Revelation 11:1-14
This chapter takes place still in the first 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist has allowed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The true character of the Antichrist has not yet been revealed; he will soon turn on the Jewish people. John is given instructions to go and measure the temple, the altar and count the worshipers there. He was not to count the Gentiles who will trample the holy city for 42 months (this is the second 3/12 years of the Tribulation.)
We are introduced to two witnesses who will prophesy for 1260 days (nearly 3 /12 years in the first half of the Tribulation). You can read about the powers God gives these two men in vv. 5-6. They cannot be killed until they have finished their testimony, and then God allows the "beast" or Antichrist to kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days. The whole world will see this and will gloat and celebrate. They had not believed the testimony of the two witnesses and so had hated them. You can imagine that in years past people could not imagine how the whole world could look on such a scene, but today with satellite and internet images, we can easily see how it will happen.
Their celebration soon turns to terror when after 3 1/2 days, God brings the two witnesses back to life, they stand up, and God calls them up to heaven with a loud voice! "And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on." v. 12 "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. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon." vv. 13-14
Psalm 47
Wow! This is a psalm that encourages worship of our great God with clapping, shouting, and singing! I'm sure I can clap and sing, but frankly I'm not too comfortable with shouting! But apparently it's OK! v. 5 "How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!" v. 2
"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise." vv. 6-7
Musical recording of Psalm 47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCOGZVfzdxc
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