The Seventh Trumpet

 

    John was given a measuring rod to measure God's temple, altar, and courts to make sure there was room for everyone to worship God.  The inner court is for the Jewish Christians and the outer court is for the Gentile Christians.  It was not to be measured.  It was part of Jerusalem that would be trampled in 42 months.  While John was measuring, there were two witnesses that came on the scene to do God's work before the seventh trumpet sounded.

    The two witnesses lived boldly proclaiming God when it was forbidden.  They wore sackcloth.  The represent two olive trees  and two lampstands (echoing the ministry of Moses and Elijah).  They will speak for 1,260 days in prophesy.  During this time, God will not allow anyone to harm them.  This is the three and half years that they witness to the world about God.  

    Anyone who tries to harm the two witnesses will be the ones that end up dead.  They will shoot fire from their mouths like dragons consuming their enemies.  They will have the authority to close up the sky, so it will not rain during this time.  They can turn water into blood and hand out plagues like Moses.  

    When their testimony is finished, a beast will appear from the abyss.  The beast (great antichrist) is what will kill them and their bodies will lay in the street for three and half days.  They will represent Sodom (sexual immorality) and Egypt (slavery).  No one can touch the bodies.  The people celebrate their death and gloat over the victory because they spoke truth and that tormented the people.  

    Next, God will breath life back into them and return to Heaven.  This put a great fear in the same people who celebrated their death.  A loud voice from heaven commanded the two witnesses to come up to Heaven.  They obeyed by going up on a cloud as their enemies watched from below.  Celebration changes to fear in a moment.  

    When they entered Heaven a massive earthquake will hit Jerusalem.  Seems like the earth should be accustomed to terrifying and deadly earthquakes at this point, but it will be notable.  It will collapse a tenth of the city, killing 7,000 people.  This is the second woe that the eagle was talking about.  The third woe that the eagle eluded to commences with the seventh trumpet.  

    The seventh trumpet will blow with a sense of finality.  This is when God reigns on earth and He is worshipped here again.  The people do it out of fear, not authenticity.  The 24 elders are authentic in their worship.  It is time for the judgment mentioned throughout the entire Bible.  His temple will open and the ark will be seen.  There will be a great storm almost like an announcement saying beware, it is time as the temple's doors open.  As judgment begins, Jerusalem is destroyed.

Revelations 11