Book of Revelation of John

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

 

 

 

Chapter 11

Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet

 

 

Seventh Seal Continues:

Sixth Trumpet Continues

Arrival of Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet

 

 

 

Where we are on the Seals Chart sequence

 

Seven Seals – consists of:

 

            First 6 of 7 seals – (Chapter 6)

 

            Seal 1 – White Horse: conquering diplomatically

            Seal 2 – Red Horse: political upheaval, no peace, people killing people

            Seal 3 – Black Horse: cost of “bread”, famine

            Seal 4 – Pale Horse: ¼ population killed by beasts, swords, hunger

            Seal 5 – Martyrdom for Faith: death for Word of God receive white robes

            Seal 6 – Earthquake, stars fall, sun black, physical world gone berserk

 

            Seal 7 – (Chapter 8) consists of 7 Trumpets (Chapters 8-11)

 

                        Trumpet 1 (8:7) – hail and fire mixed with blood

                        Trumpet 2 (8:8) – mountain burning with fire

                        Trumpet 3 (8:10) – star falls from Heaven

                        Trumpet 4 (8:12) – darkness

 

                        Trumpet 5 (9:1-12) FIRST WOE:  star falls, bottomless pit opened

 

                        Trumpet 6 (9:13-21) SECOND WOE:  4 angels kill 1/3 of men

 

7 Thunders uttered - described in Chap 10

 

WE ARE NOW AT THIS POINT IN THE TIMELINE

 

Two Witnesses (11:3) appear: testify for 1260 days, killed and resurrected 3.5 days later. Earthquake and 7000 die. Then WOE 2 ends.

 

                        Trumpet 7 (11:15-19) THIRD WOE: WRATH OF GOD

 

Temple of God opens in Heaven (11:15)

 

Seven Vials / Bowls / Plaques (Chapters 15-16)

First 4 on Men – last 3 on kingdom of Anti-christ

 

Vial 1 – Sores on wearers of mark required by Beast

Vial 2 – Sea turned to Blood

Vial 3 – Rivers and Water Sources turned to Blood

Vial 4 – Sun given power to scorch the Earth

Vial 5 – Seat of Beast attacked darkness, pain, sores

Vial 6 – Euphrates River dried up for Kings of East

Vial 7 – It is Done!

 

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Revelation 11:1-2a

 

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;…

 

 

 

The measuring occurs in Chapter 21.  Rebuilding of the earthly temple is a rejection of God. The various temple rebuilds were always looked at with a sense of how inferior they were to the “original”.  Now, John will get a sense of the grandeur of the heavenly temple that WILL eventually come to earth.

 

 

Revelation 11:2b

 

…for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

 

 

 

 

Gentiles will “tread” on Jerusalem and control it for 42 months.

 

 

THE TWO WITNESSES

 

 

There has been speculation for years as to the identity of the two witnesses.  Revelation does not tell us.  It is easy to believe that they will be known, either from their witnessing or introduction.

 

Comments that the two could be Elijah and Enoch are possible but are indeed speculative on the part of mere humans.  Enoch and Elijah have both not seen death.  According to scripture they must.  This spools the speculation in that direction. Enoch however is promised not to see death. The two witnesses will die.

 

Moses and Elijah were seen at the transfiguration. They both had “earthly experiences” that would complement one another. What two historical figures are more important to the Jews? The last two verses of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6) talk about the return of Elijah.  That verse Jesus used in reference to John the Baptist.

 

 

Revelation 11:3

 

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

 

 

 

1,260 days they will prophesy. 

 

 

Revelation 11:4-6

 

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

 

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

 

 

 

Olive Trees of Zechariah Chapter 4.   Seen in a vision by the Prophet Zechariah centuries before the birth of Christ.

 

Anyone attempting to harm them WILL BE killed by fire coming from the mouth of the two men. The power the two witnesses will display:  Cause it to stop raining; Turn water to blood; Create plagues as often as they desire

 

 

Revelation 11:7-12

 

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

 

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

 

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

 

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

 

 

 

When the 1260 days are over – not a minute sooner, they will be allowed to be killed.

 

The residents of city of Jerusalem itself are so lost spiritually that they are called Sodom and Egypt!

 

They have gone back to their ritualistic worship, and rejected God by building a temple, crucifying Jesus, now killing the two witnesses and BREAKING their own laws regarding the “unclean” by leaving the bodies of the witnesses in the street of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days. No doubt in mockery, the world believing that the final proof the two men were beatable.

 

Until, the two men come to life before the eyes of the world and they will ascend to heaven in a cloud with everyone watching.

 

 

Revelation 11:13

 

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

 

 

 

When the two witnesses ascend, that will trigger the following events:  There will be a great earthquake; 1/10 part of the city of Jerusalem will fall; 7000 will die from the earthquake

 

FINALLY, the “remnant” are afraid and WILL give glory to GOD OF HEAVEN!

 

 

Revelation 11:14

 

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

 

 

 

THE SECOND WOE NOW ENDS

 

 

This began back in Revelation 9:14.

 

This second woe / sixth trumpet will last at least 1260 days.  It will be in process the entire length of time that the witnesses do prophesy.

 

 

THE THIRD WOE WILL COME QUICK

 

 

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

 

 

This is now the “next phase” in the Book of Revelation. We see the Seventh Trumpet blown in the end of Chapter 11.

The trumpet is an introduction to the Vials (some refer to them as Bowls) of Chapters 15-16.

 

 

Revelation 11:15-19

 

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

 

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

 

 

 

 

SEVENTH TRUMPET is blown – THIRD WOE

 

 

The Temple of God in heaven is opened:

 

The ark of His testament is seen in there. There are lightnings, voices, thunderings, Earthquake, and great Hail.

 

 

 

For the next three chapters (12, 13, 14) John will take a break from the information being given and return to it in Chapter 15.

He is going to explain further details regarding why these trumpets were needed.