I. REVIEW A. 7 Trumpets- In the last session we looked at the 7 Trumpets that will sound as a final warning to the human race before Jesus comes. Just as the plagues of Egypt were released through Moses upon Pharaoh s kingdom, so the Trumpet judgments in Revelation will be released through Jesus upon the Antichrist s kingdom. B. Great Tribulation- The last three and a half years of human history will be the time of heavy labor before God gives birth to a new age [1 Thess. 5:3; Jer. 30:5-7; Matt. 24:8]. It is called Great Tribulation on purpose. The reason we do not have a grid for how severe it is, is because we do not consider how much sin will be on the earth. Even through the midst of severe judgment men will still refuse to repent. Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries (pharmakeia) or their sexual immorality (porneia) or their thefts. C. Revelation Chapters 10-14- Give explanation to what is happening behind the scenes as God releases the Trumpets in preparation to Jesus coming (just as Revelation 7 gives explanation to what is happening during the Seals of Revelation 6). In other words, every chapter is not in chronological order. Revelation 8,9 The Trumpet Blasts Revelation 10- God will give new prophetic insight Revelation 11- God will raise up dynamic Prophets II. THE RESTORATION OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY A. God is raising up a glorious, Overcoming Church that will bring in the great harvest and be ready for Jesus' return [Rev. 19:7]. For this to happen the Holy Spirit must first restore the ministries that are essential for us to walk in unity, intimacy, maturity, and power. Apostles and prophets will be present and dynamic in the End-Times [Rev. 18:20- and they will be persecuted]. Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; B. Restoration- Throughout history God has been restoring the Church. Jesus is the one who said He will build His Church [Matt. 16:18]. A Church built by Him will trounce the enemy. He is the One who said it will be glorious and without spot and wrinkle [Eph. 5:27]. He is the One who said that His Bride will be ready [Rev. 19:7]. Our vision for the Church must be as big as His vision. Acts 3:21 [Jesus] whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 1 P a g e
First Coming 325 The Dark Ages Second Coming Early Church 500 1500 Restored Church 1500's - Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther, Justification-Salvation by Faith, Priesthood of Believers) 1600's - Pre-Awakening (Arminius takes on Calvinism; King James Bible; Puritans & Quakers Emerge) 1700's - 1st Great Awakening (Sanctification- Repentance, Revival of the Church, Wesley s, Birth of Methodism) 1800's - 2nd Great Awakening (Holiness Movement Continues, Finney, Denominations Split and Form) 1900's - Pentecostal Movement (Azusa & Welsh Revival, Spirit Baptism, Power for Ministry, Speaking in Tongues) 1950's - Charismatic Movement (The Gifts of the Spirit, Impartation-Laying on of Hands, New emphasis on Faith) 1960's - Healing and Deliverance Movement (Crusades, Healing Evangelists, Deliverance Ministries Emerge) 1970 s - Evangelism Movement (Jesus People, Mass Evangelism, Expectancy of Jesus' Return) 1980 s - Worship/ Prayer Movement (Global Prayer Ministries Emerge, Call for Unity, New Sound of Worship) 1990 s - Prophetic Movement (Hearing God s Voice, Personal Prophecy and Modern Day Prophets, Brownsville) 2000 s - Apostolic Movement (Recognizing the Apostolic Function, Realigning of the Church to 5-fold Ministry) 2010 s - One New Man Movement (Understanding our Jewish heritage, Feasts of the Lord, Israel s Importance) C. Prophetic Ministry- One of the most dynamic ministries in the Church today is the ministry of the Prophet. Prophets are forerunners, going before the body of Christ, preparing the way of the Lord. They may not operate in the gift of prophecy, but when they speak they bring the oracles of God. They are standing for God and speaking from God with the authority of God. D. Deception- God will raise up prophetic voices to the degree of the deception that is coming. He will not leave the earth without a prophetic witness; as lies, confusion and deception abound. God s prophets will not only declare what is coming but will confront the lies that are being declared by false prophets. Matthew 24:4-5,11,24 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. 2 P a g e
III. THE PROPHETIC VOICE - CONSUMING THE MESSAGE [REVELATION 10] A. The Mystery Made Known- The Book of Revelation is a mystery and no one but God the Father has its exact interpretation. However, Revelation 10 tells us that much more light will be revealed before Jesus comes. God will raise up prophets, intercessors, singers, businessmen, and others to awaken the nations. a. God is going to anoint men and women, youth and children with a prophetic message of the End- Times. Things that are sealed up will be unveiled. Revelation (apokalypsis) literally means an unveiling. God will pull back the curtain and reveal what is happening behind the scenes. B. Revelation 10:1-4 shows us that there are seven unique messages that are sealed up until the time of the end. These seven thunders are prophetic contents of the End-Times that are given to God s servants at the end of the age. These prophetic messages will align with the Word, and never contradict it. Revelation 10:4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them." C. Sealed Prophecies- There is seven really important prophetic insights that God is going to give in the days before His return which we do not have right now. They will pertain to Israel, the Church and the End-Times and give God s people strategy into what God is doing. John heard them, but was not allowed to write them. D. Amos 3:7 - tells us that God will not do anything in the earth without first speaking it to a prophet. And neither will anything happen on the earth unless a prophet speaks it out what God is saying. True prophetic utterance is not only predictive, but is also causative [See Genesis 1; Ezekiel 37]. Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. 8 The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, E. Consume the Message- John was commanded to take the book and eat it. This is more than interesting symbolism. It speaks of the call of God for us today to take the Book of Revelation, and the whole of God s Word, and meditate on its contents until it is a part of us. Revelation 10:9-11 So I went to the angel and said to him, "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. a. True prophets will not be parrots quoting off their favorite TV preacher, but be authentic voices that have consumed the Word, and drip with its contents. 3 P a g e
Ezekiel 3:1-3 Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; 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 And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. F. Sweet and Sour- The prophetic message of the End-Times is both sweet and bitter. It is sweet because it is a message of grace that brings hope, comfort and joy- knowing that Jesus wins. But it is sour because many will not hear it as a message of grace, nor will they want to hear the warnings and negative signs of what's coming or the call to repent. Many will reject anything that makes them uncomfortable. a. Sweetness False prophets only want to proclaim the sweet things because it gains them fame, speaking engagements and popularity. They say peace, peace when there is no peace, and make things nice, only proclaiming the things that are pleasant to the ears. Jeremiah 23:16-18,30 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They continually say to those who despise Me [who are not in right relationship with God], 'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace" '; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.' " 18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it? 30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor. b. Bitterness- True prophets taste the sweetness and the bitterness of the prophetic word. They speak both in obedience to the Holy Spirit. In other words, they are loved by those who have ears to hear, and hated by those who cling to comfort, sin and the flesh. G. Only those who eat the scroll will be anointed to prophesy to nations, peoples and kings in the last days. Forerunners, like John the Baptist was to Jesus first coming, are voices in the wilderness- not merely echoes of another. They ve taken time to get into the word, meditate on it, and consume it until it becomes a part of them. IV. THE TWO WITNESSES [REVELATION 11] A. All the major battles of the End-Times center on the city of Jerusalem [Zech. 14:1-3]. For 3.5 years Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by Gentile nations. This timeframe is described in three different ways- 42 months [11:2]; time, times, and half a time [12:14]; and 1260 days [11:3] = 3.5 years. Revelation 11:2-3..And they [Gentile nations] will tread the holy city [Jerusalem] underfoot for forty-two months [3.5 years]. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses [prophets], and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days [3.5 years], clothed in sackcloth [calling people to repentance]." 4 P a g e
B. Two Witnesses They will be the most powerful prophets of God since John the Baptist. God will give them supernatural power, authority, and protection during the length of their prophecy. Their ministry will be God s counterattack to the two demonic witnesses on earth- the Antichrist and False Prophet. Revelation 11:5-6 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. C. The Trumpet Judgments on the Antichrist are released through the Two Witnesses [Rev. 8,9]. When they speak they will shut heaven [not open it] and cause famine in the camp of the Antichrist. They will turn waters to blood, and release plagues [similar to the 10 plagues of Egypt]. D. Who Are The Two Witnesses? Though we do not know exactly who the Two Witnesses will be, we know what they do. They will do the things that Moses and Elijah did in the Old Testament. Exodus 7:17 I will strike the waters which are in the river and they shall be turned to blood. 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. [Compare to Revelation 13:13] James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. a. Two Tribulation saints Some believe them to be two Jewish Believers sovereignly called and anointed by God to bear His testimony in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation. b. Elijah and Enoch Some believe this based on Hebrews 9:27 It has been appointed for men to die once. They were the only two to never experience death in the OT. Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. 2 Kings 2:11 Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. The only problem with the Hebrews 9:27 argument is that Lazarus died twice, and at the rapture hundreds of millions of believers will never experience death [1 Thess. 4:14-17]. c. Moses and Elijah- Some believe this because their ministries in the Tribulation mirror their ministry in the OT. This is my best guess, but again this is all speculation. 1. Jesus said Elijah is coming- John the Baptist was not the full fulfillment of Malachi 4:5, but John came in the spirit and power of Elijah [Matt. 17:10-11]. 5 P a g e
2. Their miracles are the exact same- The Trumpets are identical to the plagues of Egypt. 3. Elijah and Moses appeared together with Jesus- Just before the cross they appeared with Jesus at the Mt. of Transfiguration [Matt. 17:2-3]. 4. The Law and the Prophets- The OT is called the Law and the Prophets- Moses being the great lawgiver and Elijah the greatest prophet. 5. Satan and Michael fought over the body of Moses- Michael, on assignment from God, needed Moses body for some reason, and Satan tried to hinder him from getting it. Deuteronomy 34:6 And He buried him [Moses] in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Jude 1:9 Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" E. At the end of the Tribulation (just before the Last Trumpet Rev. 11:15-19) their testimony will be finished [vv.7,8]. The Antichrist will be allowed to kill them and through technology all the nations will see them and rejoice [vv.9,10]. However, God will resurrect them and usher them into heaven [vv.11,12] Revelation 11:7-13 When they finish their testimony [prophetic ministry], the beast [Antichrist] that ascends out of the bottomless pit [full demonic but fully human] will make war against them, overcome them, and kill [martyr] them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified [Jerusalem]. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see [through technology] their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented [with God s judgments] those who dwell on the earth [who refuse to repent]. 11 Now 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 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And 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. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. F. Conclusion- God does not care about whether or not we find out who the Two Witnesses are, but that we are a people who contend for the Spirit of Prophecy in our midst. Ask God to give you ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, to open His Word to you, and make you a Prophet of Power in this generation. Revelation 19:10 Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 6 P a g e