second woe and the final destruction of the third woe. In 8:13 the three woes were pronounce upon Jerusalem. Each of these three woes were to be heralded by the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels who were then about to sound.
a. The first woe was announced by the fifth angel in 9:1-12.
b. The second woe was announced by the sixth angel in 9:13-11:13.
c. The beginning of the third woe is never announced but we are told when the seventh angel sounded. According to 8:13, the sounding of each of these three angels was to bring with it a woe. We can also see when this woe was finished in 14:8 because we are told that “Babylon has fallen.”
By oldhermit
II. The Seventh Trumpet, 15-19
The sounding of the seventh angel is the completion of the “Mystery of God” that was introduced in 10:7, “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.” This mystery involved the fulfilling of the prophets who prophesied concerning the Kingdom of God. This fulfillment was realized in birth of Christianity and the fall of Judaism. In chapter twelve, we will see this “Mystery of God” unfolded.
A. The Kingdom of promise has become reality.
1.Its subjects – “The kingdom of the world” = The kingdom of heaven.This kingdom is comprised of those “OUT OF every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.” These are those who have been “rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” Colossians 1:13. These are the one whose voices are being heard and whose voices were heard in 5:11-13, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'”
2. Realization of fulfillment – “has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;” This “Mystery of God” is the work that began in the preaching of the prophets and which was then completed by the preaching of the apostles. This is the work that had succeeded over all the opposition of man. The gospel had claimed its possession out of all the earth and the martyrs of the faith had overcome. This is the fulfillment of the words of Christ in Matthew 24: 31, “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Also in Mark 13:27, “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”
3. The Davidic promise is fulfilled – “He will reign forever and ever. We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were,” In Psalms 132:11 God had sworn to David saying, “The LORD has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back: "Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.” The gathering of his elect is not some future resurrection, this is talking about the conversion of souls from out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. They are assembled as the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of our Lord.
a. Jesus is the Almighty who lives for ever and ever who had begun to reign on the throne of his father David. Peter confirmed the fulfillment of this promise in Acts 2:29-36, “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay. This Jesus, God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
b. This reign is an exercise of his own power. “You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” This is not delegated power or authority. This is power that is intrinsically his. In chapter 20, we will see that we have joined with him is this reign.
B. “And the nations were enraged,” This is the fulfillment of Psalms 2, “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!' He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.”
C. “And Your wrath came,” Woes are now being poured out upon the rebellious people.
D. “And the time came...”
1. “For the dead to be judged.” Dead does not mean those who have died in the flesh. These are those who are spiritually dead who stand in the path of the three woes. Their time of judgment has come.
2. “Time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great,” What is the reward? They are at rest in the presence of the Lord.
3. “And to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Time had come for Jerusalem to fall.
E. “The ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.” This is the scene of the most holy place. What is unique about this scene is that this temple scene with the ark of the covenant does not include the veil which had separated the ark from the people. Now, full and unrestricted access into the holy of holies has been granted to the people of God. God has fulfilled his promises to Israel. He has kept his covenant.
F. “And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” Preludes of final destruction.
II. The Seventh Trumpet, 15-19
The sounding of the seventh angel is the completion of the “Mystery of God” that was introduced in 10:7, “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.” This mystery involved the fulfilling of the prophets who prophesied concerning the Kingdom of God. This fulfillment was realized in birth of Christianity and the fall of Judaism. In chapter twelve, we will see this “Mystery of God” unfolded.
A. The Kingdom of promise has become reality.
1.Its subjects – “The kingdom of the world” = The kingdom of heaven.This kingdom is comprised of those “OUT OF every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.” These are those who have been “rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” Colossians 1:13. These are the one whose voices are being heard and whose voices were heard in 5:11-13, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'”
2. Realization of fulfillment – “has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;” This “Mystery of God” is the work that began in the preaching of the prophets and which was then completed by the preaching of the apostles. This is the work that had succeeded over all the opposition of man. The gospel had claimed its possession out of all the earth and the martyrs of the faith had overcome. This is the fulfillment of the words of Christ in Matthew 24: 31, “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Also in Mark 13:27, “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”
3. The Davidic promise is fulfilled – “He will reign forever and ever. We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were,” In Psalms 132:11 God had sworn to David saying, “The LORD has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back: "Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.” The gathering of his elect is not some future resurrection, this is talking about the conversion of souls from out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. They are assembled as the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of our Lord.
a. Jesus is the Almighty who lives for ever and ever who had begun to reign on the throne of his father David. Peter confirmed the fulfillment of this promise in Acts 2:29-36, “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay. This Jesus, God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
b. This reign is an exercise of his own power. “You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” This is not delegated power or authority. This is power that is intrinsically his. In chapter 20, we will see that we have joined with him is this reign.
B. “And the nations were enraged,” This is the fulfillment of Psalms 2, “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!' He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.”
C. “And Your wrath came,” Woes are now being poured out upon the rebellious people.
D. “And the time came...”
1. “For the dead to be judged.” Dead does not mean those who have died in the flesh. These are those who are spiritually dead who stand in the path of the three woes. Their time of judgment has come.
2. “Time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great,” What is the reward? They are at rest in the presence of the Lord.
3. “And to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Time had come for Jerusalem to fall.
E. “The ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.” This is the scene of the most holy place. What is unique about this scene is that this temple scene with the ark of the covenant does not include the veil which had separated the ark from the people. Now, full and unrestricted access into the holy of holies has been granted to the people of God. God has fulfilled his promises to Israel. He has kept his covenant.
F. “And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” Preludes of final destruction.
Chapter Twelve
I. The Divisions of the Book of Revelation
A. The first series of visions in chapters 1-11
1. Chapters 1-3 centered around God's judgment of his people – the Church.
2. Chapter 4 portrays the majesty of Jesus on the throne of heaven. This is the position of judgment.
3. Chapters 5-11 center around the Jewish persecution of the saints and God's judgment of Israel represented in the destruction of the temple, the city, and the end of the Jewish state.
B. The second set of visions in chapters 12-18
1. Chapters 12-13 will represent a new series of symbols. Chapter 12 is the unfolding of the “Mystery of God.” This chapter is a microcosm of the entire redemptive plan of God from the nation of Israel to the victory of the saints. This chapter is really nothing that has not already been seen in Revelation. It is really nothing more than a condensed version of the entire book of Revelation. It is merely an overview of the same things set forth is new symbols.
2. Chapter 14 is the celebration of the saints over the destruction of their persecutor – Israel – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.”
3. In chapters 15-16 the judgment of God is poured out on the nation of Rome who has emerged as the chief persecuting power.
4. Chapters 17-18 portrays the sins of the nation of Israel in its alliance with Rome.
C. The third set of visions in chapters 19-22.
1. Chapter 19 envisions the victory of the Lamb over his enemies.
2. Chapter 20 depicts the victorious Church and the destruction of all her enemies.
3. Chapters 21-22 is a picture of the Glory of the Church.
II. The “Mystery of God” in Microcosm
A. The woman with child, 1-2 – Israel as an appointed nation.
1. “A great sign appeared in heaven : a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,” This is the nation of Israel who has always been portrayed as the bride of Jehovah clothed in splendor. “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 16:8-14.
2. “And on her head a crown of twelve stars ;” The nation was comprised of the 12 tribes represented here by 12 stars.
3. Israel's struggle to bring forth the Messiah,“And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”
B. The attempt by Satan to destroy the child, 3-4
1. “Then another sign appeared in heaven : and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.” We are told in verse nine that the dragon is Satan but the seven heads and seven diadems are representative of the nation of Rome. So, it is through Rome that Satan exercised his power against the woman. This beast is the fourth beast mentioned in Daniel's vision in Daniel 7:7-8. “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.” Daniel does not mention the seven heads but focuses rather on the ten horns which were ten kings.
a. Seven heads – “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while,” 17:9-10.Thus the seven heads are the seven hills of Rome which had become the symbol of the imperial city. The woman is Jerusalem.
b. The ten horns – “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority AS kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast,” 17:12-13. (100 men served as emperor of Rome from Augustus in 67BC to Maurice in 602AD so, why are only ten horns mentioned? Is it because the fulfillment of these events would be in the days of the tenth horn?)
* These ten horns are Roman tributary kings for none of them have received a kingdom and they derive their authority from the beast.
* The time of their power is limited as they receive authority “for one hour.” In other words, for a short period of time.
* These kings serve Rome for they “give their power and authority to the beast,”
2. “And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” Their power has been taken away. This suggests the power of the Roman empire over the nations.
3. “And the dragon stood before the woman (Israel) who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.” Satanattempted to kill Jesus at his birth. This was a prophesied event. “Thus says the Lord, 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.'” Jeremiah 32:15. Matthew records in 2:16-18 that Jeremiah's words were fulfilled in the attempt to kill Jesus after his birth. “Then when Herod (one of the horns – a tributary king of Rome) saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.'” In Daniel 7:24 we are also told that these ten horns are ten kings of the sea beast. “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.”
C. The birth of Messiah, 5-6
1. “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, (Not the Church which is always represented in the feminine) who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; This can only be Jesus. He is theone who was to rule with the nations with the rod of iron.
a. Psalms 2:9, “You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like earthenware.”
b. Revelation 2:27, “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father.”
c. Revelation 19:15, “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.”
2. “And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” This is the resurrection and ascension of Jesus which was seen by Daniel 7:13-14, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Persecution was the method by which Satan attempted to destroy this kingdom.
3. “Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” The Christians fled to the mountains of Pela as the Lord had warned them to do during the persecution of Jewish Christians in the time of Israel's judgment, Matthew 24:16 and Luke 21:21.
D. The defeat of Satan, 7-12
1. “And there was war in heaven”
This is notnecessarily speaking of the unseen celestial world, nor is this war necessarily one that was waged in the unseen world. As a symbol, heaven is used in Revelation to represent governments and authorities.
2. Two opposing forces of good and evil – Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels.
a. Michael and Satan are historic enemies. Jude 9 tells us of the dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses.
b. Michael is the defender of the saints while Satan is the power behind the enemies of Christianity. This war was the fulfillment of Daniel 12:1, "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Notice, Michale is the guardian of the people of God. He shows up in the time of great distress to rescue the saints out of that time of distress.
3. The war
“Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war.” Angels represent confederate forces. The angels who where with Michael were the saints. The angels who were with the Dragon were the powers of Rome.
4. The power of the dragon is defeated. This is not talking about Satan's expulsion from heaven. This is talking about his defeat in his war against the saints. He could not overcome them.
“And there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then 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 brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” The power of this government has collapsed. Hence the expression “thrown down to the earth.” This is the same imagery we saw in 9:1 with the star in heaven that had fallen to the earth representing a removal of authority or a fall of power. Not only is Satan a defeated power but his angels (the powers of Rome) are a defeated power. This does not necessarily suggest a destruction of the nation of Rome or its armies. This in not what the scene is about. This is revealing the fact that Satan and the persecuting powers of Rome have been overcome by the saints. The saints could not be overcome by the powers of persecution. Rather, they had overcome the persecutors even in their deaths. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death (Victorious martyrs). For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth (Israel) and the sea (Rome), because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time,” 11-12. The antecedent of 'they' is Michael and his angels. They were able to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Testimony – preaching of the gospel is their angelic function. They are the messengers of the gospel. Their physical fate was their confrontation with death. The length of time allotted to the Devil is the 1260 days, the 42 months, the 3 and one half years.
E. The remnant is preserved from the judgment of Israel, 13-17.
The war against the nation of Israel is represented on two fronts; the war against unbelieving Israel and the war against the faithful remnant. “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, (The destruction of Satan's power, Hebrews 2:14) he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Delivered from the destruction of Jerusalem). And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (Flood of persecution by Rome). But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Christians)
I. The Divisions of the Book of Revelation
A. The first series of visions in chapters 1-11
1. Chapters 1-3 centered around God's judgment of his people – the Church.
2. Chapter 4 portrays the majesty of Jesus on the throne of heaven. This is the position of judgment.
3. Chapters 5-11 center around the Jewish persecution of the saints and God's judgment of Israel represented in the destruction of the temple, the city, and the end of the Jewish state.
B. The second set of visions in chapters 12-18
1. Chapters 12-13 will represent a new series of symbols. Chapter 12 is the unfolding of the “Mystery of God.” This chapter is a microcosm of the entire redemptive plan of God from the nation of Israel to the victory of the saints. This chapter is really nothing that has not already been seen in Revelation. It is really nothing more than a condensed version of the entire book of Revelation. It is merely an overview of the same things set forth is new symbols.
2. Chapter 14 is the celebration of the saints over the destruction of their persecutor – Israel – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.”
3. In chapters 15-16 the judgment of God is poured out on the nation of Rome who has emerged as the chief persecuting power.
4. Chapters 17-18 portrays the sins of the nation of Israel in its alliance with Rome.
C. The third set of visions in chapters 19-22.
1. Chapter 19 envisions the victory of the Lamb over his enemies.
2. Chapter 20 depicts the victorious Church and the destruction of all her enemies.
3. Chapters 21-22 is a picture of the Glory of the Church.
II. The “Mystery of God” in Microcosm
A. The woman with child, 1-2 – Israel as an appointed nation.
1. “A great sign appeared in heaven : a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,” This is the nation of Israel who has always been portrayed as the bride of Jehovah clothed in splendor. “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 16:8-14.
2. “And on her head a crown of twelve stars ;” The nation was comprised of the 12 tribes represented here by 12 stars.
3. Israel's struggle to bring forth the Messiah,“And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”
B. The attempt by Satan to destroy the child, 3-4
1. “Then another sign appeared in heaven : and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.” We are told in verse nine that the dragon is Satan but the seven heads and seven diadems are representative of the nation of Rome. So, it is through Rome that Satan exercised his power against the woman. This beast is the fourth beast mentioned in Daniel's vision in Daniel 7:7-8. “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.” Daniel does not mention the seven heads but focuses rather on the ten horns which were ten kings.
a. Seven heads – “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while,” 17:9-10.Thus the seven heads are the seven hills of Rome which had become the symbol of the imperial city. The woman is Jerusalem.
b. The ten horns – “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority AS kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast,” 17:12-13. (100 men served as emperor of Rome from Augustus in 67BC to Maurice in 602AD so, why are only ten horns mentioned? Is it because the fulfillment of these events would be in the days of the tenth horn?)
* These ten horns are Roman tributary kings for none of them have received a kingdom and they derive their authority from the beast.
* The time of their power is limited as they receive authority “for one hour.” In other words, for a short period of time.
* These kings serve Rome for they “give their power and authority to the beast,”
2. “And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” Their power has been taken away. This suggests the power of the Roman empire over the nations.
3. “And the dragon stood before the woman (Israel) who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.” Satanattempted to kill Jesus at his birth. This was a prophesied event. “Thus says the Lord, 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.'” Jeremiah 32:15. Matthew records in 2:16-18 that Jeremiah's words were fulfilled in the attempt to kill Jesus after his birth. “Then when Herod (one of the horns – a tributary king of Rome) saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.'” In Daniel 7:24 we are also told that these ten horns are ten kings of the sea beast. “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.”
C. The birth of Messiah, 5-6
1. “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, (Not the Church which is always represented in the feminine) who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; This can only be Jesus. He is theone who was to rule with the nations with the rod of iron.
a. Psalms 2:9, “You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like earthenware.”
b. Revelation 2:27, “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father.”
c. Revelation 19:15, “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.”
2. “And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” This is the resurrection and ascension of Jesus which was seen by Daniel 7:13-14, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Persecution was the method by which Satan attempted to destroy this kingdom.
3. “Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” The Christians fled to the mountains of Pela as the Lord had warned them to do during the persecution of Jewish Christians in the time of Israel's judgment, Matthew 24:16 and Luke 21:21.
D. The defeat of Satan, 7-12
1. “And there was war in heaven”
This is notnecessarily speaking of the unseen celestial world, nor is this war necessarily one that was waged in the unseen world. As a symbol, heaven is used in Revelation to represent governments and authorities.
2. Two opposing forces of good and evil – Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels.
a. Michael and Satan are historic enemies. Jude 9 tells us of the dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses.
b. Michael is the defender of the saints while Satan is the power behind the enemies of Christianity. This war was the fulfillment of Daniel 12:1, "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Notice, Michale is the guardian of the people of God. He shows up in the time of great distress to rescue the saints out of that time of distress.
3. The war
“Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war.” Angels represent confederate forces. The angels who where with Michael were the saints. The angels who were with the Dragon were the powers of Rome.
4. The power of the dragon is defeated. This is not talking about Satan's expulsion from heaven. This is talking about his defeat in his war against the saints. He could not overcome them.
“And there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then 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 brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” The power of this government has collapsed. Hence the expression “thrown down to the earth.” This is the same imagery we saw in 9:1 with the star in heaven that had fallen to the earth representing a removal of authority or a fall of power. Not only is Satan a defeated power but his angels (the powers of Rome) are a defeated power. This does not necessarily suggest a destruction of the nation of Rome or its armies. This in not what the scene is about. This is revealing the fact that Satan and the persecuting powers of Rome have been overcome by the saints. The saints could not be overcome by the powers of persecution. Rather, they had overcome the persecutors even in their deaths. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death (Victorious martyrs). For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth (Israel) and the sea (Rome), because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time,” 11-12. The antecedent of 'they' is Michael and his angels. They were able to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Testimony – preaching of the gospel is their angelic function. They are the messengers of the gospel. Their physical fate was their confrontation with death. The length of time allotted to the Devil is the 1260 days, the 42 months, the 3 and one half years.
E. The remnant is preserved from the judgment of Israel, 13-17.
The war against the nation of Israel is represented on two fronts; the war against unbelieving Israel and the war against the faithful remnant. “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, (The destruction of Satan's power, Hebrews 2:14) he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Delivered from the destruction of Jerusalem). And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (Flood of persecution by Rome). But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Christians)
Brother oldhermit,
1. I see that you think Rev was written before the dest o Jeru in 70 ad. I have heard of this view but never read it. Thank you for posting it.
2. Starting with Ch 12, I think we agree on vs 1-5
3. v 6, Can we take this number as literal in a context where it is talking symbolically?
4. If you say that the earth is Israel in v 12, (I agree that it is)
Then what is the earth in v 16?
Would it say Israel helped Israel, the earth helped the woman?
5. For Israel, the wilderness would be anywhere away from Jerusalem?
Not too much at once, I'm tired today, I know you are too.
Thanks for taking the time to talk,
Brother John
1. I see that you think Rev was written before the dest o Jeru in 70 ad. I have heard of this view but never read it. Thank you for posting it.
2. Starting with Ch 12, I think we agree on vs 1-5
3. v 6, Can we take this number as literal in a context where it is talking symbolically?
4. If you say that the earth is Israel in v 12, (I agree that it is)
Then what is the earth in v 16?
Would it say Israel helped Israel, the earth helped the woman?
5. For Israel, the wilderness would be anywhere away from Jerusalem?
Not too much at once, I'm tired today, I know you are too.
Thanks for taking the time to talk,
Brother John
E
t"s? I am not sure what you mean.
He did say three and one half years.
Time times and half a time is three and a half years..
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Daniel 12:7
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Revelation 12:14
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
He did say three and one half years.
Time times and half a time is three and a half years..
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Daniel 12:7
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Revelation 12:14
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
IF you jump two thousand years and assume a gap which is inadmissible
70 AD was the time of final fulfilment of Daniels prophecy in Dan 9, the city and the temple will be destroyed and the offerings and sacrifices will cease.
The people of 'the nagid who will come' by all sound exegesis must be the people of the dead nagid who was mentioned as previously 'to come'. That is why His people are mentioned. He was dead. It WAS they who were responsible for destruction of city and sanctuary . The Romans just watched.
No foreign king is called a nagid.
no abomination of desolation is referred to the three and a half years which ceased in around 70 AD
Matt 24 referred to the abomination of desolation in 70ad. What 'other prophets' mention it?
