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“The Two Witnesses” Revelation 11:1-14 May 2, 2021 This Particular Screen 1 Screen 2 “The Two Witnesses” Revelation 11:1-14 May 2, 2021 This particular vision has long been one of the most difficult passages (if not the most complicated in the whole book) in the Revelation. There are at minimum five different broad interpretations of these views. Nevertheless, the possibility for a satisfactory interpretation of the section is not hopeless. PRAY for understanding and application. Revelation 11:1 “Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, Screen 3 ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there.’” The measuring rod in Ezekiel 40:5 was about ten feet long. The “temple” always refers to the literal temple in Jerusalem in all of the gospels and John’s writings except in John 2:19-21 where it refers to the body of Jesus. As a good Baptist, raised/taught the premillennial dispensationalist view of the Revelation, I am always going to lean in the direction of the literal – in all of Scriptures and in the Apocalypse, too. Chapters 10 and 11 of Revelation are to be taken together as a unit, describing the fate of the 144,000 sealed believers (a.k.a. the church) on earth during the Great Tribulation period of time just before Christ’s return (second coming). Here, in Chapter 11, John’s role of a passive spectator has given way to active involvement in his own vision (just as in Chapter 10 from last week). Here, he is given a “measuring rod” – the measuring of the temple (in Jerusalem, again, one day) is a way of declaring its preservation. 1 Habakkuk 3:6 “He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways. Metzger writes, “Measuring is done in order to build and repair, and John is given a measuring rod so he can restore and receive the church.” Ford lists four Screen 4 explanations of the measuring rod here: 1. Rebuilding and restoring 2. Destruction 3. Preservation from physical harm 4. Preservation from spiritual harm The background is probably (Ezekiel 40 - 42) where the prophet in a vision watches every part of the temple being measured with painstaking care. Ezekiel 2:1-5 “1 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them..” Some see Leviticus 16 as a likely background for this passage. Some see this temple as figurative – “the Christian community who worship God” – i.e. the 2 church, the people of God. While I see the temple as pointing to/representing the church, that does not mean it is not literal. Throughout Scripture literal things represent spiritual things/truths, all throughout! (I see this as the/a literal temple in Jerusalem rebuilt by a friendly antichrist in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation – the one who signs a peace agreement with Israel at first and then turns on Israel half way through that seven year period (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 and see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). By measuring the temple, John is teaching/showing that God will give spiritual sanctuary to the faithful believers (a.k.a. the 144,000 plus the people who come to Christ through their witness) against the demonic asault of the antichrist. The protection of these believers is not against physical suffering and death but against spiritual danger. The “altar” – the holy peace/the altar of incense (Revelation 8:3). Revelation 11:2 “but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave thatScreen 5 out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty- two months.” (Rome did this to Jerusalem in A.D. 70.) The outer court of the temple was called the court of the Gentiles. Solomon’s temple had two courts (1 Kings 6:36) but Herod’s temple was divided into three courts (the court of the women, the court of the Israelites, and the court of the priests). Separating these three from the court of Gentiles was a barrier with inscriptions threatening death to any Gentile who would pass beyond: Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. 3 Opinions are divided as to what the outer court – “Court outside the temple” stands for. Others see this as the Dome of the Rock today. Some say this points toward those who although outwardly belong to the church are not true believers. In other words, the part of the professing church that is still “of the world.” Others say that this points to the true church viewed from a different perspective. It is to be given over to persecution in the last days. The distinction between the sanctuary and the outer court is a way of pointing out the limitations placed upon pagan hostility – “inwardly the community is preserved from Satanic attack . outwardly it is given over to the violence of the Gentiles.” The unbelieving world may physically decimate the witnessing church, but it cannot touch its real source of life. The Christian church will be sheltered (spiritually) yet trampled physically. (Does away with the health and wealth preaching today). The background for this is the prophecy concerning Antiochus Epiphanes in Daniel 8:9-14. There, the temple is to be trampled underfoot by the “little horn” for 2,300 days – then it is to be reconsecrated. Likewise, the church is to be profaned but it will not be destroyed. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. “42 months” – is also given in Revelation 11:2; 13:5 and here. It is also given as 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3; 12:6 and “a time, times and half a time” in Revelation 12:14. Its primary reference is given to the period of Jewish suffering under the Syria despot Antiochus Epiphanes in 167-164 B.C. The drought of Elijah lasted three and a half years, too (Luke 4:25; James 5:17). Three and a half years became a standard symbol for that limited time period during which evil would be 4 allowed free rise. It is “the conventional period in apocalyptic literature for the temporary triumph of evil before the end of the age” (Luke 21:24 – “the times of the Gentiles”). Final witnesses, divine protection and pagan antagonism are simultaneous. Literal temple? Today, you can visit the Temple Institute in the Jewish Quarter of the old city in Jerusalem. There is a group of Jews totally dedicated to rebuilding the Temple and educating the public for this possibility. See Faithful of the Temple Mount – google it!!! The Jews will once again rebuild a temple and for three and a half years sacrifices of animals will take place. But three and a half years into this time period the Antichrist will set up an image of himself (we will discuss this later!). Now, the two witness. (Optional – pray here for clarity and understanding.) Revelation 11:3 " And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will Screen 6 prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." Pages 216-217 Mounce’s book, NICNT Commentary here. Pages 572-573 in Beale’s book, NGTC Commentary here. Whether Moses and Elijah, Elijah/Enoch/etc. or simply two unnamed prophets with ministries like the prophets of old – they have “authority” – i.e. they speak for God. They are clothes in “sackcloth” just like prophets of old (Old Testament). In spite of all the disasters that will happen on the planet earth, the antagonism against the church of God by the whole unbelieving world – God has his remnant/faithful witnesses! 5 Revelation 11:4 “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that Screen 7 stand before the Lord of the earth.” >In Revelation 11:4, olive trees piped oil right into lamps so they would burn continuously.> “two olive trees and the two lampstands” – Zechariah’s vision given in Zechariah 4. There is a single golden lampstand (Israel?) that supports a bowl with seven lamps (“the eyes of the Lord” – verse 10) and is flanked by two olive trees (Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the Jewish governor under the Persian King Darius) that supply it with “golden oil’ (verse 12). The angelic interpretation is, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” in verse 6. As God’s Spirit works through his chosen leaders, despite all their apparent weaknesses, the temple will be brought to its completion. These two are the bearers of divine light: Matthew 5:15-16 “15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
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