Interludes Season Two, Episode Two (Revelation 11)
Just as the six and seventh seals were divided by two interludes symbolizing the protection for the followers of Christ from the wrath of God, and their safety through and in spite of persecution and death, the trumpets have two interludes as well. And here, as there, the interludes refer to the followers of Christ.
Some may protest and say that that is not the case. They may claim that chapter 10 is all about John’s role as the writer of Revelation and that chapter 11 is all about two prophets who will come on the scene at the end of time. My argument would be that that does not negate these chapters’ relevance to followers of Jesus living all through the history of the world from the time of Christ right up until the fulfillment of time.
John is commanded in 10 to ingest a message and deliver it, a message that is sweet but with bitter implications. And, in real ways, all followers of Jesus have that task as the chief mission of their lives. We are to ingest, digest and share the Gospel in an unbelieving, often hostile world. And chapter 11 speaks to the role of believers and churches in the same way.
We start with a command for John to measure the temple. This hearkens back to Old Testament assignments given to prophets as a sign of God’s protection. Here it is also a reminder that God’s people, His church, will be protected in spite of the hostile world of persecution they will encounter.
We then hear of the two prophets who testify before the world. And while time will certainly reveal what this passage is literally referring to, for us it has a clear exhortation. The church is told again and again in the New Testament—particularly in John’s writings—that our role is to testify. Legally, two testimonies were required for a witness to be confirmed. Our role in the world that has always been hostile to our message, is to share the truth that we know. The Gospel message of hope and good news. It is a message that cannot be defeated, and even when it produces martyrs it prevails.
And interestingly, this is the only case in Revelation where the rebellious world is said to repent. All the natural and supernatural signs of God’s wrath do not cause conversion. But the witness and testimony of God’s people in spite of persecution and death does.
Some may protest and say that that is not the case. They may claim that chapter 10 is all about John’s role as the writer of Revelation and that chapter 11 is all about two prophets who will come on the scene at the end of time. My argument would be that that does not negate these chapters’ relevance to followers of Jesus living all through the history of the world from the time of Christ right up until the fulfillment of time.
John is commanded in 10 to ingest a message and deliver it, a message that is sweet but with bitter implications. And, in real ways, all followers of Jesus have that task as the chief mission of their lives. We are to ingest, digest and share the Gospel in an unbelieving, often hostile world. And chapter 11 speaks to the role of believers and churches in the same way.
We start with a command for John to measure the temple. This hearkens back to Old Testament assignments given to prophets as a sign of God’s protection. Here it is also a reminder that God’s people, His church, will be protected in spite of the hostile world of persecution they will encounter.
We then hear of the two prophets who testify before the world. And while time will certainly reveal what this passage is literally referring to, for us it has a clear exhortation. The church is told again and again in the New Testament—particularly in John’s writings—that our role is to testify. Legally, two testimonies were required for a witness to be confirmed. Our role in the world that has always been hostile to our message, is to share the truth that we know. The Gospel message of hope and good news. It is a message that cannot be defeated, and even when it produces martyrs it prevails.
And interestingly, this is the only case in Revelation where the rebellious world is said to repent. All the natural and supernatural signs of God’s wrath do not cause conversion. But the witness and testimony of God’s people in spite of persecution and death does.
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