REVELATION
Chapter 11
"The Temple and the Two Witnesses"
INTRODUCTION:
1. This portion of Revelation is still parenthetical
2. It continues the narrative of chapter 10.
3. It deals with further events that will take place during the last half of the tribulation.
a. Cf. v.2 - "forty and two months"
b. Cf. v.3 - "a thousand two hundred and threescore days"
4. The events are prophetical in obedience to God's command to John that "thou must prophesy again." (Rev. 10:11)
5. "It describes to us the ongoing of the judgment, now rapidly moving to its climax." (Seiss)
I. THE MEASURING OF THE TEMPLE (vs.1,2)
A. The Comparison Delineated (vs.1,2a) (The measuring of the temple is a part of the prophecy John was commanded to speak in 10:11.)
1. The temple of 11:1,2 is the one to be built for the tribulation period.
a. It will be the place where the antichrist sets up an image of himself. (Rev. 13:14; II Thess. 2:4)
b. It will be built in accordance with the decree of the antichrist that they have the right to re- establish their religious practices. (cf. Dan. 9:26,27)
2. The Temple of God in the millennium will be a place of true worship.
a. It will demonstrate GOD'S glory and holiness. (Ezek. 43:2,5)
b. It will provide a dwelling place for God on the earth. ("This is the place of my throne" - Ezek. 43:7)
c. It will perpetuate a memorial to the sacrifice of Christ. (Ezek. 43:27)
d. It will provide victory over the curse. (Ezek. 47:1-12)
e. It will be built under the supervision of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Zech. 6:12,13)
3. The measuring of the temple of 11:1,2 suggests that it falls far short of God's ideal.
B. The Conquest Described (v.2)
1. Jerusalem is to be controlled by the Gentiles.
2. The period of Jerusalem's Gentile rule is to be 3-1/2 years ("forty and two months")--the last half of the tribulation period. (cf. Luke 21:24)
3. Hence, the "court which is without," the court of the Gentiles, will be left out of the measurement because it was still to be given to them.
a. "Leave out" is literally "cast out."
b. As such, it is reckoned as being unholy.
4. The effects of the Gentile conquest of Jerusalem (Zech.14:1-3)
C. The Condemnation of the Devout
1. Not only was the temple to be measured, but also the worshippers.
2. As the temple falls short of God's ideal, so do they.
a. Though they have returned to the Land, at this point, it is in unbelief.
b. They are seen worshipping the idol of the antichrist.
c. They are still practicing their old religion as far as possible.
d. In their unbelief they are found wanting.
II. THE MINISTRY OF THE TWO WITNESSES (vs.3-12)
A. Their Identification
1. They are prophets from the nation of Israel.
a. Symbolized by two olive trees (cf. Rom. 11:17; Zech. 4:3)
b. They are two witnesses (candlesticks-lampstands) in the midst of a wicked world (cf. Zech. 4:2) for the purpose of bringing light in the darkness.
2. The case for Elijah (v.6)
a. Was John the Baptist Elijah?
1) The return of Elijah was predicted by the Lord. (Matt. 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13)
2) The return of Elijah was predicted by Malachi. (Mal. 4:5,6)
3) John the Baptist denied that he was Elijah. (Jn. 1:21)
4) John came with the same "spirit and power" of Elijah. (Luke 1:17; Matt. 11:14)
5) John came as the forerunner of Christ at His first advent. (cf. Isa. 40:3-5; John 1:23; Matt. 3:3)
6) As John heralded the ministry of Christ at His first appearance to prepare the world for Him, so Elijah will do the same prior to the return of Christ to restore the Kingdom.
7) "Therefore, we are led to the conclusion that the Elijah prophecy (of Mal. 4:5,6) is yet to find a second fulfillment, which will take place in the future, possibly as one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11." (Criswell Study Bible)
b. Elijah's ministry coincides with that of one of the two witnesses. (vs.5,6)
1) The prophet of fire (v.5; cf. I Kgs. 18:38; II Kgs. 1:10,12,14)
2) The prophet of rain (I Kgs. 17:1; 18:1,41-45)
a) The period of the stoppage of rain coincides exactly with the last half of the tribula- tion.
b) Elijah was three years at Zarephath plus the time at Cherith. (cf. Lk. 4:25; Jas. 5:17)
3) The prophet of judgment upon the wicked idolatry of Israel under Ahab and Jezebel
4) Elijah's nationality coincides with the description of Rev. 11:4.
a) He was an Israelite (olive tree).
b) Some say that the witness described here is Enoch. However, Enoch was not an Israelite-- there was no such distinction until after the days of Abraham. Likewise, Enoch is a type of the Church raptured before the coming judgment (of the flood). The Church will not see the trouble of the tribulation period (Rev. 3:10, etc.); therefore, for Enoch to return to die at this point would make void the divine picture. Apparently, Enoch lives on today in a heavenly state. (Contra. Heb. 9:27)
3. The case for Moses (v.6)
a. In harmony with his nationality (v.4)
b. In harmony with his office--a prophet (Deut. 34:10)
c. In harmony with his appearance with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:2-4)
d. In harmony with his ministry (Rev. 11:6 with Exodus 7-12)
B. Their Injury (vs.7-12)
1. They will witness for 3-1/2 years during the last half of the tribulation period. (cf. v.3)
2. They will be killed by the beast (antichrist) who comes out of the abyss. (cf. Rev. 17:8)
a. But not until their work was finished (v.7) "The servant of the Lord is immortal until his work on earth is done."
1) Cf. Paul (II Cor. 12:1-5) 2) Cf. Christ (John 19:30)
b. Those who try to hurt them before their ministry is finished (v.5)
1) Will be consumed by fire
2) Will be killed in the same manner in which they sought to kill the witnesses
3. They are left unburied in the street for 3-1/2 days. (vs.8,9)
a. In the city of Jerusalem
1) The "great city"
2) "Where also our Lord was crucified"
b. Called Sodom and Egypt (v.8)
1) Sodom--because of their wickedness and idolatry (cf. Isa. 1:10)
2) Egypt--because of the worldliness of the people (Egypt is a type of the world.)
4. Their death causes an international stir.
a. The whole world will look upon their dead bodies. (v.9)
b. The world will rejoice in their deaths (v.10) because their condemning witness will be stopped.
c. The world will celebrate a holiday at their deaths.
5. They will be resurrected. (v.11)
a. After 3-1/2 literal days
b. The rejoicing of the world will be turned to fear.
6. They will ascend bodily into heaven. (v.12)
a. In like manner as Elijah (II Kgs. 2:11)
b. In like manner as Enoch (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5)
c. In like manner as Christ (Acts 1:10,11)
7. The world will witness both their resurrection and ascension and realize that their witness of judgment was from God. (v.12) ("The Word of God makes it clear that it is often possible to silence a witness to the truth by death, but such action does not destroy the truth that has been announced. The power of God will be ultimately revealed." -Walvoord)
III. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE TREMOR (vs.13,14)
A. The Earthquake (v.13)
1. Apparently limited to the city of Jerusalem, a tenth part of which is leveled by the earthquake.
2. Earthquakes occured at
a. The crucifixion of Christ (Matt. 27:51,52)
b. The resurrection of Christ (Matt. 28:2)
c. These earthquakes gave proof that Christ was the Son of God. (Matt. 27:54)
3. The earthquake in Jerusalem will declare that what is happening is a supernatural, divine manifestation of the True God and that the judgment is from Him as opposed to some natural phenomenon.
B. The Extent (v.13)
1. One-tenth of the city is destroyed.
2. 7,000 "persons" (ASV) are killed.
3. "They would not allow burial of the slain witnesses, and now they themselves are buried alive in the ruins of their own houses, and in hell forever." (Seiss)
C. The Effect (v.13)
1. The "remnant" - the rest of the people of the city not killed in the earthquake.
2. They are "terrified" (affrighted) by the devastation.
3. They give glory to God.
a. This does not signify the conversion of those remaining.
b. "Fear acted on them externally to honor God formally, but only as One in heaven." (Newell)
c. "This in itself does not necessarily imply any true conscience work." (Ironside)
d. "When men have sinned their day of gracious visitation away; fighting, killing and glorying in the destruction of God's prophets, they are not likely to be suddenly transformed into saints by the constraints and terrors of the day of doom, although obliged to confess that it is the invincible God of heaven that is dealing with them." (Unknown)
4. The way is now open for the blowing of the seventh trumpet--the time of the end is near!
IV. THE MONARCH OF THE THRONE (vs.15-17)
A. The Arrival of Christ (v.15)
1. The sounding of the seventh trumpet announces the arrival of Christ to assume the rulership of His kingdom. (cf. Ezek. 21:26,27; Dan. 2:35,44; 4:3; 6:26; 7:14,27; Zech. 14:9)
2. It will be a world-wide kingdom.
3. It is looked at through the eyes of God as already accomplished, though for us it is yet future.
4. The length of His reign
a. "For ever and ever"
b. It will include the Millennium.
c. It will continue throughout eternity.
B. The Adoration of Christ (vs.16,17)
1. Because He has assumed His authority over the earth
a. That for which they have waited has finally taken place.
b. Their prayer is finally answered. (Matt. 6:10)
2. Note how the elders address Him. (v.17)
a. "Which art, and wast"
b. The words "and art to come" is not found in some of the best manuscripts.
c. They view Him as already come.
d. They view Him as reigning at last.
C. The Adjudication of Christ (in the Millennium) (v.18)
1. The wrath of the nations - because their continuance and self-will is interrupted by divine intervention. (cf. Psa. 2:1)
2. He will judge the nations. (Matt. 25:31-46)
3. At the close of the Millennium He will judge the wicked dead. (Rev. 20:11-15)
4. He will judge and reward believers. (Rom. 14:10-12; I Cor. 4:5)
a. First, the prophets
b. Then, the saints; small and great
c. Refers to the tribulation saints resurrected at the end of the tribulation along with those who pass through it.
5. He will judge Satan and all men as the destroyers of the earth. (Isa. 11:9; 65:25) (Verse 19 of chapter 11 should be connected to chapter 12.)