Revelation 11:13-19

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.

Just as the two are ascended into heaven the earth breaks apart there in Jerusalem and a tenth of the city is destroyed and 7,000 people are killed. But notice that all who survive give glory to God. Before we have seen the people go back to their evil ways and not repent. Now, we see people giving glory to God. This is likely a reference to the conversion of Israel. The Jews in Jerusalem are giving glory to God.

Now, the seventh trumpet can sound.

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.

Every Sunday we recite the Lord’s Prayer and in that prayer we say, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That day has come here in Revelation. Remember that this seventh trumpet is leading to seven bowls of judgment and that seventh bowl is the end. When that seventh trumpet sounds, we are told that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and our Savior. He will reign for ever and ever.

Again we see the elders falling on their faces and worshipping and their praise is recorded. Psalms 2 is realized here in verse 18 with the rule of God over this world. The nations were angry but will now broken to pieces. The time has come for judging the dead, rewarding the saints and destroying the earth.

Then the temple in heaven is open. Because of the redemptive work of Christ, the ark is no longer only accessible by the high priest but by whosoever believes in Him. God is faithful to open up His temple of grace and mercy and to show judgment and wrath to those who oppose Him.

Revelation 11:7-12

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.

Once the two witnesses have finished their prophesying and testifying of the living God and salvation in Jesus, they will be attacked by the beast. He will make war against them until he can murder them. The abyss is the realm of the demonic, the bottomless pit. There are 36 references to the beast in Revelation and a more graphic picture is provided in chapter 13. John’s describes him as the Antichrist and Paul refers to him as the lawless one.

He will bind the world together and rule it as a fake savior. The Bible makes it clear that He is Satan possessed and demonically controlled. Here he murders God’s witnesses and then disrespects them by making a spectacle of them by leaving their dead bodies out for the whole world to see. The phrase “every people, tribe, language, and nation” is used again. I am sure that he intends to show the world that he has more power than they have since I would guess that he could do very little with regard to the drought, waters of blood, and droughts.

Sodom, represents an abominable, immoral, and wicked city. Egypt, symbolizes slavery, oppression, suffering, and idolatrous nation. The idea is that Jerusalem will be not better in this day than Sodom or Egypt was in their worst days. Any Jew hearing this would be shocked, angered, and deeply saddened.

Here we see the only mention of rejoicing in the world in the book o Revelation. The people hated and despised the witnesses so much that their killing is cause for celebration. They party like its 1999. They send each other gifts like its Christmas or Easter. Interesting isn’t it. The two holidays that seem to involve gift giving are Christian in nature. Here the world celebrates giving gifts to one another at the death of the witnesses to Christ. We should be reminded of Jesus’ words that since the world hated Him, it will hate us also.

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.

Paul writes in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Here we see the breath of life restored for these witnesses and all who see it are terrified. The 3 ½ days reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is miraculous by any account. They are resurrected and ascend into heaven while their enemies watch and can do nothing.

Revelation 11:3-6 - Two Witnesses

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.

As if there isn’t enough debate over different aspects of Revelation, there is much debate over the identity of these two witnesses. Many suggestions are given:

Old Testament and New Testament
Elijah and Enoch
Elijah and Moses
Zerubbabel and Joshua (two lampstands in Zechariah 4)
James and John
Peter and Paul
Law and Prophets
Israel and the Church

The general consensus is that they are Elijah and Moses. In Matthew 17 we are told of Jesus being transfigured and meeting with Moses and Elijah. Most believe these two are the spirits of these two. However, as J. Vernon McGee says, “If the identity of these two was essential for the understanding of this book, I think there would have been some indication given about their persons.” It is just as possible that these two are yet unnamed people who have yet to live.

These two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is about 3 ½ years. One question is whether it is the first 3 ½ or the latter. Their appearance in sackcloth indicates that they are humble, grieved, in mourning, and seeking repentance. From olive trees come olive oil and that oil is used in lamps to provide light. One commentary therefore surmises that these two have come as bearers of the divine light of God.

For a time, if anyone seeks to harm them they are burnt up by fire. The Words the witnesses speak burn their souls and it kills them. It does not rain for 3 ½ years while they prophesy. This has a lot of similarity to Elijah. Remember his showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal? He asked God to bring fire down on the alter that he had soaked with water three times and it burnt up both alters. Following that there was rain that ended the 3 ½ year drought.

Their mission also has the same feel as the mission of Moses to Pharaoh. There were plagues upon plagues until the mission was finished. Once it was finished the plagues stopped. These two witnesses can turn water into blood and cause plagues until their time and mission is completed. They can do this “as often as they want”. God trusts these faithful servants with this power. He can’t trust you or I with this kind of power. Some of us can’t even be trusted with too much money or authority. Most of us can’t be trusted with power. We will abuse it. Yet these two are trusted with a great power.

The Baptist missionary to China, Lottie Moon, said, “I have a firm conviction that I am immortal ‘til my work is done.” Jim Elliott had the same conviction and in a letter to his parents, he wrote: “Remember you are immortal until your work is done. But don’t let the sands of time get into the eyes of your vision to reach those who still sit in darkness. They simply must hear.” J. Vernon McGee also refers to this as he comments about his doubts as to whether he would finish the “Thru the Bible” series since he was battling cancer and other health problems. He says, “that all of God’s men are immortal until God is through with them is a wonderful, comforting thought for today.” We should take hope in this and realize that God has a work for us to do and He will give us the time to do it.

Revelation 11:1-2

In chapter 11, we continue to be in this interlude where John is describing additional things that are happening. The seven seals are broken and six trumpets have sounded. The seventh is about to sound. Inside of those cataclysmic events we find John describing these other events.

There have been many martyrs that have died for their faith in God. We described Polycarp when we were studying chapters 2 and 3. Jim Elliot is a more current well-know missionary who was killed and the movie End of the Spear is a great movie describing his death and the efforts of his wife and son to continue to reach the Auca tribe in Ecuador.

Here in chapter 11 we will read about the two most famous martyrs who have yet to live.

Chapter 11 begins:

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.

Other versions indicate that he is to measure the temple and count the those who worship there. He is told to exclude the outer court. The purpose seems to be so he can verify it is the temple and qualify it. Perhaps a demonstration to put his hands on the fact that the temple will be rebuilt. It is interesting to read Ezekiel 40-42 and see how he is taken by a vision to a mountain to watch someone measure the temple. John is told not to measure the outer court. Luke 21:24b records Jesus saying “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” This term Gentiles is intended to represent those who do not know God.

There are three questions that present themselves: What is the temple of God or His sanctuary? What is the holy city? And how are we to understand the 42 months?

We can literally interpret 42 months as 3 ½ years. This would mean that this is the mid-point of Daniel’s last week in his 70 weeks. It can just as well be interpreted to mean a short period of time. Most every one interprets the holy city to be Jerusalem. One interprets it to be the church and another interpreted it to be the heavenly Jerusalem.

The more difficult question is what is meant by the temple of God. Historically, two temples have been built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The first was built by King Soloman, but it was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The second was built by Zerubbabel and then enlarged by Herod the Great only to be destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. This second destruction fulfilled Jesus’ prophesy that the Temple would be destroyed and no stone left unturned. When the Romans destroyed it to put down the Hebrew rebellion, they burned it with such a hot fire that the gold they left inside it melted and went between cracks of rocks. The people came to the site afterward and picked up every stone to inspect it to see if there was gold they could take.

If we tie Daniel’s writings into these, then the Antichrist is to have started developing a world order and system and he makes peace with Israel. As a symbol of this he rebuilds their temple. This may be the confirmation to John to show that the temple is rebuilt.

Spiritually, we are told the by the Word of God that our bodies are the temple of God. Remember Jesus answering the Jews (Jn 2:19-22) saying if they destroy the temple, which took 46 years to build, He would rebuild it in three days. His disciples remembered this after His resurrection and knew He was speaking about the body He was dwelling in.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” This indicates that the temple is us, and us collectively, as his church. Ephesians seems to confirm this in 2:19-22, “19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

The temple seems to be the place where God dwells, where He is present. Here in Revelation, it probably also refers to an actual building.

Revelation 10:8-11

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
This is the same voice that told him not to write down what the thunders said.

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

First, you’ve got to be willing to follow the voice of God anywhere to be able to approach an angel so large that it is robed in a cloud, has one foot on land and one on the sea, has a face like the sun, and has pillars of fire for legs, and ask for his little scroll. That takes guts and faith.

This is reminiscent of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 2:9 through 3:15, there is the story of Ezekiel being given a little scroll to eat and of him being sent to his people.

Ezekiel 2:9 – 3:15:

9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

1 And He said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to Me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”
…
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me.

Notice that the scroll to both is sweet as honey when eaten.

Psalms 119:103 - How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalms 19:9-11 - The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

While physical food keeps us alive, God's Word sustains us spiritually, which is why it tastes so good:

Psalms 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Jeremiah 15:16 - Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Deuteronomy 8:3 - So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

It is interesting that the "bread" God provided for Israel in the wilderness tasted like wafers made with honey:

Exodus 16:31 - And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

But, the Words are also bitter. Upon being bitter, John is told to prophesy to the “peoples, nations, languages, and kings”. John uses a similar description to all people on the earth five different times in his writing in Revelation. At other places, he uses the word tongues for languages and the word tribes for kings. (5:9-10, 7:9-10, 11:9-10, 14:6-7)

It is a bitter pill to swallow for John or Ezekiel or any prophet when they know the Words of God and they have to speak to their own people those Words of judgment. They are pained and sorrowed to have to accept that judgment is coming on their people and God is giving them responsibility to warn their brethren that judgment was coming, even though they will reject the message. They will be scorned and rejected for telling their own people the Words of the Living God, and it is bitter to them.

We face similar bitter trials. There are times when we must decide to not do something or to do something that causes us to possibly lose friends. There are times when we must hold a friend or family member accountable and they will reject us and may never talk to us again. It is a bitter thing at times to stand in complete faith on the Word of God. But that Word is sweet to our soul and it is the only truth that lives.

We enjoy the sweetness of the Words of Jesus when they ensure a life with God and He with us, that we can walk together forever. But we cringe at the bitterness of those Words when they affect our daily living, when we get convicted to change away from those things we want so we can walk as He is guiding us to walk.

Many people are interested in prophesy as contained in Revelation, but when they realize it might create demands on them personally, they lose interest. A Prussian minister, Dr. Gaebelein said, “a great many of the saints are more interested in Antichrist than they are in Christ”. We must stay focused on Christ in these words of Revelation and they are sweet to taste, but bitter to know the fullness thereof as it relates to these judgments and our call to change our life as He commands.

Revelation 10:5-7

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by Him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.”

It is odd to see an angel swearing an oath or promise to God. He announces in the most powerful way imaginable to the most powerful force existing that there will be no more delay. This is in answer to the cry of the Martyrs back in 6:10 upon the breaking of the 5th seal. When this last trumpet is sounded the fulfillment of establishing God’s restoration plan for the world and man as it was intended will be done.

What is the mystery of God? God revealed His mystery to the Church through Paul:

Colossians 1:24 - I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The following Old Testament passages show God's mystery declared by the prophets Moses and Isaiah:

Deuteronomy 32:43 - "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people."

Isaiah 11:10 - "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious."

Isaiah 42:1-6 - "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law." Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles...."

Isaiah 49:6-10 - "Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Do you remember the story from Jesus about the wedding or great banquet in Mark 22 or Luke 14? Here is Luke 14:16-23:

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”

God plans to reconcile the Jews and the Gentiles under the Messiah in an earthly kingdom. Whosoever, that is Jew or Gentile, who acknowledges that there is One true living God and His Son is Jesus their Savior will walk with Him!

We should be reminded of the Words of Jesus in John 12:27-32:

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

The voice that spoke as thunder to Jesus is most likely the same that is speaking to John here. We should also keep this declaration of what is to happen mindful as we continue to read in Revelation.

Revelation 10:1-4

We ended chapter 9 reading about how the people do not repent and continue to worship demons and idols. They do not repent of their murders, drugs, sexual immorality, or stealing.

Here in chapter 10 and part of chapter 11, we are in what many scholars refer to as an interlude. There are three interludes in Revelation. The first was in chapter 7. These are descriptions of other things he is allowed to see that are going on as he writes describing what he sees regarding the seals and the trumpets.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

There is disagreement among the Bible scholars as to who is this strong and powerful angel. Many believe it is Jesus and many believe it is “another mighty angel”. I lean to the literal meaning here, but either view can be defended.

This mighty angel is unlike any of the other angels that have been described. He bears the promise of God above his head to not destroy the earth by flood. He is huge in shear size. While it says specifically that it was a little scroll laying open in his hand, anything would have been little by comparison.

When he shouted a different voice sounded. A perfect voice of power. John has been told to write what he sees many times, but here is the only time he is told not to write. The voices of the seven thunders is interpreted as the voice of God. In Psalm 29, there are seven references to the voice of the Lord:

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.

God deliberately tells John when to write and when not to write.

Sin in the Church - Part I

1-2 I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn’t be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you’re so above it all that it doesn’t even faze you! Shouldn’t this break your hearts? Shouldn’t it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn’t this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?
- 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 (Message)

This passage of instruction by Paul is a very difficult passage to practice in the church. It takes guts. You must have leadership in the church willing to stand up to members and confront them about their personal lives. Today, this is simply not done. I contemplate that there are a variety of reasons:

1. It’s their life. Our society tells us that someone’s personal life is their own business. It is no one else’s right to interfere. Remember Bill Clinton and the intern? There were many arguments in my place of business between the older people and young people over this. The young insisted that his personal life had no bearing upon his work as POTUS and it was nobody’s business. This same society (who are now around 40 years old) tells Christians who lead and attend churches the same. Paul teaches here that a Christian living in purposeful sin should be confronted.  
2. Gossip. Everyone has been hurt by gossip. Churches are notorious for gossiping but not confronting. They run around behind the person who is living in sin and talk to everyone about them so they feel unwelcome and self-conscious and worse, friendless. This is not defended in Scripture anywhere. Paul teaches here a very different method.  
3. Happy. The world tells us it (whatever the person is doing) is okay as long as they are happy. If they are happy and living a successful life then who are we to take a position against them? If they were sad and miserable then we should help them, but they are happy, so we should let them live. The Bible does not tell us our goal is to live a happy life, but a sanctified one.  
4. Hypocrite. No one likes the idea of confronting a Christian brother or sister of a sin when they themselves are sinners. It seems like an undefendable position and they are very conscious of being named hypocrites for doing so. Yet, Paul is very clear that the confrontation must be done if we love the unrepentant sinner.

Paul is very clear about what to do and how to do it. Before we analyze that, we first must reflect on the situation. First, it is well known. The situation of sexual immorality is so well known that it has come to Paul’s attention. He isn’t there. There are no cell phones or any communication devices outside of someone delivering a letter or delivering the message personally. That takes time. So, Second, it’s been going on for a while. It’s been happening long enough that it has become known and someone thought that Paul should be aware, so they wrote a letter and sent it or took the message to him. They walked or rode a camel or horse, maybe took a boat. Remember, no cars, busses, trains, or even a bike. This took a while. Third, even those outside the church knew about it. If a son is laying with his father’s wife, whether the father is dead or not (this is unknown), you can be sure that the community is aware of it.

A key question is whether the man is unashamed. The insinuation is that he is not burdened by feelings of living wrong or guilt in his lifestyle. Otherwise, he would seek help or want to change his lifestyle and Paul would instead be writing on helping and encouraging the church in their extension of love to this brother who seeks repentance. This is clearly not the situation. Paul states that this sin is of such a variety that even the pagans, those outside the church, do not tolerate it. Yet, here is a man in the church who openly lives this way and apparently does so with little remorse.

My guess is that the man has justified it and seeks to justify it with all who he comes in contact. He is only protecting her or providing for her. My experience is that he also insinuates that the situation is someone else’s fault. If only the father wouldn’t have died or if the father wasn’t a good-for-nothing then he wouldn’t be having to take on his responsibility, etc. I’ve never seen another Christian living in sin who simply said, “Yes, I know it’s sin and I know I’m hurting others to get what I want.” There is always justification and it is always someone else who is partly to blame.

How quickly would this destroy the church or make it irrelevant? Matthew Henry comments, “It was told in all places, to their dishonour, and the reproach of Christians. And it was the more reproachful because it could not be denied. Note, the heinous sins of professed Christians are quickly noted and noised abroad. We should walk circumspectly, for many eyes are upon us, and many mouths will be opened against us if we fall into any scandalous practice.”

This is no time to celebrate the church's diversity.

Revelation 9:7-21

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

“Horses prepared for battle” tell us that these locusts are ready and prepared for this effort of war against God and man. It is difficult to tell if these are the size of locusts or larger. I assume they are small like locusts. His description is very detailed. The gold crown reference could indicate they have been given some power. The human face reference could indicate they are intelligent and are cunning and following a plan. The hair reference could mean they are attractive or can look attractive or alluring. The lion’s teeth reference could mean they are vicious in their bite when they attack. The iron breastplate reference could mean they are impenetrable, they can’t be crushed. The sound of the wings like thundering horses could mean they are intimidating when they come. The scorpion tail with its sting indicates it is torturous to endure and causes suffering.

We are reminded that they are only allowed five months to torture. We are further instructed that they are under an authority. The Hebrew word Abaddon is derived from a verb that means “to become lost”, “to perish”, or “to destroy, kill”. In Revelation 1:18 and 6:8, it refers to the grave. Job uses the word in 31:12 to imply an unquenchable appetite. If we put these together and apply it to a person, it is a person who has an unquenchable appetite to destroy to the grave, or something like that. Apollyon is the Greek counterpart to Abaddon. It is a proper name that has the connotation of “one who destroys”.

Charles Swindoll said, “As we study John’s vision and observe the armies of darkness battling in the future, we can better understand how similar spirits of wickedness try to torment us today” (Insights, 133). Be aware that you are opposed, as the disciples were, but when the power of God was with them and they walked in the name of Jesus, even the demons were subject to them. This should remind us to be careful in how we walk and to strive to walk in the Spirit of the living God.

12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
And as horrific as that has been, we are reminded that there are two more to come.

J. Boyd Nicholson said, “The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a message – and what a message! It is a living message from the living God for living people, just like us, for people with sins just like us, for people with sorrows and heartaches just like us. It is the only message one the face of the earth with concrete promises and absolute assurances of an eternal inheritance that will withstand the impact of death and the collapse of the universe.” (Uplook, 11)

This is especially true when this destruction comes to earth during this time of these seven trumpets.

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.

Many commentaries believe that these angels are demons because they are bound. These have been kept for this very purpose and this is their time. They will kill people. Their number is enormous, if we calculate what John writes it is 200 million. One-third of the population has already died in these trumpets. Now another third will die.

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

The breastplate description of red, blue, and yellow are compensatory to fire, smoke, and brimstone. These troops can kill from the front or behind and they attack. Some writers believe these are demons. Perhaps they are. They could just as well be men in modern equipment that John simply couldn’t describe. I am not sure if there is enough description here to know.

20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

“They did not repent” and “they did not stop worshipping demons and idols”. They continued murdering, magic arts, sexual immorality and stealing. These may be the saddest word description in the Bible.

Unbelievers often lament for God to do something. Here He has permitted the worst possible things imaginable to take place, yet they do not turn to Him. What people really want is for God to do what they want Him to do. They want Him to approve what they want to be approved. They want what they deem to be good to be what He approves as good. In other words, they want to be God. Even in the midst of all of this devastation and in the unlikely 50-50 chance of surviving, they do not turn to God and submit that He is the only power and the life – that there is no other but Him.

W.A. Criswell, a famous pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas for more than 50 years said, “One of the strangest things about human nature is that man has not changed because of punishment. … He may desist from evil because he is afraid, but his heart is still evil. He would do evil if he could get by with it. A man is really changed only by the Gospel of the grace of the Son of God.” (Sermons, 3:192)

Robert Mounce said, “Once the heart is set in its hostility toward God, not even the scourge of death will lead people to repentance.”

We all have a depraved human heart and it is only God, through His son Jesus, who rescues us.

Revelation 9:1-6

Chapter 8 ended with verse 8:13 saying "Woe, woe, Woe, to the inhabitants of the earth ...". The phrase “the inhabitants of the earth” or something equivalent to that is used 12 times in Revelation. This is a reference to those who live in rebellion and unbelief before the one true living God. They refuse to acknowledge that God exists.

Who opened the seven seals? Jesus as the Lamb of God did standing before the throne of God. In this seventh seal, these trumpets have sounded and with each trumpet a disaster with destruction that we have a hard time imagining. We have to remember who is in control. It is Jesus and His Father God. The seals weren’t broken except that Jesus breaks them. The trumpets aren’t sounded except that He allows them to sound. This is a necessary part of the restoration of the world to God.

The first four trumpets were destruction on the earth and this was followed with a warning that the next three “woes” are yet to come. These woes are going to be personal to “those who live on earth”.

Up to this moment, the physical and spiritual worlds have been kept separated from each other. Those on the earth, while enduring terrible events, have not seen the things of heaven. There is no indication that anyone on the earth has seen the four horsemen, the four angels, the trumpets, or the eagle. Now we will see as the spiritual world invades the physical world.

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.
The star referenced here is a person as it has personal pronouns applied to it. Isaiah describes him (14:12), “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!” He is cast from heaven and falls to the earth. He is given the key to the entrance to hell. Who gave him that key?

After the disciples returned from going in pairs to the cities around their countryside, they came back very excited describing how even the demons obeyed them in the name of Jesus. Jesus responded in Luke 10:18-19, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Satan is the snake and his demons are the scorpions, as we will soon see. Jesus refers here that He alone gave the disciples power over them and He maintains that power from the throne of God in these judgments.

2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

What did we just read from Luke. They were not harmed and the demons were subject to them. Yet Jesus specifically told them to not rejoice in that, but that their names are written in heaven. Nothing out weighs the gift of being able to dwell with God the Father. Even physical protection from demons is irrelevant to the reward of being in God’s presence. Who told these locusts, these demons from hell, that they could not touch those who have been sealed?

5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

The eighth plague on Egypt was locusts (Ex 10). They ate every green thing, but did not harm a person. Joel describes a great locust invasion in chapters 1 and 2 and how terrible it is to the people. He calls for repentance and lamentation and that everyone turns to the Lord for blessing from His hand.

The locusts are given limitations. They can torture but not kill and they can only do this for five months. Interestingly, the typical life span of a locust is five months. The torture will be great and people will seek death but not find it. People run from death and do many things to delay it and keep it from them. Yet in this time, they will seek it and long for it because of the agonizing torture stings but will not find it.

John MacArthur describes it as follows:

“So intense will be the torment inflicted on unbelievers that in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. All hope is gone; there will be no tomorrow. The earth people have loved and worshiped will have been utterly devastated, the land ravaged by earthquakes, fires and volcanoes, the sea filled with putrefying bodies of billions of dead creatures, much of the fresh water supply turned into bitter poison, the atmosphere polluted with gases and showers of heavenly debris. Then, worst of all, will come foul smoke from the pit of hell as the demons are released to spiritually and physically torment wicked people. The dream of a worldwide utopia … will have died. … People will seek relief in death – only to find that death has taken a holiday. There will be no escape from the agony inflicted by the demons, no escape from divine judgment.”

Revelation 8:6-13

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
Many commentaries go to great lengths to validate how each apocalyptic event described could realistically happen or in the view of some, has already happened. I’m not going to go to through any elaborate effort to describe them except as is obvious. It is gruesome in its own wording.

7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

In Matthew 6:10 Jesus was teaching us how to pray saying, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That prayer is once more being answered in these judgments. In the first six seals we saw a fourth of the world being destroyed. Now we’ll see a third of what’s left being destroyed. The word third occurs 13 times in this chapter.

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The obvious conclusion is a large meteor or something like that falling into the sea. It is unclear if the term “sea” means all the oceans or a particular sea such as the Mediterranean.  The most common interpretation is that all of these relate globally.  All man is affected.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

Oddly enough, there are sources that report that the literal translation of the word “chernobyl” is “wormwood”. This would seem to give some credence to the idea that these are already happening, or maybe it’s coincidence. However, my investigation indicates that if a Ukrainian speaker wants to refer to mugwort, he’ll say "chornobyl" but if he wants to refer to wormwood, he’ll say "polyn." Maybe it’s close enough, that is a question for each of us to interpret.

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

The judgments not only are disasters here on the earth, but affect the sun, moon, and stars as well. Unless it is a result of extreme cloud cover over the earth. Either way, the earth would undoubtedly get a lot colder.

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

As if the preceding trumpets weren’t disastrous enough, an eagle flies declaring the peril that is to come. And yet, through all of that, there are still those who will not believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the one true living God.

Revelation 8:1-5

Chapter 7 is an interlude between the 6th seal and the 7th seal. This is considered to be the middle of this Great Tribulation. In Daniel’s 70 weeks, this is 3 ½ years into the last week or 7 years according to most commentaries.

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

There are other references for times of silence before the Lord.

“The Lord is in His holy temple; let everyone on earth be silent in His presence.” – Habakkuk 2:20

“Be silent in the presence of the Lord God, for the Day of the Lord is near.” – Zephaniah 1:7

“Let all people be silent before the Lord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.” – Zephaniah 2:13

The reference to half an hour can literally mean half an hour but it is generally interpreted to mean “for a time”. I associate this time to a time similar to when I was raising my sons. When they had purposely disobeyed and destroyed something I would order them to their room and then tell them I’d be there in a few minutes. During that time they would go to their room in fear of the discipline to come and I would make sure to calm down from my anger so I wouldn’t actually destroy them like I felt like doing. But for a few minutes there was silence and a lot of tension with regards to the coming confrontation.

I think this moment of silence is a stunning time.  Up to this point there has been much worship with song where thousands upon thousands were making a joyful noise.  Now, there is a moment of silence.  I think it is a moment of awe and reverence for the power of God that is about to be used.

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Do you remember the prayers of the saints? In Rev 5:8 the 24 elders had bowls of incense which was the prayers of the saints. No one should ever under estimate the power of prayer.

“It’s a good fall when a man falls on his knees.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth.” – Marvin J. Newell

“Prayer is not getting man’s will done in heaven, but getting God’s will done on earth. It is not overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold of God’s willingness.” – Richard Trench

“When we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon educations, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon God, we get what God can do.” – A.C. Dixon

“Prayer releases the grip of Satan’s power; prayerlessness increases it. That is why prayer is so exhausting and so vital.” – Alan Redpath

“No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” – Guy King

“God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.” – John Wesley

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” – Oswald Chambers

David Platt notes some aspects of the spiritual conflict we are to engage.

1. Our battle is fierce! – There are demons who are fighting you and want to destroy you.  
2. Our prayers are effective! – Our cries go up and His kingdom comes down.  
3. Our God is faithful! – He will demonstrate His power, vindicate His people, extend His mercy, and uphold His justice. (“Life of the Christian”)

Revelation - The Rapture

Revelation 8 begins the most intense and destructive written text describing God’s effort to restore Israel to repentance and salvation through Jesus the Messiah and prepare the world for His 2nd coming. As destructive as the language and descriptions in chapter 6 are with the first six seals being broken, the breaking of the seventh seal starts many more judgments. The interlude in chapter 7 causes us to have to consider, what happens to the church?

Therefore, we must discuss The Rapture.

Merriam-Webster defines rapture. 1 : an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion. 2a : a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion. 2b : a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things.

The Rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgement to be poured out on the earth during this tribulation period.

A few facts to consider:

1. The church is discussed in Revelation chapters 1-3, but not again until 22.  
2. Christ tells the church of Philadelphia in Rev 3:10 that they will be kept from “the hour of trial”.  
3. No O.T. passage on the Tribulation mentions the church.  
4. No N.T. passage on the Tribulation mentions the church.  
5. The godly remnant of the church in the Tribulation is pictured as Israelites.

If this happens, when will it happen? This is the subject of much debate. There are people who believe it happens before the Tribulation, pretribulation, others who believe it happens in the middle, midtribulation, and others who believe it happens at the end simultaneously with the 2nd Coming of Christ, posttribulation.

Most Protestants believe in pretribulation and it is because of Paul’s writing in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians.

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. – 1 Corinthians 15:22-24

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Everyone will form their own conclusions regarding these texts. It is somewhat unnerving that there is no mention in Revelation specifically about this event, although some ties can be made to the times when there are so many in heaven worshipping that John can’t perceive the number. Their appearance might be a tie to such an event as The Rapture. The Spirit will reveal to each as they are able to interpret and receive.  If there is a rapture, I can only hope it is before the tribulation.  It is not easy to read of such destruction and know you or your children might have to try to survive in it.

Richard Feynman of the California Institute of Technology said this about quantum mechanics, “I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics … In fact, it is often stated that of all the theories proposed in this century, the silliest is quantum theory. Some say that the only thing that quantum theory has going for it, in fact, is that it is unquestionably correct.”

This can sum up my writing regarding The Rapture as well.