Revelation 11
1 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.
In the Old Testament, measuring is often meant to imply ownership, protection and preservation. In this case, God owns the earth and all in it. We see examples of measuring in the books of Ezekial, Zechariah and Habbukah.
So why should the temple be measured? There are two interpretations we can look to for understanding.
Symbolic
This is a symbol of the church. But if this is true, it doesn’t answer any of the questions. Why should the temple be measured? What is the significance of the courts and altar? Who are the worshippers? The specifics of the text don’t necessarily point to a purely symbolic interpretation.
Literal
AntiChrist will break his covenant with the Jewish people and set something abominable in the temple (Daniel 9:27, 11:31).
The AntiChrist would sit in the temple as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The evidence points to a real, future temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem- at a future date
Historical Timeline
First, let’s analyze the history of the temple:
Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice Isaac (This is the site of where Solomon’s temple will eventually be built).
David buys the same land (He secures the spot for Solomon)
Solomon’s temple built on this land (temple mount) is completed approximately 959 BC
Solomon’s temple destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar
2nd temple completed on temple mount by Zerubbabel in 516 BC
2nd temple destroyed by Rome in 70 AD
Al-Aqsa mosque built on the Temple Mount in 705 AD by conquering Muslims
In order to understand end-times, we have to understand something crucial: the tribulation cannot persist unless the AntiChrist has access to the temple, in order to defile it, call himself God, and begin the second half of the tribulation. Can this even happen? The temple is gone and the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been built over it. So the temple must one day be rebuilt for this to happen. There are three ways this can happen:
The location of the current Muslim temple would need to be destroyed and a new temple built in its place
The location of the temple mount would need to be reconfigured and built on
Diplomacy amongst leaders would allow for building of a new temple
Destruction of the Al-Asqa: Through extremist destruction of the temple, it could usher in a situation where a peacemaker could come in, create peace and a resolution that all sides agree to. Currently, there are numbers of extremist groups operating in Jerusalem that could bring destruction to the temple.
Reconfiguration of the Location: There are four current theories as to exactly where the temple mount is located.
Actual temple mount is north of the current location
It is in the correct spot
It is south of the current spot
It is far south of the current spot
In other words, if the location is found to be elsewhere than under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, then the third temple can be rebuilt without the Muslim mosque being disturbed.
Diplomacy: Members of international faith communities, under the concept of heritage of humankind, would need to come together as a global cooperative. This could involve UNESCO. NATO, the Arab League, and could result in a great global effort for peace and understanding int he middle east.
There is also a push to rebuild the temple. A small contingent of Jews are actively trying to get the temple rebuilt (The Temple Mount Faithful). These are people who claim Levitical heritage training as priests for sacrificial duties (Orthodox). Although these groups are small, they are committed to the restoration of the third temple.
Another component of the rebuilding of the temple are the people of Jerusalem themselves. Most Jews, secular or religious, don’t care about the rebuilding of the temple. The malaise in Jerusalem could in of itself create a climate of support for keeping the peace.
The Jewish Perspective of the Messiah
At the time of the appearance of Christ, the Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah. In their mindset, Jesus did not fit the criteria of their image of the savior. What is interesting is that the Jews could mistake the Anti-Christ as the messiah. Below is a chart of the Messianic criteria along with the possibility of how they may view the AntiChrist as a savior.
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.
He was told not to measure the outer courts. Why? Because the outer courts are given to the Gentiles. The will trample with the city with contempt for 42 months (3 1/2 years). This is a reference to the second half of the tribulation.
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.”
This new revelation is about the appearance of two witnesses. They are clothed in sackcloth (repentance) and will speak prophecies for 1260 days (about 3.5 years). The olive trees and lamp stands refers back to Zechariah 4:2-3,4:14. The Olive trees represent “Anointed Ones” and the Lampstands represent “witnesses”. So these two individuals are anointed witnesses.
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.
If anyone tries to harm them…
• They have special protection from God
• Witnesses can bring drought and plague
• Witnesses associated with Elijah and Moses
• Elijah- Precursor to Elisha, the “Christ” precursor
• Moses- Led God’s people from slavery
• Witnesses: Precursors to Christ and there to lead people out of slavery
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.
The two witnesses are beaten and attacked killed by the beast from the abyss at the end of their 3 1/2 year ministry. Their attacker is the beast himself. But what the beast doesn’t understand is that there is a time component to God’s plan, and this is just part of it. The ministry is not cut short; it is concluded exactly when it was supposed to end. God will protect us until their ministry is finished. Satan does not have that power over us.
The Great City is referenced here. The Great City refers to Babylon and Sodom is representative of Immorality. Egypt is representative of slavery and oppression. So the great city is bedrock in oppression, slavery and immorality.
How does the world see these things? 2000 years ago it was impossible for the world to see the witnesses. Stories would be passed along over time. But now, with streaming digital video and instant access to information, this is a very real possibility.
What is the reaction of the world? On a large scale it rejoices over the death of the witnesses. Why would it do that? Because now the accountability is gone. Instead of changing its ways, it fights to destroys the accountability. It hearkens back to Elijah’s fight with Ahab. Elijah was tasked with bringing Israel to repentance through a drought. But Ahab blamed the drought on Elijah, claiming that it was his doing, not because of the behavior of Israel.
The world, in the story, refuses to bury the witnesses. This may seem strange, or maybe even an attempt to hang onto them for a little while longer, but in this culture, not burying a dead body was a violation of decency.
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.
After 3 1/2 days (an obvious duplication of the 3 1/2 years of their ministry), the witnesses are revived and ascend into heaven. Then an enormous earthquake strikes and kills 7000. Note the symbolism of 7000. 7 is the symbolic number for perfection. But this just isn’t God’s wrath; it’s also His mercy. The terror of this event brings many to repentance, which is always God’s plan.
This is the end of the second woe. In chapter 9 we learned that the first woe was a horde of scoprion-like creatures that torment unbelievers for 5 months. The second woe is comprised of the release of the four angels bound at the Euphrates, and a great battle, the angel and the little scroll and the two witnesses. The third woe is yet to come…
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18
The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small--
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
The seventh trumpet begins with the praise to the Lord at His arrival. The world is angry because it knows the wrath of God has come. The temple is opened, the ark of the covenant is seen. The mercy seat is visible. Judgement is coming on the earth.
1 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.
In the Old Testament, measuring is often meant to imply ownership, protection and preservation. In this case, God owns the earth and all in it. We see examples of measuring in the books of Ezekial, Zechariah and Habbukah.
So why should the temple be measured? There are two interpretations we can look to for understanding.
Symbolic
This is a symbol of the church. But if this is true, it doesn’t answer any of the questions. Why should the temple be measured? What is the significance of the courts and altar? Who are the worshippers? The specifics of the text don’t necessarily point to a purely symbolic interpretation.
Literal
AntiChrist will break his covenant with the Jewish people and set something abominable in the temple (Daniel 9:27, 11:31).
The AntiChrist would sit in the temple as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The evidence points to a real, future temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem- at a future date
Historical Timeline
First, let’s analyze the history of the temple:
Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice Isaac (This is the site of where Solomon’s temple will eventually be built).
David buys the same land (He secures the spot for Solomon)
Solomon’s temple built on this land (temple mount) is completed approximately 959 BC
Solomon’s temple destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar
2nd temple completed on temple mount by Zerubbabel in 516 BC
2nd temple destroyed by Rome in 70 AD
Al-Aqsa mosque built on the Temple Mount in 705 AD by conquering Muslims
In order to understand end-times, we have to understand something crucial: the tribulation cannot persist unless the AntiChrist has access to the temple, in order to defile it, call himself God, and begin the second half of the tribulation. Can this even happen? The temple is gone and the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been built over it. So the temple must one day be rebuilt for this to happen. There are three ways this can happen:
The location of the current Muslim temple would need to be destroyed and a new temple built in its place
The location of the temple mount would need to be reconfigured and built on
Diplomacy amongst leaders would allow for building of a new temple
Destruction of the Al-Asqa: Through extremist destruction of the temple, it could usher in a situation where a peacemaker could come in, create peace and a resolution that all sides agree to. Currently, there are numbers of extremist groups operating in Jerusalem that could bring destruction to the temple.
Reconfiguration of the Location: There are four current theories as to exactly where the temple mount is located.
Actual temple mount is north of the current location
It is in the correct spot
It is south of the current spot
It is far south of the current spot
In other words, if the location is found to be elsewhere than under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, then the third temple can be rebuilt without the Muslim mosque being disturbed.
Diplomacy: Members of international faith communities, under the concept of heritage of humankind, would need to come together as a global cooperative. This could involve UNESCO. NATO, the Arab League, and could result in a great global effort for peace and understanding int he middle east.
There is also a push to rebuild the temple. A small contingent of Jews are actively trying to get the temple rebuilt (The Temple Mount Faithful). These are people who claim Levitical heritage training as priests for sacrificial duties (Orthodox). Although these groups are small, they are committed to the restoration of the third temple.
Another component of the rebuilding of the temple are the people of Jerusalem themselves. Most Jews, secular or religious, don’t care about the rebuilding of the temple. The malaise in Jerusalem could in of itself create a climate of support for keeping the peace.
The Jewish Perspective of the Messiah
At the time of the appearance of Christ, the Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah. In their mindset, Jesus did not fit the criteria of their image of the savior. What is interesting is that the Jews could mistake the Anti-Christ as the messiah. Below is a chart of the Messianic criteria along with the possibility of how they may view the AntiChrist as a savior.
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.
He was told not to measure the outer courts. Why? Because the outer courts are given to the Gentiles. The will trample with the city with contempt for 42 months (3 1/2 years). This is a reference to the second half of the tribulation.
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.”
This new revelation is about the appearance of two witnesses. They are clothed in sackcloth (repentance) and will speak prophecies for 1260 days (about 3.5 years). The olive trees and lamp stands refers back to Zechariah 4:2-3,4:14. The Olive trees represent “Anointed Ones” and the Lampstands represent “witnesses”. So these two individuals are anointed witnesses.
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.
If anyone tries to harm them…
• They have special protection from God
• Witnesses can bring drought and plague
• Witnesses associated with Elijah and Moses
• Elijah- Precursor to Elisha, the “Christ” precursor
• Moses- Led God’s people from slavery
• Witnesses: Precursors to Christ and there to lead people out of slavery
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.
The two witnesses are beaten and attacked killed by the beast from the abyss at the end of their 3 1/2 year ministry. Their attacker is the beast himself. But what the beast doesn’t understand is that there is a time component to God’s plan, and this is just part of it. The ministry is not cut short; it is concluded exactly when it was supposed to end. God will protect us until their ministry is finished. Satan does not have that power over us.
The Great City is referenced here. The Great City refers to Babylon and Sodom is representative of Immorality. Egypt is representative of slavery and oppression. So the great city is bedrock in oppression, slavery and immorality.
How does the world see these things? 2000 years ago it was impossible for the world to see the witnesses. Stories would be passed along over time. But now, with streaming digital video and instant access to information, this is a very real possibility.
What is the reaction of the world? On a large scale it rejoices over the death of the witnesses. Why would it do that? Because now the accountability is gone. Instead of changing its ways, it fights to destroys the accountability. It hearkens back to Elijah’s fight with Ahab. Elijah was tasked with bringing Israel to repentance through a drought. But Ahab blamed the drought on Elijah, claiming that it was his doing, not because of the behavior of Israel.
The world, in the story, refuses to bury the witnesses. This may seem strange, or maybe even an attempt to hang onto them for a little while longer, but in this culture, not burying a dead body was a violation of decency.
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.
After 3 1/2 days (an obvious duplication of the 3 1/2 years of their ministry), the witnesses are revived and ascend into heaven. Then an enormous earthquake strikes and kills 7000. Note the symbolism of 7000. 7 is the symbolic number for perfection. But this just isn’t God’s wrath; it’s also His mercy. The terror of this event brings many to repentance, which is always God’s plan.
This is the end of the second woe. In chapter 9 we learned that the first woe was a horde of scoprion-like creatures that torment unbelievers for 5 months. The second woe is comprised of the release of the four angels bound at the Euphrates, and a great battle, the angel and the little scroll and the two witnesses. The third woe is yet to come…
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18
The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small--
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
The seventh trumpet begins with the praise to the Lord at His arrival. The world is angry because it knows the wrath of God has come. The temple is opened, the ark of the covenant is seen. The mercy seat is visible. Judgement is coming on the earth.