Revelation 11:1
There is the great judgment of Israel, of her temple, worship, people and city. John is instructed to take a rod and measure the temple, its altar and the people who worship there. The words rod & measure are used in the Bible in 2 ways.
ð The rod can be used to measure a building for construction or for restoration. (Zech 2: 1-5)
ð The word rod can also mean to measure a place for destruction and punishment or correction or chastening. (2 Sam 7:14, 2 Kings 21:13)
Scripture says the antichrist will actually walk into the temple & demand that the world give their first loyalty to him and to his government.
ð Jesus Christ said that the antichrist would actually stand in the holy place of the Jews (Their temple and make this proclamation. (Remember Jerusalem is looked upon by several major world religions are being one of the religious centers of the world (religions such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity)
No better place could be chosen to launch the worship of the state, especially when an attempt will be made to wipe out all Christian believers.
Matthew 24:15/Dan 9:24-27/Dan 11:31/Dan 2:11
2 Thessalonians say that the antichrist will sit in the temple of God declaring that he is god, that ism that he and the state can meet the needs of man & being utopia/peace to the world. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4
These scriptures clearly say that the antichrist is going to appear in the temple, even in the very holy place of the temple. This means that the Jews must rebuild the temple in Jerusalem before this event can ever happen. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.
There are 5 temples mentioned in Scripture that need to be noted at this point
ð Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:1) destroyed by Nebuchadnezar in 587 B.C
ð Zerubbabel’s Temple (Ezra 3:12) he rebuilt the temple after the Babylonian captivity, but was desecrated & dedicated to the god of Jupiter by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 – 170 B.C.
ð Herod’s Temple (John 2:20) this was the temple that existed in the days of Jesus & was so well known to Him and was destroyed by Titus in 70 A.D.
There are 2 future temples yet to be built
ð The temple of the tribulation, the one to be rebuilt during the first 3 & ½ years of the antichrist (2 Thes 2:4 & Rev 11:2)
ð The temple of the millennium, the temple of our Lord (Acts 15:16, Ezek. Chp 40-43)
Note what John is told to do. He is instructed to take the rod & measure the temple, the altar, and the worshippers.
I believe that God is telling John to measure the temple for judgment and correction. The Jews are just as guilty as the Gentiles in rejecting God’s Son. They are just as guilty as most others in rebelling against the Lord.
- Rejecting Him - Disbelieving Him - Cursing Him
- Neglecting Him - Denying Him - Disobeying Him
- Ignoring Him - Blaspheming Him
Any person who does not approach God through Jesus is worshipping a false god. There is ONLY 1 true & living God & that is the Jesus Christ. A worshipper may be a Jew or Gentile – It does not matter – all must worship God through Jesus or else their worship is FALSE.
This is the reason God marks the Jewish temple & worship for destruction.
He is judging & condemning false worship.
11 :3-4
The two witnesses are God’s witnesses
1. They will be sent forth by God. God says, "I will give power unto my two witnesses." It is God who calls, gifts, commissions, and empowers them.
2. They will be sent forth for a set time, only for three and one half years. This means that they are raised up only for the great tribulation period of history.
3. They will be sent forth as true prophets who condemn sin and proclaim the salvation that is in Christ Jesus the Lord. This is shown by the dress mentioned, that of sackcloth. This was the dress worn by the prophets of old. The point of the dress is to show that their message will be straightforward and pull no punches. It will be a message against the sins of the Jews and of the world, a condemning message. But note: they will also be proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
4. They will have their needs met by God (v4). Note that they will be like two olive trees and two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. This is a reference to two great Old Testament witnesses for God, Joshua and Zerubbabel (Zech. chapters 4-5). The point is that the God of the whole earth will meet their needs:
ð God will make them as strong and fruitful as two olive trees.
ð God will make their witness to shine forth as the light of two candlesticks.
11: 5-6 the two witnesses possess great power. Their power will be the same as that of Elijah and Moses.
ð They will have the power of the fire of Elijah. Note where the fire comes from: their mouths. This probably means the fire and power of their words and preaching. They will have so much influence and power from God that the antichrist and leaders will hesitate killing them. Their preaching will apparently stir conviction and cause many to turn to God.
ð They will have the power to perform miracles within nature: to cause it to rain and not to rain as Elijah did in 2 Kings 1 to smite the earth with plagues such as Moses did in Ex.7: 14
The point is this: God gives them their power. And in the end time, supernatural power will be needed to protect their lives. Remember all the catastrophes that are taking place upon earth and the horror of the holocaust that has been launched by the antichrist.
"
Who are the two witnesses? There are many different ideas.
ð Some say the passage is an allegory symbolizing the law and prophets; others say the law and the gospel; others say the 144,000 converted Jews (Rev.7); others say the church; and others continue on and on with more ideas.
ð Some say that the two witnesses are actual persons, and some even identify them saying that they will be Enoch and Elijah or Elijah and Moses sent back to earth.
It is difficult to see how the two witnesses could be anything other than two men. There are just too many specific statements made about them that point toward human personality, statements that could never be applied to the church or to other things without really twisting this passage.
11: 7 The-Antichrist: Who is the antichrist?
Scripture never really uses the term antichrist to refer to the great "man of sin" who is to appear in the end time.
It does refer to false teachers as antichrists (1 John.2: 22).
However, down through the centuries, believers have always referred to the coming "man of sin" as the antichrist.
Why? Because he is to stand so opposed to Christ and fiercely persecute believers
What Scripture calls him (Antichrist)?
=> He is the man of sin prophesied by Paul: 2 Th.2: 3-4
=> He is the little horn prophesied by Daniel: Dan.7: 25
ð He is the very embodiment of Satan himself, the man of lawlessness who comes out of the bottomless pit of hell itself. Dan 7:3
ð He is the world ruler who will make war against God’s people and slaughter them. Dan 7: 20 – 21/Dan 7:25/Rev 7:9/Rev 7: 13-14
ð He is the world ruler who will conquer the world. Dan 7: 23/Rev 17:12-13
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11: 11-12 Witnesses of Revelation,
The two witnesses are resurrected and caught up to heaven.
This will be one of many spectacular events of the last days.
The breath of God will be breathed into the dead bodies of these two slain witnesses.
They will stand to their feet, and when they do, fear will strike the hearts of all those who see them.
How many will see them?
Will the whole world witness their resurrection?
Will the cameras of the media be zeroing in on them when they arise?
We are not told, but the idea being conveyed seems to be that the whole world will not see them arise,
But many Jews seem to be affected by what happens (v13)
Whatever the case, imagine the amazement when the two witnesses begin to ascend up into heaven.
The sight is bound to make an enormous impact upon those who witness it.
11:13 the two witnesses receive a great vindication. There will be a great earthquake that will kill seven thousand persons.
Then the most wonderful thing will happen: the rest of the Jews in Jerusalem
Become fearful and give glory to the God of heaven
The great need today is for men and women to FEAR God, to FEAR His judgment
So much that they will turn from sin, repent, and give glory to Him.
11: 14-15 the third woe will come quickly.
By woe is meant a period of extreme grief, distress, suffering, affliction
Remember: there are to be only three woes
ð The first woe will be the demonic locust-like creatures that sweep the earth and torment people Rev 8:13 – 9:11
ð The second woe will be demonic military horse-like creatures that sweep the earth, and kill one third of the ungodly and evil population Rev 9:12-21)
ð The third woe is the seventh trumpet, the judgments that result from the blast of the seventh trumpet.’
11: 15 Kingdom of God-World: scene one-the kingdoms of this world have
Become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. The Greek tense is past
Tense, the kingdoms have become the Lord’s kingdom. The scene jumps over all
Of history and shows our God and His Christ ruling over the whole world.
11: 16-17
Scene 2 the Lord God Almighty is acclaimed. As soon as the angel gave a glimpse into the future that showed the victory of God. The 24 elders fell on their faces before God. They worshipped and praised Him for 3 things
1. Lord: He deserved to be the Lord and Master, ruler over all lives
2. God He was the Creator and Maker of all, and He was the only one who deserved to be worshiped
3. Almighty He was omnipotent that is all-powerful. He can do anything and He will always be able to execute His will.
They praised Him as the Lord God who "is, and was, and is to come." That is, He is eternal.
They praised Him for taking His great power back from the world and beginning to reign in’ His rightful place.
11: 18 Final Rebellion: scene 3-
the nations of the world will make a final rebellion against God and will be destroyed and face the eternal judgment of God
. Note five points.
. There will be the final rebellion of the nations against the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the millennium (the thousand year rule of Christ upon earth). The devil and his followers are going to try to defeat Christ and His followers in a last ditch battle upon earth. Remember: Christ will be ruling upon earth for one thousand years, and that is a long, long time.
The wrath of God will fall.
John 3:36
Romans 1:18
Romans 2:8
Eph 5:6
Psalms 2:12
The dead will be judged
Matthew 25:31-32
Hebrews 9:27
2 Peter 2:9
1 John 4:17
The godly will be rewarded
Matthew 5:11-12
Matthew 10:42
Matthew 25:23
The destroyers of human life will have their own lives destroyed
2 Thess 1:7-9
2 Peter 2:17
Jude 14 –15
Rev 20: 11-15
Thought 1. This is a strong warning to us all, a warning that must be heeded and heeded now or else we shall eternally doomed.
1) A person must not join those who rebel against God. If he rebels against God, then he must face God as rebel who stands opposed to God and who fights against the kingdom of God.
2) The wrath of God is going to fall against all who rebel against God.
3) The dead will face God. All the dead, every single person who has lived or ever will live-all shall stand face to face with God.
4) The godly will be rewarded. All who fear God’s name will be greatly rewarded.
5) The ungodly and evil will be destroyed. All who destroy human life-their own lives or the lives of others shall be destroyed.
11:19 scene four-
God’s temple will be opened. This is the picture of eternity. God will dwell with His own in His temple-in all the universe. His promises will then be known to be true, and His majesty will be experienced.
1. There is a heavenly temple after which the earthly temple and tabernacle were patterned. Scripture clearly says This
Ex.25:20
This is a wonderful thing, for it means that our earthly worship is patterned after the heavenly worship. However, we must never forget that the eternal, the new heaves and earth, will have no temple in them
