The Temple and the Two Witnesses: Revelation 11:1-6

Revelation 11 is considered by most Bible scholars to be the most difficult passage in The Revelation to John. Please take a moment to read verses 1-7, this week’s lesson located under the Books of the Bible tab, then Revelation.

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”

There are a number of questions to be answered in this important passage of Scripture. Issues include the measuring of the temple of God (what temple?), the altar (what altar?), and worshipers. Why is there is one exclusion to that command. Also, there is the question as to the two witnesses. Are they Old Testament prophets or contemporary messengers of God? What is their purpose and when do they appear on earth?

I hope you will examine the lesson and dig deep into the study of the end times. May God richly bless you as you look in God’s Word for truth for now and for eternity.

Living water is for real!

It is easy to make Scripture too familiar by knowing it but not applying it to our lives. I was convicted this week as I read John 7:37-39, On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Do our spiritual lives resemble that which was promised by our Savior? Are we spiritually thirsty and don't even know it? Let’s examine this passage and determine if it promises spiritual vitality for every Christian, even you, even me.

The background (37), On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,

• It was the Feast of Booths which is also called the Feast of Tabernacles.

• It combined a celebration of harvest and the dwelling in outdoor booths.

• This ritual reminded them of the water from the rock during the wilderness

wanderings and it spoke prophetically of the coming days of the Messiah.

• Jesus was proclaiming that He is the fulfillment of all that the Feast of Tabernacles

was anticipating.

A promise of spiritual vitality (38-39)

The condition (38a), If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes

in me,

• Jesus identified Himself as the One Who provides living water.

• Unbelievers need relationship - Philip Yancey, Does God really want close

contact with us? Jesus gave up Heaven for it. In person he reestablished the

original link between God and human beings, between seen and unseen

worlds.

• Believers need fellowship - Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Never despair of

finding Him...Seek Him by desire, follow Him through action, and in faith you

will find Him.

The confirmation (38b), as the Scripture has said,

• Zechariah 14:8, On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of

them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue

in summer as in winter.

• Ezekiel 47:9, Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will

live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will

become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.

The contrast (38c), 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'

• The Feast of Booths celebrated the temporary water provided during the

wilderness wanderings but Jesus declared that He would provide rivers of

living water.

• John 4:14, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be

thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of

water welling up to eternal life.

• Augustine (4th C), You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless

until they find their rest in You.

• C. S. Lewis, Our longing is for intimacy with God... What we want is what we

were created to have. To be who we were created to be.

The channel (39), Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him

were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not

yet glorified.

• Christians can experience this blessing now because the living water is the

gift of the Holy Spirit.

• 1 Corinthians 3:16, Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that

God’s Spirit dwells in you?

• Romans 8:9, But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit

of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not

belong to him.

The commitment

• Matthew 22:37-39, And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with

all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great

and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor

as yourself.

• Phillip Yancey, I could summarize my entire spiritual pilgrimage as an effort to

move the operating center from myself to God.

Let’s take Jesus at His word and expect more spiritual vitality this year. The source of living water is Jesus. It is channeled through the Holy Spirit to overflow one’s inner being. When one’s experience doesn’t match the promises of Jesus, it is probably because the channel is clogged. Disobedience limits the flow of the Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Do not quench the Spirit. Obedience to the Spirit produces life and peace, Romans 8:6, To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Oswald Chambers rightly declares, It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually...we are as close to God as we want to be. May we be refreshed daily by living water as we seek Him Who sought us first.

Follow the Work of Our Faithful God!

In studying Revelation chapters 2 and 3, it is rather startling to realize that churches in the 1st century are so similar to churches today. God's Word is always relevant, especially evident, as we begin chapter 4. It is a transition to future events culminating in the return of Jesus Christ, the establishment of His kingdom on earth, and the creation of a new heaven and earth.

This study of prophecy will use the literal (historical-grammatical) method of interpretation. It assumes a literal interpretation unless there is justification not to do so. It pursues a Christological understanding of prophecy with a preference for pretribulation premillennialism. This position states that Christ will return at the end of the church age and set up His kingdom on earth for a literal thousand years. His return will be preceded by the rapture of Christians prior to the Tribulation. Some future events of this prophetic book include:

• A resurrection of believers before a time of trouble

• A seven-year time of trouble (Tribulation)

• Israel turns to Christ in the time of trouble.

• The return of Christ to earth (His Second Coming)

• A physical reign of Christ (Millennium)

• A New Heaven and New Earth

Premillennialism stands on two basic premises: literal interpretation and God’s promise keeping nature. This is seen in the unconditional nature of biblical covenants made by God to the nation of Israel. It is a doctrinal grid by which one fits the truths of God into His eternal perspective. God does not require a Christian to be a premillennialist but He does require Christians to accurately handle His Word. I believe the study of Revelation and all prophecy is best understood from this position.

A brief review of some of the biblical covenants made with Israel underlines the importance of future fulfillment. The Abrahamic Covenant deals with three key terms: land, seed and blessing. These are initially outlined in Genesis 12:1-3. God promised Israel, through Abraham, a homeland. Abraham would be the father of a multitude of nations. Also, God promised that in Abraham, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. These promises were made unconditionally. Some have been fulfilled but others await fulfillment. The Palestinian Covenant (the land promise) is further described in Genesis 15:18,21. The extent of the territory given by God to Israel is outlined. Israel has never possessed these borders, entirely, but one day they will.

Numerous promises in the Davidic Covenant are detailed in 2 Samuel 7:8-16. Some have been fulfilled but the important promise of a kingdom is not evident, today. In examining Luke 1:31-33, Jesus Christ will reign upon the throne of David, forever. Messiah was expected by the Jews to be the one to lead them politically, as well as spiritually. The disciples of Jesus misunderstood the dual nature of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus fulled His role of suffering Messiah. We expectantly await His return to earth to fulfill His role as King, sitting on the throne of His father David.

The nation of Israel will one day possess all the land promised to her. She will one day be ruled by her rightful King, Jesus Christ, in perfect peace. This kingdom will be on the earth for 1,000 years. All these things will take place because God keeps His promises. The Revelation to John is an encouragement in hard times because we are reminded that God is in charge even as our world is so out of control.

I hope you will follow the study of the Book of Revelation under Books of the Bible tab. We live in difficult times but God is faithful. He will keep His promises to the nation of Israel and to every person who places faith in Jesus Christ alone.