Rev 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.
Rev 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.
This measuring reed was about 12 ½ feet long. The temple here is no
previous temple at Jerusalem because it was destroyed in 70 AD. I don’t believe
this is the temple described in Ezekiel 20 because that one is the final temple
built under the reign of Jesus Christ. This one described here will be destroyed
at the end of the tribulation. Sacrifices are again offered at this temple
described in chapter 11.
We see from these scriptures that a temple has to be built in order for this
prophecy to be fulfilled. As of yet, 2008, this temple has not even started. So
does that mean the coming of the Lord is not yet close? Absolutely not. First of
all with the Pre-tribulation rapture teaching, He can come at any time even
before the building of a literal temple. I would say that the temple would have
to be built first before the pre-wrath rapture, the mid-tribulation rapture or
the post- tribulation rapture of the church takes place.
That would make us think the Lord isn’t ready to come yet which makes me lean
toward the pre-trib teaching because we are supposed to be ready at any moment
and always expect the Lord to return. The apostles even thought the Lord would
return in their day. If we get our eyes off that goal, we usually get careless
and think He delays His coming and began to fight our fellow servants.
In this day of modern technology a temple can be built quickly. We can see also
why there are so many people hindering this temple from being build. The devil
doesn’t want it build and as soon as it is build, the anti-christ will defile it
like his forerunner did under the Grecian Empire. Daniel chapter 11 tells of
this one who breaks the covenant and sets up the abomination that makes
desolate. Many times the Old Testament parallels something that happens in the
latter days. That same thing happens under the anti-christ. One will enter into
the temple and set up another abomination that makes desolate.
This would be during the last three and one half years into the tribulation.
Previous to this Jerusalem was in the hands of Israel but in the tribulation
period the anti-christ will have taken over and the Gentiles will tread
underfoot the whole city and perhaps all of Israel. So the time of the Gentiles
does not end until the end of the tribulation although the age of the church has
already ended by this time. This is leading to the great time when Christ will
return and restore Jerusalem and the country of Israel back to the Jews when
they discover that Jesus (Yeshua) is truly the Messiah (Christ) their ancestors
rejected. Christ alone will save the Jews from the armies of the anti-christ.
All the armies that come against Jerusalem will be destroyed.
Probably when this siege of Jerusalem takes place the enemies of Israel will
think they have won. They will think that they are so powerful that no one can
stop them. They may even be so stupid as to think they are doing God a service.
Then again the anti-christ thinks he is God anyway so we see that these will
think they have arrived to completely thwart God's purpose and destroy God's
people. They will try to kill every Jew or all Israel for it’s is clear from
scripture that the other tribes of Israel will be present.
Rev 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. For
this same period of three and one half years the two witnesses will prophecy.
They probably will preach again the gospel and warn heavily
about further judgments to come. Notice it is about the same time period that
Jesus’ preaching ministry lasted. These preach the last 3 ½ years of the
tribulation.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing
before the God of the earth.
Here is the verse that tells of these witnesses as far back as
Zechariah's prophecy.
Zechariah 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two
olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side
thereof?
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive
branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of
themselves?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I
said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord
of the whole earth.
Yes truly these are appointed by God to prophecy in these latter days.
Their identity. Some believe these to be Moses and Elijah, John and Enoch, and
Enoch and Elijah.
Some pick John and Enoch because they represent the Old and New Testaments and
that Elijah has already came in the spirit of John the Baptist. Some pick Elijah
and Moses because they were seen on the mount of transfiguration with Jesus,
thereby being a witness to His being the Son of God. I believe whoever they are,
it will be someone who has not previously died for this scripture says:
Hebrew 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:
We know that Moses died because the scripture bears this out. So the
ones that choose to believe that Enoch and Elijah are the two witnesses believe
the apostle John died a natural death and so did Moses so that leaves the only
two that were translated, Enoch and Elijah.
Yet the bible also says that Enoch was translated that he not see death so some
believe he was changed already without dying and given a new body but if that
was the case, Jesus would not be the first fruits of the resurrection, Enoch
would be.
God may have preserved them in their natural bodies until they come back for
this purpose of prophesying during the tribulation. They were seen as two olive
sticks in Zechariah and we know John didn’t exist at that time so that would
point to Moses, Elijah and Enoch. John the Baptist came in the spirit and
power of Elijah and was not really Elijah himself. I
John was told that he must prophesy against before many people,
tongues and nations and also when Peter asked Jesus about John saying, "And what
shall this man do?" Jesus answered and said, "If I will that he tarry til I
come, what is that to thee, follow thou me." A rumor went about
saying that that disciple shall not die but that is not what Jesus said.
Many take this to mean that John will die but it will be as one of the witnesses
during the tribulation. This is not a common belief among most Christians.
The fact that two Old Testament men were talking with Jesus on the mount where
He was transfigured does show us that there is no soul sleep for Peter, James
and John saw Moses and Elijah. Moses previously died and Elijah was translated
similar to what happens when the church is raptured. One represented those that
died in the Lord and the other may represent the ones who are caught up to be
with the Lord just after the dead in Christ have risen.
1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I would say that if Moses did not die a natural death, he
certainly would be one of the two witnesses.
Now back to the two witnesses and their works during the last three and
one half years of the 7 year tribulation.
Rev 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.
This shows us that they had power given to them by God and no one could harm
them until it was the proper time.
Rev 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.
Elijah had this power and so did Moses. This may be another reason why some
think Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses but I do not hold to that view
because Moses literally died and I don't think he will be required to die again.
Rev 11:7 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.
The beast here is the one who comes out of the abyss before the
tribulation starts and cause the rise of the anti-christ out of the ten kingdoms
that will form from the same area as the Old Roman Empire. He will make a seven
year covenant with Israel and break it in the middle of the tribulation. I’m
thinking the seven year covenant will allow them to build the temple mentioned
in previous verses. So the temple may be built during the tribulation rather
than before it but it could happen before it starts.
The two witnesses will protect Israel during the last 3 ½ years until they are
slain. They are probably the ones to lead them into the wilderness as they run
from the armies of the anti-christ. They cannot be killed until they finish
their testimony.
In the book of Daniel we see that all nations have one who is behind their
leadership. One of the princes or fallen angels was behind the kings of Persia
so I assume that they also are behind the evil rulers of all ages. Here is one
of God's angels talking with Daniel:
Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first
day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before
thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty
days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I
remained there with the kings of Persia.
So we see from the above that there are angelic beings in charge of
kingdoms.
Rev 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.
We see that God had to allow the witnesses to be killed or else no one
could kill them. This city was completely taken over by wicked men. Egypt
represents the world or world powers that oppose everything holy. Sodom
represents wicked men who defiantly do according to their own will whether or
not what they do is the direct opposite of God's will for His creation.
In these latter days we see an increase in sexual immorality and fornication. We
see men with men and women with women coming out of the closet and defying the
word of God. They have become very bold and defiant. This is occurring in the
area around Jerusalem also. To oppose this kind of thing is frowned upon by
those in authority already. If we quote the bible and try to warn against this
lifestyle we are called bigots and hate-mongers. This is going to get worse
before the end. Rape against adults and children will become the norm. If we try
to stop it, we could be arrested for hate crimes.
They call good evil and evil, good. This bad enough now but it will get worse
during this time of great tribulation.
Rev 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.
They will be so depraved that they forbid their bodies to be buried so they can
rejoice and triumph over these servants of God. They will think they have won.
Rev 11:10 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.
Here we see an out of season Christmas celebration where they send gifts to each
other because of the death of these men.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered
into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which
saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up
hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld
them.
Wow, they will see the witness of God's power of resurrection right before their
eyes. This will probably be broadcast all over the world by way of Internet and
Television instantly.
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of
the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the
remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Here we see a remnant probably of the citizens of Israel who fear God and
recognize who is behind all these things.
Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.
It is about to be all over. Christ is ready to return with His saints (faithful
believers) and rule the earth.
Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast,
and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast
reigned.
While all these things are going on in the nation of Israel, the host of
heaven sees everything and they rejoice causing them to fall upon their faces
and worship God just like they did at the beginning of this prophecy.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
This probably is not the white throne judgment but the judgment of the
nations that came against Israel during the great tribulation. We see Jesus
describe this:
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world:
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed
thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not:
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not
minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as
ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal.
The resurrected saints will be rewarded sometime between the rapture and the
when Christ comes to set up His kingdom. It will be sometime during the
tribulation, at what point we do not know for sure, saints are rewarded for
their deeds.
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen
in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices,
and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
This appears to be the end right when Jesus returns but we shall see in chapter
12 that it backs up a little and describes more detail of what transpired
previous to all this that is to come to pass. I don't know exactly why God
chooses to record things in this manner but I will make a guess. Again I say
that my opinions are never to be taken as equal to God's word. In fact there is
no comparison. I believe God reminds us of the end in many places so that we are
not overwhelmed by what seems to be triumph by the enemy. It seems that He is
quick to show us the end in more than one place so that we are comforted when we
read of the horror that is to take place.
That is my personal take on this. I don't believe God does this to confuse us.
Another thought is that God does it this way to confuse those that are agents of
the wicked one so that they read and do not understand thereby dismissing the
book as some crazy works of fiction. With all the crazy fiction we have in this
day and age, I can see how they would read this and see it that way. In this way
the wise shall understand as Daniel says.
Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked
shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand.
God has everything under control. We must believe in His Son and stay faithful
to Him and we have no need to fear.
Revelation 12
