Hello John and Doves,
I thought I'd take a look at the time period
given to the two witnesses (probably Elijah and Moses (Jews)
- Enoch was a Gentile) of The Revelation. The two
witnesses showing up starts a 1,260 day time period.
Very specific.
If one is in the Seven Year Tribulation camp -
the two witnesses, according to most prophecy teachers (like
Dr. Ron Rhodes and Tim LaHaye), show up at the start of the
Tribulation - in the 'lesser' tribulation time period
(compared to the Great Tribulation or 2nd half) ; I have
seen studies by others (like Dr. John Walvoord and Dr. Mark
Hitchock) that have the witnesses showing up with the start
of the Great Tribulation/2nd half. If one is in the
3.5 Year Tribulation camp - they show up at the start of the
tribulation. For either camp, The Revelation is pretty
clear about when they prophecy in relation to most
everything else that is going on.
The seven year Tribulation Period involves two
halves of 1260 days - in the first half there is relative
"peace" under the Antichrist - basically; the second half is
called the Great Tribulation or Jacob's Trouble - a time of
great destruction and distress. This is where a lot of the
really bad stuff happens.
In the most common 7 year tribulation scenario,
the two witnesses are to appear at
the start of the seven year Tribulation to coincide their
1260 day time period to the first half of the tribulation
(1260 day time period). The time 'before the Great
Tribulation) so they can prophesy. They are given 1260
days to prophecy and bring fire, drought, and innumerable
plagues upon their enemies - "anyone who wants to harm
them must be killed." Revelation 11:5 Right
before this in verse 4 - Jerusalem has been given over to
the nations/gentiles who "will trample the holy city for
42 months." Can we assume that these two time periods are
the same one time period?
When these witnesses
finish their 1260 days, the beast from the Abyss kills
them...and for 3.5 days their bodies lie in the
streets. At the end of 3.5 days "the breath of life
from God entered the two witnesses...and they went up to
heaven in a cloud..." Revelation 11:11,12
Reading on - we find that there was a lot of
major global disasters going on before and during their 1260
day prophesying - their ministry occurs during the
first/second woe (or with the First Trumpet blast/or the 42
months of the gentiles??) - the Three Woes come AFTER the
fourth trumpet blast - lots of bad stuff has been happening
before the two witnesses are written about during the woe
time. (Maybe their time starts before the woes/maybe
at the very beginning of the Tribulation Period, as I wrote,
with the 42 months?)
"And in that hour, there was a great
earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven
thousand were killed in the quake and the rest were
terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has passed. Behold, the
third woe is coming shortly."
So the two witnesses prophesy during the First
Woe/the Second Woe time periods. (How far is that day
wise from the start of the 42 months? As I wrote, can
we assume they start and cover the same time period?)
The Second Woe ends in that hour they are raised from the
dead followed by the great earthquake. And "the third
woe is coming "quickly" and right on the heels of the deaths
of the "two witnesses." Unless we have overlapping
1260 day time periods (which would open a lot of rabbit
holes), I would guess that the two witnesses are given 1260
days that corresponds with the 42 months the holy city is
trampled by the nation/gentiles. (And that's also the
beginning of the trumpet blasts/before the three woes?)
So this means, the two witnesses are doing
their 1260 day prophesying during a woe -
and this is certainly not a relatively peaceful time under
the Antichrist's treaty. It's pretty terrifying.
So what is going on during the second
woe? "..in addition to the unleashing of the hostile
horde "from beyond the Euphrates", the "second woe" includes
the "little scroll", the "measuring of the sanctuary" and
the ministry of the "two witnesses."
Three
Woes
These Three Woes correspond to the last three
trumpet blasts (of the seven trumpet blasts).
What are the first four trumpet blasts:
Revelation 8: 6 - 13
Trumpet 1: "Then the
first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed
with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of
the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and
all the green grass."
Trumpet 2: "Then the
second angel sounded his trumped, and something like a great
mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A
third of the sea turned to blood, a third of the living
creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were
destroyed."
Trumpet 3: "Then the
third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning
like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the
rives and on the springs of water. The name of the
star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter
like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter
waters."
Trumpet 4: Then the
fourth angel sounded his trumped, and a third of the sun and
moon and starts were struck. A third of the stars were
darkened, a third of the day was without light and a third
of the night aw well."
Then come the Three Woes.
"And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead,
calling in a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe! (three woes)
to those who dwell on the earth, because of the
trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three
angels!" That's the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpet
blasts.
Revelation 9: 1 - 11 describes the
Fifth Trumpet: a star falls from heaven
with a key to the pit of the Abyss...the Abyss is opened and
smoke rises out of it and the sun and the air were darkened
by the smoke from the pit. Locusts come out and can
only harm "those who do not have the seal of God on their
foreheads". (the servants of God have a seal placed on
their foreheads). These locusts torment man for five
months. And are ruled by a king - Abaddon/Apollyon.
(We have to have Abaddon released from the Abyss because he
is the beast that "wages war with them (the two witnesses)
and will overpower and kill them." Revelation 11:9)
Revelation 11:12 - the next verse: "The
first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to
follow."
The Sixth Trumpet
blast releases the four angels of the Euphrates
River. They are released to kill a third of
mankind. "Now the rest of mankind who were not
killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works
of their hands." Revelation 9:20
The Second Woe involves the
releasing of the demonic horde from the Euphrates River, the
little scroll that John eats, the measuring of the sanctuary
with a measuring rod and the ministry of the two
witnesses.
As I wrote
above - after the witnesses are killed (by Abaddon) and
rise from the dead..."And in that hour, there was a
great earthquake, and a tenth of the city
collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake
and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of
heaven. The Second Woe has passed.
Behold, the Third Woe is coming shortly."
"The second woe has
passed. Behold the third woe is coming shortly."
Revelation 11:14 This Third
Woe includes the Seventh Trumpet...."..and
loud voices called out in heaven: "The kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His
Christ, and He will reign forever and ever."
"And the twenty-four elders who sit on the
thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,
saying: ...The nations were enraged, and Your wrath
has come. The time has come to judge the dead
and to reward Your servants the prophets as well
as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and
great - and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
"Then the temple of God in heaven was opened
and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.
And there were flashes of lighting and rumblings, and pearls
of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm."
Revelation 11:15-19.
This Third and Final Woe
comes at the end of the Tribulation...and culminates in the
final judgment. This Third Woe brings in the last of
the seven trumpets. There are only three
woes. And the last three trumpets occur in those
three woes.
The two witnesses show up for 1260 days...and
die at the start of the Third Woe...and that includes the
Seventh Trumpet blast - to bring in The Kingdom of God. Set
up His reign on Earth. To judge the dead and reward
His servants. Opening up the temple of God....with lighting,
rumblings, thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
The Third Woe could occur very quickly.
Hours? It looks like the Second Woe was an hour (that
big earthquake).
There are 5 time periods given in The
Revelation that equal 1260 days. 42 months where the
Gentiles trample on the Holy City. The woman was given
the wings of the great eagle for a time and times and half a
time. The woman fled into the wilderness where God has
prepared a place for her for 1260 days. The two witnesses
prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. 42 months
are given to him (AC) to act with authority.
Understand
3.5 Years - 1260 Days - 42 Months In Revelation &
Daniel!
The 42 months of the Gentiles trampling the
Holy City may be the same 42 months the Antichrist is in
power. The two time periods given for the woman who is
protected by God are probably the same also. And the
two witnesses prophesying for 1260 days is probably the same
time period the Gentiles trample the Holy City. (So
does the woman flee when the AC is in power and the Holy
City is trampled by the Gentiles? That would make all
5 of these time periods that same time period - one of 1260
days long. Just a thought.)
Things can move quickly in The Revelation - in
an hour or less!
The Ten Kings reign with the beast for one
hour. The Great City fell in an earthquake in one
hour. There was silence in Heaven for half an
hour. There is the 'hour' of God's judgment.
And an hour to reap the harvest. Things
don't need a lot of time to happen.
Anyway, just some thoughts for now...
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
Chance