The Two Witnesses in Jerusalem.
Revelation 11:1-12.
The eleventh chapter of the Revelation has always been to me one of greatest interest. The scene is certainly laid in Jerusalem, which though spiritually called Sodom and Egypt (v. 8; cf. Isa 1:9-10) is specifically referred to as the place where also their Lord was crucified. The events recorded here have never yet taken place, but they will literally occur in "the holy city" at the end of time.
1,2. John is told to take a reed (measuring rod) and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them (the people) that worship therein (v. 1), which certainly implies that there will be some kind of temple building in Jerusalem at this time (Dan 9:27a). The statement is made that the holy city will be trodden under foot for forty and two months (v. 2), a time period found also in 13:5, and equal to the 1,260 days of 11:3, and 12:6. I take this to be the first half of the seven-year terminus of our age before the Jewis Temple worship is turminated in the middle of the week Daneil (9:27a). During the last half of which the Great Tribulation will occur, when Antichrist will be exercising universal power.
(Dan 9:27)Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (seven years); but in the middle of the week (three and one half years) He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (If the sacrificial offering ends it must have had a beginning in the first three and one half years) and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate."
- The Two Witnesses
REV 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.
- John was instructed to make an accounting of the temple and those who worshipped here.
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 under foot for forty-two months.
- The holy city of Jerusalem is said to be trampled on by Gentiles for 42 months, (three and one half years); the Great Tribulation period. This same period of time is mentioned in 13:5. It is a period equal to the 1,260 days in v 3 and in 12:6. Calculated as three and a half years, it is similar to the period of 12:14, "a time, times, and half a time. These numbers apply to one-half of the seven-year tribulation period prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27.
3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days (three and one half years) , clothed in sackcloth."
The question is who are these two witnesses? The answers have been many. The text gives no names or clues as to their identification. They are no doubt two people selected by God for a very specific and important mission. God calls at will those who are to serve Him.
EPH 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ --
God has the power to give life. Matthew 9:24 Mark 5:39, Luke 8:52, John 11:1-48, 1st Corinthians 15 3-8, 2nd Kings 13:20-21
God has the power to take life. Gen. 5:5, Exod. 1:6, Exod. 9:6, 11:4-10
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
These are two anointed ones. Likened to the two olive trees at either side of the lampstand represent the anointed ones (lit., sons of oil), who were the channels through whom the grace of God was then mediated to his people. The individuals under consideration were especially equipped with the message of Salvation and served as religious and civil agents of God. Ultimately, the one through whom all religious or spiritual and civil or governmental blessings are conveyed is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Compare:
ZEC 4:11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees, one at the right of the lampstand and the other at its left?"
12 And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?"
13 Then he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."
14 So he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."
- Symbolic of the olive trees that provided oil that burned in the lampstands that provided light. (Old Testament temple study.)
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.
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.
Two witnesses now appear, sent of God to prophesy to this city, though what their message is, we are not told. They are likened to the two olive trees and candlesticks (v. 4) portrayed in Zechariah 4. They are given supernatural power, such as Elijah and Moses had (1Ki 17:1), to slay their enemies, to cause a drought, to turn water into blood, and to smite the earth with plagues at their will (vv. 5,6). When they have finished the work God has assigned to them, the beast that comes up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
7 Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (“herion {thay-ree'-on”} metaphor. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious ) will make war against them (This beast could be Satan or an agent of Satan.), overcome them, and kill them.
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.(Jerusalem)
The bodies of these two prophets are placed in the street of this city, and from all over the earth men look upon them for three days and a half days and enter upon a time of rather universal rejoicing because these men who had tormented them are now, “they think”, destroyed.
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
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.
Observers will enter into a time of rather universal rejoicing because these men who had tormented them are now, they think, destroyed (vv. 8-10).
11 Now after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
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.
God demonstrates His reward to His servants in the presents of their enemies.
Recap:
3-12. Two witnesses now appear, sent of God to prophesy to this city, though what their message is, we are not told. They are likened to the two olive trees and candlesticks (v. 4) portrayed in Zechariah 4. They are given supernatural power, such as Elijah and Moses had (1Ki 17:1), to slay their enemies, to cause a drought, to turn water into blood, and to smite the earth with plagues at their will (vv. 5,6). When they have finished the work God has assigned to them, the beast that comes up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. The bodies of these two prophets are placed in the street of this city, and from all over the earth men look upon them for three days and a half day, and enter upon a time of rather universal rejoicing because these men who had tormented them are now, they think, destroyed (vv. 8-10). To the astonishment of their enemies, when three and a half days have expired, God raises them to their feet, calls them into glory, and they ascend into heaven in a cloud.
Compare:
1TH 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
At the ascension of the two witnesses, Jerusalem experiences a great earthquake, resulting in the death of seven thousand persons, and the rest were afraid, and gave glory to the God of Heaven. We detect no conviction of sin here, merely a sense of fear, which soon passes.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
A message from God; more judgment lies ahead and is coming soon.
(Keep in mind the recorded events we are learning of here is history that has not yet taken place.)
