FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. The first interlude (chapter 7) came between the sixth and seventh seals. This second interlude (Rev_10:1 to Rev_11:14) comes between the sixth and seventh trumpets. There is no interlude between the sixth and seventh bowls (Revelation 16), but there is another interlude before them (Revelation 12-14).
B. This interlude, like Revelation 7, uses OT terms (tabernacle, altar, Jerusalem). However, just as the Jewish allusions in Revelation 7 refer to the NT people of God, the Church, so too, in this chapter. The allusions are drawn from Daniel 9 but they have been adapted to the Greco-Roman, first century setting.
Here is a brief quote from Alan Johnson's Commentary on Revelation, "The Jewish view suffers from its inability to relate this chapter to the context of chapter 10, to the parallelism with the seal interlude (Revelation 7), to the ministry and significance of the two witnesses, and to the further chapters in Revelation (esp. Revelation 12-13). Therefore, it is better to understand Revelation 11 as referring to the whole Christian community" (p. 104).
C. As Alan Johnson sees Revelation 11 in its relationship to Revelation 7, 10, , 12-13, George Ladd sees it as an independent literary unit related to the preservation of the Jewish people and their final salvation (cf. Mat_23:39; Luk_21:24; Rom_11:26). See his Commentary on the Revelation of John, pp. 150-151.
It is difficult to decide between these two views. I certainly feel that because of God's promises to Israel, there will be an end-time revival among natural or proselyte Israel in which many will turn to faith in Christ (cf. Zec_12:10); this is part of Paul's argument in Romans 11 (it is surely possible that the revival alluded to in Zec_12:10 occurred in the Palestinian church of the first century). However, the context of Revelation 7, 10, , 12-13 implies a universal scope both of protection to all of God's people and judgment against all unbelievers. In this context a believing Jewish emphasis or even a Jewish-versus-Gentile emphasis is out of place.
D. Will there be two end-time witnesses, or is this symbolic of an end-time witness? It is so hard to be confident in interpreting the symbols of this book. If John intended them to be literal, he would have chosen a different genre to reveal this to believers of all ages.
Did this reference to "two witnesses" have special meaning to the first century believers experiencing persecution (probably Emperor worship cults)? This cannot be answered with finality. John's choice of imagery is drawn from several sources: the Old Testament, apocalyptic literature, Greco-Roman culture and at times Near Eastern mythology (chapter 12). Did the first hearers completely and fully understand his sources and symbolism? Possibly not, not in a specific way, but they did understand the genre! They would not have forced a literal historical fulfillment for all the details.
My only fear in making this statement is how OT predictive prophecy was interpreted by the inspired NT authors! Often they saw literal fulfillment of OT details in the life of Christ. Some of these fulfillments were rabbinical word plays or type/antitype symbols. Under the Spirit's guidance (or Jesus' teaching, cf. Luk_24:13-35) the Apostles' current historical setting was viewed through OT prophetic texts. This same thing may occur for the last generation of persecuted believers. However, intervening interpreters are not able to predict which of these details through theology or hermeneutics! Modern interpreters must not (1) force their history into these apocalyptic texts nor (2) seek literal fulfillment on every detail of this highly symbolic genre. Time will tell!
E. The literary patterns and imagery of the seals and the trumpets is almost identical. Both bring human history up to the very end (cf. Rev_6:12-17; Rev_11:15-19).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. What is the purpose of this interlude?
2. Why do so many interpreters try to identify the angel in chapter 10 with Christ?
3. What is the mystery of God mentioned in Rev_10:7?
4. What was the little book that John was commanded to eat?
5. Who are the two witnesses? What was their message?
6. Does Rev_11:9 describe the city of Jerusalem or anti-God world kingdoms? Why?
7. List the Old Testament allusions found in this interlude.
