A simple approach (to understanding Revelation) Chapters 10-11 – Pictures of a little book, the 2 witnesses, and the 7th trumpet.

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(same as last week – review) How is this simple? While acknowledging the possibility for multiple meanings, this study keeps it

Simple by Focusing on 1st/primary meaning, to the original recipients, using a simple approach. This is to practice the principle “Let the simple explain the complex”. The goal is to build a solid

foundation for further study – not to examine, or even survey, what all the details might mean. The Simple Approach is this:

1. Focus on what’s presented as literal (and take it as such - what if it means what it says?). 2. Let pictures be just that (word pictures - get big picture, reserve judgment on details). 3. Patiently practice those, unless & until scripture explains the literal meaning of a picture.

As applied to Revelation, the Simple Approach lends some Keys to understanding its message.

1. (Focus on literal) Let the 1st 3 verses mean what they say. Let Jesus set the context (when He says things like this generation, soon, time is near, quickly, to the 7 churches in Asia, etc., let’s take Him at His word).

2. (Let pictures be) Get the big picture. Revelation is full of apocalyptic (picture) language. To get a fresh perspective, let’s Let go of prior conclusions (RE end, world, coming, death), and Practice restraint regarding the many details in Revelation’s pictures. Let’s AVOID SPECULATION as a rule for the purpose of this study.

3. (Let Word explain) Watch for little verbs (is, are, tell). Let Jesus or angel (via John) explain the literal meaning of pictures. Let Revelation answer its own questions (which actually happens often in Rev).

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Again, starting Chapter 4 is where we heavily rely on the 2nd key. Note the vivid picture language. Get the big picture. It was like a TV show is to us. In terms of fast pace & sparse explanation, these chapters feel like, “previously on…”. Imagine trying to watch that part of a show, with someone asking what every thing there means…

These chapters are also where it gets really hard to wait though, because we feel compelled to think

about what every thing means. Be observant. Notice details, but strive to not get lost in them. Especially look for clues which help set the big picture. They had one who would read & the rest would listen 1:3. They likely read through in one sitting. Thus we’re moving quickly through these chapters, wondering, “Get Ready… for What?”. We’ve looked at Chapters 4-9 so far:

4 Picture of… Praise to God – God is Holy! He deserves praise from all, creatures & elders included. 5 Picture of… Praise to Jesus – Jesus is Worthy! He is worthy of all praise, and to open the seals… 6 Picture of… Wars, Famines, etc. – The 1st 6 Seals triggered them, under control. Souls cried out

how long? They were told to rest while more of it happened. Amid stars falling, the sky splitting, etc. even kings asked “who is able to stand”?

7 Picture of… Sealed & Overcomers. Faithful Servants are able to stand! Furthermore, they will rejoice as they are cared for.

8 Picture of… Judgment on World. The 7th Seal / 1st 4 Trumpets brought measured destruction on the natural world.

9 Picture of… Judgment on Man. The 5th & 6th Trumpets released torment on the unsealed for a time, then death to some. The rest still did not repent!

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Chapter 10 Little Book 10 Picture of… A Message

• 10:1-4 Another strong angel (Only 3 in the Bible are described as “strong” angels – all 3 are in Revelation 5:2, 18:21. Yet consider the strength of an “ordinary” angel! 2Ki 19:35) had a little book which was open. He cried out loudly, and 7 peals of thunder said something which John was about to write 1:11,19. He was told to seal up Dan 12:4,9 whatever the thunder said. Apparently it wasn’t meant to be part of this book 22:10.

• 10:5-7 Pack of Clues: Remember chances to repent Mat 23:37,34, Rev 9:20, etc. But now… • There will be delay no longer vs. 2Pe 3:9 – no more chances Mat 24:14. • He references “the days” of the voice of the 7th angel. Like “those days” in

Mat 24:22,29 & Rev 9:6, it implies a link to some particular time frame. • It’s when he is about to sound – it’s imminent Mat 24:14-16,21, Rev 2:10, 3:10, etc.

• The mystery usually refers to gospel or Christ Mat 24:14, Rom 16:25, Eph 3:4, Col 2:2. • It would have been “finished” when it reached all nations Mat 24:14, Luk 24:47,

which according to scripture had happened Rom 16:25-26, Col 1:23. • Just as He preached to the prophets Eph 3:5,9, Col 1:26, 1Pe 1:10-12, Amo 3:7.

• 10:8-11 Imagine telling him (the “strong” angel 10:1) to give him the book! He’s told to eat it Eze 3. Somehow the book was sweet in his mouth, but turned his stomach bitter. Note, unlike Ezekiel, there’s something bitter to prophecy again about many nations.

Big Picture – He’s given a Little Book, a bittersweet message to prophecy again about many nations.

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Chapter 11 2 Witnesses & 7th Trumpet (3rd Woe)

11 Picture of… Fulfilled Prophecy

• 11:1-2 He was to measure the temple Eze 40-42, but not the court, given to the nations who will tread under foot the holy city Luk 21:24 for 42 months (which equals 3.5 years).

• 11:3-6 His 2 witnesses will prophecy for 1,260 days (which equals 42 months). They are the 2 olive trees & lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth Zec 4:3,11. For this study, let’s leave it at that. Note the authority granted them & powers given them.

• 11:7-10 When they have finished their testimony Rev 10:7, the beast Dan 7:7,23 will overcome & kill them. Their bodies will lie in the great city where their Lord was crucified. It’s no stretch to say that refers to Jesus, thus that great city is Jerusalem.

• 11:11-14 God gave them life, they went to heaven, and in that hour there was a great earthquake. Two woes down, one more is coming quickly 8:13, 9:12…

• 11:15-18 When the 7th trumpet was sounded, there were loud voices in heaven again, offering praise to God. Specifically, they thanked Him because He had begun to reign. They said the time came for Him to reward servants 6:10 and destroy those who corrupt.

• 11:19 Recall, the 1st woe (5th trumpet) tormented unsealed people 9:5, then the 2nd woe (6th trumpet) killed a third of mankind 9:18. So what woe accompanied the 7th trumpet? The storms aren’t new 8:5 & don’t seem to fit the buildup. It seems the 3rd is still coming, but He doesn’t say. Also notice, the temple in heaven (vs. the holy city 11:2) was opened.

Big Picture –2 Witnesses finish God’s testimony & the 7th Trumpet starts to show fulfilled prophecy.

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What can we “know” at this point? • Literally, this was the Revelation (singular) of Jesus, to show the 7 churches in Asia, things which

must soon take place 1:1,4. Those who heeded it would be blessed, for the time was near 1:3. John wrote & testified to what he saw & heard 1:2,11,19. Jesus was “coming”, and even those who pierced Him would see Him 1:7. The lampstands were those churches, and the stars were their angels 1:20. He knew them, good & bad. He commended their service and rebuked their sin. Some were about to suffer. Some could repent to prevent His “coming” quickly. He knew & acknowledged those, even the few exceptions, who had been doing all they could. All needed to Get Ready – repent, hold on, etc. Jesus would richly reward all who overcame 2-3.

• John saw… God is holy 4 and Jesus is worthy 5. Controlled judgments came, and martyrs cried out “how long”, but they were told to rest longer, until more were killed 6:1-11. Judgments continued and everyone, even rulers, hid and asked “who can stand?” 6:12-17 Judgment was held back while Jews were sealed 7:1-8. Overcomers could (& can) stand and will be greatly rewarded 7:9-17. There was a time of silence in heaven, and prayers of saints were offered up to God before judgment resumed 8:1-5. Measured judgments came on a portion of the world, but things were to get worse 8:6-13. Torment was released on the unsealed, then death to many, but the rest still did not repent 9. Prior prophecy would be finished before what was about to happen, and new prophecy given about many nations 10. God got His message delivered, gave time, avenged His servants, judged others, began to [enforce His] reign – and will 11.

Chapters 4-11 clearly portray that God will Avenge, in His time, in His way, despite how it may look

at times – as He has. There seems no clear indication yet though, what was about to happen…

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What are some noteworthy clues? • Context: Jews were sealed 7:4 (and exempted from the torment 9:4). The mystery would be

finished in the days before the 7th seal 10:7. The witnesses were based in Jerusalem 11:2,8. Even the temple seemed to still be standing 11:1.

• Familiarity: Almost all of the descriptions so far are very similar, some nearly verbatim, to prior visions 1:13-16/Dan 10:6-7; 4:2-3/Eze 1:26-28; 5:9-14/7:9-12/Dan 7:9-14 & prophecy – some already fulfilled 6:12-13/Joe 2:30-31/Acts 2:16-21; 6:14/Isa 34:4, and some to be fulfilled in “that generation” 6:1-8/Mat 24:6-7; 6:12-14/Mat 24:29.

• Verb Tense: Those prophecies used future tense. The similar ones here used past tense. Yes, John saw (past tense), but so did some of those prophets. Conversely, he did use present & future after the 4th trumpet 8:13,9:6,9:12, more so after the 6th 10:6-7,11:2-10 (and in praise scenes 4:9-11,7:15-17). Finding the word “will” in his visions can be very illuminating for this.

• Ambiguity & Pace: Those prophecies said who the target was (nation, city, etc). The similar ones here do not. Creatures, elders, horsemen, locusts, witnesses, & numerous items, times, & numbers, etc. have been quickly introduced, and mostly moved past, without explanation.

This is full of reminders of what’s been (“this you know” Jam 1:19), and about to be but had already

been told about Jews in Judea (Jerusalem Will Fall). Asian brethren would care, but this doesn’t tell them what they need to get ready for. It’s not what the book is about, but “sets the stage”. (It’s worth noting here that, although many scholars think this was written in 90-96 AD, that is far from conclusive, and not even necessarily the “majority” opinion so often claimed.) Regardless of specific interpretation, God will Avenge, but still, Get Ready… for What?

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A simple approach (to understanding Revelation)

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