2. Introduction: When John ate the little scroll revealing the details of what was going to happen next in these days of tribulation upon the earth, it was at first sweet but then bitter. The next three things we see happen, virtually simultaneously, begin as sweet. Sadly, each one turns exceedingly bitter.

5. The Rebuilding of the Temple The Ministry of the Two Witnesses The Beginning of the Triumph of the Kingdom of God Let´s look at these, one at a time.

6. The Rebuilding of the Temple The Ministry of the Two Witnesses The Beginning of the Triumph of the Kingdom of God Let´s look at these, one at a time.

7. The Rebuilding of the Temple The Ministry of the Two Witnesses The Beginning of the Triumph of the Kingdom of God Let´s look at these, one at a time.

8. The Rebuilding of the Temple The Ministry of the Two Witnesses The Beginning of the Triumph of the Kingdom of God Let´s look at these, one at a time.

9. I.THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

10. Revelation 11:1–2 1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

11. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

12. The temple of God in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. It has never been rebuilt. However, Scripture speaks of an operational temple during the end times.

15. Daniel 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

16. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

17. As we come to the midpoint of the seven year tribulation, we discover that the temple is already built, and people are worshipping there. – The building of the temple could begin before the rapture. – At the latest, the temple will be rebuilt early in the tribulation.

18. As we come to the midpoint of the seven year tribulation, we discover that the temple is already built, and people are worshipping there. – The building of the temple could begin before the rapture. – At the latest, the temple will be rebuilt early in the tribulation.

19. As we come to the midpoint of the seven year tribulation, we discover that the temple is already built, and people are worshipping there. – The building of the temple could begin before the rapture. – At the latest, the temple will be rebuilt early in the tribulation.

20. As we come to the midpoint of the seven year tribulation, we discover that the temple is already built, and people are worshipping there. – The building of the temple could begin before the rapture. – At the latest, the temple will be rebuilt early in the tribulation.

21. The rebuilding of the temple may well be connected to the war of Gog and Magog. – Some Bible students believe the presence of the temple or its rebuilding will start the war. – Some Bible students believe the rebuilding will be the result of the Jews response to God's miraculous deliverance of their people in the war with Gog.

22. The rebuilding of the temple may well be connected to the war of Gog and Magog. – Some Bible students believe the presence of the temple or its rebuilding will start the war. – Some Bible students believe the rebuilding will be the result of the Jews response to God's miraculous deliverance of their people in the war with Gog.

23. The rebuilding of the temple may well be connected to the war of Gog and Magog. – Some Bible students believe the presence of the temple or its rebuilding will start the war. – Some Bible students believe the rebuilding will be the result of the Jews response to God's miraculous deliverance of their people in the war with Gog.

24. The rebuilding of the temple may well be connected to the war of Gog and Magog. – Some Bible students believe the presence of the temple or its rebuilding will start the war. – Some Bible students believe the rebuilding will be the result of the Jews response to God's miraculous deliverance of their people in the war with Gog.

25. John is told not to measure the court outside the temple proper (which would be the Court of Israel) because the Gentiles, not Jews, are controlling the holy city of Jerusalem for forty-two months. How long is that? 3 1/2 years, one-half of the tribulation period! Apparently, Jews have been controlling the temple and Jerusalem from the time the temple was completed until this point at the middle of the tribulation. Now Gentiles will control it until the end.

30. Sweet – The temple is rebuilt. Bitter – Gentiles take control.

31. Sweet – The temple is rebuilt. Bitter – Gentiles take control.

32. Sweet – The temple is rebuilt. Bitter – Gentiles take control.

33. II.THE MINISTRY OF THE TWO WITNESSES

34. Revelation 11:3–6 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

35. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

36. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

37. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

38. 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

39. Who are the two witnesses? – They are men (cannot be angels because they die). – They are prophets who will declare God´s Word 1,260 days. How long is that? 3½ years! – They are the two olive trees and two lampstands that are beside the God of the earth? What does this mean?

40. Who are the two witnesses? – They are men (cannot be angels because they die). – They are prophets who will declare God´s Word 1,260 days. How long is that? 3½ years! – They are the two olive trees and two lampstands that are beside the God of the earth? What does this mean?

41. Who are the two witnesses? – They are men (cannot be angels because they die). – They are prophets who will declare God´s Word 1,260 days. How long is that? 3½ years! – They are the two olive trees and two lampstands that are beside the God of the earth? What does this mean?

42. Who are the two witnesses? – They are men (cannot be angels because they die). – They are prophets who will declare God´s Word 1,260 days. How long is that? 3½ years! – They are the two olive trees and two lampstands that are beside the God of the earth? What does this mean?

43. Who are the two witnesses? – They are men (cannot be angels because they die). – They are prophets who will declare God´s Word 1,260 days. How long is that? 3½ years! – They are the two olive trees and two lampstands that are beside the God of the earth? What does this mean?

44. Let´s search on “two olive trees.” Surprise! We get a hit on Zechariah 4. The whole chapter is about them. An angel shows Zechariah two golden lampstands in heaven whose flames are fueled by oil that drips continually from two olive trees, so that the flame never goes out. The central message is

46. Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the L ORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the L ORD of hosts.

47. The oil pictures the Holy Spirit. God was saying that Zerubbabel would complete the building of the second temple not by his or the nation´s might and power but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The chapter ends with this startling statement that is most pertinent for our examination of Rev. 11.

48. The oil pictures the Holy Spirit. God was saying that Zerubbabel would complete the building of the second temple not by his or the nation´s might and power but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The chapter ends with this startling statement that is most pertinent for our examination of Rev. 11.

49. Zechariah 4:14 … “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” Put these together.

50. The two witnesses are two men, prophets of God, who once stood beside God in Heaven and who, being filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, shall come to earth and declare the Word of the Lord during the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation.

56. What do they do? – Prophesy – tell God´s Word – This has to include the gospel. (These two are probably the first to proclaim the gospel on the earth after all believers are raptured away, even before the 144,000. In fact, they may well be the instruments through which the 144,000 Jews hear the gospel and are saved.)

57. What do they do? – Prophesy – tell God´s Word – This has to include the gospel. (These two are probably the first to proclaim the gospel on the earth after all believers are raptured away, even before the 144,000. In fact, they may well be the instruments through which the 144,000 Jews hear the gospel and are saved.)

58. What do they do? – Prophesy – tell God´s Word – This has to include the gospel. (These two are probably the first to proclaim the gospel on the earth after all believers are raptured away, even before the 144,000. In fact, they may well be the instruments through which the 144,000 Jews hear the gospel and are saved.)

59. If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth. They have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

60. If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth. They have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

61. If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth. They have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

62. If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth. They have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

63. Do we know their identity? No. We are not told. My guess: Enoch and Elijah - because they are the only prophets who did not die, but were taken to heaven alive. Yet Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” But, who they are is not important, or it would be plain!

64. Do we know their identity? No. We are not told. My guess: Enoch and Elijah - because they are the only prophets who did not die, but were taken to heaven alive. Yet Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” But, who they are is not important, or it would be plain!

65. Do we know their identity? No. We are not told. My guess: Enoch and Elijah - because they are the only prophets who did not die, but were taken to heaven alive. Yet Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” But, who they are is not important, or it would be plain!

66. Do we know their identity? No. We are not told. My guess: Enoch and Elijah - because they are the only prophets who did not die, but were taken to heaven alive. Yet Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” But, who they are is not important, or it would be plain!

67. What happens to them?

68. Revelation 11:7–14 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

69. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

70. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

71. When their ministry is complete at the midpoint of the tribulation, God allows the beast from the abyss, probably Abaddon mentioned in 9:11, to kill them in Jerusalem. Wicked, lost people abandon all decency and insist that their bodies be left on the streets and they celebrate the destruction of those who told them the way to God´s salvation in a kind of satanic Christmas.

75. After their bodies lay decaying in the street for 3 ½ days, God resurrected them and gave them their own rapture, and they ascended through the clouds to heaven. As they went up with everyone watching, an earthquake struck the holy city and 7,000 people died. Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

76. After their bodies lay decaying in the street for 3 ½ days, God resurrected them and gave them their own rapture, and they ascended through the clouds to heaven. As they went up with everyone watching, an earthquake struck the holy city and 7,000 people died. Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

77. After their bodies lay decaying in the street for 3 ½ days, God resurrected them and gave them their own rapture, and they ascended through the clouds to heaven. As they went up with everyone watching, an earthquake struck the holy city and 7,000 people died. Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

78. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

79. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

80. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

81. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

82. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

83. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

84. Sweet – The two witnesses proclaim the gospel. Bitter – Many oppose them. Sweet – Great multitude saved. Bitter – Witnesses killed. Sweet – Witnesses resurrected. Bitter – More unbelievers die.

85. III.THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

86. Revelation 11:15–19 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

87. “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

88. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

89. 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

90. Sweet – God establishes His reign upon the earth. Bitter – His wrath has come.

91. Sweet – God establishes His reign upon the earth. Bitter – His wrath has come.

92. Sweet – God establishes His reign upon the earth. Bitter – His wrath has come.

93. (The conclusions I am about to share with you concerning the seventh trumpet and the timeline of the rest of the Book of Revelation comes from reading the rest of the book, studying THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, and attempting to synchronize the events foretold. This is really impossible to do as you read and study Revelation the first time through. You get there using the same tools we have used, but using them in retrospect after getting the big picture.)

94. The blowing of the seventh trumpet begins THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD. Rev. 11:15-18 is the exultation of those in heaven that God is about to establish His compete rule over the earth, bringing wrath upon the wicked and reward to believers.

97. Revelation 4 – 9 The first half of the tribulation Revelation 10 The character of the last half of the tribulation – sweet and bitter Revelation 11 The midpoint of the tribulation (3 ½ years from the beginning) Revelation 12 – 14 An overview of general conditions in the last half of the tribulation Revelation 15 – 19 Events in the last half of the tribulation in chronological order

98. Revelation 4 – 9 The first half of the tribulation Revelation 10 The character of the last half of the tribulation – sweet and bitter Revelation 11 The midpoint of the tribulation (3 ½ years from the beginning) Revelation 12 – 14 An overview of general conditions in the last half of the tribulation Revelation 15 – 19 Events in the last half of the tribulation in chronological order

99. Revelation 4 – 9 The first half of the tribulation Revelation 10 The character of the last half of the tribulation – sweet and bitter Revelation 11 The midpoint of the tribulation (3 ½ years from the beginning) Revelation 12 – 14 An overview of general conditions in the last half of the tribulation Revelation 15 – 19 Events in the last half of the tribulation in chronological order

100. Revelation 4 – 9 The first half of the tribulation Revelation 10 The character of the last half of the tribulation – sweet and bitter Revelation 11 The midpoint of the tribulation (3 ½ years from the beginning) Revelation 12 – 14 An overview of general conditions in the last half of the tribulation Revelation 15 – 19 Events in the last half of the tribulation in chronological order

101. Revelation 4 – 9 The first half of the tribulation Revelation 10 The character of the last half of the tribulation – sweet and bitter Revelation 11 The midpoint of the tribulation (3 ½ years from the beginning) Revelation 12 – 14 An overview of general conditions in the last half of the tribulation Revelation 15 – 19 Events in the last half of the tribulation in chronological order