Measurement of the Measurement of the Temple and WorshipersTemple and Worshipers

Revelation 11:1-19Revelation 11:1-19

Outline of RevelationOutline of Revelation Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future

Expectation (4:1 – 22:5)Expectation (4:1 – 22:5) Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll (4:1 – 8:1)Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll (4:1 – 8:1)

The Source of the Scroll (4:1-5:14)The Source of the Scroll (4:1-5:14) The First Six Seals, “The Beginning of Birth Pangs” The First Six Seals, “The Beginning of Birth Pangs”

(6:1-17)(6:1-17) The Slaves of God (7:1-17)The Slaves of God (7:1-17) The Seventh Seal: The Seven Trumpets Awaited (8:1)The Seventh Seal: The Seven Trumpets Awaited (8:1)

The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets (8:2 – The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets (8:2 – 11:19)11:19)

The First Four Trumpets (8:2-13)The First Four Trumpets (8:2-13) The Fifth and Sixth Trumpet (9:1-21)The Fifth and Sixth Trumpet (9:1-21)

The Announcement of the End of Delay (10:1-11)The Announcement of the End of Delay (10:1-11) Measurement of the Temple and Worshipers (11:1-14)Measurement of the Temple and Worshipers (11:1-14) The Seventh Trumpet: the Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-The Seventh Trumpet: the Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-

19)19)

Measurement of the Temple Measurement of the Temple (11:1-2)(11:1-2)

This is not a physical measuring, as when Ezekiel This is not a physical measuring, as when Ezekiel was commanded to measure the temple; there are was commanded to measure the temple; there are no dimensions forthcoming here.no dimensions forthcoming here.

This measuring is a mark of God’s favor.This measuring is a mark of God’s favor. “…“…John’s future prophecies will distinguish between God’s John’s future prophecies will distinguish between God’s

favor toward the sanctuary, the altar, and their worshipers favor toward the sanctuary, the altar, and their worshipers and His disapproval of all that is of Gentile orientation and His disapproval of all that is of Gentile orientation because of their profanation of the holy city for half of the because of their profanation of the holy city for half of the future seventieth week. This distinction shows in the case future seventieth week. This distinction shows in the case of the two witnesses who in association with the sanctuary of the two witnesses who in association with the sanctuary and the altar enjoy God’s favor (11:5-6, 11-12) and their and the altar enjoy God’s favor (11:5-6, 11-12) and their Gentile foes who oppose them, kill them, and eventually Gentile foes who oppose them, kill them, and eventually experience a devastating earthquake because of God’s experience a devastating earthquake because of God’s disfavor (11:13). The two witnesses enjoy God’s favor, but disfavor (11:13). The two witnesses enjoy God’s favor, but not His protection and preservation from all enemies. So not His protection and preservation from all enemies. So the measuring is an object lesson of how entities favored by the measuring is an object lesson of how entities favored by God will fare during the period of Gentile oppression that God will fare during the period of Gentile oppression that lies ahead” (Thomas, lies ahead” (Thomas, Rev 8-22Rev 8-22, pp. 80-81). , pp. 80-81).

The TempleThe Temple

Court of the Gentiles

Court of the Women

Court of the Men

The Two Witnesses (11:3-The Two Witnesses (11:3-14)14)

During this same 42 month period, God will During this same 42 month period, God will grant authority and protection to 2 witnesses grant authority and protection to 2 witnesses who will proclaim His Word.who will proclaim His Word.

The prophets’ clothing of sackcloth The prophets’ clothing of sackcloth emphasizes the need for repentance and emphasizes the need for repentance and impending judgment.impending judgment.

John is drawing upon language from John is drawing upon language from Zechariah 4. Just as Joshua and Zerubbabel Zechariah 4. Just as Joshua and Zerubbabel sought to turn Israel back to God in their day, sought to turn Israel back to God in their day, so these 2 witnesses will do the same thing. so these 2 witnesses will do the same thing.

The Two Witnesses (11:3-The Two Witnesses (11:3-14)14)

Because these 2 witnesses will face severe Because these 2 witnesses will face severe persecution, they will have a strong weapon for persecution, they will have a strong weapon for defense: fire from their mouth to devour their defense: fire from their mouth to devour their enemies.enemies.

While the 2 witnesses are not explicitly identified, While the 2 witnesses are not explicitly identified, their ministries are very similar to the ministries their ministries are very similar to the ministries of Moses and Elijah in the OT.of Moses and Elijah in the OT. Power to prevent rain from falling, as Elijah did (1 Kings Power to prevent rain from falling, as Elijah did (1 Kings

17:1; 18:1). 17:1; 18:1). Power to turn water into blood and smite the earth with Power to turn water into blood and smite the earth with

plagues, as Moses did (Exo 7 - 11).plagues, as Moses did (Exo 7 - 11). Recall that these 2 men were the ones who Recall that these 2 men were the ones who

appeared with Christ in His Transfiguration, appeared with Christ in His Transfiguration, indicating their connection with Christ’s future indicating their connection with Christ’s future return in power and glory. return in power and glory. Right after the Transfiguration, Christ predicted that Right after the Transfiguration, Christ predicted that

“Elijah is coming and will restore all things” (Matt 17:11). “Elijah is coming and will restore all things” (Matt 17:11).

The Two Witnesses (11:3-The Two Witnesses (11:3-14)14)

In verse 7 is the first mention of the beast. This In verse 7 is the first mention of the beast. This anticipates the events that are described in Rev 13 anticipates the events that are described in Rev 13 and 17. This beast is the false christ, who will slay and 17. This beast is the false christ, who will slay the two witnesses after their witness is completed.the two witnesses after their witness is completed.

The bodies of the two witnesses will lay in the streets The bodies of the two witnesses will lay in the streets of a very morally depraved Jerusalem for 3 ½ days. of a very morally depraved Jerusalem for 3 ½ days.

All the world will celebrate the death of these two All the world will celebrate the death of these two prophets of God, because they served to bring prophets of God, because they served to bring suffering and death to many and to torment the suffering and death to many and to torment the consciences of those who are opposing God.consciences of those who are opposing God.

After the 3 ½ days are over, God raises these 2 After the 3 ½ days are over, God raises these 2 witnesses from the dead and catches them up to witnesses from the dead and catches them up to heaven, creating fear in all those who have rejoiced heaven, creating fear in all those who have rejoiced over their death.over their death.

As a climax to this episode, God sends a great As a climax to this episode, God sends a great earthquake that kills 7000 people in the city but that earthquake that kills 7000 people in the city but that also appears to bring genuine repentance to those also appears to bring genuine repentance to those who remain. (“Giving glory to God” is connected with who remain. (“Giving glory to God” is connected with genuine worship elsewhere in Rev at 4:9; 16:9; 19:7).genuine worship elsewhere in Rev at 4:9; 16:9; 19:7).

The Seventh Trumpet: the The Seventh Trumpet: the Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-

19)19) The 7th trumpet is sounded. The 7th trumpet is sounded.

Before the judgments included in the trumpet Before the judgments included in the trumpet are revealed, a dramatic announcement about are revealed, a dramatic announcement about a change in the rulership of the world is a change in the rulership of the world is announced.announced.

Jesus will return to earth and occupy the throne Jesus will return to earth and occupy the throne of His father David, at which time He will of His father David, at which time He will replace the satanically energized sovereignty replace the satanically energized sovereignty of all earlier world rulers. Unlike previous world of all earlier world rulers. Unlike previous world rulers, the kingdom of Christ will never end.rulers, the kingdom of Christ will never end.

The Seventh Trumpet: the The Seventh Trumpet: the Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-

19)19) The announcement prompts worship of The announcement prompts worship of

the One who sits upon the throne by the One who sits upon the throne by the 24 elders, who fall prostrate before the 24 elders, who fall prostrate before God and give thanks, emphasizing God and give thanks, emphasizing God’s eternal nature.God’s eternal nature.

They also describe the response of the They also describe the response of the nations, the execution of God’s wrath, nations, the execution of God’s wrath, and His judgment of the dead, both the and His judgment of the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous.righteous and the unrighteous. ““Those who destroy the earth” must Those who destroy the earth” must

include Babylon, the beast, the false include Babylon, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan…all of which are on the prophet, and Satan…all of which are on the earth immediately prior to Christ’s return.earth immediately prior to Christ’s return.

The Seventh Trumpet: the The Seventh Trumpet: the Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-Seven Bowls Awaited (11:15-

19)19) John now sees the Temple in heaven opened John now sees the Temple in heaven opened

and the ark of the covenant in the Temple.and the ark of the covenant in the Temple. The ark was extremely important in the OT, The ark was extremely important in the OT,

symbolizing God’s presence among His people symbolizing God’s presence among His people and the place of atonement (Lev 16:2ff; Heb 9:3ff; and the place of atonement (Lev 16:2ff; Heb 9:3ff; 10:20). 10:20).

At some point during OT times the ark At some point during OT times the ark disappeared. disappeared.

Its appearance to John here served as a reminder Its appearance to John here served as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people Israel.Israel.

Just as with the breaking of the 7th seal, the Just as with the breaking of the 7th seal, the sounding of the 7th trumpet also receives the sounding of the 7th trumpet also receives the response of a storm theophany.response of a storm theophany.

In the Fall:In the Fall:The Woman, The Male Child, The Woman, The Male Child, and the Dragon (Rev 12:1-and the Dragon (Rev 12:1-

18)18)