Revelation 11:13 Commentary and Bible Study

At the same time that the two witnesses are raised to life, there will be a great earthquake. Earthquakes are symbols of the wrath of God. This earthquake strikes the city, which we must understand as Jerusalem, the city already mentioned twice in this chapter. But Jerusalem is itself treated as a symbol. The temple of God, which stands for the church, is seen as entirely within the bounds of Jerusalem. Since the church is treated figuratively, Jerusalem which contains it must also be treated figuratively. It is Sodom and Egypt. It stands for the kingdom of this world organised to oppose the people of God. Once it was the holy city, but Satan has made an onslaught on true religion. He has endeavoured to corrupt the faith and to take over true worship and substitute a counterfeit. It is this ungodly world and the false religion that belongs to it that are struck by this earthquake. A tenth of Satan’s kingdom will fall. It is a perfect number, a figurative number, not a literal number. A tenth of antichrist’s power will be gone. Seven thousand inhabitants of the city will fall. They have just witnessed the ascent of the witnesses to heaven. They know that complete destruction must follow. This verse describes events that will take place at the time of or just prior to the end of the world. The seventh trumpet is about to be sounded. With its sounding, final judgment will come. But before that takes place the rebellious will be brought to the dreadful realisation that they have been opposing the God of heaven. They will be forced to give glory to God. There will be no stubborn atheists in that day. Even the most intransigent will acknowledge God.Many, many are slain, but not all. There is a remnant at the end of verse 13 who are terrified, and they give glory to the God of heaven. That doesn’t mean they are saved; it’s too late perhaps now; judgement has come. But they fall on their knees in terror for mercy. It is the response of those who grasp with horror what they have done. Fear wrings from them this acknowledgment of God’s glory, but they can do nothing to prevent his further judgments. The three woes were announced in Revelation 8:13 and correspond to the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets. Two are past; one more remains. The last of these three woes will be final and will bring an end to all rebellion against God. This final woe marks the end of the world. It is said to be coming quickly. Now the focus is on the wonderful events of the return of Christ and his judgement.