Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 11:8-10

Must Listen

Must Read

What Art Thinks

Pre-Millennialism

Today's Headlines

Sorry... Not Available

Locally Contributed...

Audio

Video

Special Interest

Exploring Revelation

5057

“Revelation 11:8-10”
by Art Sadlier
September 6th, 2020

We saw in verse seven that the two witnesses had finished their testimony. This is the mid-tribulation point, the final warning has been given to a world that is in rebellion against God. Multitudes have been saved and are being saved, but now it is time for the great tribulation to be poured out on earth.

Satan, working through his man, the antichrist, is able to do what he has been unable to do to this point, to kill the two witnesses. It is now God’s time, and he allows Satan enough rope to begin to hang himself.

Now in verse eight we see a demonstration of the great hatred men have for those who bring conviction for sin upon them. We see that in the world at this very moment, a growing hatred for the believer who by his life and lip rebukes sin in those around them. Today, there is an explosion of persecution against believers all around the world. Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love it’s own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18-19.

These men who are given over to sin now kill the two witnesses. “Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city,” verse 8, now they feel they are free at last to practice their sin without rebuke or restraint. Is that the reason that today we see homosexuals reacting so intensely against those who will not accept their practices? Guilt is the most intense emotion known to man. God designed man with this awful sense of grief and despair over sin, in order that man might be encouraged to turn from his sin and be restored to a right relationship with the God who loves him but is separated from him by sin. God’s hatred for sin is so great that He consigns the unrepentant sinner to an eternal hell.

Their dead bodies lie in the streets for 3 ½ days. Notice where this takes place, “the great city, ....Where our lord was crucified,” no doubt is left, this is Jerusalem. Notice the description, “which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt”, both the gentiles and the nation of Israel are living in rebellion against God.

In verse 9, we see the whole world rejoicing over the killing of the witnesses, “and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves”. Here we have a dramatic contrast between the saved and the unsaved in the midst of this trial which has come upon the earth to test the hearts of men. In the midst of the most severe rebuke for sin and in the face of the great preaching of these two witnesses with the offer of God’s grace and mercy, men will only harden their hearts and rebel more and more. That is why hell is forever, see Luke 16:27-31.

In verse 10, we see the sense of ecstasy sinners experience over the release from the restraints of sin. Again we see that the hearts of men, who refuse to repent, are fully set to do evil, again that is why hell is forever. We see a satanic Christmas, the whole world rejoicing over their dead bodies. We see a dramatic contrast between the godly and the ungodly, compare this with those who love the Lord, and have been martyred (Revelation 7: 9-17). That is the essence of whole story of man, the whole of history is marching to this final destiny. John sums it up in Revelation 22:11 as the bible concludes, “He is that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

In the meantime let us be patient as the Lords allows the testing of the hearts of men to be fully played out.

He is coming. He is coming. Down the stream of time.

Still the words come softly ringing like a chime.

Oftimes faint, now waxing louder, as the hour draws near.

When the King in all His glory shall appear.

He is waiting with long patience for His crowning day.

For that Kingdom which shall never pass away,

And till every tribe and nation bow before His throne,

He expecteth loyal service from His own.

He is coming—but he hearth still the bitter cry

From earths millions, “come and help us for we die.”

He is coming—doth He see us busy here and there,

Headless of those pleading accents of despair?

Shall we—dare we disappoint Him? Brethern let us rise!

He who died for us is watching from the skies;

Watching till His royal banner floateth far and wide,

Till He seeth of His travail satisfied!

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13