The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 11 Series

The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 11

I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1

II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3

III. Things Which Are To Come – Rev 4-22

A. The Throne Of God – Rev 4

B. The Seven Seals Book – Rev 5

C. The First Six Seals Are Opened – Rev 6

D. The Sealing Of The Saved – Rev 7

E. The Lamb Opens The Seventh Seal – Rev 8

The First Four Trumpets Sound

1st 1/3 Vegetation

2nd 1/3 Salt Water

3rd 1/3 Fresh Water

4th Celestial lights are darkened

F. Sounding of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets – Rev 9

5th Locust – To torment men for 5 months

6th Horsemen – To kill 1/3 of mankind

G. The Little Book – Rev 10

H. The Measuring Rod – The Two Witnesses – The Seventh Trumpet Sounds – Rev 11

The Measuring Rod – Rev 11:1-2

Rev 11:1 (NASB) “Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.”

1. John will be given a measuring rod – v. 1

a. The rod is like a staff

b. He will be told to measure

(1) The temple

(2) The altar

(3) Those who in it worship

John is given a measuring rod – it is around nine foot long. Currently the temple does not exist. It was destroyed. Some look at this verse and say this is proof that the temple will be rebuilt. How could John measure the temple if it does not exist? John is instructed to measure three things. The temple – the altar – those who worship in it.

Rev 11:2 (NASB) "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.”

c. He is told what NOT to measure

(1) The court outside the temple – v. 2

(a) For it is given to the Nations – (Gentiles)

(b) For they shall tread the holy city 42 months

Now John is told what not to measure and why. He is not to measure the court outside the temple – this is known as the court of the gentiles. Jesus has predicted:

Luke 21:24b (NASB) “Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

The Two Witnesses – Rev 11:3-13

Rev 11:3 (NASB) "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

1. Introduction to the two witnesses – v. 3

a. The authority of the witnesses – God

b. The number of the witnesses – 2

c. The period of their witnessing – 1260 days (3 ½ years)

d. The mission of the witnesses – prophecy

e. The clothing of the witnesses – sackcloth

Who are the two witnesses? Some say Elijah and Enoch. The reason being – these two did not die and Hebrews chapter nine says:

Heb 9:27 (KJV) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

In Genesis we find:

Gen 5:24 (NASB) “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

In Second Kings we find:

2 Kings 2:11 (NASB) “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.”

Many others believe that the two witnesses are Elijah and Moses.

Both of them appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration to talk with Jesus. They would represent the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah).

Why two witnesses?

Num 35:30 (NASB) 'If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.’

There is sense where a person can witness to someone – but there is also a sense where a person can witness for or against someone. What type of witnesses are these?

Rev 11:4 (NASB) “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”

2. The portrayal of the two witnesses – v. 4

a. Two olive trees – life

b. Two lamp-stands – light

c. They stand before the Lord of the earth

These will be the two olive trees – life

These will be the two candlesticks – light

Rev 11:5 (NASB) “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.”