December 20

When God Pulls Out the Measuring Stick

Revelation 11:1–19

There is a point when patience is exhausted and inspection turns to judgment. Revelation 11 begins with God giving a measuring rod to John and instructing him to rise and measure the temple and the altar and the worshipers ~Revelation 11:1. That rod is no cuddly symbol. It is a call to accountability. God measures, so that He may claim. What He leaves unmeasured, He gives over to trampling ~Revelation 11:2.

The outer court is given over to the nations. Not protected. Not spared. Trampled for forty-two months. This is restraint lifted. When God removes His hand, the world does not get better. It crushes what is holy. This is saying the world does not preserve holiness when God steps back. It despises it. Judgment often begins with God removing His hand.

Then God sends two witnesses clothed in sackcloth ~Revelation 11:3. They do not appear with smiles or gentle words. They come mourning. They come warning. They stand before the Lord of the earth ~Revelation 11:4, and the earth does not like what they say. Anyone who attempts to silence them is consumed by fire ~Revelation 11:5. This is not poetic imagery. Scripture says their enemies are destroyed.

The witnesses shut the sky so no rain falls. They turn the waters into blood. They strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire ~Revelation 11:6. This is not random disaster. This is targeted judgment. God has not lost control. He is exerting it.

And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ~ Revelation 11:5

When their testimony is complete, God allows the beast to kill them ~Revelation 11:7. The world sees and thinks God has failed. Their bodies lie in the street like garbage ~Revelation 11:8. The earth rejoices. People exchange gifts ~Revelation 11:10. Judgment is not only coming. Judgment is deserved.

After three and a half days, the breath of life from God enters them ~Revelation 11:11. They rise to their feet. Fear floods the earth. Resurrection itself becomes a weapon of judgment. Heaven calls them up while their enemies watch ~Revelation 11:12. God does not hide His power.

Then the earth convulses. A great earthquake strikes. A tenth of the city collapses. Seven thousand people die in an instant ~Revelation 11:13. This is not a warning shot. This is lethal force. Survivors are terrified. God is glorified, not because He is gentle, but because He is holy.

Then the seventh trumpet sounds ~Revelation 11:15. This trumpet does not plead. It announces takeover. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Rebellion is finished. Rule is transferred.

The elders worship because God has taken His great power and begun to reign ~Revelation 11:17. The nations raged. God responded. Wrath came. The dead are judged. The destroyers of the earth are destroyed ~Revelation 11:18. God does not negotiate with those who ruin His creation.

The chapter concludes with heaven opened and the ark of the covenant revealed ~Revelation 11:19. Lightning flashes. Thunder roars. The earth shakes. Hail falls. God is no longer silent.

Around a campfire, you learn to respect fire because it warms and kills depending on how you treat it. Revelation 11 is that lesson written in blood and thunder. God measures. God warns. God waits. And then God judges.

This wrath is real. It is terrifying. And it is righteous. The only refuge from it is not denial, but repentance.

And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. ~ Revelation 11:13

Christmas Thought for Today
Everyone Loves Christmas, Almost No One Loves Why It Exists

Haggai 1:1-2:23
Revelation 11:1-19
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 30:15-16

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New Testament: Revelation 11:1-19

Summary: The Two Witnesses, The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation Chapter 11

11:1-2 – John measures the temple
11:3-4 – The two witnesses
11:5-6 – Acts of judgement by the two witnesses
11:7 – The antichrist kills the two witnesses
11:8 – The great city called Sodom and Egypt
11:9-10 – When happiness is evil
11:11 – The two witnesses become alive again
11:12 – The two witnesses rise into heaven
11:13 – A great earthquake
11:14 – The order of events in the Book of Revelation
11:15 – The 7th trumpet
11:16 – God’s kingdom will come on earth, as in heaven
11:17-18 – The time for God’s judgement

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
~ Revelation 11:15

kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. The singular (kingdom) is the preferred reading. Despite its many political and cultural divisions, the Bible views the world spiritually as one kingdom, with one ruler—Satan (Joh_12:31; Joh_14:30; Joh_16:11; 2Co_4:4). Following Satan’s lead, the human rulers of this world are generally hostile to Christ (Psa_2:2; Act_4:26). The long rebellion of the world kingdom will end with the victorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to defeat His enemies and establish His messianic kingdom (Isa_2:2-3; Dan_2:44; Dan_7:13-14, Dan_7:18, Dan_7:22, Dan_7:27; Luk_1:31-33). This kingdom also belongs to God the Father. ~ MacArthur Bible Commentary