Revelation 11:1-19
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series Theme: The Last Word Insights from Revelation
Title: Breath of Life
Opening Thoughts:
Have you ever been called as a witness in a case? Tell us about it. If not, imagine being called as a witness to give testimony. What would be the most challenging part of it?
Why does the New Testament sometimes use the word "witness" to describe our role in sharing the gospel? What is the significance of the term (for examples, see Acts 1:8; 22:15)
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 8:1-3 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Text: Revelation 11:1-13
The Two Witnesses
11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck 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, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Summarize main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
Reflections:
Witnesses are not always wanted.
Revelation 11 is called the most puzzling chapter in the Bible.
Read Revelation 11:1-2. What is the meaning behind "measuring the temple"? Where is the temple of God today (see 1 Corinthians 5:16-17)?
Measure the temple. (After 70 A.D. the temple is gone)
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.
Two Witnesses:
Read Revelation 11:3-6. Who are the "two witnesses" God will appoint to prophesy for a limited time?
11:3 Possibly two literal individual human beings are in view: either two Christian prophets who were martyred shortly before the fall of Jerusalem, or two prophets who will appear shortly before the Second Coming. But their identification with two lampstands (v. 4) suggests they might be symbolic figures standing for the witness of the lampstand churches of 1:20. If this is the case, they would symbolize churches rather than specific individuals. Two lampstands, rather than seven, are mentioned to imitate the pattern of Zech. 4 and of Moses and Elijah (11:1–14 note; cf. Deut. 17:6; Matt. 17:3, 4; Luke 10:1).
The Church needs to use its prophetic voice in this world. (Acts 1:8)
What does it mean for the Church to use its prophetic voice to bear witness for Christ in the world? When and how does the Church serve as a witness?
The prophetic witness of the church must testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How does Satan try to silence the witness of the Church today? To what extent is he effective?
Read Revelation 11:11-12. What will happen to the two witnesses after "31/2 days"? How is this news intended to be received by first century Christians facing intense persecution?
Breath of life.
Allow God to breathe life into you!
In what part(s) of your life do you need God to breathe life? In your attitude, marriage, family, friendships, ministry, vocation, Christian witness, etc.? Explain.
God will not give up on you!
How do you feel knowing God won't give up on you—that He wants to bring life to you?
Digging Questions:
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
Take Away Challenges
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
No comments:
Post a Comment