Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 10:8 - 11:14
Several months ago, after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, many people rejoiced over his death. They created memes and videos celebrating the end of his life. They did so because they are opposed to the truth Charlie Kirk espoused. They could not refute his beliefs, so they were glad when he was simply eliminated.
Many Christians are acting as if this is a sign that modern society has stooped to a new low. As much as we might wish it is a new low, today’s passage tells us about a time in the future when something similar will happen. Two prophets will be killed for proclaiming the truth, and a worldwide celebration will ensue. It is right to be appalled when people celebrate the death of a good man, but we should not be surprised when that happens.
When the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, a third of mankind was killed. Those who were not killed did not repent of their idolatry, murders, sorcery, or sexual immorality. Then another angel came down out of heaven, holding a little scroll, and he placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth.
Rev. 10:8 ¶ Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
Rev. 10:9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”
Rev. 10:10 And I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
Rev. 10:11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
Rev. 11:1 ¶ Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, saying, “Get up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.
Rev. 11:2 And leave out the court which is outside the sanctuary and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city under foot for forty-two months.
42 months is 3.5 years. This verse tells us Gentiles will trample the holy city for 3.5 years. This fits with some prophecies found in the book of Daniel. Daniel 7:25 tells us the saints will be given into the hands of a king for a time, times, and half a time. If time equals one year, then 1 time plus 2 times plus half a time equals 3.5 years.
Also, Daniel 9:27 tells us the last seven of Daniel’s 70 sevens will be divided into half, which would be 3.5 years.
Rev. 11:3 And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
1,260 days is just shy of 3.5 years. This fits with Daniel 12:11-12 which tells us about a period of 1,290 days and a period of 1,335 days.
Rev. 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Rev. 11:5 And if anyone wishes to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wishes to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
Rev. 11:6 These have the authority to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; they also have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they wish.
Rev. 11:7 ¶ And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them.
Rev. 11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
There are several Old Testament verses in which Jerusalem is called Sodom: Isaiah 1:10, Ezekiel 16:46, 48, 49, 53, 55, 56.
The words “their Lord” indicate the two prophets were servants of Jesus.
Rev. 11:9 And those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
Rev. 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Take note of the words “rejoice”, “celebrate”, and “send gifts”. People will celebrate when the two prophets are killed.
Just a few months ago, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, many people celebrated his death. They created memes and videos rejoicing over the fact that Charlie Kirk is no longer alive.
It is appalling when people rejoice over the death of a good man, one who tells the truth and promotes Jesus. That kind of reveling should disgust us. However, it should not surprise us.
Throughout the Bible, there are many occasions when prophets of Yahweh were persecuted and killed. Over the past 2,000 years of church history, many missionaries have been tormented and put to death. Those who are opposed to God often celebrated when disciples of Jesus were eliminated.
As Christians, we need to be aware that those who oppose God cannot refute the truth that God exists; therefore, at some point they will resort to eliminating people who proclaim the truth about God. They will do so joyfully.
Rev. 11:11 ¶ But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
Notice the word “fear”. It was obvious to all who dwell on earth that the two prophets were dead. When they came back to life, it caused fear.
Rev. 11:12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Rev. 11:13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Look at the words “gave glory”. The death and resurrection of the two prophets finally caused people to give God the credit and recognition He deserves.
Rev. 11:14 ¶ The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Several months ago, after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, many people rejoiced over his death. They could not refute his beliefs, so they were glad when he was simply eliminated.
Some Christians are acting as if this is a sign that modern society has stooped to a new low. However, we should not be surprised that people rejoiced over his martyrdom. Throughout history, sinners have often persecuted and killed those who spoke the truth.
What are ways besides murder that sinners use to suppress the truth?
What are examples of how sinners celebrate when truth is suppressed by means other than murder?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”