Revelation Study Series 16a - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 11) Series

Revelation Study Series 16a - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 11)

02.20.22

Message…

Revelation 11:1-2

1 Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers.

2 But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.

The temple of God mentioned in this verse is referring to a specific temple that will be built.

The Jewish people will erect this temple in Jerusalem before the mid-way point of the Tribulation.

The word “temple” is derived from the Hebrew word, “hekal” which means “big house”...obviously, that would mean something different to us.

The Jewish people would like to build a temple now...but, there is something in its way. Another temple in fact. Another temple that was not built to worship God, but Mohammed.

It is called the Dome of the Rock. You’ve often seen it in the news. It is a temple with a big gold dome.

It is an Islamic temple. To those of Islam it is the second most holy temple with Mecca (located in Saudi Arabia) being number one.

There is a reason why the Jewish people want their temple there. It is considered holy ground.

This same area is believed to be the sacred spot (Mt. Moriah) where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice, where God provided the ram caught in a thicket.

It is where King Solomon built the first temple which was later destroyed.

The temple was rebuilt and even remodeled and called Herod’s temple. It was then destroyed by the Romans.

Ever since it’s destruction then, the Jewish people have not had a temple in Jerusalem to worship God in.

For the Jew, the temple means everything!

They are still waiting for the Messiah to come. They do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. They want to reinstate the temple sacrifices to get back to their understanding of the OT covenant from God.

They don’t accept the new covenant, they don’t accept the New Testament.

In the book of Daniel, Gabriel came to Daniel and explained a vision he was given. Gabriel told him of future events that would take place…

Daniel 9:27

27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”

A ruler (the antiChrist) promising peace will come on the scene amidst all of the Tribulation chaos. (Midway during the Tribulation this ruler will set himself up to be worshiped as God.)

The antiChrist will initiate/broker a peace deal, and within that deal the rebuilding of the Jewish temple will happen.

Temple practices and sacrifices will once again occur.

A Temple will be built in the name of God, but this they will do in rejection of the Son of God!

Remember, that when Solomon built the first temple...it was at God’s direction and design. But, this is completely of man.

Jesus said…

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Man must approach and worship God His way, not man's way!

Life Application 1…

As we gather as a church to worship the Lord...we do so out of command and encouragement to do so…

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25

While we worship God here in this place...we also worship God everyday with our lives!

(Our actions, talk, work ethic, attitude, dress, pleasure, friends, relationships...all the things we do...etc.)

The Jews want to build an OT temple. We are the NT temple!

1 Cor. 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

2 Corinthians 6:16

16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.