Chapter 11
Verses 1-6 Read the Bible verses.
John was given a measuring rod and was told to get up and measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship in it.
He was not to measure the outside of the temple. The outer part (courtyard) of the temple was given to the nations. The whole city of Jerusalem would be controlled by the Gentiles (non Jews). They would be in control of it but not respect it–even do very disrespectful things for 42 months.
Jesus said, “ I will give authority (power to rule) to my 2 witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days. They will be dressed in sackcloth.
(A rough, coarse cloth used to show great sorrow and sadness.) (1260 days= 3 ½ years)
These two witnesses were like 2 olive trees and 2 lamp stands.
Olive trees speak of spiritual life and the lamp stands speak of light.
The 2 witnesses were to be a “light about spiritual life”.
These 2 witnesses were given special powers. If anyone tried to stop them or hurt them, they could make fire come out of their mouths that killed their enemies.
The 2 witnesses had the power to stop the rain. There would be no rain for the time that they were witnessing. That is 3 ½ years of no rain.
They will be able to turn water into blood. They can make sicknesses or insects or other awful things to happen.
This is much like what Moses did in Egypt.
Verses 7- 14 Read the Bible verses.
After the 3 ½ years, there will be a beast (animal or creature) come up out of the bottomless pit.
The beast will fight with the 2 witnesses and kill them.
This “beast” is most likely the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is a real human man, but he gets his power from Satan and he allows himself to be controlled by Satan. He probably has been into occult/witchcraft type of beliefs, or “new age” beliefs. Satan comes into him.
The 2 witnesses’ bodies are left in the street of Jerusalem. They did not bury them. This was to show how much they were hated–complete disrespect.
“The great city which mystically (spiritually) is called Sodom and Egypt.” is Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 23:14 and Ezekiel 23:27)
Sodom and Egypt were places of sin and where the judgment of God destroyed them. Evil, “stiff-necked” people lived in those cities. God judged them and destroyed their cities.
The “beast” or Anti-Christ has entered Jerusalem. He is evil and the people who follow him are evil. They will be judged.
For 3 ½ days the witnesses were not buried, their bodies were in the street. People all over the world sent each other gifts because they were so happy that these 2 witnesses were dead.
These 2 witnesses had made a lot of trouble for people–no rain, sicknesses, insects, fire, etc.
Then after 3 ½ days, the 2 witnesses came back to life and stood up!
The people were very afraid.
Then the people heard a loud voice saying, “Come up here.”
The people watched as the 2 witnesses rose up into the clouds in the sky.
At the same hour the witnesses went up, there was a great earthquake-1/10 of the city of Jerusalem fell and 7000 people were killed.
The other people were so afraid they gave glory to the God of heaven.
(This is the first time the people give respect to the God of heaven. In all of the other terrible things that happened, they cursed God and refused to honor Him.)
Verses 15- 19 Read the Bible verses.
The 7th trumpet sounded.
A loud voice said, “The kingdoms of the world are now the kingdoms of our Lord, Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
The elders in heaven worship God.
The elders said that the nations were evil and the time for judgment had come.
In heaven, there is the temple of God. There is the Ark of the Covenant. Heaven is opened and the temple and Ark can be seen.