Revelation 11:1-14

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.  And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.  And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed.  They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may 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 kind of plague, as often as they desire.  And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.  For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.  But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.  Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.  And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.  The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

This passage seems to be a sort of flash back to describe the ministry of two prophets who minister on the earth during the last half of the tribulation.  The judgments we have been looking at prior to this passage seem to have taken place during the ministry of these two witnesses and it seems that they, in some way, were instruments in bringing them about.  Their identity is not known, but they are most certainly ministers of the Gospel and instruments of God’s grace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPHETS: John is told to measure the temple but not the court of the Gentiles.  It seems that during the early days of the tribulation the Jews will rebuild the temple and begin worshiping there.  This seems like part of the plan to bring Israel to the Lord and the recognition of Messiah.  John measuring the temple seems to indicate God’s ownership of the temple and the Jews who are worshiping there that will eventually be saved through the process of these judgments.  The court where the Gentiles are will not be measured because there is no promise that all Gentiles will be saved, only representatives from all the nations.  We have seen 144,000 Jews who are witnessing in all the world.  We now see two witnesses who are described as olive trees.  This seems to be a reference to the fact that they will be a source of light through the preaching of the Gospel during the last half of the tribulation.  During all the judgments there is evidence of God’s grace through the preaching of His Word and a way to salvation.

DEVASTATION FROM THE PROPHETS: These two witnesses are powerfully preaching the Word of God, condemning the idolatry and immorality that are running rampant on the earth.  They will certainly be speaking out against Antichrist and his false teachings.  This will not be a popular message and certainly, there will be many who seek to silence them.  Additionally, they will have the power to inflict plagues turning water to blood and stopping the rain.  This will make them even more hated by unrepentant men.  There will be many who try to kill them, but they have the ability to protect themselves by breathing out fire and consuming any who might attack them.  This devastation will certainly contribute to the authenticity of their message.  At their preaching, many and eventually all Israel will recognize Christ as Messiah.  Those who reject Christ will hate them with a vengeance.

DESTRUCTION OF THE PROPHETS: With God’s permission and at the right time, Antichrist will be permitted to kill the two witnesses.  This will cause a worldwide celebration as people will think that the source of all the judgments they were facing has been eliminated.  The bodies of these men will be lying in the streets for three and a half days.  This humiliation is intended to show the power of Antichrist and complete rejection of the message of the Gospel that these prophets of God proclaimed.  It is possible that these two men are Moses and Elijah who have been sent back to earth to preach to the nation of Israel.  Upon their death, unbelievers will exchange gifts thinking that they have won a decisive victory and that the judgment of God has been averted.  They are mistaken.

DESTINATION OF THE PROPHETS: Three and a half days as the entire world is watching on what is most likely satellite TV, these two witnesses are resurrected and raptured into heaven.  God is clearly in control and will not allow His prophets to just rot in the streets.  When the witnesses are taken into heaven a massive earthquake shakes the city and thousands of people die and the city is decimated.  However, this event seems to culminate in the surviving members of the nation of Israel confessing Jesus as Messiah and giving glory to God.

APPLICATION: Recognize God’s sovereign ownership of the world and His covenant with the nation of Israel.  Remember God has the ability to equip His ministers to accomplish whatever He desires in this world.  Even in the face of tragedy or even death, know that God is in control and has the power to accomplish His will.  Trust in Christ and respond to the preaching of His Word.