The Great tribulation, Second Half, Part 1--8:2-11:13

III. THE FUTURE (“THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER"), PART 2b--6:1-19:21
C. The Second Half of the Tribulation, Part 1--8:2-11:13
1. The first six trumpets--8:2-9:21
a. The introduction to the trumpets--8:2-6
(I) Verse 2 simply tells of seven angels standing before God who are given seven trumpets.
(A) Each one receives a trumpet, not seven.
(B) Nothing is indicated who these angels are, but probably are associated with Israel.
(C) Use of trumpets
(1) Used in Israel by God
(a) To call the leaders of the people to congregate
(b) To set forth on the journey
(c) To sound an alarm
(d) To give public notification--much like the old town crier
(2) Used in the various feasts and sacrifices.
(3) Used to arouse the soldiers in battle
(4) Here the trumpets may well be blown against the sin-cursed earth.
(D) There is no reason for not taking this passage literally--Newell (120) aptly says, "It is idle to call all
these literally described scenes by the favorite word, 'symbolic.' Symbolic of what, pray tell us! Do
you have a plainer account of definite things anywhere in the Bible than we here have in the
Revelation?"
(1) Real angels
(2) Blowing real trumpets
(3) Accomplishing real judgments as indicated.
(II) The angel priest--vv. 3-5
(A) Who is this angel?
(1) The Lord Jesus Christ say some.
(a) Because he offers up prayers of the saints and no created angel does this--cf. 1 Timothy 2: 5
(b) The Angel of Jehovah of the Old Testament , and therefore, Jesus Christ, offering up the
prayers of repentant Israel
(c) OBJECTION: Christ is ever presented in the Book of Revelation as the Judge--cf. chapter 1
which vision "must control all the book."--Newell, 121
(2) This is an angel.
(a) So says Newell (121; italics are his.)
(b) Incense is given to him--something that would not be necessary if this was Christ.
(c) Three things publicly presented here in Heaven.
((I)) The prayer of all the saints--"No saint's prayer is forgotten, but has its effect in due season"
((II)) The incense representing our Lord's person and work on Calvary, makes the prayers of
the saints "instantly effectual before God."
((III)) The prayers of all the saints, in the power of Christ's atonement, is that which really
brings judgment. It is the answer at last to 'Thy Kingdom come' which the saints of all ages
have prayed." Here it is the judgment due to earth having "rejected the rightful King!"
(d) Church saints are not necessarily in view here. They could be, but doubtlessly it is the Old
Testament saint that is primarily in view.
(B) His two-fold work
(1) Presents the prayers of the saints--prayers concerning God's judgment and coming kingdom
(a) Enoch prophesied it--Jude 14, 15.
(b) Jacob waited for it--Genesis 49:18.
(c) All the prophets present it.
(2) Initiates the trumpet judgments
(a) Fire is taken from the altar and cast to the earth--Newell, 122--"The altar of old was the place
of substitutionary atonement, and the fire represented the judgment of a holy God upon sin
visited upon a sacrifice rather than the sinner. Here it is reversed." God's judgment is now
being poured out on sinners who rejected the Substitute.
(b) The beginning of judgments
((I)) No reason why the voices, thunders, etc., are not literal
((II)) Note the order: voices, thunders, then lightnings and earthquakes.
((III)) Voices--speaks of intelligence and warning
((IV)) Thunders and lightnings--this is contrary to “scientific" explanation, but such explanation
will fail in these events.
((V)) Earthquakes--real physical disturbances of the earth as a warning to man
(III) The preparation of the angels to sound--v. 6
(A) This verse gives the simple statement of the angels taking up positions to sound their trumpets.
(B) Newell's note (Ibid.; italics are his.) here is important--"When we proceed to what follows each
trumpet, things will be simple, if we but believe what is written."
b. The first four trumpets--8:7-12
(I) The first trumpet--v. 7
(A) When the trumpet is sounded it is possible that it will actually be heard on earth so that men may know
that this is the judgment of God.
(B) Following the sounding of the trumpet
(1) Hail and fire
(2) Mingled with blood
(3) Hail and fire existing together is contrary to nature and will establish in men's minds that this is
supernatural and thus of God.
(4) Mingled with blood
(a) Men have shed each other blood unnecessarily and thus this judgment is appropriate.
(b) Mankind in general has ignored or rejected the saving value of the blood of Christ; thus, this
judgment is appropriate.
(C) One-third of vegetation destroyed
(1) This will literally take place--no place in church history can anyone find such an event or events.
(2) Men living in that day will be able to calculate the fact one-third the earth has so been scorched.
(3) One-third is the reciprocal of the divine number--but even here divine grace is manifested in not
destroying all.
(4) Four times one-third of something is destroyed in the first four trumpets--remember four is the
earth number.
(II) The second trumpet--vv. 8, 9
(A) A great mountain burning
(1) Could possibly be a volcano.
(2) A great body of something, for the verse says, "as it were," which could imply that it was not a
mountain as such.
(3) Possibly a meteorite?
(4) A specially prepared thing?--cf. Jeremiah 51:25
(B) A third part of the sea turned to blood
(1) "The lines of it will be absolutely defined in the ocean, that men may know it is God's hand that is at
work." (Newell, 124)
(2) Impossible? The Gulf Stream is very marked in color so that one can tell when one has entered it.
(C) One-third of sea life perish and one-third of all ships destroyed.
(1) The first will occur due to one-third of the sea becoming blood.
(2) The second may will when this mountain like burning substance is cast into the sea., either by being
hit by it or by being unindated by tidal waves.
(III) The third trumpet--vv. 10, 11
(A) The star from heaven
(1) Called Wormwood
(2) May be an actual fallen star which contains particles that pollutes water
(B) Wormwood is the bitterest shrub found in the East; thus, readers would know what the Seer meant.
(C) "Men are reaping the bitter fruit of sin." (Newell, 125)
(D) Men.died because of the bitter water--water is essential to life and it is little wonder that many die.
(E) Cf. Jeremiah 9:13-16
(IV) The four trumpet--v. 12
(A) Sun, moon, and stars smitten
(B) Upon the sounding of this trumpet, the sun will be darkened then the sun shall shine again; upon
calculation of the period of darkness, men will find that it was one-third of the normal daylight period.
(C) At the same time the same happen to the normal moonlight and star light.
(D) Men today are practically worshipping science and scientific know-how; these events to shake their
confidence in science, for scientists will be perplexed.
c. The second set of trumpets--8:13-9:21
(I) The last three trumpets introduced--8:13
(A) Actually the last trumpet, the seventh, is postponed until chapter 11, verses 14-19
(B) It is linked here with trumpets 5 and 6
(C) As bad as the first four trumpets were, these are worse--note the woes.
(D) These last three trumpets are often known as the "woe judgments."
(E) These judgments are more severe.
(F) The first four affected man through nature; these three affect man directly.
(G) The first four serve to wake man up; these three are to judge man for his non-repentance in spite of
warning.
(H) Notice these affect the "inhabiters of the earth"
(I) The King James Version has in verse 13 an "angel" flying; many say it should be an "eagle."
(1) The manuscript evidence for eagle is stronger than for angel.
(2) The difference is relatively unimportant for it makes little difference whether an angel announced the
woes or an eagle.
(3) It does seem strange that such a bird would be introduced at this point whereas angels all along have
been doing the announcing.
(4) This writer has no ready solution to this problem; he still favors the Authorized Version regardless of
the so-called manuscript evidence; it is certainly more consistent with the context.
(II) The fifth trumpet-9:1-12
(A) The star fallen from heaven -v. 1
(1) Not the same star called "Wormwood" in 8:11--that was a thing, this is a person
(2) The identity of this being
(a) Identity is difficult at best.
(b) This verse suggests that it is a .fallen angel.
((I)) Cf. Daniel 8:10, 24
((II)) Isaiah 14:12
(c) Quite probably Satan--in spite of the objection that he would not be entrusted with the key to
the prisonhouse--the abyss. (bottomless pit).
(3) Notice he does not possess the key, but it is given to him.
(B) Bottomless pit unlocked
(1) Out of it issues smoke.
(2) Smoke is to be taken literally.
(3) This is smog to end all smog.
(4) Sun and air darkened by it.
(5) Though a huge volcano could produce this result, this is of supernatural origin.
(C) The locusts--vv. 3-5
(1) Literal locusts?
(a) Yes, says Newell
((I)) Book of Revelation is not a sealed book.
((II)) Locusts in Exodus 10 real enough--cf. v. 6 particularly.
((III)) Newell (129; italics are his.) says, "Now no one who believes the Bible has any trouble
believing the record of that past plague. Nor has anyone any right to have any difficulty
about the terrible locust plague of Revelation 9. It is because of the fog of unbelief, and the
super-fog of 'historical interpretation,' that this passage has been considered 'hard to
understand.'"
((IV)) Natural eating habits reversed--v. 4
(b) No, says equally sound men.
((I)) The chief argument is that these do not eat green things.
   ((II)) If not literal, probably demoniacal.
(c) Will consider this again in studying verses 7-11.
(2) Have the sting as of a scorpion
(a) Notice that it says, "as of"--i. e., like unto.
(b) The scorpion bite is very painful--Newell says, "having been struck on the heel by a scorpion,
that the pain was "unrelievable, indescribable" in anguish which "extended clear to the head." (op.
cit. 130)
(3) Tormented mankind for five months--the natural life-period of locusts
(D) Men seek to die--v. 6
(1) Men will seek death during these days.
(2) No death in sight
(3) Apparently the suicidal hand will be stayed by the power of God.
(E) The further description of the locusts--vv. 7-11
(1) The question of whether literal locusts or symbols are here expressed comes up again.
(2) Factors favoring literal, real locusts
(a) When literal meaning makes sense seek no other sense.
(b) Nothing indicated earlier--vv. 3-5--to these being symbols.
(c) The natural life-period is used.
(d) The non-natural food is clearly expressed as being a command of God.
(3) Factors against literal real locusts and for symbolic
(a) Much of the chapter has symbols in it (Note: literal interpretation allows for symbols.).
(b) The unnatural food of these locusts (As explained above this was a command of God.)
(c) The description here is constantly to other real things, but it seems as if John is straining to
describe these very unnatural like locusts--notice the constant use of the words "like unto."
(d) Locusts of the ordinary variety have no king--cf. Proverbs 30:27
(4) Why they should not be considered literal locusts
(a) Newell's argument largely centers around the notion that any other consideration is evidence of
unbelief.
(b) Newell is ignoring the description in these latter verses--a descriptor that in no way fits any
species of natural locusts (These could, however, be especially created locusts.).
(c) There is a constant reference in this description to comparison with other things--a device used in
all literature (Scripture included) to present symbols.
((I)) Newell might as well insist that Jesus is a literal door when He said, "I am the Door."
((II)) In this passage John is trying to picture beings that almost defy description.
(d) Though Newell refers to Proverbs 30:27, he ignores it as far as effecting his interpretation.
(e) Newell ignores that the hurting by these beings is against only those men "which have not the seal
of God in their foreheads." Now which people have thus far been so sealed? Cf. Revelation 7:
3-8 which was seen before to be Israelites. Therefore, those not sealed could be Israelites or
reprobate Jews.
(5) Their king--v. 11
(a) His name is Destroyer.
(b) Doubtlessly Satan, in spite denial of same by Newell
((I)) He argues that Satan is not connected with "the abyss" till Revelation 20:1-3.
((II)) However, if he is the star fallen from heaven--9:1-- then, he could be this one--he is said
here to be the angel of the bottomless pit.
(c) If this one is not Satan, he is at least satanically energized.
(d) There is really no other one that it could be.
(6) The identity of these locust-like beings is not clear.
(a) They seem to torment reprobate Jews.--v. 4
(b) This army proceeds against those Jews not sealed.
(c) This would fit the fact that there is a northern confederacy that is satanically used to fight against
Israel.
(F) The reminder of two more woes--v. 12
(1) One woe is past.
(2) Two more woes yet to come
(3) Here the phrase "hereafter" clearly indicates things to follow chronologically.
(III) The sixth trumpet--9:13-21
(A) The four angels--vv. 13--15
(1) These angels were bound in the great river Euphrates--significant because
(a) This region was that where human sin began.
(b) Satan's empire over man began here.
(c) First murder committed in this region
(d) Babylonian idolatry began here with Nimrod--a system of idolatry with a trinity of evil (father,
mother, and son) and an emphasis on "the Queen of Heaven"--another satanic invention.
(2) Loosed to slay one-third of mankind
(3) In view of verse 16, it may well be that these angels work through four human leaders.
(4) The time element here
(a) An hour, a day, and a month and a year--approximately 13 months
(b) However, the preposition "for" may be better rendered "at" signifying that these were prepared
for this specific time rather than taking 13 months to accomplish the task.
(B) The army-vv. 16-19
(1) 200,000,000 horseman-- v. 16
(2) Horses described
(a) Again, Newell insists that these must be literal animals breathing out fire and brimstone.
(b) No doubt God could create such a creature.
(c) In view of modern weaponry could it not be that these are some of our terrible destructive
weaponry such as flame-throwing tanks (taking this view is no more unbelief than his is belief).
(3) These have power to kill one-third of mankind.
(a) The angels
(b) The horsemen
(c) The horses
(4) Whether literal or symbolical, we should get the lesson.
(a) Understand that "In any case, the symbols stand for realities."--Osborn
(b) The lesson is that this is a deserved punishment.
(C) The non-repentance--vv. 20, 21
(1) This is the important lesson.
(2) "THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT BRING REPENTANCE." (Source unknown)
(3) "Here we see men 'repenting not' but continuing in their idolatry, false cults, sorceries, fornications,
thefts." (Source unknown)
(D) This trumpet judgment seems to be upon mankind in general, and upon false christendom in particular
(remember that the true church has been raptured leaving popery, liberalism, neo-orthodoxy, WCC,
NCC, etc. to form their one united, universal church--may be headed by the pope himself.)
(E) Answers universalism
(F) The word for "sorceries" is pharmakeia--literally, "enchanting by drugs."
2. The second parenthesis--10:1-11:13
a. The little book--10:1-11
(I) The strong angel--vv.1-3a
(A) Description is almost like Christ, but doubtlessly is just an angel.
(B) May be the same angel as in 5:2
(C) The language is Jewish, thus God is dealing with Israel.
(D) Note the cloud
(1) Israel led by a cloud.
(2) A cloud dwelt in Israel's midst.
(3) A cloud received Jesus out of the sight of His disciples who were Jews.
(E) The rainbow is a sign of the covenant.
(F) The feet as pillars of fire
(1) A pillar of fire led Israel by night.
(2) The feet of fire suggests that this is an angel of judgment.
(G) The face as the sun suggests
(1) Supremacy
(2) Searching character
(H) Feet on sea and land suggest that possession of both is in view.
(I) Cries with a voice as a lion roars.
(1) Does not say that he cries with a lion's voice--this would indicate that it was not Christ
(2) The cry was as loud as a lion's roar.
(II) The seven thunders--vv. 3b-4
(A) When the angel cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
(B) Cf .
(1) Job 26:14
(2) Job 37:5
(3) Psalm 29
(C) Their utterance sealed
(1) John commanded not to write what the thunders uttered.
(2) "It is characteristic of that presumption which belongs to error that Seventh Day Adventism
professes to tell us (and that through a woman!) the very things which the seven thunders
uttered."--Newell, 142
(3) Yet God commanded that it should be sealed.
(D) It is idle to speculate what was uttered; "probably some day we will understand this sealed
passage."--Ibid.
(III) The solemn oath--vv. 5, 6
(A) The angel holds the little book open and lifts his right hand to God.
(B) He swares by Jehovah the Creator, for he can sware by no greater.
(1) Note that God did the same--Hebrews 6:13
(2) This one is not Christ, for he swares by God--he is swaring by another, not himself.
(C) This oath solemnizes that which is to follow under the seventh trumpet.
(D) Note that it is God as Creator that is here in view --as Creator, God has the right to judge as He
    pleases.
(E) The phrase "that there should be time no longer"
(1) The word here for "time" is chronos.
(2) Some say that to render the word as "time" here is poor.
(3) They say it would be better rendered, "There shall be delay no longer."
(4) Nevertheless, the Greek word is chronos from which we get "chronology"--the study of time;
therefore, the Authorized Version is perfectly accurate.
(5) God is going to swiftly bring things to a conclusion. His hand of judgment will no longer be stayed.
(F) All this is suggested by verse 7.
(1) Comes in the days of the voice of the seventh angel--i. e., the seventh trumpet
(2) The mystery of God
(a) To be finished
(b) Previously declared by prophet
(c) This has to do with God's judgments upon mankind and the establishment of His kingdom.
(IV) The little book--vv. 8-11
(A) The book is introduced as being in the hand of the angel--v. 2.
(B) John is now commanded to take it and eat it up.
(1) Eating suggests
(a) Meditation
(b) Study
(c) Assimilation
(2) Sweet to the taste, but bitter in the belly--the inner being
(3) "God's words, to one who loves them, are always sweet."--Newell, 145
(a) Psalm 19:7-10
(b) Cf. Jeremiah 15:16
(4) Upon the contents being digested, and thus understood, they were of anguish to John.
(5) One should keep in mind that John--particularly since he seems to be in spirit upon the earth--can
here represent Israel. Thus he sees the awful state of Israel and the terrible tribulation.
(C) John commanded to prophesy again
(1) The preposition "before", though accurate enough, may be unfortunate.
(a) The Greek is epi followed by dative cases.
(b) The better rendering may be "concerning" or "over."
(c) The point is that John's prophesying is about peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.
(2) The book must be concerned with, therefore, the remainder prophecies of the book of Revelation
--little wonder that John found the words bitter upon digestion thereof--i. e., comprehension of it.
(3) You will find that much of the remainder of this book is about nations and kings, peoples, and
tongues--particularly in relation to Israel.
b. The two witnesses-11:1-13
(I) The restored temple--vv. 1, 2
(A) The words "temple of God"
(1) Places this immediately on Jewish ground
(2) The court without--the court of the Gentiles
(3) The court without is further proof that this is a restored Jewish temple.--cf. Ezekiel 40
(B) This temple is in Jerusalem at the old site--where a mosque now stands.
(C) They have an altar of sacrifice.
(D) One should note that Israel is even now back in the land, but yet do not have their temple.
(E) The outer court is given to the Gentiles.
(F) The holy city--Jerusalem--is to be trodden under foot for 42 months--1260 days = 3 1/2 years.
(1) Part of Daniel's Seventh week
(2) Is this the same period of time as the 1260 days or 3 1/2 years that are spoken of in connection
with the two witnesses?
(3) Are these two periods of 3 1/2 years successive?
(4) Keep in mind that this section is a parenthesis and does not further the actual chronology.
(II) The two witnesses themselves--vv.3-13
(A) Their authority--v. 3
(1) From God
(2) Note that the word "power" is italicized and thus not in the original.
(3) "And I will give unto my two witnesses"
(4) The word "authority" or "power" is as good as any word to be supplied ( note that in v. 6 the word
"power" is used).
(B) Their time--v. 3
(1) To prophesy 1260 days or 31/2 years
(2) Is this the same time as the 42 months given in v. 2?
(a) Probably no definite conclusion man be drawn.
(b) Verse 2 seems to cover the last half of the tribulation.
(c) Again keep in mind that this is presented in a parenthesis which in itself does not further the
chronology.
(d) Although there are logical reasons for thinking that their witness occurs during first half, there are
equally compelling reasons to believe it is the second half.
(e) If the latter be true, it would coincide with the 42 months of verse 2.
(3) Reasons for this period to be the second 3 1/2 years of the seventh week
(a) If the first six seals cover the first 3 1/2 years, the seventh seal covers the second 3 1/2 years
which includes the seven trumpets, and this parenthesis comes after the sixth trumpet which
would seem to indicate that it deals with the second 3 1/2 years.
(b) As indicated the 42 months of verse 2 seem to indicate that the second 3 1/2 years are in view
because the holy city--Jerusalem--is being dominated by Gentiles.
(c) The witnesses work is recorded just before the seventh trumpet, and though it is a parenthesis, it
would deal with the same basic time period.
(4) Another possibility is that this 3 1/2 years overlaps the first and second halves of Daniel's seventh
week; but this view leads to confusion.
(C) Their identity
(1) Who are these witnesses?
  (2) Newell, 150-151--"Let it be at once observed, though it may not be pleasing, that the question is
not who these witnesses are. If that had been important here, God wouLd plainly have told us."
(3) Having said that, what are the possibilities?
(a) Symbolical of a larger number--the 144,000 or the church.
((I)) The church is NOT in view , but Israel.
((II)) The 144,000 are witnesses throughout the tribulation, not just 3 1/2 years.
((III)) Any symbolic interpretation depends on a non-literal interpretation in a passage where no
indication of symbolism is made.
((IV)) Furthermore, the other numbers are generally taken as literal (except by those who say
these represent the church), so why not the number "2"?
((V)) The two olive trees are used of individuals in Zechariah--to which this is a reference.
(b) Literal
((I)) Moses and Elijah
((II)) Enoch and Elijah
((III)) Elijah and someone else.
((IV)) Literal men yet unidentified
(4) The literal possibilities considered
(a) Moses and Elijah
((I)) Moses appeared with Elijah on the mount of transfiguration.
((A)) Discussed Christ's death
((B)) Discussed Christ's coming kingdom
((II)) Moses turned water to blood--cf. v. 6
((III)) Deuteronomy 18:15-19 seems to require Moses reappearance.
((IV)) Moses body preserved by God for this restoration--Deuteronomy 34:5-6 and Jude 9.
((V)) Would represent the Law
((VI)) OBJECTION 1--Phrase is "like unto me." (Deuteronomy 18:15) would preclude Moses
himself
((VII)) OBJECTION 2--Similarity of miracles does not signify identity
((VIII)) OBJECTION 3--the transfiguration has to do with the millennium, not the tribulation
((IX)) OBJECTION 4--Christ is the first-fruits of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23) and
therefore, Moses' body at the transfiguration was not his resurrection body.
(b) Enoch
((I)) Enoch was translated without seeing death (Genesis 5:24)
((II)) Enoch, like Elijah, are preserved without immortality that they might return to die (Christ
only now has immortality--1 Timothy 6:16)
((III)) Enoch, like Elijah, was a prophet of judgment (see Jude 14, 15) which correspond to the
two witnesses ministry.
((IV)) The word "standing" suggests that these were existing in John's day and thus be two
translated individuals.
((V)) OBJECTION 1--Translated, so as not to see death--Hebrews 11:.5; therefore, he could
not be returned to die.
((VI)) OBJECTION 2--Enoch had no ministry to the Jews since he lived before the flood; God
would hardly use him in time of His dealing with Israel.
((VII)) OBJECTION 3--Enoch's position, like Elijah's, in translation does not differ from other
Old Testament saints who died. The means of entering that position differed, but not their
position upon entrance. (One may just as well argue that believers in this age who are living at
the time of the Rapture would have a different position in heaven than those who died in
Christ or insist that such would have to return to earth to experience death.)
((VIII)) OBJECTION 4--The witnesses have mortal bodies subject to death. Elijah and Moses
at the transfiguration did not have mortal bodies, but "appeared in glory." In like manner
Enoch would not have a mortal body.
(c) Elijah
((I)) Elijah seems to appear most often as a possible candidate for the two witnesses.
((II)) Elijah was translated and thus could so return.
((III)) Elijah was predicted as coming before the second advent to prepare for the Messiah--cf.
Malachi 3:1-3; 4:5, 6
((IV)) The witnesses have the same sign as Elijah had in regard to rain.
((V)) The period of no rain was the same for Elijah as for the two witnesses, namely, 3 1/2
years. (cf. 1 Kings 17:1 with Revelation 11:3)
((VI)) Elijah appeared at the transfiguration.
((VII)) OBJECTION 1--See objection 3 in connection with Moses
((VIII)) OBJECTION 2--See objections 3 and 4 in connection with Enoch
((IX)) OBJECTION 3--Elijah will not come again in the tribulation because John the Baptist
fully fulfilled that which was predicted concerning Elijah even as Jesus Christ said (Matthew
11:14 and 17:12). If John does not fulfill the prophecy based on the words "If ye receive it"
(Matthew 11:14), then Elijah still does not have to come personally, but rather one who is in
the spirit and power of Elijah.
(4) Conclusion
(a) The identity of these two is uncertain.
(b) English (source unknown)--"They will fulfill in a future day a destiny that John the Baptist would
have fulfilled had Israel's heart been receptive."
(c) Thus, at least one of these witnesses can be in the spirit and power of Elijah.
(d) They will be two people (quite possibly Jews living in the tribulation who will be especially
empowered for this ministry.
(5) Identified as the olive trees and candlesticks--v. 4
(a) Olive trees
((I)) Zechariah 4:3; 11:14
((II)) Certainly indicates that these are Spirit-filled
((III)) Verse 14 certainly identifies these with the two witnesses.
(b) Candlesticks
((I)) Zechariah 4:2; 11:13
((II)) Again these seem to be connected closely with the olive trees.
(6) The number "two"
(a) The number of diversity
(b) The Law of Moses required it.
((I)) Deuteronomy 17:6
((II)) This confirms the Jewish nature of their witness.
((III)) Precedent set by Jesus--cf. Matthew 18:19
(D) Their ministry--vv. 3, 5, 6
(1) Prophesy
(a) "The Lord Jesus Christ, who has been rejected is the 'Lord of all the earth.'"--Newell, 152
(b) "Testify unsparingly of human wickedness to men's very faces."--Ibid.
(c) "Testify of the character of the judgments just past (chapters 6, 8, and 9) as having been
directly from God, and warn of coming judgments infinitely more terrible."--Ibid.
(d) "Decry the blasphemous claims"of the antichrist "that man is to be deified! They will denounce
all the goodness of man as a lie."--Ibid.; italics are his.
(e) "Testify that Jerusalem, although the holy city in God's purposes, is spiritually 'Sodom and
Egypt,' and will announce coming judgments upon the city and people."--Newell, 153; italics
are his.
(2) Will have authority to prevent rain--cf. 1 Kings 17:1
(3) Will have authority to change water to blood and smite earth with plagues--cf. Moses before
Pharoah
(4) When men try to destroy them, fire will proceed out of their mouths and destroy them.
(E) Their death--vv. 7-10
(1) "When their testimony is finished"
(a) "Satan can do nothing without divine permission."--Newell, 154
(b) A blessed lesson is here for us--our time is not up till our testimony is finished, i. e., when God
has accomplished through you and me the particular task to which He has called us.
(2) The beast from the bottomless pit
(a) Undoubtedly the antichrist
(b) Probably the same as the one in chapter 13:1 and 17:8
(3) This beast makes war against these witnesses--overcomes them and kills them--quite possibly this
will be televised via telestar for the whole world to behold.
(4) Their bodies lie in a Jerusalem street
(a) 3 1/2 days
(b) Spiritually the city is called "Sodom and Egypt."
(c) That it is Jerusalem is clearly indicated by John in the phrase "where also our Lord was
crucified." As the Lord met His death in that city that was Holy unto Jehovah, so do these two
witnesses of His.
(5) The despicable sinfulness of mankind revealed-- vv. 9, 10
(a) "Now comes the real revelation of' the heart of man: glee, horrid, insane, inhuman, hellish,
ghoulish glee! There is actual delight at the death of God's witnesses--utter unbounded delight!
Newspapers have whole front pages of jubilation. Excursions are run to Jerusalem to see the
unburied corpses of these prophets of God: peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations look upon
their bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their corpses to be laid in a tomb."--Newell,
155; italics are his.
(b) It may well be that the Antichrist will proclaim a world wide holiday--even to the point of gift
giving (an indictment of our Christmas practices?)
(c) "Notice now the rush to Satan's banner (the Beast), the moment he is allowed to kill God's
witnesses. There is no moral or spiritual restraint left--no qualm of conscience! You must
learn to believe the worst about humanity, or join the Devil's theology finally." (Ibid.)
(F) Their resurrection and ascension--vv. 11-13
(1) After the 3 1/2 days God resurrects them, and they stand up on their feet.
(a) Notice that people will see this event--perhaps some of those will come to Jerusalem to see
their dead bodies; or perhaps it will be seen :world-wide over television via telestar.
(b) This event will cause great fear to come upon those who see it.
(c) NOTE: fear, not repentance
(2) God calls them to heaven.
(a) The witnesses hear the great voice, but the passage does not clearly indicate that onlookers hear
the voice--cf. Paul's conversion.
(b) They ascend up into heaven in a cloud--just like the Lord ascended and just like those of us
remain and are alive at the rapture--cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
(c) Their enemies will see them.
((I)) Again it will be completely possible for this to be televised world-wide.
((II)) This will greatly increase terror of the human race, for the existence of God will be denied
in this time and there will be the utter denial of heaven.
(3) The great earthquake
(a) In the very same hour of this ascension, perhaps not immediately, but within the self-same hour,
while men are still thinking about this stupendous event which they beheld, the quake will occur.
(b) The earthquake will be localized to Jerusalem. There is no indication that it is world-wide, but
certainly it will be known throughout the world--perhaps TV cameras will still be playing on the
scene.
(c) One-tenth of the city--obviously Jerusalem--destroyed
(d) 7000 men slain in the earthquake --does not indicate whether Jews or Gentiles, or both (Incline
to think that they are reprobate Jews). The Greek simply says "names of men" (thus, men of
prominence?)
(e) The remnant fearful and give glory to God
((I)) If this term "remnant" is considered to be a technical term, then , Jews are in view; if it is not
technical, then it just means the remainder of those in the city.
((II)) They are afraid.
((A)) They give glory to the God of heaven.
((B)) "Let us notice that this is the only record of any public, human regard of God on earth,
between the Church days in chapters 2 and 3 the coming of Christ in the Day of Wrath and the setting up of the millennium in 19. This is awfully significant!"--Newell, 157; italics
are his.
((III)) NOTE: they give God glory, but there is NO REPENTANCE!

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