The Final Trumpet Sounds
REVELATION 11:1-19
(December 20)
Anticipation can be nerve wracking ... whether you are waiting on something good to happen or preparing for something bad to occur. I have to think John is on pins and needles, waiting for that seventh angel to blow his trumpet.
While waiting, he was given a measuring stick so he could "Go measure the Temple of God and the altar and count the number of worshipers." He was to measure only the inner portion, not the outer courtyard. The outer courtyard had been turned over to those who disrespected the holy city to be trampled on for 42 months (1,260 days) during which two witnesses would prophesy.
As usual, the numbers mentioned have symbolic meaning. The number is equivalent to three-and-a-half years. While the number 7 was considered perfect, 3 1/2 indicated incompletion, imperfection, or sometimes evil.
The events that are predicted equivalate to trouble ... the holy city gets trampled, a woman takes refuge in the desert, the devil-inspired beast uses his authority. Nothing good is coming from this incomplete and imperfect time.
What are the two prophets who will prophesy? They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord. No harm can come to them and if anyone tries, they are consumed by the fire that flashes from their mouths. They have the power to keep the rain from falling and to turn the rivers and oceans into blood. They can also strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they want. (Now, that is POWER!)
Once they are finished, a beast will come up from the earth that will declare war on them and kill them. Their bodies will lie where all can see, in the main street of Jerusalem, for 3 1/2 days and no one will be allowed to bury them. It will be a time of gloating and celebration for all those who belong to the world.
After 3 1/2 days, God breathed life into them, and the people were terrified when they stood up. A loud voice came from heaven and commanded them to rise, so up they went, as all the wicked watched from below. In that moment, there was a terrible earthquake that killed seven thousand people. The remaining people were terrified, and decided they should glorify God.
That was the end of the second terror, but rest assured, another is coming. It was then that the seventh angel blew his trumpet and the shouts from heaven could be heard,
"The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."
The elders fell to their faces before God, giving thanks to him. Then the Temple of God opened, and the Ark of his covenant was revealed. There was lightning and thunder, an earthquake, and a hailstorm.
John's anticipation over the seventh trumpet being blown could now dissipate, as he has watched the whole thing take place. But he is not done with seeing great things in this vision. There is more to come.