Does Easter appear in the book of Revelation?
The answer to this question is definitely yes! Revelation 11 tells the story of Easter.
Who are the Two Witnesses?
Revelation 11 relates the story of two good witnesses, John the Baptist and Jesus. Beginning in Revelation 11:3. John the Apostle tells about two martyrs (Witness and Martyr derive from the same word in Greek) who minister and prophesy for 1,260 days (42 months or three and a half years). God protects these two Ministers from those who want to harm them for the length of their ministry; then they become martyrs.
The two witnesses resemble Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah the Prophet. The New Testament tells us that John the Baptist dressed camel’s hair and wore a leather belt like Elijah. Jesus said John the Baptist is Elijah is the Elijah who was to come. (Mt 11:14)
Jesus bears many similarities to Moses. The Teacher gives the Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes) just as Moses gave the Ten Commandments and recited the Law from Mount Sinai. The Savior has the power to control the water and calms storms. He also heals the sick and raises the dead.
How long was Jesus’s ministry?
Jesus’s ministry began at the Jordan River when John the Baptist baptized him. From heaven, a dove emerged, and a voice declared, “Here is my cherished Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17) After Jesus’ time of trial he began to minister and teach in Galilee.
During Jesus’ ministry, he celebrated three Passovers with his disciples. (This relates to my book, Spring: Connecting with God). The first Passover was in Jerusalem; the second took place at the Sea of Galilee. The third Passover was the Last Supper, celebrated by Jesus in the upper room before his arrest in the garden and crucifixion.
Can you quote the story of Easter from Revelation?
”Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.” Rv 11:7-11
Can you explain Revelation 11 in Easter-like terms?
When Jesus knew his time had come, he led his disciples to Jerusalem. The Messiah rode into the city on the day we call Palm Sunday. Then he taught for about a week. On Passover, he celebrated the Seder with his disciples, then went into the garden called Gethsemane to pray.
While Jesus was praying, the Temple Guard came and arrested him. This police force worked for High Priest Caiaphas (the second Beast of Revelation 13). Jesus stood for trial before Pontius Pilate, Rome’s representative, the empire that appears as the Dragon in Revelation 12-13. Pontius Pilate sends the “King of the Jews” to Herod Antipas, the Beast, to be tried.
Jesus receives the sentence of death by crucifixion. Roman soldiers nail him to the cross, where he hangs until dead. After his death, two believers named Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea go to Pontius Pilate to claim the abandoned body so the teacher can receive a quick burial. Jesus is in the tomb for three and a half days before his resurrection from the dead. All four Gospels and the book of Revelation relate this true story.
I heard the two witnesses represent the distant future. Is that true?
Many people teach that the two witnesses prophecy after the Rapture. Read Revelation 11 in the Bible and see if the passage tells about Jesus’ ministry and Easter or the Rapture that occurs in the distant future. The story makes more sense to me when it connects with an actual Bible passage rather than a fictional story about the distant future.
I wrote a book, “John’s Apocalypse: A Jewish Idea,” to combat many of the false narratives being taught in today’s church. Order a copy, read the book and supporting references, then you can understand what this passage and the entire book of Revelation are sayin
How does Revelation 11 end?
John writes about Jesus’ ascension (Rv 11:12), as he hears a voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” Both the Gospel of Matthew and Revelation tell about a severe earthquake that opens tombs, breaks rocks in half, and destroys homes.
Revelation finishes the story of Easter with a song of victory: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
