Revelation 10 & 11 - Three and a Half Years

Today we begin our study on Revelation 10-11. These two chapters somewhat go together as we will see later. The Book of Revelation has 22 chapters, so when we get here, we are almost in the in the middle of the book. Interesting these chapters (10-11) are like an interlude explaining to us some of the details of the events that take place in the first three and half years of the Tribulation. For many of us the Book of Revelation is a difficult book to comprehend and understand. It is hard to follow the chronology of time as the events in the book are revealed concerning the Tribulation. I have to admit, I have had difficulty over the years trying to figure out what is actually taking place and when it is happening. So, hopefully as we go through this study, I will be able to simplify the book and make it a little easier to understand, especially as you read it in the future. But my main purpose is not to just help us understand the book but to be motivated to grow in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to share the message of this book with our family, friends and others, and to warn them of the terrible judgments that definitely are going to take place on the earth in the future. As we come to these middle chapters it might help us to briefly review chapters 6 through 9, which describe the first three and a half years. In chapter 6 we saw the seven sealed book or scroll being opened by the Lamb revealing the coming of the Antichrist. In chapter 7, we have an interlude that describes an event at the very beginning of the Tribulation where the 144,000 Jews are sealed and sent forth preaching the Gospel. Also, we saw the souls of the multitudes of martyrs under the altar. In chapter 8, after the seventh seal is opened, the seven trumpets begin to sound. The first four trumpets bring terrible desolations to the earth. In Chapter 9, when the fifth and sixth trumpet sound, an army of terrible demons is release from the pit of hell, and another army of 200 million demons are release in the east that kill one-third of mankind. Now in chapters 10-11, we have another interlude that helps us better understand the events in the first three and a half years. You might ask the question, how do we know that the Tribulation will last seven years? I believe we find the answer in the following passages. In Rev. 11:2, the Gentiles “will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” (This is a reference to the last three and a half years). In Rev. 11:3, the two witnesses “will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (This happens in the first three and a half years).  In Rev. 12: 6 and 14, the Jewish remnant is protected by God during the last three and one-half years. In Rev. 13:5, the Beast is “speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given to continue for forty-two months.”(This is in the last three and one-half years.) To summarize this, the first three and a half years is called the Tribulation. The last three and a half years is called the Great Tribulation.” Jesus in His prophetic message, said that after you see the abomination of desolation that Daniel the prophet talked about, that “Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) My friend every word of the Bible is true, and every prophecy will be fulfilled! May the Lord help us to heed the warnings that come with these messages! God bless!