In one sense as we go through Revelation we are seeing the future. In another sense we are reading history yet to occur - it is written.
Testify!
Revelation 10—14 describes the events that will occur at the middle of the seven-year tribulation. This explains John’s repeated mention of the three-and-a-half-year time segment in one form or another (Rev. 11:2–3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). This marries up with Daniel’s prophecy and the break in the middle part of Revelation (Daniel 9:27).
This is when the antichrist breaks his agreement with Israel, who believed he was the only hope of peace.
In Revelation 10—11 are three important testimonies: from a mighty angel (Rev. 10:1–11), from the two special witnesses (Rev. 11:1–14), and from the elders in heaven (Rev. 11:15–19).
The Testimony of the Mighty Angel (10:1–11)
More than sixty references to angels are made in Revelation. They are God’s army sent to accomplish His purposes on earth. Believers today rarely think about these ministering angels (Heb. 1:14), but one day in heaven we shall learn about all they did for us here.
Description of the angel (1–4).
1-4: Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
All angels are strong but this one seems to have greater power (Ps.103:20).
He has the rainbow around his head. Remember this rainbow is also around the throne of God (4:3); it is a sign of God’s mercy even in judgement. This angel in his actions carries the mercy of God as a crown.
Is this Jesus?
- The angel’s face is “like the sun” matches to the description of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:16;
- His feet correspond to the Lord’s description in Revelation 1:15;
- His voice like a lion remind us of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Revelation 5:5.
- Jesus often appeared in the Old Testament as “the Angel of the Lord” (Ex. 3:2; Judg. 2:4; 6:11–12, 21–22; 2 Sam. 24:16).
- The book in His hand: The book contains the rest of the message John would deliver; since Jesus is the only worthy to open it, He would be the only one worthy to hold it.
- The stance He takes: is the posture of the conquering King taking His territory. He is claiming the whole world. Before the antichrist completes his evil mission, Jesus will claim the whole word for Himself.
This was a temporary manifestation for a special purpose, not a permanent incarnation.
We are not told why John was forbidden to write what the seven thunders uttered, the only “sealed” thing in an otherwise “unsealed” book (see Dan. 12:9; Rev. 22:10). God’s voice is often compared to thunder (Ps. 29; Job 26:14; 37:5; John 12:28–29). It is futile for us to speculate (Deut. 29:29).
Declaration of the angel (5-11)
5-11: Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
Note: [See blog bonus on Jesus taking an oath].
6: And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!”
The emphasis in Revelation 10:6 is on God the Creator. Various judgments have already been seen by the heavens, the earth, and the sea, and more judgments are to come. God has been delaying His judgments so that lost sinners will have time to repent (2 Peter 3:1–9); now, however. He will accelerate His judgments and accomplish His purposes.
Note:
7: But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
In the Bible, a mystery is a “sacred secret,” a truth hidden to those outside but revealed to God’s people by His Word (Matt. 13:10–12).
The mystery of God means several different things to different NT writers. Normally, it means the content of the Gospel, the core of which is the atoning death and exaltation of Jesus.
We live between the now and the not yet; between the time when Jesus Kingdom was inaugurated through His birth, life, death and resurrection and the complete demonstration of victory. Whilst Christ’s coronation testifies to the fulfilment of God’s promised of salvation we have yet to see it the full effect on earth; at least it seems that way to our eyes.
We live between the now and not yet - when sin and death are defeated but still experienced and when life and holiness are real but things are difficult. This is the chorus present reality. But there will come a time when God says, “I will delay no more!”
The signal for this mystery’s completion is the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:14–19).
Directions of the angel (10:8-11)
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
The directions that the angel gave to John remind us of our responsibility to assimilate the Word of God and make it a part of the inner self.
It was not enough for John to see the book or even know its contents and purpose. He had to receive it into his inner being. His stomach turned sour because the word has life and hope but all judgement and reality.
God’s Word is nourishment to us:
- bread (Matt 4:4),
- milk (1 Peter 2:2),
- meat (1 Cor. 3:1–2),
- and honey (Ps.119:103).
The prophets Jeremiah (Jer. 15:16) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:9–3:4) knew what it was to “eat” the Word before they could share it with others.
God will not force His Word into our mouths to receive it. He hands it to us and we must take it.
The angel commissioned John to prophesy again; John ended the word within Him to strengthen him for what was to come. Why should we be any different?
The Temple
11: 1-2: I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
Note that the part of the temple that is measured - in other words: rebuilt. It is the inner temple, not the out courts, for that is given over to the Gentiles.
Why is this significant? The Temple Mount is disputed and is occupied by the Dome of the Rock of Islam, built between 685-691 AD, it’s not a mosque but a shrine. Some people believe this will need to be demolished to allow the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.
Are you ready to get excited? What does the Bible say: Rev 11:1-2a: “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles…”
What is going on here?
- It seems the inner part of the temple, the holy place, will be rebuilt next to the Dome of the Rock.
- Where the outer courts are is given to the Gentiles, so these are not rebuilt.
- Although the Temple Mount - in the OT Mount Moriah - has not been excavated, there is archaeological evidence around showing its past. It is now believed that the Dome of the Rock was not constructed directly over the original temple, but on the outer courts!
- With the rebuilding of the Temple, it will go in the right place, the Dome of the Rock is built about 30 metres off where they thought was the right spot!
The Testimony of Two Witnesses (11:3-14)
They give their testimony through preaching, miracles, martyrdom and resurrection.
Ministry of the two witnesses (11:3-6)
3-6: And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
The place is Jerusalem and the time is the first half of the tribulation. Israel is worshipping again at its restored temple, built under the protection of the Antichrist, whose true character has not yet been revealed.
Antichrist had broken his agreement with Israel (Dan. 9:27), and now he was about to use the temple for his own evil purposes (2 Thess. 2:3–4). All of this will be elaborated in Revelation 13.
Note that the two witnesses minister during the first half of the tribulation (Rev. 11:3; 1,260 days). Jerusalem is then overrun by the Gentiles for forty-two months, the last half of the tribulation.
Their witness is related to Israel and the temple. The power of God and the Word of God will be outside the temple and not within as in former ages. Like the temple that Jesus left, this new house will be desolate (see Matt. 23:38).
These two men are specifically called prophets (Rev. 11:3, 6); prophetic ministry in the Old Testament sense, calling the nations to repent and return to the true God of Israel.
Not only do these witnesses declare God’s words, but they also do God’s works and perform miracles of judgment, reminding us of both Moses and Elijah (Ex. 7:14–18; 1 Kings 17: 1ff.; 2 Kings 1:1–12).
Some say one of these is Elijah based on Malachi 4:5-6, but Jesus already said this was fulfilled in John the Baptist. The imagery of the lam stand and olive trees is more akin to Zerubbabel and Joshua (see Zechariah 4).
The martyrdom of the witnesses (7–10)
7-10: Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
This comes only when they have finished their testimony. God’s obedient servants are immortal until their work is done.
“The beast” (Antichrist) is now in power and wants to take over the temple, but he cannot succeed until the two witnesses are out of the way.
They are left in the streets without burial, the world rejoicing that they are dead. No doubt news, socials and people taking selfies will show the world that the two witnesses are dead.
The two witnesses will not be around to protect the nation and a frightening anti-Semitic movement will ensue.
The resurrection of the witnesses (11–14).
11-14: But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
Miraculously, the two witnesses are not only raised from the dead, but caught up into heaven! God rescues them from their enemies. The world’s great joy suddenly becomes great fear.
Jesus’s friends watched Him ascend to heaven (Acts 1:9–12), but the witnesses’ enemies will see them resurrected and will be shaken with fear. Their fear will increase when a great earthquake occurs, killing 7,000 men and destroying a tenth of Jerusalem. A great earthquake occurred when the sixth seal was opened (Rev. 6:12), and there will be a greater one when the seventh vial is poured out (Rev. 16:18–20).
The Testimony of the Elders (11:15–19)
15-19: The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
We have been waiting since Revelation 8:13 for this third “woe” (Rev 11:14) to arrive and now it is here.
When the seventh angel blew the trumpet, three dramatic events occur:
An announcement of victory! (15)
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Jesus does not claim His royal rights until He returns, but the victory has already been won! The world is under the control of the beast, he thinks he has won, but heave decrees victory.
How true is that of our lives. When things look their worst the victory of Jesus is still assured!
An anthem of praise (16–18)
In Revelation 4:10–11, the elders praised the Creator; and in Revelation 5:9–14, they worshipped the Redeemer. Here the emphasis is on the Conqueror and the King.
In John’s day the church on earth looked as though it were defeated, for Rome was the conqueror. John was reminding the saints that they were “a kingdom of priests” reigning with the Saviour (Rev. 1:5–6).
The throne of heaven is not empty. Jesus Christ has both power and authority—in fact, all authority (Matt. 28:18, where the word power means “authority”).
An assurance of God’s faithfulness (19).
19a: Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.
This chapter opened with a temple on earth, but now we see the temple in heaven. The focus of attention is on the ark of God, the symbol of God’s presence with His people.
The stage is now set for the dramatic appearance of “the beast,” Satan’s masterpiece, the false Christ who will control the world.
Wrapping this up:
There is much for us to take strength from these chapters.
Jesus still reigns. He is the just Judge.
When things seem at the worst, Jesus is till on the throne!
When the enemy seems to be winning, praise is being released in heaven!
——————
Blog Bonus:
Rev 10:5-11: This declaration fills us with awe; with hand raised it is as though the angel is taking an oath. But if this is Jesus, why is He taking an oath? God put Himself “under oath” when He made His covenant with Abraham (Heb. 6:13–20) and when He declared His Son to be High Priest (Heb. 7:20–22). He also took an oath when He promised David that the Christ would come from his family (Acts 2:29–30).
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