This chapter has to do with the spiritual life of Israel. This chapter also reveals two super natural witnesses who are recalled from Old Testament days to convey God1s message to the Jerusalem area. These two witnesses are another illustration that shows God is keenly interested in the souls of people that he sends two supernatural witnesses to convince lost humanity. But in spite of these witnesses and the 144,000 of chapter 7 the majority will reject Gods offer of salvation. Israel will basically remain in unbelief. Verse 1 John is instructed to take a rod and measure the temple, its altar and the people who worship there. Measuring in the bible is often a symbol of preparation either for destruction or preservation. It is believed that God is saying that He wants the temple and the Jewish people measured for judgment and correction, that in the last days they must be judged along with everyone else because of their unbelief, denial, rejection, and blasphemy against God1s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So what God is doing is measuring the spiritual condition of the Jewish people. The Jews are just as guilty as the Gentiles in rejecting God1s Son Jesus Christ. God has to judge them just as He has to judge all the ungodly and evil in this world. God has no favorites and shows no partiality. The Jews with their temple and their city will be trodden underfoot by the antichrist just as many others will be. Here is a thought: Any person who does not approach God through the Lord Jesus Christ is worshiping a false god. There is only one true and living God and that is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. A worshiper may be a jew or a Gentile, it does not matter, he must worship God through the Lord Jesus Christ or his worship if false. This is the reason God marks the Jewish temple and worship for destruction. He is judging and condemning a false worship. Once the temple is destroyed in the end time, very, very soon, the self righteous spirit of the Jews will be broken and they will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and many thousands will be saved. But until they do the unbelieving Jews are marked for judgment just as all other unbelievers are. This POPE Benedict is likely the AntiChrist or his False Prophet Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 15:8-9 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules precepts, doctrines, commandments taught by men.
Abomination of Desolation Verse 2 The court which is without the temple is the court of the Gentiles, and John is told to disregard or exclude this court. Why would the Gentile court and the city of Jerusalem not be measured for judgment? By this time they will already be under the antichrist and his government. The government of Israel and the other governments of the world will have already submitted to the rule of the antichrist. There will already be a one world government. The antichrist will have a problem securing the loyalty of people all around the world who have strong faith. Strong Jewish worshipers will do what they have always done: refuse to buckle under to any Gentile ruler. The temple will be destroyed and Jewish worshipers will be persecuted. The antichrist is going to attack them with a vengeance never before seen in the history of the world. If there are any Christian believers left by this time the will be attacked also. Forty two months or (three and one half years) is the time that the antichrist will unleash terrible persecution on the world. This will be called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15 * Daniel 9:27 The signs that occur up until the abomination of desolation are called the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:8. The trials after the abomination of desolation takes place are called great tribulation. Matthew 24:21 Verses 3 & 4 This changes to the future here to indicate what will happen during the 42 months or 1,260 days. God says I will give power unto my two witnesses. What kind of power will they have? They will have the power to send fire out of their mouths and to kill those that try to persecute them. They also will have the power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain. They also will have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all manner of plagues. This power is for the purpose of witnessing God1s power in contrast to that of the antichrist.
Who are these two Witnesses of Revelation? There are a variety of suggestions. But most writers believe they may be Elijah and Moses. Why? 1. Malachi 4:5-6 predicted that Elijah would come before "That great and dreadful day of the Lord comes." The use of fire in the Old Testament was limited to Elijah, who called down fire to consume the altar in the days of Ahab. He also withheld rain from the earth for three years. 2 Kings 18:20-20 2. On the Mount of Transfiguration Moses and Elijah were brought forth. Moses manifested power to bring plagues on the earth and to turn water into blood during the days of Pharaoh. Moses and Elijah combined represent the entire Old Testament to the Jewish nation. Moses represents the first 5 books; Elijah, the outstanding prophet of Israel represents the prophetic books. Regardless of who they are their ministry will be like that of Moses and Elijah. The same kind of spirit that existed in these two great men will dwell in the two witnesses. In verse 4 they are called two olive trees, and two candlesticks. They are two anointed leaders who minister by the Spirit of the Lord. They stand before the God of the earth. They are constantly in His presence. When they prophecy they give light from God, so much light that no one has a right or excuse to deny the truth and clarity of their message. They are sent forth for a set time, three and one half years. They are raised up only for the greattribulation period in history. They will be sent forth as true prophets who condemn sin and proclaim the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. This is shown by the dress mentioned, sackcloth. This was worn by the prophets of old. The point is to show that their message will be straight forward and they pull no punches. Their message will be against the sins of the Jews as well as the rest of the world, a condemning message. Verses 5 & 6 If anyone attempts to hurt these witnesses in any way, fire goes out of their mouths and devours that person-a manner of death ordained by God. This probably means that the witnesses need only speak the word and the fire appears as if from their tongues. Again a reminder of Elijah calling down fire from heaven. Both witnesses have the power and authority to "shut heaven, that is, to keep it from raining during the 1,260 days of their ministry. Both witnesses also have the power and authority to turn the waters into blood and to smite the earth, to strike down the people of the earth with plagues. As Moses did. But these two witnesses have been given power and authority beyond that given to Moses or Elijah. Both of them can strike the people of the earth with every plague "as often as they will." A great deal seems to be left to their will and judgment. God has never left any period of history without a witness even during this time in history. Not that we get so wrapped up in who these two men are we need to remember that their message and the plagues they bring leave the world with no excuse for not repenting.
Revelation 11 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; 7000 people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever. 16 And the 24 elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
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