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From the Rapture to the Second Coming

Revelation 11: "The 2 Witnesses & The 7th Trumpet"

Topical Index

Let's Get Started

At the close of Chapter 10, we learned that John was commissioned to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. In Chapter 11 we see the beginning of John's commission by looking at Israel and the Temple. Also discussed are the actions of the Gentiles, Antichrist, God, and the two witnesses for God. We will also learn about the reactions of the nations and the residents of heaven.

Another point needs to be examined, a very important one. In Revelation 10:6 we learned that God will start to finalize his wrath upon the world, there will be no more delays. It is extremely significant that when God begins this, he will focus his attention on Israel and the Temple. In connection with this it is good to recall Old Testament prophecies. From these we learn:

• Israel will become the storm center of the world during the Tribulation Period. Zechariah 12 and 14 reveal some of God's judgments upon Israel and her enemies. We read that God will make Jerusalem a cup that will send all the nations reeling. In Zechariah's time drinking from a cup was a metaphor similar to the expression, "take your medicine." In this case the nations opposing Jerusalem will be sent reeling when they drink the concoction Jerusalem has prepared for them.
• The nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-3; 14:1-3). She will be captured and half of her Jews will flee into exile. Remember: Anyone who harms Israel will actually be harming themselves, because they will be setting themselves against God. This struggle over Jerusalem will trigger the Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon. Israel is God's weapon of battle and he will use her to shatter the nations (Jeremiah 51:19-23).
• This struggle is already underway. Israel has made Jerusalem its Capitol. The Palestinian Liberation Organization says Jerusalem will be the capital of their new Palestinian state. And the Pope has asked that it be designated an international city so he can move his headquarters there. All of this is a thorn in the flesh for the United Nations, and there is a great desire to move against the Jews. When they do, they will bring certain destruction down on themselves.
• The Jews want to rebuild the Temple (Daniel 9:27, 28), the heart and soul of their religion. They want it rebuilt on the same site as their Old Testament Temple. However, the Palestinians want to keep this same site as holy ground for their existing mosque. They do not want their mosque torn down or moved. For the Jews to rebuild their Temple on this site would be like putting a gun to the Palestinians. It would be a great insult to their religion and to their god.
• The Middle East conflict is really a struggle between two religions, Judaism and Islam. It raises the question, "Whose god is God, and who worships the true God?" Neither side dare give in because the reputations of both their god and their religion are at stake.

None Were Found

Revelation 11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there."

John was given a reed and told to measure the Temple, measure the altar, and count the worshipers. This is significant because in the last days the Temple, and one of its two original altars will be rebuilt. The altar that will be rebuilt was called the golden altar (2 Chronicles 4:19; or the altar of incense. It was located inside the Temple. The altar that will not be rebuilt was called the bronze altar (1 Kings 8:64). It will not be rebuilt because, as Revelation 11:2 says, it was located outside in the outer court. The Gentiles will rule the outer court.

God will evaluate (count) the worshipers to see how many people on earth are truly worshipping Jesus. He will find none. The Jews will rebuild the Temple so they can re-establish their old way of worship, sacrificial worship. In the Old Testament, God accepted animal sacrifices as a temporary atonement for sin (Leviticus 1:4). The New Testament, however, teaches that those animal sacrifices did not permanently take away the sins of people (Hebrews 10:4). These sacrifices were inadequate to truly cover the sins of the people which is why they had to offer the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year (Hebrews 10:1). The reason God had the Jews sacrifice those animals was because it was a shadow of the things (Hebrews 10:1) to come. It reminded the people of their sins and pointed them to the time when the Messiah would come to permanently take away their sins through his death on the cross.

Because animal sacrifice only brought temporary forgiveness another method was needed for making atonement for sin. A permanent method was required. Christ's sacrifice on the cross is this permanent solution (Hebrews 9:12; 10:12). His death so thoroughly pleased God that it will never need to be repeated. In fact, no other sacrifices will ever be needed again.

Animal sacrifices are no longer acceptable because the death of Jesus is the only sacrifice that God will accept (John 3:36; Acts 4:12). Jesus even spoke about this when he said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). It is only through Christ's offering of himself for our sins that we can gain eternal life (John 3:16). During the Tribulation Period, when the Jews rebuild the Temple and resume animal sacrifices, their sacrifices will not be accepted which is why God will not find any worshipers in his Temple.

What Others are Saying:

Charles H. Dyer: Work goes on to breed the red heifer and to prepare the necessary articles and clothing to rebuild the Temple. Some erroneous reports have said that Israel is secretly stockpiling marble and limestone blocks for the building, but those reports appear to be groundless. Still, some groups, though they represent a small minority, are making serious preparations to rebuild the Temple and resume its worship. ^11-1
Hal Lindsey: I believe this very problem (the violent reaction of the Arabs to a Jewish Temple being rebuilt) may be the reason for the "strong covenant" which the Prophet Daniel says the Jewish people will make with the Roman Antichrist. In return for certain concessions from the Jews, he will guarantee protection for them so that they can rebuild their Temple and reinstate animal sacrifice. The religious Jews will push for this and accept the False Prophet as the Messiah because he helps to secure the rebuilding of the Temple. ^11-2

Related Current Events

• The yeshivas on Mt. Moriah are training priests and Levites for resuming sacrificial worship. Other yeshivas are weaving priests' clothing out of pure linen, while silversmiths and metal workers fashion vessels for the Temple, and musical instruments are made to announce the Messiah's appearance. ^11-3
• Within 48 hours of the Hasmonean Tunnel's opening, Yassar Arafat urged the Arab League to issue a declaration claiming the opening to be "part of an Israeli Zionist plot to destroy the Aqsa Mosque (and) set up the Temple of Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1)." ^11-4

Layout of the Temple (Illustration #5)

Remember This…

• According to Numbers 19, the blood of a red heifer, without spot or blemish, must be sprinkled in front of the Temple before God will accept a service there.
• Daniel implied that the Temple will be rebuilt (Daniel 9:27) and in use by the middle of the Tribulation Period.
• Jesus authenticated Daniel's prophecy in his Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, 25).
• Paul verified that the Temple will be rebuilt when he said the Antichrist will defile it (2 Thessalonians 2

What About The Wall?

Revelation 11:2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

John will be told not to measure the outer court of the Temple. This may signify that only the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies will be rebuilt. Some architects and prophecy experts say these could be rebuilt without disturbing the Dome of the Rock or the Aqsa Mosque. Such an arrangement would allow the various religions to share the Temple Mount. Sharing that religious sight or sharing sovereignty over it could mean there may not be a wall around the outer court. Without the outer court wall the Jews and Moslems would be able to share the Temple Mount.

John is told not to measure the outer court because it has been given to the Gentiles (see Illustration #5). They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. This coincides with what Jesus taught. Gentiles will control Jerusalem (Luke 21:24) and the Temple during the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period.

What Others are Saying:

Hal Lindsey: The importance of the Temple Mount site in Jerusalem to two faiths (Judaism and Islamism) make it the most strategic and potentially explosive piece of real estate on the face of the earth. ^11-5
David Hocking: It is possible the instruction to measure the Temple suggests what the last part of verse 2 reveals. The Gentiles will once again take control of Jerusalem and its holy sites. ^11-6
Charles H. Dyer: In a remarkable article in Biblical Archaeology Review Asher Kaufman argues that the ancient Holy of Holies was not located over the Dome of the Rock. Instead, he suggests that the Holy of Holies stood approximately a hundred yards farther north on the Temple Mount… No major archaeologist in Israel finds Kaufman's views convincing, but the point here is not to argue whether Kaufman's views are correct. Many Orthodox Jews are poring over every scrap of data, trying to find where the Temple stood. If they conclude that Kaufman's position fits the evidence, then they will build the Temple where he suggested. ^11-7

Related Current Events

• The report (a secret report commissioned by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on possible solutions to the Jerusalem problem) recommends that Palestinians be allowed to set up their own police force in eastern Jerusalem, and that the holy places in the Old City become "autonomous areas" controlled by the different religions. Sources involved said a central recommendation is that Israel and the Palestinian Authority suspend their claims for sovereignty, and instead talk about the possibilities of division of power. 11-8

Something to Ponder

• Islam is a rapidly growing religion with almost one billion followers worldwide. About fifteen percent live in the Middle East and the remainder are spread around the world with the largest populations in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and China.
• The Islamic religion is dominated by fundamentalists who try to impose the beliefs of Muhammad on the rest of the world. Extremists believe in spreading their religion by conquest. The more radical members deny basic freedoms such as human rights, civil rights, and women's rights. They will kill people of other religions in the name of their god Allah.
• Moslems believe:
• Allah is the same God Christians worship, although he was a moon god in Muhammad's day.
• Muhammad received revelations from God which prove that he was a prophet.
• Muhammad wrote a book called the Koran (the Moslem's holy book).
• The Koran contains God's latest revelations and supersedes all other revelations.
• God exists, but his name is Allah not Jehovah.
• Jesus existed, but he was a great prophet or messenger, not the Son of God who was crucified.
• They are the true inheritors of the covenants of God as descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael, even though the Bible says the Jews are the inheritors of the covenants of God as descendants of Abraham's son Isaac (Genesis 17:19-22). This one point has sparked a never-ending conflict between the Arabs and the Jews since the days of Abraham.

Remember This…

• Jerusalem is considered the Holy City by Christians, Jews, and Moslems. Among other things Christians consider it holy because Jesus was crucified there, Jews consider it holy because their Temple was located their, and Moslems consider it holy because they believe Muhammad ascended into heaven there.

Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

In the Old Testament the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20:1-17) required two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15) to validate matters pertaining to Jewish religion. In the same way God will send two witnesses to prophesy and validate the world's sin and blasphemy during the Tribulation Period.

The identities of these witnesses are unknown, but most experts agree that one of them will be Elijah. The main reason for this agreement is a verse found in the Old Testament: I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes (Malachi 4:5, 6). Currently, Elijah is in heaven (2 Kings 2:1), but he will return to earth before the Tribulation Period.

Elijah and the second witness will stay and prophesy for 1,260 days or three and one-half years. Experts agree that this will be the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period.

The two witnesses will wear sackcloth. This type of attire undoubtedly seems strange to us but can be explained with help from the Old Testament. Old Testament prophets wore sackcloth (Isaiah 20:2; Joel 1:13) when they were ministering to people who were deeply involved in sin. Sackcloth, however, is also worn as a garment of mourning (Genesis 37:34; Esther 4:1-4). Most likely the Jews of the Tribulation Period will be grieving over their sins and their relationship with God.

Key Symbols:

• Two Witnesses
• Elijah and ??? (no one knows)

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: The two witnesses, who many theologians believe to be Elijah and Enoch, will appear on the earth during the Tribulation. They will wear the traditional clothing of mourning, and their mission will be to call men to repentance. ^11-9
J. Vernon McGee: Let us say with some assurance that Elijah is one of the witnesses. As to who the other one is, your guess is as good as mine. ^11-10

Warning!

• Most people want to know who the two witnesses will be. Some say Elijah and Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5, 6). Others say Elijah and John the Baptist (John 1:29-36; 5:33). Still others suggest Elijah and Moses. I believe they will be Jews, but no one knows for sure. It may possibly be that God does not tell us because it is not important.

Oil and Light

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Each witness is represented by one olive tree and one lampstand. It takes two symbols to represent one person.

To understand this passage we need to know what these symbols mean. The answer to the olive trees is found in Zechariah 4:3–6, two olive trees stand by a lampstand and provide oil to the lampstand. This oil represents the Holy Spirit. The two witnesses will be olive trees because they will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:11–14 explains what the lampstands represent, the lampstands hold pots of burning oil that provide light. The two witnesses will be lampstands because they will provide light to a dark world.

Now, combine the two symbols. Each witness will be one olive tree filled with the Holy Spirit and one lampstand giving off the light of God. They will be two witnesses, filled with the Holy Spirit, counteracting the forces of darkness in the world.

Key Symbols:

• Two Witnesses
• olive tree
• filled with the Holy Spirit
• lampstand
• light of God to the world

They Speak With Fire

Revelation 11:5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

God told Jeremiah, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes (Jeremiah 5:14). Those who reject the Word of God will be like wood when it is consumed by fire.

The two witnesses will be invincible. They will have the supernatural power of the Word of God in their mouths. When their enemies try to harm them they will merely speak to consume their enemies.

Key Symbols:

• Two Witnesses
• fire from mouths

I Don't Want to Be Here

Revelation 11:6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

These two men will have unlimited power. They will be able to stop the rain from falling, turn water to blood, and smite the earth with many different kinds of plagues. Without rain for three and a half years the ground will be cracked and dry like old leather, and the dust will be ankle deep. When the waters turn to blood, they will be unfit to drink, and uninhabitable for fish. There is no telling what the other plagues will do, but one thing is for sure, this will not be the same planet we know today.

Key Symbols:

• Two Witnesses
• power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain
• power to turn the waters into blood
• power to strike the earth with every kind of plague

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: The seven seas of the earth will be turned into blood. Every river (and) stream will become as blood. Every basin in your home will run with hot and cold blood. This plague will produce mind–numbing thirst from which there will be no relief. ^11-11
David Jeremiah with C.C. Carlson: (The two witnesses) will tell men to their faces about their human wickedness; they will stab hearts with warnings of future judgments, even worse than the past. The hatred this pair arouses will be intense. ^11-12

Something to Ponder

• Do You Want to be Around?

The Beasts

Revelation 11:7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

The two witnesses will be supernaturally protected. Nothing will harm them. However, when they have finished their assignment of providing light to a dark and evil world, they will be killed.

Revelation mentions two beasts: the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1) and the False Prophet (Revelation 13:11). The Antichrist will hate the two witnesses. He will fail to cope with their condemnation of his world government, religion, social principles, and economic system, and will be infuriated when he hears them preaching about Jesus. He will be jealous of their number of converts, so he will throw all the power of his Satanic government into an attack against them. The witnesses will be overpowered and killed.

Key Symbols:

• Beast #1
• the Antichrist
• Beast #2
• the False Prophet

Not Even a Burial Plot