Revelation 11:1-4
Please read your Bible text: Rev 11:1-14
Chapter 11 is still within the parenthesis in which John deviates from the main flow of the trumpet judgments. Here some critical pivoted information is revealed: 1) the rebuilt Jewish temple 2) the two super apocalypse witnesses and 3) a hint as to the time of the tribulation. This information is vital to our understanding of the end-times happening.
Man’s rejection of Christ as the Ultimate Temple – The rebuilt temple of the Jews – vv.1-2
John in the vision is given a rod and tasked to measure the temple of God (v.1). It is worth noting that when John wrote the Revelation in about A.D 95 – the Jewish temple (then known as Herod’s Temple) was destroyed in A.D 70 by the Roman, Titus. So, this temple in John’s vision must be the rebuilt temple of the Jews. Notice the Holy City – Jerusalem is mentioned here. So, in the last days, the ancient Jewish Temple will be restored in Jerusalem, on the most contentious site of the world – The Temple Mount. And the entire temple rituals that involve the sacrifices of bulls and lambs will resume. The Jews today keep the Old Testament rituals but without the sacrifices of bulls and lambs because there is no temple for them now.
This temple will be rebuilt as soon as the antichrist appears seemingly as the man of peace to restore peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The antichrist will establish a peace treaty which no other diplomats can, and in a 7-year peace treaty, he will allow the Jews to rebuild their temple on the holiest site, allowed Jews to worship, and resume the ancient rituals. However, as prophesied in Daniel 9:27, right in the middle of the 7 years – he will desecrate the Jewish temple and set himself up to be god (2 Thess. 2:3-4). The Jews will again be scattered and hunted down like dogs by the forces of the antichrist (we shall soon see in Rev. 12). The first three and a half years of the tribulation is when the antichrist establishes the one-world order – a religious, economic, and political system (in the bible-scholars’ term, “the revived Roman Empire”). It will a time of seemingly peace (pseudo peace) but at the second three and a half years – it will be hell on earth as the antichrist fights against the Jews and all who turn to Jesus Christ.
John is asked in the vision to measure the temple within, leaving the outer court out to be trampled by the Gentiles for three and a half years (42 months). I believe that in the last days, the city of Jerusalem will once again fall into the hand of the Gentiles (likely the Palestinians) for 42 months, with the one compromise that the Jews reclaim the temple mount for their Judaism practices. Measuring will mean to preserve, and this rebuilt temple in the tribulation will eventually be retained to be the Millennium Temple (Zech. 2:1-13) when the real Christ Jesus comes to save Israel at the end of the seven years tribulation. Jesus Christ will sit on the throne in Jerusalem, and all nations will come to worship Him in this temple. However, there will not be any need to sacrifice bulls and lambs in the temple because Jesus Himself is the ultimate Lamb of God, sacrificed once for all.
Devotional thoughts: Today, there is no need for a physical temple. If you are in Christ – your body is the temple of God. God does not dwell in a physical temple but in us (the believers) as His temple. The Jewish temple on earth is a prototype of the real temple in Heaven; then it was a mere shadow, now it is the substance. The rebuilt temple is not what God intended, it is another Jewish rejection of Christ as their temple and as their ultimate sacrificial lamb for their sins. The rebuilt temple is man’s idea to bring back the former glory but will never be able to embrace the present glory that is in Christ. The measurement suggests God’s preservation over the temple. Note in v.1 – “Rise and measure… and those who worship there.” Can I say, when we worship God, we are measured safe within the inner court of God’s presence? Think about this for a moment.
God always has the best men on His mission – the two apocalypse witnesses – vv.3-6
The two witnesses were given divine authority to preach or prophesy for 1260 days (42months), which can only mean that they start preaching right after the rebuilt temple at the beginning of the tribulation. The sackcloth they wore suggested their messages were that of impending doom and judgment, which obviously was not well received. The world then is looking to the antichrist who seemingly has the answer to world peace, and here the two apocalypse witnesses are preaching about doom and judgment. That is why they are divinely protected from those who will try to harm or kill them out of hatred. By what measure and method, the people used to do harm these two witnesses, by the same tokens they would be hurt or killed. These two witnesses are also given divine power to perform supernatural acts, like to shut the heavens from rain, turn water into blood, to strike the earth with all kinds of plague, and even have the power to devour their enemies with fire from their mouth. Yet it is very sad that people rather listen to the lies of the antichrist for world peace than listen to the truth about the impending judgment of God.
These two apocalypse witnesses can possibly be Elijah and Moses of the Old Testament. Elijah was received back into Heaven and did not die. Moses was thought to have died in a mountain, but his body was never found because he could possibly be taken up into Heaven too. Both had performed miracles – Elijah had shut the heaven from rain and Moses had turned water into blood. Both were there with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. This is a possibility, but here in Revelation, the identities of these two witnesses are not revealed.
Devotional thought: It does not matter who are these two witnesses, what matters most is that, even in the darkest situation, God always has the best men on His mission. In the darkest hour of your life – just believe God may surface the best for your need. This is God’s love and mercy. The justice and righteousness of God demand His pouring down His wrath and judgment against sins, yet the love in God’s heart determines His leaving behind witnesses to preach and bring salvation. God is not willing that humanity perished but that all may repent and be saved. God leaves behind these super apocalypse witnesses because after this – in the next three and half years – it is going to be hell on earth – the wrath and judgment of God against Satan and this sinful world are going full-blown. The antichrist will be adding miseries, pains, and destruction for such was his nature to destroy. Think about this for a moment – God has the best for you in your darkest hour!
No harm without God’s permissive will – the death and plight of the two witnesses -v.7-10
The two witnesses are protected from premature death until God’s purpose is completed and finally killed by the antichrist. Their bodies are left to rot in the street for three and a half days. The world rejoices and celebrates the death of these two witnesses by exchanging gifts. Notice the plight of the two witnesses, their corpses lying on the street of Jerusalem not allowed for burial, and for three and half days, the world would watch this sensational news on television. The news headline would probably be – “The world celebrates… Finally, they are dead!” People all over the world will celebrate, with cheers and exchanges of gifts.
Devotional thought:
In the end-times, many will follow the antichrist and not Christ. It is so easy to buy into deceptions and lies than to give in to the truth.
The two super apocalypse witnesses were protected, and no harm can hurt them because they are carrying out God’s purpose. So, when you are in God’s purpose and will, no harm or even death can come on you without His knowledge and permissive will.
The death of the two apocalypse witnesses lying on the street of Jerusalem would be watch worldwide (v.9). How would this possible? A century ago – there is no television, cable network, or even satellites. Today, with the advent and advancement of technologies – the death and the corpse of these two witnesses lying in the street of Jerusalem can be watched on television and on smartphones all over the world. Surely, we are living in such a time as this – when technologies are setting up the stage for the fulfillment of end-times prophecies.
Truth always triumphs with God vindicating the two witnesses – v.11-14
Then after three and half days, as the world watched on televisions and smartphones, the corpses of the two witnesses suddenly come back to life and are seen taken up into heaven. This will be even greater sensational news on the media, and great fear would come upon the world. I believe as a result many will repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same hour as the world watches on televisions and smartphones the resurrection of these two witnesses – a major earthquake will hit the earth, and a tenth of the world cities will collapse, and along with this, 7,000 people will be killed.
Devotional thought: Even in death, the blood of the martyr still speaks. God will vindicate those who died for the cause of Christ and the Gospel. Always when the enemies of the Gospel have deemed themselves triumphant, there has been a resurgence of the Gospel to an even greater height. If ever you hear about a major earthquake with a tenth of the world’s cities collapse, and 7,000 people perish in the news, wake up – you are seeing the fulfillment of Biblical apocalypse prophecy.
Think: The Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem will be a Key Indicator that we are near to the end of the world!
Prayer: Lord, let us be faithful watchmen—looking out for Your soon coming and praying for many of Your children to know the seasons and times of Your soon Coming.
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