Book of Revelation Chapter 11 The Measuring Rod

Book of Revelation: Chapter 11 The Measuring Rod and the Two Witnesses

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. ’”

Measuring the Temple • Picture # 3—”measuring the temple” – A measuring rod like a (reed) staff – To measure the temple of God – The altar – Those who worship there – Given to John—probably God’s word – John’s last viewpoint on earth – Used for the separation, which results in either destruction or salvation

Measuring the Temple • Picture # 3—”measuring the temple” – Is this the OT temple? – Those who accept the “early date” suggest this proves that the temple was still standing… – Temple represents the “church”—which was being persecuted at the time of this revelation. – The altar, the worship, and those who worship there were located on the earth. – 1 Corinthians 3: 16, 17; Ephesians 2: 21, 22

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 forty-two months. ”

The Court Outside the Temple • Picture # 3—”measuring the temple” – The temple accepted; the court is rejected. Why? – A separation of that which is holy from that which is profane (read Ezekiel 40: 1— 42: 20) – Church from the world – Saints are protected – The outside world and those who profess to be His people, but are unfaithful, receive no protection!

The Court Outside the Temple • Picture # 3—”measuring the temple” – “For it has been given to the nations” – Will “tread underfoot”—who? Temple or the people? – Holy city represents the church—God’s people! The temple is gone, but the people remain! – “For 42 months…”(1260 days---time, times and half time, equals 3½) – God will only allow this period of time—not complete, which means limiting the time.

The Court Outside the Temple • Picture # 3—”measuring the temple” – 1260 Days—Witness to prophesy (11: 3). Woman fled into the wilderness (12: 6) – 42 months—Beast given power (13: 5). Holy city trodden underfoot (11: 2) – 3½years—Time, times and half a time. Saints are persecuted (Daniel 7: 25). Woman is nourished (12: 14). – All these times show an incomplete, temporal period during which persecution will have to be endured! God will not permit it to continue indefinitely!

Revelation 11: 3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. ”

Revelation 11: 4 “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. ”

The Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • Granted authority and empowered by God to “prophesy” (speak for God) • Proclamation of truth will continue even during the time of this intense persecution. • Also represented by “two olive trees” and “two lampstands”

The Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • Prophesy for “ 1260 days”—clothed in “sackcloth” • Sackcloth represents “mourning and a time of difficulty, humiliation, and affliction. ” • Candlesticks have represented the churches. • Olive trees (Zechariah 4: 3 -6)

The Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • Who are the “two witnesses? ” • Notice they’re “standing before the God of the earth. ” • Represents the evangelists who go forth and preach God’s word! • Lampstands give light, and the olive trees provide oil for the lamps! • The Lord will support their efforts and success in the mission! (Philippians 2: 15)

Revelation 11: 5 “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. ”

Revelation 11: 6 “These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. ”

The Ability of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • “Fire” represents the gospel they preach (Romans 1: 16, 17) • Fire purifies those who heed it (1 Peter 1: 22) • Others will judge themselves unworthy (Acts 13: 46) • All who reject will suffer God’s eternal vengeance. (2 Thessalonians 1: 7 -9)

The Ability of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • The church’s work cannot be stopped until the mission is complete. • God’s power to protect the witnesses assures their success. • Isaiah 55: 8 -11 • Allusions are drawn from faithful ancients of old: – Moses (Exodus 7: 20) – Elijah (1 Kings 17: 1— 18: 45) – Daniel’s three friends (Daniel 3: 22)

Revelation 11: 7 “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. ”

Revelation 11: 8 “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. ”

The Work of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • The church’s work cannot be stopped until the mission is complete. • The gospel extended to all the known world—(Colossians 1: 6, 23) • Clear messages, confirmed with miracles, and the messages came from God! • Wait—did the “beast” win when he “killed them? ”

The Work of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • First reference to “the beast” (described in chapter 13, verse 2 as receiving great power and authority from Satan) • Beast “comes from the abyss” abode of hellish creatures; it did not come from God! • Attempts to “crush” gospel preaching! • He will “Make war” with the witnesses— the saints of this period.

The Defeat of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • The beast “overcomes” them; they are silenced by Satan’s workers. • The victorious beast “kills them. ” • In this dramatic scene, he seems to have conquered the church… • He “ascends out of the bottomless pit” to execute his plans to defeat them!

The Defeat of the Two Witnesses • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • “Dead bodies lie in the street, ” a place of killing • Where is this place? Is it Rome or Jerusalem? • A “great city” in her day – “Sodom”—wickedness was removed – “Egypt”—oppression was removed • It’s where our “Lord was crucified”—

Revelation 11: 9 “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and -ahalf days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. ”

Revelation 11: 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. ”

Apparent Victory and Celebration • Picture # 4—”my two witnesses” • The beast’s apparent victory. • The contempt the city’s people held for the truth the martyrs proclaimed was seen in how they treated their corpses! • Left them in the open to look at as testimony of the defeat of their cause. • Disquieting, but the victory is short-lived! – John 3: 19 -21 the world has a party…

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

Revelation 11: 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. ”

Revelation 11: 13 “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. ”

Vindication—Resurrection of the Gospel! • It only “appeared” as if the beast had won! • Enemies can trample for a while, but in the end the truth wins out! • God gave them life—raised them from the dead (figuratively). • Great fear fell on those who sought to conquer God’s word. • The church is not dead; she is still alive.

Vindication—Resurrection of the Gospel! • Partial judgment on God’s enemies • Another piece of “cement” falls out of the Roman wall… • The humiliation had been public—now the exaltation is also visible! • Great earthquake—a tenth of the city fell; destruction is not yet complete! 7, 000 died. • Upheavals of civil governments wrought by political powers? ? (Isaiah 24: 19, 20)

Vindication—Resurrection of the Gospel! • During terrifying circumstances and/or imminent danger, men are prone to turn to God… • They were so entrenched in paganism that their fear was only superficial. • Mini-version: – God’s word preached—persecution – God’s cause vindicated by divine retribution – Men cannot defeat God’s plans – Whatever trouble awaits, God will always have the last say!

Revelation 11: 14 “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. ”

Interlude—Second Woe Past; Third Coming Quickly • Remember the “cry of the eagle” (8: 13) • The fifth and sixth trumpets signaled the first two woes. • Now the time for the sound of the seventh trumpet is approaching 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!’”

Seventh Trumpet—Third Woe • The seventh trumpet sounded, and there were “Loud voices in heaven!” • “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord. ” • This section anticipates the fall of Rome —fourth kingdom in Daniel’s prophesy (Daniel 2: 37 -45). • This kingdom of God’s cannot be destroyed! • God’s kingdom has won!

Revelation 11: 16 “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God. ”

Revelation 11: 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. ’”

Revelation 11: 18 “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. ”

Defeat of Wicked Powers • Recall the three series of seven in the Apocalypse: – Seven seals – Seven trumpets – seven bowls. • As was the case with the first two, the seventh in the series reveals the entirety of the series to follow. • Thus, the opening of the seventh seal introduced the vision of the seven trumpets. • Sounding of the seventh trumpet opens the final series of visions—the seven bowls of

Defeat of Wicked Powers • The “ 24 elders” – Prostrate themselves in worship to God – Offer thanksgiving to God in terms of His eternity and power – Take note of his royal authority… • “Because thou hast taken”—perfect tense • “and didst thou” – God has been reigning – He has now decisively dethroned evil – His kingdom has won!

Defeat of Wicked Powers • Nations enraged—persecution • God’s wrath—vindication • Wrath of the nations, versus the wrath of God • War between God and Satan • Reflected in the rebellious world’s great assault on His church • Heathen’s anger rose—God’s wrath answered…

Defeat of Wicked Powers • The conflict is described in greater detail in future visions. • The church is assured what will be the final outcome. • The saints rewarded—crushed and destroyed— those who sought to destroy the kingdom! • Do we understand who is REALLY in control?

Defeat of Wicked Powers • Seventh trumpet warns. • Seven angels pour out seven bowls of God’s wrath. • This wrath includes: – The Great Battle of Armageddon – The judgment of the dead who died in opposition to the Lord – Destroying those on the earth—punishment – Rewarding God’s slaves—the kingdom belongs to the saints!

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 were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. ”

The Temple in Heaven • Whatever might come, God promises He is present and will keep His covenant with them. • Door of the temple opened in heaven (also see 4: 1) • Ark of the covenant—promises will be kept • Presence of God depicted by lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake and

The Temple in Heaven • The seventh trumpet announced final defeat and final victory. • Announces the outcome of the conflict before the conflict begins! • Provides an introduction to the last half of the Book of Revelation.