Roaring Like A Loin Revelation 11:1-19NKJ
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. 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 lamp-stands 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. 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. 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. 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.” 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.
God doesn’t do anything half way, His ways are done presides and totally complete, just as His judgements and mercies will be and are. Ezekiel in chapter 40 speaks about measuring the temple with a rod, so John see the revelation of a hollow, bamboo-like cane plant that grew in the Jordan valley. Because of its light weight and rigidity, it was commonly used as a measuring stick.
Revelation 11:1NLT 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.
Measuring the temple signified God’s ownership. The temple of God refers to the Holy of Holies and the Holy Spirit, not the entire temple complex. God’s interested in the whole man, but His primarily interest is around holiness, because He knows everything else will follow.
Revelation11:2NLT 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 court that is outside refers to the court of the Gentiles, separated from the inner court in the Herodian temple by a low wall. Gentiles were forbidden to enter the inner court on penalty of death. John is forbidden to measure their court because of the oppression of the Gentiles. (Unbelievers).
For 31/2 years all of Jerusalem’s enemies will wage war in that Holy city. This destruction will come from the antichrist the last 31/2 years of the tribulation.
Revelation 11:3NLT And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”
The two individuals will be granted special power and authority by God to preach a message of judgement and salvation during the second half of the tribulation. (According to scripture the old and New Testaments require two or more witnesses for every word to be established.)
These two power preachers will give testimony to Jesus Christ unto the Jews once again. These two men will dress similarly to John the Baptist and will morn over the wickness of the world.
Revelation 11:4NLT These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of all the earth.
This imagery is drawn from Zechariah 3:4, Zechariah’s vision both a near vision, and a far future fulfillment.
Two olive tree and two lamp stands... Olive oil was commonly used as lamps; together the olive oil and lamp-stands symbolize the light of Spiritual revival.
These two witnesses will spark a great revival!
Revelation 11: 5-6NLT If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
Sounds silmarlar to Elijah and Moses’ anointing unto God! (Most Theologies agree, that these two men are most likely them.)
Both Moses and Elijah’s bodies were never found. One was taken up and the other refers unto God taking care of the body.
Revelation 11:5... fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies... These two will have power from heaven to do the impossible. (As we will see in Chapter 13, false prophets will try to copy these miracles.) Just as with Moses and Elijah’s day.
Revelation 11:6... they will have power to shut heaven... Just as Elijah did in his day, and how Moses brought blood into the Nile River.
Revelation 11:7NLT When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
This is the first of 36 references in Revelation. The antichrist that will ascend from the bottomless pit. The two witnesses ministries will be completed, and God will lift His protection from them. The beast will accomplish what other demons couldn’t.
Revelation 11:8NLT And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” the city where their Lord was crucified.
Refusing to bury ‘ones’ enemy was a way to dishonor them and show contempt for them. The city is Jerusalem but being like- Sodom and Egypt. (Wicked).
Revelation 11:9NLT And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them.
The entire world will watch through TV, and will glorify the Antichrist as the dead prophets begin to decay on the streets.
Revelation 11:10NLT All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.
The people will form a holiday over the two witnesses death.
Revelation 11:11NLT But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them.
The festivities will be short lived as God raises these two men back to life!
Revelation 11:12NLT Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.
God always has the final say on any given situation! Every enemy will receive God’s vindication.
Revelation 11:13NLT At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
As these two prophets go up, God sends an earthquake. The loss of life may well be the Antichrist’s forces.
Many (Maybe Millions) will give glory unto the God of heaven.
Romans 11:25-26 will be fulfilled. 25. I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. 27And this is my covenant with them,that I will take away their sins.”
Revelation 11:14NLT The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is coming quickly.
The sixth trumpet. The interlude between the sixth and the seventh trumpet ends. Israel’s repentance will soon usher in the millennial kingdom. However, first comes the climactic judgements.
Revelation 11:15NLT Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
The seventh trumpet includes the 7 bowl, final judgements depicted in chapter 16 and all the events leading up to the establishing of the millennial kingdom. (Chapter 20)
Revelation 11:16NLT The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him.
Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments, and golden crowns, seem to represent the redeemed. (The entire body of Christ.)
Revelation 11:17NLT And they said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.
The coming of the kingdom is no longer future but it’s present. (Kingdom now!)
Romans 14:17NLT For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 11:18NLT The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
The nation’s rage against Christ will be evident. It will be known through their hostility and foolish attempts to fight Christ.
Psalm 2 speaks of this time. Psalm 2:1-12NLT Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then in anger he rebukes them,terrifying them with his fierce fury.6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” 7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. 8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”10 Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! 11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
Revelation 11:19NLT Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.
Presently, where is the Ark of the Covenant? Heaven. This piece of furniture in the OT represented the center of heaven, it was where God dwelled while on earth.
Say this, “Everything I face in faith is worth it!”
Benediction.
