The book of Revelation is a preview of coming attractions. This chapter gives us some coming events around the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a critical city in the Bible. We are still waiting for the blowing of the seventh trumpet. This part of the parenthesis tells us of two mighty witnesses for God.

1 – The Temple worship (vs. 1-2)

John is instructed take a reed and measures the inside of the Temple. Reeds were about 10 feet in length and were often used in measurement. This is a symbol of God’s judgment upon this place. There is no temple standing today so what temple is it? Let’s take a brief history lesson first.

• First temple – Solomon’s Temple. David was given the instructions but it was built by Solomon. It was built around 966 BC in seven and a half years. It was destroyed in 587 BC by Nebuchadnezzar.
• Second Temple – Zerubbabel’s Temple. (See Ezra & Nehemiah) The people came back to the city and the Temple is reconstructed and work starts around 535 BC. It is destroyed by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC.
• Third Temple – Herod’s Temple. This is the one referred to by Jesus in the New Testament. In Matthew 24:1-1 Jesus predicted the destruction of this Temple. The Roman General Titus destroyed the Temple by fire and took the Temple apart to get the gold. Jesus knew it would happen because He is God!
• Fourth Temple – Tribulation Temple – The Jews will construct another temple that will be standing during the time of the Great Tribulation. It won’t be constructed because they love Jesus. The people will go back to the old animal sacrifices of the Temple. This Temple may be built before or during the Rapture. The original site is the now occupied by the Dome of the Rock. How will this happen? The lord knows! For years the city of Jerusalem was not occupied by the Jews. Now it is occupied by with the nation of Israel back in existence. The same thing did not happen to the Hittites, Canaanites, etc. The Antichrist will bring a peace treaty to the Middle-East and promise peace. The Antichrist will break his treaty and stop the sacrificial system and setup idols to himself and force people to worship him as “god”. See Daniel 9 & Matthew 24 & 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. The Antichrist is the Devil’s “prince of peace”.

There is a chronology involved. For three and a half years the Antichrist will rule supreme. He will set himself up as God.

2 – The two witnesses (vs. 3-7)

God has his two witnesses. Notice four things about them:-

• Their inauguration (vs. 3-4) – These two witnesses will prophesy for three and a half years when the Devil is at his worst. They will be preaching the Gospel and the Antichrist isn’t going to like it. They are like two olive trees (picture of Holy Spirit). They are like candlesticks (picture of God’s messenger). They are clothed in sackcloth which is the garments that God’s prophets wore when they were preaching doom. They were preaching the judgment of God. They are two prophets like Moses and Elijah. It could be actually Moses and Elijah. Here are a few reasons.

1. They are able to do miracles – They had power to stop the rain, turn water into blood and bring plagues upon people.
2. There is a prediction that Elijah will return to the earth. See Malachi 4:5.
3. It was Moses and Elijah who had a meeting with Jesus at the Transfiguration.
4. They both left this earth in unusual ways. Elijah didn’t even die. He was raptured. Moses died but God took his body. Whether they are Moses and Elijah are not, these are God’s two super men.

• Their protection (vs. 5-6) – These two “supermen” are well able to protect themselves! They are protected by God. They are invincible! The Antichrist won’t be able to kill them. The world will see it for themselves. They will be able to preach the Gospel and the authorities will not be able to stop them.
• Their destruction (vs. 7-10) – They will be killed only when they have finished their work. Their bodies will lie in the street. They won’t even bury their bodies. The whole world will see that they are dead and rejoice. They will be on satellite TV. They were so glad that they sent gifts to one another. They had a Satanic “Christmas”. Everyone was having a party.
• Their resurrection (vs. 11-14) – God raises them from the dead. This gatecrashes their party! The same thing happened when Jesus was killed. God’s enemies were rejoicing but then Jesus rose from the dead. You can’t keep good men down. If God raised Jesus and the Two Witnesses then God will raise those who are trusting in Jesus.

Categories: Revelation