Revelation 11
4. Rev 11 and the 2 witnesses could be Antipas (Jewish leader – Rev 2:13) and Ananus (High Priest) doing their Jeremiah thing in 67 AD (Josephus). Or it could be two remaining Apostles who return to Jerusalem for one last attempt before the destruction of 70 AD. Apostles had ‘those’ special gifts. And what follows in chapter 11 can be viewed as the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
My guess: Apostles John and Antipas - fire from the mouth – even Elijah only asked for fire? Jesus named John one of the Sons of Thunder, yet he seemed to be a mild sort. But John certainly had a life changing experience at Patmos (Rev 10:11?) and John in Luke 9:54 asks about fire from heaven. And in Rev 10, John is told he is to ‘prophecy before…’, and Rev 11 begins survey. And Antipas is mentioned in Rev 2 as a faithful martyr. See item Ussher text 6954 below for Antipas location.
42 months(1260 days) war and 2 witnesses (sorry, no secular record of ‘fire or come up hither’; be surprised to find one given the devastation that follows and who would believe them anyway, except Bible believers), and events surrounding fit Rev 11: (Just a quick note: I have stated that I don’t have everything in place for Revelation. Chapter 11 has been tough. I assume history first and then go from there. Verse 9 and 10 bothered me. If this is history how could ‘all peoples of earth know about this, and there is gift giving’? If it is future, is CNN there televising this event? ) In 66 AD the Jews routed the Roman army and of course this would be big news, even then. For 2 years (until 68-70 AD when Rome returned) the Jews from all over ‘the known world’ would be celebrating and if a Passover event occurred the city would be ‘booming with excitement’. The events below also show a lot of turmoil, including two witnesses. So we have celebrating and gift giving and peoples of the earth a witness to these events?) 4070a AM, 4779 JP, 66 AD 6940. During the feast of tabernacles, after Cestius Gallus had burned Lydda, he marched toward Jerusalem. About seven or eight miles from there, the men of Jerusalem met him and fought a perilous battle near Bethhoron. When fresh troops arrived for Cestius, he forced the Jews into Jerusalem. On the 4th of the month of Hyperberetaios, (Niese: October 17th, Capellus: October 4th), he broke in and captured the lower part of the city (also known as Bezetha, or the New City and the Timber Market.) Then he attacked the temple and the upper city. He would easily have taken it, had he continued the attack more valiantly, for most of the people favoured the Romans and only the seditious men opposed them. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 2. c. 19. s. 1-4. (513-532) 2:521-529} [E900] 6941. When Cestius had almost captured the temple, he raised the siege for no good reason and retreated to Antipatris. Many of the Romans and auxiliary soldiers died on this march who were killed by the pursuing Jews. In their flight, the Romans abandoned most of their baggage, ammunition, engines, slings and other arms. The Jews later made good use of this equipment in their own defence against the siege of Titus. This humiliating retreat happened on the 8th of the month of Dios (Niese: November 25th, Capellus: November 8th) in the twelfth year of Nero. (That is, the twelfth year was over.) The thirteenth year of Nero had begun on the 13th of the previous October. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 2. c. 19. s. 5-9. (533-555) 2:529-537} 4071a AM, 4780 JP, 67 AD 6954. Meanwhile there was a great dissention throughout all Judea. Some wanted to continue the war, while others wanted to remain under the protection of the Romans. As a result, whole troops of thieves were gathered together all over Judea, who plundered those wanting peace. Laden with their plunder, they were received into Jerusalem, where they spread murders, dissensions, discords and rapines abroad. First, they imprisoned Antipas, together with a great many noblemen and the chief men of the city. Soon after that, they killed them without any trial, having falsely accused them of intending to surrender the city to the Romans. When the people attempted to rise up against them, they seized the temple and used it as a citadel against the people. For a high priest, they appointed Phanni by lot, who was not descended from the high priests, but was such a clown that he scarcely knew what the high priesthood meant. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 4. c. 3. s. 1-9. (121-161) 3:193-205} 6955. Ananus and the nobler priests stirred up and armed the people against those Zealots, as they called themselves, and attacked them in the temple itself, forcing them into the inner temple. The Zealots secretly sent letters to the captains of the Idumeans, accusing Ananus of treachery. They complained that they had been besieged in the temple while they were fighting for liberty, and asked the Idumeans to help them. The Idumeans arrived at once with twenty thousand men and were secretly let into the city and the temple by night, by the Zealots. They conducted a massive slaughter in Jerusalem, with large-scale destruction and rapines. For eighty-five hundred were killed that night and, during the days that followed, they killed Ananus and others of the nobility to a total of twelve thousand, besides an uncountable number of the common people. 4071b AM, 4781 JP, 68 AD 6958. Vespasian received news of the rebellions in Gaul, led by their governor, Julius Vindex, who had armed the Gauls against the Romans. This made him more determined to finish the war against the Jews. So, at the beginning of the spring, he led his army out from Caesarea and overran all Judea and Idumea and wasted it. Bringing back his army, he led them through Samaria to Jericho. When the inhabitants fled to the mountain country opposite Jerusalem, he pursued them and drove them from the hills. He attacked the citadels at Jericho and other places and surrounded the Jews on every side. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 4. c. 8. s. 1-4. (440-485) 3:285-301} 4073b AM, 4783 JP, 70 AD 6978. Jerusalem was destroyed on a Saturday. {*Dio, l. 65. (7) 8:271} This was the day the Jews observe most religiously and that year the 8th of the month of Gorpiaios (Niese: Wednesday, September 26th, Capellus: Saturday, September 8th) fell on a Saturday. The city was taken and destroyed. Titus commanded all the city and temple to be razed to its foundations and flattened, as well as being ploughed according to the custom. He spared only the west part of the wall and the three towers, Hippicus, Phasael and Mariamme. Because of their great beauty and strength, he left these to posterity, as a monument to the magnificence of that city. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 7. c. 1. s. 1. (1-4) 4:307} 4076c AM, 4786 JP, 73 AD 6995. Here Josephus ended the history of the destruction of Judea. After being captured in this war, he was made a freedman by Flavius Vespasian, the emperor, and assumed the name of Flavius from his patron. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 7. c. 11. s. 5. (454,455) 4:435} Revelation 10 8. Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and 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. And 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. And 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.'' Revelation 11 1. Then 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 under foot for forty-two months. 3. "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.'' 4. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5. And 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. 7. Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill 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. 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. And 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. 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 men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15. Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'' 16. And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17. saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.'' 19. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
42 months(1260 days) war and 2 witnesses (sorry, no secular record of ‘fire or come up hither’; be surprised to find one given the devastation that follows and who would believe them anyway, except Bible believers), and events surrounding fit Rev 11: (Just a quick note: I have stated that I don’t have everything in place for Revelation. Chapter 11 has been tough. I assume history first and then go from there. Verse 9 and 10 bothered me. If this is history how could ‘all peoples of earth know about this, and there is gift giving’? If it is future, is CNN there televising this event? ) In 66 AD the Jews routed the Roman army and of course this would be big news, even then. For 2 years (until 68-70 AD when Rome returned) the Jews from all over ‘the known world’ would be celebrating and if a Passover event occurred the city would be ‘booming with excitement’. The events below also show a lot of turmoil, including two witnesses. So we have celebrating and gift giving and peoples of the earth a witness to these events?) 4070a AM, 4779 JP, 66 AD 6940. During the feast of tabernacles, after Cestius Gallus had burned Lydda, he marched toward Jerusalem. About seven or eight miles from there, the men of Jerusalem met him and fought a perilous battle near Bethhoron. When fresh troops arrived for Cestius, he forced the Jews into Jerusalem. On the 4th of the month of Hyperberetaios, (Niese: October 17th, Capellus: October 4th), he broke in and captured the lower part of the city (also known as Bezetha, or the New City and the Timber Market.) Then he attacked the temple and the upper city. He would easily have taken it, had he continued the attack more valiantly, for most of the people favoured the Romans and only the seditious men opposed them. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 2. c. 19. s. 1-4. (513-532) 2:521-529} [E900] 6941. When Cestius had almost captured the temple, he raised the siege for no good reason and retreated to Antipatris. Many of the Romans and auxiliary soldiers died on this march who were killed by the pursuing Jews. In their flight, the Romans abandoned most of their baggage, ammunition, engines, slings and other arms. The Jews later made good use of this equipment in their own defence against the siege of Titus. This humiliating retreat happened on the 8th of the month of Dios (Niese: November 25th, Capellus: November 8th) in the twelfth year of Nero. (That is, the twelfth year was over.) The thirteenth year of Nero had begun on the 13th of the previous October. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 2. c. 19. s. 5-9. (533-555) 2:529-537} 4071a AM, 4780 JP, 67 AD 6954. Meanwhile there was a great dissention throughout all Judea. Some wanted to continue the war, while others wanted to remain under the protection of the Romans. As a result, whole troops of thieves were gathered together all over Judea, who plundered those wanting peace. Laden with their plunder, they were received into Jerusalem, where they spread murders, dissensions, discords and rapines abroad. First, they imprisoned Antipas, together with a great many noblemen and the chief men of the city. Soon after that, they killed them without any trial, having falsely accused them of intending to surrender the city to the Romans. When the people attempted to rise up against them, they seized the temple and used it as a citadel against the people. For a high priest, they appointed Phanni by lot, who was not descended from the high priests, but was such a clown that he scarcely knew what the high priesthood meant. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 4. c. 3. s. 1-9. (121-161) 3:193-205} 6955. Ananus and the nobler priests stirred up and armed the people against those Zealots, as they called themselves, and attacked them in the temple itself, forcing them into the inner temple. The Zealots secretly sent letters to the captains of the Idumeans, accusing Ananus of treachery. They complained that they had been besieged in the temple while they were fighting for liberty, and asked the Idumeans to help them. The Idumeans arrived at once with twenty thousand men and were secretly let into the city and the temple by night, by the Zealots. They conducted a massive slaughter in Jerusalem, with large-scale destruction and rapines. For eighty-five hundred were killed that night and, during the days that followed, they killed Ananus and others of the nobility to a total of twelve thousand, besides an uncountable number of the common people. 4071b AM, 4781 JP, 68 AD 6958. Vespasian received news of the rebellions in Gaul, led by their governor, Julius Vindex, who had armed the Gauls against the Romans. This made him more determined to finish the war against the Jews. So, at the beginning of the spring, he led his army out from Caesarea and overran all Judea and Idumea and wasted it. Bringing back his army, he led them through Samaria to Jericho. When the inhabitants fled to the mountain country opposite Jerusalem, he pursued them and drove them from the hills. He attacked the citadels at Jericho and other places and surrounded the Jews on every side. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 4. c. 8. s. 1-4. (440-485) 3:285-301} 4073b AM, 4783 JP, 70 AD 6978. Jerusalem was destroyed on a Saturday. {*Dio, l. 65. (7) 8:271} This was the day the Jews observe most religiously and that year the 8th of the month of Gorpiaios (Niese: Wednesday, September 26th, Capellus: Saturday, September 8th) fell on a Saturday. The city was taken and destroyed. Titus commanded all the city and temple to be razed to its foundations and flattened, as well as being ploughed according to the custom. He spared only the west part of the wall and the three towers, Hippicus, Phasael and Mariamme. Because of their great beauty and strength, he left these to posterity, as a monument to the magnificence of that city. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 7. c. 1. s. 1. (1-4) 4:307} 4076c AM, 4786 JP, 73 AD 6995. Here Josephus ended the history of the destruction of Judea. After being captured in this war, he was made a freedman by Flavius Vespasian, the emperor, and assumed the name of Flavius from his patron. {*Josephus, Jewish War, l. 7. c. 11. s. 5. (454,455) 4:435} Revelation 10 8. Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and 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. And 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. And 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.'' Revelation 11 1. Then 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 under foot for forty-two months. 3. "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.'' 4. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5. And 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. 7. Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill 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. 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. And 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. 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 men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15. Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'' 16. And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17. saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.'' 19. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
.jpg)