Lesson 9The Time Has Come for Judging (Part 2)

Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation

By Dale Wells

Text: Rev 10-11

Interlude

Partial judgment hasn’t brought repentance.

The only thing left is total judgment.

But first, a word from our sponsor.

This is a word of peace & comfort for the Christians.

Four things discussed in the interlude

The unrecorded thunders Rev 10:1-7 WEB No more warning

The little book Rev 10:8-11 WEB John must continue to

preach a sorrowful message

The measuring of the temple Rev 11:1-2 WEB God knows and protects his

people

The two witnesses Rev 11:3-13 WEB Gospel preaching will

ultimately triumph

The unrecorded thunders – No more warning

Rev 10:1-7 WEB

I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. (2) He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. (3) He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (4) When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write them." (5) The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, (6) and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

The angel is a reminder of God's covenant presence

The shekinah symbolized his presence with Israel Exo 13:21-22 WEB Yahweh went before them by day in a

pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: (22) the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn't depart from before the people.

The rainbow symbolizes God’s covenant with all

Gen 9:12-16 WEB God said, "This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (13) I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. (14) It will happen, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, (15) and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. …

This angel stands astride the earth like Colossus

Colossus, a 110 foot bronze statue of the sun god Helios, was erected in 282 BC. Fell in 226 BC – earthquake

broke it at the knees. In 1st Century AD, Colossus

was a well-known ruin. Inspiration for Auguste

Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty (151 feet tall).

This angel rises through the clouds, so John saw a rainbow around his head and the sun for his face. He dwarfs Colossus and he never collapses.

Seven thunders – warn of coming storm

When the angel spoke, seven thunders sounded.A voice from Heaven (not the angel) says “Seal up” – i.e. don’t write. The significance is that there will be no more delay.

Rev 10:5-7 WEB The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, (6) and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

This is the answer to the prayers of the martyrs from the fifth seal

There will be no more warning for the enemy.If six trumpets haven’t brought repentance, six hundred won’t.Therefore, it it time for judgment!

The little book – Think “tract”Rev 10:8-11 WEB The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land." (9) I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." (10) I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. (11) They told me, "You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

Eze 2:8-3:14 WEB

But you, son of man … open your mouth, and eat that which I give you. (9) When I looked, behold, a hand was put forth to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein; (10) He spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. (3:1) He said to me, Son of man, eat that which you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. (2) So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll. (3) He said to me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this scroll that I give you. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. (4) He said to me, Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them … (12) Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of Yahweh from his place. (13) I heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise of a great rushing. (14) So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Yahweh was strong on me.

The sweetness is in the message, the bitterness is in the delivery.

The message is bitter – it contains bad news

In the rest of the book, he pronounces woes upon: People who rejected God Physical woe on Christians Conflict for the church Mostly, woe upon Rome

John is going to keep preaching – even if it doesn’t produce repentance

Preaching sometimes produces no repentance where it should

Eze 3:4-9 WEB He said to me, Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them. (5) For you are not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel; (6) not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you can not understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. (7) But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are of hard forehead and of a stiff heart….

Preaching sometimes produces repentance where it shouldn’t

Jon 3:1-10 WEB … (4) Jonah began to enter into the city … and he … said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (5) The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest … even to the least ... (10) God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it.

The measuring of the temple

Rev 11:1-2 WEB A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. (2) Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.The naos (sanctuary) is measured, not the hieron (temple proper)Some think this means Revelation was written before 70 AD, when the Temple was still standing.

Biblically, it means the temple had already fallen

The temple was measured in a vision in 572 BC, 14 years after it had been physically razed in 586 BC (Ezekiel 40-48).

Ezekiel 40:1-5 NLT On April 28, during the twenty-fifth year of our captivity-fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem-the LORD took hold of me. (2) In a vision of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain … (3) As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a measuring tape and a measuring rod. … (5) I could see a wall completely surrounding the Temple area. The man took a measuring rod that was 10 1/2 feet long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10 1/2 feet thick and 10 1/2 feet high…

Measuring is to separate the holy from the common

The theme of Leviticus is that everything falls between these extremes. Sin draws things from Holy to Common & from Clean to Unclean Sacrifice draws things from Unclean to Clean & Common to Holy

What is God’s sanctuary? The church! 1Co 3:16 WEB Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and

that God's Spirit lives in you?

Some of the 7 churches were blurring distinctions – like OT priests

Eze 22:26 WEB Her priests have … profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean … and I am profaned among them.Eze 44:23 WEB They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

But God knows who is holy and who is not

2Ti 2:19 WEB … God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."Jesus has already examined the 7 churches: He knows who is – and who isn't – holyWhat is not measured is the outer court – the courts of the Jews & GentilesWhat is measured is the holy place, the naos or the church

The court is not measured

There are no holy ones in the unmeasured world. 42 months is 3 ½ years, or 1260 days Jews had 360 days in a year; & intercalary month every 7 years. 3 ½ years is ½ of 7. It represents a time when Satan is trying to

thwart God’s will, but during which God is still in control.

This introduces the onslaught against the church by Rome.

The two witnesses

Rev 11:3-13 WEB

I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. (5) If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (6) These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. (7) When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (8) Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (9) From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. … (11) After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. (12) I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. (13) In that day 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.

42 months and 1260 days

During the time when the church is besieged (42 months), the witnesses are preaching (1260 days). Sieges are measured by months, but preaching is day by day.

Zec 4:1-14 WEB

The angel … (2) … said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen … a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top … and its seven lamps … there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top … (3) and two olive trees by it, one on the right side ... and the other on the left side ..." … (11) Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?" (12) I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?" (13) He answered me, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." (14) Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

The figures are clear from vv. 5-6

Rev 11:5-6 WEB If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (6) These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.The men depicted are Moses and Elijah.

Elijah – called down fire on the two groups of soldiers sent by Ahaziah2Ki 1:1-18 WEB … (2) Ahaziah … was sick: and he sent messengers ... Go, inquire of Baal Zebub … whether I shall recover of this sickness. (3) But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub …? (4) Now therefore thus says Yahweh, You … shall surely die. … (9) Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up to him… He spoke to him, man of God, the king has said, Come down. (10) Elijah answered … If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. (11) Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, man of God, thus has the king said, Come down quickly. (12) Elijah answered … If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. (13) Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty … came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him … man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. (14) Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight. (15) The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, Go down with him … He arose, and went down with him to the king …

Elijah shut up the sky so it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years

1Ki 17:1 WEB Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.Jam 5:17 WEB Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

Moses – turned water to blood & brought plagues on Egypt

These are the representatives of the Law & Prophets – sent to prepare Jesus for his exodus at the Transfiguration. Luk 9:28-31 WEB It happened about eight days after these sayings, that

he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. (29) As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. (30) Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, (31) who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

The vision is broken down into three phases of progress

The gospel is preached with success (11:5-6) Rev 11:5-6 WEB If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their

mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (6) These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

The gospel is seemingly crushed (11:7-10) Rev 11:7-10 WEB When they have finished their testimony, the beast that

comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. … (9) From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

They lie in the street of an infamous city (11:8) Rev 11:8 WEB Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which

spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

Sodom – What was the sin of Sodom?

Sodom – self-obsessed Eze 16:49-50 WEB Behold,

this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (50) They were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Egypt – oppressed the JewsJerusalem – killed MessiahThe figures describe Rome

Resurrection of the Gospel

Rev 11:11-13 WEB After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. (12) I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. (13) In that day 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.

God’s response is “Oh No you don’t!”

He raised Jesus and he raises the church. The kingdom of God is established & the Empire of Rome is destroyed.Resurrection & ascension – like Jesus. Enemies saw them exalted – just before they saw their own end. Earthquake is God’s judgment on Rome.

They wouldn’t repent before but now they give him glory Rev 9:20-21 WEB The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these

plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. (21) They didn't repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.

Rev 11:13 WEB In that day 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.

This is a recurring New Testament promise

Rev 1:7 WEB Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.Phi 2:10-11 WEB that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Jesus will be praised & God will be glorified – if not voluntarily, then under compulsion. The whole interlude is a message of divine retribution.

There is to be no more delay. God’s judgment is to be proclaimed – even if it causes bitterness. God’s people are known and protected by him. The gospel appears to be crushed, but it will ultimately triumph.

Other kingdoms come and go, but God's kingdom endures

Dan 2:44 WEB In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Seventh Trumpet – Third Woe – Final Judgment on Rome

Rev 11:15-19 WEB

The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" (16) The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, (17) saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. (18) The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." (19) God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

The headline announces – “God’s Kingdom Wins”

Rev. 12-22 will describe how God’s kingdom wins. Describes the battle & the internal struggle behind the war.

The song of the 24 elders Note: on v. 17 “who is & who was” but no “who is to come” (as

KJV). Why? Because he’s already come by the time we get here. Rev 11:17 WEB saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the

Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned.

The time has come for Judging the dead (e.g. those dead in sin) Rewarding the righteous (e.g. overcomers) Note that judgment has to do with the wicked; reward has to do

with the righteous.

The Lord has come to save & to destroy

2Th 1:5-10 WEB This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer. (6) Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, (7) and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, (8) giving vengeance to those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, (9) who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (10) when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.

Judgment comes because God keeps his covenant

He’s faithful, whether we are or not – the nature of covenant.Rev 11:19 WEB God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.2Ti 2:11-12 WEB This saying is faithful: "For if we died with him, we will also live with him. (12) If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

Each judgment is intensified

Rev 4:5 WEB Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders …Rev 8:5 WEB The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.Rev 11:19 WEB God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.Rev 16:18-21 WEB There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty … (21) Great hailstones, about the weight of a talent, came down out of the sky on people …

Survey: Rev. 4

God on the throne in the midst of his people – the elect from the OT & the NT. Everyone praises God.

Rev. 5

God’s will is on a scroll, but no one can open the scroll. That is, till the Lamb comes to open it.

Rev. 6

The seals are opened & God parades the power he has at his control to bring his enemies into submission.

The fifth seal gives the essential question of the book. “How long?”

In the sixth seal, the Day of the Lord (for Rome) is about to commence.

Rev. 7

But first, God makes sure his people are sealed – marked for protection & preservation.

144,000 on earth & great multitude in heaven.

Doesn’t mean they won’t suffer, just that when they end this life they go to their reward.

Rev. 8

The seventh seal starts with seven trumpets. The first four hit 1/3 of Rome’s world. Then, we’re told the worst is yet to come.

Rev. 9

The fifth seal unleashes the devil himself on Rome to deceive it. Then comes invasion by the enemy hordes. But the Roman Empire, like Egypt before it, didn’t repent.

Rev. 10

Before God hammers Rome one last time, the interlude tells the Christians to keep on preaching, even if it causes bitterness because of the response.

Rev. 11

It may appear that the enemy wins, but the gospel ultimately will prevail.

The 7th trumpet announces judgment & victory

Rev 11:15 WEB The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"Dan 2:44 WEB In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Next week, we’ll look at the eternal struggle

The woman, the child and the dragon. And we’ll see a war in heaven with its aftermath on earth. You won’t want to miss it.

In the following lesson, we’ll meet the enemy

The Beast & the False Prophet. And we’ll take a look at that infamous number “666”. You won’t want to miss it, either.