Interpretive Study of Revelation 11-12

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Chapter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, God.

Revelation Chapter 11

links to sentences in this chapter:

C11-S1 (Verse 1), C11-S2 (Verse 2), C11-S3 (Verse 3), C11-S4 (Verse 4), C11-S5 (Verse 5), C11-S6 (Verse 6), C11-S7 (Verse 7), C11-S8 (Verse 8), C11-S9 (Verse 9), C11-S10 (Verse 10), C11-S11 (Verse 11), C11-S12 (Verse 12), C11-S13 (Verse 12), C11-S14 (Verse 13), C11-S15 (Verse 14), C11-S16 (Verse 15), C11-S17 (Verse 16-17), C11-S18 (Verse 18), C11-S19 (Verse 19)'.

Sentence Summary: God's preparation to take over the rule of the Earth.

C11-S1 : John is told to measure three things on Earth.
C11-S2 : John measures the Earthly temple at Mid-Trib.
C11-S3 : God adds the account of His two great witnesses.
C11-S4 : the symbolic description of God's two witnesses.
C11-S5 : How God protects His witnesses until their time is up.
C11-S6 : the power of God's two special witnesses.
C11-S7 : God allows them to die and go to Heaven after they finish their ministry.
C11-S8 : the bodies of God's two witnesses are dishonored.
C11-S9 : How long the bodies are dishonored.
C11-S10 : How lost people celebrated the death of God's two witnesses.
C11-S11 : God's Holy Spirit proves to be more powerful than Satan and his beasts.
C11-S12 : God gives them the same command as God gave to John and the church in Revelation 4:1.
C11-S13 : the results of the command from God.
C11-S14 : God showed His wrath.
C11-S15 : Our God-given division of events..
C11-S16 : the seventh judgment for supporting Satan and his beast.
C11-S17 : the resulting worship by the four and twenty elders.
C11-S18 : What our Lord Jesus Christ will do now that He has taken His power and position.
C11-S19 : God revealed the ark of his testament.

In His preparation to take over the rule of the Earth, God first has John measure the Earthly temple, except for the part given to the Gentiles. God also has John measure the true worshipers of God, to show their difference from the religious lost, who are represented by the part of the Earthly temple given to the Gentiles. Next, we read about God's two special witnesses, who minister mainly to the Jews. Yes, they are witnesses to the whole world and display God's power by repeating miracles from Old Testament prophets. But those miracles are to be a witness, to the people who pay attention spiritually, that God is still the most powerful Being Who exists. But, like Pharaoh of Egypt and His people, Satan's beast, and his followers in the world, refuse to accept the spiritual message. After Satan's beast murders God's two speci8al witnesses, and the religious lost dishonors their bodies for three and a half days, God's Holy Spirit resurrects them, while the whole world watches, and then takes them to Heaven. The lost religious world has to recognize God's power, but they are not saved just like religious lost rush to church, for a little while, after a disaster, but they still refuse to truly accept Jesus as their personal Lord. That is when the seventh angel blows his trumpet and announces the final judgment by Christ. As a result, we see all of Heaven praising and worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ for what he has done and what He will do. We also are told the reaction on Earth. And, as the final preparation, God reveals His ark of his testament in the temple of God in Heaven. It contains evidence of every way that God has revealed himself to the world and will be used to judge all who have rejected God's testament.

C11-S1 (Verse 1) John is told to measure three things on Earth.

Equivalent Section: What John was given.

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:

Equivalent Section: What John was commanded to do with the reed.

and the angel stood,
saying,
Rise,
and measure the temple of God,
and the altar,
and them that worship therein.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. Both sentences need to be considered together for contextual reasons. In the first two sentences of this chapter, we are still being told what John was commanded to do at this time.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling us what John was given and the Second Equivalent Section telling us what he was to do with it. Now it might seem strange that John was given a reed like unto a rod to use in measuring. However, we find the phrase: measuring reed in: Ezekiel 40:3; Ezekiel 40:5; Ezekiel 42:16; Ezekiel 42:17; Ezekiel 42:18; Ezekiel 42:19. Therefore, this would be a way of measuring which John was familiar with. And, while often a reed can be flimsy, the phrase like unto a rod tells us that this particular reed had been stiffened and remained a constant and reliable length.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read that the angel stood. This would be the same angel as we were told about in the prior chapter and we concluded that he was our Lord Jesus Christ. Next, we read that he told John to get up (Rise) and measure three things. And, since our next sentence tells us that the court which is without the temple...is given unto the Gentiles, we know that He is speaking of the temple on Earth. Since there is not a temple currently in Jerusalem, this temple will have to be built between now and then.

Next, we are told that John was to measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. The first two were to be measured with the rod, since they are physical things. However, them that worship herein are people. They are measured for the sincerity of their worship. Not only is this a reasonable way for God to measure but it is also contrasted, in the next sentence, with the activities of the Gentiles, who shall tread (it) under foot forty and two months.

Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the Word Study on worship. As that note concludes, Even while the whole world is getting ready to literally go to Hell, God has some people who worship Him.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'John is told to go and measure the temple of God in the holy city of Jerusalem. Now to measure something in Scripture like this, means to claim it for one’s self. Here, by God instructing John to measure this area, God is claiming the temple and the holy city for Himself, just as Christ laid claim to the earth in ch10. Such measuring is done when someone buys land, one will get a surveyor to come out and measure or survey the property lines so they will know what is theirs and what is not. I personally do this at the architectural firm I am employed at (as a bi-vocational preacher), when someone purchases a house and wants to renovate it I go out and measure the house to see what is there so the architect has an idea of what can be done with the owner’s personal property. Of course I do not go to just any house, I would get kicked out, I only go to one that the owner has laid claim to and has given me permission to go and measure it, he can do that because it belongs to him. that’s why God has John go and measure the temple, it is His, God is laying claim to it. Remember the antichrist is presently ruling the world, he came into the temple of Jerusalem and desecrated it and proclaimed himself as God, 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. the antichrist has committed the abomination of desolation as prophesied by Daniel, the antichrist claimed to be God when he broke his truce with Israel, he took the temple for his own and most likely Jerusalem as well, but now God is taking it all back. But there is a problem here. Currently there is no temple in Jerusalem in existence for John to measure. Right now an Islamic mosque, the mosque of Omar, a very holy site to those of the Muslim/Islamic religion, sits in the very place the temple is to be built. If one was to go in and try to demolish the mosque in order to construct a new temple the Middle-East would erupt in a holy war. So let me pose a question to you, if the temple needs to exist, if it needs to be built, needs to be present for the antichrist to waltz into and break his truce with Israel, and we also know that to correctly build this temple by God's instructions will take an immense act of construction, multiple millions of dollars, massive amounts of man power and work hours, what with no stone being cut on site and the sound of hammers being absent as stated in 1Ki 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building; if the temple has to exist and it is more than likely to take longer than 3 ½ years or even 7 years to build, does that alter the imminent return of Christ in the rapture? Does the temple have to be built before he returns if it takes longer than 7 years to build it? In other words, do we have to wait until the temple is built or near completion before the Lord comes so the antichrist will be able to desecrate it? But if that is so, if we have to depend on the temple being built before the rapture, then Jesus’ return wouldn’t be very imminent would it? So the answer is no, the rapture can take place at any time, but there must be time for the temple to be built, as well as for other prophecies to be fulfilled, and this falls into what Preacher Dewey Williams has preached in his prophecy conferences and what Dr. Winston Mazakis has written about, stating that after the rapture there seems to be a period of time, most likely 40 years, before the tribulation and Great Tribulation take place, what is known as the Day of the Lord which is not just a reference to the 7 years of the Tribulation, although they possibly overlap (based on as of yet unfulfilled prophecies in the book of Ezekiel and Isaiah). If that is so that would give plenty of time for the antichrist to rise to power after the rapture, 40 years of time for the year peace treaty between the antichrist and Israel to be established, time for Egypt and Damascus to be destroyed (ref Ezek 29, 38, Isaiah 19), time for the Gog and Magog war, and then for Israel and the Antichrist to team up and rebuild the temple, and then and only then will the antichrist be able to desecrate it when he fully reveals himself and betrays Israel. But the problem still comes in with the Muslim mosque currently on the temple mount. Not to spend too much time on this at the moment, I agree with Dr Mazakis and think God will take care of this problem on His own, most likely by an earthquake or an accidental act of war, where the mosque will be destroyed and thus pave the way for the temple to be constructed on the temple mount, the very temple rebuilt and completed that John now measures with a reed.
So that deals with the place mentioned here, but when will God take possession of the temple that John is now measuring, when will He claim it? We get that answer from v2, John says the outer court of the temple will be trod under by the Gentiles for 42 more months, exactly 3 ½ more years, which speaks of the time referred to as the second half of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan 9:27), the last half of the tribulation, the time of the Great Tribulation (the time that takes place after the 40 years mentioned above). the time of the Gentiles began with Nebuchadnezzar and the captivity of Judah and has continued to this day and will not be over until the Beast, the antichrist, the last Gentile ruler on earth, is vanquished. Jesus himself said in Lu 21:24 …and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. So from what we can gather, the two witnesses (mentioned in the following verses of ch11) minister during the first half of the tribulation and then Jerusalem is overran by the Gentiles and the antichrist for 42 months, the last half of the tribulation, and then their end will come when God claims what is His. So now that we know the place and we know the time left for the Gentiles, we now see John take a step back in time in this parenthetical passage, he has just been talking about the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, but now he goes back to the first half where we see two special servants of the Lord step onto the scene to cause the antichrist great trouble and annoyance during the first half of the tribulation.'.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 5:5 and Philippians 4:15 about the word give. The functional definition for this word is: 'Bestowing; conferring; imparting; granting; delivering'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks.

Please see the note for Luke 7:24 about the word reed. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) "Paper reeds" (Isa 19:7; R.V., "reeds"). Heb 'aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places. (2.) Heb kaneh (1Ki 14:15; Job 40:21; Isa 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a "cane," a generic name for a reed of any kind. the reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, "with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position." It is used to illustrate weakness (2Ki 18:21; Eze 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Mt 11:7; comp. Eph 4:14). A "bruised reed" (Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Mt 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). the "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Mt 27:48) was, according to John (Joh 19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See Cane.)'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:1; 21:15; 21:16.

Please see the note for Matthew 7:24-25 about the word liken. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'To compare; to represent as resembling or similar. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, that built his house on a rock. Matt. 6'. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the word likeness. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Resemblance in form; similitude. the picture is a good likeness of the original. 2. Resemblance; form; external appearance. Guard against an enemy in the likeness of a friend. 3. One that resembles another; a copy; a counterpart. I took you for your likeness, Chloe. 4. An image, picture or statue, resembling a person or thing. Ex. 20'. Please also see the note for Romans 15:5-6 about the word likeminded. word also see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the word likeness. Please also see the note for Mark 4:16-17 about the word likewise.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 11:25 about the word rod. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'An offshoot from the trunk of a tree, Ge 30:37; Isa 11:1; Eze 37:15-22. It also denotes a staff, used by one walking, Isa 3:1; Eze 29:6; by a diviner, Ho 4:12; by a surveyor, Ps 74:2; by a shepherd, Le 27:32; Zec 11:10-14; as an instrument of correction, Pr 23:13; 29:15; as a sceptre, Es 8:4; Isa 14:5; and as a symbol of power, Ps 2:9, support and direction, Ps 23:4'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S1; Significant Gospel Events; Significant New Testament Events about the word angel. The functional definition for this word is: 'Literally, a messenger; one employed to communicate news or information or do a job for God'. Please also see the note for Jude 1:7 about the word archangel.

The word stood is the past-tense form of the word stand. Please see the notes for Romans C14S5 and 1Corinthians C15S1 about the word stand. The functional definition for this word is: 'to be upon the feet, as an animal; not to sit, kneel or lie'. Please also see the note for Philippians 1:18 about the word notwithstanding. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C14S2 about the word understand. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. The functional definition for this word is: 'lifestyle speaking. A saying that never changes when said by God'. Please also see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. The functional definition is: 'Uttering in articulate sounds or words; speaking; telling; relating; reciting'. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please also see the notes for Romans C15S15 and 2Corinthians 2:17 about the word speak. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word speech. Please also see the notes for Ephesians C4S15 and 1Peter 2:1 about the phrase evil speaking. The words speaketh and saith mean that the person 'keeps on keeping on doing the saying'.

Please see the note for Colossians C2-S7 about the word rise. The functional definition for this word is: 'To move to pass upward in any manner; to ascend; as, a fog rises from a river or from low ground; a fish rises in water; fowls rise in the air; clouds rise from the horizon towards the meridian; a balloon rises above the clouds.'. Please also see the note for John 20:2-LJC about the phrase risen Jesus is Lord. Please also see the note for Mark 10:1 about the words arise / arose.

Please see the note for John 3:34 about the word measure. The functional definition for this word is: 'This word specifies a way to figure proportional values. the whole extent or dimensions of a thing, including length, breadth and thickness. It is applied also to length or to breadth separately. It can also specify a quantity or value such as when applied to money'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 3:16 about the word temple. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'first used of the tabernacle, which is called "the temple of the Lord" (1Sa 1:9). In the New Testament the word is used figuratively of Christ's human body (Joh 2:19,21). Believers are called "the temple of God" (1Co 3:16-17). the Church is designated "an holy temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:21). Heaven is also called a temple (Re 7:5). We read also of the heathen "temple of the great goddess Diana" (Ac 19:27).
This word is generally used in Scripture of the sacred house erected on the summit of Mount Moriah for the worship of God. It is called "the temple" (1Ki 6:17); "the temple [R.V., 'house'] of the Lord" (2Ki 11:10); "thy holy temple" (Ps 79:1); "the house of the Lord" (2Ch 23:5,12); "the house of the God of Jacob" (Isa 2:3); "the house of my glory" (Isa 60:7); an "house of prayer" (Isa 56:7; Mt 21:13); "an house of sacrifice" (2Ch 7:12); "the house of their sanctuary" (2Ch 36:17); "the mountain of the Lord's house" (Isa 2:2); "our holy and our beautiful house" (Isa 64:11); "the holy mount" (Isa 27:13); "the palace for the Lord God" (1Ch 29:1); "the tabernacle of witness" (2Ch 24:6); "Zion" (Ps 74:2; 84:7). Christ calls it "my Father's house" (Joh 2:16)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:16 about the phrase temple of God. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:16 about the phrase temple of the Lord. Please also see the note for Mark 15:38 about the phrase veil of the Temple.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S22 about the word altar. The functional definition for this word is: 'any structure of earth (Ex 20:24) or unwrought stone (Ex 20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Also used symbolically for a heart attitude of dedicating a life to the service of God. Used in Heb 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'a reed. Re 21:15; Isa 28:17; Eze 40:3-5; 42:15-20; Zec 2:1-2; Ga 6:14-16 and the. Re 10:1-5 Rise. Nu 33:18; Eze 40-48; 1Co 3:16-17; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:5,9 General references. exp: Isa 64:10.'.

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C11-S2 (Verse 2) John measures the Earthly temple at Mid-Trib.

Equivalent Section: What John is to not measure.

First Step: the command.

But the court which is without the temple leave out,
and measure it not;.

Second Step: Why.

for it is given unto the Gentiles:.

Equivalent Section: How lost Gentiles will treat the holy city.

and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The great tribulation is seven years long and our Second Equivalent Section tells us that the action of this sentence, and of this chapter, occur at 'Mid-Trib'. Think about all that has already happened and realize that the people who preach 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib' claim that God will make His saved church go through all of that tribulation. Also, understand that where the 'Pre-Trib' says that the 'Rapture' will happen, we read that the word of God literally tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ commands: come up hither (C4-S1). We find nothing similar to support the claim of 'Mid-Trib' and the 'Rapture' is completely denied by those who hold to 'Post-Trib'. Yes, Revelation 11:12 does say: come up hither, but that is limited to God's two special witnesses and not to the entire church. So, yes, those who support those false doctrines want us to wast time arguing with their opinions, but they do not have a true Biblical basis for their doctrines. That makes t5hose doctrines to be doctrines of devils.

Returning to the analysis of our sentence, we see two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling us what John was to not measure and the Second Equivalent Section telling us why. Basically, God wants His people to ignore religious claims of lost people and to ignore arguments of doctrinal error. We are to pay attention to what God is doing and to what His people do, but we are to not wast time dealing with error, especially when the people in error refuse to listen because they are positive that they are correct.

Now, we could look at more details of this sentence, but anything beyond what has already been covered and what is in the Word Studies, below, is a waste of time.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Our sentence starts with the word But. The word but always provides a contrast between what precedes it and what follows it. The prior sentence told us what our Lord Jesus Christ said . That preceded this word but and our current sentence tells us what our Lord Jesus Christ said .

Please see the note for Luke 7:25 about the word court. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'the enclosure of the tabernacle (Ex 27:9-19; 40:8), of the temple (1Ki 6:36), of a prison (Ne 3:25), of a private house (2Sa 17:18), and of a king's palace (2Ki 20:4)'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S13 and Galatians C2-S4 about the word Gentile. The functional definition for this word is: ''In the scriptures, a pagan; a worshipper of false gods; any person not a Jew or a Christian; a heathen'.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; 1Corinthians C3S17; Philippians 1:3-7 and Colossians C1S6 about the word holy. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'a. 1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, Godly. Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1. 2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood. 3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal. 4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God. 5. Sacred; as a holy witness. Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year. Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls. Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner'. Please also see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the phrase holy city. Please also see the Word Study on the Holy Ghost for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost. Please also see the note for 1John 2:20 about the phrase Holy One. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events for this, and other, Minor Titles of the Son of God. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

Please see the note for Mark 11:19 about the word city. The functional definition for this word is: 'An area where many people live together and have a local government rule over them'. Please also see the note for Romans C13S12 about the phrase city of refuge. Please also see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the phrase holy city.

We find forms of the word tread occurring 47 times in the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Luke 10:19; 1Corinthians 9:9; 1Timothy 5:18; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 19:15. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.i. tred. pret. trod; pp. trod, troden. L. trudo. 1. to set the foot. Where'er you tread, the blushing flow'rs shall rise. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. 2. to walk or go. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread, shall be yours. Deut.11. 3. to walk with form or state. Ye that stately tread, or lowly creep. 4. to copulate, as fowls. Totread or tread on, to trample; to set the foot on in contempt. Thou shalt tread upon their high places. Det.33.
TREAD, v.t. tred. to step or walk on. Forbid to tread the promis'd land he saw. 1. to press under the feet. 2. to beat or press with the feet; as, to tread a path; to tread land when too light; a well trodden path. 3. to walk in a formal or stately manner. He thought she trod the ground with greater grace. 4. to crush under the foot; to trample in contempt or hatred, or to subdue. Ps.44. 60. 5. to compress, as a fowl. Totread the state, to act as a stage-player; to perform a part in a drama. Totread or tread out, to press out with the feet; to press out wine or wheat; as, to tread out grain with cattle or horses. They tread their wine presses and suffer thirst. Job.24.
TREAD, n. tred. A step or stepping; pressure with the foot; as a nimble tread; cautious tread; doubtful tread. 1. Way; track; path. Little used. 2. Compression of the male fowl. 3. Manner of stepping; as, a horse has a good tread.'.

The word feet is the plural form of the word foot. Please see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the word foot. The functional definition for this word is: 'The orientals used to wash the feet of strangers who came off a journey, because they commonly walked with their legs bare, and their feet defended only by sandals, Ge 24:32; 43:24. So Abraham washed the feet of the three angels, Ge 18:4. this office was usually performed by servants and slaves; and hence Abigail answers David, who sought her in marriage, that she should think it an honor to wash the feet of the king's servants, 1Sa 25:41'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 1:13 about the word footstool. Please also see the note for Luke 1:76 about the word feet.

Please see the note for Hebrews 3:17 about the word forty. The functional definition for this word is: 'This number is symbolically associated with the judgment of God'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the court. Eze 40:17-20; 42:20 leave out. Gr. cast out. it is. Re 13-18; Ps 79:1; La 1:10; Lu 21:24; 2Th 2:3-12; 1Ti 4:1-3; 2Ti 3:1-6 and the. Re 21:2; 22:19; Isa 48:2; 52:1; Mt 4:5; 27:53 tread. Da 7:19; 8:10,24-25; Mt 5:13; Heb 10:29 forty. Re 11:3,11; 12:6; 13:5; Nu 14:34; Da 7:25; 12:7,11-12 General references. exp: Isa 64:10.'.

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C11-S3 (Verse 3) God adds the account of His two great witnesses.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses,
and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days,
clothed in sackcloth.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior two sentences. In the prior sentences, John was told to measure where people still worshipped God and served Him even during the great tribulation. Now, this sentence is adding the start of the account about God's two great witnesses during the great tribulation. Thus, we have added together two testimonies of people serving God even during the great tribulation.

Our second phrase tells us how long they will witness for God. This number of days is, basically, just under three and a half years or forty months with forty being God's symbolic number for judgment. As with the doctrine of the 'Rapture', God removes these two witnesses before he brings final judgment.

Our third phrase tell us that they will be dressed as John the Baptist was dressed.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here God says He will give power to His two witnesses who will prophecy for a period of 1,260 days, which equals 42 months, or 3 ½ years. Apparently, the two witnesses prophecy against the antichrist for the first half of the tribulation, and at their martyrdom during the second woe of the sixth trumpet, the Great Tribulation breaks out. the 3 ½ year time period, speaking of the Gentiles and the Beast, is the second half of the 7 year time span of the tribulation and will end with the return of Christ to set up his kingdom. So during this time, these two prophets prophecy while wearing sackcloth, which means humility and repentance, for they tell the world of the Lord Jesus and His rejection, they speak of sin and mankind’s wickedness, they inform the world that the previous judgments were from God and they warn of more to come, they stand against the antichrist and speak of his lies and deception, they will testify against the depravity of Jerusalem, and will inform the Jewish people that is was they who killed their Messiah long ago but that he will yet be king over all. Such statements spoken with boldness, power and conviction will infuriate the antichrist and his allies and they will seek to kill and destroy these two witnesses.
But before we go too far into that just yet, the question arises, who are these witnesses. Much speculation has been given as to their identity, but nothing definite has ever been produced. Some believe, based on the powers and miracles these two have and can produce, that they are Moses and Elijah for both had similar powers and both were seen on the mount of transfiguration with the resurrected Christ, but one problem with this is that Moses is dead, is he going to be resurrected from a glorified body to come and die again? Some base their thinking of Elijah on the last verses of the Old Testament, Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. But this argument is refuted by Jesus in Mt 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.12 But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.13 then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. then some even think one of them might be Enoch for he was and then was not, but I personally don’t believe these two witnesses are any one from the Old Testament or the New.
And I’ll tell you why I think that for I believe a key to who these two witnesses are is in v4.'.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. The functional definition for this word is: 'The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force. 1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing anything; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength' Please also see the note for John 5:41 about the phrase power of God. Please also see the notes for Romans C8S40 and Ephesians C6S8 about the phrase spiritual powers.

Please see the note for Hebrews 11:4 about the word witness. The functional definition for this word is: 'someone who is qualified to testify in court and is available to do so if the court requests'. Please also see the notes for John 8:17; 2Corinthians 13:1 and Colossians C3S13 about the phrase witnesses, two or three. The functional definition for this phrase is: 'Basically, if the Bible literally says something in at least two places, that is a law that will be enforced by the court of God and is something that all must accept and obey'. Please also see the note for John 5:1 about the phrase witnesses given by Jesus to show that He is God.

Please see the notes for Luke 1:76; Romans C16S33; Romans C12S5 and Jude about the word prophet. In addition, false prophets are covered in the Study called False things according to the Bible. The most popular religious definition for this word is: 'someone who foretells the future'. However, that definition tends to limit the thinking of people to only those statements when, actually, the majority of their message was doctrinal. Please also see the note for John 1:45 about the phrase law and the prophets. Please also see the links for Prophecies and Prophecies Fulfilled in the Gospel Significant Events Study and the New Testament Significant Events Study.

Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18, the great day of final judgment.'. The functional definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The functional definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:2-3 about the word clothed. The functional definition for this word is: 'Covered with garments; dressed; invested; furnished with clothing'.

Please see the note for Luke 10:13 about the word sackcloth. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'cloth made of black goats' hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Ge 37:34; 42:25; 2Sa 3:31; Es 4:1-2; Ps 30:11, etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Mt 11:21). It was put upon animals by the people of Nineveh (Jon 3:8)'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I will give power, etc. or, I will give unto my two witnesses, that they may prophesy. Joh 3:27; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11 two. Nu 11:26; De 17:6; 19:15; Mt 18:16; 2Co 13:1 exp: Lu 7:19. witnesses. Re 20:4; Lu 24:48; Joh 15:27; Ac 1:8; 2:32; 3:15; 13:31 they shall. Re 19:10 a thousand. Re 11:2; 12:6 clothed. Ge 37:34; 1Ch 21:16; Es 4:1-2; Job 16:15; Isa 22:12; La 2:10; Joh 3:5-8 General references. exp: Ge 37:34; Nu 35:30; Ro 9:2.'.

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C11-S4 (Verse 4) the symbolic description of God's two witnesses.

These are the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

This sentence uses symbolic language and it is easy to get symbols wrong. One error that people make is believing that symbols always have the same meaning like believing that the number seven always stands for completion. More than once, on this web site, I have shown the error of that belief and how it led a famous preacher to claim that he could correct the word of God. Another error that people make is ignoring the context, which is the main source for properly interpreting symbols.

With the prior written, I completely support the interpretation of Dr. Jeff Wilson that the phrase olive tree speaks of the nation of Israel. I believe that they will be Jews whose main ministry will be to the nation of Israel. In addition, I agree to his symbol of the candlestick but I would put more emphasis on the candlestick which was part of the temple furniture.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'What an odd description given of these two. Olive trees, Candlesticks. And don’t confuse these candlesticks with the ones that Christ walked in the midst of back in ch1 which were representative of the church, for we are very much in Jewish territory here (talking of the temple and Jerusalem), we are not talking about the church (which is in heaven at the moment), we are talking about Israel. Olive trees speak of Israel and its people. Candlesticks speak of light and ministry to a dark world, kind of what Israel was supposed to be being God's chosen people and all. And the thing is we see a similar description, as seen in v4, given in Zechariah ch4, where we are given the identities of two great leaders of Israel: Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem, and Joshua, the High Priest of that day. they are spoken of as olive trees and candlesticks, and I believe the understanding of what John references here is in that chapter, for those two men helped reestablish Israel and helped rebuild the temple after the Babylonian captivity (and we just talked about the temple being rebuilt once more). those two leaders helped restore Israel, brought them together, taught them the right things. And now these two witnesses here in Revelation show us the final restoration of Israel is at hand, they prophecy in the streets of Jerusalem, trying to warn Israel, set them on the right path, so I think based on Zech ch4, these two witnesses will be a great national leader and a great religious leader of Israel (note: I am not saying these two will be Zerubbabel or Joshua, but men of like station). Could they be Moses or Elijah or Enoch, sure but I don’t think that’s likely. Why give names to these two when God doesn’t identify them? Why say their powers identify them as a particular person when those very powers come from God, not themselves (v3), and those powers are not unique, for God gave many of his servants miraculous abilities. Even the apostles had powers from God (healing, exorcism), James and John even asked Jesus if they should call down fire on one town that rejected them. All we know is that these two prophets, these two witnesses of God show forth that they speak the truth by the miracles they produce in order to support what they say as they stand opposed to the antichrist.
And because they stand against the antichrist and all under his sway, many will seek to destroy these two witnesses, there will be assassination attempts, angry mobs crying out for their blood, even military endeavors will take place to eradicate these two, but look at what happens to those who try such a thing.'.

Please see the note for Mark 11:13 about the word tree. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. 1. the general name of the largest of the vegetable kind, consisting of a firm woody stem springing from woody roots, and spreading above into branches which terminate in leaves. A tree differs from a shrub principally in size, many species of trees growing to the eighth of fifty or sixty feet, and some species to seventy or eighty, and a few, particularly the pine, to a much greater eighth. Trees are of various kinds; as nuciferous, or nut-bearing trees; bacciferous, or berry-bearing; coniferous, or cone-bearing, etc. Some are forest-trees, and useful for timber or fuel; others are fruit trees, and cultivated in gardens and orchards; others are used chiefly for shade and ornament. 2. Something resembling a tree, consisting of a stem or stalk and branches; as a genealogical tree. 3. In ship-building, pieces of timber are called chess-trees, cross-trees, roof-trees, tressel-trees, etc. 4. In Scripture, a cross. --Jesus, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Act.10'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S28 about the phrase olive / olive tree.

Please see the note for Mark 4:21 about the word candlestick. The functional definition for this word is: 'The lamp- stand, "candelabrum," which Moses was commanded to make for the tabernacle, according to the pattern shown him. It is also used, symbolically, for the church which is supposed to be "the light of the world"'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah'. In Ge 9:20 "husbandman" is literally "man of the ground or earth." Altars were to be built of earth (Ex 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth (2Ki 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil. (2). As the rendering of 'erets, it means the whole world (Ge 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (Ge 1:10). Erets also denotes a country (Ge 21:32); a plot of ground (Ge 23:15); the ground on which a man stands (Ge 33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (Ge 6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (2Ch 13:9). In the New Testament "the earth" denotes the land of Judea (Mt 23:35); also things carnal in contrast with things heavenly (Joh 3:31; Col 3:1-2)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word earthen. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word earthly. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Revelation 10:11-LJC about the phrase kings of the earth. Please also see the note for Matthew 32-33 about the phrase Judge of all the earth.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'two olive. Ps 52:8; Jer 11:16; Zec 4:2-3,11-14; Ro 11:17 two candlesticks. Re 1:20; Mt 5:14-16; Lu 11:33 standing. De 10:8; 1Ki 17:1 the God. Ex 8:22; Isa 54:5; Mic 4:13; Zec 4:14 General references. exp: Zec 4:3.'.

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C11-S5 (Verse 5) How God protects His witnesses until their time is up.

Equivalent Section: Fire will protect them.

And if any man will hurt them,
fire proceedeth out of their mouth,
and devoureth their enemies:.

Equivalent Section: Fire will kill their enemies.

and if any man will hurt them,
he must in this manner be killed.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section saying how God will protect them and the Second Equivalent Section that God will kill their enemies.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Whether these two men actually breath fire or by the words that come from their mouth they call down fire I do not know, maybe it’s the words they speak themselves that consume their enemies in flames of righteous indignation. We do not know for sure but we can see these two witnesses are nigh indestructible to all attacks while they preach the Word of God. Nothing can touch them, nothing harms them. No one can hinder their message, no one can thwart them, destroy them or even kill them, and the judgment of God falls on those who try. they preach for a full 42 months untouched by the enemy. they are similar to the 144,000 in their invulnerability. But a difference is not only does God give these two divine protection, he also gives them the ability to go on the attack, to proclaim the word of God and back it up with signs and wonders.'.

Please see the note for Mark 16:17-18 about the word hurt. The functional definition for this word is: 'to bruise; to give pain by a contusion, pressure, or any violence to the body. We hurt the body by a severe blow, or by tight clothes, and the feet by fetters. Ps.105. 2. to wound; to injure or impair the sound state of the body, as by incision or fracture. 3. to harm; to damage; to injure by occasioning loss. We hurt a man by destroying his property. 4. to injure by diminution; to impair. A man hurts his estate by extravagance. 5. to injure by reducing in quality; to impair the strength, purity or beauty of. Hurt not the wine and the oil--Rev.6. 6. to harm; to injure; to damage, in general. 7. to wound; to injure; to give pain to; as, to hurt the feelings.
HURT, n. A wound; a bruise; anything that gives pain to the body. the pains of sickness and hurts. 1. Harm; mischief; injury. I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. Gen.4. 2. Injury; loss. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Ezra.4'.

Please see the note for James 3:6 about the word fire. The functional definition for this word is: 'In the Bible, it is mainly used symbolically for the presence and judgment of God'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S18 about the phrase coals of fire. Please also see the note for Revelation 19:20 about the phrase lake of fire.

Please see the note for John 15:26-7 about the word proceed. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to move, pass or go forward from one place to another; applied to persons or things. A man proceeds on his journey; a ship proceeds on her voyage. this word thus used implies that the motion, journey or voyage had been previously commenced, and to proceed is then to renew or continue the motion or progress. 2. to pass from one point, stage or topic to another. the preacher proceeds from one division of his subject, and the advocate from one argument, to another. 3. to issue or come as from a course or fountain. Light proceeds from the sun; vice proceeds from a depraved heart; virtuous affections proceed from God. 4. to come from a person or place. Christ says, "I proceeded forth and came from God." John 8. 5. to prosecute any design. He that proceeds on other principles in his inquiry into any sciences, posts himself in a party. 6. to be transacted or carried on. He will, after his sour fashion, tell you, What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Not now in use. 7. to make progress; to advance. 8. to begin and carry on a series of actions or measures. the attorney was at a loss in what manner to proceed against the offender. in this sense, the word is often followed by against. 9. to transact; to act; to carry on methodically. From them I will not hide My judgments, how with mankind I proceed. 10. to have a course. this rule only proceeds and takes place, when a person cannot of common law condemn another by his sentence. 11. to issue; to be produced or propagated. From my loins thou shalt proceed. 12. to be produced by an effectual cause. All created things proceed from God.'. the functional definition for this word is: 'This word incorporates a series of sets which move us from one place to another'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:64 about the word mouth. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Is sometimes used in Scripture for speaker, Ex 4:16; Jer 15:19. God spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth," Nu 12.8, that is, condescendingly and clearly. the law was to be "in the mouth" of the Hebrews, Ex 13:9, often rehearsed and talked of. "The rod of his mouth," Isa 11:4, and the sharp sword, Re 1:16, denote the power of Christ's word to convict, control, and judge; compare Isa 49:2; Heb 4:12. the Hebrew word for mouth is often translated "command," Ge 45:21; Job 39:27; Ec 8:2; and the unclean spirits out of the mouth of the dragon, Re 16:14, are the ready executors of his commands'.

Please see the note for Galatians 5:15 about the word devour. The functional definition for this word is: 'To destroy; to consume with rapidity and violence'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:5; 12:4; 20:9.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S19 about the word enemy. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. L. inimicus. 1. A foe; an adversary. A private enemy is one who hates another and wishes him injury, or attempts to do him injury to gratify his own malice or ill will. A public enemy or foe, is one who belongs to a nation or party, at war with another. I way to you, love your enemies. Matt.5. Enemies in war; in peace friends. 2. One who hates or dislikes; as an enemy to truth or falsehood. 3. In theology, and by way of eminence, the enemy is the Devil; the archfiend. 4. In military affairs, the opposing army or naval force in war, is called the enemy'.

Please see the note for 1Peter C1S4 about the word manner (singular). The functional definition for this word is: 'Form; method; way of performing or executing'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:5; 18:12; 21:19; 22:2.

Please see the note for Romans C13S12 about the word kill. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.t. 1. to deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or by any means. to kill an animal or a plant, is to put an end to the vital functions, either by destroying or essentially injuring the org and necessary to life, or by causing them to cease from action. An animal may be killed by the sword or by poison, by disease or by suffocation. A strong solution of salt will kill plants. 2. to butcher; to slaughter for food; as, to kill an ox. 3. to quell; to appease; to calm; to still; as, in seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'fire. Nu 16:28-35; 2Ki 1:10-12; Ps 18:8; Isa 11:4; Jer 1:10; 5:14; Eze 43:3; Ho 6:5; Zec 1:6; 2:8; Ac 9:4-5 General references. exp: Ps 97:3.'.

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C11-S6 (Verse 6) the power of God's two special witnesses.

Equivalent Section: they can stop rain like Elijah.

These have power to shut heaven,
that it rain not in the days of their prophecy:.

Equivalent Section: They can do the same miracles as Moses did.

and have power over waters to turn them to blood,
and to smite the earth with all plagues,
as often as they will.

This sentence is why some believe that these two are Old Testament prophets returned to Earth. However, doing similar miracles doe not make them the same person. Three people were restored to life in the Old Testament and Jesus raised three people from the dead. But, Jesus was not an Old Testament prophet returned to Earth.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with each one telling us a different miraculous power that God gave to His two witnesses. One of the main reasons for the great tribulation is that God is dealing with the Jews and they know the Old Testament. Thus, these powers are not necessarily an Old Testament prophet restored to life but that very definitely are the powers displayed by the two most famous Old Testament prophets: Elijah and Moses. Thus, God is sending a message to the Jews which even the most religiously ignorant of them will recognize. And, His message is clear. These two are His witnesses and they need to listen to them and obey if they want to avoid Hell and the lake of fire.

In our First Equivalent Section we see them exercise the power of Elijah in 1Kings 17. In our Second Equivalent Section we see them exercise the power of Moses in Exodus 7.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'This is where many base their assumptions on that these two are Moses and Elijah. forElijah shut up the heavens and caused it not to rain for the same amount of time (3 ½ years), and Moses is identified with the plagues upon Egypt, such as turning water to blood. But again these are abilities not traits, they are powers given by God and He can give these to whoever he wishes, and don’t you think John would have recognized these two after seeing them on the mount of transfiguration? that’s why I think these two are new Jewish individuals that will step up when they are called upon. they will stand bravely and preach truth, they will tell what will befall the antichrist and tell others of the true Christ. they will be hated, as they will point out sin and depravity, they will shine a light on man’s wickedness, of the lies and deceptions of the rulers of that day, they will cause a great stir, people will wish they would just go away, would leave them alone, would just die so they will not feel the pangs of conviction of guilt and shame. this will be much like what the 144,000 will preach, but unlike those many Jewish preachers, when these two witness’s purpose is completed and their task finished, their preaching and their lives come to an end..'.

Please see the note for Matthew 25:10 about the word shut. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to close so as to hinder ingress or egress; as, to shut a door or gate; to shut the eyes or the mouth. 2. to prohibit; to bar; to forbid entrance into; as, to shut the ports of the kingdom by a blockade. Shall that be shut to man, which to the beast Is open? Milton. 3. to preclude; to exclude. But shut from every shore. Dryden. 4. to close, as the fingers; to contract; as, to shut the hand'. Please note that the word in our sentence is: shutteth, which is: 'a lifestyle shutting'. Men and devils might shut a spiritual door for a short time, such as when the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem tried to shut the door of salvation to Gentiles by claiming that someone had to be circumcised and become a Jew in order to be spiritually saved. But, as the New Testament teaches us, our Lord Jesus Christ worked around them and opened the door of salvation to Gentiles. Likewise, the phrase shutteth, and no man openeth means that when our Lord Jesus Christ permanently closes a door, no one is going to open it again. For example, the message of the books called Left Behind is doctrinal error. After the 'Rapture', no one received the indwelling Holy Spirit and true salvation is only given to people who obey the Mosaic Law.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:44-45 about the word rain. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '"violent rain" or generically "the early and latter rain" (Jer 5:24; Joe 2:23). Yoreh, "the early rain of autumn"; malkosh, "the latter rain of spring" (Pr 16:15; Job 29:23; Jer 3:3; Ho 6:3; Zec 10:1). Rebibim, from rab "many," from the multitude of drops; "showers" (De 32:2). Zerem, "violent rain," "hailstorm" (Job 24:8). Sagrir only in Pr 27:15. As compared with Egypt, Palestine was a land of rain (De 11:10-11), but for six months no rain falls so that "rain in harvest" and "thunder" were marvelous phenomena, and out of time and place (Pr 26:1; 1Sa 12:16-18). the early rain begins gradually, the latter end of October or beginning of November. Generally from the W. or S.W. (Lu 12:54); the wind then changes to the N. or E. At no period in the winter, from the end of October to the end of March, does rain entirely cease. In January and February snow falls, but lies only a short time.
"The early rain" means the first autumnal showers which prepare the arid soil for the seed; "the latter rain" the later spring showers, especially in March, which bring forward the crop toward harvest (Jas 5:7; Pr 16:15). Showers fall occasionally in April and May. God claims as His peculiar prerogative the sending or withholding of rain, which He made dependent on the obedience or disobedience of Israel (Le 26:3-5,19; De 11:13-15; 28:23-24; Jer 3:3; 5:24; 14:22). "The latter rain in the first (month)" in Joe 2:23 means in the month when first it is needed; or else, as Vulgate and Septuagint, "as at the first" (compare Isa 1:26; Ho 2:15; Mal 3:4); or in Nisan or Abib, the Passover month, the first, namely, the end of March and beginning of April. the departure of winter was marked by the cessation of rain (Song 2:11-13). Rain is the beautiful image of the Spirit's refreshing influences in Messiah's kingdom (Ho 6:3; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 72:6)'.

Please see the note for Luke 3:16 about the word water. The functional definition for this word is: 'The basic liquid of life. It is used symbolically for more than one meaning. Consideration of the context is required in order to determine the usage in any Bible reference'. Please also see the note for John 4:10 about the phrase living waters. Please also see the note for John 7:38 about the phrase rivers of living water.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word blood. The functional definition for this word is: 'The fluid which circulates through the arteries and veins of the human body, and of other animals, which is essential to the preservation of life'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:28 about the phrase blood of Christ. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 10:16-LJC about the phrase Christ and blood.

Please see the note for John 18:23 about the word smite. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to strike; to throw, drive or force against, as the fist or hand, a stone or a weapon; to reach with a blow or a weapon; as, to smite one with the fist; to smite with a rod or with a stone. Whoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt. 5. 2. to kill; to destroy the life of by beating or by weapons of any kind; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other engine. David smote Goliath with a sling and a stone. the Philistines were often smitten with great slaughter. this word, like slay, usually or always signification, that of beating, striking, the primitive mode of killing. We never apply it to the destruction of life by poison, by accident or by legal execution. 3. to blast; to destroy life; as by a stroke or by something sent. the flax and the barley were smitten. Ex. 9. 4. to afflict; to chasten; to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him. 5. to strike or affect with passion. See what the charms that smite the simple heart. Smit with the love of sister arts we came'.

Please see the note for Mark 3:10 about the word plague. The functional definition for this word is: 'a "stroke" of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Nu 11:33; 14:37; 16:46-49; 2Sa 24:21). Painful afflictions or diseases, (Le 13:3,5,30; 1Ki 8:37), or severe calamity (Mr 5:29; Lu 7:21), or the judgment of God, so called (Ex 9:14)'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'power. 1Ki 17:1; Lu 4:25; Jas 5:16-18 have power over. Eze 7-12; 12:14; Ps 105:26-36'.

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C11-S7 (Verse 7) God allows them to die and go to Heaven after they finish their ministry.

And when they shall have finished their testimony,
the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them,
and shall overcome them,
and kill them.

Notice that our sentence does not say 'antichrist'. It says the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit. He appears to be the most powerful devil under Satan. Satan has three false imitations of God. Satan presents himself as a replacement for God the Father. He presents the resurrected Judas Iscariot [son of perdition (John 17:12; 2Thessalonians 2:3; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 17:11)]. He also presents the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit as a replacement for God's holy Spirit. And, in this book, we see two out of these three identified as beast.

in this sentence we see God allow Satan's false Holy Spirit to overcome His two witnesses because they have finished their ministry and must die before going to Heaven. God also allows what is also reported in this chapter as a test. Those people who celebrate the death of God's tow witnesses, and the dishonor of their bodies, condemn themselves to Hell and the lake of fire even though they will not die until later.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'After all the attacks these two survive, after all the hate they stand against, after every attempt to get rid of them failed, when their time and task is completed, when they have finished their testimony, their witnessing to this world, God allows the Beast that ascends from the bottomless pit, the antichrist, to make war against them one last time, and he will overcome them and he shall slay them. the antichrist which has revealed himself as his true self, the son of perdition, the deceiver, the truce breaker, the one who desires to be worshiped as a god, and is empowered by Satan himself, will think he has won a great victory. God's servants have been silenced. And such contempt the antichrist has for these two that he does not permit their bodies to be buried or burned, but instead they are put on display for the world to see.'.

Please see the note for Matthew 19:1 about the word finish. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Completed; ended; done; perfected. 2. a. Complete; perfect; polished to the highest degree of excellence; as a finished poem; a finished education'.

Please see the note for Psalms 119 about the words testimony / testimonies. The functional definition for this word is: 'statements that are used in a court of law to judge the legality of someone's actions. these require first-hand experience because anything else would be rumor and not legal to present in court'. Please also see the note for Matthew 19:21 about the phrase testimonies of the LORD. Please also see the note for Galatians 5:3 about the word testify. Please also see the Message called Testimony of God. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: Acts 13:22; Acts 14:3; Acts 22:18.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please see the note for John 6:62 about the word ascend. The functional definition for this word is: 'To move upwards; to mount; to go up; to rise, whether in air or water, or upon a material object upon, as to ascend a hill or ladder; or to climb, as to ascend a tree'.

Please see the note for Revelation 9:1 about the word bottomless. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a, Without a bottom; applied to water, caverns etc., it signified fathomless, whose bottom cannot be found by sounding; as a bottomless abyss or ocean.'. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'lit. 'without a bottom,' an abyss. From the passages in the Revelation we learn that the abyss is where the Satanic powers are shut up, not where they will be punished, which is in the lake of fire. the demons cast out by the Lord in Lu 8:31 besought Him that He would not send them into the abyss. In Ro 10:7 it is put in contrast to the heavens. In Re 9:1-11, to a star fallen from heaven the key of the abyss is given, and on its being opened great moral darkness rises, out of which destructive agents proceed: Abaddon (Apollyon) 'the destroyer' is their king. the future Roman empire is represented as a beast rising out of (receiving in its last head power from) the abyss. Re 11:7; 17:8. Satan will be confined in the abyss during the thousand years of the millennium. Re 20:1,3. (The above are all the passages where the Greek word occurs.)'. We have a problem with this definition. 9:2 says: the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. If this word represents the lake of fire, and not Hell, then how does it affect the air on Earth? However, since Hell is a globe, it can not be said to have a bottom.

Please see the note for Luke 14:4-5 about the word pit. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'There are several Hebrew words translated 'pit.' the principles are: 1. sheol, 'the grave, hades, hell.' Nu 16:30,33; Job 17:16. 2. shachath, 'a pit, a pitfall to entrap animals,' place of doom and corruption. Job 33:18,24,28,30; Ps 9:15; 30:9; 35:7; Eze 28:8; etc. 3. bor, beer, 'pit or well dug for water,' but which could be used for a dungeon. Ge 37:20-29; Ps 28:1; 40:2; 88:4,6; Eze 26:20; Zec 9:11; etc'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the words warfare / war. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'war and fare. 1. Military service; military life; war. the Philistines gathered their armies for warfare. 1 Samuel 28. 2. Contest; struggle with spiritual enemies. the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 2 Corinthi and 10. WARFARE, v.i. to lead a military life; to carry on continual wars. In that credulous warfaring age. Little used'. Please also see the note for James 4:1 about the word wars. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:7; 12:7; 12:17; 13:4; 13:7; 17:14; 19:11; 19:19.

Please see the note for 2Peter 2:19 about the word overcome. The functional definition for this word is: 'To conquer; to vanquish; to subdue; as, to overcome enemies in battle. 2. to surmount; to get the better of; as, to overcome difficulties or obstacles'. The word overcometh is: : 'A lifestyle of overcoming. That is' they overcome the temptations of this world and never go back to them'. Please see the Significant New Testament Events for links to every place in this book where we find forms of the word overcometh and the promises to saved people who truly do this.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. Re 11:3; Lu 13:32; Joh 17:4; 19:30; Ac 20:24; 2Ti 4:7 the beast. Re 13:1,7,11; 17:6-8; 19:19-20; Da 7:21-22,25; 8:23-24; Zec 14:2-21; 2Th 2:8-9 out. Re 9:2 General references. exp: Da 7:21.'.

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C11-S8 (Verse 8) the bodies of God's two witnesses are dishonored.

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city,
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt,
where also our Lord was crucified.

The very last phrase, in this sentence, identifies the city of this sentence as Jerusalem. It is clear that the city being talked about is Jerusalem. It spiritually is called Sodom because the people in it are adulterous and pervert the personal relationship with God like the Sodomites did with the personal relationship that sex is supposed to be part of. It spiritually is called Egypt because the people in it seek the things of this world above the spiritual.

This sentence lets us know that these two witnesses were mainly, if not always, in the country of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Here, and in the next sentence, we see that their bodies were deliberately dishonored by the government leaving their dead bodies in the street. Our next sentence tells us ho long the bodies stayed there. The body of Jesus was in the ground for three days and corruption did not set in. The body of Lazarus was in the ground for four days and corruption did set in. These bodies are left out in the sun of Jerusalem, which will let corruption set in quicker and they are there for a time between when Jesus was in the grave and when Lazarus was in the grave.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Their bodies will lay there and begin to decay and rot and stink, flies will surround them, and no honor will be given to them for they stood against the antichrist, the false Messiah. the world will think antichrist has won, he has silenced the ones that stopped the rain, that brought curse upon curse, plague upon plague upon those that did not heed the truth. He has rid the world of their annoyance, so in the streets of Jerusalem their bodies will lay, in the city where our Lord was crucified, the holy city, the city God has claimed as His, but a city that has no association with God whatsoever for it is described as a spiritual Sodom and Egypt (both types of the world). the city has become polluted and worldly like Sodom, rebellious and proud like Egypt, but God judged Sodom and brought His people out of Egypt, just as He will bring out a remnant during this time of Jacob’s troubles. forGod even in allowing these two witnesses to be overcome works all things to good, Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. He is not finished with these two witnesses yet. And He allows the world to see His power demonstrated, so to begin with God allows the entire world to see these two dead bodies laying there. God is allowing the world to be assured they are really dead so no one will doubt what happens next is by His power and His alone.
In the meantime, the antichrist will think himself truly great and mighty, thinking himself more powerful than God. He has won against these two, he has overcome those who spoke for God and were empowered by God and his followers will rejoice, they will have a grand celebration.'.

Please see the notes for Romans C6S4; 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20 and Colossians C1S4 about the words dead / death / die. The functional definition for this word is: 'Physical death is separation of soul and spirit from body and the second death is eternal separation from God'. Please also see the notes for Revelation 2:11; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8 about the phrase death, second.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S30; 1Corinthians C6S20; Ephesians 4:5-LJC and Colossians C1S4 about the word body. The functional definition for this word is: 'The frame of an animal; the material substance of an animal, in distinction from the living principal of beasts, and the soul of man. Used symbolically for the framework for sin including all parts of it'. Please also see the note for Colossians C1S6 about the phrase body of Christ. Please also see the note for 1Peter 4:15 about the word busybody.

Please see the note for Luke 10:10-11 about the word street. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The street called "Straight" at Damascus (Ac 9:11) is "a long broad street, running from east to west, about a mile in length, and forming the principle thoroughfare in the city." In Oriental towns streets are usually narrow and irregular and filthy (Ps 18:42; Isa 10:6). "It is remarkable," says Porter, "that all the important cities of Palestine and Syria Samaria, Caesarea, Gerasa, Bozrah, Damascus, Palmyra, had their 'straight streets' running through the centre of the city, and lined with stately rows of columns. the most perfect now remaining are those of Palmyra and Gerasa, where long ranges of the columns still stand.", through Samaria, etc'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:8; 21:21; 22:2.

Please see the note for Galatians 6:1 in Word Study on Spirit about the word spiritual. The functional definition for this word is: 'applied to physical things which are, or should be, controlled by the spiritual reality. these things are almost always controlled by God and used to teach us lessons about the spiritual reality'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition for this word is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. In this sentence, it is used to identify the city and the relationship that lost men had with it. Please also see the notes for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13 about the words Lord and call.

Please see the note for Jude 1:7 about the word Sodom. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Ge 13:10; 14:1-16). the wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (Ge 18:16-33; 19:1-29; De 23:17). this city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (De 29:23; 32:32; Isa 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:46-56; Zep 2:9; Mt 10:15; Ro 9:29; 2Pe 2:6, etc.). No trace of it or of the other cities of the plain has been discovered, so complete was their destruction. Just opposite the site of Zoar, on the south-west coast of the Dead Sea, is a range of low hills, forming a mass of mineral salt called Jebel Usdum, "the hill of Sodom." It has been concluded, from this and from other considerations, that the cities of the plain stood at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Others, however, with much greater probability, contend that they stood at the northern end of the sea. [in 1897]'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 3:16 about the word Egypt. The functional definition for this word is: ' While Egypt is a physical country on this Earth, it is used for a type of the world (way of thinking, etc) within the Bible'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 1:13 about the words crucify / crucified. The functional definition for this word is: 'To put to death by nailing the hands and feet to a cross or gibbet. Spiritually, this means to accept the suffering of Jesus Christ because you truly represent God in this sinful world'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'their dead. Re 11:9; Ps 79:2-3; Jer 26:23; Eze 37:11 the great. Re 11:13; 14:8; 16:19; 17:1,5; 18:2,10,18,21 Sodom. Ge 13:13; 19:24; Isa 1:10; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:53-55; Am 4:11; Mt 10:15; 2Pe 2:6; Jude 1:7 Egypt. Ex 1:13-14; 3:7; 20:2; Ps 78:43-51 exp: Ac 2:10. our Lord. Re 18:24; Lu 13:33-34; Ac 9:4; Heb 6:6; 13:12 General references. exp: Jer 50:40; Da 7:21; Lu 17:29.'.

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C11-S9 (Verse 9) How long the bodies are dishonored.

And they of the people and kindreds and ongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half,
and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Before the days of internet and international TV, this sentence was highly doubted as to being possible. Thus, we need to be careful about accepting any message form son so-called prophet who tries to claim that something reported in the word of God is not possible. God is not limited to what we know and understand.

Three and a half years is forty months and forty is God's symbolic number for judgment. God allowed these bodies to be left there as a judgment on all of the people and kindreds and ongues and nations. The judgment will be based on how each person reacts to what is done by the beasts of Satan. Our next sentence describes how most people will react and that reaction will provide the legal evidence which God will use to condemn them to Hell and to everlasting time in the lake of fire. We need to be very wary of what the majority of people do because it almost always is sin.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for Luke 1:61 about the word kindred. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. from kin, kind. 1. Relation by birth; consanguinity. Like her, of equal kindred to the throne. 2. Relation by marriage; affinity. 3. Relatives by blood or marriage, more properly the former. thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred. Gen.26. 4. Relation; suit; connection in kind.
KIN'DRED, a. Related; congenial; of the like nature or properties; as kindred souls; kindred skies'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S8; 1Corinthians 14:2 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word tongue. The functional definition for this word is: 'a human language'. Please also see the note in Acts 2:6 about the word language.

Please see the note for Romans 1:5 about the word nation. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A body of people inhabiting the same country, or united under the same sovereign or government; as the English nation; the French nation. It often happens that many nations are subject to one government; in which case, the word nation usually denotes a body of people speaking the same language, or a body that has formerly been under a distinct government, but has been conquered, or incorporated with a larger nation. thus, the empire of Russia comprehends many nations, as did formerly the Roman and Persian empires. Nation, as its etymology imports, originally denoted a family or race of men descended from a common progenitor, like tribe, but by emigration, conquest and intermixture of men of different families, this distinction is in most countries lost'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S9; 2Corinthians 2:17 and Colossians C1S6 about the words see / sight. The functional definition is: 'perception of objects by the eye; view. this word is often used symbolically for spiritual understanding'. Please also see the note for John 6:40-LJC about the phrase see the Son. Please also see the note for Acts 2:25 about the words foresee / foresaw. Please also see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S17 and 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word suffer. The functional definition for this word is: ' Webster's 1828 dictionary defines suffer as 'v.t.L. suffero; sub, under, and fero, to bear; as we say, to undergo. 1. to feel or bear what is painful, disagreeable or distressing, either to the body or mind; to undergo. We suffer pain of body; we suffer grief of mind. the criminal suffers punishment; the sinner suffers the pangs of conscience in this life, and is condemned to suffer the wrath of an offended God. We often suffer wrong; we suffer abuse; we suffer injustice. 2. to endure; to support; to sustain; not to sink under. Our spirit and strength entire, strongly to suffer and support our pains. 3. to allow; to permit; not to forbid or hinder. Will you suffer yourself to be insulted? I suffer them to enter and possess. thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Lev. 19. 4. to undergo; to be affected by. Substances suffer an entire change by the action of fire, or by entering into new combinations. 5. to sustain; to be affected by; as, to suffer loss or damage.
SUF'FER, v.i. to feel or undergo pain of body or mind; to bear what is inconvenient. We suffer with pain, sickness or sorrow. We suffer with anxiety. We suffer by evils past and by anticipating others to come. We suffer from fear and from disappointed hopes. 1. to undergo, as punishment. the father was first condemned to suffer on a day appointed, and the son afterwards, the day following. 2. to be injured; to sustain loss or damage. A building suffers for want of seasonable repairs. It is just that we should suffer for neglect of duty. Public business suffers by private infirmities'. Please also see the note for Romans 9:22 about the word longsuffering. Please also see the note for Mark 8:31-LJC about the phrase suffering of Jesus Christ.

Please see the note for John 11:17 about the word grave. The functional definition for this word is: 'Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Among the ancient Hebrews graves were outside of cities in the open field (Lu 7:12; Joh 11:30). Kings (1Ki 2:10) and prophets (1Sa 25:1) were generally buried within cities. Graves were generally grottoes or caves, natural or hewn out in rocks (Isa 22:16; Mt 27:60). there were family cemeteries (Ge 47:29; 50:5; 2Sa 19:37). Public burial-places were assigned to the poor (Jer 26:23; 2Ki 23:6). Graves were usually closed with stones, which were whitewashed, to warn strangers against contact with them (Mt 23:27), which caused ceremonial pollution (Nu 19:16).
There were no graves in Jerusalem except those of the kings, and according to tradition that of the prophetess Huldah'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the people. Re 10:11; 13:7; 17:15 three. Re 11:2-3,11 and shall not. Re 5:8; 19:17-18; Ps 79:2-3; Ec 6:3; Isa 33:1; Jer 7:33; Mt 7:2 General references. exp: Da 7:21.'.

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C11-S10 (Verse 10) How the lost people celebrated the death of God's two witnesses.

First Step: they acted like it was Christmas.

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them,
and make merry,
and shall send gifts one to another;.

Second Step: Why they celebrated.

because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Our sentence has two Steps with the Second Step telling us why the lost people celebrated. These two prophets used the power given to them to punish obvious lifestyles of ongoing sin. 1Kings 18:17 says: And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?. And, just like Ahab, people who choose to lead a life of sin, they blame someone else when they receive the consequences of their chosen lifestyle. God used His tow prophets to give warning to lost people about the future that they faced if they refused to truly Biblically repent. But, like many people, they blamed the messengers and refused to accept that the warning actually came from God. So, when the messengers died, they foolishly assumed that they had avoided judgment for their life of sin.

The people that dwell upon the earth foolishly concentrated upon the physical and refused to accept that the spiritual existed and had power over the physical. They refused to accept that these two prophets were used by God because they refused to accept anything spiritual. They also refused to accept that Satan's beast used the spiritual power of Satan. They denied the existence of God and of Satan. And, while they could not explain the miracles, they insisted that the physical men had the actual power. So, when these two prophets were killed, they celebrated because they believed that their power was overcome and that their message of future judgment was proven to be a lie.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'But when these two witnesses are done with their testimony, their witnessing in Jerusalem, God is then and only then going to allow the antichrist to overcome them and slay them. Remember God is always in control. In the story of Job God allowed Satan to do everything but kill him, but here God wouldn’t let the antichrist do anything except kill these two witnesses. So here the antichrist and his followers are going to think they have won a great victory, they have prevailed over God's chosen. they are going to desecrate the bodies of these two witnesses by not even allowing them to have a decent burial, the antichrist is going to show the world his victory, those that have caused him and his allies so many problems with their plagues have been defeated. the Antichrist is going to think he is more powerful than the most high, that he has defeated God. And such a rejoicing there will be at the killing of these two. there is going to be a worldwide pagan festival, a satanic celebration. Instead of commemorating the birth of Christ as some do at Christmas, there will now be a celebration of these two witness’ deaths and the antichrist’s “victory”. And as we see in v9, the whole world, because of all our technological advances will be able to witness and participate in this celebration. Gifts and cards will be given, parties, parades and feasts and get togethers will be held. What a mockery of God this will be upon the earth. Here God is trying to reach mankind one more time, trying to save them from eternal damnation, yet man will have nothing of it, they repent not. they kill His messengers, leave them in the streets of Jerusalem and rejoice because of it, but God puts an abrupt end to this satanic celebration.'.

Please see the note for Romans C7S24 about the word dwell. The functional definition for this word is: 'ppr. Inhabiting; residing; sojourning; continuing with fixed attention. DWELL'ING, n. Habitation; place of residence; abode. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer.49. 1. Continuance; residence; state of life. thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. Dan.4'. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

Please also see the notes for John 1:4 lists 16 attributes of joy; John 15:11; Romans C14S23 and 1John C1S2 about the word joy. The functional definition for this word is: 'a spiritually based sense that we will be blessed by God for enduring current circumstances in a way that brings God glory'. Please see the notes for Romans C12S8; Galatians C4-S24 and Philippians 4:4-LJC about the word rejoice. The functional definition for this word is: 'To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:17-19 about the word enjoy. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:10.; 12:12; 18:20; 19:7.

Please see the note for Luke 12:19 about the word merry. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. 1. Gay and noisy; jovial; exhilarated to laughter. Man is the merriest species of the creation. they drank and were merry with him. Gen.43. 2. Causing laughter or mirth; as a merry jest. 3. Brisk; as a merry gale. this is the primary sense of the word. 4. Pleasant; agreeable; delightful. to make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judges 9'.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S9; 1Corinthians C12S4 about the word gift. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: ''given from one person to another without compensation; a donation. It is applicable to anything movable or immovable. 1. the act of giving or confering. 2. the right or power of giving or bestowing. the prince has the gift of many lucrative offices. 3. An offering or oblation. If thou bring thy gift to the altar. Matt.5. 4. A reward. Let thy gifts be to thyself. Dan.5. 5. A bribe; anything given to corrupt the judgment. Neither take a gift; for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise. Deut.16. 6. Power; faculty; some quality or endowment confered by the author of our nature; as the gift of wit; the gift of ridicule. GIFT, v.t. to endow with any power or faculty'. Please also see the note for John 4:10 about the phrase gift of God.

Please see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. The functional definition for this word is: 'provides a effect where the cause and effect are both in the past'. This is opposed to the use of the word for, which has a functional definition of: 'provides a effect where the effect is in the past but the effect is in the future'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 about the word cause. Please also see the note for John 15:25 Romans C1S10 about the phrase without cause. Please also see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth.

Please see the note for Luke 8:28 about the word torment. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Extreme pain; anguish; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind. the more I see pleasure about me, so much I feel torment within me. Lest they also come into this place of torment. Luke 16. Rev.9. 14. 2. that which gives pain, vexation or misery. they brought to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and orments. Matt. 4'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'dwell. Re 12:13; 13:8,14; Mt 10:22 rejoice. Jg 16:23-24; Ps 13:4; 35:19,24-26; 89:42; Pr 24:17; Jer 50:11; Ob 1:12; Mic 7:8; Joh 16:20 make. Ne 8:10-12; 1Co 13:6; Es 9:19-22 these. Re 11:5-6; 16:10; 1Ki 18:17; 21:20; 22:8,18; Jer 38:4; Joh 7:7; Ac 5:33; 7:54-57; 17:5-6 General references. exp: Ps 89:42.'.

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C11-S11 (Verse 11) God's Holy Spirit proves to be more powerful than Satan and his beasts

First Step: God's Holy Spirit raises the two prophets from the dead.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them,
and they stood upon their feet;.

Second Step: the results.

and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

All of the people that dwell upon the earth had been celebrating the victory of Satan and his beasts over God's two witnesses. Then of raises them from the dead and takes them to Heaven. Many lost people did not know what would come next, but they were no longer sure that Satan and his beasts were the most powerful Beings that existed. They had undeniable proof that God was greater and most had to realize that the three and a half days were a test from God which they just failed.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'After 3 ½ days we see the Spirit of life, the Spirit from God, the Holy Spirit, enter into the bodies of these two witnesses. Bodies that are dead, that have become bloated, decay has set in and they stinketh. But just like the body of Lazarus at Jesus’ command to come forth, life returns to them. Before the cameras of the world, the bodies’ color returns, wounds are repaired and healed, what was once silent and still begins to stir, all signs of decay are erased, and these two witnesses begin to breathe deeply once more and then they stand to their feet. they have been resurrected by the Spirit of life (and who is the Life? John 14:6). they are ready to once more serve, ready to once more resist and war with the antichrist. God has fully restored them. What a sight this will be. All these heathen unbelievers who have gathered around taking pictures, filming with their i-phones and video cameras, news reporters all over the place, eyes from all over the world watching and celebrating at the death of these two but then the news flashes across the screens of the world, the two witnesses have returned to life, they are alive and well. And all the celebrations around the world become deathly still, quiet, as all look upon these two witnesses with great fear, with terror in their hearts. Afraid the plagues are about to return, afraid their beloved ruler the antichrist is going to be troubled once more. the world now knows there is something very special, very powerful about these two and their message. But what the world witnesses about these two is not over.'.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20; Life in 1John about the word life. The functional definition is: 'Life is that by which a created being enjoys the place in which the Creator has set it'. Please also see the note for Life in 1John about the phrase eternal life. Please also see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC; Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. Please note that eternal life is different from everlasting life in that while eternal life is 'Without beginning or end of existence', everlasting life 'has a beginning but is without end of existence'. Please see the note for John 5:24 about the phrase everlasting life. Please also see the note for Life in 1John about the phrase eternal life. Please also see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the phrase kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Please also see the note for Matthew 9:10 about the word sinners. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S11; Galatians C2-S14 and Philippians 1:21 about the word live. The word livest means everlasting or eternal life. Please also see the note for Colossians C3S4 about the phrase Christ lives through us. Please also see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please also see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase just shall live by his faith. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about the phrase live / walk by faith.

Please see the note for John 10:9 about the word enter. The functional definition for this word is: 'to leave one place and go into another place'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:11; 15:8; 21:27; 22:14.

Please see the notes for Romans C11S25 and Philippians 1:12-14 about the word fear. The functional definition for this word is: 'A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. Fear expresses less apprehension than dread, and dread less than terror and fright. the force of this passion, beginning with the most moderate degree, may be thus expressed, fear, dread, terror, fright. Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us'. Please also see the Study called Fear the Lord. In addition, please see the note for John 6:19 about the word afraid. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Impressed with fear or apprehension; fearful. this word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear; as, to be afraid of death. Joseph was afraid to sin against God'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 3:6 about the word fall. The functional definition for this word is: 'To drop from a higher place; to descend by the power of gravity alone. Rain falls from the clouds; a man falls from his horse; ripe fruits fall from trees; an ox falls into a pit. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Luke 10. 2. to drop from an erect posture. I fell at his feet to worship him. Rev. 19'. The word fell is the past-tense form of the word fall.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'three. Re 11:9 the Spirit. Ge 2:7; Eze 37:5-14; Ro 8:2,11 great. Re 11:13; Jos 2:9; Jer 33:9; Ho 3:5; Ac 5:5,11 General references. exp: Eze 2:2.'.

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C11-S12 (Verse 12) God gives them the same command as God gave to John and the church in Revelation 4:1.

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them,
Come up hither.

Notice that there is a judgment from God in the second next sentence. But, it did not happen until after God's two witnesses were in Heaven. Likewise, God does not start the great tribulation until the truly saved are also in Heaven.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here these two witness now hear a great voice, and my guess it’s the same voice that John heard in 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. As the world looks on, these two witnesses are raised from the dead and then a cloud appears and takes them to heaven. What a marvelous thing to see, yet the world is unmoved, instead of joy they have fear. Instead of even investigating what these witnesses said and what they stood for, we still see that man repents not. this reminds us of when Jesus spoke of Lazarus and the rich man, where the rich man says in Lu 16:27 then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28 forI have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29 Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. the world actually gets to see God in action, see life restored, see two raised from the dead, see the miraculous take place, and yet they still do not repent, do not believe. And then as if to put an exclamation point on all that has transpired we see another great earthquake strikes…'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S14 and Galatians C3-S7 about the word hear. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Perceiving by the ear. This word is often used symbolically for hearing the spiritual message of the word of God, as sound. 1. Listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded. 2. Attending to witnesses or advocates in a judicial trial; trying'. Please pay attention to the word 'obey' within this definition. That is what most people refuse to do when the Bible says that they do not hear. Please also see the note for James 2:5 about the word hearken. Please also see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S11 about the word voice. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. L. vox; voco. the sense of the verb is to throw, to drive out sound; and voice is that which is driven out. 1. Sound or audible noise uttered by the mouth, either of human beings or of other animals. We say, the voice of a man is loud or clear; the voice of a woman is soft or musical; the voice of a dog is loud or harsh; the voice of a bird is sweet or melodious. the voice of human beings is articulate; that of beasts, inarticulate. the voices of men are different, and when uttered together, are often dissonant. 2. Any sound made by the breath; as the trumpet's voice. 3. A vote; suffrage; opinion or choice expressed. Originally voice was the oral utterance of choice, but it now signifies any vote however given. Some laws ordain, and some attend the choice of holy senates, and elect by voice. I have no words; my voice is in my sword. 4. Language; words; expression. Let us call on God in the voice of his church. 5. In Scripture, command; precept. Ye would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. Deut. 8. 6. Sound. After the fire, a still small voice. 1Kings 19. Canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Job. 40. the floods have lifted up their voice. Ps. 93. 7. Language; tone; mode of expression. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice. Gal. 4. 8. In grammar, a particular mode of inflecting or conjugating verbs; as the active voice; the passive voice.
VOICE, v.t. 1. to rumor; to report. It was voiced that the king purposed to put to death Edward Plantagenet. Little used. 2. to fit for producing the proper sounds; to regulate the tone of; as, to voice the pipes of an organ. 3. to vote'. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven.

Please see the note for Matthew 8:29 about the word hither. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'HITH'ER, adv. 1. to this place; used with verbs signifying motion; as, to come hither; to proceed hither; to bring hither. 2. Hither and thither, to this place and that. 3. to this point; to this argument or topic; to this end. Little used and not to be encouraged. Hither we refer whatever belongs to the highest perfection of man.
HITH'ER, a. Nearest; towards the person speaking; as on the hither side of a hill; the hither end of the building'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Come. Re 4:1; Ps 15:1; 24:3; Isa 40:31 And they. Re 3:21; 12:5; 2Ki 2:11; Isa 14:13; Ac 1:9; Ro 8:34-37; Eph 2:5-6 in. Isa 60:8; Ac 1:9; 1Th 4:17 and their. Ex 14:25; 2Ki 2:1,5,7; Ps 86:17; 112:10; Mal 3:18; Lu 16:23 '.

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C11-S13 (Verse 12) the results of the command from God.

First Step: the two witnesses went to Heaven.

And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud;

Second Step: Their enemies could not miss what happened.

and their enemies beheld them.

Here we see that God not only removed His two witnesses from the Earth before bringing judgment, but God also did it in a public way. Only a fool could deny that the great earthquake, reported in the next sentence, was a result of their refusal to accept the message from God's two witnesses.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fullness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for Luke 9:34 about the word cloud. The functional definition for this word is: '"A covering," because clouds cover the sky. The word is used as a symbol of the Divine presence'.

The word beheld is the past-tense form of the word behold. Please see the note for Colossians C2S3 about the word behold. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines this word as: 'to fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1. 2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21. BEHO'LD, v.i. to look; to direct the eyes to an object. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lambdas it had been slain. Rev.5. 1. to fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3.word is much used in this manner for exciting attention, or admiration. It is in the imperative mode, expressing command, or exhortation; and by no means a mere exclamation'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden.

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C11-S14 (Verse 13) God showed His wrath.

Equivalent Section: What God did.

And the same hour was there a great earthquake,
and the tenth part of the city fell,
and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand:.

Equivalent Section: the results.

and the remnant were affrighted,
and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Here we read God's judgment upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem for how they treated His prophets. They now can not deny the power of God because the timing of the prophets being taken into Heaven, and the great earthquake made it impossible to deny that they were related. And, our Equivalent Section tells us the reaction by those still alive. However, that did them no more good than someone believing the Gospel in their mind, doing a religious act and believing they are safe from God's wrath, because of their religious act, even while they refuse to accept Jesus as their personal Lord.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'In the same hour as the two witness’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, a powerful earthquake strikes Jerusalem, destroying a tenth part of the city and killing 7000 men. And we see the remnant, those remaining in the city, gave glory to God, not necessarily out of respect or worship, but out of fear. I think some begrudgingly acknowledge these acts as acts of God. they do not repent, these are not saved tribulation saints, just those that were not killed in the quake in Jerusalem, but they do admit this is God's work, the darkness is slowly fading'.

Please see the note for John 2:4 about the word hour. The functional definition for this word is: 'a short period of time relative to the perspective'. Thus, a thousand years can be considered to be an 'a short period of time relative to the perspective'. from the perspective of eternity.

Please see the note for Revelation 16:18 and Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The first earthquake mentioned is when Elijah was told to stand before the Lord. there passed by a strong wind that rent the rocks, then an earthquake, and fire; but the Lord was not in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but in a still small voice: a lesson for Elijah when he was thinking much of himself. 1Ki 19:11-12. In the days of Uzziah there was a great earthquake, from which the people fled. Am 1:1; Zec 14:5. Josephus (Ant. ix. 10, 4) states that this happened when the king went into the temple and was struck with leprosy. 2Ch 26:16-21. there was an earthquake at the death of the Lord, and the rocks were rent, which drew from the centurion the saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." Mt 27:51,54. there was also a great earthquake at the resurrection of the Lord. Mt 28:2. When Paul and Barnabas were in the prison at Philippi there was a great earthquake that shook the prison, which led to the conversion of the jailer. Ac 16:26. Josephus (Ant. xv. 5, 2) relates the particulars of a dreadful earthquake in Palestine about B.C. 31, when as many as 10,000 of the inhabitants lost their lives. In the future judgments on the earth, earthquakes are often mentioned. Isa 29:6; Mt 24:7; Mr 13:8; Lu 21:11; Re 6:12; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:18. Symbolically they point to the upheaval of the lower masses of society, overthrowing the social system either partially or entirely.''. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word earthen. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word earthly.

Please see the note for Luke 9:22 about the word slain. The functional definition for this word is: 'pp. of slay; so written for slayen. Killed'. Please also see the note for Luke 11:49-51 about the word slay.

Please see the note for Matthew 15:34 about the word seven. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Ge 2:2-3). the division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. this number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban; Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number" (see Le 25:4; 1Sa 2:5; Ps 12:6; 79:12; Pr 26:16; Isa 4:1; Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4). the feast of Passover (Ex 12:15-16), the feast of Weeks (De 16:9), of Tabernacles (De 13:15), and the Jubilee (Le 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Le 27:34,34; 8:11,33; 14:9,51), of forgiveness (Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4), of reward (De 28:7; 1Sa 2:5), and of punishment (Le 26:21,24,28; De 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Pr 26:16,25; Isa 4:1; Mt 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Ge 4:15,24; Le 26:24; Ps 79:12'. Please also see the note for Luke 10:1 about the word seventy.

Please see the note for Romans C11S9 about the word remnant. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. contracted from remnant. See Remain. 1. Residue; that which is left after the separation, removal or destruction of a part. the remnant that are left of the captivity. Neh. 1. 2. that which remains after a part is done, performed, told or passed. the remnant of my tale is of a length to tire your patience. Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts. REM'NANT, a. Remaining; yet left. And quiet dedicate her remnant life to the just duties of a humble wife. Little used'.

Please see the note for Mark 16:5 about the word affright. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'To impress with sudden fear; to frighten; to terrify or alarm. It expresses a stronger impression than fear or apprehend, and perhaps less than terror.
AFFRI'GHT, n. Sudden or great fear; terror; also, the cause of terror; a frightful object'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S14; 1Corinthians C15S36; Ephesians C1S2; 2Corinthians 10:14-LJC and Colossians C1S6 about the word glory. The functional definition for this word is: 'bright, shining. Glory, then, is brightness, splendor. the L. floreo, to blossom, to flower, to flourish, is probably of the same family. 1. Brightness; luster; splendor'. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:1 about the phrase Jesus Christ return in glory.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'was there. Re 11:19; 6:12; 8:5; 16:18 and the tenth. Re 8:9-12; 13:1-3; 16:10,19 men. Gr. names of men. Re 3:4; Ge 6:4; Ac 1:15 and the remnant. Re 11:11 gave. Re 14:7; 15:4; 16:9; Jos 7:19; 1Sa 6:5; Isa 26:15-16; Jer 13:16; Mal 2:2 General references. exp: Isa 25:3; 29:6; 42:15; 63:4; Da 7:26.'.

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C11-S15 (Verse 14) Our God-given division of events.

First Step: the end of the prior division.

The second woe is past;

Second Step: The start of the next division.

and,
behold,
the third woe cometh quickly.

Remember that we were told that there were three woes attached to the last three of the trumpet judgments. (Please see the Significant Characters other than God, and the note for Revelation 8:13, for the summary of them.) Our sentence is telling us that it is the division between these two groups of events in this Bible book. Our next sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to this sentence. There, we see that the third woe starts with the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'And that brings to an end the second woe and the second parenthetical passage. Remember the first woe had to do with the 5th and 6th trumpets and the demonic invasion of the world. And now the third woe, the worst to come, is coming quickly and it begins with the sounding of the 7th trumpet. Keep in mind now that all 7 of these trumpet judgments have happened under the breaking of the 7th seal, and now under the 7th trumpet we will come to the 7 vial judgments.'.

Please see the note for Mark 13:17 about the word woe. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'A declaration of 'woe' on man is frequently found in scripture. It is especially pronounced on those who have had privileges and have not answered to them. In the Prophets there are many woes against Israel and Judah, and also against the nations which had to do with Israel. the Lord when on earth pronounced woes upon those who should have been the leaders of His people. the Revelation shows that God's 'woes' will fall with mighty power on those denounced. Re 18:13; etc'.

Please see the note for Colossians C2S3 about the word behold. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines this word as: 'to fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1. 2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21. BEHO'LD, v.i. to look; to direct the eyes to an object. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lambdas it had been slain. Rev.5. 1. to fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3.word is much used in this manner for exciting attention, or admiration. It is in the imperative mode, expressing command, or exhortation; and by no means a mere exclamation'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:25 about the word quickly. The functional definition for this word is: 'Speedily; with haste or celerity. 2. Soon; without delay'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 8:13; 9:12; 15:1; 16 exp: Song 2:11.'.

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C11-S16 (Verse 15) the seventh judgment for supporting Satan and his beast.

First Step: the angel announced the start of the next woe!.

And the seventh angel sounded;

Second Step: the most important result to happen.

and there were great voices in heaven,
saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord,
and of his Christ;.

Third Step: His rule will never end.

and he shall reign for ever and ever.

(Please see the Significant Characters other than God for the summary of the trumpet judgments).

Please use the links in the sentence outline, above, to access the note for this sentence, in the Lord Jesus Christ Study, and see the difference between the kingdom of Lord, and the kingdom of Christ.

Our sentence has three Steps, with one following another. In our First Step, we see the angel sound his trumpet. This announces the next great event. And, our Second Step tells us the reaction in Heaven. The phrase there were great voices in heaven actually means: 'there were a great number of very excited voices in heaven'. The rest of our Step tells us what they realized that this trumpet announced. Many, in Heaven, understood the announcement and were excited by it. And, our third Step tells us that there will be no end to what is started with the sounding of this trumpet.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Notice a great voice called up the two witnesses, and now as the 7th trumpet sounds, great voices (plural) begin to speak. these could be the angels, the saints or both. But they proclaim that the kingdoms of the world, the kingdom of the antichrist, the nations under the beast’s rule are now under the sovereign authority of Christ. We know this world is Satan’s at the moment for he tried to tempt Christ with the rule of it while he was here on earth, (if it was not Satan’s to offer then there was no temptation) but Christ refused. Now Christ does not technically claim this kingdom until his physical return to earth, but the victory has already been won. He reigns now in heaven but one day he will also reign over the nations of the earth and rule with a rod of iron. this is wonderful news for those in heaven and his followers, but for the earth this is woeful news, for in order for Christ to reign here, there is a transition to take place, the world is to be judged, to experience true wrath, as the world needs to be righted before Christ takes his seat upon his earthly throne. And that’s what we see outlined here in v15-18, we see what will transpire or come to pass in ch12-22 summed up in these verses, for here we see judgment and wrath finalized, the 7 vials, Armageddon, the appearing of the Lord and the establishment of his kingdom and the final judgments. Because notice how these verses are written like they have already taken place, that’s the way prophecy is, it is as good as done if God says its going to happen.
And because of this truth, this victorious proclamation, because Christ is King, heaven rejoices'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C13S1 about the word sound. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines sound as: 'a. L. sanus. 1. Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective; as sound timber. 2. Undecayed; whole; perfect, or not defective; as sound fruit; a sound apple or melon. 3. Unbroken; not bruised or defective; not lacerated or decayed; as a sound limb. 4. Not carious; not decaying; as a sound tooth. 5. Not broken or decayed; not defective; as a sound ship. 6. Whole; entire; unhurt; unmutilated; as a sound body. 7. Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; having all the org and complete and in perfect action; as a sound body; sound health; a sound constitution; a sound man; a sound horse. 8. Founded in truth; firm; strong; valid; solid; that cannot be overthrown or refuted; as sound reasoning; a sound argument; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles. 9. Right; correct; well founded; free form error; orthodox. II Tim 1. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes. Ps. 119. 10. Heavy; laid on with force; as sound strokes; a sound beating. 11. Founded in right and law; legal; valid; not defective; that cannot be overthrown; as a sound title to land; sound justice. 12. Fast; profound; undisturbed; as sound sleep. 13. Perfect, as intellect; not broken or defective; not enfeebled by age or accident; not wild or wandering; not deranged; as a sound mind; a sound understanding or reason.
SOUND, adv. Soundly; heartily. So sound he slept that nought might him awake'.

Please see the notes for Ephesians 5:5; 2Timohy 4:1; 2Peter 1:11 about the phrase kingdom of Christ. The functional definition for this word is: 'the 1,000 year reign of Christ'. It is also part of the kingdom of God in that everyone who is allowed to be a participant in the kingdom of Christ will also have 'the character of God in them'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C4S20; 1Corinthians C15S46; Galatians C5S20 and the Doctrinal Study about the phrase kingdom of God. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the phrase kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33; 1Timothy 1:15; 2Timothy C1S5; 1Corinthians C1S19 and World in 1John about the word world. The functional definition for this word is: 'all of the people in the world as a group'. Please also see the note for John 9:5 about the phrase light of the world.

Please see the note for Romans C6S12 about the word reign. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.i. rane. L. regno, a derivative of rego, regnum. 1. to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to rule; to exercise government, as a king or emperor; or to hold the supreme power. George the third reigned over Great Britain more than fifty years. Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness. Is. 32. 2. to be predominant; to prevail. Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer or autumn. 3. to rule; to have superior or uncontrolled dominion. Romans 6. this word is never applied to the exercise of supreme power by a legislative body or the executive administration, in the United States.
REIGN, n. rane. L. regnum. 1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty. He who like a father held his reign. 2. the time during which a king, queen or emperor possesses the supreme authority. the Spanish armada was equipped to invade England in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Magna Charta was obtained in the reign of king John. 3. Kingdom; dominion. Saturn's sons received the threefold reign of heav'n, of ocean, and deep hell beneath. 4. Power; influence. 5. Prevalence'. The note in Romans has links to every place where this word is used in the New Testament along with a short note on each application.

The phrase ever and ever has the same application as the word everlasting except that it seems to never end as opposed to actually never ending. Please see the note for Luke 16:9 about the word everlasting. The functional definition for this word is: 'ever and lasting. Lasting or enduring for ever; eternal; existing or continuing without end; immortal'. Please see the note for 1:6 for links to where this phrase and this word are used in this Bible book.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the seventh. Re 8:2-6,12; 9:1,13; 10:7 and there. Re 12:10; 16:17; 19:6; Isa 27:13; 44:23; Lu 15:6,10 the kingdoms. Re 12:10; 15:4; 17:14; 20:4; Ps 22:27-28; 72:11; 86:9; 89:15-17; Isa 2:2-3; 49:6-7,22-23; 55:5; 60:3-14; Jer 16:19; Da 2:44-45; 7:14,18,22,27; Ho 2:23; Am 9:11-12; Mic 4:1-2; Zep 3:9-10; Zec 2:11; 8:20-23; 14:9; Mal 1:11 and he. Ex 15:18; Ps 110:4; 146:10; Isa 9:7; Eze 37:25; Da 2:44; 7:14,18,27; Mic 4:7; Mt 6:13; Lu 1:33; Heb 1:8 General references. exp: Ex 15:18; 2Sa 7:16; Ps 22:28; 102:15; 113:3; Song 2:11; Isa 25:3; 27:6; 65:18.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C11-S17 (Verse 16-17) the resulting worship by the four and twenty elders.

First Step: How they worshipped.

And the four and twenty elders,
which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces,
and worshipped God,
Saying,
We give thee thanks,
O Lord God Almighty,
which art,
and wast,
and art to come;.

Second Step: Why they worshipped..

because thou hast taken to thee thy great power,
and hast reigned.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. In the prior sentnce we read about a great many voivces in Heaven proclaiming excitement because of the trumpet announcing the start of the rule by our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this sentence is adding the statement of worship because that is the correct response to God giving blessings.

In our First Step, we see the four and twenty elders acknowledge their position in relationship to God and acknowledge God's attributes (O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come). Notice that thisworship i8s directed to the Son of God. He is Who will return to rule this world for 1,000 years.

In our Second Step we read that they worshipped Him because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. Many would think that these things should be in the future. However, our sentence tells us that He personally (thou) hast taken to thee thy great power. What he will do with His power is in the future but there is no doubt of the outcome. Therefore, they worship Him before he acts in full faith of the results. In addition, they worship Him because He hast reigned. He has taken His true position as Lord and Christ, even though He has not yet acted within those positions.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here are the 24 elders once more, who represent the redeemed! (5:9) And we recall they had a wonderful worship service in heaven for the Creator back in ch4 and one of the most spectacular displays of worship in ch5 when they fell down before the Lamb who they proclaimed as worthy and worshipped the Redeemer. And here once more the redeemed elders fall on their faces before God, humbling themselves in respect and adoration and thanksgiving to the Lord God Almighty and they worship the Conqueror and King, which is eternal and forever more. And why do they worship Him? Because Christ has taken his rightful place and authority, he has taken his throne. they praise Christ for he has reigned supremely, that he has judged righteously and that he has rewarded graciously. this looks forward to the time Christ sits upon the throne of David during the millennial reign. But notice all this praise and worship in heaven is contrasted with a different reaction on earth.'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 5:1 about the word elder. The true Biblical definition for this word is: 'An older saved person within the church who has Godly wisdom and is accepted as a leader in the church even if he has no formal position within the church'. Please be careful about this definition as there are several wrong religious definitions which are strongly held by people including 'Good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists'. In addition, many man-written dictionaries have different definitions, and many of those have parts that did not match the Biblical usage.

Please see the note for Mark 12:38-40 about the word seat. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines this word as: 'set: this word is used to translate the Hebrew words (moshabh, shebheth, kicce', and tekhunah), once (Job 23:3). It translates the Greek word (kathedra) (Mt 21:12; 23:2; Mr 11:15), and "chief seat" translates the compound word (protokathedria) (Mt 23:6; Mr 12:39; Lu 20:46). In the King James Version it translates (thronos) (Lu 1:52; Re 2:13; 4:4; 11:16; 13:2; 16:10), which the Revised Version (British and American) renders "throne." It denotes a place or thing upon which one sits, as a chair, or stool (1Sa 20:18; Jg 3:20). It is used also of the exalted position occupied by men of marked rank or influence, either in good or evil (Mt 23:2; Ps 1:1)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment seat. Please also see the note for Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment seat of Christ.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The functional definition for this word is: 'The power, position, authority and presence of the being that is presented to us'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the word thank. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines thank as: 'v.t. 1. to express gratitude for a favor; to make acknowledgments to one for kindness bestowed. We are bound to thank God always for you. 2 thess 1. Joab bowed himself and thanked the king. 2 Sam.14. 2. It is used ironically. Weigh the danger with the doubtful bliss, And thank yourself, if aught should fall amiss'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks.

Please see the note for Revelation 4:8-LJC about the word Almighty. The definition from the Morrish Bible Dictionary for this word is: 'The learned are not agreed as to the derivation of the word shaddai and its signification: some giving it as 'all bountiful,' others 'all sufficient,' 'all mighty,' etc. this is not at all surprising, for any name of God must be above mere human learning or definition, yet it was the ground of faith to those who had the revelation. the name first occurs in Ge 17:1; God said to Abraham "I am the Almighty God." this links it with the Patriarchs: it is the name by which God was known to them; and except to them, and in Job where it occurs very often, it is seldom found in the O.T. the title 'the Almighty' without the name of God being added, occurs first in Jacob's address to his twelve sons before he died: the blessings upon Joseph were to be by "'the Almighty,' . . . . blessings of Heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb." Ge 49:25. Balaam uses the name in Nu 24:4; Naomi also in her lamentations. Ru 1:20-21. See also Ps 68:14; 91:1; Isa 13:6; Eze 1:24; 10:5; Joe 1:15. In the N.T. the name Lord Almighty occurs in 2Co 6:18 in a quotation from Jeremiah, and a few times in the Revelation, but only once as 'the Almighty' in Re 1:8: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." On the whole it is clear that the name was one of special relationship with the Patriarchs as that of Jehovah was with Israel . this is plainly declared: "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of GOD ALMIGHTY; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Ex 6:3. that of Father is now the revealed name of God by which Christians know Him, being brought by the work of Christ and through the operation of the Spirit into the relationship of children, and of sons. See Joh 20:17; 1Jo 3:1; Ga 4:4-5. the name Almighty will appear again when God works out his purposes in power and judgement. It was revealed in connection with promises made in time, as Father is in connection with eternal counsels. the four living creatures cry day and night "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Re 4:8. See also Re 21:22'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word might.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. The functional definition for this word is: 'The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force. 1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing anything; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength'. Please also see the note for John 5:41 about the phrase power of God. Please also see the notes for Romans C8S40 and Ephesians C6S8 about the phrase spiritual powers.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 4:4,10; 5:5-8,14; 7:11; 19:4 exp: Ex 15:18; Isa 25:3; 65:18.
We give. Re 4:9; Da 2:23; 6:10; Mt 11:25; Lu 10:21; Joh 11:41; 2Co 2:14; 9:15; 1Ti 1:12 Lord God Almighty. Re 1:8; 4:8; 15:3; 16:7,14; Ge 17:1 which. Re 1:4,8; 16:5 thou hast. Re 11:15; 19:6,11-21; 20:1-3; Ps 21:13; 57:11; 64:9-10; 98:1-3; 102:8-13; Isa 51:9-11; 52:10 General references. exp: Ex 15:18; Isa 25:3; 65:18.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C11-S18 (Verse 18) What our Lord Jesus Christ will do now that He has taken His power and position.

First Step: He will judge everyone and give them according to their deeds.

And the nations were angry,
and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged,
and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets,
and to the saints,
and them that fear thy name,
small and great;.

Second Step: He will end all destruction of the earth.

and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Our sentence has two Steps with the first four phrases, of the First Step, telling us what our Lord Jesus Christ will do the sinners and the last four phrases saying what He will do to those who are right with God.

Where our First Step told us what our Lord Jesus Christ will do on an individual basis, the Second Step tells us what He will do in general. It does not tell us, in detail, how He will destroy them which destroy the earth. However, I imagine all of those people will end up in Hell. He has to stop the destruction before He restores the Earth, which is one of the promises of what will happen during His 1,000 years reign.

Returning to our First Step, we can look at what the various phrases tell us. Our first phrase says: And the nations were angry. This is added to the prior sentences which that the same thing which caused praise in Heaven also caused sinful nations (to be) angry. They were angry because they weren't getting their way. The way of this world and the way of sin caused all of the problems that exist in this world but sinful people refuse to accept that the results come from sin. They want to have their own way and blame God for the results of their sinful ways.

Our next phrase tells us: and thy wrath is come. They were angry because God's wrath is come. Sinful men believe that no matter what they do, God should forgive and fix everything. Romans 3:3-6 says: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? Sinful men act like self centered babies and think that God has no right to punish their sin no matter what consequences come from their sin.

Our next phrase tells us: and the time of the dead, that they should be judged. These phrases actually make more sense if we also consider the next phrase. These phrases and the next phrase all are speaking about the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10). The reason that these two phrases are separated from the next phrase is that God's true prophets will be rewarded for their service. And, some saved (dead) people will be rewarded but some will be punished for over 1,000 years, until after the great white throne judgment. Too many of God's people believe the lying doctrine of devils that there are 'no tears in Heaven'. as a result, they life sinful lives, and refuse to serve God and God's kingdom, even though they are saved. But the word of God does not say God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, for church members, until after the great white throne judgment when the only people left are saved people in Heaven. And God can not wipe away all tears from their eyes if there are 'no tears in Heaven'. No, many saved people will be punished at the judgment seat of Christ for believing a lying doctrine of devils with the result of their refusing to serve God and God's kingdom.

Our next phrase tells us: and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets. God's true prophets preach: thus sayeth the Lord. Too many preachers believe that they are God's true prophets, but they preach: 'thus sayeth religion', which often disagrees with the word of the Lord (1Thessalonians 1:8), even when they believe that it does match the word of God. One simple example is preaching that 'The Antichrist' is in Revelation. Another example is preaching about 'daemons' instead of devils, which are what the word of God truly speaks about. So, yes, preachers and God's people will be rewarded for preaching the word of God, but should expect to be punished for preaching 'thus sayeth religion', especially when it opposes the word of God.

Our next phrase tells us: and to the saints. This is added to the prior phrase and, as a result, promises that God shouldest give reward unto thy saints. However, many believe the religious lie that 'all saved are saints'. Please see the Message called: Spiritual Maturity Levels according to the Bible for the truth. God's true saints, are 'a fully spiritually mature saved person whom God can send anywhere and they can be a leader and teacher or preacher in an existing church. If sent to where there is no church, they will start leading people to salvation and teaching them the Bible so that there is the basis for a true church when God sends a properly ordained pastor to the new work'. I was told that a well known evangelist claimed that at least half of the church members in America were actually lost and that the majority of the rest were spiritual babes. I don't know how true that is but after visiting over 200 churches in America, I can testify that very few of the people whom I met, and who claimed to be saved, fulfilled the Biblical test to be a true saint. They are promised rewards. Other saved people do not have that promise and might be punished as a result of their failure to truly serve God and His kingdom while they were alive.

Our next phrase tells us: and them that fear thy name. Again, this is like the prior phrase and is added to the second prior phrase and, as a result, promises that God shouldest give reward unto them that fear thy name. However, many believe the religious lie that 'The fear of the Lord is deep abiding respect'. Please see the Doctrinal Message called: Fear of the Lord for the truth.

Our next phrase tells us: small and great. It does not matter what your social or religious position is among men, all will be judged by our Lord using the same law. in this role, He is no respecter of persons (Deuteronomy 10:17; Deuteronomy16:19; 2Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Psalms 82:1-2; Matthew 22:16; Luke 20:21; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1; James 2:9; 1Peter 1:17).

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The nations, the world, were angry at God, angry at His judgment, His plagues, His tribulation, His righteousness, His Son, His church, His 144,000, His two witnesses, His right to reign and rule. the world is angry at God, is at enmity with God, it hates God. And that’s why His wrath came, the world chose sin and Satan over mercy and grace. And they are judged for such sin and rejection of Jesus. But those that chose to believe, chose to follow, chose to submit and were saved, that became Christ’s servants and prophets and saints, both small and great, will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ, and they will with the returning King have the last say, for those that have destroyed the earth with sin, tainted it and mankind with wickedness and evil, shall be destroyed, Ro 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: they shall be judged, shall feel the wrath of God. Here in these verses we see a vast contrast, there is judgment of earth but jubilation in heaven, there is rage on earth but rejoicing in heaven, there is cursing on earth but a crowning of rewards in heaven, there is woe upon the earth but there is worship in heaven{paraphrase of John Phillips commentary}.'.

Please see the notes for Ephesians C4S11 and Colossians C3S6 about the word anger. The functional definition for this word is: 'A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. this passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.'.

Please see the notes for Romans C4S16; Galatians C5S20; Ephesians 4:26-27 and Colossians C3S6 about the word wrath. The functional definition for this word is: 'Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation'.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:3 about the word time. The functional definition for this word is: 'the fourth dimension of this physical reality'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the word birthday. Please also see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. Please also see the notes for Romans C3S31 and 1Corinthians 9:21-LJC about the phrase kinds of laws that apply to us tday.

Please see the notes for Matthew 7:1 about the word judge. The functional definition for this word is: 'To hear and determine, as in causes on trial; to pass sentence'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C4S5 and Ephesians C5S6 about the phrase we are to judge. Please also see the notes for Romans 8:1-LJC; Galatians C5-S6 and Revelation 19:2-LJC about the phrase judged by works. Please also see the notes for Romans C2S2; Philippians 1:9-11 and Psalms 119 about the word judgment. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment Seat. Please also see the notes for Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment Seat of Christ. Please also see the note for Romans 14:8-LJC and 2Thessalonians 1:9-LJC about the phrase judgment without mercy.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S26 about the word reward. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. Recompense, or equivalent return for good done, for kindness, for services and the like. Rewards may consist of money, goods or any return of kindness or happiness. the laborer is worthy of his reward. 1Tim. 5. Great is your reward in Heaven. Matt. 5. Rewards and punishments presuppose moral agency, and something voluntarily done, well or ill; without which respect, though we may receive good, it is only a benefit and not a reward. 2. the fruit of men's labor or works. the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward. Eccles. 9. 3. A bribe; a gift to pervert justice. Deut. 27. 4. A sum of money offered for taking or detecting a criminal, or for recovery of anything lost. 5. Punishment; a just return of evil or suffering for wickedness. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Ps. 91. 6. Return in human applause. Matt. 6. 7. Return in joy and comfort. Ps. 19'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 11:18; 18:6; 22:12.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S21 and 2Timothy C1-S2 about the word serve. The functional definition for this word is: 'To work for; to bestow the labor of body and mind in the employment of another'. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:17 about the word service. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S4; 1Corinthians C7S27 and Ephesians C6S4 about the word servant. The functional definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'.

Please see the notes for Matthew 27:51-53; Romans C16S1; 2Corinthians C1S1 and Colossians C1S1 about the word saint. The functional definition for this word is: 'a spiritually mature saved person who is actively involved in the ministry of the church'. The note in Romans has links to every place in the New Testament where this word is used along with a short note for each application.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C1S1 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word name. The functional definition is: 'How a person or thing is identified. In the Bible, the power and authority which is associated with the name is always part of the message where this word is used'. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S4 about the phrase the name. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where the phrase in the name. occurs along with links to where similar phrases occur in the New Testament. Please see the note for 1Peter 4:14-LJC about the name of Christ. Please see the note for Luke 13:35 about the phrase name of the Lord. Please also see the Summary and verses documents about the use of this word for the Son of God. Please also see the note for Acts 1:23 about the word surname.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S22 and 1Corinthians C3S17 about the word destroy. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 10:10 about the word destroyer. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'destroy as 'v.t. L. to pile, to build. 1. to demolish; to pull down; to separate the parts of an edifice, the union of which is necessary to constitute the thing; as, to destroy a house or temple; to destroy a fortification. 2. to ruin; to annihilate a thing by demolishing or by burning; as, to destroy a city. 3. to ruin; to bring to naught; to annihilate; as, to destroy a theory or scheme; to destroy a government; to destroy influence. 4. to lay waste; to make desolate. Go up against this land, and destroy it. Is. 36. 5. to kill; to slay; to extirpate; applied to men or other animals. Ye shall destroy all this people. Num. 32. All the wicked will he destroy. Ps. 145. 6. to take away; to cause to cease; to put an end to; as, pain destroys happiness. that the body of sin might be destroyed. Rom 6. 7. to kill; to eat; to devour; to consume. Birds destroy insects. Hawks destroy chickens. 8. In general, to put an end to; to annihilate a thing or the form in which it exists. An army is destroyed by slaughter, capture or dispersion; a forest, by the ax, or by fire; towns, by fire or inundation, etc. 9. In chimistry, to resolve a body into its parts or elements'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the nations. Re 11:2,9-10; 17:12-15; 19:19-20; Ps 2:1-3; Isa 34:1-10; 63:1-6; Eze 38:9-23; Joe 3:9-14; Mic 7:15-17; Zec 14:2-3 and thy. Re 6:15-17; 14:10; 15:1,7; 16; 19:15 and the time. Re 6:10-11; 20:4-5,12,15; Isa 26:19-21; Da 7:9-10; 12:1-2; Heb 9:27 and that. Re 22:12; Mt 5:12; 2Th 1:5-7; Heb 11:25-26 and them. Re 19:5; Ps 85:9; 103:11; 115:13-14; 147:11; Ec 8:12; 12:13; Lu 1:50 shouldest. Re 13:10; 18:6,16-24; 19:19,21; Da 7:26; 8:25; 11:44-45 which destroy. or, which corrupt. General references. exp: Isa 65:18; 2Th 1:6.'.

C11-S19 (Verse 19) God reveals the ark of his testament.

Equivalent Section: God shows what will be used to judge men.

And the temple of God was opened in heaven,
and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament:.

Equivalent Section: God reveals coming judgment to the world.

and there were lightnings,
and voices,
and thunderings,
and an earthquake,
and great hail.

Our sentence gives us God's final preparation for the judgment of the world. Here we are told that God reveals the ark of his testament. This is part of God's preparation for Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world. And, in the temple of God, the ark of God's testament is revealed. It contains a copy of everything that God has used to testify to man and those things will be used to judge all men. In it are manythings but I will only list the ones which I am aware of.

Psalms 119:89 says: For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. What most people fail to realize is that God has a preserved word of God in Heaven. They, stupidly, think they can trust a devil-motivated, man-written perversion and that God has to accept it. The preserved word of God is in the ark of God's testament and will be used to judge men.
Hebrews 9:4 says: Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. God has perfectly preserved copies of everything within the ark of the covenant because they are evidences to His covenant with the Jews.
Hebrews 9:5 says: And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. These were over the ark of the covenant and there to remind God's people of all the messages which he sent to them through angels. While I do not have a Bible verse to support this, I am firmly convinced that God has copies of every message which he sent through His angels.
There are probably other things, which I can not think of right now. However, the character of our God is to preserve a copy of every testimony, which he has revealed to man, and to use those revealed things when he judges man.

On our Second Equivalent Section we read things which are done in this world to, symbolically, show the power of God and the voice of the Lord. In these, we can see God warning the world of what is coming.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Revelation is truly a book of revealing, for all thru this book we see things opened, there was a door opened in heaven in ch4, the seals of the book were then opened, the abyss has been opened, the temple is opened here, the Tabernacle of the testimonies is opened in ch19 and the books are opened in ch20. Notice this is the temple in heaven that is opened, not the one on earth, and we are allowed to peer into it. If you remember the tabernacle, when one looked into it, its contents were concealed by the veil; the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God, and the Ark of the Covenant were all hidden, but here in the heavenly temple there is no obstructed view. It is here that Christ serves as our High Priest. And our attention is now focused on the ark of his testament, the ark of God, the Ark of the Covenant. Such a sight in John’s vision tells us that God is about to act on behalf of His chosen people, the chosen nation of Israel. John Phillips writes “in the Old Testament the Ark was connected with Moses and the tabernacle, the land and Joshua, the kingdom and David, the Temple and Solomon. It thus stood connected with Israel’s Law, Israel’s land, Israel’s Lord, and Israel’s light.” And with God beginning to act on behalf of Israel, we see the sights and sound of judgment coming with lightnings and thunders and earthquakes and great hail.'.

Please see the note for John 18:20 about the words open / openly. The functional definition for this word is: 'Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes. to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or cover and set open; as, to open a door or gate; to open a desk'.

Please see the note for Luke 17:27 about the word ark. The functional definition for this word is: 'A chest or box of various size used to protect what is inside. The ark of Noah was considerably larger than the ark that Moses was put into and larger than the Ark of God.'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S29 about the word testament. The functional definition for this word is: 'the legal document called a 'Last Will and Testament'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 9:15 about the phrase testament, new / new covenant. Please also see the note for Galatians 5:3 about the word testify. Please also see the note for Psalms 119 about the words testimony / testimonies. Please also see the Message called Testimony of God. Please also see the note for Matthew 19:21 about the phrase testimonies of the LORD.

Please see the note for Luke 17:24 about the word lightning. The functional definition for this word is: ''frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Na 1:3-6). thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2Sa 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Ps 135:7; 144:6; Zec 9:14). they represent God's glorious and awful majesty (Re 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (Re 20:9)'.

Please see the note for John 12:29 about the word thunder. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'And lightning are significant manifestations of the power of God, and emblems of his presence, Ex 19:16; 1Sa 2:10; 12:17; Ps 18:13. thunder is poetically called "the voice of the Lord" in the sublime description of a thunder-storm in Ps 29:11; "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. the voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. the voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon," etc. See also Job 37:1-5; 40:9; Jer 10:13. In illustration of Ps 29:9, Moffat, while describing the thunder-storms of South Africa, say that the antelopes flee in consternation; and that he has observed the Bechuanas starting off early on the morning following such a storm in quest of young antelopes prematurely born. In Ps 78:48, "hot thunderbolts" means lightning'.

Please see the note for Revelation 8:7 about the word hail. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Particles of ice falling from the clouds. though hail is usually formed by natural causes not yet perhaps well understood, it is often referred to in scripture as one of the judgments of God. It formed one of the plagues in Egypt. Ex 9:18-34; Ps 78:47-48; 105:32; and is at times connected with fire or lightning. God smote the Amalekites by 'great stones' from heaven. Jos 10:11. the hail is called upon to praise Jehovah, because it fulfills His word. Ps 148:8; Isa 28:2,17; Hag 2:17. It will also form a notable part of the judgments of God in His future dealings with this guilty world. Re 8:7; 11:19; 16:21'. In addition to that definition, this word is also used as a greeting. And, a greeting is used to get someone's attention. Well, we can also say that a judgment of hail, from God, is designed to get people's attention turned to God.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the temple. Re 14:15-17; 15:5-8; 19:11; Isa 6:1-4 the ark. Ex 25:21-22; Nu 4:5,15; 10:33; 2Co 3:14-16; Heb 9:4-8 and there were. Re 11:13,15; 4:5; 8:5; 16:18 and great. Re 8:7; 16:21; Ex 9:18-29; Jos 10:11; Job 38:22-23; Ps 18:12; 105:32; Isa 28:2; 30:30; 32:19; Eze 13:11; 38:22 exp: Eze 13:13. General references. exp: Ex 40:3; Jos 4:16; Isa 29:6; Re 15:5.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

Revelation Chapter 12

links to sentences in this chapter:

C12-S1 (Verse 1-2), C12-S2 (Verse 3), C12-S3 (Verse 4), C12-S4 (Verse 5), C12-S5 (Verse 6), C12-S6 (Verse 7-8), C12-S7 (Verse 9), C12-S8 (Verse 10), C12-S9 (Verse 11), C12-S10 (Verse 12), C12-S11 (Verse 12), C12-S12 (Verse 12), C12-S13 (Verse 13), C12-S14 (Verse 14), C12-S15 (Verse 15), C12-S16 (Verse 16), C12-S17 (Verse 17)'.

Chapter Summary: the war of Satan against God using the nation of Israel.

C12-S1 : the symbolic representation of Jacob, his wives and the twelve sons which produced the twelve tribes of Israel.
C12-S2 : the symbolic representative of Satan. He is one of Satan's beasts and he controls governments of the world.
C12-S3 : How Satan acted in this spiritual war.
C12-S4 : the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C12-S5 : God hides the Jews who will turn to Him, eventually.
C12-S6 : Satan started and lost a war in Heaven.
C12-S7 : the results from the prior sentence.
C12-S8 : the announcement that it is time to finish the spiritual war.
C12-S9 : Some saved used what God provided to overcome Satan and his temptations.
C12-S10 : the first conclusion of the prior sentences.
C12-S11 : the second conclusion of the prior sentences.
C12-S12 : Why the people of this world will have woe!
C12-S13 : Why the Jews of this world will have woe!
C12-S14 : this is symbolic wording for our Lord Jesus Christ protecting the Jews who will listen to Him.
C12-S15 : Satan tries to kill the Jews who served God and fled.
C12-S16 : God did a greater miracle to foil Satan.
C12-S17 : Satan made war against Jews who had a true testimony and that he could reach with his servants.

Revelation 12 tells us of God judging Satan. Every sentence in Revelation 12:2-11 starts with the word And. Revelation 2:12 starts with Therefore and every sentence after that starts with the word And. Basically, Revelation 12:1-11 tells us about Satan's rebellion and God's response to it with Revelation 12:12-17 explaining the consequence of that rebellion and response. Within this telling of judgment, Revelation 12:10 says Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God. These were promised, and only realized on Earth by some men. Basically, the more people are influences by Satan, the more they are judged like he is judged. Also, the more people are like the Lamb, the more they are blessed like Lamb. This is explained in much more detail in the note for the Lord Jesus Christ Study.

After the prior paragraph happens, we are told that all of Heaven rejoices and the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea are told woe! because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. at this time, Satan is no longer allowed to enter Heaven. And, the Jews are told, by God, to flee into the wilderness. As a result, Satan tries to murder all those Jews because they are God's chosen people and God is protecting them. Satan does one miracle in order to do his purpose and God does another miracle to foil Satan's plan. Therefore, Satan persecutes all remaining Jews that he can get to.

C12-S1 (Verse 1-2) the symbolic representation of Jacob, his wives and the twelve sons which produced the twelve tribes of Israel.

Equivalent Section: God chose the Jewish people as His chosen people.

First Step: God did the unexpected.

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven;

Second Step: the symbolic representation of God's chosen people.

a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:.

Equivalent Section: God used the Jewish nation to have our Lord Jesus Christ born physically.

And she being with child cried,
travailing in birth,
and pained to be delivered.

This is the first of several characters in the symbolic representation of the history of the Jewish people from a spiritual point of view.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds this chapter to the prior chapter. There we read how the seventh angel sounded his trumpet and announced the final phase of God's judgment, which is brings the final judgment by Christ. This is the end of the spiritual war between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. And, our chapter tells us that a major part of this war happened when God chose the Jews as His chosen people. That is what our current sentence is telling us. Thus, we have a quick summary if historical events, starting from that time, and taking a spiritual point of view.

This sentence tells us the symbolic representation of the Jewish nation. Our next sentence tells us the symbolic representation of Satan with the sentence after that telling us about his devils. Then we are given a symbolic representation of Christ. After that we have a symbolic representation of the Jews hiding in the world. And, the sentence after that is symbolic representation of future events. Thus, we see that all of these sentences are related and have to be considered together for contextual reasons.

Returning to the analysis of our sentence, we see that our sentence gives us a summary version of the history of the Jews from when God chose them until Jesus was born. Our sentence also has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section having two Steps which give us the summary of history and the Second Equivalent Section telling us the spiritual perspective of the birth of Jesus.

In our First Step, of the First Equivalent Section, we read that God did the unexpected when He chose the Jewish people as His chosen people. Before that God dealt with each family through their patriarch. And, as a result of God doing the unexpected, appeared a great wonder in heaven. This result was because God's action was unexpected.

In our Second Step, of the First Equivalent Section, we read a symbolic representation of the Jewish people. In Joseph's prophetic dream, the sun represented his father, the moon represented his mother and the twelve stars represented his brethren (Genesis 37:9). Thus, we see this prophetic dream fulfilled.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read how the Jewish nation travailed and was in pain waiting for God's Christ to be born.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The first person we are introduced to is the Sun-Clothed Woman. to begin with we see here that a wonder appeared in heaven. A wonder is a sign or symbol. there are two wonders given to us in this chapter, here in v1 and then in v3, so in both instances we are told that what we are presented with is symbolic of something else. the woman in v1 is symbolic of someone and the dragon in v3 is symbolic of someone. So first off, we have a symbolic sun clothed woman, with the moon under her feet and a crown with 12 stars on her head. So who is this woman representing? Getting this right or wrong will make all the difference in interpreting these chapters correctly. there are many in this world who interpret the identity of this woman incorrectly which then leaves them in some pretty tough predicaments to explain all that’s going on; some claim this woman is the church, which from v5-6 one can easily figure out she is not as almost all agree the child is Jesus and the church did not give birth to Jesus, he birthed the church; Catholics believe this woman is the virgin Mary which is absurd, and even other cults or cult leaders have laid claim to themselves being the woman represented here. But if we would just let Scripture identify this woman for us we will not have any trouble putting the picture given to us here together.
So if we take a moment and think about where we read in the Bible concerning the sun, moon and stars and what they might be representative of, we should easily think about Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and old it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Joseph’s dream here refers to the future nation of Israel and the near future of the family of Jacob from which the nation springs forth. We can easily see that the 11 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel, with Joseph being the 12th star in his dream; the sun and moon can be interpreted as his parents. forlater on we see Joseph’s brothers and family all come down into Egypt because of the great famine and Joseph, the second in command, helped them. Joseph was in charge, had power over them, held their lives and existence in his hands, but he did help his family, which grew and thrived in Egypt and became the enslaved nation of Israel. So we can see that this woman in v1-2 is clothed with the sun (the favor of Jehovah God who is the light and giver of life), with the moon under her feet (which is a reference to the Mosaic Law, a shadow of things to come) and a crown of 12 stars, the 12 tribes of Israel.
To further support this explanation of the woman representing Israel, in the Bible, Israel is often compared or referred to as a woman… Isa 54:5 forthy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 forthe LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
As a travailing woman… Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Isa 66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
As a married woman… Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
As an adulterous wife… Jer 3:6 the LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
Israel is frequently referred to as the bride of God the Father, whereas the church is called the bride of Christ… 2Co 11:2 forI am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. And then in contrast we have the apostate world system depicted as a harlot and the bride of the antichrist in Rev17
And it is thru Israel, from the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, from the throne of David that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world, the Messiah, Immanuel, the Promised One, the Savior, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, God manifested in the flesh, his lineage is of Israel, and it is this woman, Israel, that gave birth to Christ on earth, his earthly lineage being presented to us in the gospels. And it’s for this very reason that Satan has always tried to destroy Israel down thru history and has such a hatred for the apple of God's eye. that is why this woman’s birth is described as travail and the delivery painful, for we see in v3-4 her enemy depicted.'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word appear. Webster's 1828 dictionary definition for this word is: 'to come or be in sight; to be in view; to be visible. the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh. Lev. 13. And God said, Let the dry land appear. Gen. 1. 2. to become visible to the eye, as a spirit, or to the apprehension of the mind; a sense frequent in scripture. the Lord appeared to Abram, and said. Gen 12. the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush. Ex. 3. 3. to stand in presence of, as parties or advocates before a court, or as persons to be tried. the defendant, being called, did not appear. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 2Cor. 5. 4. to be obvious; to be known, as a subject of observation or comprehension. Let thy work appear to thy servant. Ps. 90. It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1John 3. 5. to be clear or made clear by evidence; as, this fact appears by ancient records. But sin that it might appear sin. Rom 7. 6. to seem, in opposition to reality. they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast. Mat. 6. 7. to be discovered, or laid open. that they shame may appear. Jer. 13'. Please see the Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection Section within the Time Sequence of Gospel Events Study.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 12:12 about the word wonder. The functional definition for this word is: 'To be affected by surprise or admiration. I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals. We cease to wonder at what we understand'. Please also see the note for Matthew 7:22 about the word wonderful. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:1; 12:3; 13:3; 13:13; 17:6; 17:8.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb gall, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S2 about the word woman. The functional definition for this word is: 'Morrish Bible Dictionary defines woman as: 'It is evident from scripture that women were anciently held in much more honour and esteem in Eastern countries than they are now. Solomon, speaking of women, said that such as his soul sought for he did not find one in a thousand. Ec 7:28. this tells of fallen human nature; but the true thought of woman is that she is the glory of the man, his true helpmeet. this is fulfilled in the relationship of the church to Christ.
In the N.T. the true place of the woman in subjection to the man is plainly stated, as indicated in creation; and in the assembly the woman is to be silent, and not to teach. Her bearing and deportment are expressive of what she learns as taught of Christ. 1Co 11:3-15; 14:34-35; 1Ti 2:11. 12. Nevertheless women were greatly honoured in ministering to the Lord, and are accredited as helping on the work of the Lord in the gospel and among the saints. Lu 8:2-3; 23:27,55-56; Ro 16:1,3,6; Php 4:2-3; 2Jo 1:10'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:2-3 about the word clothed. The functional definition for this word is: 'Covered with garments; dressed; invested; furnished with clothing'.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:45 about the word sun. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Ge 1:14 translated "let there be luminaries," literally, "light bearers". Genesis only tells what the sun, moon, and stars are in relation to the earth. When the mists were dispelled, and the seas confined within bounds, the heavenly bodies assumed their natural functions, marking days and nights, seasons and years, and God appoints the sun to rule the day and the moon the night. "Let them be for signs," as eclipses, portents of extraordinary events (Mt 2:2; Lu 21:25) and divine judgments (Joe 2:30; Jer 10:2; Mt 24:29), and indicating the four quarters of the heavens (Ps 50:1) and also the changes in the weather; "and for seasons, days, and years." the sun regulated the length of the Israelite year by the recurrence of Pentecost at a fixed agricultural season, namely, when the grain was ripe'. This word is used symbolically for: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ providing: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, guidance and related gifts which are regarded as being intellectual'.

Please see the note for Mark 13:24-25 about the word moon. Please also see the note for Colossians C2S9 about the phrase new moon. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezr 6:15), and lebanah, the "white" (Song 6:10; Isa 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Ge 1:14-16). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun (Jos 10:12; Ps 72:5,7,17; 89:36-37; Ec 12:2; Isa 24:23, etc.), and also by itself (Ps 8:3; 121:6).
The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship (De 4:19; 17:3; Job 31:26), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned (De 4:19; 17:3). they, however, fell into this idolatry, and offered incense (2Ki 23:5; Jer 8:2), and also cakes of honey, to the moon (Jer 7:18; 44:17-19,25)'.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S4 about the word head. The functional definition for this word is: 'The part of the body which holds the brain. It is also used, symbolically, for the main source of control'. Please also see the note for Matthew 14:10 about the word beheaded. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 11:3-LJC about the phrase Christ: the head of.

Please see the note for James 1:12 about the word crown. The functional definition for this word is: 'Crowns show that the person wearing them has authority and a special position'. Some saved people will be in Heaven but will not be allowed to return with Christ, to this Earth, for His 1,000 years reign. Anyone with a crown will be returning with Him and ruling under Him.

Please see the note for Luke 2:42 about the word twelve. Morrish Bible Dictionary defines NUMBERS AS SYMBOLS as: 'TWELVE. Completeness administratively, that is, in what is set forth or displayed manward. (The first most divisible of the earlier numbers.) there were twelve patriarchs, ancestors of the twelve tribes, who are commemorated in the twelve loaves on the table, the twelve stones in the breastplate and twelve names on the shoulders of the high priest; the twelve stones taken out of Jordan, and the twelve stones placed in the bed of the river; also in the woman with a crown of twelve stars. Re 12:1. through the twelve apostles the Lord fed the hungry multitudes. the twelve apostles will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes. Mt 19:28. the new Jerusalem will have twelve foundations for its walls with the names of the twelve apostles; it will have twelve gates, consisting of twelve pearls, with the names of the twelve tribes inscribed, the gates will be attended by twelve angels. Re 21:12-21. there are twelve hours in the day, in which the children of light may walk. Joh 11:9. the flexibility of administrative perfection may be seen in: Six-twos: Two apostles in each of the six companies sent to preach. Two-sixes: Six loaves in each of the two rows of showbread. three-fours: Four rows of three names each on the breastplate. Four- threes: three gates on each of the four sides of the new Jerusalem'. Please also see the note for John 6:67 about the phrase twelve disciples / apostles.

Please see the note for Matthew 2:2 about the word star. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'From the account given of this star it is evident that it was one specially sent for the nativity, for it not only appeared to the Magi in the East, but guided them from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and 'stood over' where the young child was. Faith in the power of God dispels all difficulty as to the star. Mt 2:1-10. there were traditions that God would raise up a deliverer, and the Magi may have heard of the O.T. prophecies as to Messiah; but whether this be so or not, God, who provided the star, sent the Magi to find out the King of the Jews, and instructed them not to return to Herod'. In Revelation, the functional meaning of this word is symbolic and means: 'They represent Godly people, the pastors of the churches and our Lord Jesus Christ. Look at the next sentence to see this symbolism explained'.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S1 about the word child. The functional definition for this word is: 'Someone who has less physical or spiritual maturity than the speaker. This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus, Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Ge 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (Ge 44:20)'.. Please also see the note for Galatians C3S9 about the phrase children of Abraham. The functional definition is: 'The Jews claimed to be children of Abraham but Jesus said that the true children of Abraham would have his faith'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 3:7-8 about the phrase children of Israel. Please also see the note for Romans C8S14; God in Romans : Romans C4S12 and 1Peter 2:1 about the phrase children of God. Please also see the note for Galatians 4:19-20 about the phrase my little children. Please also see the note for Mark 2:19 about the phrase children of the bridechamber. Please also see the note for Colossians 3:8 about the phrase children of disobedience. The functional definition is: 'Saved people who live a life of disobedience to God'. Please also see the note for Colossians 3:8 about the phrase children of wrath. We also find this word, in this book, in: Revelation 12:2; Revelation 12:4; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 12:13.

The word cried is the past-tense form of the word cry. Please see the note for Mark 1:3 about the word cry. The functional definition for this word is: 'Loud notorious exclamation as a crying sin or warning'.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the word travail. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'v.i. L. trans, over, beyond, and mael, work; Eng. moil. 1. to labor with pain; to toil. 2. to suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor. Gen.35. TRAV'AIL, v.t. to harass; to tire; as troubles sufficient to travail the realm. Not in use. TRAV'AIL, n. Labor with pain; severe toil. As every thing of price, so doth this require travail. 1. Labor in childbirth; as a severe travail; an easy travail'.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the words birth / birthright / birthday. The functional definition, for the word birth, is: 'Life coming into the world. This is different from conception, which is when life starts. The Bible also makes the distinction n between physical birth and spiritual birth'. The functional definition, for the word birthday, is: 'The day that birth occurs'. The functional definition, for the word birthright, is: 'The rights received at the point of birth. These are distinguished from rights received later in life'. Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word firstborn. Please also see the note for 1John 3:9 about the phrase born of God. Please also see the note for Matthew 1:16 about the word born. The functional definition for this word is: 'Concieved life is brought into the world'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word begotten. The functional definition is: 'Procreated; generated'.

Please see the note for Acts 2:24 about the word pain. The functional definition for this word is: ' An uneasy sensation in animal bodies, of any degree from slight uneasiness to extreme distress or torture, proceeding from pressure, tension or spasm, separation of parts by violence, or any derangement of functions. thus violent pressure or stretching of a limb gives pain; inflammation produces pain; wounds, bruises and incisions give pain'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:2; 16:10-11; 21:4.

Please see the note for Mark 9:31 about the word delivered. The functional definition for this word is: ''Freed; released; transferred or transmitted; passed from one to another; committed; yielded; surrendered; rescued; uttered; pronounced'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:2; 12:4; 20:13.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'there. Re 12:3; 11:19; 15:1; 2Ch 32:31; Mr 13:25; Ac 2:19 wonder. or, sign. Mt 12:38; 24:30; Lu 21:11,25 exp: Re 12:3. a woman. Isa 49:14-23; 54:5-7; 60:1-4; Ho 2:19-20; Joh 3:29; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25-27,32 clothed. Re 21:23; Ps 84:11; Isa 60:19-20; 61:10; Mal 4:2; Ro 3:22; 13:14; Ga 3:27 and the. Ga 6:14; Tit 2:11-12 crown. Re 1:20; 21:14; Isa 62:3; Zec 9:16 General references. exp: Isa 66:7; Mt 2:7.
travailing. Re 12:4; Isa 53:11; 54:1; 66:7-8; Mic 5:3; Joh 16:21; Ga 4:19,27 General references. exp: Isa 66:7; Mt 2:7.'.

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C12-S2 (Verse 3) the symbolic representative of Satan.

First Step: Another thing which was unexpected.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven;

Second Step: the symbolic description of Satan's beast.

and behold a great red dragon,
having seven heads and ten horns,
and seven crowns upon his heads.

This being is one of Satan's beasts and he controls governments of the world (Revelation 17:9). He is the beast who is Satan's false replacement for God's Holy Spirit. The seven heads and ten horns identify this particular beast.

Our First Step tells us that this was another wonder in heaven because the beings in heaven, including angels, could not understand why God would allow this. But, this is part of God's plan for men to prove that they reject our Lord Jesus Christ and choose to follow Satan before He condemns them to Hell and forever in the lake of fire. God is always righteous and never condemns anyone without absolute legal proof that they deserve condemnation.

Our Second Step symbolically describes this being and that is how we know that he is Satan's false replacement for God's Holy Spirit.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here is the second wonder, the second symbol, that of a Great Red Dragon. Powerful, mighty, destructive, cruel, deceptive, the dragon symbolizes all that because this dragon symbolizes Satan. We easily know this for we are told as much in v9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Remember Satan is not actually a dragon, he is not a big fire breathing winged lizard, and he doesn’t actually have 7 heads, 10 horns or 7 crowns, all of this is symbolic in meaning for Satan is an angel, an anointed cherub, not a dragon, he is beautiful and perfect in his ways as described in Isaiah ch14. But here he is depicted as red for he was a murderer from the very beginning, red is the color of war, of sin, of murder and blood (remember the red horse of war in the 2nd seal 6:4). His 7 heads with 7 crowns indicate a complete governmental rule, implying political rulership over the world, for as the Bible says Satan is the god of this world, the prince of this world and the power of the air, and the antichrist will be set up as his pawn in the end times as thE political worldwide ruler. He will have complete control over this earth (in a worldly sense). the 10 horns are instruments of destruction and symbolize his complete world power and his authority as the god of this age along with his ability to control the militaries and destructive forces of the world to further his violent wicked plans. And we’ll see these descriptions later in ch13:1 and 17 and we’ll get into more depth about what these symbolize then. But suffice to say this dragon, Satan, is a very powerful being, a terrifying adversary, especially to the woman, Israel, who brings forth the man-child. All should be terrified of the dragon, for look at what he does in v4.'.

Please see the note for Matthew 16:2 about the word red. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'RED, a. Gr red, and a rose, from its color. Heb. to descend, to bring down. L. gradior, also to correct, to teach, erudio. Of a bright color, resembling blood. Red is a simple or primary color, but of several different shades or hues, as scarlet, crimson, vermilion, orange red, etc. We say red color, red cloth, red flame, red eyes, red cheeks, red lead, etc. Red book of the exchequer, an ancient English record or manuscript containing various treatises relating to the times before the conquest. Red men, red people, red children, the aboriginals of America, as distinguished from the whites.
RED, n. A red color; as a brighter color, the best of all the reds'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:29 about the phrase Red Sea.

We find forms of the word dragon occurring 35 times in 34 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Revelation 12:3; Revelation 12:4; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 12:13; Revelation 12:16; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:2; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 13:11; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 20:2. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'tannin, δράκων. It may signify any great serpent or sea monster, symbolical of a huge destructive creature. Nations doomed to destruction and desolation, including Jerusalem, are said to become habitations of dragons. Isa 34:13; 35:7; Jer 9:11; 10:22; 51:37. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is called the great dragon. Eze 29:3. As one of God's creatures the dragon is called upon to praise Jehovah. Ps 148:7. In the N.T. the dragon is a type of Satan and those energised by him. In Re 12:3 the "great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns," is symbolical of Satan's power in the form of the Roman empire: it endeavoured, in the person of Herod, to destroy Christ when born. In Re 13:2,4 it is Satan who gives the resuscitated Roman empire in a future day its throne and great authority. In Re 13:11 the Antichrist, who has two horns like a lamb, speaks as a dragon. In Re 16:13 it is Satan, and in Re 20:2 he is described as "that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan."'. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The translators of the Authorized Version, apparently following the Vulgate, have rendered by the same word "dragon" the two Hebrew words tan and tannin, which appear to be quite distinct in meaning. 1. the former is used, always in the plural, in: Job 30:29; Ps 44:19; Isa 34:13; 43:20; Jer 9:11. It is always applied to some creatures inhabiting the desert, and we should conclude from this that it refers rather to some wild beast than to a serpent. the syriac renders it by a word which, according to Pococke, means a "jackal". 2. the word tannin seems to refer to any great monster, whether of the land or the sea, being indeed more usually applied to some kind of serpent or reptile, but not exclusively restricted to that sense: Ex 7:9-10,12; De 32:33; Ps 91:13. In the New Testament it is found only in the Apocalypse: Re 12:3-4,7,9,16-17. etc., as applied metaphorically to "the old serpent, called the devil, and Satan."'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:67-75 about the word horn. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Of animals were used as drinking vessels, and to hold ointments, perfumes, etc., 1Sa 16:1; 1Ki 1:39. the "horns of the altar" were its four corners and elevation on them, Ex 27:2; 30:2. See ALTAR. the principal defense and ornament of many beasts are in their horns; and hence the horn is often a symbol of strength, honor, and dominion. the Lord exalted the horn of David, and of his people; he breaketh the horn of salvation, and of defiling the horn in the dust, De 33:17; 1Sa 2:1,10; Job 16:15; Ps 75:10; Da 7:20-24; Lu 1:69. there may be an allusion in these passages to a very common part of the female dress in some parts of the East. the married women among the Druses of mount Lebanon still wear on their heads silver horns, as in the accompanying cut; the other head is that of an Abyssinian chief'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'wonder. or, sign. Re 12:1 a great. Re 12:4,9,17; 13:2,4; 16:13; 17:3-4; 20:2; Isa 27:1; 51:9 seven heads. Re 13:1,3; 17:9-10 ten. Re 17:3,7,12,16; Isa 9:15; Da 2:42; 7:7-8,20,24 seven crowns. Re 13:1 General references. exp: Isa 66:7; Da 7:21; Mt 2:7.'.

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C12-S3 (Verse 4) How Satan acted in this spiritual war.

Equivalent Section: Satan led one third of the angels to rebel against God.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth:.

Equivalent Section: Satan tried to kill Jesus as soon as He was born.

and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,
for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

The titles in the sentence outline, above, clearly tell what the sentence, and each Equivalent Section, are about.

The First Equivalent Section is related to Luke 10:18, where Jesus said: And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. However, our First Equivalent Section also tells us that one third of the angels followed him. Please see the note from Dr. Jeff Wilson, below, for more on this truth.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read how Satan tried to destroy Jesus as soon as He was born. Matthew 2 tells us about the birth of Jesus and how Satan used the king to try and kill him. Matthew 2:17-18 tells us about the murder of all other babies in His generation. In that act, we can see the difference between the character of Satan and the character of God. People mean nothing to Satan so long as he can try to win his spiritual war with God.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we see Satan’s powerful influence, for these stars as we have discussed before, are symbolic of angels, and Lucifer in his subtle deceptive ways has persuaded and fooled and coerced a third of the angels of heaven to follow him, pledge allegiance to him and turn on God. And I think we can take something from this about why mankind is so blind and refuses to see the truth and does not repent. forhere are angelic beings, who serve in the presence of God, know the reality of God, His existence, His sovereignty, they see first hand His holiness, power, love, and all His other characteristics, and yet these angels are pulled away, they choose to follow a created being with delusions of grandeur instead of following the Creator of all things. With all their great wisdom and power and understanding the devil deceives these angels and causes their fall. So if angels, who know better than any man can be deceived by Satan, is it any wonder man in his ignorance and his blindness refuses to turn to God? that’s why it takes a divine call, a divine conviction upon one’s heart by the Holy Spirit to truly see the truth of Christ for one to have faith. forwithout God we are nothing, without God we cannot see, we cannot understand, we cannot have faith. Our salvation in its totality depends upon God, without Him we are without hope.
And so what happens to these angels that rebel against God? they and the devil are cast down to the earth, remember we have studied that some of these fallen angels where bound in chains, some were imprisoned in the bottomless pit, 2Pe 2:4 forif God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day; some are bound to specific areas, like the demons of the Euphrates River, and then some I believe, like Lucifer himself, are allowed to freely roam the earth, walking about seeking whom they may devour, who they may influence and corrupt and even possess.
We know Satan stalks the earth as a lion and we see in v4 his main prey is the sun-clothed woman, the woman with child, the nation of Israel that would bring forth the Messiah. and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Satan hates God, hates Israel, hates the Jews, and hates the child that came from them, and he has tried his very best since the fall in the Garden of Eden to eradicate any chance of the Messiah coming, to try and prevent the coming of the Redeemer, for it was there that the promise came that the seed of the woman would one day crush the head of the serpent (dragon) and that seed we know would come thru Israel. Down thru history there has always been a dragon influenced by Satan trying to destroy Israel and the royal lineage of Christ. Adam and Eve brought sin into the world. Cain killed Abel. the human race was utterly corrupted in the days of Noah. Hagar and Abraham produced a people that have always warred with the Jews. Pharaoh tried to destroy Israel in Moses’ day, Haman tried the same thing in the book of Esther, Nebuchadnezzar played his part in taking them into slavery once more. Herod tried to kill Jesus at his birth. Satan thought he won with Judas’ betrayal and the death of Christ. But even after that moment when Christ won the ultimate victory by dying on the cross and returning to life Satan still tries to annihilate the Jews. He is behind all hatred of the Jews, all anti-Semitism, all atrocities that have been visited upon God's chosen people. He was behind Hitler and Stalin, behind the death camps and persecution. Even nations you would not expect have played their part in trying to harm the Jews; England and Spain once banished all the Jews from their countries. France and Germany blamed the black plague on them and persecuted them severely. Russia has played its part in hating the Jews and not to mention all the Arab nations that want to see Israel wiped off the map. the Inquisition wreaked havoc upon them in the name of Christ. Even America is starting to have a very anti-Semitic attitude. Israelites have suffered like no other people in history and yet they have survived where many other peoples are extinct; they have flourished and prospered where others have withered away and disappeared. Satan has tried and tried and tried to destroy these people for centuries, yet with God on their side, Satan has utterly failed, for if God is with you who can be against you? Yet in the last days as we shall see, Satan is going to give it one last go, he is going to give it his all, the world has not yet seen the terrible persecution the Jews will face during the Great Tribulation. Why do you think the antichrist rejoices so much and the world with him when the two witnesses, whom I believe will both be Jews, are killed? that’s one reason I believe God had to seal the 144,000, for if he didn’t I don’t think many Jews, if any, would survive. Satan hates the Jews for they will and did produce the promised Messiah that would have victory over him. And we see that very Messiah arrive in v5.'.

Please see the note for Revelation 9:10 about the word tail. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. 1. the part of an animal which terminates its body behind. In many quadrupeds, the tail is a shoot or projection covered with hair. In fowls, the tail consists of feathers, or is covered with them, which serve to assist in the direction of their flight. In fishes the tail is formed usually by a gradual sloping of the body, ending in a fin. the tail of a fish may assist the animal in steering, but its principal use is to propel the fish forward. It is the instrument of swimming. 2. the lower part, noting inferiority. The Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail. Deut.28. 3. anything hanging long; a catkin. 4. the hinder part of anything. 5. In anatomy, that tendon of a muscle which is fixed to the movable part. 6. In botany, the tail of a seed, is a downy or feathery appendage to certain seeds, formed of the permanent elongated style. 7. Horse's tail, among the Tartars and Chinese, is an ensign or flag; among the Turks, a standard borne before the grand visier, bashaws and the sangiacs. for this purpose, it is fitted to a half-pike with a gold button, and is called toug. there are bashaws of one, two and three tails. 8. In heraldry, the tail of a hart. 9. In music, the part of a note running upwards or downwards. 10. the extremity or last end; as the tail of a storm. Tail of a comet, a luminous train which extends from the nucleus in a direction opposite to the sun. Toturn tail, is to run away; to flee. Tail of a lock, on a canal, the lower end, or entrance into the lower pond. Tail-piece, of a violin, is a piece of ebony attached to the end of the instrument, to which the strings are fastened.
TAIL, n. In law, an estate in tail is a limited fee; an estate limited to certain heirs, and from which the other heirs are precluded. Estates tail are general or special; general, where lands and tenements are given to one, and to the heirs of his body begotten; special, where the gift is restrained to certain heirs of the donee;s body, as to his heirs by a particular woman names. See Entail.
TAIL, v.t. to pull by the tail.'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:29 about the word cast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'In general "to throw," with various degrees of violence; usually, with force, but not so necessarily, as e.g. in cast a net," cast lots'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S19 about the phrase cast away. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:8-10 about the phrase cast down. Please also see the note for Mark 9:28 about the phrase cast out. Please also see the note for Romans C11S1 about the phrase God will not cast away his people.

Please see the note for Revelation 12:3 about the word dragon. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'tannin, δράκων. It may signify any great serpent or sea monster, symbolical of a huge destructive creature. Nations doomed to destruction and desolation, including Jerusalem, are said to become habitations of dragons. Isa 34:13; 35:7; Jer 9:11; 10:22; 51:37. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is called the great dragon. Eze 29:3. As one of God's creatures the dragon is called upon to praise Jehovah. Ps 148:7. In the N.T. the dragon is a type of Satan and those energised by him. In Re 12:3 the "great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns," is symbolical of Satan's power in the form of the Roman empire: it endeavoured, in the person of Herod, to destroy Christ when born. In Re 13:2,4 it is Satan who gives the resuscitated Roman empire in a future day its throne and great authority. In Re 13:11 the Antichrist, who has two horns like a lamb, speaks as a dragon. In Re 16:13 it is Satan, and in Re 20:2 he is described as "that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan."'. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The translators of the Authorized Version, apparently following the Vulgate, have rendered by the same word "dragon" the two Hebrew words tan and tannin, which appear to be quite distinct in meaning. 1. the former is used, always in the plural, in: Job 30:29; Ps 44:19; Isa 34:13; 43:20; Jer 9:11. It is always applied to some creatures inhabiting the desert, and we should conclude from this that it refers rather to some wild beast than to a serpent. the syriac renders it by a word which, according to Pococke, means a "jackal". 2. the word tannin seems to refer to any great monster, whether of the land or the sea, being indeed more usually applied to some kind of serpent or reptile, but not exclusively restricted to that sense: Ex 7:9-10,12; De 32:33; Ps 91:13. In the New Testament it is found only in the Apocalypse: Re 12:3-4,7,9,16-17. etc., as applied metaphorically to "the old serpent, called the devil, and Satan."'.

Please see the note for Galatians 5:15 about the word devour. The functional definition for this word is: 'To destroy; to consume with rapidity and violence'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'his tail. Re 9:10,19; Da 8:9-12 of the. Re 17:18 the dragon. Re 12:2; Ex 1:16; Mt 2:3-16; Joh 8:44; 1Pe 5:8 exp: Re 12:7. General references. exp: De 32:11; Isa 66:7; Da 7:21; Mt 2:7; Ac 7:19; Re 12:13.'.

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C12-S4 (Verse 5) the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Equivalent Section: His birth.

And she brought forth a man child,
who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:.

Equivalent Section: His assentation. .

and her child was caught up unto God,
and to his throne.

Wow! the entire life of our Lord Jesus Christ presented in one sentence. Please see the various Gospels for more details. But realize that, here, John is skipping those details in order to keep the reader's focus on the main point that he is presenting. Our chapter is only hitting the very highest highlights in that spiritual war between Satan and God with the nation of Israel used as a pawn in this war, at least by Satan.

The first phrase, of our First Equivalent Section, deals with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second phrase, of our First Equivalent Section, deals with His return to rule this world for 1,000 years.

Our First Equivalent Section talks about His return to Heaven and what He is doing now. Therefore, our sentence presents a summary of the past, the present and the future.

Our sentence tells us the prophecy of how people will react during the 1,000 years reign of Christ. Psalms 2:9; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5 and Revelation 19:15 all tell us that he shall rule them with a rod of iron. There will be instant and fierce discipline for disobedience that that will instill true fear of the Lord.

Please see the Word Study called: The End of the World for links to every place where this phrase is used and an explanation of how the phrase is used within the context where it is found. This phrase is used to identify 'the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign this world for 1,000 years.'

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Who else could this Man Child be other than Jesus Christ? Jesus was a Jew, we see his lineage given to us in the gospels, traced to King David and thus having the right to the throne of David, as well as being traced all the way back to Adam where the seed was promised. Scripture describes him as the son of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, the root of David. Mt 1:1 the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. He was born/manifested in the flesh, Mt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Who else in the Bible is said to have the right and authority to rule the world with a rod of iron? Ps 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Speaking of Christ we read in Re 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Isa 9:6 forunto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
At his return we read Re 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Christ ascended into heaven Ac 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Lu 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Re 3:21 to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
This man child is none other that Jesus Christ our Lord, come forth from Israel, whom Satan has tried to stop, to destroy, to hurt and harm, to cause suffering, to do anything and everything in his power to obliterate and he has ultimately failed.
Israel has been at odds with the dragon from the very beginning. It started in Eden and went to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, to their families, their descendants, all the way down thru the history of Israel, the enmity between the woman and the dragon has continued, Satan has tried over and over to destroy the Jewish bloodline and the nation. forit was to be from that bloodline and from this people that the prophesied Messiah would come forth. that’s why we see the woman being with child and suffering greatly to bring this child forth, as Jesus was to have a Jewish lineage and Satan greatly persecuted Israel trying to ruin God's plan.
And Satan did not go about all this by himself, he was not alone in warring against Israel and trying to prevent the birth of Jesus, for in his power and deception he caused a third of the heavenly angels to side with and follow him, and now they are his operatives, his minions here upon earth. Satan and his army of demons have waged a great warfare against God and His chosen. But the truth of the matter is that war was won when Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, grew into maturity, began his ministry by revealing himself to the world, and when the world rejected him, partly due to Satan’s influence, he willingly died upon the cross, and then Christ snatched victory from defeat when he arose from the grave, he triumphed over Satan that day, bruised the head of the serpent, conquered all, overcame sin, Satan, death and hell. He then ascended to his Father in heaven to sit at the right hand of God until the time arrives that he returns to sit upon the throne of David and rule the world. So is it any wonder Satan hates Israel and hates God, as they supplied the means of his downfall, and that’s why as time remains until Christ’s return, Satan is going to make Israel pay dearly, as Satan can’t harm nor fight God, but he sure can cause problems for the Jews.
And now between v5 and v6 we have the church age, all that is contained within chapters 2 and 3 and the beginning of ch4 of the book of Revelation, are contained right here, the whole dispensation of the age of grace is contained between these two verses, for John is dealing specifically with Israel and her conflict with Satan here in ch12, not the church, so he is picking right back up with Daniel’s 70th week, the 69th ended with Israel rejection of Christ and the formation of the church, but with the church now gone and the tribulation began we are right in the middle of that 70th week as we start v6.'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:14-16 about the word rule. The functional definition for this word is: ' Webster's 1828 dictionary defines rule as: '1. Government; sway; empire; control; supreme command or authority. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame. Prov. 17. And his stern rule the groaning land obey'd. 2. that which is established as a principle, standard or directory; that by which anything is to be adjusted or regulated, or to which it is to be conformed; that which is settled by authority or custom for guidance and direction. thus, a statute or law is a rule of civil conduct; a canon is a rule of ecclesiastical government; the precept or command of a father is a rule of action or obedience to children; precedents in law are rules of decision to judges; maxims and customs furnish rules for regulating our social opinions and manners. the laws of God are rules for directing us in life, paramount to all others. A rule which you do not apply, is no rule at all. 3. An instrument by which lines are drawn. Judicious artist will use his eye, but he will trust only to his rule. 4. Established mode or course of proceeding prescribed in private life. Every man should have some fixed rules for managing his own affairs. 5. In literature, a maxim, canon or precept to be observed in any art or science. 6. In monasteries, corporations or societies, a law or regulation to be observed by the society and its particular members. 7. In courts, rules are the determinations and orders of court, to be observed by its officers in conducting the business of the court. 8. In arithmetic and algebra, a determinate mode prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result. 9. In grammar, an establish form of construction in a particular class of words; or the expression of that form in words. thus, it is a rule in English, that s or es, added to a noun in the singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but man forms its plural men, and is an exception to the rule. Rule of three, is that rule of arithmetic which directs, when three terms are given, how to find a fourth, which shall have the same ratio to the third term, as the second has to the first.
RULE, v.t. 1. to govern; to control the will and actions of others, either by arbitrary power and authority, or by established laws. the emperors of the east rule their subjects without the restraints of a constitution. In limited governments, men are ruled by known laws. If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? 1Tim. 3. 2. to govern the movements of things; to conduct; to manage; to control. that God rules the world he has created, is a fundamental article of belief. 3. to manage; to conduct, in almost any manner. 4. to settle as by a rule. that's a ruled case with the schoolmen. 5. to mark with lines by a ruler; as, to rule a blank book. 6. to establish by decree or decision; to determine; as a court.
RULE, v.i. to have power or command; to exercise supreme authority. By me princes rule. Prov. 8. It is often followed by over. they shall rule over their oppressors. Is. 14. We subdue and rule over all other creatures'. Please also see the note for John 7:26 about the word ruler.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word throne. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a royal chair or seat of dignity (De 17:18; 2Sa 7:13; Ps 45:6); an elevated seat with a canopy and hangings, which cover it. It denotes the seat of the high priest in 1Sa 1:9; 4:13, and of a provincial governor in Ne 3:7; Ps 122:5. the throne of Solomon is described at length in 1Ki 10:18-20'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'she. Re 12:2; Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:3; Mt 1:25 rule. Re 2:26-27; 19:15; Ps 2:9-10 caught. Re 11:12; Mr 16:19 exp: 2Co 12:2; 1Th 4:17. General references. exp: Ps 2:9; Isa 66:7; Mt 2:7; Ac 7:19; Re 12:13.'.

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C12-S5 (Verse 6) God hides the Jews who will turn to Him, eventually.

And the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she hath a place prepared of God,
that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

I put the qualifier of: 'who will turn to Him, eventually' because, even in the great tribulation, there will be unbelieving Jews who are deceived just like the Gentiles are deceived. The word of God. Jeremiah 30:7-9 says: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. forit shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. This is a prophecy that God will save all of the living Jews in the day that our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rule this world. But, God does not take away anyone's free will even to keep them from spending everlasting in the lake of fire. Therefore, God has to let all Jews who, will not believe, be killed before that day. Thus, I write that God only hides the Jews who will turn to Him, eventually.

The number in our sentence is three and a half years.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we see the woman, Israel, fleeing the dragon, Satan and his antichrist, for that is who is in power during the tribulation, the one who pretended to make peace with Israel and then betrayed her. Satan after failing to destroy the man-child, to prevent the coming Messiah, now turns his attention to Israel to vent his fury. Re 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. But the thing is God is going to protect His people during this time, He is going to prepare a place for Israel to flee to in order to protect them, or atleast a remnant of them. Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 for, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Mt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 forthen shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Eze 20:35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
V6 says God has a place prepared for Israel as apparently the Jews will have to flee their homeland for a time, for 1260 days to be precise, 3 ½” years, the last half of the tribulation. But where is this place they flee to? Where do they go? We’ll deal with that question later in v13-14, but the place I believe they flee to is called Petra, which is a very interesting study in and of itself.
But notice that while these events are happening on earth, John now shifts the scene to heaven. We have looked at the war on earth between Satan and Israel in v1-6, now we turn to the war in heaven between the heavenly hosts and Satan and his angels.'.

Please see the note for Luke 8:34 about the words flee / fled. The functional definition for this word is: 'To run with rapidity, as from danger; to attempt to escape; to hasten from danger or expected evil'.

Please see the note for John 3:14 about the word wilderness. The functional definition for this word is: 'denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps 65:12; Isa 42:11; Jer 23:10; Joe 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place.'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:6; 12:14; 17:3.

Please see the note for John 19:31 about the words prepare / preparation. The functional definition for this word is: 'To make all things ready; to put things in suitable order; as, prepare for dinner'.

Please see the note for John 21:15 about the word feed. The functional definition for this word is: 'to provide with nuriment. This word is often used for spiritual norishment which comes from the Bible'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the woman. Re 12:4,14 that. 1Ki 17:3-6,9-16; 19:4-8; Mt 4:11 a thousand. Re 11:2-3 exp: Da 12:11.'.

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C12-S6 (Verse 7-8) Satan started and lost a war in Heaven.

Equivalent Section: the start.

And there was war in heaven:

Equivalent Section: Satan and his devils were kicked out of Heaven.

First Step: Michael led God's angels against Satan and his devils.

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon;

Second Step: Satan and his devils lost.

and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not;

Third Step: Satan and his devils were kicked out of Heaven.

neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Our First Equivalent Section says And there was war in heaven with the word was being past-tense. We have been reading a short summary of the history of God's people and now John is adding an account of a related history of angels in Heaven by starting this sentence with the word And. In addition, our next sentence also starts with the word And, which adds it to this sentence. It also uses the past-tense word was. Therefore, both sentences are telling us what happened in the past. That does not change what is happening now nor does it change what will happen in the future.

The titles in the sentence outline, above, are clear. Satan and his angels no longer reside in Heaven even though Satan can visit for short times.

In the note from Dr. Jeff Wilson, below, he writes: 'This battle is yet future because we know that as of right know Satan still has access to heaven, he still has a place there, for it is in heaven that Satan accuses and points the finger at believers'. This is an error but not something to break fellowship over. Yes, 'as of right know Satan still has access to heaven, for it is in heaven that Satan accuses and points the finger at believers'. But, that does not mean that 'he still has a place there'. During the time of war, see our current sentence, enemies do not have embassies in the country of their enemies. Yes, they send someone to represent them and speak to their enemy, but that do not 'still has a place there'. In addition, the third Step of our sentence says: neither was their place found any more in heaven. That literally says that Satan had no place in Heaven. In addition, it also says that the angels who followed him had no place in Heaven. And, we saw in earlier chapters that several of them were bound in Hell or under the river or in the bottomless pit. So, this war was already started; Satan and his angels were kicked out of Heaven; it is still ongoing even though Satan can still go to Heaven but not stay; and it will be finished by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have no objection to anything else in his note and all of the rest of his note is possible with Satan and his angels kicked out of Heaven but with Satan having privileges to visit but not stay.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we are introduced to the 4th personality in ch12 and 13, Michael the archangel. Michael is mentioned 5 times in Scripture. Here in Rev 12, in Daniel ch10 (mentioned twice) he is called one of the chief princes and a prince and comes to the aid of Daniel’s prayer, in Jude v9 where he alone is referred to as the archangel and contends with Satan over the body of Moses. And in Da 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. His name means “who is like God” and he lives up to the name, for like God, Michael acts as the protector, the guardian angel of the nation of Israel, for in all those verses he is mentioned in he is acting on behalf of a Jew. this is why he is typically the warrior angel, most likely the highest ranking angel in the heavenly army, but one who battles, who stands for God's people. And here we see he and his angels battle Satan and his army. the archangel fights the dragon and his demons. Now be aware this is not a recount of some historical event, this is not speaking of Satan’s fall in Isaiah, this is still yet to happen. And the reason I say that is made clear in v8-9.
Verse 8-9
This battle is yet future because we know that as of right know Satan still has access to heaven, he still has a place there, for it is in heaven that Satan accuses and points the finger at believers. Did not he do such to Job, Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Did he not do the same to Joshua the high priest? (remember the comparison with the two witnesses?). Zec 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And in v10 here he is referred to as the accuser of the brethren which accused them before our God day and night. But isn’t it wonderful that we believers have an advocate that stands up to all these accusations? 1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: In order to accuse us before God Satan has to have access to heaven, so even in his fall from power and authority he still could come and go freely between earth and heaven. But now with this war in heaven, Satan looses all rights to confront the saints before the throne of God, for in truth their judgment is now over, the Judgment seat of Christ has most likely already happened, and the devil, the prosecuting attorney has rested his case but God the eternal judge has found all innocent and deserving of a reward because He has seen the blood of the Lord Jesus upon all the saints. So now Satan and his minions are cast out forever, no more accusations, no more snide remarks about us, no more pointing out our failures, our sins, our disobedience, our carnality. Satan’s place is found no more in heaven, he is now confined to the earth. And just think about this, Satan due to his pride fell hard, for he fell from his position of authority in heaven, here he has been cast down out of heaven, soon he will be cast down into the bottomless pit and finally he will be cast down into the lake of fire. His pride is leading him to great destruction. the destroyer has destroyed himself.
Also notice there in v9 we are given the five main titles for Satan, 1. the dragon signifying his fierceness and cruelty, 2. the serpent signifying his deceptive nature, 3. the devil meaning accuser and slanderer, 4. Satan meaning adversary and 5. deceiver as he is the father of lies, the deceiver of the whole world. But now he and his angels are cast out, cast down, heaven will be defiled by his presence no longer. And now due to this victory John hears a loud voice, a voice compelling those in heaven to rejoice.'.

Please see the note for Jude 1:7 about Michael. The functional definition for this word is: 'the head of God's army'.

Please see the note for John 12:19 about the word prevail. The functional definition for this word is: 'To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'war. Re 13:7; 19:11-20; Isa 34:5; Eph 6:12 (Gr) exp: Ps 27:3. Michael. Isa 55:4; Da 10:13,21; 12:1; Heb 2:10; Jude 1:9 and his. Mt 13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 26:53; 2Th 1:7 the dragon. Re 12:3-4; 20:2 his angels. Re 12:9; Ps 78:49; Mt 25:41; 2Co 12:7 (Gr) 2Pe 2:4 General references. exp: Mt 12:29; Mr 3:27.
prevailed not. Re 12:11; Ps 13:4; 118:10-13; 129:2; Jer 1:19; 5:22; Mt 16:18; Ro 8:31-39 their. Job 7:10; 8:18; 20:9; 27:21-23; Ps 37:10; Ac 1:25; Jude 1:6 General references. exp: Mt 12:29; Mr 3:27.'.

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C12-S7 (Verse 9) the results from the prior sentence.

Equivalent Section: Satan was cast out of Heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent,
called the Devil,
and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world:.

Equivalent Section: the angels who followed Satan were also cast out of Heaven.

he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Section telling us the results of the first phase of the spiritual war. Our First Equivalent Section has several phrases with four different names for Satan. Those are dealt with in the Word Studies, below. Our last phrase also tells us that he deceiveth the whole world. One of the best proofs of this truth is how many religions, preachers and people teach about 'daemons'. Please note that there are no 'daemons' within the Bible. That word is doctrinal error deliberately taught by devil-motivated men to cause God's children to ignore or think less about the true danger that true devils are.

Our First Equivalent Section also tells us that he was cast out (of Heaven). He can still go there for a short time, as explained in the prior note, but he no longer lives there.

Our Second Equivalent Section also tells us that all of the angels (devils) who followed him were also cast out with him. He is aloud to roam the Earth (he was cast out into the earth) while some of his devils are bound in Hell or in the bottomless pit or under the river. We read all of this earlier in this Study.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 11:3 about the word serpent. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: ''frequently noticed in Scripture. More than forty species are found in Syria and Arabia. the poisonous character of the serpent is alluded to in Jacob's blessing on Dan (Ge 49:17). (See Adder.)
This word is used symbolically of a deadly, subtle, malicious enemy (Lu 10:19).
The serpent is first mentioned in connection with the history of the temptation and fall of our first parents (Ge 3). It has been well remarked regarding this temptation: "A real serpent was the agent of the temptation, as is plain from what is said of the natural characteristic of the serpent in the first verse of the chapter (Ge 3:1), and from the curse pronounced upon the animal itself. But that Satan was the actual tempter, and that he used the serpent merely as his instrument, is evident (1) from the nature of the transaction; for although the serpent may be the most subtle of all the beasts of the field, yet he has not the high intellectual faculties which the tempter here displayed. (2.) In the New Testament it is both directly asserted and in various forms assumed that Satan seduced our first parents into sin (Joh 8:44; Ro 16:20; 2Co 11:3,14; Re 12:9; 20:2)." Hodge's System. theol., ii. 127'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition for this word is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. In this sentence, it is used to identify the enemy of saved people and the relationship that he has with men. Please also see the notes for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13 about the words Lord and call.

We find forms of the word devil occurring 116 times in 105 verses of the Bible, 112 times in 101 verses of the New Testament and, in Revenation, in: 2:10; 9:20; 12:9; 12:12; 16:14; 18:2; 20:2; 20:10. Please also see the section called Jesus and Devils, in the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for links to every place where Jesus dealt with devils. Please also see the Word Study on Spirit for links to every place in the Bible where we find 'Other Spirits', which are devils. Please note that there are no 'daemons' within the Bible. That word is doctrinal error deliberately taught by devil-motivated men to cause God's children to ignore or think less about the true danger that true devils are. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Greek) "the accuser" or "the slanderer" (Job 1:6-11; 2:1-7; Re 12:10). In Hebrew Satan means "adversary." the two-fold designation marks the two-fold objects of his malice - the Gentiles and the Jews. there is one one Devil, many "demons" as KJV ought to translate the plural. Devil is also used as an adjective. 1Ti 3:11, "slanderers"; 2Ti 3:3, "false accusers." Peter when tempting Jesus to shun the cross did Satan's work, and therefore received Satan's name (Mt 16:23); so Judas is called a "devil" when acting the Devil's part (Joh 6:70). Satan's characteristic sins are lying (Joh 8:44; Ge 3:4-5); malice and murder (1Jo 3:12; Genesis 4); pride, "the condemnation of the Devil," by which he "lost his first estate" (1Ti 3:6; Job 38:15; Isa 14:12-15; Joh 12:31; 16:11; 2Pe 2:4; Jg 1:6).
He slanders God to man, and man to God (Genesis 3; Zechariah 3). His misrepresentation of God as one arbitrary, selfish, and envious of His creature's happiness, a God to be slavishly-feared lest He should hurt, rather than filially loved, runs through all pagan idolatries. this calumny is refuted by God's not sparing His only begotten Son to save us. His slander of good men, as if serving God only for self's sake, is refuted by the case of "those who lose (in will or deed) their life for Christ's sake." Demons, "knowing ones," from a root daemi, to know, are spirits who tremble before, but love not, God (Jas 2:19), incite men to rebellion against Him (Re 16:14). "Evil spirits" (Ac 19:13,15) recognize Christ the Son of God (Mt 8:29; Lu 4:41) as absolute Lord over them, and their future Judge; and even flee before exorcism in His name (Mr 9:38).
As "unclean" they can tempt man with unclean thoughts. they and their master Satan are at times allowed by God to afflict with bodily disease (Lu 13:16): "Satan hath bound this woman these eighteen years" with "a spirit of infirmity," so that she was "bowed together." Scripture teaches that in idolatry the demons are the real workers behind the idol, which is a mere "nothing." Compare 1Co 10:19-21; 1Ti 4:1; Re 9:20. Compare De 32:17, Hebrew sheedim, "lords" (1Co 8:5); Ac 16:16, "a spirit of divination" (Greek of Python, an idol); Ac 17:18, "a setter forth of strange gods" (Greek: demons); 2Ch 11:15; Ps 106:37; Le 17:7. Idolatry is part of the prince of this world's engines for holding dominion.
Our word "panic," from the idol Pan, represented as Satan is, with horns and cloven hoofs, shows the close connection there is between the idolater's slavish terror and Satan his master. the mixture of some elements of primitive truth in paganism accords with Satan's practice of foiling the kingdom of light by transforming himself at times into an "angel of light." Error would not succeed if there were not some elements of truth mixed with it to recommend it. Corrupting the truth more effectually mars it than opposing it. Satan as Beelzebub (Mt 12:24-30) is at the head of an organized kingdom of darkness, with its "principalities and powers" to be "wrestled" against by the children of light. forany subordinate agent of this kingdom, man or demon, to oppose another agent would be, reasons Christ, a division of Satan against Satan (involving the fall of his kingdom), which division Satan would never sanction (Eph 6:12-13).
Demons are "his angels" (Mt 25:41; Re 12:7,9). Natural science can give no light when we come to the boundary line which divides mind from matter. the Bible-asserted existence of evil among angels affords no greater difficulty than its manifest existence among men. As surely as Scripture is true, personality is as much attributed to them as it is to men or to God. Possession with or by a demon or demons is distinctly asserted by Luke (Lu 6:17-18), who as a "physician" was able to distinguish between the phenomena of disease and those of demoniac possession. the Spirit of God in the evangelists would never have sanctioned such distinction, or left people under a superstitious error, not merely connived at but endorsed, if the belief were really false. there is nothing wrong in our using the word "lunacy" for madness; but if we described its cure as the moon's ceasing to afflict, or if the doctor addressed the moon commanding it to leave the patient alone, it would be a lie (Trench, Miracles, 153).
In Mt 4:24, "those possessed with demons" are distinguished from "those lunatic" (probably the epileptic, but even this caused by a demon: Mr 9:14, etc.). Demons spoke with superhuman knowledge (Ac 16:16); recognized Jesus, not merely as son of David (which they would have done had their voice been merely that of the existing Jewish superstition), but as "Son of God" (Mt 8:29). Our Lord speaks of the disciples' casting out of demons as an installment or earnest of the final "fall" of Satan before the kingdom of Christ (Lu 10:18). People might imagine the existence of demons; but swine could only be acted on by an external real personal agent; the entrance of the demons into the swine of Gadara, and their consequent drowning, prove demons to be objective realities.
Seeing that physical disease itself is connected with the introduction of evil into the world, the tracing of insanity to physical disorganization only partially explains the phenomena; mental disease often betrays symptoms of a hostile spiritual power at work. At our Lord's advent as Prince of Light, Satan as prince of darkness, whose ordinary operation is on men's minds by invisible temptation, rushed into open conflict with His kingdom and took possession of men's bodies also. the possessed man lost the power of individual will and reason, his personal consciousness becoming strangely confused with that of the demon in him, so as to produce a twofold will, such as we have in some dreams. Sensual habits predisposed to demoniac possession. In pagan countries instances occur wherein Satan seemingly exercises a more direct influence than in Christian lands. Demoniac possession gradually died away as Christ's kingdom progressed in the first centuries of the church. there are four gradations in Satan's ever-deepening fall.
(1) He is deprived of his heavenly excellency, though still having access to heaven as man's accuser (Job 1-2), up to Christ's ascension. All we know of his original state as an archangel of light is that he lost it through pride and restless ambition, and that he had some special connection, possibly as God's vicegerent over this earth and the animal kingdom; thereby we can understand his connection and that of his subordinate fallen angels with this earth throughout Scripture, commencing with his temptation of man to his characteristic sin, ambition to be "as gods knowing good and evil;" only his ambition seems to have been that of power, man's that of knowledge. His assuming an animal form, that of a serpent, and the fact of death existing in the pre-Adamite world, imply that evil probably was introduced by him in some way unknown to us, affecting the lower creation before man's creation. As before Christ's ascension heaven was not yet fully open to man (Joh 3:13), so it was not yet shut against Satan. the old dispensation could not overcome him (compare Zechariah 3).
(2) From Christ to the millennium he is judicially cast out as "accuser" of the elect; for Christ appearing before God as our Advocate (Heb 9:24), Satan the accusing adversary could no longer appear against us (Ro 8:33-34). He and his angels range through the air and the earth during this period (Eph 2:2; 6:12). "Knowing that he hath but a short time" (Revelation 12), in "great wrath" he concentrates his power on the earth, especially toward the end, when he is to lose his standing against Israel and expulsion shall be executed on him and his by Michael (Re 12:7-9; Da 12:1; Zechariah 3, where Joshua the high priest represents "Jerusalem," whose "choice" by the Lord is the ground of the Lord's rebuke to Satan).
(3) He is bound at the eve of the millennium (Re 20:1-3). Having failed to defeat God's purpose of making this earth the kingdom of Christ and His transfigured saints, by means of the beast, the harlot, and finally Antichrist, who is destroyed instantly by Christ's manifestation in glory, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years during which he ceases to be the persecutor or else seducer of the church and "the god and prince of the world" that "lieth in the wicked one."
(4) At its close, being loosed for a while, in person Satan shall head the last conspiracy against Christ (permitted in order to show the security of believers who cannot fall as Adam fell by Satan's wiles), and shall be finally cast into the lake of life forever (Re 20:7-10). As the destroyer, he is represented as the "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1Pe 5:8). As the deceiver he is the "serpent." though judicially "cast down to hell" with his sinning angels, "and delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment" (2Pe 2:4), he is still free on earth to roam to the length of his chain, like a chained dog, but no further. He cannot hurt God's elect; his freedom of range in the air and on earth is that of a chained prisoner under sentence.'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:10-11 about Satan. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines Satan as: 'Heb. an adversary. the grand adversary of man; the devil or prince of darkness; the chief of the fallen angels'. Please also see note above about devils. We see Satan referenced, in this book, in: 2:9; 2:13; 2:24; 3:9; 12:9; 20:2 and 20:7.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S15 and 1Corinthians C3S18 about the word deceived. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines deceived as 'pp. Misled; led into error; beguiled; cheated; deluded.'. Please also see the note for Galatians C6S3 about the phrase deceiveth himself. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:9; 13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3; 20:8; 20:10.

Please see the note for Mark 10:52 about the word whole. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 defines this word as: '1. All; total; containing the total amount or number, or the entire thing; as the whole earth; the whole world; the whole solar system; the whole army; the whole nation. 2. Complete; entire; not defective or imperfect; as a whole orange; the egg is whole; the vessel is whole. 3. Unimpaired; unbroken; uninjured. My life is yet whole in me. 2 Samuel 1. 4. Sound; not hurt or sick. they that are whole need not a physician. Matthew 9. 5. Restored to health and soundness; sound; well. thy faith hath made thee whole. Mark 5. His hand was restored whole. Mark 3.
WHOLE, n. 1. the entire thing; the entire or total assemblage of parts. the whole of religion is contained in the short precept, Love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12. 2. A system; a regular combination of parts'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:3 about the word wholesome.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the great. Re 12:3,7; Lu 10:18; Joh 12:31 that. Re 12:14-15; 20:2; Ge 3:1,4,13; Isa 27:1; 65:25 the Devil. Re 9:20; 16:14; 18:2; Mt 4:1,5,8; 13:39; Lu 8:12; Joh 8:44; 1Ti 3:6-7; Heb 2:14; 1Jo 3:8-10; Jude 1:9 exp: 1Pe 5:8; Re 2:10. and Satan. Re 2:9,13,24; 3:9; 1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6-12; 2:1; Ps 109:6; Zec 3:1-2; Mt 4:10; Lu 13:16; 22:3,31; Ac 5:3; 26:18; Ro 16:20; 2Co 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 2Th 2:9 deceiveth. Re 13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3,8,10; Mt 24:24; Ro 16:18; 2Co 11:3; Eph 4:14; 2Th 2:3,9-11; 1Ti 2:14; 2Ti 3:13; 1Jo 5:19 he was. Re 9:1; Eze 28:16; Lu 10:18; Joh 12:31 into. Job 1:7; 2:2; Isa 14:12; 65:25; Joh 14:30; 16:11; 2Co 4:4; 1Pe 5:8 General references. exp: Mt 12:29; Mr 3:27; 2Co 2:11; 1Ti 5:15.'.

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C12-S8 (Verse 10) the announcement that it is time to finish the spiritual war.

Equivalent Section: the announcement.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
Now is come salvation,
and strength,
and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Christ :.

Equivalent Section: Why.

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
which accused them before our God day and night.

Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the related note in the lord Jesus Christ Study. It is extensive and explains the phrase: the power of his Christ.

This sentence, and all of the sentences through Revelation 12:13, are a single unit which gives us this announcement. Please consider them all together for contextual reasons.

In our First Equivalent Section, we see the announcement that four things are come. That means that they did not exist before the announcement and we might not see the evidence of their existence immediately. And, our Second Equivalent Section tells us why this is true. Basically, it is telling us that Satan will no longer be allowed into Heaven to accuse of our brethren. He is cast down. He is sent into the Earth and not allowed to return to Heaven. He will no longer be allow to accused (our brethren) before our God day and night. And, this is why the things announced in our First Equivalent Section are now true.

Our next sentence is added to this sentence by starting with the word and. That means it needs to be considered with this sentence for contextual reasons. It tells us: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and more with the important part, for current considerations, being that certain saved saints overcame Satan and his temptations to sin, because of what God provided in this sentence. That is, they had to:

Accept true Biblical salvation
Use God's strength and not rely on their own
Receive the character of God (the kingdom of our God) as their own character while alive
And, the had to let the power of his Christ show through their physical life so that they became true Biblical Christians

When they used all that this sentence tells us that God provided, they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb. (Please see the Significant Characters other than God for the references to verses which tell us how to overcome sin.)

The first thing, which is announced to be true, is: Now is come salvation. Now, a lot of people will say that the saved of the 'Church Age' are already saved. However, that does not mean that they have received everything which is part of their true salvation. Please realize that the hundred and forty four thousand virgin male Jews receive certain rewards of salvation at a different time than the saved of the 'Church Age'. For example, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes occurs in 7:17 for the hundred and forty four thousand. However, god does not do the same for the saved of the 'Church Age' until 21:4. Therefore, this announcement tells us that there is nothing preventing God from giving the rest of the rewards of true salvation except for God's timing.

The next thing, which is announced to be true, is: Now is come strength. I, personally, do not believe that God received more strength but that the time has come for God to demonstrate His strength. He has given Satan, and all of his devils, plenty of time to run things on the Earth and to demonstrate the results of refusing to go God's way. However, in spite of proving how disastrous Satan's way is, they still believe that they can defeat God and His Christ. Therefore, now is the time to demonstrate their true strength by defeating them and putting all of them, along with all of their followers, into the prison of Hell or of the lake of fire.

The next thing, which is announced to be true, is: Now is come the kingdom of our God. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Kingdom of God.) the Kingdom of God is: 'God's character in the saved and God's laws enforced on the Earth'. Now, we don't see the second half of that definition being reported as true in this Bible book, but this announcement lets us know that there is nothing left which can prevent it happening. Yes, there are still things which have to be taken care of first. But they are minor from God's perspective.

The last thing, which is announced to be true, is: Now is come the power of his Christ. There is an extensive note on this phrase in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access it.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Given here By this commanding voice are multiple reasons for the heavens to rejoice. First they rejoice for salvation is come, the saints have been wholly delivered from the presence of the devil, they have been saved from the penalty of their sins, saved from Satan’s accusations, delivered from Satan’s power, and now they are delivered from his presence. With Satan cast out and eternally barred from heaven the saints praise God for his absolute overcoming of the great dragon. Secondly heaven rejoices because strength has come, for God has once again demonstrated himself as a strong and mighty God in casting out the one who would be like the most high yet he fell far short. God in his might has subdued the enemy of the church and of the saints of old. God has gotten rid of the great adversary. God has shown his great authority, his majestic sovereignty, his omnipotence and rule over all things and has cast Satan, that old serpent, to the earth; cast him out, exorcised the deceiver from the heavenly realm. Heaven rejoices because the enemy is defeated, because the devil can not defeat God, which is a constant reminder to the saints that if God is with them who can be, who can stand, against them?, not even the devil himself; and if we as believers who are still here upon the earth would remember that, we could have more victory and rejoicing in our lives in the here and now.
Thirdly there is rejoicing in heaven for the time for the kingdom of God has come, the time for Christ’s return to the earth and his time to rule is very near at hand, things are coming to their climax and heaven echoes with the excitement and anticipation of such a day. this leads right into the fourth reason they rejoice, for the power of his Christ is come. fornot only has God shown his might, his kingdom ready to be established, but Christ has shown his ability to overcome Satan and sin and give victory to those that place faith in him. forhere we see after Satan is cast out of heaven, after the accuser is banished, those same brethren that had to deal with the venomous accusations of the dragon for who knows how long, overcame Satan despite those accusations. forwhen each saint placed their faith in Christ, when they became partakers of the promise of grace here upon earth, their sin was forgiven, its penalty over them removed, sin no longer had power or reign over them, and now Christ has totally removed sin and its memory from their presence. With Satan cast out, the memory of their failings, the memories of their sins, the reality of those hateful accusations made against them by the devil, such harsh allegations no longer assault them, all that is gone, the devil has lost his place in heaven, lost all power and influence over the saints, and so they rejoice. they rejoice and give thanks and praise because Satan has been overcome, they have won, they are the overcomers. But they have overcome only because of the blood of the Lamb, the blood of the one slain upon Calvary for the sin of all mankind, the blood of the one who was worthy to take the book, the blood of the one who was led as a lamb to the slaughter, it was Christ’s blood that allowed the faithful to overcome. 1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. they rejoice because of the blood.
But it is not just the blood that gives them reason to rejoice. Sure the blood is the way of salvation, the blood covers sin, the blood washes one clean, but others need to hear of this blood and be reminded of the power of the blood. the Word needs to be told so others can hear and be saved, others must hear of the power of the blood of Jesus. the testimony of the saints encouraged others to overcome as well. their witnessing, their praise, their worship, their trust and faith and confidence in Christ, their proclaiming of the power of the blood was a picture to others of what God meant to believers, and what God done for and could do in sinners. So now the heavens rejoice, the saints rejoice, the redeemed rejoice for the testimony they have in knowing Christ and what Christ has done for them and their brethren by his blood.
And then we see the ultimate testimony of those that overcome, their ultimate witnessing, their ultimate confidence in the blood is they loved not their lives unto the death. Many gave their lives for their faith, many lived their lives wholly dedicated to their faith. they were a martyr or a living sacrifice, either way it was Christ that was manifested in their lives, not themselves. to live was Christ and to die was gain, either way was good for them, for Christ had given them the victory. He shed his blood for them so they were willing to shed their blood for him. It was all because of the blood of the Lamb that allowed them to overcome, therefore the voice in heaven says to rejoice, rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them.
And again, once more we see there is vocalized excitement and expression in worship. No one here is sitting quietly, none of the 24 elders stay seated on their throne, all the heavens are celebrating. We read earlier where the world and antichrist celebrated at the death of the two witnesses but that celebration was cut short when the witness arose form the dead and ascended into heaven. But this celebration in heaven is just getting stated, it is not going to be cut short, in fact it is going to spread to the earth when the King of Kings returns. And that excites them, and that should excite us, any time we study or read about our Lord, our Savior, His blood, the victory he gave us we should be able to rejoice and praise Him, to vocalize and express our worship, for he is worthy of such praise!
But sadly in the second part of v12, we see the celebration in heaven contrasted with tragedy on earth.'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 for links to every place in that epistle where we find the word salvation along with definitions from three different dictionaries and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'to exclude. When used spiritually, it means to exclude from the damned by having God's life in you. When used physically, it means to exclude from what is endangering physical life'. As we see in the Bible and in this book, our continuing spiritual growth, and our sanctification is part of true Biblical salvation. Please see the note for Main Menu item for Salvation about the word save. Please also see the notes for 2Thessalonians 2:13-LJC and Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase salvation through sanctification. Please also see the note for John 8:30 about the phrase non-saving belief Please also see verses in the New Testament. Summary on the name / role of Saviour. Please also see the note for James 1:21 about the phrase save your soul.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C1S6 about the word strength. The functional definition for this word is: 'That property or quality of an animal body by which it is enabled to move itself or other bodies'.

Please see the note for Titus 2:3 about the word accuse. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Re 12:10. Comp. Job 1:6; Zec 3:1), as seeking to uphold his influence among men by bringing false charges against Christians, with the view of weakening their influence and injuring the cause with which they are identified. He was regarded by the Jews as the accuser of men before God, laying to their charge the violations of the law of which they were guilty, and demanding their punishment. the same Greek word, rendered "accuser," is found in Joh 8:10 (but omitted in the Revised Version); Ac 23:30,35; 24:8; 25:16,18, in all of which places it is used of one who brings a charge against another'. Please also see the note for John 8:3 about the phrase accuse him (Jesus).

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C6S10 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word brother. The functional definition for this word is: 'A human male born of the same father and mother'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word brotherly. Please also see the note for Matthew 1:2 about the word brethren. The functional definition for this word is: 'Spiritually used for God's people: the Jews and the people are saved, baptized and active members of the church'.

Please see the note for John 11:10 about the word night. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used symbolically for: 1. Death, a time "when no man can work." Joh 9:4. 2. the moral darkness of the world, in which men sleep and are drunken. 1Th 5:7. 3. the period of Christ's rejection, which is far spent, and the 'day' at hand. Ro 13:12. there will be no night of moral or spiritual darkness in the heavenly Jerusalem. Re 21:25; 22:5'. It is used in this sentence to identify the complete period of time. Please also see the note for Matthew 25:6 about the word midnight.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I heard. Re 11:15; 19:1-7 the kingdom. 1Ch 29:11; Ps 22:28; 45:6; 145:11-13; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10; Lu 11:2 the power. Re 2:26; Ps 2:8-12; 110:5-6; Mt 26:64; 28:18; 1Co 5:4; 2Co 12:9 exp: Lu 22:53. The accuser. Job 1:9; 2:5; Zec 3:1-2; Lu 22:31; Tit 2:3 General references. exp: Ps 126:3; Mt 12:29; 2Co 2:11.'.

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C12-S9 (Verse 11) Some saved used what God provided to overcome Satan and his temptations.

First Step: they over came.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony;.

Second Step: they understood the true value of physical life.

and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. The two need to be considered together for contextual reasons. The prior sentence tells us what God provided so that the saints, of this sentence, could overcome. Please realize that very few saved pe4ople truly overcome Satan and his temptations.

The first phrase of our First Step tells us that they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the note for this sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. It explains this phrase with details and doctrines which most people do not realize the importance of.

The second phrase of our First Step tells us that they overcame him by the word of their testimony. Lots of people like to claim that they have certain promises from God but their testimony does not match the claims from their mouth. That only proves that they are hypocrites. There is a lot more required, beyond basic salvation, in order to overcome. (Please see the Promises Section of the New Testament Significant Events Study for the references to verses which tell us how to overcome sin.)

Our Second Step tells us that they understood the true value of physical life when it says: they loved not their lives unto the death. Since this Step is added (and) to the First Step, and we know that Steps must be taken in the order that they are presented, this is a result of saved people truly overcoming, as said in the First Step. Someone who truly loves their life, and is not willing to die for their service to God, probably has not truly overcome, no matter what they claim. This is because those saved people who have truly overcome understand how short this life is (James 4:14) and the true purpose of this life is to please God (Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:9; Philippians 2:13; 2Thessalonians 1:11) and to serve God (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Many saved people claim to know this truth, but only those saved people who are willing to die, in order to serve and please God, truly understand this truth.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please also see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. Please also see the note for John 1:1 for an extensive note explaining the differences, and similarities, between the capitalized and the non-capitalized word word. When a Bible reference uses an uppercase word, it is referring to Jesus Christ. The uppercase makes this a formal name of the Son of God. However, while the exact definition is different, the properties are spiritually similar to the lowercase word. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the phrase word of the Lord. Please note that the word of the Lord is a sub-set of the word of God. the word of God contains all of God's written truth including recording the lies of Satan. The word of the Lord is that part of the word of God which will be used to judge us. The lies from Satan are not included within the word of the Lord.

Please see the notes for Romans 8:39-LJC; Galatians C5-S14; Philippians 1:9-11; love in 1John and 2John 1:3-LJC about the word love. In particular, the note for 2John 1:3-LJC has links to every place where John writes about the word love. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another. Please see the note for Matthew 19:19 about the phrase love thy neighbour. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love. Please see the notes for Romans C9S23 and Colossians C3S8 about the word beloved. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son is applied to Jesus. The true Biblical doctrine of this word is very complex since it is a character trait of God. That said, the functional definition, of the word love, is: 'Doing what brings the greatest ultimate good to another being without any consideration of cost to self and not consideration of any response by the other and a willingness to even bring short-term pain if that is what is required in order to bring the ultimate long-tern good'. The functional definition, of the word beloved, is: 'be and loved, from love. Greatly loved; dear to the heart'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'they overcame. Re 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; Joh 16:33; Ro 8:33-39; 16:20; 1Co 15:57; 2Co 10:3-5; Eph 6:13-18; 2Ti 4:7-8; Heb 2:14-15; 1Jo 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:5 the blood. Re 7:10-14; 14:1-4; 15:3 the word. Re 12:17; 1:2,9; 6:9; 11:7; 19:10 they loved not. Re 2:10,13; 20:4; Lu 14:26; Ac 20:24; 21:13; Heb 11:35-38 General references. exp: Mt 16:25; Lu 9:24; 2Co 2:11; Heb 12:4.'.

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C12-S10 (Verse 12) the first conclusion of the prior sentences.

Therefore rejoice,
ye heavens,
and ye that dwell in them.

Several prior parts of this Bible book have told us that there is rejoicing in Heaven because of the things we were told in the prior sentences. These things are in addition to other reasons which John already provided.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for 12:10.

Please see the note for Romans intro about the word therefore. The functional definition for this word is: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and seen only in that place. In other words, what follows the therefore is a direct result of what precedes the therefore'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'rejoice. Re 18:20; 19:1-7; Ps 96:11-13; 148:1-4; Isa 49:13; 55:12-13; Lu 2:14; 15:10 General references. exp: Mt 8:31.'.

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C12-S11 (Verse 12) the second conclusion of the prior sentences.Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!

This sentence is an extension of the prior sentence even though it does not start with the word and nor with the word but. Between the prior sentence and this sentence, we see twp opposite conclusions. The beings who serve God will rejoice while the beings who serve Satan will have woe!.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Remember we are in the time of the 7th trumpet, the third woe, and here we see why, woe is pronounced upon those on the earth, for Satan has been cast out of heaven and down to the earth. Where once he was allowed to go back and forth, he is now confined to earth, and he is not a happy camper. He has been defeated, he has been embarrassed (what a blow for such a prideful one), he has been stripped of power and authority, he has been bettered by others, he is an outcast, so we see that Satan, the dragon, the destroyer is furious, he is not just angry, he has great wrath. His pl and have been interrupted, his conquest stalled, his war is lost. So he is going to strike out at the only ones he can: mankind, what few believers there are, but most specifically Israel, the sun-clothed woman. Satan can’t reach God, can’t reach the church, can’t even reach the heavenly angels now, so he lashes out in hatred and fury at the only ones he can get his hands on, the Jews. He is going to make all the atrocities against the Jews in past history look like child’s play. Its going to be fast and intense for even Satan now knows his time is very limited, what he has to do, like Jesus spoke to Judas, he must do it quickly, because Jesus is coming.
The time of the third woe is upon the inhabitants of earth for as we see in v12 the devil is now come down to them and great is his wrath, he is furious, for he has been scorned, he has been humiliated, he has been defeated, and he knows great will be his fall. But before his fall is completed, before he is cast into the Abyss, before he is cast into the lake of fire, he is going to use what time he has, short though it may be, to persecute Israel to the furthest of his ability, he is going to do as much damage as he possibly can while he can. Zechariah ch13 refers to this time, Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, the LORD is my God. Here we see that most likely two-thirds of Israel, 2/3 of the entire Jewish population, will perish during this short time when Satan strikes out in great wrath, horrible will be the persecution and destruction as we read in Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. So we see that the very beginning of the world is much like the end, for in the Garden of Eden the Woman and her seed warred with the Serpent, and in the end times, here again is the woman and her seed (Israel and Christ) warring with the serpent (Satan).'.

Please see the note for John 6:16-17 about the word sea. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A large bason, cistern or laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. this was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1 Kings 7. 2 Chron. 4 2. A large body of water, nearly inclosed by land, as the Baltic or the Mediterranean; as the sea of Azof. Seas are properly branches of the ocean, and upon the same level. Large bodies of water inland, and situated above the level of the ocean, are lakes. the appellation of sea, given to the Caspian lake, is an exception, and not very correct. So the lake of Galilee is called a sea, from the Greek. 3. the ocean; as, to go to sea. the fleet is at sea, or on the high seas. 4. A wave; a billow; a surge. the vessel shipped a sea. 5. the swell of the ocean in a tempest, or the direction of the waves; as, we head the sea. 6. Proverbially, a large quantity of liquor; as a sea of blood. 7. A rough or agitated place or element. In a troubled sea of passion tost. Milton'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:29 about the phrase Red Sea. Please also see the note for John 21:1 about the phrase sea of Tiberias.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Woe. Re 8:13; 9:12; 11:10,14 exp: Eze 16:23. General references. exp: Mt 8:31.'.

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C12-S12 (Verse 12) Why the people of this world will have woe!.

for the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Satan really doesn't care about people. He just wants to destroy their lives and send them to Hell because God loves and wants to save people. While Satan took his time in the past, he no longer will do that because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Therefore, Satan will initiate programs to kill more people and do so quickly. He will concentrate on doing all that he can to increase misery and hardship.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for 12:9 about the word devil. That note has an extensive definition from Fausset's Bible Dictionary. Please note that there are no daemons' within the Bible. That word is doctrinal error deliberately taught by devil-motivated men to cause God's children to ignore or think less about the true danger that true devils are. Please also see the Word Study on Spirit for links to every place in the Bible where we find 'Other Spirits', which are devils. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:10-11 about Satan. Please also see the section called Jesus and Devils, in the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for links to every place where Jesus dealt with devils and separates the references according to how He dealt with them.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S25; 1Corinthians C1S11; 2Corinthians C1S5; Galatians C3-S9; Colossians C1S3 and know in 1John about the word know. The word knew is the past-tense form of the word know. The functional definition is: 'A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; and the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement between various truths and acts. Within the Biblical usage is the knowledge that comes only from personal intimate experience'. Please see the notes for 2Peter 1:2-LJC; 2Peter 2:20-LJC and Philippians 1:9-11 about the word knowledge. Please see the note for Romans 6:3 about the phrase Know ye not. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C16S17 about the word acknowledge. Please also see the note for Romans C11S4 about the word foreknow.

Please see the note for Romans 3:23 about the word short. The functional definition for this word is: 'Not long; not having great length or extension; as a short distance; a short ferry; a shor flight; a short piece of timber.'. Please also see the note for Mark 13:20 about the word shorten.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'because. Re 10:6; Heb 10:37; 2Pe 3:8 General references. exp: Mt 8:31.'.

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C12-S13 (Verse 13) Why the Jews of this world will have woe!

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth,
he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child .

We see that the word dragon symbolically representing Satan, as we were told in Revelation 12:9.

The man child, in our sentence, is our Lord Jesus Christ. The woman which brought forth the man child is a symbolic representation of the nation of Israel. So, while Satan persecutes everyone in the world (see the second prior sentence), he concentrates his persecution on the Jews.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The word persecuted in v13 means not only to persecute but to pursue, follow, like a predator hunting its prey. the dragon when he is cast down to the earth hunts downs, seeks out the Jewish people to torture, imprison, cause torment and suffering, pain and hurt, he hunts them in order to persecute and kill. Mt 24:9 then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. But notice what happens when Satan and the antichrist, the beast turn on Israel.
Re 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
As well as in v14…'.

Please see the note for Revelation 12:3 about the word dragon. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'tannin. It may signify any great serpent or sea monster, symbolical of a huge destructive creature. Nations doomed to destruction and desolation, including Jerusalem, are said to become habitations of dragons. Isa 34:13; 35:7; Jer 9:11; 10:22; 51:37. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is called the great dragon. Eze 29:3. As one of God's creatures the dragon is called upon to praise Jehovah. Ps 148:7. In the N.T. the dragon is a type of Satan and those energised by him. In Re 12:3 the "great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns," is symbolical of Satan's power in the form of the Roman empire: it endeavoured, in the person of Herod, to destroy Christ when born. In Re 13:2,4 it is Satan who gives the resuscitated Roman empire in a future day its throne and great authority. In Re 13:11 the Antichrist, who has two horns like a lamb, speaks as a dragon. In Re 16:13 it is Satan, and in Re 20:2 he is described as "that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan."'. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The translators of the Authorized Version, apparently following the Vulgate, have rendered by the same word "dragon" the two Hebrew words tan and tannin, which appear to be quite distinct in meaning. 1. the former is used, always in the plural, in: Job 30:29; Ps 44:19; Isa 34:13; 43:20; Jer 9:11. It is always applied to some creatures inhabiting the desert, and we should conclude from this that it refers rather to some wild beast than to a serpent. the syriac renders it by a word which, according to Pococke, means a "jackal". 2. the word tannin seems to refer to any great monster, whether of the land or the sea, being indeed more usually applied to some kind of serpent or reptile, but not exclusively restricted to that sense: Ex 7:9-10,12; De 32:33; Ps 91:13. In the New Testament it is found only in the Apocalypse: Re 12:3-4,7,9,16-17. etc., as applied metaphorically to "the old serpent, called the devil, and Satan."'.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S37 and Galatians C1-S11 about the word persecute. The functional definition for this word is: 'The act or practice of persecuting; the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles. Histori and enumerate ten persecutions suffered by the Christians, beginning with that of Nero, A.D. 31, and ending with that of Diocletian, A.D. 303 to 313. 1. the state of being persecuted'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 12:4-5; Ge 3:15; Ps 37:12-14; Joh 16:33'.

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C12-S14 (Verse 14) this is symbolic wording for our Lord Jesus Christ protecting the Jews who will listen to Him.

and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness,
into her place,
where she is nourished for a time,
and times,
and half a time,
from the face of the serpent.

Our sentence uses symbolic language to tell us what will happen. It is added to the prior sentence where we were told that Satan will increase his persecution of all men and will concentrate on the Jews.

Next, our sentence tells us to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle. This is a reference to the fourth beast who is before the throne of God. God orders His representative to lead the Jews into the wilderness. (The word fly is used, symbolically, for 'move quickly'.) there will be some Jews who listen and some who refuse to listen. This is one way that God will separate the Jews who will listen from God from those who will not listen. Those who refuse to listen will be killed by the servants of Satan. This assures that only those Jews, who are willing to listen to God, will be still alive when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to this world. The word of God tells us that all living Jews will be saved on that day. However, God is making sure that only the Jews who will accept the Son of God as their personal Lord and Christ and King, will be alive to be saved on that day. If they are not willing to obey when God's Holy Spirit tells them to flee, they are not someone whom God wants to save.

Next, our sentence tells us that the Jews must get into her place before that are nourished for a time. God does not promise to provide for the disobedient.

Next, our sentence tells us how long this will be, which is three and a half years. Thus, this is right after Satan's beast (whom people wrongly call 'The Antichrist') is revealed and does abomination in the rebuilt temple. Therefore, Jews who are willing to listen to God, know whom Satan's beast actually represents and they realize that their only true hope is God.

Our final phrase tells us that they are to fly into the wilderness from the face of the serpent with the word serpent symbolically representing Satan, as we were told in Revelation 12:9.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'But the woman quickly flees to escape the dragon pursuing her. It says she is given wings of a great eagle to swiftly escape those that would do her harm. these eagle wings speak of a rapid and safe flight to a place prepared by God where she will be protected, sustained and nourished for a time, or more specifically a time, and times and half a time, here the word “time” refers to a year’s time span, which equals 3 ½ years, just as v6 points out the woman is protected for 1260 days, again referring to the last half of the Great Tribulation.
Now this giving of eagle’s wings is similar to what is said of Israel’s escape from Egypt and the Pharaoh (a type of the antichrist), God says to Israel in Ex 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. then speaking of Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, De 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. And then we read that Jesus even warns that this time of Israel’s fleeing needs to be fast, hence their need of eagle’s wings, Mt 24:16 then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 forthen shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
So God allows the woman to escape the dragon’s clutches but now where does the woman flee? v6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God,… v14 and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place. Now the word wilderness is the key here, because as of right now nobody knows for sure where the woman flees, there is much speculation about the location(s) she could go; the Jews could be scattered all over the world, they could go in large groups to a few key places, or some believe they will mostly flee to one place and many think that place is called Petra, an area in southern Palestine, in the southern part of what is now the country of Jordan. One reason I agree with this thought is that Petra is located in the mountains, which as we just read from Mat 24 is where Israel will flee. Second Petra is located in what used to be called Edom and look at what Daniel says about this place when he speaks of the antichrist, Da 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Edom will somehow not fall to the antichrist, at least during the time Daniel refers to, it will somehow stand or be protected. And then we also know Petra is in the wilderness area that the Israelites wandered around in for 40 years. therefore Petra is located in a protected mountainous wilderness in the end times. So possibly one place Israel flees to is this area of Petra, and to go a little further let me read to you a description by Clarence Larkin of this place…
“It is located in the mountains like as in the crater of a volcano. It has but one entrance, and that is through a narrow winding defile or canyon from 12 to 40 feet wide, the sides of which are precipitous and at times so close together as to almost shut out the blue sky above and make you think you are passing through a subterranean passageway. the height of the sides varies from 200 to 1000 feet, and the length of the canyon is about two miles. No other city in the world has such a wonderful gateway. the sides of the canyon are lined with wonderful monuments and temples carved out if the rocky sandstone of the sides. Once inside the rocky enclosure of the city we find the ruins of magnificent buildings, tombs and monuments. the cliffs that surround the city are carved and honeycombed with excavations cut as they are out of different colored strata of the rock, such as red, purple, blue, black, white and yellow, lend a beauty to their appearance that is indescribable and overpowering to the beholder.”
Petra is a highly defensible area and not easily besieged. It has great water reserves from the cisterns and dams created to control flooding. Many people could survive and be nourished here for an extended amount of time. And just a bit more information for you, some Christians have actually taken Bibles wrapped in protective cellophane and thrown them into some of the caves and ombs in this area because they so strongly believe Israel will flee here and will need the word of God to believe upon the Lord Jesus during the tribulation. But wherever Israel flees to it will be a place of refuge, of safety, a place she will be nourished, a place where she can survive. Ps 9:9 the LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Ps 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Ps 32:7 thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Something also to consider is that this place the woman flees to is very similar to the cities of refuge designated for Israel in the book of Numbers. the cities of refuge were specific selected cities where one accused of murder could flee to for safety to escape any one trying to avenge the slain. the accused murderer was allowed to stay in the city of refuge until they were found innocent or guilty. If they were guilty they were turned over to the one seeking to avenge the death of their kin, if they were innocent they were spared but they had to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Ref: Nu 35:6, 10-12, 15, 19-28
Now if we compare the manslayer and the revenger of blood of those referenced chapters to the woman and the dragon, we see that even though the woman birthed the man-child Christ into the world, she was also guilty of his death upon the cross. Obviously we know all mankind’s sin put Christ there as he died for all of us, not just Israel, but did not the Jews cry that the blame for Jesus’ death be put on them? Before Pilate they cried in Mt 27:25 then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. So we see there is some guilt there, but the thing is, we see the manslayer, the Jews that crucified Christ, done so in ignorance; they may have intended to kill Christ, but not for the right reasons or right intentions, they thought they were doing God a favor, they done so “unawares” (v11), for Jesus himself cried to the Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). And Paul says in 1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. So Israel is charged with death by ignorance or unintentionally killing their Messiah, she is the unaware manslayer so she is the one that now flees to a place prepared by God, a place of refuge, of safety, to escape the revenger of blood.
So now the revenger, Satan, pursues the woman, seeking vengeance, (he’s the accuser, the adversary) for it is by Christ’s death that the dragon was defeated, Christ’s death is actually what Satan wanted but it did not turn out like he had planned, so in great wrath Satan persecutes the woman, would destroy her, will have his vengeance, but God protects the woman, sustains her in a place of refuge, and she will remain in this place until the high priest that gave his life for all men’s salvation, the Lord Jesus, returns to her. She doesn’t have to wait for him to die to leave Petra, as Christ has already died, yet he lives and will come and rescue the woman in the end times.
But let’s look at what the dragon tries to do in order to destroy the woman and root her out of her place of refuge.'.

Please see the note for Matthew 23:37 about the word wing. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used as a symbol of protection. Under 'the shadow of God's wings' is referred to in the Psalms; and the Lord said He would often have gathered Israel as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but they would not. Ps 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; Mt 23:37; etc. Wings were given for rapid motion. the living creatures in Ezek. 1, had each four wings, and those in Isa 6:2 and Rev. 4, had each of them six wings. God's executives are swift messengers'.

Please see the note for Revelation 4:7 about the word eagle. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Job 39:27-30, a large and very powerful bird of prey, hence called the King of birds. there are several species of eagle described by naturalists, and it is probable that this word in the Bible comprehends more than one of these. the noble eastern species, called by Mr. Bruce "the golden eagle," measures eight feet four inches from wing to wing; and from the tip of his tail to the point of his beak, when dead, four feet seven inches. Of all known birds, the eagle flies not only the highest, Pr 23:5; Jer 49:16; Ob 1:4, but also with the greatest rapidity. to this circumstance there are several striking allusions in the sacred volume, 2Sa 1:23; Job 9:26; La 4:19. Among the evils threatened to the Israelites in case of their disobedience, the prophet names one in the following terms: "The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth," De 28:49. the march of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, is predicted in similar terms: "Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles," Jer 4:13; 48:40; 49:22; Ho 8:1. this bird was a national emblem on Persian and Roman standards, as it now is on United States' coins.
The eagle, it is said, lives to a great age; and like other birds of prey, sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring, after which his old age assumes the appearance of youth. to this David alludes, when gratefully reviewing the mercies of Jehovah: "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like eagle's," Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31. the careful pains of the eagle in teaching its young to fly, beautifully illustrate God's providential care over Israel, Ex 19:4; De 32:11-12.
The eagle is remarkable for its keen sight and scent. Its flesh, like that of all birds of prey, was unclean to the Jews; and is never eaten by any body, unless in cases of necessity, Mt 24:28; Lu 17:37'.

Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word might. . The functional definition for this word is: 'having great bodily strength or physical power; very strong or vigorous; as a mighty arm'. Please see the note for Revelation 4:8-LJC about the word Almighty.

Please see the note for Luke 6:47-48 about the word flying. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'FLYING, ppr. 1. Moving in air by means of wings; passing rapidly; springing; bursting; avoiding. 2. a. Floating; waving; as flying colors. 3. a. Moving; light, and suited for prompt motion; as a flying camp. Flying colors, a phrase expressing triumph'.

Please see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word nourishment. The functional definition for this word is: 'To feed and cause to grow; to supply a living or organized body, animal or vegetable, with matter which increases its bulk or supplies the waste occasioned by any of its functions; to supply with nutriment'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The functional definition for this word is: 'The power, position, authority and presence of the being that is presented to us'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'to the. Ex 19:4; De 32:11-12; Ps 55:6; Isa 40:31 she might. Re 12:6; 17:3 for a time. Re 11:2-3; Da 7:25; 12:7 General references. exp: Ps 55:6'.

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C12-S15 (Verse 15) Satan tries to kill the Jews who served God and fled.

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman,
that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

The note for our prior sentence explained that the word serpent symbolically representing Satan, as we were told in Revelation 12:9. Next. our sentence tells us that Satan creates this miraculous massive flood. Our next sentence tells us that God creates another miracle to foil Satan's plan. What some people fail to realize is that Satan, and all spiritual beings, can do miracles, if God allows it. Here, we see God allow Satan to do his miracle and then God does another miracle to show the people of the Earth that He is more powerful than Satan and his two beasts. Please see the Section on Miracles in to Significant New Testament Events Study for links to other miracles done in the New Testament outside of the Gospels.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we see Satan unleashes a flood upon the woman and her place of refuge. Now notice this water is “as a flood” so it is most likely symbolic, in all likelihood the dragon doesn’t actually spew forth water from his mouth to wash Israel away, but we are left wondering what exactly is meant here. Does Satan somehow by the power of his words bring forth great amounts of water to try and flood Petra out? Possibly, as Petra is very susceptible to flash flooding, so much so that the ancient inhabitants controlled such flooding with dams, cisterns and water conduits to either store or channel the waters away. this could also possibly be referring to an invading army under the commanding voice of the dragon that tries to destroy Israel, sometimes a great army is described as a flood covering the land, like the flooding that happens during a vast storm, such as the invading armies of Ezekiel 38(v9). Another explanation could be that the waters from the serpent’s mouth are actually erroneous teachings, lies spewed forth, anti-Semitic speech that causes hatred against the Jews to an unprecedented level. But whatever shape or form these Satanic waters take, we do know it is wasted effort, for God the Creator of all things, and the Lord Jesus who has laid claim to the earth by placing one foot upon the land and the other upon the sea (10:2) has the earth itself (whether nature or the people of the earth or both again we do not know) help Israel. the earth opens its mouth and swallows up the flood. Either the earth literally opens up and absorbs the literal flood waters, or the earth quakes and splits and destroys the invading army, or the people of the earth (which I find the least likely) disprove the false teachings and protect the displaced Jews. However this happens, God protects and preserves His own.'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 for links to every place in 2Corinthians where we find forms of the word cause along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That definition gives this word legal implications. The functional definition is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right'. Please note that the Biblical use of this word means that the cause will come up at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 2Corinthians 5:10-11). Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. Please also see the note for John 15:25 about the phrase without cause. In John 15:25, we read that the prophecy was fulfilled about Jesus that: They hated me without a cause. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: Revelation 12:15; Revelation 13:12; Revelation 13:15; Revelation 13:16.

Please see the note for Luke 6:47-48 about the word flood. The functional definition for this word is: 'A great flow of water; a body of moving water; particularly, a body of water, rising, swelling and overflowing land not usually covered with water'.

Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word might. The functional definition for this word is: 'having great bodily strength or physical power; very strong or vigorous; as a mighty arm'. Please see the note for Revelation 4:8-LJC about the word Almighty.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 about the word cause. The functional definition for this word is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right. this is a legal, scriptural and popular use of the word, coinciding nearly with case from cado, and action from ago, to urge or drive. The cause of both parties shall come before the judges. Ex. 22'. Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. Please notice the legal parts of this definition. While the word because is used when we have 'a reason that already exists', that reason does not have to be sufficient to bring legal suit. Please also see the note for John 15:25 Romans C1S10 about the phrase without cause. Please also see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:15; 13:12; 13:15; 13:16.

Please see the note for Acts 3:2 about the word carried. The functional definition for this word is: 'Past-tense form of the word carry'. Please also see the note for Acts 5:9 about the words carry / carrying. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 12:15; 17:3; 17:7; 21:10.

Please see the note for James 1:10 about the word away. The functional definition for this word is: 'Absent; at a distance; as, the master is away from home'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S19 about the phrase cast away. Please also see the note for Romans C11S1 about the phrase God will not cast away his people. Please also see the note for John 6:67 about the phrase go away. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:17 about the phrase passed away. Please also see the note for Matthew 19:3 about the phrase put away.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'cast. Re 17:15; Ps 18:4; 65:7; 93:3-4; Isa 8:7; 28:2; 59:19 General references. exp: Mt 2:7.'.

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C12-S16 (Verse 16) God did a greater miracle to foil Satan.

And the earth helped the woman,
and the earth opened her mouth,
and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

In our prior sentence, we were told that Satan creates this miraculous massive flood. Our current sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence, and tells us that God creates another miracle to foil Satan's plan. What we see here is that God allow Satan to do his miracle and then God does another miracle to show the people of the Earth that He is more powerful than Satan and his two beasts. Please see the Section on Miracles in to Significant New Testament Events Study for links to other miracles done in the New Testament outside of the Gospels.

Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the note for the prior sentence.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S24 about the word help. The functional definition for this word is: 'To aid; to assist; to lend strength or means towards effecting a purpose; as, to help a man in his work; to help another in raising a building; to help one to pay his debts; to help the memory or the understanding'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 8:23 about the word fellowhelper. Please also see the note for Luke 1:54-55 about the word holpen.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:4 about the word swallow. The functional definition for this word is: 'Taken into the stomach; absorbed; received without scruple; engrossed; wasted; exhausted'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Ex 12:35-36; 1Ki 17:6; 2Ki 8:9 exp: Ac 18:16.'.

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C12-S17 (Verse 17) Satan made war against Jews who had a true testimony and that he could reach with his servants.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ .

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. There we read that God creates a greater miracle to foil the miracle from Satan which we read about in the second prior sentence. And, we see the reaction of Satan to God's miracle in this sentence.

Again, we see that the word dragon symbolically representing Satan, as we were told in Revelation 12:9. In addition, as our Word Studies, below, the word wroth means: 'Very angry; much exasperated'. And we see what Satan did, as a result, in the remainder of our sentence.

Our third phrase tells us what Satan did while the last two phrases qualified whom Satan attacked. Jews who did not fulfill those last two phrases he left alone because he used them to support the lies which he told to the rest of the world.

So, now, as explained in our note for this sentence, within the Lord Jesus Christ Study, all saved people should have the testimony of Jesus Christ which is a changed life that is such a powerful witness for Jesus Christ that it makes the devil want to kill you. Anyone who has to tell people that they are saved does not have the testimony of Jesus Christ evident in their life. Anyone who really does have the testimony of Jesus Christ also has others, especially lost people, telling them that they are a Christian because these other people can see Jesus Christ in the lifestyle and daily actions.

Please notice that our last phrase is added to the third phrase. Lots of people claim to be a Christian and to have the testimony of Jesus Christ, but if they do not first keep the commandments of God then they are deceived or a liar.

So, questions for all who claim to be a Christian is: 'When has Satan tried to kill you for your testimony? When has Satan motivated religious people, including preachers, to break fellowship with you because you put the word of God as a higher authority than their religious doctrine and religious position?'. As I have reported on this site more than once, this has happened to me, for these exact reasons, more than once.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we are shown exactly those Jews that have believed the Word and warning of God, they are the Remnant, those who have believed the message of the two witnesses and the preaching of the 144,000. these are the ones who have fled and have been protected and nourished, most likely miraculously such as when God fed Israel with manna. this remnant is the small portion of Israel that accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior and Messiah and King. this remnant is the fifth personality shown to us in ch12 and 13, the Jewish remnant, the believing remnant. Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.21 for, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Satan after he has tried to do everything he can to destroy the Jews, those that God has protected, now makes one last move, he goes to war with the woman, to invade and destroy, and I believe this verse refers to the coming war of Ezekiel ch38 and 39 (not Armageddon), which is Satan’s last effort to destroy Israel, by bringing a massive army bent on destruction to her land. But despite all his trying, all his anger, all his hatred, all his persecution towards the Jews, all this does is drive them towards the Lord Jesus, for this remnant has the testimony of the Jesus Christ, for God defeats this army, the battle is His, and He gives Israel the victory.'.

Please see the note for Matthew 2:16 about the word wroth. The functional definition for this word is: 'Very angry; much exasperated. Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Genesis 4. I was wroth with my people. Isaiah 47. An excellent word and not obsolete'.

Please see the note for Galatians C3-S17 about the word seed. The functional definition for this word is: 'new life'.

Please see the note for Romans 7:8 about the word commandment. The functional definition for this word is: 'a mandate; an order or injunction given by authority; charge'. Please note that a commandment is not always written down and often comes through the human person that God has placed in authority over us. Please see the note for Psalms 119:4 for the use of the word commandment within this Psalm and considerations from several other places within the Bible. Please see the note for Romans C7S11 about the word commandment. Please see the Doctrinal Study on the use Ten Commandments for links to where they are dealt with in the word of God. Please use This link to see the 'Ten (10) Commandments' and references to them in the New Testament. Please also see the note for 1John 5:2 about the phrase keep his commandments.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: ''.

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Interpretive Study of Revelation 11-12

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation Chapter 11

links to sentences in this chapter:

Sentence Summary: God's preparation to take over the rule of the Earth.

Revelation Chapter 12

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary: the war of Satan against God using the nation of Israel.

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