As John has concluded Revelation 6 there have been, it seems, four great questions in his mind:

Now Revelation 10 and 11 begin to answer "how long" and "what are some of the causes of the world's problems."

The rest of Revelation will expand considerable on each of these four themes, but God in His mercy reveals only a little at a time.

As loving parents try to keep their children from danger by warning them of possible consequences, so God warns humanity of the horrible results of unrestrained evil. But children must trust their parents or else they will see the parents as enemies who restrict the possibility of "fun." These chapters of Revelation reveal why God warns His children in love.

What food would best describe the way you feel about last week? e.g. Honey, vinegar, lemon, ice cream, etc. Why?

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In what ways did you ever feel intimidated or protected as a small child amidst big people?

What have others said?

Between the sixth and seventh trumpets comes a parenthesis which takes John back a little in history from the events at the conclusion of the six trumpets. Now two vital facts are revealed. First, he is shown in chapter 10 some important information concerning the final proclamation of the gospel. Then in chapter 11 he is given important symbolism, not only concerning time, but also the origin of some of the chaos on Earth in the last days. Revelation 11 has been a source of much prophetic speculation. Some basic principles of interpretation, however, will give you a foundation on which to build a strong platform of truth.

It would seem unlikely that in the midst of prophetic symbolism God would use some literal time. The fact that time in prophecy is symbolic has long been recognized by Bible students. The most common symbolism is the "day" which is used to represent a year. This was illustrated by the prophet Ezekiel who was a contemporary of Daniel. See Ezekiel 4:4-6 (also Numbers 14:34). The book of Daniel contains the most prophetic time in the Bible and it has been understood for more than 2,000 years that the prophecy of seventy "weeks" or "sevens" in Daniel 9 reached from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC down to the time of the Messiah -- Jesus. The 2300 days, the longest time prophecy in the Bible, has been shown to start at the same time as the 70 "weeks" and stretch right through history to the middle of the nineteenth century. The 1,260 days, first mentioned in Revelation 11, was spoken of by Daniel and identified as a long period between the Roman empire and the last centuries before Jesus' return.

A remarkable fulfillment of Revelation 11 has been seen, uncovering the source of much of the atheism, rationalism, and humanism of our time. Bible students have noticed that through the Middle Ages the scriptures were belittled and even banned by corrupt religious-political powers. This was a time of terrible spiritual drought. Eventually, led by such nationalists as Voltaire, philosophical and cultural forces arose in Europe that decided on the complete extermination of the Bible. The opposition reached its climax during the French Revolution when, for three and one-half years, the Bible was denounced and condemned to destruction by a national government for the first time in history. There was great international rejoicing among unbelievers, but it was soon obvious that, unless the Bible was restored, the well-being of society would be threatened.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the Scriptures were exalted as never before with the formation of Bible Societies and Missionary Societies taking the Word of God around the world. The exact precision of the fulfillment of John's prophecy is breathtaking. The results, however, of the attack on God's witnesses is still with us today and is seen in atheistic communism, hedonism and liberalism, humanism, agnosticism, and many other philosophies. The power that attacked the Bible through the middle ages is still active today and is the subject of much further prophecy in later chapters of Revelation.

In contrast to the symbolic understanding of prophecy is the rather literal interpretation of futurism. The Jewish temple is seen as being rebuilt in Jerusalem during 42 months of the tribulation. The two witnesses are identified most frequently as Elijah and Moses who are killed on the earth and then resurrected after three and one-half days, at which time they are taken back to heaven. As a result there is a great earthquake in Jerusalem that causes terrible havoc. Once again this raises the question of the validity of literal interpretation amidst so much obvious symbolism.

As always, it is vital for you to remember God's great love. To assure you of this John takes you back into the throne room of heaven where praise and worship ascends to God. John will see much false worship in the future, but now in the midst of true worship he is given a beautiful summary of why God must bring this present world history to a close.

The Angel and the Little Scroll "10:1) Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars."	In the midst of the trumpets John is given a scene of encouragement and explanation. In what ways might the rainbow and sun cheer you during a terrible storm? What have others said?
"2) He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand."	Cross Reference: What "little scroll" was specifically closed until the time of the end? Daniel 12:4, 9 What have others said?
"He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3) and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4) And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.' "5) Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6) And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,"	Notice again how the Creator God is mentioned in God's last day message. Revelation 3:14; 4:11; 14:6, 7
"and said, 'There will be nor more delay!	From the word translated 'delay' we get chronometer, chronology, etc. It simply means 'time.' The little book of Daniel has many 'time' prophecies. But here is an announcement that they have ended. How do you handle delay? What have others said?
"7) 'But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.'"	What is the "mystery of God?" see the following Mini-Study.
"8) Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: 'Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.'"	John, for the first time, is asked to act out a prophecy. Cross Reference: What does eating a book mean? Jeremiah 15:16 What have others said? When did you last "devour" a book? What have others said?
"9) So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, 'take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.' 10) I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour."	Have you had a "sweet" experience that turned sour on you? What happened? What have others said? Historical Note: In the middle of the last century the book of Daniel was opened. People were excited when they studied the 2,300 year prophecy as they thought Jesus would return in 1844. The disappointment made many "sour" but, as a result of the great awakening interest in Bible prophecy, the significance of God's last great message to the world, as outlined in Revelation 14:6-12, began to circle the planet.
"Then I was told, 'You must prophecy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.'" "11:1) I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, 'Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2) But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.'"	Part of "prophesying again" includes a message of judgment taking place in the heavenly temple. How do "measure" and "count" signify judgment to you? What have others said? The judgment of the unsaved (gentiles) takes place at the time of the 1,000 years. Revelation 20:4, 12
"'3) And I will give power to my two witnesses,	Cross Reference: Who are the two witnesses? How is Jesus identified? Revelation 3:14 What have others said? John 5:39; 2 Peter 3:16. What witnesses has He chosen to testify of Him? What have others said?
"and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.'	For 1,260 years during the Middle Ages the Word of God was trampled underfoot. There was terrible spiritual drought.
"4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6) These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.	Can tampering with God's Word result in plagues? Revelation 22:18, 19 What have others said? Matthew 24:14. According to Jesus, how would the Word finally witness? What have others said? God's Word is a "lamp." See Psalm 119:105, 130.
"7) Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.	Here is the first mention of "the beast" which will figure prominently in the next few chapters.
"8) Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9) For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial."	How is the Old and New Testament treated by a society characterized by sinful corruption (Sodom), religious corruption and atheism (Egypt), and spiritual corruption (Jerusalem)? What have others said?
"10) The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth."	Why would there be so much excitement over the apparent defeat of God's Word? What have others said?
"11) But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12) Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here.' And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on."	This whole prophecy is obviously highly symbolic. None of it, including the three and one-half days, can be taken literally. Clearly, the Scriptures that appeared dead for three and one-half years at the end of the eighteenth century were not to remain that way. Check an encyclopedia for the miraculous mushrooming of the Bible and Missionary Societies that characterized the beginning of the nineteenth century. The world was shaken as a result. How many things would be different in our society today if there were no Bibles or knowledge of God? What have others said?
"13) At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. "14) The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. "The Seventh Trumpet "15) The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:"	John, for the third time in the visions of Revelation, is shown the throne room of heaven. Are you grateful that God keeps doing this? Why? What have others said?
"'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.'	This trumpet pictures the time of the second coming of Jesus. Cross Reference: What part of the Lord's prayer is now answered? Matthew 6:10 What have others said?
"16) And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17) saying: "'We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.'	As John has seen world affairs and human actions, what reasons could he have had for thinking that God was not reigning? What have others said? Read again Matthew 24:3-31 and notice how exactly John's visions in Revelation 6-11 parallel Jesus' brief prophecy.
"'18) The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great --'"	Cross Reference: When does Jesus give His 'rewards?' Luke 14:14; Revelation 22:12 What have others said? Apparently no reward is received at death.
"'and for destroying those who destroy the earth.'"	When only in earth's history has the power to 'destroy the earth' come into the hands of humanity? What have others said?
"19) The God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm."	John's vision concludes with a view of the ark of the Ten Commandments in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly temple.

Is there anything about the Gospel that is still a mystery to you?

What have others said?

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It is often exciting to try to work out the meaning of a mystery, but the mystery of God has eternal significance and can be clearly understood.

Without Jesus there could have been no hope for sinners, but He made forgiveness and acceptance into the family of God achievable for all.

Think about this: Why is the mystery so difficult when you are unsaved and so clear when you are saved?

What have others said?