Step By Step Through Revelation Series

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: