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Verse
7. Then
in verse 7 we are told that the beast who comes out of the abyss will be allowed
to kill them. This beast is the Antichrist (Rev.13)
who is empowered by the angel who descends from heaven and is the angel over
the abyss (Rev. 9:1,11). The Antichrist
does not become violent until the second half of the Tribulation. This implies
that the two witnesses die in the last half of the Tribulation.
Verse 15-18. When we come to v. 15-18, we
discover that we are at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus will return and
defeat the armies of the Antichrist. Jesus will completely deny any freedom to
the Antichrist and the world forces. Jesus will destroy anyone who comes to fight
Him.
Conclusion: Maybe
the most significant fact is that the expressions 1,260 days, 42
months, and 3.5 years as well as "times, time, and half a time" are
only used in Revelation for the last half of the Tribulation. It
is also important to notice that the only reference to the first
part of the tribulation is the first seal (Rev. 6:1-2). The rest
of Revelation is the last half. The first part of the Tribulation
is all peace! The study in Daniel
9:27 may be helpful. What occurs in the second half is anything
but peace. Then Jesus comes and establishes real peace. Do you think
that Jesus likes peace? Do you think that Jesus loves righteousness?
The answer is yes, and He loves His godly ones.
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