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BOOK OF REVELATION: CHAPTER 11

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Here's Revelation 11, a very, very important chapter. We're still in the 2nd woe period with the 6th trumpet that sounded back at Rev.9:12-13. When that 6th trumpet sounded, the locust army was loosed upon the earth, and they have a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit. We should especially remember from the last part of Rev.9 that the power the locust army has comes out of their 'mouths', and they're working is 'like' a scorpion upon the earth.

Rev 11:1-19
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, "Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."


In Ezekiel 40 forward, an angel with a line of flax and a measuring reed appeared to Ezekiel and showed him the measurement of the future Milennium temple. Here in Rev.11 John is handed "a reed like unto a rod", and told to go measure the temple of God, the altar, and what else...? Very important, John is also told to measure "them that worship therein."

An idea God uses in the OT prophets is that of a plume line as a measure upon Israel (Amos 7; 2 Kings 21:13; Isaiah 28:17). A plume line using a plumb bob sets a post's uprightness to true vertical. The same idea occurs with a measuring reed, but can also be used as a rod of punishment (1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 18:21).

This "reed like unto a rod" represents a measure of those worshipping in the temple, and it's in the sense of a rod, like a judgment. It involves a temple and altar, and those worshipping therein. But where is this temple here located? Let's keep going to find out.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

John is told to not measure the outer court of the temple, for it's given to the Gentiles. Which Gentiles, and what do they do there? They tread under foot the holy city for 42 months. They trample it.

This 42 months is also a prophetic marker for the 42 months the dragon is given to work (Rev.13:4-5). It's equal to 1260 days, or 3 and 1/2 years. That it is prophetically given here in months links to lunar reckoning, those of the night spiritually. These Gentiles who trample the holy city are not God's people. So where would this temple and altar be? On earth, in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where this type of temple and altar is referenced in God's Word, relating to Israel.

This is why many believe (myself included) there will be another Jewish temple built in Jerusalem for the end of days prior to Christ's coming. But it will be a false working, a temple prepared for false messiah who comes first. Afterall, wasn't it the temple mount complex in Jerusalem our Lord Jesus was pointing to in Matt.24 about the placing of the "abomination of desolation", an idol set in the holy place? (Have you studied the example of God revealing an abomination in the Jerusalem temple given in Ezekiel 8?)

3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

In that period of the 6th trumpet - 2nd woe, God will send two witnesses to earth. They shall prophesy "clothed in sackcloth". What's that point to? Being clothed in sackcloth and ashes was an OT custom to show shame and grief. This 1260 period is given prophetically in days pointing to solar reckoning, about those of the day, i.e., God's servants.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

At the end of Zechariah 4 we're shown the two olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand by The LORD of the whole earth. It's through them on each side of the candlestick that the Oil is poured out into the bowls, feeding the candlesticks. The Holy Spirit is going to show Power through these two olive trees.

But "two candlesticks" are also mentioned along with the two olive trees. At the end of Rev.1 our Lord showed us the seven Churches are the seven candlesticks. These are two of them which stand with God's two witnesses on the 6th trumpet - 2nd woe period. Which ones they are we were to discover by our Lord's seven Messages back in Rev.2 & 3, if we were paying attention. It's apparent that as five Churches had some major problems back in history, and two did not, that symbolic pattern will continue for Churches in the end also.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.


God gave His servants Moses and Elijah power to work these type of wonders upon the earth. By that we are to know these two witnesses will be two men prophets that God will send in the end of days prior to our Lord's coming.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

How long were we told they are given to prophesy? 1260 days. This is on the 6th trumpet - 2nd woe period. The 7th trumpet - 3rd woe is still yet to come per the timeline.

When their prophesying is finished, "the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit" will make war upon them and kill them. This "beast" is the first mention in Revelation of a symbol for God's enemies. It is not the Greek word 'zoon' for the previous 'beasts' mentioned starting in Rev.4. In Rev.13 we will learn this "beast" word applied to a world kingdom, and the one over it called the dragon. Does that give us a further clue who this "beast" here is? It should, for he ascends... out of the bottomless pit. Recall the rider called "Death" back in Rev.6, and Hell followed after him.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Here we're shown what city it is where God's two witnesses are killed. It's Jerusalem on earth, for that's the geographic area where our Lord Jesus was crucified. Two spiritual metaphors are being used in association to Jerusalem here, Sodom and Egypt. The Message is of Jerusalem in a fallen worship state, gone the way of Sodom and ancient Egypt. This is an OT type reference God used for His people when they fell away to false worship of the nations.

Does this give us yet another 'tell' about that measuring of the temple, altar, and those who worship therein with a reed like unto rod back at verses 1 & 2? Yes. It's pointing to worship within another temple in Jerusalem, but about false worship in it. Orthodox unbelieving Jews have plans to build it and start up the Old Covenant worship again, which is an abomination since Christ came and died on the cross to end all that.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

The dead bodies of God's two witnesses will be left laying in the street of Jerusalem, not buried. People of the nations will see their dead bodies. That is possibly pointing to cameras on them, and use of satellite technology for all nations to see them. Since Christ's enemies couldn't prove beyond a doubt that our Lord Jesus was not resurrected, maybe they're going to use cameras for these two witnesses to try and prove to the world there is no resurrection?

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The nations will be joyous over the death of God's two witnesses. That shows how deceived the peoples of the world will be, and the depth of deception the locust army will have brought upon them.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, "Come up hither." And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.


Then 3 and 1/2 days after God's two witnesses are killed and left laying in the street of Jerusalem, they will be resurrected, on the spot. The 7th trumpet is getting ready to sound at this point.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Within that same hour which God's two witnesses stand up, a great earthquake happens in Jerusalem. Seven thousand are immediately slain. God's remnant become frightened and give God the glory when this happens.

Who are these "seven thousand"? They don't represent God's servants, but the opposite. Just as God has a seven thousand chosen elect remnant which He told Elijah He had reserved to Himself, the devil has his group of elect servants on earth too. This seven thousand is symbolic of Satan's servants on earth.

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

The timelline of events here happen very fast (in the same hour) with the ending of the 2nd woe and events starting the third woe. This third woe is timed with the seventh trumpet. These are the propetic events of the end of this present world which God showed in the OT are to occur very quickly. Apostle Paul showed on the "last trump" all who remain on earth will be changed at the twinkling of an eye. In Isaiah, God showed this change will occur suddenly, at an instant (Isa.29:5; 30:13). Paul also declared it as a "sudden destruction" in 1 Thess.5.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.

On that 7th trumpet is Christ's coming to gather His elect from the four winds, linked to that sudden change at the twinkling of an eye. At that point, all the kingdoms of this world become those of The Lord and of His Christ. That begins Christ's de facto literal reign, here on earth (see Zech.14 for where He returns to for that future reign).

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.


On that 7th trumpet is when the rewards to Christ's servants are handed out. It is when the dead are resurrected (John 5:29), when the time of God's cup of wrath is poured out upon the wicked, and when a separation between Christ's sheep and the goats happens. It will happen quickly, in a much shorter time than it takes to cover all those events.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
(KJV)


Per Isaiah 25, a vail that is spread over all nations is to be removed. That's when the Heavenly will be revealed for all to see, on this 7th trumpet of Christ's coming. This is how all eyes will see Christ coming in clouds. If you can receive it, the Heavenly is going to be revealed upon this earth. We all will be in resurrection bodies at this point.

Here again the lightnings, thunderings, earthquake and great hail is mentioned. We were given those symbols at the ending of the seven seals in Rev.8:5, and at the ending of the seven trumpets here in Rev.11:19. At the ending of the seven vials in Rev.16:18, we will be given those signs once more. What timeline reference is our Lord Jesus trying to show us with that? Most importantly, it's about the 7th seal, the 7th trumpet, and the 7th vial all ending within the same timeframe (777).
 
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