“THE 7 th ANGEL SOUNDED HIS TRUMPET AND THERE WERE LOUD VOICES IN HEAVEN…”

To Understand Chapter 11 – WE MUST REMEMBER… WE ARE STILL IN THE “TRUMPET VISIONS!” * Chapters 8 – 9 Trumpets 1-6 *I believe the Trumpets speak to the “very end times” *I believe the 1 st 5 Trumpets have already blown in our lifetime. *I believe they make up 3 major world events that have already happened and were identified “by name” in Revelation.

*I believe that the 7 th Trumpet is clearly identified with the “rapture” by scripture itself! Rev. 10:7 “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished…” 1 Corinthians 15: Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

CHAPTER 10 –11:14… falls between the end of the 6 th Trumpet and the blowing of the 7 th Trumpet in 11:15. We will START in Chapter 11 today – but to understand it, we must review what we have learned in Chapter 10: *The Mighty Angel – the same as in Daniel *The Little Scroll – the same as in Ezekiel 2-3 *One foot on the sea/land – “No more delay!” – Matthew 24:14 “And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the earth and then the end will come.”

IN CHAPTER 11 THE SAME MIGHTY ANGEL OF CHAPTER 10 IS REVEALING EVENTS TO JOHN Chapter 11 is: *Intriguing *Controversial *Complex (but not for YOU!) LET’S READ CHAPTER 11:1-10

THE MAIN STORY LINE OF CHAPTER The Holy City (Jerusalem) will be “trampled” by Gentiles for 3 1/2 years. This corresponds exactly with Daniel 7:25-27, Daniel 8:11-12, Daniel 9:26-27 – The Anti Christ will rule from here. Dan 9: The people of the ruler who will come - will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

THE MAIN STORY LINE OF CHAPTER “TWO WITNESSES” from the Lord – will preach during this 3 ½ years and will infuriate the ANTI-CHRIST. (He is the “beast” that comes from the “Abyss” {signifying the demonic nature of his existence and power} and he will show his rage towards these two “witnesses” at the 3 ½ year mark of his rule! 3. These two witnesses will be “killed” (silenced, stopped, put- down). This decree of “killing” them will come from the anti- Christ himself, out of Jerusalem. (Again… both of the above exactly correspond to Daniel 7:25) THE MAIN QUESTION ASKED BY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS CHAPTER IS - WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESS?

ONE POPULAR INTERPRETATION SAYS – the witnesses are… Two literal men. They are usually identified with Moses and Elijah returning to earth during this time to fulfill this scripture because of the description of “shutting up the sky” and “turning water to blood”. However – nowhere in chapter 11 are the two witnesses called “men”. V.6 in N.I.V. – “men” not in the original Greek ANYWHERE in chapter 10. (they, them –but not “men”) Not only is there no need to take these as literal men – but the Chapter itself EMPHATICALLY TELLS US WHO THE TWO WITNESSES ARE - AGAIN…THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS!

LOOK CLOSELY AT CHAPTER 11 VERSE 4 – “These (two witnesses) ARE the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” 1. We will LET THE BIBLE INTREPRET THE BIBLE and… 2. Take into consideration that much of Revelation was “coded” for the early Christians of the 1 st century back to the Old Testament for the “keys of interpretation”! (Remember the Mighty Angel, The Little Scroll, Trampling the Holy City for 3 ½ years, etc.) SO … WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES?

THE LAMPSTAND is interpreted in Revelation Chapter 1:20! “…and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” This is the ONLY place in the Bible where the 7-fold lampstand (That was in the Temple for centuries!) is defined…Like all of the Old Testament Temple appointments, the lampstand pointed to a future fulfillment through Jesus Christ! THE LAMPSTAND is the CHURCH! – It cannot be any plainer! The early Christians would have understood that THEY were the beginning of the CHURCH! THEY were the fulfillment of the 7 fold lampstand in the TEMPLE!

The Olive Tree – Throughout the Old Testament the olive tree is used to signify…ISRAEL! (Jeremiah 11:16) “The Lord has called you (Israel) a thriving olive tree…” BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WOULD HAVE KNOWN – from this “key” or “clue” that there was only ONE place in ALL THE BIBLE…where the olive tree and the lampstand were mentioned TOGETHER…and, as WITNESSES! TURN TO ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 4 NOW…TURN TO ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 4…

Revelation Chapter 11 and Zechariah Chapter 4 observations. 1. Two witnesses in both – “who stand before the Lord of the earth” 2. In Revelation these “two” witnesses are called the “two” olive trees and the “two” lampstands. How can TWO witnesses be FOUR? They are NOT. This is a literary way of saying the TWO are really one and the same! ISRAEL (the Nation and the Remnant) and the CHURCH! ( EPHESIANS 3:4-next page) 3. Zechariah also contains a clear prophecy of Jesus - ( by My Spirit, the Capstone, God Bless it!) 4. Zechariah also contains a clear prophecy of the CHURCH – born because of Jesus and through His Spirit!

NOW CONSIDER THIS! Eph 3:4-6 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. TO BE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN…