Lesson #32

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 11:11

• REV 11-15 ARE DETAILS ABOUT THE MAJOR ACTORS IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD…IN OTHER WORDS, A CAST OF CHARACTERS.
• CHAPTER 11 IS PART OF THE PARENTHESIS BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND THE SEVENTH TRUMPET JUDGMENTS.

• REMEMBER THAT IN REV 11:2 THE ANGEL IS TOLD NOT TO MEASURE THE COURT OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE = THE GENTILE COURT.
• IN OTHER WORDS, JUDGMENT WAS NOT TO COME TO THE GENTILE NATIONS YET. THAT JUDGMENT WOULD COME AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. (11:15-19)
• 42 MONTHS = 3 ½ YEARS; THIS IS THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• GENTILES WILL CONTROL JERUSALEM UNTIL THE TIME OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED (LUK 21:24) AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• SPECIFICALLY, THE ANTI-CHRIST, WHO IS POSSIBLY A GENTILE, OR HALF GENTILE AND HALF JEW, WILL CONTROL JERUSALEM UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST ENDING THE “TIME OF THE GENTILES”

• READ REV 11:3-13
• THE TWO WITNESSES, WHO ARE THEY? JOHN MAKES A REFERENCE TO THE TWO OLIVE TREES IN ZEC 4.
• READ ZEC 4:1-14 TWO OLIVE TREES
• THESE TWO WERE JOSHUA (NOT THE JOSHUA OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA), A RELIGIOUS LEADER, AND ZERUBBABEL, A CIVIC LEADER. THEY WERE TWO MEN SPIRITUALLY ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEREFORE THE TWO WITNESSES IN REV 11 WILL BE ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. OLIVE OIL IS A BIBLICAL SYMBOL OF GOD’S ANOINTING.
• FIRST PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• JOSHUA AND ZERUBBABEL TOOK THE JEWS BACK TO ISRAEL AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY AND INSPIRE THEM TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE.
• THE MAJOR POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS OF A SECOND FULFILLMENT:
• =1= THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVE SYMBOLS OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH.
• THIS INTERPRETATION DENIES A LITERAL FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE.
• =2= THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVE SYMBOLS OF ISRAEL AND THE WORD OF GOD.
• SINCE WE INTERPRET THE BIBLE LITERALLY, WE CAN REJECT BOTH OF THESE FIRST TWO INTERPRETATIONS.
• THE DETAILS REGARDING THEIR DEATHS AND RESURRECTIONS SEEM TO INDICATE A LITERAL INTERPRETATION.
• =3= A REAPPEARANCE OF JOSHUA AND ZERUBBABEL.
• THIS IS NOT LIKELY BECAUSE OF PROPHECY IN MAL 4.
• =4= ENOCH AND ELIJAH BECAUSE NEITHER OF THESE MEN DIED AND HEB 9:27 SAYS THAT IT IS APPOINTED TO MAN TO DIE ONCE.
• READ GEN 5:23-24
• READ 2KIN 2:11-12
• =6= ELIJAH AND MOSES.
• READ MAL 4:5-6 ELIJAH, WHO REPRESENTS THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS.
• THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI IS GIVEN AT THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT JUST BEFORE THE 400 YEARS OF SILENCE PRECEDING THE NEW TESTAMENT.
• THEN WE HAVE THE COMING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. JESUS REFERRED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST AS THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OF THE COMING OF ELIJAH. (MAT 11:11-15)
• THEREFORE, THE SECOND FULFILLMENT IS THAT ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES.
• THERE IS A SIMILARITY OF MINISTRY BETWEEN ELIJAH AND THE TWO WITNESSES IN REVELATION. ELIJAH STOPPED THE RAIN FOR 3 ½ YEARS (1KIN 17 REV 11:5-6) AND CALLED FIRE FROM HEAVEN TO CONSUME THE ENEMY (2KIN 1:10-12 REV 11:5)
• READ JUDE 1:9 MOSES, WHO REPRESENTS THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW.
• READ MAT 17:1-13 ON THE MT. OF TRANSFIGURATION.
• BOTH ELIJAH AND MOSES WERE PRESENT WITH JESUS.
• NOTICE THAT JESUS REFERS TO THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY IN MALACHI ABOUT ELIJAH BEING JOHN THE BAPTIST.
• THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS, ELIJAH, AND MOSES ON THE MT. OF TRANSFIGURATION WAS THAT OF THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE SECOND COMING AS ELIJAH HAS AN UNFINISHED MINISTRY.
• READ EXO 7:19 THE SIMILARITY OF MIRACLES (NUM 16:35 REV 11:6) AND DEATH TO ANYONE WHO HARMS HIM BEFORE HIS TIME.
• THE JEWISH BELIEF REGARDING ELIJAH, MOSES, AND THE MESSIAH:
• EVERY TIME THE JEWS CELEBRATE PASSOVER, THEY LEAVE AN EMPTY PLACE A THE TABLE FOR ELIJAH AND DRINK A CUP OF WINE TO ELIJAH.
• THE JEWISH TALMUD CLAIMS THAT SEVERAL WONDERS WILL ACCOMPANY THE COMING OF ELIJAH AND THE MESSIAH WHO WILL COME WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY IN TIME. (REMEMBER THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS’ FIRST COMING. ELIJAH WILL DO THE SAME FOR JESUS’ SECOND COMING.)
• THE JEWS BELIEVE THAT ELIJAH WILL BRING MOSES BACK TO LIFE.
• THEY BELIEVE THAT ELIJAH WILL REVEAL THE SECRET LOCATION OF THE 3 HOLY VESSELS, THE ARK O THE COVENANT, THE POT OF MANNA, AND THE CONTAINER OF SACRED ANOINTING OIL.
• THEY BELIEVE ELIJAH WILL CARRY THE ROYAL SCEPTER OF JUDAH WHICH GOD PROMISED WILL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH UNTIL SHILOH (THE MESSIAH) COMES (GEN 49:10).
• THEY BELIEVE ELIJAH WILL TRANSFORM THE HOLY LAND LEVELING MOUNTAINS TO MAKE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH. (ISA 40:4)
• THEY BELIEVE ELIJAH WILL RESTORE ALL JEWISH TRIBAL IDENTITIES. (MAL 3:3 MAL 4:4-5)
• THEY BELIEVE ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF 8 RULING PRINCES THAT FORM CHRIST’S RULING CABINET IN THE MILLENNIUM.
• WILL THIS ELIJAH BE THE ORIGINAL ELIJAH OR A PERSON “LIKE” ELIJAH? JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS “LIKE” ELIJAH. THEREFORE, IT IS UNCLEAR WHICH WILL OCCUR WHEN THE TWO WITNESSES APPEAR.
• BECAUSE THE JEWS ARE LOOKING FOR ELIJAH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FALSE PROPHET WILL PARALLEL IN MANY WAYS THE MIRACLES OF ELIJAH AND THAT OF THE TWO WITNESSES. THEREFORE, THE JEWS WILL BELIEVE THAT THE FALSE PROPHET IS THE FULFILLMENT OF MAL 4:5-6 AND THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH.
• FOR THE IDENTITY OF THE TWO WITNESSES, ELIJAH (REPRESENTING THE PROPHETS) AND MOSES (REPRESENTING THE LAW) ARE PREFERRED BY THE TEACHER.
• THE WITNESS AND MINISTRY OF THE TWO WITNESSES:
• THEY PREACH FOR 3 1/2 YEARS = WHICH 3 1/2 YEARS, THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION, OR THE LAST HALF?
• THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THEY PREACH DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION. PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE IT IS THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION.
• IF IT IS THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS, THEIR DEATH OCCURS JUST PRIOR TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• JUDGMENT FOLLOWS IN REV 11:15-19
• THEY HAVE MIRACLE POWER BY THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHINE FORTH THE LIGHT OF GOD AT A TIME WHEN ISRAEL IS ENDURING ITS GREATEST PERSECUTION BY THE ANTICHRIST.
• THEIR MESSAGE IS ONE OF REPENTANCE. WE KNOW THIS BY THEIR CLOTHING (SACKCLOTH). OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS WORE SACKCLOTH TO INDICATE SORROW OVER SIN. JOHN THE BAPTIST ALSO WORE SACKCLOTH AND PREACHED REPENTANCE.
• GOD WILL PROTECT THE TWO WITNESSES FOR AWHILE — GOD’S PERFECT TIMING.
• THEN THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL KILL THEM. WHY?
• IF THEIR DEATH OCCURS AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION, THE PURPOSE WOULD BE FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST TO BREAK THE PEACE TREATY AND GAIN COMPLETE CONTROL OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE.
• IF THEIR DEATH OCCURS AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION, THE PURPOSE WOULD BE BECAUSE THEIR PREACHING INHIBITS THE ULTIMATE POWER OF THE ANTICHRIST.
• THEIR DEAD BODIES WILL LIE IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM FOR 3 1/2 DAYS.
• WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE NUMBER 3 ½?
• THESE WITNESSES MINISTER FOR 3 ½ YEARS AND THEIR BODIES LIE IN THE STREETS FOR 3 ½ DAYS.
• JESUS MINISTERED FOR 3 ½ YEARS AND HIS BODY WAS IN THE TOMB FOR 3 ½ DAYS UNTIL HIS RESURRECTION.
• JERUSALEM IS CALLED “SODOM” AND “EGYPT” (8) INDICATING IMMORALITY, WICKEDNESS (SODOM) AND SLAVERY, OPPRESSION, AND WORLDLY COMPROMISE (EGYPT IS THE BIBLICAL SYMBOL FOR WORLDLINESS.).
• ALL WILL SEE THEIR DEAD BODIES
• THIS IS POSSIBLE TODAY BY SATELLITE TELEVISION.
• NOTICE THE LIKENESS TO JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION, BURIAL, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION.
• NOTICE THE CHRISTMAS GIFTS!
• PEOPLE REJOICE AT THEIR DEATH BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE THE ANTI-CHRIST WHEN HE TELLS THEM THAT ALL THE WORLD PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO THESE TWO MEN AND GOD.
• THERE IS A MIRACLE RESURRECTION OF THESE TWO WITNESSES.
• THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE AT THEIR ASCENSION CAUSING 1/10 OF THE CITY TO FALL AND 7,000 TO BE KILLED.
• APPLICATION:
• WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THESE TWO WITNESSES?
• WE MUST LEARN TO BE STRONG IN OUR WITNESS FOR THE LORD NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!

• READ REV 11:14-19
• THE SEVENTH TRUMPET: THE JUDGMENT OF NATIONS
• THIS PASSAGE SKIPS FORWARD IN THE SEQUENCE OF TIME WHEN CHRIST HAS TAKEN HIS POWER AND IS REIGNING AS KING. THIS PASSAGE IS OUT OF TIME SEQUENCE BECAUSE IT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO BELIEVERS TO LIFT THEIR HEADS FROM THE PRESENT PERSECUTION TO THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF GOD’S PLAN WHERE HIS PEOPLE WIN IN THE END.
• THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS US THE TIME FRAME:
• IT IS IN THE MILLENNIUM WHEN THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD.
• REFER TO THE MASTER TIMELINE CHART.
• THE 24 ELDERS RESPOND IN WORSHIP TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS TAKING OVER THE NATIONS.
• HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS THE JUDGMENT OF NATIONS AND NOT THE FINAL INDIVIDUAL JUDGMENT AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE?
• NOTICE THAT THOSE TO BE JUDGED ARE ANGRY. THEY ARE THE NATIONS. (18)
• TIME FOR THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED (18) =
• THE DEAD LEADERS WHO LED THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AGAINST CHRIST ARE JUDGED IN THE JUDGMENT OF NATIONS AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AND INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE MILLENNIUM.
• THIS IS A TIME FOR REWARD TO THE PROPHETS AND SAINTS = THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM IN WHICH THE SAINTS REIGN WITH CHRIST IS A REWARD TO THE SAINTS AND THE PROPHETS.
• READ PSALM 2:1-6 FOR THE PROPHECY THAT IS FULFILLED HERE.
• WE WILL STUDY THE JUDGMENT OF NATIONS MORE FULLY LATER AS WE FOLLOW THE SEQUENCE OF THE MASTER TIME LINE CHART.

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 12
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REV 11
• READ GEN 12:3
• EXAMINE YOUR OWN ATTITUDE TOWARD ISRAEL. WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE?

• EXAMINE YOUR OWN ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS TOWARD JEWS. WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH JEWS?

• IF YOU KNOW ANY JEWS, WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK TO IMPROVE YOUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS TOWARD THEM?

• PREPARATION FOR REV 12
• READ REV 12:1-17
• IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING:
• THE WOMAN =

• HOW DO YOU KNOW?

• THE CHILD =

• HOW DO YOU KNOW?

• THE RED DRAGON =

• HOW DO YOU KNOW?

• THE THIRD PART OF THE STARS =

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 12:11