Book of Revelation - Part 28 Revelation 11:1-14 Revelation 11:1-14, “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” • First, John is told to measure the Temple but leave out the Outer Court which was given to the Gentiles - As we looked at the Biblical History of Measuring the Temple, it was God’s way of saying: - Pay attention to what’s going on in the Temple, at the Altar and the Worshippers - And, God is about to pour out a blessing on them that will not be able to be measured! - Excluding the Gentiles (which are Unbelievers collectively) was God’s way of saying: - Don’t worry about what they are doing (as they trample the Holy City) - And, no blessing is coming their way • The Timeline (it is mentioned, so it is important): - The Gentiles trample the holy city for 42 months (3½ years) - 2 Witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days (3½ years) - Our studies have shown the first 3½ years to be full of human conflict (1st 5 Seals); this matches the “Gentiles Trampling” - Our studies have shown the last 3½ years to be full of Acts of God (Disasters from Heaven); this matches the activities of the 2 Witnesses (no rain; water to blood; plagues) * So, the 2 Witnesses may be after the Gentiles Trampling - The Beast come out of the Abyss and kills them: - Their dead bodies lay in the public square of Jerusalem for 3½ days - This is most likely a literal 3½ days and not symbolic of weeks or years because of the earlier reference to 1,260 days - Note: 365 x 7 = 2556 (with one leap year); (a Jewish month is 29.5 days x 42) 1239 + 1260 = 2499 A difference of 57 days * Due to the Gregorian and Lunar calendars, it is difficult to say how long 7 years is to the day • The Beast comes out of the Abyss and kills them - Some say this is the Antichrist: - The Beast in Revelation 13 is commonly known as the Antichrist (because one of his horns dies, comes to life, does miracles, blasphemes God and His Temple and enforces worship upon himself) - But this Beast comes out of the Sea - He has 7 heads; 10 horns and 10 crowns on the horns - The Beast in Revelation 17 comes out of the Abyss: - He is similar to the Beast out of the Sea: 7 heads; 10 horns (but no crowns) - He has blasphemies written all over him (Rev 17:3) Revelation 17:12, “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” Revelation 17:9, “The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.” * So the Beast seems to be a historical line of Kings; this 8th King which is not currently on the Beast out of the Abyss may be the Beast out of the Sea • The Timeline Continues: - People celebrate their death for the 3½ days - Lazarus was dead for 4 days: - They noted to Jesus that “by this time there is a bad odour” - Remember what Jesus said the purpose of Lazarus’ death was: John 11:4, “When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”” * Both of these are relevant here: - They refused to bury them. They were rotting under the Jerusalem sun. - God used it to glorify His Name through the death and the resurrection! - Vs. 8, “Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.” - Sodom = sin - Egypt = slavery * This is what Jerusalem is called during this time - God resurrects them and everyone is afraid! - So they should be, they dishonoured the 2 Witnesses - Vs. 11, “But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.” - Reminiscent of the first Adam, this is the Last Resurrection to happen in God’s Story and it’s a deliberate reminder that our Life is God’s Breath and we exist by His Decision - Then they are raptured into heaven - The same way Jesus Ascended after His Resurrection: Acts 1:10-11, “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”” (Could it have been the 2 Witnesses?) - Then a severe earthquake destroys 1/10 of Jerusalem. 7000 killed. - Not total destruction, but enough to send out the warning in the hopes that some will repent (God’s Heart!) - Vs. 13, “the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” - This is a new reaction! Everyone else has shook their fist at God * This may speak of Israel. Remember the context is to pay attention to “the temple, the altar and the worshippers” Israel worshipped in the Temple while believers worship through Christ * And through prophecy, we know Israel will repent and recognize Jesus as the Messiah in the End Times: Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (The possible identity of the 2 Witnesses may confirm this…) The Two Witnesses: • Some believe it is Enoch and Elijah because they both were raptured and never died Genesis 5:24, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” 2 Kings 2:11, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” • Some believe one was John because of what Jesus said to Peter: John 21:23, “When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”” • Clues from the Text (Revelation 11) - Vs. 4, “They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands and “they stand before the Lord of the earth” - Notice the quotations.