The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:1 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.
Christians may recall that “you are the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-22). Measurements of a building under construction would include making sure that it’s being built firmly on its foundation.
Revelation 11:2 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.
The court of the gentiles was outside the physical temple. In this context it represents those from all nations not yet fully in the church of God, and perhaps also those of the world who tread the church under foot, trying to mix worldly ideas into the faith, who in reality sit on the outer edges, not actually measured or not fully included in the church of God. This contradicts any who believe in inclusiveness without boundaries, and any who add vain fads and traditions of the world not measured by the teachings of the apostles, prophets and Christ.
Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Amidst much speculation, nobody really knows who the two witnesses are. However, all agree that forty two months is the 1260 days, and three and a half years (time, times and half a time). As half of seven years, this possibly symbolizes shortened time and parallels similar periods in the OT (Daniel 7:25; 12:7).
Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
This is referring to Zechariah 4 where a hint is given, referring to the ministries of those responsible for finishing the Temple, which may be a type of the final completion of building the church.
Revelation 11:5 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.
This may refer to literal fire as Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10), or the symbolic fire of powerful preaching coming from their mouths, which destroys unrepentant attitudes (Jeremiah 1:9-10), or both.
Revelation 11:6 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.
This is “authorized power” from heaven.
Revelation 11:7 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.
This is a beast-spirit which is in total opposition to the Spirit of Christ. In Daniel, beasts are symbolic of human kings and human governments, first is king Nebucchadnezzar (Daniel 4:16), and then four successive Empires after him: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome (Daniel 7). The beast-spirit from the pit is the true power behind the scenes of these infamous world governments.
Revelation 11:8 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.
Spiritually, today’s Jerusalem is not yet the “city of peace” but Sodom and Egypt, perversion, oppression of the poor and slavery to sin.
Revelation 11:9 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.
Are these 3½ days the same as the 3½ years? Possibly. On the other hand, with modern broadcasting, it is possible for the whole world to see their bodies in such a short time.
Revelation 11:10 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.
Only evil, unrepentant people would rejoice over such a death.
Revelation 11:11 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.
This resurrection of the two witnesses echoes the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10).
Revelation 11:12 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.
What a contradiction of all things apostate and in rebellion against God, and what a comfort to all faithful preachers of the Word who suffer opposition!
Revelation 11:13 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.
Why should it take such an event before people repent! This emphasizes the stubbornness of humanity.
Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
With the resurrection of the two witnesses and a great earthquake, we understand that the second woe is finished and we are now introduced to the final woe, which is the seventh trumpet.
The 7th Trump 3rd Woe - Chorus
Revelation 11:15 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.
The Hallelujah Chorus quotes these very words.
Revelation 11:16-17 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 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.
In a supreme act of worship, the church’s representatives through all ages, give thanks that the hour has finally come.
Revelation 11:18 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.
The attitude of the nations is revealed as early as Psalm 2:1 and Psalm 99:1, anger instead of repentance.
Revelation 11:19 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.
Archaeological digs search for the ark of the covenant. Is this where it went, or was the ark on earth only symbolic of the one in heaven? We can speculate, but what is clear is that the ark was in the holy of holies, which was opened at the cross, when the veil was torn in two (Matthew 27:51).
Preparation for the return of Christ and the fulness of the kingdom has involved suffering and sacrifice, but when it finally comes, the joy will far outweigh anything we will have suffered in this material existence.
