Our six-verse Text today is another parenthesis! Revelation is so full of them that the exact timeline is hard to discern! This one extends to Revelation 14:20, the last verse of the Chapter!

***

If you missed this in class …

Some Reference (Study) Bibles see seven persons beginning here …

The Woman, Israel!

The dragon, Satan!

The Child, Christ Jesus!

The Archangel, Michael!

The Jewish Remnant!

The Beast out of the Sea!

The Beast out of the Earth!

***

I recently learned that there are seven (7) “signs” (often called miracles) in the Book of Revelation!

Revelation 12:1 and 12:3! Revelation 13:13 and 13:14! Revelation 15:1 and 16:14 and finally 19:20!

Think of the “signs” in John’s Gospel as well!

***

The Man Child (Jesus) was “caught up” to Heaven in verse 5, using the verb “harpazo.” This describes Jesus’ Ascvemnsion.

Watch this verb elsewhere in the New Testament …

Harpazo … often meaning “to take by force!”

Acts 8:39 … And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

2 Corinthians 12:2 … I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; such an one caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 … Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Jude 23 … And others save with fear, pulling (harpazo) them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Wow!

***

Watch the class, if you can …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Here’s the verse I mentioned in class about us serving our dear Lord for all eternity!

Revelation 22:3 … “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants (doulos = slaves) shall serve (latreu’o = with sort of reward implied) him.”

The parenthetical material simply defines the words more fully. I am NOT adding to the Word of God!

***

After verse 15 … “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” … Jesus always seen as a reigning Monarch!

Even as late as Revelation 19:12 …

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

***

Look also how real worship immediately follows the Proclamation of Jesus’ Kingship!

In other words … look at the nexus between verses 15 and 16 …

Revelation 11:15-16 …  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. (Then Verse 16 with its immediate worship, thanks, celebration) … 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying …!

Amen!

***

Verse 19 may ideally link with Revelation 12:1, preparing us for the wondrous 12th chapter …

Revelation 11:19 … 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.

Revelation 12:1 … And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars …

The key words … “in heaven.”

***

Clarence Larkin, a noted Bible expositor of bygone years, says …

“The 7^th Trumpet sounding contains everything in Revelation down to chapter 20, verse 3″ …

Revelation 20:3 … And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

***

Dr. John Walvoord, also now with the Lord, adds …

The event the 24 Elders are celebrating is that which is prophesied in Messianic Psalm 2:9 …

“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Jesus as Victor, Hallelujah!

***

“Four and Twenty Elders” … that exact String of words is found six times in the Book of Revelation! That’s impressive …

Revelation 4:4 and 10, Revelation 5:8 and 14, Revelation 11:6 here and again in Revelation 19:4!

***

The earthly Temple is to be desecrated by anti-Christ, irreverence personified!

2 Thessalonians 2:4 … Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Daniel 8:13 … Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

But the Heavenly Temple is still a place of worshipping God …

***

The 24 Elders, normally seated, dismount their thrones on occasion!

Revelation 5:14 … And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever (Worshipping the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah).

Revelation 11:16 … And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying …!

And once more!

Revelation 19:4 … And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

***

Now, for more information, watch the whole video class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Earthquake … the Greek noun seismos is used 7 times in the Book of Revelation.

Here they are …

Revelation 6:12 … And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood …

Revelation 8:5 … the 7^th Seal … And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Our verse here, our Text … 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.

Revelation 11:19 … the 7^th Trumpet … 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.

Revelation 16:17-19 … And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Wow, five different quakes mentioned in the Book of Revelation alone!

Look what Jesus said about them as well … Matthew 24:7 … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

***

I failed to give this note about the three Woes!

The three Woes …

Revelation 8:13 And I beheld (fourth Trumpet has just sounded), and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

1^st Woe … Revelation 9:12 … demon locust invasion … “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”

2^nd Woe … Two Witnesses and Aftermath … Revelation 11:14 … The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

3^rd Woe … includes the 7 Vial Judgments!

***

I had intended to give this information in chart form in class but did not have time!

WHEN JESUS DIED, AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED …

MATTHEW 27:50-52!

WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN, AN EARTHQUAKE WILL OCCUR …

ZECHARIAH 14:4!

AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE LIFE OF JOB … JOB 9:5-6!

AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE LIFE OF MOSES … EXODUS 19:18!

AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE LIFE OF ELIJAH … 1 KINGS 19:11-12!

AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE LIFE OF ISAIAH … ISAIAH 6:4!

AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE LIFE OF THE PSALMIST … PSALM 18:7!

“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth.”

***

Watch the class now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Our Text …

“7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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.”

***

I mentioned in the video class that these “Two Witnesses” were obviously safe, protected of God, until their work for Him had been completed. Then (and only then) were they killed by the Beast!

This fact reminds me of Proverbs 21:31 …

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”

God is our real Protector!

***

The “earth dwellers” of verse 14 are well characterized by Paul in Philippians 3:18-19 …

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.“

“At home” with earthly things!

***

When, in our Text, Jerusalem is unfavorably compared to Sodom … I did a quick search for that wicked city in the Bible … “Sodom” …

The Prophets mention her often, Sodom …

Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Zephaniah and even the little Book of Lamentations!

Isaiah 3:8-9 … For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Jeremiah 23:14 … I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 16:48 … As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister (Israel, the Northern Kingdom, Ephraim) hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

Amos 4:11 … I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Lamentations 4:6 … For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment …

Add in the New Testament references supplied by Jesus and Paul and Peter and Jude!

Matthew 11:23-24 … And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Romans 9:29 … And as Esaias (Isaiah 1:9) said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Romans 1:27 … And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

2 Peter 2:6 … And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly …

Jude 7 … Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Sodom has become the very paradigm of rebellion against God, her major sin even mimicking her name! And that reputation is pervasive in Scripture!

***

The Spirit of life (breath) in verse 11 …

Genesis 2:7 … And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ezekiel 37:9 … Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

John 20:22 … And when he had said this (So send I you), he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost …

Ecclesiastes 12:7 … at death … Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (breath) shall return unto God who gave it.

When God “breathes,” something comes to life!

***

Let me now invite you to watch the whole class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

The Text …

“1 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. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 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. 6 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.”

***

John’s measuring stick, the reed …

“A bamboo like cane that grew prolifically along the banks of the Jordan River. About 20 feet lone when mature. In short cut-off pieces the small end could make a stylus, a pen!”

“An ancient writing implement, consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on wax-covered tablets, and a blunt end for obliterating them.”

A Bible example of the latter … 3 John 1:13 … I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee …

***

Massive!

The outer court in Herod’s Temple … about 26 acres in area!

Including the Courts of the Gentiles, Women, Priests and Israel!

***

Proof of a Temple during the Tribulation …

From Jesus …

Matthew 24:15 … When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the HOLY PLACE, whoso readeth, let him understand …

From the Prophets …

Daniel 9:27 … And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation
(which demand a Temple, an Altar) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

From Paul …

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 … Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin (anti-Christ) be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

***

Fire as a judgment from God?

Two examples …

Leviticus 10:1-2 … And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Jeremiah 5:14 … Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

***

As John writes, around 95 AD, there is no Temple in Jerusalem!

Not since 70 AD, when Rome destroyed Jerusalem!

Matthew 24:2 … And Jesus (in or around 30 AD) said unto them, See ye not all these things (the Temple)? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

It happened just like our Lord said it would!

***

Israel and the nations …

1 Peter 4:17 … For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Psalm 9:17 … The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

First, God purifies His people!

Then God punishes His enemies!

***

God’s longing for witnesses …

Acts 1:8 … But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Matthew 10:32-33 … Whosoever therefore shall confess (being a witness) me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me (the opposite of witnessing) before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

***

In case you missed the chart I used in class …

The Temples of the Bible …

Tabernacle in the Wilderness … Exodus 25-40 … 1500 BC

Solomon’s Temple … 2 Chronicles 2-3 … 1000 BC

Zerubbabel’s Temple … Ezra 6 … 500 BC

Herod’s Temple … The Gospels … 30 AD

The Tribulation Temple … Revelation 11 … date ???

The Millennial Temple … Ezekiel 40-48 … date ???

For all Eternity … No Temple, yet … the Greatest Temple!

(Revelation 21:22 … And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.)

***

Now, watch the class if your Internet service is fast enough …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.