November 16, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Two Witnesses & the Seventh Trumpet
Scripture: Revelation 11(NIV)
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Devotional
The book of Revelation was written in a rhythm in the style of apocalyptic literature. Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, there was an interlude in chapter seven describing the 144,000 and a great multitude in white robes praising God. Now, between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets, a longer interlude in chapters ten and eleven describe the little scroll and the two witnesses.
Here in chapter eleven, the number three and a half appears in various forms (42 months and 1,260 days are three and a half years). Remember that in apocalyptic literature, numbers often had a symbolic significance. Since seven represented completeness and maturity, half of that number (three and a half) represented the length of time God allows evil to persist.
It is unclear who or what the two witnesses represent. Moses and Elijah? Civil and religious authorities in Israel? All believers throughout the church age? The faithful church in the end of the age? Whomever or whatever they represent, their testimony is ended when they are killed by the beast, who lays their dead bodies in the streets for public gazing and gloating.
The mention of the beast is another matter of great interest. For all practical purposes, the beast represents the activity of Satan in the world. In a debate with corrupt religious leaders, Jesus once said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Know this: the enemy of your soul wants to draw you away from the Savior of your soul. But he can’t have you, because you belong to Christ. Whenever you feel tempted or under attack, James 4:7 tells us how to respond: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Then join all those who gave unending praise to the Lord when the seventh trumpet was sounded!
Poem
Measuring
Measure the temple
Measure the walls
Measure the altar
Measure the stalls
Measure the people
Who’ve gathered in praise
Measure intention
Measure hands raised
Measure the olive tree
How wide its girth
Measure the lampstands
Which shine forth on earth
Two Witnesses speaking
Measure the days
Measure the earthquake
The seismograph waves
Measure the myst’ry
Of death and of life
Measure the vision
Full warning of strife
Measure the decibels
Of trumpet sound
Measure your faithfulness
Fall to the ground
