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Question

What is the "little book open" in the angel's hand (Rev 10)? Who are the two witnesses who prophesy for 1260 days (Rev 11:1-14)? How does this interlude relate to Daniel's sealed and now-unsealed prophecies?

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PROPHECY

Inspired ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21. The word of the Lord came to prophets including Elijah (1KI 17:8; 21:17,28), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Jonah, Haggai, and Zechariah. Written in books (JER 45:1; 51:60). Sure fulfillment (EZK 12:22-25; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; ACT 13:27,29). Cessation of prophecy (LAM 2:9). Of apostasy (1JN 2:18; Jude 1:17,18). Extensive messianic passages quoted in the NT. Relevant to Rev 10:7 ("the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets") and Rev 10:11 ("thou must prophesy again").

WITNESS / TESTIMONY

Two witnesses necessary to establish a fact: NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6; 19:15; MAT 18:16; JHN 8:17; 2CO 13:1; 1TI 5:19; HEB 10:28. Required to throw the first stone (DEU 13:9; 17:5-7; ACT 7:58). Figurative: Of instruction in righteousness REV 11:3. Religious testimony exemplified throughout OT/NT: ISA 43:10; 44:8; MAT 5:15; 10:32; ACT 1:8; REV 12:11. The two-witness legal principle undergirds Rev 11:3 — God provides the minimum legal number to establish truth.

TEMPLE

Solomon's Temple, Second Temple, Herod's Temple extensively catalogued. Key figurative uses: Of the body of Jesus (MAT 26:61; JHN 2:19), of God's indwelling (1CO 3:16,17; 2CO 6:16), of the ekklesia (EPH 2:21; 2TH 2:4; REV 3:12), and specifically "of the kingdom of Christ" (REV 11; 14:15,17). Ezekiel's temple vision (EZK 37:26,28; 40-48) includes measuring. The naos (inner sanctuary) vs. hieron (temple complex) distinction is critical for Rev 11:1-2.

SEAL

Documents sealed with: covenants (NEH 9:38; ISA 8:16), decrees (EST 8:8; DAN 6:9), deeds (JER 32:10). Figurative of secrecy: DAN 12:9; REV 5:1. Figurative of divine approval: JHN 6:27; ROM 15:28; 2CO 1:22; EPH 1:13; 4:30; REV 7:3,4. The sealed→unsealed arc (Dan 8:26 + 12:4,9 → Rev 5:1-9 → Rev 10:2,8 → Rev 22:10) is the primary structural connection for this study.

ELIJAH

The Tishbite. Key episodes: Sustained miraculously during drought (1KI 17:1-7), widow of Zarephath (1KI 17:8-16), challenges Baal prophets (1KI 18), Jezebel flight (1KI 19). Miracles: Fire from heaven consuming sacrifice (1KI 18:36-38) and soldiers (2KI 1:10-12), drought and rain (1KI 18:41-45; JAS 5:17,18). Translated (2KI 2:11). Appeared at Transfiguration (MAT 17:3; LUK 9:30). Antitype of John the Baptist (MAT 11:14; 17:10-12; LUK 1:17). Rev 11:5-6 witness powers = Elijah: fire from mouth, shut heaven 3.5 years.

MOSES

Levite, son of Amram. Commissioned to deliver Israel (EXO 3:10-22). Brings plagues on Egypt (EXO 7-12). Plagues include water to blood (EXO 7:17-20) — directly paralleled in Rev 11:6. A type of the Messiah (DEU 18:15-18; ACT 3:22; 7:37). Appeared at Transfiguration with Elijah (MAT 17:3). Rev 11:5-6 witness powers = Moses: water to blood, smite earth with plagues.

OLIVE

Symbolical: ZEC 4:2-12 (two olive trees flanking lampstand) and REV 11:4 (two olive trees = two witnesses). Figurative: wild olive = Gentiles, cultivated = Jews (ROM 11:17-21,24). Olive oil for tabernacle illumination (EXO 39:37; LEV 24:2; ZEC 4:12). The olive tree theology connects to the Spirit's supply — "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit" (ZEC 4:6).

JERUSALEM

Called Holy City (NEH 11:1,18; MAT 4:5). The holy city trodden down: Rev 11:2 ("the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months") parallels LUK 21:24 ("Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled"). Measurement in Ezekiel's vision (EZK 45:6; 48:31-34). Destruction foretold by Jesus (MAT 23:37,38; 24:15; LUK 19:41-44; 21:20-24). New Jerusalem (REV 21:2,10-27).

  • SACKCLOTH — Rev 11:3 witnesses clothed in sackcloth (mourning/penitence garb). Associated with grief, repentance, and prophetic lamentation (2SA 3:31; ISA 22:12; JON 3:5-6; MAT 11:21). The witnesses prophesy in an attitude of mourning — their message is delivered in distress, not triumph.
  • CANDLESTICK/LAMPSTAND — Rev 11:4 witnesses = two lampstands; Rev 1:20 explicitly defines lampstands = churches. The golden lampstand (menorah) in the tabernacle (EXO 25:31-37) was the source of light in the Holy Place. ZEC 4:2 describes the lampstand with seven lamps fed by olive oil from the two olive trees — the Spirit fueling the light.
  • ABYSS/BOTTOMLESS PIT — Rev 11:7 beast from the abyss; connects to Rev 9:1-11 fifth trumpet (locust army from abyss) and Rev 17:8 (same beast). The abyss is a prison for demonic forces (LUK 8:31). The beast's abyss origin marks it as a satanic instrument.
  • MYSTERY — Rev 10:7 "mystery of God should be finished"; connects to Eph 3:1-6 (mystery of gospel to Gentiles), Col 1:26-27 (mystery hidden but now revealed), and 1Co 15:51 (mystery of the resurrection/transformation). Paul uses mysterion (G3466) 21 times.
  • FIRE — Rev 11:5 fire from witnesses' mouths devours enemies. Connects to Jer 5:14 ("I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them"), 2KI 1:10 (Elijah's fire from heaven), and Jer 23:29 ("Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD").
  • EARTHQUAKE — Rev 11:13 great earthquake kills 7000, destroys a tenth of the city. Earthquakes mark divine theophanies and judgments throughout Revelation: 6:12, 8:5, 11:13, 11:19, 16:18. This is the fourth in the escalating earthquake pattern.
  • SODOM AND EGYPT — Rev 11:8 "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt." Sodom = sexual immorality, pride, and divine overthrow (Gen 19; Isa 1:9-10; Ezek 16:49-50). Egypt = oppression, slavery, and opposition to God's people (Exo 1-15). The dual identification suggests a power combining both moral corruption and political oppression of God's people.