Set to dark modeSet to dark modeRevelation 11 Bible Commentary
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Continuing in the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, the Gentiles are given to dominate the court outside the temple for the same length of time that two witnesses are given authority to prophesy. The witnesses are also given special powers to protect themselves with fire so that they cannot be harmed during their time of prophesying.
The witnesses’ time of prophesying has ended and the beast comes out of the abyss and kills them. The people have not repented and rejoice that the witnesses have died.
The witnesses who were killed by the beast are revived and brought up into heaven. And the second woe, an earthquake that kills seven thousand people, causes those who remain to give glory to God.
The seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Voices from heaven proclaim that the kingdom of God is here. The elders give thanks to God and remember His deeds, that it is time for the dead to be judged and the bond-servants to be rewarded. Finally, the temple of God in heaven opens and the ark of His covenant is revealed.
The past few chapters have been leading up to the moment at the end of this chapter: when the seventh and final angel will sound his trumpet and the kingdom of God will be ushered in with the ark of the covenant in heaven. But before that can happen, there is still more work to be done.
First, God gives instructions to measure the temple and to leave the court for the Gentiles. During the same time that the Gentiles will have permission to dominate the court, God has appointed two witnesses to prophesy. He also gives them the power to bring plague. But the people will not listen to the witnesses, and at the end of the forty-two months allotted them, the beast comes out of the abyss and kills the witnesses.
The people rejoice over the dead bodies of the witnesses in the street for three-and-a-half days before God revives the witnesses and brings them up to heaven. But after God has taken care of his witnesses, he brings destruction with the second woe: an earthquake that kills seven thousand people and causes those who remain, and had previously been hard-hearted, to recognize God for who He is and give Him glory. With that, the seventh angel finally sounds his trumpet. Voices from heaven announce that the kingdom of God is here. As the temple in heaven is opened, a great storm and earthquake happen on earth as the ark of the covenant is revealed.
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