Revelation Chapter 11:
As our chapter opens, John is given a measuring rod with instructions to “rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, we read of the anti-Christ sitting in the temple of God, “showing himself that he is God. And in Matthew 24:15, Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation that will stand in the Holy Place, which is a part of the temple of God. Although Israel does not presently have a temple in their land, we realize from these references that during the Tribulation, they will have rebuilt their temple.
According to Daniel 9:27, the anti-Christ will make a firm covenant with Israel for one week (seven years). This covenant no doubt has to do with the offering of sacrifices in their temple as they did in the Old Testament times, because in the middle of that week, the anti-Christ will cause the sacrifices to cease and sit in the temple, presenting himself as God.
The temple has always been a very important part of Jewish life. In fact, it served as a focal point of their daily living. After the Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness, God gave Moses instructions to build a tabernacle from which He could communicate with His people, and from which they would offer sacrifices. This was their place of worship. Then, when they settled in the promised land, David desired to build a permanent structure, a temple, from which they could worship God with their sacrifices and offerings. However, because David was a man of war, God would not allow him to build the temple; but instead, had his son, Solomon, build it. Solomon’s temple was a very large, beautiful temple. This stood for about 365 years before Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and destroyed it.
A second temple was built by Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, about 520-515 B.C. In about 165 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, defiled this temple by ordering a sow to be offered on the altar. This temple, although much smaller and less ornate than Solomon’s, stood through the years and was the focal point of Jewish life, even though there were numerous times of desecration and defilement. In 20 B.C., Herod the Great began to totally rebuild and enlarge the dimensions of the second temple. Work continued on this temple until approximately 64 A.D. It was in this temple that Jesus was dedicated shortly after His birth, and was recognized as the Messiah by Simeon and the prophetess, Anna. (Luke 2:22-38) Herod’stemple was then destroyed by the Roman General, Titus in 70 A.D.
Through the years, the Jews have attempted several times to rebuild their temple. One such time was in 363 A.D., when they received permission from the Roman government for this purpose. They had stones piled, wood and other necessary materials purchased, and everything ready to begin building the next day. Suddenly, that very night, there was a great earthquake which caused the streets of Jerusalem to buckle and all of their materials were completely destroyed.
In our present day, there are several groups actively working towards the common goal of rebuilding the temple in this generation. Architectural plans for the third temple have been ready for sometime. In 1986, a group of rabbinical scholars formed “The Temple Institute” to gather necessary items for the temple, the tools of the temple, including the priests’ garments. They contend that the problems Israel faces, as well as the problems that the world presently suffers, is a result of the temple’s absence. However, all of this reveals Israel’s continued rejection of Jesus as the Lamb of God and their Messiah, the One Who gave Himself a sacrifice for their sins.
However, during the Tribulation, the temple will have been rebuilt, and John is told to measure it. This shows God’s order. Every detail concerning the temple and its worshipers are placed under God’s scrutiny and purpose. Just prior to God’s judgment on Babylon, God told Belshazzar that He had numbered and weighed his kingdom and found it lacking. Therefore, judgment followed (Daniel 5). Even so, at this time in our study of Revelation, God will measure the temple, and the Israelites who profess godliness, but reject God’s way of salvation, will be found lacking. Therefore, He will allow them to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles an additional 42 months (3½ years). The fact that the court which is without the temple is not measured at this time, but is given unto the Gentiles, shows that God allows the Gentiles to bring this judgment upon the Jews, fulfilling Jesus’ words of Luke 21:24. The holy city refers to Jerusalem, and 42 months is the exact amount of time allotted to the anti-Christ (Revelation 13:5).
Verses 3-12 of our chapter give information concerning two men who will be witnesses for God during the first half of the week of Tribulation. These men are empowered by God to devour their enemies by fire, to prohibit rainfall during the time of their prophecy, to turn water into blood and to bring plagues on the earth whenever they desire. They are clothed in sackcloth, which is the clothing of the poor—showing that they are not interested in the wealth of this world.
Zechariah prophesied of these men as two olive trees and two lamp stands in Zechariah 4, calling them, “Two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth.” All prophecy has both a near and a far fulfillment. The near fulfillment of this prophecy was Jerubbabel and Joshua, who were the first two men to lead the remnant of Israel back to Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon. The far fulfillment is seen in the two witnesses who will lead and help the believers of Israel at this time.
There has been much speculation as to who these two witnesses are. Many believe one of them is Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4:5, and citing the fact that many of the miracles the witnesses will perform are similar to those of Elijah. As to the other witness, some think he is Enoch, because Enoch was translated without dying. Others think he is Moses come back with Elijah, because Moses was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah (Matthew 17). While we cannot say for sure, I really do not believe God will bring back any of His men who have been in heaven all these years, and cause them to leave their heavenly home to live on the earth through the first 3½ years of tribulation, and then die at the hands of the anti-Christ.
Jesus said concerning Elijah’s coming back that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of that prophecy (Matthew 11:13-14; 17:12-13). However, the Jews did not accept the message of John the Baptist, so God will at this time send two witnesses in the spirit and power of Elijah to fulfill His will. If John the Baptist could have been the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Elijah in Jesus’ day, then another man (or two men), can be the fulfillment in the end time. God is never short of material. He has always had a remnant of true believers to do His bidding.
Why two witnesses? Both the law and the gospels call for two witnesses to establish important truths. Also, when Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the gospel, He sent them out by two’s (Mark 6:7).
The miracles God allows these witnesses to perform show that God will be manifesting His power on the earth in physical and visible ways just as He did in Old Testament times. It is not until they have completed their ministry that God allows the anti-Christ, who is seen as the beast that comes out of the bottomless pit, to kill the witnesses. We will learn more of this “beast” in chapters 13 and 17. When the two witnesses are killed, they are not even given the respect of a burial; but instead, their bodies shall lie in the street of Jerusalem, which is called Sodom, because of the immorality prevalent, and Egypt, because of the materialism that will have engulfed its inhabitants. In verse 10, we read of the only time in Revelation that those that dwell on the earth will rejoice. What a terrible indictment against those who will receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved, but instead will believe the lie of the anti-Christ. It appears that their dead bodies will be seen from all over the world, which would not have been possible before the invention of the television and satellites. Truly, all these things cause us to know that the coming of the Lord cannot be far off.
But notice what happens next! After 3½ days, they are resurrected from the dead and then translated up into the very presence of God while their enemies watch! Then, at the same hour (note God’s perfect timing!), there is a great earthquake which causes one-tenth of the city to fall and 7,000 people to be slain. We read that the remnant that were not slain were frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven, but we don’t read that they accepted His Son as their Savior at that time. How sad!
It is at this time that the second woe is said to be passed and the third woe is coming, which causes us to know that the two witnesses minister during the first half of the Tribulation. And now it is time for the 7th trumpet to be sounded. Matthew 24:14 tells us that the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached “in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” This is what the two witnesses have been doing, and now the “end” or the last half of the Tribulation has come.
We now see the Lord taking what is rightfully His—the kingdoms of this world. This causes the 24 elders, who represent the Old Testament overcomers, to fall on their faces before God and worship Him. The four living creatures are not mentioned here because they are a heavenly kingdom, and the kingdoms of the world have to do with God’s covenant to Israel.
Verse 18 again tells us the time has come to judge the unbelieving world and reward the believers. This verse takes in the last 3½ years, which is called the time of “Jacob’s trouble” in Jeremiah 30:7.
Our chapter started with a temple on earth, which was not of God’s will and it ends with the temple of God in heaven in which was seen the Ark of His covenant. This Ark contains God’s righteous law, which has been ignored by the world. Therefore, God is right and just in the judgment which is to follow the warnings of the lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake and hail.
According to Daniel 9:27, the anti-Christ will make a firm covenant with Israel for one week (seven years). This covenant no doubt has to do with the offering of sacrifices in their temple as they did in the Old Testament times, because in the middle of that week, the anti-Christ will cause the sacrifices to cease and sit in the temple, presenting himself as God.
The temple has always been a very important part of Jewish life. In fact, it served as a focal point of their daily living. After the Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness, God gave Moses instructions to build a tabernacle from which He could communicate with His people, and from which they would offer sacrifices. This was their place of worship. Then, when they settled in the promised land, David desired to build a permanent structure, a temple, from which they could worship God with their sacrifices and offerings. However, because David was a man of war, God would not allow him to build the temple; but instead, had his son, Solomon, build it. Solomon’s temple was a very large, beautiful temple. This stood for about 365 years before Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and destroyed it.
A second temple was built by Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, about 520-515 B.C. In about 165 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, defiled this temple by ordering a sow to be offered on the altar. This temple, although much smaller and less ornate than Solomon’s, stood through the years and was the focal point of Jewish life, even though there were numerous times of desecration and defilement. In 20 B.C., Herod the Great began to totally rebuild and enlarge the dimensions of the second temple. Work continued on this temple until approximately 64 A.D. It was in this temple that Jesus was dedicated shortly after His birth, and was recognized as the Messiah by Simeon and the prophetess, Anna. (Luke 2:22-38) Herod’stemple was then destroyed by the Roman General, Titus in 70 A.D.
Through the years, the Jews have attempted several times to rebuild their temple. One such time was in 363 A.D., when they received permission from the Roman government for this purpose. They had stones piled, wood and other necessary materials purchased, and everything ready to begin building the next day. Suddenly, that very night, there was a great earthquake which caused the streets of Jerusalem to buckle and all of their materials were completely destroyed.
In our present day, there are several groups actively working towards the common goal of rebuilding the temple in this generation. Architectural plans for the third temple have been ready for sometime. In 1986, a group of rabbinical scholars formed “The Temple Institute” to gather necessary items for the temple, the tools of the temple, including the priests’ garments. They contend that the problems Israel faces, as well as the problems that the world presently suffers, is a result of the temple’s absence. However, all of this reveals Israel’s continued rejection of Jesus as the Lamb of God and their Messiah, the One Who gave Himself a sacrifice for their sins.
However, during the Tribulation, the temple will have been rebuilt, and John is told to measure it. This shows God’s order. Every detail concerning the temple and its worshipers are placed under God’s scrutiny and purpose. Just prior to God’s judgment on Babylon, God told Belshazzar that He had numbered and weighed his kingdom and found it lacking. Therefore, judgment followed (Daniel 5). Even so, at this time in our study of Revelation, God will measure the temple, and the Israelites who profess godliness, but reject God’s way of salvation, will be found lacking. Therefore, He will allow them to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles an additional 42 months (3½ years). The fact that the court which is without the temple is not measured at this time, but is given unto the Gentiles, shows that God allows the Gentiles to bring this judgment upon the Jews, fulfilling Jesus’ words of Luke 21:24. The holy city refers to Jerusalem, and 42 months is the exact amount of time allotted to the anti-Christ (Revelation 13:5).
Verses 3-12 of our chapter give information concerning two men who will be witnesses for God during the first half of the week of Tribulation. These men are empowered by God to devour their enemies by fire, to prohibit rainfall during the time of their prophecy, to turn water into blood and to bring plagues on the earth whenever they desire. They are clothed in sackcloth, which is the clothing of the poor—showing that they are not interested in the wealth of this world.
Zechariah prophesied of these men as two olive trees and two lamp stands in Zechariah 4, calling them, “Two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth.” All prophecy has both a near and a far fulfillment. The near fulfillment of this prophecy was Jerubbabel and Joshua, who were the first two men to lead the remnant of Israel back to Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon. The far fulfillment is seen in the two witnesses who will lead and help the believers of Israel at this time.
There has been much speculation as to who these two witnesses are. Many believe one of them is Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4:5, and citing the fact that many of the miracles the witnesses will perform are similar to those of Elijah. As to the other witness, some think he is Enoch, because Enoch was translated without dying. Others think he is Moses come back with Elijah, because Moses was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah (Matthew 17). While we cannot say for sure, I really do not believe God will bring back any of His men who have been in heaven all these years, and cause them to leave their heavenly home to live on the earth through the first 3½ years of tribulation, and then die at the hands of the anti-Christ.
Jesus said concerning Elijah’s coming back that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of that prophecy (Matthew 11:13-14; 17:12-13). However, the Jews did not accept the message of John the Baptist, so God will at this time send two witnesses in the spirit and power of Elijah to fulfill His will. If John the Baptist could have been the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Elijah in Jesus’ day, then another man (or two men), can be the fulfillment in the end time. God is never short of material. He has always had a remnant of true believers to do His bidding.
Why two witnesses? Both the law and the gospels call for two witnesses to establish important truths. Also, when Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the gospel, He sent them out by two’s (Mark 6:7).
The miracles God allows these witnesses to perform show that God will be manifesting His power on the earth in physical and visible ways just as He did in Old Testament times. It is not until they have completed their ministry that God allows the anti-Christ, who is seen as the beast that comes out of the bottomless pit, to kill the witnesses. We will learn more of this “beast” in chapters 13 and 17. When the two witnesses are killed, they are not even given the respect of a burial; but instead, their bodies shall lie in the street of Jerusalem, which is called Sodom, because of the immorality prevalent, and Egypt, because of the materialism that will have engulfed its inhabitants. In verse 10, we read of the only time in Revelation that those that dwell on the earth will rejoice. What a terrible indictment against those who will receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved, but instead will believe the lie of the anti-Christ. It appears that their dead bodies will be seen from all over the world, which would not have been possible before the invention of the television and satellites. Truly, all these things cause us to know that the coming of the Lord cannot be far off.
But notice what happens next! After 3½ days, they are resurrected from the dead and then translated up into the very presence of God while their enemies watch! Then, at the same hour (note God’s perfect timing!), there is a great earthquake which causes one-tenth of the city to fall and 7,000 people to be slain. We read that the remnant that were not slain were frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven, but we don’t read that they accepted His Son as their Savior at that time. How sad!
It is at this time that the second woe is said to be passed and the third woe is coming, which causes us to know that the two witnesses minister during the first half of the Tribulation. And now it is time for the 7th trumpet to be sounded. Matthew 24:14 tells us that the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached “in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” This is what the two witnesses have been doing, and now the “end” or the last half of the Tribulation has come.
We now see the Lord taking what is rightfully His—the kingdoms of this world. This causes the 24 elders, who represent the Old Testament overcomers, to fall on their faces before God and worship Him. The four living creatures are not mentioned here because they are a heavenly kingdom, and the kingdoms of the world have to do with God’s covenant to Israel.
Verse 18 again tells us the time has come to judge the unbelieving world and reward the believers. This verse takes in the last 3½ years, which is called the time of “Jacob’s trouble” in Jeremiah 30:7.
Our chapter started with a temple on earth, which was not of God’s will and it ends with the temple of God in heaven in which was seen the Ark of His covenant. This Ark contains God’s righteous law, which has been ignored by the world. Therefore, God is right and just in the judgment which is to follow the warnings of the lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake and hail.