Hear

God

 Speaks

Witnesses killed

Witnesses Resurrected

 Introduction to Chapter  11

Chapter 11 is a continuation from the scene in the 10^th chapter.   After John had eaten the small scroll, (Gr. bibliaridion), John was told he must prophesy again before people, nations, languages and kings. 

In the 11^th chapter, John brought to Jerusalem, to the Temple mount area writes about events taking place in Jerusalem. John is allowing the reader to understand how the events in Jerusalem have played a role in the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation. 

 The time of the events in the 11^th chapter, take place at the Midpoint of the tribulation following the 6^th trumpet prior to the 7^th trumpet. Chapters 10 thru 13 of Revelation reveals the transition from the first half to the second half of the 7-year Tribulation. This transition, known as the Midpoint, sets in motion the consummation of God’s judgment on the earth.

The 11^th chapter has two parts the first 14 verses take place in the city of Jerusalem and involve two individuals called “Witnesses”.  These two individuals are the Lord’s vocal spokesman for the judgments falling on the earth during the first 3 ½ years or 1260 days.  Their murder allows the second half of the 7-year tribulation to proceed.

The second half of the tribulation begins with the seventh and final trumpet judgment covered in Revelation 11:15-19.  In the seventh trumpet, are the Seven Bowl Judgments poured out on the Earth.  The judgments conclude with the return of Christ and the armies of heaven in the Second Coming.

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The Rebuilt Temple

  Revelation 11:1-2

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

2 "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

I was… Following the scene from the 10^th chapter John is now taken to Jerusalem, to the Temple mount area where he is given a reed that is to be used as a measuring rod. John in the spiritual realms is bearing witness to future events taking place on earth during the Midpoint.

Given a reed… Reeds grow in the Jordan River as high as 20 feet and were used as measuring rods because they were straight and firm. 

The angel stood… This “Mighty angel” had the book in his hand. The angel is still with John while he is at the Temple site.

Rise and measure …The purpose of the rod is to measure the Temple, Altar and those who worship there. This measuring is taking place in the spiritual realm and in the future. The Temple location has been measured before in the spiritual realm by the angel in Ezekiel 40:1-4

The Temple of God…The mention of the Temple is very significant.  Titus originally destroyed the Temple in 70 AD and the 3rd most holy spot to Islam, the “Dome of the Rock”, now occupies its location. John’s, measuring the Temple here in chapter 11, is cause for debate.  Those who understand the book of Revelation from a “Preterist^[1]” view (Latin for past) interprets the Temple John is measuring as Herod’s Temple.  The one destroyed by Titus in 70 AD.  For the Preterist, view to be correct John would have had to written the book of Revelation before 70 AD.  However, John imprisonment on Patmos took place closer to 90 AD, during the persecution of Domition.

A third Temple^[2], before the return of Jesus is documented in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the Old Testament:

·                     The 70 weeks of Daniel (Dan 9:24-27) foretell the killing of the “Messiah” following his death the Temple was destroyed (Dan 9:26). But in the next verse we told of a 7-year agreement involving sacrifice and a future temple.  By stopping the sacrifice, the agreement is broken and an image is set up which is the “Abomination of desolation”. (Dan 9:27) 

·                     Daniel 12 calls this period unequalled in the history of humanity (Dan 12:1). This period of unequalled history involves the stopping of Temple sacrifice (Dan 12:9).

·                     Ezekiel 40-43 clearly demonstrates a Temple on the Temple mount site will exist during the Millennium reign of the Messiah, the “Glory of the Lord”.

In the New Testament:

·         Jesus refers to both Daniel and the Temple as part of the End-times scenario.

Matthew 24:15,21

¹⁵“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’^£ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ²¹For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

1.       The Holy place is the Temple location

2.       The “Abomination of desolation” referred to by Daniel refers to the desecration of the Temple by the stopping of the sacrifice and placing an image on the mount.

(Daniel 8:9-17, 9:27, 11:31, 12;11)

3.       The time referred to by Jesus is unique in all of history unparallel in horror since the beginning of the world.  This corresponds to Daniel 12:1

·         In 2^nd Thessalonians 2:4 we are informed that the “Man of lawlessness”, the Antichrist, will set himself up in God’s Temple and proclaim himself to be God.  The time involved is the “Day of the Lord” or the time before the “Glorious appearing” of Christ.

The Altar…The location of the Altar was outside the Temple building where sacrifice would be preformed.

Those who worship there… The worshipers would be Jews who are seeking the face of the Lord prior to “Abomination of Desolation” which is about to take place.

Leave out the court… The court outside the Temple is to not be measured by John.  There were several courts surrounding the Temple in the time of Christ. The courts allowed access by different groups to the Temple area.  The Temple covered the top of Mt. Moriah where the Holy of Holies is located at the top of the mount.

Given to the Gentiles…. The position of Israel and the covenant is in view here.  Israel is restored to her covenant relationship with God.

They will tread… (Gr. Pateo: to trample under foot)

The angel is telling John of a coming future event at the Midpoint of the 7-year tribulation.  The coming event is treading of the Temple and Jerusalem by the armies of the Beast, the coming world leader. 

Jerusalem is attacked by the Gentile nations before the Lord’s return

Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst 2.For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.                 Zech 14:1-2

 Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

 Jeremiah 30:7

 ¹⁶“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ²¹For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:16,21

 Forty-two months: 12 month x 3.5 years= 42 months, 3.5 years x 360days/year =1260 days. This period of time is repeated time and again throughout the Bible mainly in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Another way this 3.5-year period is described is:  time, times and ½ time and 1260 days.

This time is significant because it involves time period known as Daniel’s 70^th week, the 7-year period of tribulation before the return of Christ.  The 7 years is divided into two 3.5 years halves, each 1260 days, or 42 months long.   By examining the context of the 3.5-year periods mentioned we could learn details about the events taking place in the time period.

The parts of the Daniels 70^th week can be divided as follows:

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The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:3-6 

3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

I will give power… Is the “Mighty angel” speaking first person or as Christ’s representative?   If the angel is speaking first person then the angel of Revelation 10 is clearly Christ. The power of the two witnesses is from God. Moses & Aaron were God’s representatives before Pharaoh; they bore God’s power in before Egypt. Elijah represented  God’s power before Israel on Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18), what they spoke in the name of the Lord happened.   The two spies were sent by Joshua, two spy the land, they spoke for Joshua to Rahab.

My two witnesses Who are these two individuals?  Those who view Revelations as a symbolic book have viewed them as symbols of the Old Testament and New Testament or the Church and Israel.  However,  if Revelation is taken literally, they are two distinct individuals.

The book of Malachi clearly indicates who one of these individuals will be

⁵Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

Malachi 4:5

The great and dreadful “Day of the Lord” is Daniel’s 70^th week. The time is unique,  period in time in which God thru Israel will judge the Earth.  Israel is told before the great and dreadful day,  Elijah will come to restore the people.  Elijah never died but was taken up to heaven in 2 Kings 2:11.  So before the “Great and dreadful day of the Lord” Elijah would be sent back.

·         Elijah along with Moses appeared on the mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-3

·         John the Baptist came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” Luke 1:17 to prepare people for Christ.

·         Elijah will have the same ministry as John the Baptist, to prepare Israel to accept their Messiah.

·         During the Jewish Passover, there are five cups of wine; one cup is left for the coming of Elijah who comes before the Messiah.

The other Witness is either Moses or Enoch.

Some believe Moses for the following reasons:

1.       Moses appeared along with Elijah when Jesus was transfigured.

2.       The death of Moses was also mysterious (Jude 8).

3.       The judgments on Earth during the tribulation period parallel the plagues on Egypt.

Others believe Enoch was the other Witnesses for the following reasons:

1.       Enoch along with Elijah was the only other person to not die prior to the rapture (Genesis 24:23, Heb 11:5)

2.       Enoch represented God’s judgment on the days before the flood.

they will prophesy (Gr. propheôteuoô: to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration,)  The two witnesses will speak for the Lord during their time of ministry.

One thousand two hundred and sixty days… 1260 days or 3.5 years, the two witnesses will speak for the Lord for the first half of the seven-year period. During this time they are clothed in sackcloth, (Gr. Sakkous) a course material used as a sack material.  Sackcloth was a sign of mourning before God. The people of Nineveh put on sackcloth and mourned before the Lord after the preaching of Elijah (Jonah 3:5-6)

Two olive trees… This is a reference to Zechariah chapter 4, where the “Two olive trees” are described as “two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth”. In other words these are special and unique individuals who are brought to the Earth from Heaven to witnesses for Christ. They are either Enoch and Elijah or Moses and Elijah.  They will “Witness” to the Earth about the Messiah, Christ.

If anyone wants to harm them… During the 1260 days of their ministry, the “Two witnesses” will have supernatural protection.  Similar to protection Moses had when he was before Pharaoh when the plagues were called down on Egypt in spite of the plagues Pharaoh was prevented from harming Moses.  Elijah also was able to prevent his capture because he was able to call fire down on any who would attack him. (2 Kings 1:3-13). In spite of being in sackcloth for the 3.5-year period and seeming ridiculous to a modern world their words will have the power of God’s word.  Because of their calling of judgments on the Earth these “Witnesses” will become the focus of world attention.

These have power… During the period of Elijah ministry he prayed and rain stopped for 3.5 years. (James 5:16), this will be repeated during the 1^st half of the tribulation period.  Moses in his time called the ten plagues down on Egypt. (gr. .. pleôgeô :a stroke, wound or public calamity)

The source of the Judgments that fall on the earth during the first 3.5 years will proceed from Jerusalem.

 As often as they desire… The judgments during the years will seem to be at the whim of the “Witnesses”.  This will be the cause of their intense hatred throughout the Earth, the earth will view them as the cause of these calamities.  Intense pressure will grow on the Antichrist to deal with these two men living in Israel.

 Witnesses Killed

Revelation 11:7-10

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.

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.

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.

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.

When they finish their testimony…The time of their witnesses is 1260 days or 3.5 years after that there time, their mission is complete.  The will be the reason many on the earth find Christ.  They openly proclaim him with their judgments.  This will be a spiritual battle for the souls of men.

The beast that ascends…Satan at the end of 7 years is thrown into the bottomless pit, but and at the end of the Millennium is released to tempt the nations on final time. (Rev 20:1,7)

Kill them… Satan will incarnate the Antichrist after Satan is cast out of Heaven.  Satan in the body of Antichrist will kill the “Two witnesses” at the “Midpoint” of the 7-year period.

Their dead bodies…Like Christ their death will be public for all Jerusalem and the world to see. They will be God’s  “Passion play” played out on the world stage.

The great city... The city of Jerusalem, is spiritually compared to Sodom and Egypt both locations of idolatry. Jerusalem at this point still has not turned to their Messiah.

Then those from… People from all over the Earth

Will see their dead bodies… Nearly 2000 years ago the idea of everybody from all over the Earth seeing the same event would be impossible.  Today with satellite TV, internet and radio,  dramas of the world unfold daily.  Events in Jerusalem, daily find their way into homes, causing  everybody to form an opinion on the issues of the Jewish state of Israel.

Three-and-a-half days…For 3.5 days the world will have time to make sure they are dead. The earth will be celebrating and savoring their death because through them the judgments from Heaven fell on earth.  Their death and ministry is a Passion play, of the events in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  The are living witnesses to Jesus Christ, they are a demonstration of God’s love to the world.

Those who dwell on the earth… Half the earth population is dead and the “Witnesses” are the ones blamed for the earth’s problems.  Their death is a cause of worldwide celebration. When confronted with sin people will often become angry with the light bearer then take responsibility.  (John 3:20-21)

These two prophets tormented… Because they were the spokesmen for God’s wrath through them people were forced to choose or reject Christ. 

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Two Witnesses Resurrected

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Revelation 11:11-14

After three-and-a-half days… Resurrected after 3.5 days, in full view of the whole earth, those on Earth will have heard and understood who these two individuals are. This is part of the pause between the 6^th and 7^th Trumpet.  The earth is given another witness of Jesus as these two men are raptured “Caught up” like saints before the tribulation.

They heard a loud voice… The same voice that called Lazarus from the grave and the same voice that opened the graves of saints now calls the “Two witnesses” home.

 Their enemies saw them…Their resurrection was a public witness, another opportunity for salvation to the world.

Same hour…Following their rapture those living in Jerusalem will be given further evidence to validate the ministry of the Witnesses.  A great earthquake will destroy 10% of Jerusalem following their rapture.

Seven thousand people… A specific number will die in the earthquake following the rapture of the Witnesses. Those who die very well could be those involved in the death of the two witnesses. The reason for the detail of the number is to demonstrate to the reader in the day of the event the truthfulness of the book he is reading. Those with a copy of the book of Revelation will have a survival handbook and know what to do next.  

The Third and Final Woe

The seventh trumpet blast is a continuation of the pause from the sixth trumpet blast. The 6^th trumpet released the 200 million demonic horsemen headed by the four angels who were chained at the Euphrates River resulting in the death of 1/3 of the earth remaining population. At the end of the 6^th trumpet we have the intervening scene of Revelation 10-11. The mighty angel ascending down to earth and giving John a little scroll, John then informs us what is happening in Jerusalem during the first 3 ½ years with the Temple and the two witnesses.

The ministry of the “Two witnesses” lasted for 1260 day and ends with their resurrection and rapture, followed by an earthquake.  The second half of Daniel’s 70^th week begins with the sounding of the 7^th trumpet. The 7^th Trumpet is the final and “Third woe”, during the 7^th Trumpet the 7 “Bowl” judgments are poured on the earth.  Jesus and the armies of heaven enter the earth at the end of the 7^th trumpet.

Second woe…The second woe results in the death of 1/3 of the Earth population. (Rev 9:12). The first woe was the release of the demon locusts from the bottomless pit that tormented men for six months. (Rev 9:1)

Third woe…The “Third woe” proceeds from the blowing of the 7^th trumpet. Revelation chapters 12,13 and 14 are parenthetical and to Revelation 15 which is the beginning of the of the 7 “Bowl” judgments concluding with the return of Christ.

 The Seventh Trumpet
 

Revelation 11:15-18

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

Seventh angel sounded… The seventh angel who has not yet blown his trumpet signals the collapse of the “Kingdom’s of this world” much in the same way the when the 7 priests blew the 7 trumpets on the 7^th day after going 7 times around the city of Jericho.

Loud voices…. Following the beginning of the 7^th trumpet loud (gr. megas; large, loud, mighty) voices were heard in heaven.  Following the 7^th trumpet blast on the 7^th day, all of Israel was instructed to shout and the walls of Jericho would fall down.

Saying… Satan offered Jesus the “Kingdoms of the world” if Jesus would just fall down and worship him. (Luke 4:5-7) Satan said they were “Delivered” to him to give to whomever he wishes.  With the blowing of the 7^th trumpet a Heavenly transition is taking place. In Revelation 12:7 we have additional details of what is happening at this “Midpoint transition”, Michael and the other angels battle Satan and his angels, Satan and his fellows are cast to Earth from Heaven.  Satan and his fellow angels are about to be judged.   With Satan’s judgment, his dominion is lost and the power to rule the kingdoms is transferred to Messiah. (Psalm 2)

                                       Comparison of Joshua & Revelation

 Twenty-four elders…. Elders (Gr. presbuteros 1. elder, of age 1a) the elder of two people) The 24 elders are representatives of the Israel and the church.   The Greek word “Presbuteros” signifies seniority based on age.  All the angels were created at the same time.  So there could not be elder angels.

On their thrones… (Gr. Thronos; 1) a throne seat 1a) a chair of state having a footstool) the elders were given seats of authority before the throne of God.  The promise of “Authority” in a coming kingdom for the saints is both in the Old and New Testament.  With Satan’s loss of power authority shall soon be given to the saints.

 Duet 14:2

²For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

 Dan 7:22,27

²²until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,

Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

 Dan 12:12-13

¹²Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

¹³“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” 

 Matthew 19:28

²⁸So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 Rev 20:4

⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for ^£a thousand years. 

 Saying …. Looking forward to the completion of the Kingdom the Elders proclaim seven significant events.

1.       Because you have taken power… Satan power was removed and his position in Heaven lost.  He is about to be cast to Earth.

2.       And reigned… Christ will exercise God’s authority over the kingdoms of men.

3.       Nations were angry…The nations of the Earth will fight against God’s authority.  This is pictured in the 2^nd Psalm.

Psalm 2:1-3

  ¹Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?                                                 
     ²               The kings of the earth set themselves,                                                                                                                            And the rulers take counsel together,                                                                                                                                                   
 Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

 ³     “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

4.       Your wrath has come…The “Day of the Lord” is God’s wrath on all the continual sin of man. Armageddon will be the final showdown between mankind and God. (Rev 16:16)

5.       Time of the dead…The dead saints of the tribulation period will be rewarded for their faithfulness. The rest of the dead will be judged after the 1000-year millennium at the “Great white throne” judgment. (Rev 20:11)

6.       You should reward … Reward for faithful service is promised to believers. But three classified here.

A.      The prophets  Daniel is told (Dan 12:13) he will receive his inheritance at the end of days.  David is promised a place of honor in the coming kingdom. (Jer 30:9, Ezk 34:24,). Job looks forward to his day of resurrection when he will see God with his own eyes. (Job 19:25-27)

B.       The saints… All who are saved are saints but all will not be rewarded equally.  All will receive eternal life but many who are first in the world will be last in the kingdom.

  ²⁹And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother ^£or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:29-30

Daniel 12:3 also talks about the rewarding of the saints.  Those who turn many to righteousness will have eternal distinction.  Much in the same way we have stars in sports and entertainment their will be heavenly stars, such as Moses, Abraham, David and others we don’t know about yet.

Daniel 12:3

 ³Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness   Like the stars forever and ever. 

The parable of the “Talents” (Matthew 25:14) is talking about what is going to happen during the Millennial kingdom when the saints will be rewarded the Kingdom.  Rule over cities will given to faithful saints in the coming kingdom.  We are called “Kings and priests” in Revelation.

 Rev 5:10

¹⁰         And have made ^£us kings^£ and priests to our God;

            And ^£we shall reign on the earth.”                                                                                                         

       C. Those who fear your name…. The saints who fear God’s name will also be rewarded.  There is a continual accounting-taking place in Heaven of man’s action.  (Ezk 9:4)

7.       Should destroy… From the beginning man was given the responsibility to care for the Earth. Through war and moral decay man is seen as the reason for the earth destruction. The Earth is God’s possession and mankind was given stewardship over the Earth. Now God is about to destroy the remaining disobedient stewards.

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 The Temple in Heaven

Revelation 11:19

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

The Temple of God… God has a heavenly Temple (Rev 14:15,17, Rev 16:1) the earthly temple is a shadow of the Heavenly. (Hebrews 8:5).

The ark of his covenant… The ark was the gold covered box that rested at the center of the “Holy of Holies”.  The priests carried the “Ark of his covenant” before the battle of Jericho. Inside the Ark were the 10 commandments, a jar of manna and Aaron’s rod.  During the time of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC the Ark was hidden.  According to some traditions Jeremiah hid the Ark at Mt. Nebo before the Babylonian invasion.   The Ark in Revelation 11:19 is either the antitype or the one used during the time of Moses.  To this day there are searches for the Ark of the Covenant, its discovery would force the building of the Temple.

There were…. signs of the coming judgments to fall on the earth in the last 3.5 years. This could also be a precursor to the war in Heaven about to take place between the Angelic forces. (Rev 12:5)

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