Monday - Revelation 11 - The Time of the Dead

 

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N Revelation 11 we finally get to the 7^th trumpet (which is the 3^rd "Woe").  This event is so severe & intense that the 24 elders refer to it as "the time of the dead" (vs. 18). Now, while it is certainly going to be a time of many deaths, more specifically it is a time when God will finally deal with the spiritually dead population of the world. Our world has been dominated by an unregenerate population since the days of Babel. The end of the Tribulation period will mark the final eradication of that condition.

 

John is given a measuring rod. He is then commanded to measure the temple of God. The temple that he was supposed to measure was evidently the Tribulation temple; the one defiled by the antichrist (2^nd Thessalonians 2:3-4). And just like with a person purchasing a piece of real estate, John was commissioned to come up with a property description for the temple. The publishing of this pending transaction will be placed in the able hands of two unnamed witnesses, whose power will resemble the powers that was exercised by Moses & Elijah in days of old (vs. 5-6). Maybe these 2 guys will actually be Moses & Elijah. After all, these were the two men who appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:27-30), & it was indeed prophesied that Elijah would return in the last days (Malachi 4:5). The men will preach God's truth, proclaiming wrath & judging the earth for 3½ years (vs. 3) until the antichrist finally kills them in Jerusalem (vs. 7-8). But they will also be resurrected & received into heaven (vs. 11-12).