CHAPTER 11

Revelation 11:1

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

The Temple of God, again there are diverse opinions as to the identity of this Temple. Some think it represents the church because Paul does describe the church as a temple. (Eph. 2) But if it is the church why does it have to be measured and what is the significance of the alter and the court and the worshippers? Because of all the detail presented here it is most likely the temple on earth that fits in with what it says in the Book of Daniel regarding the abomination caused by the Antichrist.

Revelation 11:2

But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

The outer court was not to be measured because it was still occupied by the Gentiles and they will trample it down with contempt. The court and the holy city, the City of God, Jerusalem, will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles for three and a half years, the last half of the seven year Tribulation which is described in Daniel 11:26,27. This is probably the period of time when the Antichrist pours out his fury on the people of Israel.

Revelation 11:3-6

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days (3 1/2 yrs.), clothed in sackcloth."

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed in this same manner.

6 These have power to shut up heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over the waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

The two witnesses alluded to here will be given power by God to prophecy or to preach the Word for 3/12 years which is the last half of the 7 years of the Tribulation period. They will be protected by God from all the harm that the Antichrist and his followers may try to inflict on them. Anyone who tries to kill them will be killed in the same manner they use. They are likened to two olive trees and two lampstands standing before Almighty God empowered supernaturally by the Holy Spirit to accomplish their ministry and to be able to perform miracles. This is shown in a picture of the same thing described in the Book of Zechariah.

Zechariah 4:1-6 / 11-14

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.

2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, I am looking, and there is a lamp stand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.

3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left."

4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?"

5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."

6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.

11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees--at the right of the lamp stand and at its left?"

12 And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?"

13 Then he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."

14 So he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."

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We know they are two men not angels because the nouns used to describe them are in the masculine gender and they are given a special protection by God that angels would not need. Their identity is still being debated and they seem to represent the imagery spoken of in Zechariah's prophecy of the unique continual empowering from the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 11:7-10

7 Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was also crucified.

9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

When the two have fully accomplished the task given to them by God and their work is finished God allows them to be killed by the beast that comes up out of the bottom-less pit mentioned in Chapter 9:11. This beast is most likely Satan. The place of their death is Jerusalem described as Sodom which speaks of immorality and Egypt which speaks of slavery and oppression and is also known for killing the prophets. The ungodly people of the entire world because of the modern means of communication are able to see their bodies lying in the street for 31/2 days. They rejoice over their deaths and celebrate by giving gifts to each other because the torment brought on by these two men is over.

Revelation 11:11-12

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

After lying in the street for 31/2 days the two Witnesses are raised from the dead by the Spirit of God. This happens before the eyes of the watching world. Can you picture this being reported on the evening news and the effect it will have on all the people as they see them stand to their feet, great fear and astonishment falls upon all those who view this awesome scene and all their rejoicing will cease. Then there is the sound of a mighty voice from Heaven calling the two faithful Witnesses to 'Come Up Here' and all their enemies must stand in awe as they see them ascend in a cloud up to Heaven. A scene similar to this took place before the Tribulation began when a voice from Heaven called out "Come Up Here" and the Saints of the True Church ascended to Heaven to meet their Lord in what is called the 'Rapture'. The only difference is no one saw the saints ascending but the whole world will see these two men going up.

Revelation 11:13-14

13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

At the same time this awesome event involving the two Witnesses is taking place there is a great earthquake that shakes the city until a tenth of it is demolished and 7 thousand men are killed. The combination of these two events happening almost simultaneously is too much for many to handle and great fear fell on them and they finally give glory to God but we are not sure that this brings true repentance that leads to Salvation. All of this causes us to accept the most straightforward of interpretations and to see these two men as real individuals and not symbolic and not knowing their identity is not very important or we most likely would have been told who they were. This second Woe is past and the third Woe is going to come upon the world very quickly.

Revelation 11:15

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!

The 7th Trumpet is finally blown and like the 7th Seal it does not introduce any activity on the earth but looks to Heaven in anticipation of the next series of events brought on by the 3rd Woe. The 7th Seal brought forth a profound silence throughout Heaven for a time of one half an hour; the 7th Trumpet initiates joy at the inevitable declaration of the kingdoms of this world becoming the Kingdoms of our Lord and He reigning forever and forever.

Revelation 11:16-17

16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

The worship and thanksgiving of the 24 Elders isn't that God has already done this, the taking back what was lost and reigning supremely over all His creation but that the hour has come for it to take place. That these things are permanently set in motion and nothing can prevent them from happening. The impending events are set forth and are more fully described later. In this case the next step seems to be God taking His awesome power and beginning His reign on earth. The following chapters explain important aspects of the total story, but they cannot be taken strictly in chronological order and they focus on particular topics such as:

Chapter 12 Israel

Chapter 13 The Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast.

Chapter 14 The 144,000 sealed Jews.

Chapter 15 Preparation for the Judgments.

Chapter 16 The 7 Bowls which are poured out in rapid succession culminating in

Chapter 17,18 The Judgment of Babylon.

Chapter 19 Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 11:18

And the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who Fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth."

The world is angry because God is coming to rule and if there is anything they do not want it is a Holy God reigning over them. Newell said, "Religion is decent, but surrender to God is intolerable to the nations of this world". The time for judgment, and destruction has come, and God's wrath and punishment fits the sin of rejection and rebellion by the peoples of the world and there is nothing unreasonable nor irresponsible about it. The wrath of God is holy and omnipotent, the wrath of man is wicked and impotent.

Revelation 11:19

Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there was lightning, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail.

John saw the Temple of God in Heaven open and inside he saw the Ark of the Covenant, which refers to God's throne and is the earthly representation of God's throne. This awesome display of the opening of the Temple and the view of the Ark serve to remind us that the presence of the Lord is there. It is reminiscent of the time God appeared on Mount Sinai to the people of Israel. This chapter opens with an earthly temple and closes with the Heavenly Temple.

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Exodus 19:16-18

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there was thundering and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.