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Soon!

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Here is a link to last week’s series, Soon!

There is a lot to cover today, so here are some highlights to study. Utilize resources like gotquestions.org, the Matthew Henry Commentary under Biblehub.org, and any works by David Jeremiah or Robert Jeffress; they are reliable. Verify all resources using God’s Word as your measuring stick.

Learn about:

  • the gentiles and the outer temple court1
  • the two lampstands and the olive trees (Zechariah 4)2
  • the message of the witnesses3
  • the correlation of the death and resurrection of the witnesses to Jesus4
  • the correlation of the deaths of the witnesses to where Jesus died
  • the ascension of the witnesses
  • the beast, antichrist and abyss5
  • Satanic celebration6

Often, believers confuse the second coming of Jesus with the Rapture. These are two different events. Jesus will rapture the Church as the Tribulation is beginning. At the Rapture, Jesus does not return to Earth.

.“…to meet the Lord in the air. “ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (CSB)

But in spite of what any human being may think, scripture clearly proves that every prophecy has been fulfilled that is necessary for Christ to rapture the Church. It could happen at any time.

The temple will be rebuilt sometime during the Tribulation. Following the Tribulation the Millennium will occur at Christs’ return to earth where He will reign with believers.

Matthew 24:15 (CSB) Daniel 9:27 (CSB)

And this leads us to our study of Revelation 11 for today.

Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “God and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there.  But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will l trample the holy city for forty-two months. 

Revelation 11:1 & 2 (CSB)

An old pastor once taught that a measuring rod in the Old Testament was a symbol of judgement in relation to measuring or counting people. He also said that when the Old Testament prophets referred to measuring the temple it signified God’s ownership.

But why exclude the courtyard outside the temple? The outer court was the only place that Gentiles could be. They were not allowed access to the temple. So, God gave that to those on the outside. The wicked people who were seeking to desecrate the temple. (1 Corinthians 5:12)

I will grant my two witnesses’ authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”  These are the two olive trees (Zecharaiah 4:4-11) and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Revelation 11:3 (CSB)

Although the scripture does not give us the names of these two witnesses, we know what they will do during the tribulation. We also know why there are two of them. Look at this little verse.

“… Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

2 Corinthians 13:1 (CSB)

  • they will help each other
  • they will each confirm one another’s testimony to the wicked world

For three and one quarter years these witnesses will proclaim what God has said. God will protect them and look what happens to anyone who tries to harm them.

If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 

  • They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. 
  • They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood 
  • and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.

Revelation 11:5 & 6 (CSB)

  • The witnesses finish their testimony
  • the beast will come up out of the abyss 
  • he will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. 
  • Their dead bodies will lie in the main street of the great city, 
  • …figuratively is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
  • And some of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days
  • and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. 
  • Those who live on the earth will gloat over them
  • and celebrate and send gifts to one another
  • because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

Revelation 11:7-10 (CSB)

In the last passage that we will look at today, there is a very important fact to note. Look at the verse that tells you that the people will give glory to God in Heaven.

These are not people who are redeemed. These people are thoroughly given over to Satan. But they are still human beings and have their own black hearts. They recognize the fact of who God is. They know that Jesus is the Savior of every repentant heart. But they don’t won’t redemption. They simply fulfill God’s prophecy. “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Though this will happen again at the final judgement, it happens here, too. They will be filled with terror at the awesomeness of God. But they have refused God’s grace.

But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet.

Great fear fell on those who saw them. 

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”

They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. 

At that moment a violent earthquake took place, 

a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake.

The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!

Revelation 11:11-14

Peace, perfect peace. In this dark world of sin. The blood of Jesus whispers, “Peace.” within.

  1. http://www.livingwithfaith.org/blog/the-gentiles-and-the-temple
    CA 12/11/2019 ↩︎
  2. https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_two_olive_trees.htm ↩︎
  3. https://www.gotquestions.org/two-witnesses.html ↩︎
  4. https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_death_of_the_two_witnesses.htm ↩︎
  5. https://biblehub.com/revelation/17-8.htm ↩︎
  6. https://www.bibleref.com/Revelation/11/Revelation-11-10.html ↩︎

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

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