“Revealing the Revelation”
Chapter 11
January 12, 2010
Revelation 11
1I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The 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.
11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
15The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." 16And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”
In our last study, which was chapter 10, we saw a mighty angel come down from heaven and claim the earth. He had an open book in his hand, which we didn’t get to read, and John was given a little scroll to eat. It was sweet at first but then made his stomach hurt. Kind of like when we begin to read the Bible. We are thrilled to read about heaven and forgiveness and salvation and that we are loved – but when we learn about becoming a living sacrifice and dying daily and living a holy live – it may make us a little sick to our stomach to realize all that the Lord is asking of us. But John ate and was instructed that now he was to be a witness to many nations. And, as we come to this chapter, he was given a measuring stick.
Sometimes the visual images in the Book of Revelation blows me away. Remember the Mighty Angel who spoke and it sounded like the roar of a lion? Then the Seven Thunders responded from heaven with a tremendous roar. Now John is given a measuring device and told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. Measuring the temple and the altar seems simple enough – but how do you measure the worshippers?
The fact of the matter is that you are always being measured. You are always being weighed in the balance. People compare you to Jesus. That’s why we are called Christians. It means “like Christ”. We are to become more and more Christ-like. People notice. It’s not judging. It is discernment. It’s fruit inspecting. You can discern if a peach is ready to pick by how it feels, how it looks, even how it smells. People are measuring you, as well. Remember King Belshazzar? As they were drinking and having a party a hand appeared out of thin air and wrote on the wall. It said,
“You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” Dan 5:27
Jesus said we will have to give an account of every word we speak and everything we do. May we be found faithful.
In Ezekiel the temple is measured. It is the temple of the millennial earth, but this temple seems to be before that temple. The temple in Ezekiel is measured extensively, including the outer courts (Ezekiel 40:17-19). There are also, a few other Biblical examples of measuring. In Zechariah 2, a man measures Jerusalem, a scene that evidently shows God’s coming judgment on the city. Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, and preservation. When Habakkuk prophesies, He stood and measured the earth (Habakkuk 3:6). The idea is that the Lord owns the earth and can do with it as He pleases. When this temple is measured, it shows that God knows its’ every dimension, and He is in charge.
God is in control. His will falls into one of three categories. 1. His causive will, where he wills something to happen and causes it to be so. Like creating the earth. 2. There is his desirous will. His desirous will doesn’t always happen. He doesn’t desire anyone to perish – but they do. It is not his will – but man is given a free will and God allows us that power and freedom and sets aside HIS will. 3. There is His ‘permissive’ will. That means everything that happens -God permits -even evil and sin. He could stop it. But doesn’t. That’s why bad things happen to good people sometimes. It is God’s permissive will. Not His desires will or causive will – but He allows it. We have to trust in His wisdom and goodness when those things happen to us. God is in charge ultimately – but sometimes things happen that He doesn’t desire. That calls for trust.
The identity of this temple is an important matter of interpretation. Many see this temple as a symbol of the church. Paul describes the church as a temple:
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord”. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
Peter describes the church as a temple:
“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house.” (1 Peter 2:5
But if this temple in Revelation 11 is a symbolic representation of the church, why should it be measured? What is the significance of the courts and the altar - and if the church itself is the temple, who are the worshippers? There is too much specific detail here for this to be using the generalized picture of the church as a temple unto God. It is more likely that this is the temple that must be on the earth for the fulfillment of what Daniel, Jesus, and Paul said about the abomination of desolation. Jesus said to look for an abomination standing in the holy place, which would be the pivotal sign that the time of God’s wrath was come upon the earth (Matthew 24:15-16 and 24:21). The simplest explanation of all these passages is to see a real Jewish temple in Jerusalem, yet to be built – but coming soon.
Today there are Jews very interested in rebuilding the temple and resuming the sacrifice. And they are making preparations to do that exact thing even now. Today you can visit the Temple Institute in the Jewish Quarter of the old city in Jerusalem. There, a group of Jews absolutely dedicated to rebuilding the temple, attempt to educate the public and raise awareness for a new temple. They are trying to replicate everything they can for a new temple, down to the specific pots and pans used for sacrifice. Israel is a nation again, and efforts to rebuild the temple are for real. The main Jewish group leading the charge to rebuild the temple is an organization called Faithful of the Temple Mount, who say they will continue their efforts to re-establish the Jewish temple on the Mount. One leader in the group said, “We shall continue our struggle until the Israeli flag is flying from the Dome of the Rock.” In Israel, there are students being trained for the priesthood, learning how to conduct animal sacrifices in the rebuilt temple.
It is important to understand that most Jews – religious or secular – do not care one bit about building a temple. And if there were one rebuilt, sacrifice would be difficult in a day of our aggressive animal rights activists! Yet, there is a small, strong, highly dedicated group who live to see a rebuilt temple – a temple which will fulfill prophecy.
Sometimes we Christians get excited when we see efforts to rebuild the temple. At the same time, we should understand that the basic impulse behind rebuilding the temple is not of God at all. It is the desire to have a place to sacrifice for sin. Christians believe that all sacrifice for sin was finished at the cross. We believe any further sacrifice for sin is an offense to God, because it denies the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Orthodox Jews consider that the Messiah will rebuild the temple; however, the man they may initially embrace as their Messiah may in fact be the Antichrist. Jesus said,
“I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” (John 5:43)
Let’s take a look at the outer court of the temple. Our Scripture said,
“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.”
The outer court doesn’t have to be measured because it has been given to the Gentiles. Maybe this is because the outer courts of this rebuilt temple include the Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine. It currently stands on the temple mount and is a point of great contention between Jews and Muslims.
When the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans, they destroyed the city so completely that the foundations of the old temple are hard to find. Most scholars have assumed for years that the Dome of the Rock shrine stands on the place of the old temple. But new research reveals evidence that the temple may have stood to the north of where the Dome of the Rock shrine is today. If that is true and the temple were to be rebuilt at its old place, the Dome of the Rock shrine would be in its outer courts. If this is the case then it would explain why the angel told John to leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.
The holy city (Jerusalem) will be tread underfoot for a period of forty-two months, which equals 1,260 days or three and one-half years. This “trampling” by Gentiles probably takes place in the last half of the final seven year period.
Now we come to the two witnesses. Our Scripture says,
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 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. 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.” (Verses 3-7)
This introduces two interesting characters of Revelation. The character of their ministry is prophetic. They preach and demonstrate repentance and they have an effective ministry. The two witnesses minister with power. “Such power, in fact, that they are able to witness for 1,260 days in spite of the antagonism of the world.” (Walvoord) The witnesses have an unique, continual empowering from the Holy Spirit. In the picture from Zechariah, oil lamps are filled directly from olive trees which “pipe” oil right to the lamps. This is a picture of continual, abundant supply. If we will be witnesses, we must first have something to witness – our own personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Then, we must have the power of the Holy Spirit to bring forth the story of what we have witnessed effectively.
Every Christian is to be a witness. Every Christian is to share ‘his story’ with others. That’s where we get ‘history’. People need to know your history. When where you saved? How did the complete surrender of your will to God happen? You need to be able to verbalize it – if it happened. Did it happen in church? Was it at an altar? Or was it like my experience – at home reading the Bible? We need to know so we can share our story with others.
These two witnesses had special protection from God and they had great power. You will experience those blessings as well when you share your spiritual experience and history with others.
The two witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit that we first introduced in Revelation 9:11. Most likely it is Satan himself, but notice, their ministry is not cut short. They fully accomplish their task.
Praise God, we cannot be taken off of this earth until we finish our testimony. The devil does not have power over our lives. We are witnesses of the Lord, and He will protect us until our testimony is finished.
This passage illustrates the difference between being a witness and giving testimony. Witness is not something we do; it is something we are. Giving testimony is what a witness does. You ARE a witness whether you want to be or not. You may be a great witness with how you live your life – or not so good. But you are a witness. We need to learn how to give our testimony – but we give witness just by living our lives.
The two witnesses are killed in the city of Jerusalem, which is described in three ways.
• As Sodom, representing immorality
• As Egypt, representing oppression and slavery
• As the great city, a term often applied to “Babylon,” the headquarters of Antichrist, which represents rebellion.
If, during the first three and one-half years, Jerusalem’s leadership is in league with the Antichrist, it is easy to see how these titles apply. Any city in love with the Antichrist, or entering into a covenant with him, could be called Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon.
The earth sees and rejoices over the deaths of the two witnesses. The fact that this is seen by all people, tribes, tongues, and nations could be a prophecy of modern mass media. It is amazing – and not far-fetched at all – to think of a live, worldwide broadcast on CNN, “Live from Jerusalem,” and seeing the amazing scene described here taking place.
The idea is also that the world treats these two witnesses in a humiliating manner. “To have his dead body lie in view of all was the worst humiliation a person could suffer from his enemies.” (Johnson) The preaching of these two witnesses and their call to repentance was a torment for many. It was like fire coming from their mouths. People could not stand to hear the truth because they loved their lie.
Many people love their sin. They don’t want to hear the truth preached. If you make them feel guilty – you may suffer their wrath. This is what happened to these two witnesses. But dead isn’t dead with the Lord. Always remember that. Death is never the end for the Christian. It is just a door into another adventure. And these witnesses weren’t dead – dead. God brought them back to life. They stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. As this happens before the eyes of the watching world, the enemies of these two witnesses are horrified and astonished. But the earth is not worthy of these two witnesses, so God simply calls them home. They ascended to heaven in a cloud.
About the same time there was a great earthquake. An earthquake brings judgment, and moves many to give glory to God. It remains to be seen if this will become true repentance unto salvation or not.
Many interpreters see the two witnesses as symbolic of the entire church in the tribulation period, or as symbols of the law and the prophets. But how can so many specific details in their ministry be reconciled with such a symbolic interpretation? The most plain and straightforward interpretation sees them as two real individuals, not symbolic representations. Who they are must not be terribly important, or we would have been told exactly who they are! Generally, if the two witnesses are identified with any two individuals from the past, the leading candidates are Elijah, Moses, or Enoch. Or, maybe these are just two believers ministering in the spirit and power of these great men, kind of like John the Baptist going forth in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17 and Matt. 7:12-13). There is a lot of speculation and opinions of who these men are or represent. I’m not too worried about it. We will know exactly who they are or who they represent at just the right time. For now God doesn’t tell us.
The seventh trumpet finally sounds. The seventh seal brought forth a profound silence (Revelation 8:1); the seventh trumpet initiates joy! There can’t be a more glorious proclamation than this:
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
In the ancient Greek grammar, the verb tense of “have become” indicates an absolute certainty about Jesus’ coming and reign - even before the fact is accomplished. How can there be such joy, when the King is not reigning completely yet? At the headquarters of a successful political campaign on election night, there is joy, even though it will be a while until their candidate is actually installed into office. The joy anticipates a certain result.
(vs. 16-18) The twenty-four elders worship God. This thanksgiving isn’t to thank God that He has already done this- but that the hour has come for it to take place. Now comes the fitting time for judgment, reward, and destruction. God’s punishment fits the crime. His judgment is just. But the nations are angry with God and He responds with wrath. Those that destroy the earth, the paradise He created, are themselves destroyed. And the world is angry because God comes to rule. The world wants anything but the reign of God! “Religion is decent, but surrender to God is intolerable to the nations of this world.” (Newell)
A lot of people are content to have a form of godliness – but don’t have the power of a changed life. They want salvation without sanctification. But God wants more than form. He wants a complete surrender of our wills to Him. He wants us to sacrifice our wills to Him. He wants all of us – all of our hearts.
(19) The temple in heaven is opened. Our Scripture says:
“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 ark refers to God’s throne. It is called the ark of His covenant in the Old Testament. This was the earthly representation of God’s throne. It emphasized God’s faithfulness. “The ark of the covenant is “The symbol of God’s faithfulness in bestowing grace on His people, and inflicting vengeance on His people’s enemies.” (Alford)
Again we have the great and awesome sights and sounds at the opening of the temple. Lightning is visual. It is blinding. Noises and thunderings have to do with sound – loud sound. Earthquakes and hail fill all the senses. This shows that the presence of the Lord is there. It is kind of like an exclamation mark. God wants to get a point across. He fills our senses with awe.
I want to end with this thought: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
God is going to win. Jesus is the King of kings. When the dust has settled and the sky is clear – Jesus is going to be sitting on the throne. I want to be the “Nazarene’s” Knight – don’t you? I want to be the “King’s kid”. Jesus said a day is coming when the nations will be divided like goats and sheep; like wheat and weeds; like good fish and bad fish. I choose Jesus. Everyone makes a choice. No choice is a choice. What are you going to do with Jesus? Will you make Him your Lord – or are you going to remain in control? I surrender my will to Jesus.
If you would like to be on the winning side – Jesus’ side – you only need to pray a simply prayer like this:
Jesus,
Thank you for the plans you have for me. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your team. Please forgive me of my willful rebellion. Give me the power to live for you. Teach me your ways and your will. With your help – I will do it.
