A number of commentators look on this chapter as the most difficult in the book.
This chapter is set in Jerusalem during the first half of the tribulation.
The Temple has been rebuilt in Jerusalem.
This chapter through to verse 14 sees a pause in the judgements, it gives us some background and amplifies those things which are happening.
Verse 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.”
Here we see the Temple in Jerusalem, with the alter in place. The Temple has been rebuilt and is being used.
The Jews have not had a temple since 70AD, when it was destroyed by the Romans.
The rebuilding of the Temple is one of the key events that heralds His second coming.
The measuring of the Temple refers to claiming it, and in the Old Testament measuring always precedes judgement.
Verse 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.”
It is the Temple only that is measured, not the temple area.
Today the temple area is owned by the Muslims who have a mosque built there.
The forty two months is of course half the 7 year period of tribulation.
At present they are preparing to build the Temple with many of the garments and instruments already made.
There is some dispute over where exactly the Temple originally stood. Some think it stood on the Dome of the Rock, others believe it stood 100m north of the Dome. Other investigations suggest that it stood lower to the south where the El Kas Fountain is.
Verse 3
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Now we have a change of subject
God sets up two witnesses, they prophesy for 3 ½ years.
They are very Old Testament in appearance, wearing sackcloth.
Verse 4
“These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
The olive trees actually mean trees of oil.
This is a reference to Zechariah Chapter 4, where we have Zerubbabel and his priest, Joshua, they have rebuilt the Temple, in verses 10-14 we see them standing before the Temple and likened unto two olive trees and candlesticks. They stand by the Lord before the whole earth.
Because of this likeness in passages, some believe that the two witnesses will be Zerubbabel and Joshua.
Verse 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, be must in this manner be killed.”
It was going to be dangerous for anyone who went against these preachers.
Verse 6
“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over water to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”
God is going to have confidence in these two witnesses, even Moses went to the Lord and asked before he done anything, but these two are given the freedom to do what they think right and when they think appropriate.
There are many speculations about who these two are going to be.
None really knows for definite.
The first clue we get is in John 1:19-21. John the Baptist is at the river preaching and baptising, he has a large crowd and the religious leaders and scholars come and ask him who he is. He is about 20 miles from the city over very rough land that was hard to travel.
How did he gather the crowd in such a remote place?
There is a legend that he was wearing the mantle of Elijah. When Elijah was taken to Heaven (2 Kings 2:9-13) his mantle feel and Elisha took it up. The legend then goes that when Elisha died there was no-one to take up the mantle so it was taken and placed in the Golden Alter by the Holy of Holies. The legend continues that when Zechariah is told that he is going to have a son, who is John the Baptist, that he is told to take that from the Golden Alter and take it home, so therefore 30 years later John is actually wearing the mantle of Elijah.
So as they go to investigate John they are expecting 3 different people.
1. Messiah
2. Elijah - Why Elijah? Malachi 4:5-6. The Old Testament closes with the promise of Elijah returning before the tribulation. They were expecting Elijah and even today they are still expecting him. If you go to any Orthodox Jewish house on Passover you will find an empty chair sitting, incase Elijah shows up. Elijah also never died, as we read he was taken up to heaven.
3. That Prophet - This is the one that everyone argues about. There are may that believe that this is Enoch, because he also did not die (Gen 5:24). The main problem with Enoch is that he was not Jewish, and these are to be Jewish Prophets. There is another person who did not finish his ministry on earth - Moses. There are 4 powers listed with these 2 prophets, two are associated with Elijah and two with Moses. Fire from heaven and the power to shut heaven with Elijah. Moses, to turn water to blood and to bring plagues. In Matthew 17 we see the Transfiguration where Elijah and Moses appear together. Jude vs 9 we see a reference to Moses, with Michael disputing with Satan over his body. Why does Satan want the body? Why does Michael want it?
Verse 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 the first mention of the “beast of the bottomless pit”, we will see him in more details in chapter 13. He comes from Hell itself and is demonic. He will be a literal person with supernatural capabilities. He is going to kill them, but remember he cannot do this until their ministry is completed. The anti-christ is now in power.
Verse 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.”
They will lie in Jerusalem. The terms Sodom and Egypt can cause confusion, but it shouldn’t. It is a description of the moral condition of Jerusalem at this time.
Verse 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.”
Everyone will see these bodies lying on the streets, television will ensure this.
Verse 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.”
The people of the world are happy to see these witnesses dead. They are so happy that they give gifts to each other.
Verse 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.”
These peoples celebrations are suddenly ruined.
Verse 12 & 13
“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.”
“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.”
Note, a tenth of the city fell, remember that a tenth of everything belongs to the Lord.
Verse 14
“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 kingdoms of the world have belonged to Satan until now, this is a proclamation of the fact that they are now going to belong to Christ.
Verse 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 resigned.”
So the previous verse gives rise to another round of praise and worship.
The word “hast” should really be translated ‘thou hast “began” to reign’
Verse 18
“And the nations were angry, and they 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 they name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
This verse is a table of contents for the rest of the book. It tells us what is going to happen in the following chapters.
Verse 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.”
This verse should really be in chapter 12.
Here we see the real Ark of the Covenant. Moses built a replica of what he seen on the mount. The tabernacle and all the items in it are a copy of what is in Heaven.
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