Revelation 11 God doesn't need the internet

[seekeroftruth]

Revelation 11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.​

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7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.​

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11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.​

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13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.​

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14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.​

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:​

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“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”​

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16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:​

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“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”​

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.​

a. Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
b. Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)


This is from the easy English site.

An angel gave John a stick that he could use to measure. It was like the ruler that an architect uses to measure land. The angel told John to measure the temple and the altar. John had to count those who worship in the temple. God would protect the area that John was measuring.​

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There is now no temple in Jerusalem. The Roman army destroyed it in the year AD 70 (that is, about 70 years after Jesus’ birth). But maybe there will be a new temple in Jerusalem. John must measure that temple.​

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The outer area of the temple was for the nations. The nations were those who did not worship God. They will have control of the outer area. And they will control Jerusalem (called the ‘holy city’) for 42 months. For that time, God would allow them to do this. He would not protect the city or the outer area.​

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The rule of the nations over Jerusalem lasts for 42 months. At the end of that period, they will not rule Jerusalem. Daniel speaks about a 7-year period (Daniel 9:27). These 42 months are the second half of that 7-year period. After the end of this time the Lord Jesus will come. He will rescue the city and he will rule over it.​

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God will send two men to speak for him. John does not tell us who these two witnesses are. Many Bible teachers say that these men are Moses and Elijah. Some teachers say that they are Enoch and Elijah. But we cannot be sure who they are.​

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These two men will wear rough clothes. This is to show that they are serious. What they have to say is important. They tell about God’s anger against the sins of the people.​

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In prophecy, a month is 30 days. The 1260 days here are the same period as the 42 months in verse 2. They are the last half of the 7-year period before Jesus comes.​

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Zechariah saw two olive trees and a lamp holder (Zechariah 4:1-7). Zechariah asked an angel what these meant. In his reply, this is what the angel said. ‘Not by force, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of armies.’​

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The olive trees provide the oil for the lamps. The oil burns in the lamps in order to give light. So, God has given the power of his Spirit to work by these two men.​

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These two verses show the strange power that these men had. Many people wanted to hurt them but none could. Those who tried died. Fire came from the mouths of the two men. Elijah had called down fire from heaven to kill two bands of soldiers (2 Kings 1:10-12).​

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Like Elijah, these men could stop the rain (1 Kings 17:1). They did this for the period of 42 months. Like Moses, they could turn water into blood (Exodus 7:14-18). God had given to them more power than he gave to any of the prophets. They could use this power as often as they wanted. They had the power to hurt people and to cause damage on the earth.​

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These two men finished the task that God gave to them. Then the evil beast came up from the deep hole. This beast may mean Satan. He fought against them and he killed them.​

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The two men had worked in the city called Jerusalem. It was there that the Lord Jesus died. When Satan killed the two men, their bodies remained in the street.​

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The bodies were in the street for three and a half days. Crowds of people came to see them. People came from all over the world. Nobody could remove the bodies to bury them.​

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The people had been afraid of the two men. They did not like what these men had said. What they had done caused so much trouble.​

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Now the men were dead. News of their death went all round the earth. The news made the people happy. They had parties and they sent presents to each other.​

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The people were only happy for a short time. After three and a half days, God raised the two men from death. He breathed new life into them. They stood up on their feet. All who saw it were afraid.​

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A loud voice from heaven called to the two witnesses. ‘Come up here’, the voice said. The two men rose up from the ground. They disappeared from view in a cloud. And they went up to heaven.​

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Their enemies saw this happen. They had been happy but now they were afraid. They saw the men come alive again. They saw them go up into heaven.​

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The two witnesses went up to heaven. At the same time, there was a great earthquake. A tenth (10th) part of the city called Jerusalem fell. As a result 7000 people died.​

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There was a connection between the earthquake and the two men as they went up to heaven. By this God showed that they were his servants. He had sent them and he rescued them. The people could see that this was so. They knew that both events showed the power of God. They had to give glory to God.​

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The second of three times of trouble had ended. The third and last one would come soon.​

As the seventh trumpet sounded, John was in heaven. There he heard loud voices. They declared that all the earth now belonged to God and to Christ. God had defeated all who were against him. The whole earth was now part of his kingdom. God will rule as king and his government will never end.​

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The voices declared that the Lord is king. The elders fell down in worship.​

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They sang a song of thanks to God. God was before all things. He made all things. He will always be. He had no beginning and he will have no end. All power belongs to him.​

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By his great power, God will begin his rule of the earth. The Lord must still fight the final battles. But the result is sure. God will overcome all who oppose him. The kingdom of earth will belong to God the king.​

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The nations and their rulers had been angry against God. They had refused to accept him as Lord. They fought against him and they killed his servants.​

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The time had come for God to deal with them. God’s fierce anger would frighten them. He would punish all who opposed him.​

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The time had come for God to punish or to reward all who have died. He will reward his servants. These are the prophets and his people.​

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In heaven, the doors to the temple opened. The box that held the agreement was inside the temple. All that God had promised to do he will do for his people. He will reward all those who believed in him. Even in the times of trouble, God’s people can be confident that he will save them.​

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Then there was a storm on the earth. There were flashes of lightning and loud thunder. It rained large blocks of ice. The earth trembled because of an earthquake.​

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This is from enduringword.com.

But leave out the court which is outside the temple: The outer court need not be measured because it has been given to the Gentiles. Perhaps this is because the outer courts of this rebuilt temple include the Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine, which currently stands on the temple mount and is a point of great contention between Jews and Muslims.​

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When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in a.d. 70 they destroyed the city so completely that the foundations of the old temple are not easily found. Most have long assumed that the Dome of the Rock shrine stands on the place of the old temple. But new research gives some evidence that the temple may have stood to the north where the Dome of the Rock shrine is today, and that if the temple were to be rebuilt at its old place, the Dome of the Rock shrine would be in its outer courts. If this is the case (and the research is by no means settled), then it would explain why the angel told John leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.​

My two witnesses: This introduces two of the more interesting characters of Revelation, the two witnesses. The character of their ministry is prophetic (they will prophesy); they preach and demonstrate repentance (clothed in sackcloth), and they have an effective ministry (I will give power).​

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The two witnesses indeed served with power. “Such power, in fact, that they are able to witness for 1,260 days in spite of the antagonism of the world.” (Walvoord)​

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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: The two witnesses are killed in the city of Jerusalem, which is described in three illustrative terms.​

• As Sodom, speaking of immorality.
• As Egypt, speaking of oppression and slavery.
• As the great city, a term often applied to Babylon, the headquarters of Antichrist

If, during the first three and one-half years, Jerusalem’s leadership is in league with the Antichrist, it is easy to see how these titles apply. Any city in love with the Antichrist, or entering into a covenant with him, could be called Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon.​

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Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another: The earth saw and rejoiced over the deaths of the two witnesses. The fact that this is seen by all people, tribes, tongues, and nations is perhaps an oblique prophecy of modern mass media.​

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It is amazing – and not far-fetched at all – to think of a live, worldwide broadcast on new channels and over the internet, “Live from Jerusalem,” and seeing the amazing scene described here taking place.​

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The idea is also that the world treats these two witnesses in a humiliating manner. “To have his dead body lie in view of all was the worst humiliation a person could suffer from his enemies.” (Johnson)​

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Make merry, and send gifts to one another: Donald Grey Barnhouse told of a Christmas card with Revelation 11:10 on its cover – a terrible misquoting of the Scriptures!​

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Because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth: The preaching of these two witnesses and their call to repentance was a torment for many, because they could not stand to hear the truth while they loved their lie.​

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The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come: God’s punishment matches the crime; there is nothing arbitrary about it. The nations are angry with God and He responds with wrath; those that destroy the earth are themselves destroyed.​

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The nations were angry: They are angry because God comes to rule. The world wants anything but the reign of God. As it says in a parable of Jesus, We will not have this man to reign over us (Luke 19:14).​

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“Religion is decent, but surrender to God is intolerable to the nations of this world.” (Newell)​

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To unpack the scene. John is still on a deserted rocky island...alone. John is still having a vision. The vision started with Jesus glowing as He did on the Mount of Transfiguration.... when Moses and Elijah came for the meeting. An Angel has been assigned to interpret for John. Some things in Heaven can't be described in human language.... the Angel will help John figure out what's going on.

So far, this book is about the opening of a scroll. Apparently the scroll has the instructions for the final destruction of all the moronic humans who refuse to Believe that Jesus is the Messiah. A Strong Angel tried to open it.... but none of the seven seals will pop for him. Jesus took the scroll and the seals could be popped open.... because Jesus had been human... and resisted temptation.... and conquered death... and left the human tomb and now sits in Heaven.... popping the seals on the instructions for the demise of the humans who hung Him on that Roman Cross and refuse to take their part in the consequences.

Six of the seven seals have been popped open.... After the Sixth seal was broken... they found seven trumpets that had to be sounded. The last three of those trumpets will bring on three horrific events.... A third of the population of earth.... is dead and a third again of that number is also dead. A third of the vegetation on earth is gone... and all of the grass.... there is nothing for the livestock to eat... the air is almost impossible to breath.... and a third of the ocean is now dead.... it's only a noxious bloody thick goo of dead fish.... the stench on earth must be horrific.... and a third of the fresh water has turned bitter.... poisonous.

And now... before the seventh seal is popped.... 2 Witnesses have come to earth.... John uses male terms to describe these two. They can cause the rain to stop falling.... that's going to cause a drought. They can also bring on plagues. They will also badmouth those who deserve it. No one will like these two men. People will try to kill them but these two humans have been upgraded... they can shoot fire from their mouths! The only one who can shut these two up is Satan..... and when Satan finally shows up.... the two men will lay in the street for three and a half days. People will celebrate.... like they do now at Hanukkah and Christmas. But then..... those two "dead" witnesses will stand up on their own two feet. People are going to flip out!

God will raise the two men to Heaven.... I can just imagine the coverage on Al Jazeera now..... Problem is... there won't be a signal.... the internet will be down.... the earthquake, that happened back when the first few seals were opened, moved mountains and islands. There would be no world wide web.... but God is going to make sure everyone sees those two witness ascend.

Hang on... this chapter ends with another horrific earthquake.

I'm amazed that the commentary would even suggest that social media would be used to show the demise of the two witnesses. This is supposed to be professional commentary. After the first seal is broken..... and the first conquest is released..... the news will change. After the second seal is broken.... and the peace is stolen from earth... the news will change. When the third seal is broken.... people will be hungry... probably rioting in the streets.... and the news will change. When the fourth seal is broken... there will be war, famine, plague, and even animal attacks.... because even the animals will be hungry... and the news will change. The fifth seal happens in heaven.... but the sixth seal is the one that shuts down a third of the sun, moon and stars... bringing on a need for light... but there is no electricity.... war wiped that out.... and that will change the news.

There will be no TV... there will be no internet.... there will be no radio... there will be no printing press..... everything we know now on earth will be obliterated.... wiped out.... gone... and yet.... in verse 12 it says "Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on." When those two witness are murdered and then they come back to life and then they ascend.... there will be no Fox news or CBS, NBC, ABC, Al Jazeera or CNN..... people can hardly breath... there's nothing to eat... animals are attacking humans because they are so hungry.... and the earth has suffered horrific earthquakes and meteor showers..... There will be no TV.... but everyone will know.

God will make sure everyone knows when those two witnesses are preaching. God will make sure everyone knows when Satan tries to murder and make an example out of those two witnesses. God will make sure everyone knows when God just brings the two witnesses back to life... after Satan and the ignorant humans have celebrated their own stupidity. God will make sure everyone knows when He calls those two witnesses up to Heaven. God will make sure everyone knows when they ascend in the clouds.

God will make sure we all know it's God telling us all the news. God will make sure we all know that there is no other way to interpret what we see.

God created everything..... God created time.... God controls time..... God created communication.... He proved He can control communication at the Tower of Babel..... and God will make sure that we all know about the two witnesses..... even without television, radio, cable, or internet.

God doesn't need the internet.