The Strand Study Bible

Written From the Island of Patmos REVELATION opening of the fourth seal. Here a third of the remaining three-fourths will also die. Which means: Half the world’s population is going to die during the last 3½ years of the Tribulation Period. 9:16 “ Two hundred thousand thousand ” is an inaccurate translation of the Greek. This expression ( two hundred thousand thousand ) comes from three Greek words: “δυο µυριαδες µυριαδων” (duo muriades muriadon), and means “ twice myriad of myriad ” ( twice countless ). The King James translators used the expression “ two hundred thousand thousand ” to describe an innumerable host, not a specific number ( Heb 12:22 , Acts 19:19 & 21:20 , Jude 14b and Rev 5:11 ). NOTE - According to The Ryrie Study Bible , this innumerable cavalry may be human beings or demons or demon-possessed humans. 1 It appears that the vehicles (horses) upon which the riders ride (not the riders) have the power to destroy (vs 17-19). 9:20,21 Henry M. Morris in The Revelation Record notes: 2159 NOTE – These verses answer the question as to whether there will be "repentance" in Hell. There will not (Rev 16:8-11). Sadly, Hell will be full of people shaking their fists at God. Why? Because there are no humble people in Hell. C.S. Lewis in The Great Divorce notes: The gates of hell are locked from the inside. 3 Meaning: People lock themselves within prisons that they themselves create via their own pride. 10:1 a There are two schools of thought concerning this angel . One school of thought believes that this strong angel was simply “another” ( D λλον) one of the many angels that inhabit Heaven (Rev 5:2). J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible (I Cor. - Rev.) notes: There is ample evidence to show that this angel is only a mighty angel. Christ does not appear in Revelation as an angel. It is true in the Old Testament the preincarnate Christ was seen as the Angel of the Lord. 4 The other school of thought believes that this mighty angel is CHRIST , for He veils His glory in a cloud because it is too magnificent for humans to behold (Rev 1:13-16 and Ezek 1). C. Anderson Scott in The New Century Bible Revelation notes: 10:1 b Rainbows are God’s way of reminding us that He is a God of his Word ( Gen 9:13 ). 10:6 This phrase ( time no longer ) is an interesting play-on-words. It sounds as if there is coming a time when time will no longer exist. And while that is true (Isa 25:8; Rev 21:1-5), according to the context of the verse it has nothing to do with the “ceasing of time,” but rather points to the promise that there will be “no more delay” in the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Still, it is an interesting play-on-words which has great and significant meaning and will actually occur some time in the near future. 11:3a There are two schools of thought concerning who these “ two witnesses ” might be. One school of thought believes that these two witnesses are Elijah and Moses because of the nature of the miracles performed (vs 6), and because both men appeared together in the Transfiguration of Christ (Mt 17:1-3). Henry Jacobsen in The War We Can’t Lose notes: These witnesses are linked with Old Testament prophecy (v. 4; cf. Zech. 4:14). Their power to halt rainfall and turn waters to blood suggests they were Elijah and Moses. 6 The other school of thought believes that these two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch because neither man had experienced a physical death (Gen 5:24 and II Ki 2:11 ), and since every man must die at least once (Heb 9:27), it seems only natural that Elijah (who is certain to be one of the two witnesses – Mal 4:5-6) and Enoch (Moses wasn’t even allowed into the Promised Land – Num 20:12 and Deut 3:27 & 34:4) would be the two witnesses that would eventually die at the hands of the Antichrist (Rev 11:7). C. Anderson Scott in The New Century Bible Revelation notes: The idea of the two witnesses is probably connected with the passage in Zechariah, to which there is distinct allusion lower down (chap. iv): ‘Then said he, These are the two anointed ones (R.V. ‘sons of oil’) that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.’ By one of them is doubtless meant Elijah; the other was by most commentators of the early church identified with Enoch, but by some mediaeval ones with Moses. 5 11:3b These two witnesses (whoever they are) appear to preach ( they shall prophesy ) during the first half of the Seven-Year Tribulation Period. J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible (I Cor. - Rev.) notes: The first half seems to fit the text more accurately because they testify until the Beast appears, and then they are martyred. 4 It is strongly maintained by some (e.g. Dr. Milligan) that in this angel we are to recognize the person of Christ himself. The arguments for this view are chiefly derived from the description, which follows, of the cloud and the rainbow, and the feet ‘as pillars of fire.’ 5 The second woe is the sixth trumpet. Each time the trumpet sounds, the judgment that follows is more severe than the previous one. Long ago Isaiah had prophesied that “when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). No doubt, therefore, each succeeding judgment will uncover a few reluctant “learners,” but those that remain unconverted are still more stubborn and thus each visitation must increase in severity. 2

1 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible . Chicago, IL,: Moody Press. 1978. Print. 2 Morris, Henry M. The Revelation Record , Carol Stream, ILL, Tyndale, 1983. Print. 3 Lewis, C.S. The Great Divorce, Great Britian: G. Bles, HarperCollins Publishers. 1946. Print. 4 McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible , Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson. 1983. Print. 5 S cott, C. Anderson. The New Century Bible Revelation , New York, NY, Oxford University Press. Print. 6 Jacobsen, Henry. The War We Can’t Lose , USA, Victor Books, 1972. Print.