Chapter 11
Chapter eleven is perhaps the most debated and widely interpreted chapter in Revelation, as a result, many attempt to allegorize nearly every aspect. There is no reason to resort to allegorization as these can be, and undoubtedly are, literal locations, people, events, and time periods.
Go and Measure
1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
John is given a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. The Greek word translated as ’temple’ (‘naon’)[1] is most often a reference to the building or the building’s interior (compared to ‘hieron’,[2] typically referring to the entire complex and walls). Which altar is not specified, either the bronze altar for burning sacrifices or the golden altar for incense burning. Since he is to measure the people who worship there, it is likely the bronze altar.
The Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., it will be rebuilt during the first half of the Tribulation period.[3] This is the temple that John is instructed to measure. Why measure? One potential answer is that from the measurements made that the reader can get an idea of a timeframe (an equivalent to a ’snapshot’). For example, in the book of Ezekiel the prophet reports being “in visions of God” (Ezekiel 40:2) where he was brought to the land of Israel and saw a man with a measuring reed in his hand to measure the Temple, which the did (see Ezekiel 40:1-48:35). Based on the size of the Temple recorded in Ezekiel it is believed to be the Temple that will exist during Jesus’ future millennial reign (the measurements do not correspond any previous Temples). In Zechariah chapter two there was a man with a measuring line sent out to measure Jerusalem (see Zechariah 2:1-5) and it is revealed that it points to a future Jerusalem where everyone is living in peace. Then later in Revelation a man with a measuring rod of gold will measure the new Jerusalem, again revealing a glorious future (see Revelation 21:15-17). Plus, the process of measuring these locations appear to signify that they belong exclusively to God. From the Old Testament we also understand that measurement is often a preamble to judgment or destruction (see 2 Kings 21:13; Jeremiah 31:38-39; Lamentations 2:8; Amos 7:8). Here God is calling for the temple of God to be measured, it appears that judgment was to begin there.
The measurement of the worshipers may involve an evaluation of their heart-felt desire to worship God, something that only He can measure. People can certainly go through the actions of worship, but only God can examine the heart to determine motivation for that worship.
John is told to exclude the court outside the Temple, as it has been “given over” to the nations (Greek ‘ethnesin’,[4] whose root word ‘ethnos’, is often translated ‘Gentiles’, as it is translated in the AMP, KJV, NIV, NKJV), who will trample the holy city of Jerusalem for forty-two months. The Bible often speaks about Jerusalem being ‘trampled’ by Gentiles, both in the past and yet future (see Psalm 79:1; Isaiah 63:18; Daniel 8:13; Zechariah 12:3). Jesus said that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24b) The apostle Paul uses a similar phrase in Romans 11:25, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Here Paul is explaining to the Jews that until the time when all Gentiles that will come to accept Jesus, have indeed come to accept salvation through Him, there is a hardening that exists which is affecting their hearts, a ‘blindness’ towards acceptance of Jesus being the Messiah. Some question, when did the “times of the Gentiles” begin? While the Old Testament does not use the same wording, there are some clues that the period may extend all the way back to the time of the Babylonian captivity. Reviewing Nebuchadnezzar’s image of a man in his dream representing four Gentile kingdoms (see Daniel 2:31-45); Daniel’s vision of four beasts depicting four Gentile nations (see Daniel 7:1-27); and Daniel’s subsequent vision of the ram and the goat, offers additional information (see Daniel 8:1-26), each speaking of Gentile dominion over the world and the Jews, for a time. But then God will ultimately subdue each one of Gentile kingdoms and establish His own kingdom over them all. The period known as the “times of the Gentiles” likely extends from the Babylonian Empire through to Jesus’ return. This verse in Revelation refers to a specific time span, forty-two months, exactly one half of the seven-year Tribulation period. During the first half of the Tribulation the Gentile domination will continue.
Considerations
Whenever the Bible refers to the period of the end-times Tribulation, there are two time periods that are mentioned, one being seven years, and the other being three and a half years. Many attempt to allegorize these time periods, but we must ask ourselves, how many ways can you read three and a half years, before you are willing to accept that it is a literal time period? In the Old Testament we find Daniel using the term, “a time, times, and half a time” (see Daniel 7:25; 12:7). The Hebrew word ‘id·dān’,[5] indicates a period of time, in context in Daniel it refers to a one-year period of time (see also Daniel 4:13-32). It is a ‘dual word’ (the only dual form in English is the word ‘both’) and it is used here to refer to one year, plus two years (plural), and a half of a year, or three and a half years (the Greek equivalent, ‘kairos’,[6] is used in the same manner in Revelation 12:14). The book of Revelation also employs forty-two months twice (see also Revelation 13:5) and 1,260 days twice (see Revelation 11:3, which is the next verse, and Revelation 12:6). It seems that the Holy Spirit wanted to make it clear that this is truly a literal time period! Some believe that when forty-two months is referenced it pertains to the first-half of the seven-year Tribulation, and the 1,260 days refers to the last half, but there are some that believe the opposite to be true. Before reaching for your calculator, remember that in the Bible each month is thirty days, and each year is 360 days.
There are four Temples of God on earth referenced in Scripture. Two that were built and have since been destroyed, and two that are yet to be built in the future. Each built on, or will be built on, a location known as the Temple Mount (see below), a spot of serious contention between Muslims and Jews today. The first Temple was built by King Solomon (see 1 Chronicles 28:9-21) and the second Temple was built by Zerubbabel (see Ezra 1:2; 4:1-5, 21; 5:1-2; 6:16), which was later expanded and partially renovated by “Herod the Great.” (See Flavius Josephus “The Antiquities of the Jews”)[7] (this is the Temple that was destroyed in 70 A.D.) The third Temple, the one that John is to measure, is to be rebuilt during the first half of the Tribulation period, which then will be desecrated by the beast known as the Antichrist (see Revelation 13:1-10). The fourth Temple will be where Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years (see Revelation 20:4-6). This “Millennial Temple” is believed to be the one measured in Ezekiel 40:1-48:35, which is much larger in size than any of the previous Temples.
Per God's instruction both the first and second temples were built on the same location, which has become known as the “Temple Mount.” The property, also known as Mount Moriah, was bought by King David nearly 3,000 years ago. He bought it from a farmer named Araunah for 600 shekels (or 15 pounds) of gold (see 2 Samuel chapter 24 and 1 Chronicles chapter 21). On that land Solomon built the first Temple (finished approximately 957 B.C.), which stood for 371 years. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, after several of his vassal kings being disobedient and unresponsive, attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 586 B.C. Then after the Babylonians were conquered, the Persian ruler, Cyrus the Great, allowed and provided funding for the building of a new Temple in 538 B.C. and decreed that the exiled Jews should travel back to their homeland and begin construction. Due to several issues, the construction was delayed, but finally in 516 B.C. the construction was completed, and the new Temple dedicated. This second Temple stood virtually untouched for another five centuries.
Years later the Roman leader, Herod the Great, to gain favor with the Jews, remodeled and expanded the Temple and the surrounding area in 19 B.C., essentially doubling the size of the complex to more than 35 acres. In 66 A.D, the Jews began to protest the Roman government over high taxes. But the Romans retaliated, and the resulting war lasted several years and thousands of Jews were killed. The war was finished when the Roman general Titus laid siege on the city of Jerusalem resulting in the destruction of the Temple and most of the city burned in 70 A.D. The Temple has never been rebuilt.
The mount is also the location where Muslims believe Muhammad visited during his "night journey." The Aqsa Mosque was constructed very near (if not on) the Temple Mount in 715 A.D. making this a holy site for the Muslims. The conflict between the Jews and Muslims is the main reason the Temple has not been rebuilt. In the future there will be a seven-year covenant arranged by the Antichrist that will allow the Jews to begin rebuilding the Temple on the mount during the first half of the Tribulation.
Can history be wrong? It is a long-held belief that the location known as the “Temple Mount” is the location where the previous Temples were built. Robert Cornuke, President of Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute, using Scripture as a guide, noticed that the Temple described in the Bible as being located in the “City of David,” a place that David built next to Jerusalem before the Jebusites were fully conquered (see 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9). After the city was conquered by David, the name “City of David” was often considered synonymous with Jerusalem. So when the Bible speaks of the Temple being in the City of David, also known as Zion (see 2 Samuel 5:7;2 Chronicles 3:1; Psalm 20:2; 102:16-19; 132:8-13; Isaiah 2:3; Joel 3:17-21), it was believed to be in Jerusalem. But what if the Temples were built in the confines of the original City of David? Then the Temples would have been built approximately one-quarter of a mile south of the current Temple Mount. After examining the ruins of the City of David, Robert Cornuke discovered a number of clues that when added up become significant evidence that the two previous Temples were indeed built in the City of David and not on the previously believed Temple Mount. But what about the Western Wall (also known as the “Wailing Wall”), the mosque, and what looks like the ruins of a nearly 35-acre walled lot that is currently referred to as the Temple Mount? Robert Cornuke presents further evidence that it was essentially a fort to house a Roman garrison, not the facility that Herod had built to enhance the Temple grounds. If believed and embraced by the Jews, this discovery may have an impact politically, as well as provide a ‘green light’ for the Jews to begin rebuilding the Temple. It is also interesting to consider that if the future Temple that will be built during the Tribulation is built on the Temple Mount, it would not be the proper location and may not be acceptable to God, but since that Temple will be desecrated, the Millennial Temple could be erected in the City of David without any those complications or issues. See Robert Cornuke’s book “Temple” for more information.[8]
Two Witnesses
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
The ‘door’ to heaven is still open as God now authorizes two individuals to be His witnesses. The number two is significant as it is often associated with witnessing. The law required two or more witnesses for capital punishment (see Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6), or any accusation to be considered true (see Matthew 18:16; John 8:17). Plus, Jesus sent His disciples and other followers out to witness in pairs (see Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1). These two witnesses are to prophesy for 1,260 days, another three and a half year period. They will be clothed in sackcloth (a transliteration of the Hebrew word ’śǎq’,[9] referring to a fabric made out of goat hair, which would be very uncomfortable) and is often associated with mourning (see Genesis 37:34; 1 Samuel 4:12; Matthew 11:21) and humility (see Isaiah 20:2; 37:1; Daniel 9:3).
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
God calls these two prophets the “two olive trees” and the “two lampstands” that stand before the Lord of the earth. This verse connects Zechariah’s fifth vision of two olive trees and lampstands recorded in Zechariah chapter four. Where the two olive trees were providing fuel to the lampstand, being the power of God the Holy Spirit, represented by the oil, which powered and made things possible for Zerubbabel, who was represented by the lampstand. This apparent reference to Zechariah chapter four likely emphasizes the fact that these two witnesses have been given supernatural power from God for this ministry.
This seems to be a reference to Zechariah 4, where a lampstand and two olive trees are mentioned. In answer to the question in the Zechariah incident, “What are these?” the answer is given to Zerubbabel: “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” It is evident that a similar meaning is intended in the book of Revelation. The olive oil from the olive trees in Zechariah’s image provided fuel for the two lampstands. The two witnesses of this period of Israel’s history, namely Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel, were the leaders of Israel in Zechariah’s time. Just as these two witnesses were raised up to be lampstands or witnesses for God and were empowered by olive oil representing the power of the Holy Spirit, so the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will likewise execute their prophetic office. Their ministry does not rise in human ability but in the power of God.[10]
5 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. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
If anyone attempted to harm these two witnesses they were given the ability to consume them in flames. They also had the power to “shut the sky,” preventing rain from falling while they prophesied, turn water into blood, and strike with every kind of plague, at any time, and as often as they wanted. These God-given abilities remind us of two Old Testament prophets, Moses and Elijah. God used Moses in His first plague to the Egyptians to turn water into blood (see Exodus 7:17-19) as well as nine other plagues, and Elijah told King Ahab that there would be a drought until he prayed for it to stop (see 1 Kings 17:1). Interestingly the drought lasted for three and a half years (see Luke 4:25; James 5:17), the same interval as these two witnesses will be prophesying. Elijah also called down fire from heaven several times (see 1 Kings 18:36-38; 2 Kings 1:9-14). Due to these parallels, many believe that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. They also point out that both of these men’s ministries could be considered unfinished (see Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 3:26-28; 1 Kings 17:1; 19:13-16; 2 Kings 2:11). Most Jews and other Old Testament readers believe that Elijah will return just as Malachi prophesied, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6, the last two verses of the Old Testament)
Both Moses and Elijah were witnesses of Jesus’ transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36), where they spoke with Jesus. Elijah’s return was a topic of discussion between Jesus and His disciples as they were coming down the mountain after the transfiguration (see Matthew 17:9-13; Mark 9:9-13). Peter later referred to this event to confirm that prophecy from Scripture is indeed true. He wrote, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:16-21)
7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
At the end of their ministry of testifying for Jesus, the two witnesses will be killed by the beast that came out of the bottomless pit (Satan). Their bodies will be laid out on display on a street in Jerusalem, the location where Jesus was crucified. The city is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, both references to their spiritual status. Sodom was destroyed by God for their sin (see Genesis 13:13; 18:20) with sulfur and fire from heaven (see Genesis 19:24-25). The use of the name ’Sodom’ portrays a dark spiritual condition (see Deuteronomy 32;30-33; Isaiah 1:9-10; 3:8-9; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:46, 48-49, 55). Egypt was where God grew a family into a nation. Later, when He freed them from slavery, He demonstrated His power in the ten plagues and other miracles to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. From that point on He often called Himself, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Genesis 20:2). The Bible teaches that the exodus out of Egypt is a model of the ultimate redemption of being freed from the slavery of sin, making the term ‘Egypt’ a metaphor for the worldly thinking. By using these names, Jerusalem is being described as being worldly and sinful, completely void of God at that time.
The peoples and tribes of various languages and nations will come and see for themselves the two corpses. With so many wanting to see the bodies, they did not put them in tombs. Now that the torment from these two prophets has ended, everyone on earth will rejoice that they are dead, they will even exchange gifts to celebrate, perhaps replacing Christmas. The bodies will remain on display for three and a half days. They may have thought that God was done with His judgment and that their fear of God was unfounded, as the beast that came out of the bottomless pit was clearly the victor, or was he?
11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on 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, and their enemies watched them. 13 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.
But God is not finished with the two prophets nor His judgment. After the three and a half days, God resuscitates the two men, bringing them back to life. They immediately stand up as terror quickly struck those that were watching. They then heard a voice from heaven calling them to come up and were seen going up to heaven in a cloud (see Revelation 4:1). At that same hour there was a great earthquake causing a tenth of the city to fall, killing seven thousand people. The Greek text actually states “seven thousand names of people,” the Greek word ‘onomata’,[11] meaning ‘names’, is often not translated. Some believe it refers to people known or have a reputation, but there is no further information given.
We read that the rest of the people, those remaining alive after the earthquake, were terrified to the point that they gave glory to the God of heaven (an often used phrase from the Old Testament to differentiate from false gods, only used twice in the New Testament, both in the book of Revelation). Their giving glory (Greek ‘doxan’,[12] to think, to have an opinion, to recognize, to honor as being true) does not necessarily mean that these people turned to God and repented as there is no further explanation or information given.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
The second ‘woe’ that was announced by the eagle in Revelation 8:13 was now complete, the third woe will begin soon (see Revelation 9:12 for the end of the first woe).
Considerations
God reveals to John three ‘beasts’ that will have prominent roles in the final demise of the world (not to be confused with the living creatures in heaven). This one rises from the bottomless pit (see verse seven), he is Satan, the angel from the bottomless pit, the king of the supernatural locusts and is also called ‘Abaddon’ and ‘Apollyon’ (see Revelation 9:7-11). Later, we will be introduced to a beast that emerges out of the sea who will be politically powerful and become a world dictator (see Revelation 13:1). He is often referred to as the ‘Antichrist’[13] by theologians, although that title is not used in the book of Revelation. Shortly after this a third beast is seen, this one comes out of the land (see Revelation 13:11). He is a false ‘religious’ leader, and will be the primary ‘mouthpiece’ for the Antichrist. These three ‘beasts’ make up what could be described as an ‘unholy trinity’, a satanic mimicry of the Holy Trinity. This counterfeit trio will soon have considerable power and influence, but only until Jesus returns.
This chapter describes how these two witnesses will have the ability to torment others. It also mentions that they will be prophets (speaking for God), witnesses (undoubtedly speaking the truth about God’s plan of salvation and the end result of not accepting Jesus), and had a testimony to offer. The text does not offer any details of their three-and-a-half-year ministry. Based on the response of the people after hearing they were killed, tells us that their message was so offensive that everyone on earth was glad that they were dead. Some of these people likely attempted to kill these two only to be tormented by one or more of their God-given defenses. The world at this time will be truly void of God.
The Seventh Trumpet Blown
15 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.”
The seventh trumpet is blown followed by unidentified voices from heaven proclaiming that the world is now part of God’s kingdom, where Jesus will reign for eternity, as prophesied (see Ezekiel 21:24-27; Daniel 2:35, 44; 4:2-3; 6:26; 7:13-14, 27; Zechariah 14:9). Just like the seventh seal revealed the seven trumpets, the seventh trumpet comprises of the soon-to-be-released bowls of wrath. As such, at the completion of the seventh trumpet and the seven bowls, God’s judgment will be complete and the kingdom of the world will become Jesus’. The voices also state that His reign will last forever, which extends beyond His millennial reign into eternity. This seventh trumpet is not to be confused with “the trumpet of God” or “the last trumpet,” which signals the arrival of the rapture (see 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
In alignment with the voices, the twenty-four elders fall to their faces prostrate before God and worshiped Him. They first offer thanks to the Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, as He has assumed authority and power to begin His reign. They note that the nations raged against Him, but He responded with wrath, leading to a time of resurrection and judgment of the dead, and the offering of rewards to His servants, prophets, saints, and all who fear His name. It is also time to destroy all those alive on earth who have rebelled against God (the Greek word ‘diaphtheirontas’[14] translated here as ‘destroyers’ can also be translated as ‘corrupters’ of the earth). These verses are not implying that all these things happen simultaneously or even necessarily in sequence, they are pointing to those things that will occur soon after Jesus begins His reign. Perhaps a “table of contents” of events to occur on the “Day of the Lord” (similar to how Daniel 9:24 revealed events).
Hearing that “the nations raged,” should remind us Psalm 2:1-6, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” The psalmist was prophesying about this future conflict (see commentary in the Early Texts).
Considerations
If the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of God, who did it belong to before? When Jesus was done fasting for forty days He was approached by Satan as recorded in Matthew, “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9) Note that Jesus never disputed Satan’s claims. Once while He was addressing a crowd, Jesus told them that He would soon be “lifted up” and die. In that message He said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31) We see that the ruler of the world is Satan (see also John 14:30; 1 John 4:4). When Paul wrote about the importance of spreading the gospel message, he wrote, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-6, emphasis added, see also Ephesians 2:2; 6:12) While the Bible shows Satan as the ruler of this world and a formidable enemy of ours, we need to remember that he is a created being and is as such, is no match for God. There is never a time when God is not ultimately in control, Paul would remind us that, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1b, see also Daniel 2:21; John 19:11)
The Temple in Heaven
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Some believe this verse belongs in the following chapter, however, it does provide an interesting antithetical ’bookend’ of a chapter that opened with a discussion that pertained to the Temple on earth (see verses 1-2), to this last verse that describes action occurring in God’s Temple in heaven. This Temple is opened in such a way as see that the ark of His covenant can be seen. The ark, consisting of two major components, the ark itself (a gold-encased wooden chest, see Exodus 25:10-16; 37:1-5), and the mercy seat (the golden lid with two cherubs, see Exodus 25:17-22; 37:6-9) placed on top of the ark. The chest contained items that offered tangible proof of God’s covenant with the Israelites, including a jar of manna (see Exodus 16:32-34; Hebrews 9:4), two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them (see Deuteronomy 31:24-26; 1 Kings 8:9), and Aaron’s staff that budded (see Numbers 17:8-11). The ark on earth was located in the Most Holy Place (also known as the Holy of Holies), a location that before Jesus was victorious on the cross, was only accessible during one time of the year by the High Priest.
The location of the lightning, rumblings, thunder, earthquake, and hail is not noted (see also Exodus 9:13-35). Based on context these likely occurred around the world as they signal a transition to the final stages of judgment against those living on earth.
Considerations
The book of Revelation reveals seven special ‘openings’, they are: 1) a door to heaven (see Revelation 4:10); 2) the seven-sealed scroll (see Revelation 6:1-8:1); 3) the bottomless pit (see Revelation 9:2); 4) the Temple of God in heaven (see Revelation 11:19); 5) the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven (also known as the Tabernacle, see Revelation 15:5); 6) heaven (see Revelation 19:11); and 7) books in heaven, including the book of life (see Revelation 20:12).
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[1] Strong’s Greek 3485.
[2] Strong’s Greek 2411.
[3] See "Eschatological Terms" in "An Examination of the End Times."
[4] Strong’s Greek 1484.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 5732.
[6] Strong’s Greek 2540
[7] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (pp. 423–426). Hendrickson.
[8] Cornuke, R. (2014). Temple, LifeBridge Books.
[9] Strong’s Hebrew 8242.
[10] Walvoord, J. F. (2008). The Revelation of Jesus Christ (p. 180). Galaxie Software.
[11] Strong’s Greek 3686.
[12] Strong’s Greek 1391.
[13] The prefix ‘anti’ in the English language generally implies being against the suffix, in the Greek it can also mean being “in lieu of.” Referring to a replacement.
[14] Strong’s Greek 1311.