INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER KC
FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
MIKE BICKLE
IHOP-KC
Missions Base www.IHOP.org
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Session 7 Prophetic Ministry in the End-Times
(Rev. 10-11)
I. INTRODUCTION
ANGELIC
EXPLANATION #2 DIRECTION
A.
Rev. 10:1-11:13 is a parenthetical section given immediately after the
world crisis described in the trumpet judgments (Rev.
8:9) and in context to the unprecedented escalation of sin and deception (Rev.
9:21). God assures us that He will provide prophetic direction and power
to all who call out to Him. The events in this section cover the entire final
3½ years.
B.
Review:
the five chronological sections (seals, trumpets, and bowls)
tell us what will happen to the Antichrist’s empire. The five parenthetical
sections tell us what will happen to God’s people.
The parenthetical sections
mostly describe Satan’s attack against the Church and then God’s intervention
to help with power, protection, direction or reward. They answer two
questions. First, “Why are these judgments are so severe?” In other words, how
can a God of love be so violent? Second, “What will happen to the Church?” In
other words, will we be safe in God’s favor and will we be anointed to stand
against deception and persecution?
C. In Rev. 10-11, John assures us that God will release unprecedented
prophetic direction and great power. Joel prophesied of a dynamic prophetic
move of the Spirit in the End-Times (Joel
2:28-32;
Acts 2:17-21). This outpouring of the Spirit will be manifest in many ways
on international, national and regional levels (Acts
2:17-21;
Eph. 4:11-13;
Rev. 11:10,
18;
16:6;
18:20,
24).
D. In Rev. 10, God promised to raise up prophetic messengers (forerunners)
to bring understanding to help people avoid deception. This is an important
passage for forerunner messengers. There will be many false signs (Rev.
13:13;
16:14;
18:23;
19:20;
Mt. 24:24;
2 Thes. 2:8-9).
4 Take heed that no one
deceives you. 5 Many will come…and will deceive many…11 Many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many. 24 For false christs and false prophets will
rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
(Mt.
24:4-5,
11,
24)
E. The focus of Rev. 11 is the Two Witnesses (prophets) who will preach
with great power and release God’s judgments against the Antichrist’s systems
for the final 3½ years (Tribulation).
F. This will be the Church’s most glorious hour in all history! Joel
prophesied of a great outpouring of the Spirit on all nations that would occur
before the Day of the Lord or Jesus’ Coming (Joel
2:28,
31). All God’s praying people will receive dreams, visions, and angelic
visitations, etc.
28 I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…29 On My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit…30 I will show
wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and smoke…31 before
the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord…32 whoever calls on the
name of the Lord shall be saved. (Joel
2:28-32)
G. The Lord released a down payment of Joel’s prophecy on the day of
Pentecost (Acts
2:16). It was not completely fulfilled in Peter’s generation as evidenced
by things as the sun and moon not growing dark with signs including blood,
fire and smoke. The Spirit in Acts 2 only rested on 120 believers in one city,
Jerusalem. The fullness of this prophecy requires a global dimension.
II. THE GLORY OF THE ANGEL (REV. 10:1-3): THE
FORERUNNER ANOINTING
1 I saw
another mighty angel…clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head, his face
was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book
open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the
land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. (Rev.
10:1-3)
A. The angel's authority prophetically pictures aspects of the glory
released on God’s messengers.
1.
Mighty angel: forerunners will operate in the power of the Holy Spirit
2.
Robed in a cloud of glory: forerunners will experience God’s Shekinah glory
3.
Rainbow around his head: forerunners will emphasize God’s promises and
mercy
4.
Face shines like the sun: forerunners will receive God’s might in their
inner man (Eph.
3:17)
5.
Feet are like pillars of fire: forerunners will release God’s holy judgment
to establish love
6.
Feet on the sea and land: forerunners will take possession of their
inheritance across the earth
7.
Cries out like a roaring lion: forerunners will pray and prophesy in the
boldness of a lion
B. John saw three mighty angels in Revelation with great brilliance (Rev.
5:2;
10:1;
18:2).
III. END-TIME FORERUNNER
MESSENGERS: SEVEN THUNDERS PROPHETS
2 He (mighty
angel) had a little
book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot
on the land…3 When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices (messages).
4 When the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I
heard a voice…saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered,
and do not write them." (Rev.
10:2-4)
A. This little open book is not the same as the Father’s book taken by
Jesus (Rev.
5:7) but contains only part of the prophetic info contained in the
Father’s book. An open book reveals the know-ability of its contents. The
angel probably read its contents to release the seven thunders.
B. John understood the seven prophetic messages but was told to seal them
until the End-Times.
C. This may be the same book with the same prophetic information that
Daniel received. Daniel 10-12 is a parallel passage with Rev. 10-13 in which
Daniel sealed up similar prophetic information with an angel of similar glory
with a similar oath related to the same 3½ years (Dan.
12:4-10).
4 Daniel…seal the book
until the time of the end…6 How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders
be? 7…He (angel)
held up his right hand…and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be
for a time, times, and half a time (3½
years); and when
the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things
shall be finished…9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are
closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made
white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked
shall understand, but the wise (forerunner
messengers) shall
understand. (Dan.
12:4-10)
33 Those of the people who
understand shall instruct many…35 And some of those of understanding shall
fall (martyrdom),
to refine them (believers),
purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is
still for the appointed time. (Dan.
11:33-35)
IV. THE END-TIME RELEASE OF THE SEVEN THUNDER
MESSENGERS
5 The angel
whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6
and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things
that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the
things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days
of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery
of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. (Rev.
10:5-7)
A. Angel swore by God’s Person (eternity, sovereignty): God will show His
sovereign power
B. No more delay: time has run out. God’s mercy and patience are over for
the rebellious
C. The mystery of God completed: Jesus will rule the earth with His people
(Dan.
7:13-27)
D. During the days of the sounding of the seventh angel: the 30-day period
in which Jesus’ Second Coming procession and the release of the seven bowl
judgments come to completion. For the 30-days time frame compare the days
signified in
Rev. 11:2-3;
12:6,
14;
13:5;
Dan. 7:25;
12:7,
11. He is about to sound: nearing the end of the 3½ year Great
Tribulation.
V. THE MANDATORY
PREPARATION FOR THE END-TIME MESSENGERS
8 The
voice…said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel
who stands on the sea and on the earth." 9 I went to the angel and said, "Give
me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make
your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." 10 Then
I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet
as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11
And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations,
tongues, and kings." (Rev.
10:8-11)
A. John eating the scroll as Ezekiel did (Ezek.
2:10-3:3) is a prototype for End-Time messengers. The principle being
taught is that we must take time to digest God’s revelation of the End-Times.
1 Son of man…eat this
scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and He
caused me to eat that scroll. 3 He said, "Son of man, feed…and fill your
stomach with this scroll..." 4 He said, "Go to Israel and speak with My words
to them. (Ezek.
3:1-4)
B. Daniel and John had unusual revelation in context to unusual devotion to
the Word from their youth then being visited when older. Daniel modeled
fasting, praying and studying (Dan.
9:20-22;
10:1-13). A king is anointed in one day. It takes a life time to raise up
a deliver.
C. Sweet: message of victory, salvation and justice with deliverance to the
oppressed worldwide. Bitter: message of judgment worldwide that brings
persecution to the messengers (Lk.
19:41).
D. Must prophesy: God only releases His full purposes as His people
prophesy them (Jer.
1:12-13). My prayer is for 10,000 forerunners to be raised up who release
God’s power in their region.
VI. TWO WITNESSES (REV. 11)
A. The Two Witnesses are prophets functioning in this on a
global and ultimate scale in confronting the Antichrist. The worship movement
will support the Two Witnesses in a significant way in prophetic intercession.
B. The paradox in the Tribulation Temple (Rev.
11:1-2)
1 I was given a reed like
a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the Temple of
God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which
is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the
Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Rev.
11:1-2)
C. The Tribulation Temple will be built by unbelieving Jews and desecrated
by the Antichrist (Mt.
24:15;
Mk. 13:14;
2 Thes. 2:4;
Rev. 11:1-2;
13:12-18;
Dan. 8:13;
9:26,
27;
11:31,
36-37;
12:11). This Temple is referred to in Scripture as the Temple of God (2
Thes. 2:3-4;
Rev. 11:1). It is not the same as the Millennial Temple to be built by
Jesus (Ezek.
37:26-28;
40-48;
Isa. 2:3;
60:13;
Jer. 33:18;
Joel 3:18;
Mic. 4:2;
Hab. 2:20;
Hag. 2:7-9;
Zech. 6:12-15;
14:16-21;
Mal. 3:1-3).
D. To measure means to carefully evaluate. We are to measure or weigh
carefully and think through the different issues related to the activity by
God-fearing Jews in Jerusalem in the End-Times. This will require receiving
God’s insight into paradoxes and tensions involved in the Temple.
E. The Antichrist will desecrate the Temple (Abomination of Desolation) by
claiming to be God.
15 When you see the
'Abomination of Desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the
holy place"… 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mt.
24:15-16)
3 The son of perdition (Antichrist),
4 who…exalts himself above all that is called God… so that he sits as God in
the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2
Thes. 2:3-4)
F. The word measure is used in context to evaluating people’s actions (Mt.
7:2). Amos had a plumb line in his hand to measure the purity of Israel.
We are to measure the purity and purpose of God with its complexities in the
Temple, altar and its worshipers. It will require spiritual discernment.
8 The LORD said, "Amos,
what do you see?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said: "Behold, I am
setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel…” (Amos
7:8)
G. God-fearing Jews will be involved in God’s purposes in some of the
Temple activities before they are saved. We are not to dismiss all their
activities in the Temple as worthless but neither are we to see them as being
saved until they come to Jesus. There will be a continuum between Temple
activities, the salvation of the 144,000 and the later salvation of all Israel
(Rom.
11:26). God-fearing Jews not yet saved will in some ways parallel the
God-fearing Gentiles in Acts. The temptation of some will be to quickly
criticize and the temptation of others will be to rejoice as if all that they
do is good. This command to measure the temple is part of John’s commission to
prophesy, which involves establishing understanding for God’s people (Rev.
10:11).
VII. JERUSALEM WILL BE TRAMPLED FOR 3½ YEARS
(REV. 11:2)
2 But leave
out the court which is outside the Temple, and do not measure it, for it has
been given to the Gentiles. They will tread the holy city (Jerusalem)
underfoot for forty-two months. (Rev.
11:2)
A. The events in
Rev. 11:1-2a may happen a few years before the trampling of Jerusalem
begins in this measure of severity as seen in
Rev. 11:2b.
B. Jesus prophesied that Jerusalem would be surrounded in the End-Times as
seen in part in 70 AD.
20 When you see Jerusalem
surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those
in Judea flee to the mountains…22 For these are the days of vengeance, that
all things which are written may be fulfilled….24 They will fall by the edge
of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be
trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke
21:20-24)
C. Tread the city underfoot: to be "trodden under foot" is symbolic of
being totally conquered and even crushed to the ground. Grapes were trodden
under foot (Judges
9:27;
Isa. 16:10;
63:2). This speaks of Jerusalem’s total defeat under the reign of the
Antichrist and his ten-kingdom empire.
3 It shall happen in that
day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples…though all
nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zech.
12:3)
1 Behold, the day of the
LORD is coming…2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against
Jerusalem; the city shall be taken…half of the city shall go into captivity… (Zech.
14:1-2)
D. It will be given to the Gentiles: Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem in 70
AD. In AD 637 the Arabs under Omar conquered Jerusalem and the Dome of the
Rock or Mosque of Omar was built on the Temple site. It remains to this day.
This is an important place of worship for Muslims.
E. Jerusalem is called the holy city because it was the only city the Lord
placed His name and glory upon. It is the city in which Jesus was crucified
and resurrected and will return to rule from.
F. Times of the Gentiles and Fulness of the Gentiles: times of the Gentiles
pertains to the domination of Jerusalem by Gentile power (Lk.
21:20-24) which began when Nebuchadnezzar, totally conquered Jerusalem in
587 BC. This period ends at the Second Coming. Paul spoke of the fulness of
the Gentiles which means the fullness of their salvation (Rom.
11:25).
G. The 42 months is the same 3½ year time frame as the 1,260 days (Rev.
11:3;
12:6), the times, time, and half a time (Rev.
12:14), and 42 months (Rev.
13:5). There is no reason to interpret these numbers as symbolic. There
are 8 Scriptures and 4 different phrases that describe the final 3½ years
before Jesus’ return. The 1260 days (Rev.
11:3;
12:6); 42 months (Rev.
11:2;
13:5); time, times and half a time (Rev.
12:14;
Dan. 7:25;
12:7). Different terminology is used so that the meaning is clear and that
no one would be able to dismiss this significant prophetic time frame as
symbolic.
VIII. THE TWO WITNESSES (REV. 11:3-6, 10)
3 I will
give power to my Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in
sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing
before the God of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds
from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them,
he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that
no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters
to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as
they desire…10 These two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. (Rev.
11:3-6,
10)
A. The Two Witnesses (with the support of the 144,000) release End-Time
judgments by prophetic decrees like Moses. Note: the Antichrist and False
Prophet parallel the magicians of Egypt.
B. The plagues of Egypt are the prototype of the End-Time judgments (Exod
7-12) released by intercession (Rev. 8-9; 16). The confrontation between Moses
and the Pharaoh using the ten plagues gives us insight into the confrontation
between the Church and the Antichrist.
C. These are miracles done by Elijah and Moses and the teamwork of Moses
and Aaron will be seen in the miracles of the Two Witnesses. The OT prophets
believed that the miracles of Egypt would occur in the End-Times (Mic.
7:15;
Isa. 10:22-25;
11:12-16;
30:30;
Jer. 16:14-15;
23:7-8;
Ezek. 38:22;
Joel 2:30).
D. The Two Witnesses will probably supernaturally provide food in the
wilderness like Moses and Elijah did. In
Rev. 12:13-17 there is food supernaturally provided in the wilderness.
E. They will release fire through the words of their mouths (v. 5). When
King Ahaziah came to Elijah, he called fire down on them (2
Kings 1:10-12). The False Prophet will call down fire.
13 He (False
Prophet) performs
great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men. (Rev.
13:13)
F. The Two Witnesses will be killed and then raised from dead before all
the nations.
7 When they finish their
testimony, the Beast (Antichrist)…will
make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will
lie in the street of the great city (Jerusalem)
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was
crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will
see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies
to be put into graves. 10 Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them,
make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets
tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 After the three-and-a-half days the
breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great
fear fell on those who saw them…12 They ascended to heaven in a cloud, and
their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and
a tenth of the city fell…7,000 men were killed, and the rest were afraid and
gave glory to the God of heaven. (Rev.
11:7-13)