Revelation 11:4-19

Throne Section-The Two Witnesses

4 The two olive trees remind us of Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel (Zech. 3-4), who witnessed for Jehovah in a former apostasy.

The ministry of the two witnesses has much in common with the ministry of Elijah. Both cause a great drought for three and a half years (1Ki_17:1). Both kill their enemies by miraculous fire. The prophet Malachi predicts this ministry (Rev_4:5) "Lo! I send you Elijah the prophet before the great and fearful day of Jehovah comes." John the baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but they did not receive him (Mat_17:10-13; Mat_11:14; Luk_1:17), hence he is still to come as was foretold. As he did not die, but was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind (2Ki_2:11), and as he appeared with Moses on the Mount, speaking of the Lord's exodus which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (Luk_9:30-31), he would make an excellent witness to the Lord's life and death. Some think that Moses, because his place of burial is unknown (cf. Jud_1:9) and because he, too, appeared on the mount, is the other witness. Others prefer Enoch

(Gen_5:24).

6 These judgments are just and salutary, for men reject the testimony to the blood of Christ and the blessing that it brings. They are taught that their souls depend upon the abiding efficacy of His death.

7 Just as the two witnesses will be invulnerable until their testimony is complete, so it is with every slave who is doing God's will. Nothing in heaven or on earth can hinder the witness which has God back of it. And when it is finished the enemies of God will be confounded even in their death.

11 The short space of time-three and a half days-allowed for the news of the death of the two witnesses to travel over the earth, besides giving time for them to celebrate and send gifts, would seem to be a great difficulty to early students of this prophecy. It would take months and years to do this a century ago. Yet we have come to a time when this would be a matter of course. Everything will move with incredible swiftness when the judgments of God are in the earth. Let us not doubt God or judge His Word by our own ignorance.

Throne Section-The Kingdom Comes

13 This earthquake, coming so near the end of the judgment period, may be a precursor of the one under the seventh bowl (Rev_16:18). It seems to affect Jerusalem principally-the city in which the two witnesses testify and where they will be killed.

15 The details of the events under the seventh trumpet are not given here, but in connection with the Temple Section. That there is some terrible infliction is certain, for it is the worst of the woes. We suggest that it includes the bowls (Rev_15:7) and the battle of the great day when the armies of the entire earth are arrayed against Jerusalem and are slain by the Rider on the White Horse (Rev_19:11-17). It certainly ends with His coming in glory and taking over the governments of earth.

15 This completes the Throne Section. Christ is King! He reigns! This brings us to the era of the resurrection and the thousand years, which is detailed in the early part of the twentieth chapter.

18 The "judgment of the dead" here refers to the former resurrection and the awards given to those who have lost their lives for His sake. It corresponds with the word "judgment is granted them'. (Rev_20:4).

THE TEMPLE SECTION

CHRIST AS PRIEST

The "opening" of the temple (Rev_4:1 note), giving a view of the covenant, is the key to the first division of the Temple Section (Rev_11:19 Rev_15:4). The covenant and the divine ritual are the exclusive prerogatives of one nation, Israel (Rom_9:4, etc.). Jehovah remembers His covenant with them, to fulfill it. In awful contrast with this is the opening of the second division of the Temple Section (Rev_15:5). There the tabernacle of the testimony is opened and the law is exposed. The first division is filled with blessing for the faithful In Israel, the second with terrible judgments for those of them who apostatize. This division centers around the faithful city Jerusalem; the next division is much concerned with unfaithful Babylon. This section gives us the religious aspect of judgment, as viewed from the standpoint of the temple. Just as the books of Kings and Chronicles present