That is, the seventh trumpet has not yet been sounded, but when we get to the latter part of this chapter we will hear the seventh trumpet.
Revelation chapter 11 has so much for us to cover we will have to study this chapter in two sessions.
• We will cover verses 1-11 in this session.
• We will cover verses 12-19 in the next session.
There are some very interesting things in this chapter that we need to acquaint ourselves with.
Remember, between Revelation 8 and 10 we have this interlude. But part of chapter 11 is a part of this interlude also.
In chapter 9 we got up to the 6 Trumpet and we will not get to the seventh trumpet until we reach the last part of this chapter in Revelation 11:12-19
In Revelation 11:1-11 the Lord fast forward and injects somethings about the Millenial temple.
Some think this is during the tribulation, but it is hard to conceive that the temple could be built when the anti-christ is in full control of the earth.
Along with many scholars I believe Rev. 11:1-11 will take place during the millenlial period.
So let’s leave the tribulation period and talk about millenial…
I. THE TEMPLE
A lot of folks do not know this but during the Millenium the temple will be rebuilt.
And something that many folks do not know about this temple, that is going to be re-built, also the Lord is going to re-institute the sacrifices.
I will give you some scriptures of this re-instituting the sacrifices in a moment.
We all know about the atonement sacrifice that was made in the old testament where the priest made atonement for their sins once a year, but there were other sacrifice daily that was offered.
Maybe you're wondering: If the Day of Atonement only happened once per year, why did the Israelites have so many other sacrifices?
That's a good question.
The answer is that other sacrifices were necessary in order for God's people to approach Him for different reasons. While the Day of Atonement covered the penalty for the Israelites' sins each year as a nation, they were still affected by the sins they committed each day individually.
It was dangerous for people to approach God while in a sinful state because of God's holiness.
Illus: Sin cannot stand in the presence of God just like shadows cannot stand in the presence of sunlight.
In order for the people to approach God, then, they needed to perform different sacrifices in order to be cleansed of any sins they had accumulated since the last Day of Atonement.
Why would the people need to approach God in the first place? There were many reasons.
1) Sometimes people wanted to approach Him with offerings of worship and commitment.
2) Other times people wanted to make a vow in God's presence -- which required a specific type of offering.
3) Still other times people needed to become ceremonially clean after recovering from a skin disease or giving birth to a child.
In all of these situations, offerings specific sacrifices allowed the people to be symbolically washed of their sins and approach their holy God in a way that honored Him
in the old testament temple animal sacrifices took place. But we no longer offer sacrifices.
WHY?
Because when Christ died He was the ultimate sacrifice for sin. None of the animal sacrifices have never saved anyone…ANYONE!!!
They pointed us to the Savior who one day would die for the sins of the world.
After Christ died the priest hood was dissolved and the curtain to the holy of holies were ripped from top to bottom when all believers are made priest unto God. Now we have access to God the same way the high priest had access to God to atone for our sins.
That is why we do not need a priest to atone for our sins.
However, after the death of Christ the Catholics continued the priesthood.
ANIMAL SACRIFICE WAS DONE AWAY WITH SO WHAT DID THEY REPLACE IT WITH?
Confession booths.
They take certain scriptures and turn them into the teaching that catholics were to come confess their sins before the priest and that the priest was given the power to forgive sins.
Confession to a priest is not a biblical practice; it is not even a custom of the early church.
Our Lord taught us to confess our sins directly to God the Father. He told us to pray, "Our Father in heaven...forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Reading the New Testament we do not find a single instance of the apostles hearing private confession; nor do we find the disciples confessing to a priest.
How did Christians deal with sin at that time?
They dealt severely with those who committed grievous sins, casting them out of the church. A period of "reparation" was required before the repentant sinner was re-admitted.
But what about the daily sins that all Christians commit?
Did they confess them to a priest?
No, they confessed directly to God in prayer, asking the Father for forgiveness. Prayer was considered sufficient for daily cleaning.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church admits that private confession first came on the scene during the seventh century.
Illus: “During the seventh century Irish missionaries, inspired by the Eastern monastic tradition, took to continental Europe the ‘private’ practice of penance, which does not require public and prolonged completion of penitential works before reconciliation with the Church. From that time on, the sacrament has been performed in secret between penitent and priest. It allowed the forgiveness of grave sins and pardonable sins to be integrated into one sacramental celebration. In its main lines this is the form of penance that the Church has practiced down to our day” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1447).
If you want to follow the teaching of the Bible…Pray to God. He knows your heart and He hears your prayers. He will certainly forgive you if you repent and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
But notice in the re-building of the temple God told to “measure the temple of God.”
If God is going to re-institute the sacrifices He needs a temple.
Look at Revelation 11:1 "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."
The “rod” is a surveyor's instrument. The measuring anticipates the building of a new temple on earth during the Millennium.
They did not have rulers as we have today to measure with, the rod was a hollow, bamboo-like cane plant that grew in the Jordan Valley. This reed is nine feet long.
Measuring the temple signified God’s ownership of it (compare 21:15; Zech. 2:1-5).
"Will there be animal sacrifices during the millennial kingdom?"
Yes, There are several passages in the Old Testament that clearly indicate animal sacrifice will be re-instituted during the millennial kingdom.
The passage that is the most extensive, giving the greatest detail, is Ezekiel 43:18 to Ezekiel 46:24.
After giving details concerning the size and appearance of the temple and the altar, the Lord then begins to give detailed instruction as to the animal sacrifices that will be offered.
Ezekiel 43:18-27 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon. And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering. And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary. And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock. When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.
In Ezekiel chapter 44, the Lord gives instructions as to who will be offering sacrifices to the Lord. The Lord states that the Levites will not be offering blood and fat to the Lord due to previous sin; it will be those from the lineage of Zadok (verse 15).
Chapters 45 and 46 continue to mention that animal sacrifices will be made.
The primary objection made to the idea of animal sacrifices returning during the millennial kingdom is that Christ has come and offered a perfect sacrifice for sin, and there is therefore no need to sacrifice animals for sin.
However, it must be remembered that animal sacrifice never removed the sin that spiritually separated a person from the Lord.
It is incorrect to think that animal sacrifices took away sins in the Old Testament, and it is incorrect to think they will do so in the millennial kingdom.
Animal sacrifices served as object lessons for the sinner, that sin was and is a horrible offense against God, and that the result of sin is death.
Romans 3:20 says, “Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
WHY THESE SACRIFICES?
Two reasons:
(1)Most premillennial scholars agree that the purpose of animal sacrifice during the millennial kingdom is object lessons.
For example, as the Lord’s Supper is a OBJECT lesson of the death of Christ to the Church today, animal sacrifices will be a reminder during the millennial kingdom.
This is necessary due to the fact that children will be born during the Millenlial and through these sacrifices of an ennocent lamb without blemish.
(2) Also during that future time, righteousness and holiness will prevail, but those with earthly bodies(Missed the rapture) will still have a sin nature, and there will be a need to teach about how offensive sin is to a holy and righteous God.
But the thing we need to consider is that a rebuilt temple will exist during the time of the Millenium. (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4).
Revelation 11:2 "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months."
“Court which is without”: 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.
“The holy city shall they tread under foot”: Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome all oppressed Jerusalem in ancient times (compare 2 Kings 25:8-10; Psalm 79:1; Isa. 63:18; Lam. 1:10).
These verses refer to the future devastation destruction and oppression of Jerusalem by the forces of the Antichrist.
“Forty and two months”: The three and a half period covers the second half of the Tribulation and coincides with the visibly evil career of the Antichrist (verse 3; 12:6; 13:5).
During this same time, the Jews will be sheltered by God in the wilderness (12:6, 14).
The holy city is the earthly Jerusalem (Dan. 9:24; Zech. 13:8-9; 14:2). The forty and two months show that Jerusalem will be under Gentile control for three-and-a-half years.
We have looked at THE TEMPLE but now let is look at two fascinating characters. The world has never seen anyone like these…
II. TWO WITNESSES
These two witnesses will be two men like the world has ever seen before. They make 007 look like a sissy!!!
Look at Revelation 11:3-6 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Verses 3-4: God’s two witnesses” will “prophesy” or preach for 1260 “days” (three and a half years.
The “witnesses” will proclaim a message of judgment and the need for repentance.
WHO ARE THESE TWO WITNESSES?
One of them most certainly will be Elijah himself. Is there scripture in the Bible that teach that…
Yes…Look at Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
There has been a lot of speculation that it might be:
• Elijah and Moses
• Elijah and Enoch
Some try to identify one of the witnesses with Enoch (because he never died; Gen. 5:24), and the other with either Elijah (who also never died; 2 Kings 2:11-12). Some believe because neither one has never died can go to heaven. Of course, these two witnesses after three and a half years will be killed.
For three reasons Tim LaHaye is inclined to think these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah.
• (1) Moses and Elijah are the two most influential men in the history of the Jews. Moses introduced God's written law to Israel and wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. Elijah was the first of the writing prophets and started the school of the prophets. Whenever the Jews said, "Moses and Elijah," they usually meant "the law and the prophets."
• (2) Moses and Elijah accompanied Jesus and the 3 disciples when He was "transfigured before them", on the mount and where He discussed His impending sacrifice on the cross (Matt. chapter 17).
• (3) The 2 witnesses are said to reproduce the very miracles that Moses and Elijah performed while on this earth. John said of them, "And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. 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" (Rev. 11:5-6).
• Elijah is famous for calling down fire from heaven. The most famous instance occurs (in 1 Kings 18), in the account of the contest between the prophets of Baal and Elijah. The Lord sent fire on Elijah's altar on Mt. Carmel in response to his simple prayer:
• Elijah is connected to divinely caused drought as well as to judgments of fire. In fact, the very first time he is mentioned in the Scriptures he is heard saying to wicked King Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word" (1 Kings 17:1). And there wasn't; God honored the prophet's word.
• Moses, of course, is intimately connected with the ten plagues that struck Egypt just before the Exodus (Exodus chapters 7-12). In the very first plague God turned the waters of Egypt into blood, including the Nile, all streams, rivers, ponds, pools, and even the water in buckets of wood and stone. The water turned to blood, killed the land's fish and caused the water to stink, and conditions did not return to normal for a week.
If these are the two witnesses, how fitting that Moses and Elijah would return to Jerusalem to commence these last 7 years of the Tribulation to "witness, testify and prophesy."
Notice also, the two witnesses are also identified as “the two olive trees and the two candlesticks”.
Revelation 11:4 "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
Olive oil was commonly used in lamps; together the olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of spiritual revival.
The two witnesses’ preaching will spark a revival, just as Joshua’s and Zerubbabel’s did in Israel after the Babylonian captivity. These symbols relate to (Zechariah 4:2-6), where Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest are pictured as two olive trees furnishing oil for a lampstand (Israel). They provided help and power for Israel in a time of need. These two witnesses will be for Israel in the future what Zerubbabel and Joshua were in the past: the channels of God’s power and message to Israel during the Tribulation period.
They will provide the millions of Jews in the Holy Land a theological and spiritual bridge to the Christian gospel. Many of the souls harvested at that time will be the sons and daughters of Abraham.
“A thousand two hundred and threescore days”: Forty-two months or 3-1/2 years (compare 12:6; 13:5; see note on verse 2).
“Sackcloth”: Coarse, rough cloth made from goat or camel hair. Wearing garments made from it expressed penitence, humility, and mourning (compare Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 3:31; 2 Kings 6:30; 19:1; Esther 4:1; Isa. 22:12; Jer. 6:26; Matt. 11:21).
Illus: This would be in comparison today when people wear black while they are in mourning.
The witnesses are mourning because of the wretched wickedness of the world, God’s judgment on it, and the desecration of the temple and the holy city by the Antichrist.
What a dynamic and compelling message from God these two amazing witnesses will bring to "all nations!"
No one can write them off as crazies, for they display incredible supernatural powers and defy the Antichrist who could not stop them.
No doubt they will be seen daily on international television in every corner of the earth as they warn mankind of God's coming judgment.
Revelation 11:3 "And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."
But look how these two witnesses are protected.
We have already talked about the 144,000 jewish missionaries that God has sealed. And now these two witnesses with super natural power God has sealed them so that no man can hurt them.
Look at Revelation 11:5-6 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
They will perform miracles similar to those performed:
• By Moses (compare Exodus 7:14-20; 8:12),
• And Elijah (1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 1:10-12; Luke 4:25; James 5:17).
They are protected from harm for three and a half years.
Their miraculous powers are apparently for the purpose of authenticating their divine message (as in the case of Jesus and His apostles).
WHAT KIND OF POWER WILL THEY HAVE?
Again look at Revelation 11:5 "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed."
(1)“Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth”: Probably this refers to literal fire. These two will be invincible during their ministry, protected by supernatural power.
They have power of fire to protect them, but also…
(2)Revelation 11:6 "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will".
(3)“Power over waters to turn them to blood”: The earth’s water, already devastated by the effects of the second and third trumpets, will become undrinkable, adding immensely to the suffering caused by the drought.
Now let us look at death of the two witnesses again.
Look again at Revelation 11:7-9 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Look at the words, “Kill Them”. With the ministry of the two witnesses completed, God will withdraw the two witnesses’ supernatural protection.
However, note the beast will have no power over them until "they have finished their testimony." In other words, they will be "immortal until their work is done", which can be said of all God's servants who walk in obedience to His will.
The Holy City will be so degenerate spiritually that she will be called Sodom and Egypt, Sodom being a symbol of immorality and Egypt a symbol of materialism.
Revelation 11:8 "And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."
“Bodies shall lie in the street”: Refusing to bury one’s enemies was a way to dishonor and show contempt for them. The Old Testament expressly forbids this practice (Deut. 21:22-23).
Revelation 11:9 "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves."
“Three days and a half”: The entire world will watch (undoubtedly on the latest form of visual media), and glorify the Antichrist as the bodies of the dead prophets who have been killed begin to decay.
These bodies lying in the street shows great scorn and contempt, even rejection.
1) The most supernatural event of those times will probably be televised instantly around the world, "to the people, tribes, tongues, and nations."
2) Among other things, this will be a loving gesture by God Almighty, not only to resurrect and take to heaven His two witnesses, but also to make known His existence and power around the world.
The ungodly will be so thrilled that these two witnesses have been killed they act like it is a Christmas celebration sending and receiving gifts "in honor" of the occasion.
In Revelation 11:7-10 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Now let’s talk about the “beast” from the “bottomless pit”.
This beast is apparently the same as the “beast” from the sea (in Rev. 13:1), the Antichrist or false messiah. His place of origin shows his demonic character and the control of Satan.
The fact that he will come up out of the Abyss is a reference to the death and resurrection of the Antichrist.
However, let me interject something here. Satan indwelled two people in the bible.
Do you know who they were?
If you said Judas and the Antichrist you are correct.
The Bible clearly teaches that Judas was a devil.
Look at John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Judas is a devil, he will be brought out of the bottomless pit to become the anti-Christ.
Both Judas and the antichrist have been described as “the son of perdition”. The phrase is only used twice in the King James Bible: once to refer to Judas, the other describing the antichrist.
In John 17:12, Jesus refers to Judas as the son of perdition. While he doesn’t refer to Judas by name, in this verse, he is saying a prayer. During the prayer, he says “those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.”
The only disciple that was given to Jesus that was lost was Judas Iscariot.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul is writing about the return of Jesus Christ in the last days. He says that Jesus will not come back until the “man of sin be revealed; the son of perdition.” He goes on to describe that this man of sin will sit in the temple of God, and show himself as god. This is a description of the beast of Revelation that is more commonly known as the antichrist. In both verses, the Bible refers to “the son of perdition” and not “a son of perdition,” implying that there is only one son of perdition.
The word perdition means “eternal damnation” or “utter destruction.” It can also be used as a synonym for hell. When a person is called “son of perdition,” the connotation is that a person in an unredeemable state, someone who is already damned while he is still alive.
• When Christ came to the earth the first time, it was at the same time when Judas came to the earth.
• When Christ returns so will the anti-christ return.
Conclusion:
We have looked at in Revelation chapter 11:
I.THE TEMPLE
II. TWO WITNESSES
