"The Two Witnesses." Revelation Chapter 11, Midweek Study

We're in Revelation Chapter 11 as we continue our journey

Revelation 11 · chapter mention

through the Book of Revelation, the book in the Bible that says

a blessing comes to those who read it, to those that hear and

those that obey it. So that's what we want.

Revelation Chapter 11, this one John is writing, he says I was

Revelation 11 · chapter mention

given a read like a measuring rod.

This is the measuring rod, like a cubit that would use, and it

was the distance roughly they use between the elbow and the

tip of the finger. Used to be, I think it was about

18 inches or so, a Reed, like a measuring rod.

And the Angel stood saying, rise, Measure what?

The temple of God. This isn't the tribulation

period. Measure the altar and measure

those who worship there. So for John to be able to

measure it, there's got to be a temple.

He's not going to measure some visionary thing that doesn't

exist. So a temple is going to be

built, 3rd temple during the tribulation period, a new temple

will be built. The temple that Jesus taught him

in which he overthrew the money changers tables in was destroyed

in AD 70 by the Roman general Titus, just as Jesus predicted.

When there are saying Jesus, you know, we're over on the they're

on the Mount of Olives. And I said, oh man, look at

them, look at that temple, isn't it magnificent?

He says, hey, let me tell you something, Mark, chapter 13,

Mark 13:2

verse 2. Do you see these great

buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon

another that shall not be thrown down.

And we have in our little cabinet piece of the stones of

the buildings of the stones that were pushed over.

As you go to Israel, we see where they actually just,

they're just still lying there where they pushed them down the

Western Wall. Where they come up against is

purely the foundations. The temple was built on top of

those foundations. Today, the temple site, I think

it's about 35 acres, is vacant. There's no Jewish temple there.

There are two Muslim buildings on the site, the Dome of the

Rock, which is building with the golden top and you can't see it

in this picture, but the AL Aqsa Mosque.

In addition, the temple site is not under Israeli full control,

even though they want it back in the war to save further

conflict. They gave it over management,

partial management to the Muslims and so it's under a

split control system at this time.

The Israeli government maintains sovereignty over the Temple

Mount and is responsible for security, including priests,

police presence at the entrance and monitoring activity on them.

There's another group called the Exam, Islamic Waqf WAQF and they

are a Muslim, a religious authority.

We met them as we do on the Temple Mount.

They're often angry, especially to Christians.

They are responsible for the day to day management of the site,

including religious affairs like prayer times, religious services

for Muslims. In the book of Daniel, Daniel

the Prophet Chapter 9 verse 27 tells us about 1/3 temple that

will be built during the tribulation period, the 70th

week, the seven year period tribulation which we're in.

He says, I'm reading out of the new living translation.

The ruler will make a treaty. That is the ruler, that's the

Antichrist. The lawless one will make a

treaty with the people that is Israel for a period of one set

of 7A7 year period contract. Yep, peace for seven years

Israel signs the Antichrist signs done.

But halfway through after half this time he the Antichrist New

living translation says he will put an end to the sacrifices and

offerings to put an end. That means they have they have

in that time rebuilt the Temple and already begun the religious

services of Judaism all over again.

And as a climax to all these terrible deeds, he will set up a

sacrilegious object that causes desecration until the fight

decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.

So the Antichrist will make a covenant with the nation of

Israel during the Tribulation period, which is a period of

seven years. But halfway through this time

period he will breach this covenant and suddenly he will go

into the temple. Israel will witness this because

they're going about, they love the priests and everyone will be

worshipping there and the sacrifices are happening and

everything going on as per Old Testament.

And Jesus says in Matthew 2415, King you, King James says,

therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken

of by Daniel the prophet, Jesus called Daniel the prophet

standing in the holy place. So he goes into the holy place.

Whoever reads, let him understand.

The Antichrist walks in, goes into the holy place, desecrates

the building, says everything stop.

Imagine he goes in with his army, with his storm troopers,

pushes all the precepts. So I get out of the road.

Stop, stop. Let's not finish that great

turmoil. He walks in, he says, I'm God,

I'm God. There's going to be no worship

of anyone or anything but me. Back to our text.

John is instructed to take a measuring rod and measure this

new temple, the altar and the people worshipping there.

As John is writing this, the temple has been destroyed for

some 20 to 25 years non existent.

The big question everyone asks is how is this new temple ever

going to be allowed to be built on this Muslim?

The third holiest site, I believe it is Muslim site with

the dime of the Rock and the AL Aqsa Mosque over in the corner

still being there on Tuesday evening, June 19th, 2007.

Doctor Asher Kaufman, who has a PhD and and he is a professor at

the Hebrew University and also a professor at Notre Dame, after

great research, said the location of the temple should be

for the rebuilding of the new temple in the northern position

of the Temple Mount where the Holy of Holies would be

situated. And that's that little building

just there, that little gazebo thing.

It's called the dime of the spirits or the dime of the

tablets that he believes, according to their measurements,

their research. Many other Bible commentators or

actually Hebrew commentators agree was the original threshing

floor of Aron. It's interesting because I've

gone, we've been there and I stood there and I was down on

that. It's the only piece of the Dome

of the Rock that doesn't have the the slabs on it.

And it's just the raw rock. And I was trying to get a bit

of, as I do a little bit of the rock and the guy come over and

say, what are you doing? Nothing, Just healing the stone,

but that's the location where they believe was the Holy of

Holies. Now, according to Doctor

Kaufman, you can see how far away the Dome of the Rock is.

It's another 90 odd metres away. Doesn't show that much in that

photo, but it's about that. And so a large wall could be

quite easily constructed to divide the two sites.

They rebuild here big war between separation.

Muslims are happy, sort of the Jews are very happy.

And if the research was correct, a large wall, as I said, could

divide the two sides. And it is this language that

fits with John being told read on in verse 2.

And he's measuring, he says, but leave out the court, which is

outside the temple. It's called the court of the

Gentiles, that area there, and do not measure it, for it has

been given to the Gentiles. And I will tread the holy city

and the foot for 42 months. It's interesting John's use of

the word temple when he's told to measure here in this passage.

Is not the usual word also used for the entire temple site of

the entire temple building. Remember this court of the

Gentiles, the holy place and the holy of holies.

But it's the Greek word for just the holy place alone.

Just measure the holy place alone.

The first room, John is told measure the temple and the

altar. Now the brazen altar is in the

courtyard directly in front of the temple temple.

By the way, that dime of the tablets or dime of the spirits,

it aligns with the gate that is bricked up at the moment.

The Muslims know that the prophecies that Jesus would come

through this gate and also. So furthermore, they bricked it

up and then they said, look, we'll put a cemetery here.

So like, you can't go over a cemetery either because then you

know it'd be unclean. So they've done that.

But that lines up directly with it.

In other words, John is told don't measure the area where the

Dome of the Rock, that location is now located.

Verse 3. I'll give power to my 2

witnesses. It's interesting. 2 witnesses

and they will prophecy. Now this word prophecy is not

speak of prophecy in the set the prophetic things to come in as

such because we know the Bible's already got them, but it's

foretelling it's it's speaking on behalf of actually each time

the Bible is taught the gift of prophecy in that sense is

occurring. The preacher is foretelling

explaining the word of God and they will prophecy 1260 days and

they'll be clothed. These two witnesses in

sackcloth, quite an appearance. This is during the tribulation

period. These two guys all of a sudden

up here in Jerusalem, they are given the power and says I will

give power. This is God speaking to my to my

2 witnesses. So they are given the power of

God. What for?

To speak forth the word of God to prophecy, which was twofold

in its cause and a twofold message warning people of the

judgments to come. We're going to go through them.

This is what's going to happen. Woe unto you.

These are the woes that have occurred.

The seals and the world people that are survived that path. 4/4

billion 4 billion the dead thus far, the people that have

survived, they know about these things that the events that have

occurred and there's more to come. 7 balls yet to come, but

also they will during here's the deal that will proclaim the

gospel of grace still and encouraging people come turn

your lives to God come by faith in Jesus Christ and his work on

the cross at Calvary they preach for 1260 days, 42 months 3 1/2

years. They are a tired garments as

prophets, old sackcloth. Now sackcloth is itchy sort of

gear and it's a sign sackcloth was a sign of mourning over sin.

It's a sign also put on of repentance and it's a sign of

humility. We come, they would put in the

old days, they would put sackcloth on and ashes upon

their head. It's a sign of of mourning.

So it's a humility to come forward.

They're saying come, come, come to God, come repent, hear what?

Hear what we're saying. God is doing this to people who

have been savage against him. It says in verse 4 these are the

2 olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the

God of the earth. And we're reminded of this back

in the book of Zechariah, a very similar language of two priests

who were used by God. And they are two lampstands

declared and, and olive trees. And these olive trees connected

to the main olive tree. In other words, what he's saying

here, lampstands, they're the light and they're, they got the

power, the flowing of the Holy Spirit connected directly to

God. That that's the, the picture

language here. They're not actually 2

lampstands and they're not 2 olive trees, but it's the

picture that these two a powerfully close connected,

empowered by the holy God. It says are they standing before

the God of the earth? So it reminds us of that time in

Zechariah chapter 4. God in this language is saying I

Zechariah 4 · chapter mention

personally protect them. I personally empower MY2

witnesses. He says I will give power to my

2 witnesses. I will give power to my 2

witnesses and if anyone tries to harm them fire proceeds from

their mouth and people say well is that literal you know going

to happen? No I don't.

This is my opinion. I believe John is describing the

word of God comes out and it's powerful.

It just, you know when the word of God is spoken under the power

of God, man it, it, it, it, it hits you, it hits you and they

will speak. When people come, thou will

speak the word of God, thus says the Lord, And people will fall

down, drop, and all sorts of things will happen as they try

and come near them and cause harm to them.

And they'll have this protection and this power for 3 1/2 years.

Rain will not fall. They'll have power to go.

OK, stop. No more rain.

That reminds us of a certain profit, doesn't it?

And if they command it, no rains coming.

They have the power, it says, to turn water into blood.

Who's that? Remind you of another fellow

back in Egypt and I will have also it says the power to call

down plagues. Wow, who does that remind you

of? So verse 5, if anyone wants to

harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth, devours their

enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, he

must be killed in this manner. So they're not tangling.

They're not just, well, this is going to happen.

These have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the

days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to

turn them to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as

often as they desire. The Bible teaches us that God

never leaves himself without a witness.

The book of Acts chapter 14, verse 17, Paul writes.

Acts 14:17

Nevertheless, Speaking of the Lord, he did not leave himself

without witness in that he did good, gave us rain from heaven,

fruitful seasons, filling us, filling our hearts with food and

gladness. We also see the same thing that

God always has a witness to his actions throughout the Bible

back as far as the book of Genesis.

Noah was the witness of the flood that covered the whole

earth. He survived it.

He saw it, survived it. Lot was pulled out of Sodom.

He can tell you Sodom. And Gomorrah was destroyed.

I used to live there. He's a witness.

Elijah on the Mount of Mount Carmel took on the 800 prophets

of Baal. False prophets, remember, he

says. I can tell you what happened on

the mount, on Mount Carmel when they did their thing.

And then I prayed and fire came down and consumed the prophets

and I slew. He took them out.

John the Baptist was another witness.

He came preparing the way. I'm telling you, the one that's

following me, He's the Messiah. Behold, the Lamb of God who has

come to take the sins of the world.

He's the witness 144,000 Jews chosen out of the 12 tribes used

as evangelists during the period of tribulation.

They're witnesses. But now these two extra special

witnesses, God raises 2 unique witnesses and he gives them

enormous powers. By the way, it's interesting,

the word for witness here is the Greek word MARTYS martyrs, from

which we get our English word martyr.

So it's interesting for many of God's people throughout the

ages, the price, the cost. And I think that's something

that we're not quite ready for yet, but we're we're going to

learn about it, the cost of being God's witness.

Has been their very lives. Who could forget a young man 29

years of age, always wanted to be a missionary, prayed and

prayed, wanted to go down to South America.

Then he takes off, kisses his wife goodbye.

The head off the first missionary journey, they land

their plane, they're going to take the gospel to the Orcas

Indians. And on that first attempt they

were killed attempting to share the gospel with them.

His name was Jim Elliott, and a famous quote from Jim Elliott,

age of 29, said this. He is no fool who gives up what

he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

So who are these two witnesses? Are they Moses and Elijah?

I'll leave that for you to decide.

No one really knows. We had them on the mount of

Transfiguration speaking to Jesus, didn't we?

And he, they saw him in all his glory, the disciples.

Malachi gives us some interesting facts on this.

Malachi chapter 4, verse 4. Malachi says the last book

Malachi 4:4

before then before Matthew, last book of the Old Testament.

Remember you the law of Moses, my servant God says, which I

commanded unto him, and horror for all Israel with the statutes

and judgments. Then it says in the next verse,

verse 5, Behold, I will send you Elijah.

That's why they thought to John. John, are you Elijah?

And then when Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi and said,

well, some say maybe you're Elijah because I know he's

supposed to come at this time, the last days, Malachi says,

behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of

the great dreadful day of the Lord.

What's that coming of the Lord? Now verse 7.

Now notice this when they finish their testimony that you know,

it could be a good thing to put on if I was going to have a

great plot finished my testimony.

When they finish their testimony, the beast that

ascends out of the bottomless pit, we know who that is.

Satan will make war against them, overcome them and kill

them. Now up to now they've been

protected by God, but now their ministry is finished.

So now home or there's more and he'll kill them.

And here what happens? This is in Jerusalem, the

streets of Jerusalem and their dead bodies, the two witnesses

will lie in the street of the great city Jerusalem, which

spiritually now God's going to call it something else.

It's called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was

crucified. So we know exactly the city is

Jerusalem. Matthew 1624, Jesus said to his

disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny

himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Do you know what that means? We all go, yeah, that's me.

I have decided, follow Jesus, no turning back.

And we sing that song, I've taken up the cross.

And we all say that verse 25 For whoever desires to save his life

will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find

it. Guess what?

The principle for every believer is that we have given our life

in service for God. For some of us. 2 witnesses,

James, the brother of John initially, and then Paul, and so

on and so on. All this stuff gave their lives

literally. And so Jamalia did for you and

I, we, it has the same bearing, this statement.

We say, oh Gee, we're having a tough time.

Hang on, hang on a minute. We have decided to follow Jesus

to take out that cross and a cross.

And I have a cross I wear around my neck.

But the cross is what it's a killing instrument.

The cross was to bring death. So when I say I sign up and I'm

a follower of Christ, that means I am fully committed to give my

life, not just I, but to actually surrender all that is

of me to the Lord. We need to remember that.

We need to remember that when we're leading people to Christ

and they're about to say, you know, well, this is going to

cost me. Actually, it's going to cost you

everything, everything you're going to surrender, everything

that you own, that you have, that is yours to take the cross

and follow Jesus. Otherwise you can't follow him.

Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The two witnesses bodies lay lifeless in the streets of

Jerusalem, we're told for a specific time, 3 1/2 days.

Why is this in here? This is a deliberate act by the

Antichrist to bring disgrace to their bodies by the Antichrist.

Why? Because in the both Jewish and

Muslim culture, you die and within 24 hours you're buried.

You die and within 24 hours you're put put in the grave.

This is a deliberate act to let them be ashamed, be shameful.

It's a it's an act to bring disgrace to these two bodies.

The description God gives of the holy city instead of calling it

Jerusalem at this time while the two bodies are laying there 3

1/2 days instead of it being Jerusalem which means Salaam

Shalom Jerusalem meaning dwelling of peace or place of

peace Jerusalem. God called Jerusalem Sodom and

Egypt. Why I Jerusalem has become a

city of perversion the celebrating the death of God's

witnesses rejoicing over it. Secondly, why does he call it

Egypt? Because Egypt was had a God for

everything. Remember that's why the plague

come. Each plague came was against one

of the gods of Egypt, Egypt. And now in the holy of holies

was an idol, an image of the Antichrist.

That's not then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and

nations. This verse wouldn't make sense

until satellite vision came in. That's why we're living in this.

You and I can watch the world events right now, live Olympic

Games. You know, we watch them live

everything now. Then those from the people's

tribes, tongues and nations will see their dead bodies 3 1/2 days

and not allow their dead bodies to be put in the graves.

Yeah, look at them. Yeah.

Make fun of them. And those who dwell on the earth

is that term again. Earth dwellers, those who dwell

upon the earth, those who don't want anything to do with God,

make merry, send gifts to one another.

They did that on October 21, when the Jews were slaughtered.

They sold sweets and celebrated in the streets. 911 same thing

occurred, celebration, clapping, cheering.

But in this situation, it's the world celebrates, makes Mary,

sends gifts to one another because the two prophets

tormented those who dwell on the earth.

How did they torment them? I spoke the word of God.

I spoke the word of God. This tragic verse gives us an

insight into the heart of many of those earth dwellers we've

spoken about. So the entire world has been

watching and hearing these two witnesses proclaim the word of

God. The hearers now have no excuse

because again, two witnesses are telling them, giving them

another chance. Turn to Christ.

Turn to Christ, repent. When these two witnesses are

killed, allowed by God, the fallen world rejoices.

They exchange gifts in celebration.

The Antichrist may even proclaim it a world holiday and

Antichristmas Day. Let's have an Annie Christmas

Day celebrate and blames these two witnesses for all the woes

the world has been going through and experiencing.

It's their fault these two. Now they're dead.

Yay, now they're dead at his hand.

He's the all powerful one. God is watching on this.

So what did he do? Verse 11 Now after 3 1/2 days,

the breath of God, a life from God entered the two witnesses,

and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw

them. And I heard a loud voice from

heaven saying to them, Ah, come up here.

And they ascended into heaven, watched worldwide in a cloud,

and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a

great earthquake. This earthquake is only in the

area of Jerusalem, and a tenth of the city of Jerusalem fell

damaged. So the party is over.

God intervenes after 3 1/2 days laying dead.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, the two witnesses stand back to their

feet, alive once more. A massive earthquake strikes and

7000 people are killed in Jerusalem.

In the earthquake, 7000 people were killed and the rest were

afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The second well was passed. Behold, the third well was

coming quickly. Then the 7th Angel sounded.

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.

This verse tells us plainly what's going to happen.

The kingdoms of this fallen world will be conquered by the

coming Kingdom of the Messiah. Daniel speaks of that.

Daniel chapter 2 verse 44. Let's wrap it up.

Daniel 2:44

And the 24 elders who sat before God, this is in heaven on their

Thrones fell on their faces and worship God saying we give you

thanks oh Lord God Almighty, the one who is and was and is to

come because you have taken your great power and reign the the

nations were angry. Sounds like Psalm 2 and your

wrath has come and the time of the dead that they should be

judged. It's nearing that's the great

white throne judgement that you should reward your servants, the

prophets and the Saints and those who fear your name small

and great and just should destroy those who destroy the

earth. So on hearing the loud voices

announcing that God is taking over and the Kingdom of the

Messiah is to come to earth. The 24 hours remember they

represent the church in heaven respond and they praise the Lord

and adore him. Verse 18 encompasses it's a

summary of the entire tribulation period and the

Millennium to follow. It's in our way, a summary, as I

said, of the Book of Revelation, verse 19.

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of

his covenant was seen in his temple.

Don't have to look for it. Don't have, don't have The

Ethiopians. They reckon they got it.

Well, the real ones in heaven anyway.

And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings and

earthquake and great hail. Revelation 11 opened with John

being told to go measure a temple on earth, and it ends

with the temple of God in heaven being open for all to come in

and see the glory and the wonder of God.

CS Lewis said aim at heaven and you'll get earth thrown in.

Aim at earth and you'll get neither.

Christ's Kingdom. This is what we're reading is

coming. Nothing is stopping it.

Everything's going to plan. We ought to get ready for it by

knowing it, by worshipping and serving our Lord right here and

now. We're going to see all this

marvellous event in heaven during this time.

Let's pray.