Revelation
Lesson 8Revelation 11
Let’s review our overall timeline once again, 1) the Tribulation Period is seven years long, comprising 2 three and half year periods. 2) In the beginning of that period the Antichrist makes a peace with Israel, a peace so secure they lay down their weapons, rebuild the temple and return to sacrificial worship. Midway through the Tribulation the Antichrist breaks the truce he had with them and mass persecution of the Jews breaks out with the Jews being driven out of the city. 3) The Antichrist has the False Prophet set up the Antichrist’s image in the Temple to be worshipped there by all.
This week we will learn a great deal more about interpreting prophecy and will for the first time begin to pull together prophecy from the Old and New Testament in order to have a more complete picture of God’s plan during the Tribulation period. I encourage everyone to commit the time this week to do the reading and to consider what God provides us today in His continuing revealing of end time prophecy.
Questions for our eighth week
- Reading verses 1 and 2 – What is happening here? What is the difference between the outer court and the rest of what John is told to measure? When John is told to “measure” “them that worship therein” is he supposed to find out how tall each one is – or does this mean something else?
- How many days in a prophetic year?
- Now, given this information and the scripture we’re studying this week, what is the difference between 1,260 days, 42 prophetic months, and “a time, times and a half time”? (Daniel 12:7, Revelation 12:14)
- How long do the Gentiles tread the Holy City underfoot?
- How does Luke 21:20-24, Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:14 fit here?
- How long do God’s two witnesses prophesy?
- What’s the difference between the time in verse two and the time in verse 3 – can you discern why they’re described differently?
- After reading verses five and six can you see some similarities with two famous Old Testament Men? (Hint, the similarities relate to gifts used by Moses and Elijah – list which belonged to each man.)
- In verses 7 and 8 who kills the two witnesses and where does he kill them?
- We can sum up these verses by looking at Daniel 7 verses 21 -28. What do these verses say about the kingdom of the Antichrist and what he’ll do with it?
- How long do the Gentiles tread the Holy City underfoot?
- How long are the bodies of the Two Witnesses on display?
- What happens during the days the Two Witnesses are dead, where are their bodies and what happens during these three and a half days?
- What happens to the two witnesses after three and a half days – and who witnessed it?
- Following the resurrection of the two witnesses what then happens in verse 15?
- How long do the Gentiles tread the Holy City underfoot?
- What else do we know about this time, read Matthew 24:9-28, based on what you know about the Tribulation Period, and all of the three and half references in this lesson (three and half years, three and half days, etc.), when do the two witnesses prophesy, when is their death and when is the day of Gentiles along our seven year timeline?
- Our bonus question for the week: During the first seven and half years leading up to day the Antichrist enters Jerusalem, breaks the truce, kills the two witnesses and drives out the Jews…what’s he up to? What activities are the Antichrist involved in during the first three and half years? Read Daniel, chapter 11, verses 21 through 35.
- Further – what does Daniel chapter 11, verses 36 through 45 tell us about the second half of the Tribulation Period and the Antichrist’s activities?
I know this week’s lesson is difficult to discern, it requires prayer, study and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Much of the pieces of the Tribulation Period will now begin to fall into place as God reveals these mysteries to us through our study of His prophecy about end time events.
As we continue to learn more and more it should cause us to come to God in worship, in awe, as we see His mighty power and judgment displayed and revealed through our study. We are taken confidence in God that He has a plan for us and the through the shed blood of His Son Jesus we know that we are saved. What a hope and glorious peace that provides.
May God continue to richly bless you as you study this difficult subject with us.
Yours in Christ,
Wes