Revelation 10-11 – The Little Scroll and the Two Witnesses

 Revelation 10 – The Little Scroll

John saw another strong angel with a little book in his hand.  He put his right foot on the sea and the left on the land.  This must have been a very large angle with great authority and what is about to be revealed will affect all people of the world.  He cried out like a roar of a lion and 7 peals of thunder responded.  John doesn’t tell us what the thunder said, because a voice from heaven said, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.” – Rev. 10:4.  This tells us there are still things about the future and we don’t known until that time.

Then the strong angel lifted his right hand to heaven and swore that there will be no more delay – the Day of the Lord is coming.  The seventh angel will sound his trumpet.  Then the mystery of God is finished.  God had been merciful waiting for all people to come to Him, but there will be no more waiting.

Then John was told, “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land… Take it and eat it; and it will make you stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” – Rev. 10:8-9.  John ate the scroll or book which was sweet in his mouth, but it made his stomach bitter. 

The words of the little book were the words of God so it was sweet, but why did it become so bitter?  Maybe it was that the contents were so awful and terrible.  There would be such persecution and desolation of earth that the thought of it made John sick to his stomach.  This book was a message to people on earth.  It was sweet because it came from God, but bitter because it told of troubles to come.  God’s people would overcome in the end, but before that people would suffer greatly.  The message that there would be no more delay was sweet, but the actual end would be unpleasant or bitter.

God’s Word is sweet, but bitter if you do not believe.  Matt. 11:28 says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  John 8:24 says “unless you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins.”

What mysteries has God revealed you in this study?

Are you disturbed by the thought of what is revealed in Revelation?

Who will you tell about Christ before it’s too late?

John was told to prophesy again to all the nations.  The end would be soon.  The seventh trumpet was ready to sound.

Revelation 11 – The Two Witnesses

After eating the little book, John was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God.  He was not to measure the court outside the temple, because during the last half of the 7 years (3 ½ years) or 42 months (1,260 days), the holy city (Jerusalem) will be given to the nations (Gentiles) who will tread it under foot.  In Daniel 9 speaks of the 7 year period.  The Gentiles will abuse and disregard the city.  They will worship other gods.  God will allow this to happen.  This final 3 ½ years will be the worst of all.

“I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” – Rev. 11:3.  The witnesses are identified as olive trees and lampstands.  We saw in chapter 7 there would be 144,000 Jewish men preaching to the world, but these 2 witnesses here are special.  They have authority and would be known throughout the world.  They are believed to be Moses and Elijah.  They will prophesy for 1,260 days.  They are wearing sackcloth which shows they are greatly grieved by the evil and unrepentance in the world around them.  The lampstands indicate they are prophesying by the power of the Holy Spirit.

People won’t like what they are preaching and will try to harm them.  When others try to harm them, fire will come out of their mouths and they will be killed.  They will have the power to shut up the sky during the time they are prophesying.  They will have the power to turn water into blood and send plagues to the earth. (Rev. 11:3-6).

God will protect them during this time.  He said if anyone tries to harm them, they must die.  Again, God always protects His own.

Then when the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast that comes out of the abyss in chapter 9 will make war with them and kill them.  The beast is Satan and is given authority by God to do this.  Nothing happens without God’s approval or authority. (Rev. 11:7).

Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city (Jerusalem) for 3 ½ days.  People won’t like what these men have to say and will be afraid of them.  Now that they were dead the people will rejoice.  Their happiness will last only a short time.  After the 3 ½ days lying dead in the street, God will breathe life into them.  This is a beautiful picture of the resurrection for all the believing dead who wait in the grave.  The two witnesses stood up and great fear came over the people.  They were then called up to heaven. (Rev. 11:8-12).

How have you been persecuted because of your testimony for Christ?

How has God protected you?

In that hour where was a great earthquake, 1/10 of the city fell, 7,000 people were killed, and the rest were terrified.  They gave glory to God, but it doesn’t say they repented.  They only recognized there was a God in heaven, but did not repent.  This is God’s judgment on the wicked people. (Rev. 11:13). 

“The second woe is past; behold the third woe is coming quickly.” - Rev. 11:14.  It is now time for the third and final woe.

As the seventh angel sounded his trumpet John was in heaven and heard voices saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” – Rev. 11:15.  Satan is no longer the ruler of the world.  God has reclaimed His rightful rule over the earth.  He is still in the cleansing process.  Soon we will see all the wicked followers of Satan judged in the bowl judgments in the following chapters.

The 24 elders fell on their faces and worshiped and thanked God.  Then the temple of God in heaven opened and the ark of His covenant appeared.  There were flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. (Rev. 11:16-19)

How do you respond to God and His promises?

Does the thought of Jesus’ return frighten or encourage you?

How has your relationship with Him changed in light of the judgments to come?

The time had come for God to reward or punish all who have died.  He will reward His servants.  He will reward those you believed in Him.  We can be confident that God will save His people even in times of trouble.  For the unbelievers He will punish those who oppose Him.

Are you now a believer after studying Revelation?  If you weren’t before, I hope you are now.  It’s never too late.  God is waiting for you to surrender to Him.  See the bottom of this blog for His Plan of Salvation.

Next week we will study Revelation 12.  Hope to see you here.

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Revelation 8-9 – Seventh Seal Broken Brings Judgments to Earth and Unrepentant Mankind

Revelation 8 – 1^st – 4^th Trumpets

 

We have seen the breaking of six seals now we are going to see the seventh broken which is focusing on the wrath of God.

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for half an hour.   Why silence?  The wrath of God is beginning and is so dramatic that all worshipping and praising of God stopped.  This silence is in anticipation of the most terrible judgments to ever come upon the earth.  God’s great wrath is coming!  (Rev. 8:1)

John saw 7 angels standing ready to serve God.  7 trumpets were given to them.  These trumpets would bring God’s 7 horrific judgments to the earth.  Another angel stood at the altar and had incense, which held the vengeful prayers of the saints in chapter 6 when they ask God how long would it be before He sent His judgments.  The sweet smell of the incense and prayers went up to God.  Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire and threw it to earth causing thunder, lightning, and an earthquake.  As the prayers go up to God, a fierce storm comes down in response.  This showed that God was angry for the evil deeds of the people.  They would not obey and now He will send judgment on them. (Rev. 8:2-6)

These angels are special angels who have been trained to do a job for God.  As you study your Bible and spend time with God, you are being trained to do a job.  You are being trained to help others - to tell them about Jesus.  You are His witnesses.  The way you live and handle trials will influence others.  They will see you and want what you have.  Always remember there is someone watching what you do and how you react to situations.

Who do you need to tell about Jesus?

Will you pray for them?

Trumpets are used many times in the Bible:

Joel 2:1 – warned that the Day of the Lord is coming.

Exodus 19:14-18 – called the community together to meet God.

Numbers 10:2 – called the community to break up camp.

Joshua 6:2-5 – a signal when God brought judgment on Jericho.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – will call all believers from the grave.

Now it’s time for the trumpets to sound.  (Rev. 8:7-12)

1^st trumpet:

The first angel sounded his trumpet and there was hail and fire mixed with blood which was thrown down to earth.  One third of the earth was burned up.  One third of the trees and all the grass were burned up.  This will be worldwide destruction!  How terrible this will be!

2^nd trumpet:

The second angel sounded his trumpet.  John saw something like a great mountain burning with fire and thrown into the sea.  One third of the sea became blood.  One third of everything living in the sea was burned up even one third of the ships were destroyed.  God can use and natural phenomena to judge the world.  It could be an asteroid, tsunamis, earthquakes, or whatever He wants.  But remember He will do it as He says.

3rd trumpet: 

The third angel sounded his trumpet and one third of the waters on earth became bitter because a great star fell to earth.  The star’s name was Wormwood, which means bitter or poison.  Many people died who drank this poison water. 

4^th trumpet: 

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet and something struck the sun, moon, and stars.  One third of them became dark and didn’t shine for one third of the day and night.

Each time a trumpet sounds, God waits and provides time for anyone willing to repent.  He could send His judgments all at once, but He doesn’t.  He wants sinners to come to Him as ask for forgiveness.

Then John saw an eagle flying and saying, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the 4 angels who are about to sound!” – Rev. 8:13.  Woe means a sign of warnings and troubles.  These first 4 trumpets will be terrible, but the last 3 will be even worse.  They will affect only part of the earth, but the last 3 will affect all people on the earth. 

Revelation 9 – 5^th & 6^th Trumpets and First Woe

5^th trumpet:

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet and a star fell to the earth.  The key to the bottomless pit was given to him.   What is the bottomless pit?  I had a wonderful knowledgeable Bible teacher a few years ago who explained it like this:

There is a place called “Tartarus”, where there are fallen angels (Jude 6).  There is Hades where people’s spirits descend to at death.  Before the resurrection of Jesus, Hades was divided into a place of torment and fire and a place of comfort called “Paradise” or “Abraham’s Bosom”.  Paradise is now empty, because they are all now in heaven.  The Abyss is a bottomless pit leading to Hades.  It is a place of confinement of supernatural beings until the Day of Judgment.  Earth is safe as long as the pit is locked. (Rev. 20:1)  Then on the Day of Judgment, those in Tartarus, Hades, Satan and his followers, and all unbelievers will be thrown in the “Lake of Fire”. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14-15).  Maybe the diagram below will help.

The angel opened the bottomless pit and smoke went up like a great furnace and the sun and air were darkened by the smoke.  Out of the smoke came locust and power was given to them.  They were told they shouldn’t hurt the grass or anything green, but only the men who don’t have the seal of God on their foreheads.  These are not normal locusts, since locusts normally like vegetation.  These were demonic locusts – thousands upon thousands of them.  They weren’t permitted to kill anyone, but were to torment for 5 months.  They would sting like scorpions, which is the most intensely painful sting you can receive.  How terrifying! 

The only people protected from the locusts were the ones with the seal of God, like the 144,000 in chapter 7 and anyone who was saved during this tribulation.  God protects is for those who belong to Him.  The pain will be so terrible that people will want to die, but will not be able. (Rev. 9:1-11)  Why did they not wish they were sealed?  Their heart must be so hard and they so stubborn that they would rather die.

God warns repeatedly in Scripture that there will be judgment of those who ignore Him and His Word.  God does, however, provide rescue to those who believe and trust in Him.

The first Woe is past with 2 more to come. (Rev. 9:12)

6^th trumpet:

The 6^th angel sounded his trumpet and to release the 4 angels who were bound at the river Euphrates.  They were kept ready for the very hour, day, month and year.  These angels were not good angels, but bad.  There was an army of 200 million with fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur breastplates.   One third of mankind was killed by 3 plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.  Power came from their mouths and tails.  Their tails were like snakes to inflict injury.

The rest of mankind weren’t killed by these plagues, but they still did not repent.  They kept worshiping idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood.  They didn’t repent of their murders, magic, sexual immorality or thefts.  What was wrong with these people?  Why did they not repent after seeing all these horrible judgments?  Sin blinds people.  They see only what they want to see.  They probably tried to reason why all these things were happening.  Maybe they tried to explain them away, maybe blaming it on global warming.  Who knows?  Their hearts were hardened and sin had blinded them.

What sin is blinding you?

Of what sin do you need to repent?

With all these judgments of plagues and death, still people did not repent.  It’s exactly like that today.  People are still worshipping idols like their jobs, homes, family, TV, self desires, sexually immorality, money, etc.  They turn away from God and do not believe His Word or His promises.  If you are not a believer, wake up!  The time is near.  When God’s judgments come, it will be too late.  Christians need to be intentional in witnessing and praying for the lost.  I am sure you don’t want anyone to go through such horrible times that are to come.

Principle:  God will judge the earth and the unrepentant.

How are you prepared for God’s coming judgments?

What idol will you abandon for God?

Wow!  What a terrifying time this will be.  All the more we need to be witnesses for Jesus so others will not have to experience these judgments.  Next week we will study Revelation 10 and 11.  Hope to see you here next week.

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Revelation 7 - 144,000 Sealed

John saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth.  They were holding back the 4 winds of the earth.  Then he saw another angel with a seal of God telling the 4 angels to not harm the land, the sea or the trees until the 144,000 of God’s servants have His seal on their foreheads.  These 144,000 are 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. (Rev. 1-8).

These winds probably mean violent destructive winds of God’s judgment, which will be released soon.  For now there is a clam before the storm.  These 144,000 servants were new Jewish believers that live on the earth and will become evangelists to all people.  They are about to be sealed.  God will seal them with His Spirit marking them as His, just as the church is sealed with His Spirit.  They are marked showing God’s ownership.  See 2 Cor. 1:21-22, Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30.  We don’t know exactly what this seal will be, but scripture tells us it will be visible.

How has God held back His judgments that you deserve?

Are you sealed with God’s seal?

If so, how do you know? 

How does your life show it?

There are several opinions of who these 144,000 are.  I believe these 144,000 will be witnesses of Jesus to the world.  Because of their witnessing we see in Rev. 7:9-14 a great multitude from every nation and all tribes of people, Jew and Gentile worshiping the Lord.  They were wearing white robes and worshiping God saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” – Rev. 7:10.  “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation…” – Rev. 7:14.  This will be a true revival.

Are you committed to serving and being a witness for God?

This angel in verse 2 is special and is sent from God and will be entrusted to mark God’s people to protect them in the mists of the wrath that is coming.  This group will be on earth during this terrible wrath, but will be protected from it because of the seal with God’s name is on their forehead.  Since all believers have been miraculously removed from the earth - known as the rapture, they will be God’s witnesses.  God has not and will not ever leave earth without a witness of His salvation.  God needs them to tell the gospel to the world. 

There are several beliefs on when the rapture will occur.  Will it be before, during or at the end of the 7 year of tribulation?  The 7 years is broken up into two 3 ½ periods.  The first is called the tribulation and the second is called the Great Tribulation.  I believe the church will be raptured or taken to heaven before the 7 years starts.  I believe He will rescue believers from His wrath.  “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” – 1 Thess. 1:10.  Whatever you believe about the rapture and if believers will go through it, Jesus is the only way to heaven.  (John 14:6)  God has the final say and believers have eternal security.  We may suffer in this life here on earth, but the pain we suffer is only temporary.

We cannot take credit for our salvation.  It is a free gift through the God’s grace.  Jesus deserves all the credit, because of His bloodshed on the cross for us.  We must praise and worship Him for what He has done.

This great multitude is not the same as the 144,000.  The 144,000 are on earth and the great multitude is in heaven, who have received their white robes.  These are Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus after the rapture and have been martyred for their faith during the tribulation.  (Rev. 7:14)

The great multitude is praising God for their salvation.  In the presence of God there will be no hunger, thirst, sunburn, heat stroke, or tears.  The Lamb will be at the center of the throne and will be the Shepherd.  He will be the protector of all believers.  (Rev. 7:15-17).  It will be a happy time.  It will be eternal peace and joy.  It will be an eternal life with Jesus.

The whole purpose of this chapter is that God offers protection to all believers.  Chapter 6 had relentless punishment of the wicked, but the focus is now on the security of the faithful.  God will protect His people.  He deserves our praises.  He knows everything and has all wisdom.  We should constantly thank Him for all He has done for us.  Only He deserves honor and glory.  He sent His son, Jesus to die on the cross for us while we were still sinners.  Jesus has overcome all that is against us.

Do you know where you will spend eternity?

Principle:  In the midst of tribulation God’s people are eternally secure.

Next week we will study Revelation 8.  We will see the seventh seal broken.  The seventh seal includes 7 trumpets and 7 bowls.  With each seal broken the judgments increase with intensity.  The end of the world comes after the 7 bowls.  Hope to see you here next week.

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