THE SIXTH TRUMPET (Part 3) continued

Revelation Chapter 11

VERSE 7 “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”

This verse begins a section dealing with the treatment of the Bible near the Time of the End. Many theories have been expounded as to the meaning of the Verses 7 through 12. The one explanation which seems easiest to document and which seems best to fit the stipulations of these verses we offer here.

WHEN THEY FINISH THEIR TESTIMONY:

This verse begins (NAS): “And when they have finished their testimony…” This translation and most others, seem to miss the mark of the Greek text’s meaning and leads to erroneous interpretations. The Greek verb for “finished” is in the SUBJUNCTIVE. This seemingly minor point of grammar makes a great deal of difference. The translation (a very literal one) given in the CONCORDANT version is very good and very helpful.

It reads: “And whenever they should-be-finishing the witness of them…” The thought in English is that this verse takes place NOT AFTER the 1260 years, but AS THEY ARE FINISHING. The fulfillment, therefore, should NOT be sought after 1799 or even AT 1799, but as the French Revolution is in progress leading UP TO 1799. This is enhanced by Verse 13 which says IN THAT HOUR there was a great earthquake.

In WHAT hour?

The hour (or time) during which the Bible is undergoing the stated experiences. The thought is also enhanced by Verse 12 which points out the exaltation of the Scriptures “in a cloud” — that is, DURING the trouble (cloud) of the French Revolution.

These evidences lead us to the conclusion that Uriah Smith’s explanation (presented at the end of this study on the Sixth Trumpet) is the most viable explanation extant. Smith quotes extensively from THE MIDNIGHT CRY by George Storrs — one of the more important books of the Adventist movement. His remarks will form the basis for the interpretation of the next few verses.

THE BEAST THAT ASCENDS OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT WILL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM, OVERCOME THEM, AND KILL THEM:

When the Bible is coming to the end of its sackcloth testimony period, a beast that comes out of the abyss will (1) make war with it, (2) overcome it, and (3) kill it. The ABYSS is a condition of powerlessness. Therefore, this “beast” is something which has not had power for some time.

It seems to be the REPUBLICAN form of government which was now established in France but which had not been in Europe since the days of the Roman Republic of antiquity. The French Republic MAKES WAR on the Two Witnesses; it OVERCOMES them — it abolishes as much of the old Scriptural-based practices in society as possible. The Sabbath is gone; the 10th day replaces it; etc., (See Smith’s details). And it KILLS them — they are outlawed.

VERSE 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.”

THEIR DEAD BODIES (their remains — the physical pages of Holy Writ) lie in the street. We today have visual experiences in our cities of the meaning of this symbol. When we see the homeless lie in the streets, we know that we see rejection, powerlessness, hopelessness, lives that aren’t being lived. Thus were the two witnesses in the street “OF THE GREAT CITY”. The reference seems certainly to Babylon — the realm of the Roman Church. France was part of that Roman Church City. France had been Roman Catholic and very anti-Protestant.

We now have more equal signs. The Great City (Babylon) is also “spiritually” (i.e., typically) called Sodom and Egypt. She was typed by Sodom because of her characteristics (Ezek. 16:49.) Egypt is typical of the Western, nominal Christian world — a place of worldly wisdom without God. The verse concludes that this is where “THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.” Jesus, of course, was crucified in Jerusalem. In one sense the Roman Church is an apostate new Jerusalem. But the meaning seems better that Romanism crucified Jesus on a daily basis, illegitimately, by the sacrifice of the mass — the very sacrifice which Luther’s doctrine of Justification by Faith makes null and void.

VERSE 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.”

This verse and Verse 10 CONTRAST the reactions of two groups of people to this development of the outlawing of the Bible and religion in France. In this verse, the sea class — those without strong ties to this world — those who have some sympathy for and yearning for God, look at the fallen Bible and will not permit it to be forgotten — to be laid in a tomb. This they do for 3 ½ days (3 ½ years.)

The French abolition of the Bible was from the fall of A.D.1793 until the spring of A.D. 1797 – 3 ½ years.

VERSE 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.”

In this verse, on the other hand, we have those who hate the Bible because of its restrictions and condemnations of their ways of life. These are those with ROOTS in the current order of things — those who dwell on the earth. They rejoice. They DID!

The partying in France over the put-down of religion and the exaltation of the goddess of “reason” were elaborate, noisy, and ecstatic. The gifts they gave to one another were monuments to the “new order.” Perhaps the most visible gift was the giving to the people Notre Dame Cathedral renamed the Temple of Reason. It is not easy to overstate the ecstasy of the anti-religionists during the Revolution. They were so very pleased to have done away with the ball and chain of religion.

Continued with next post.