The Witnesses of the Apocalypse

Please turn to Revelation 11:1-14 as we consider The Witnesses of the Apocalypse.

God has always had a remnant of people who worship Him. I believe that though Adam and Eve were responsible for bringing sin into the world, they still worshiped the One and Only true God — Yahweh. They knew from experience that He existed since they had the habit of walking with Him in the cool of the day in the Garden. And God put forward a substitute or multiple substitutes to pay the price for their sin. He used the animal skins leftover after the sacrifice to make clothing for them to wear.

While Cain did not worship God in the proper way, Abel — the remnant — did worship God in the proper way. And it seems that Seth did as well.

In the days leading up to the flood God preserved a remnant — Noah and his family. Eight persons in all. A few generations later God set apart Abraham to be a special remnant — the remnant from which would come the Messiah who would take away the sins of the world.

In the NT times God set apart another special remnant — the church — to be the bride of Christ. You and I who are believers in Jesus Christ are a part of this remnant — we are a part of the bride of Christ. Furthermore, we have been adopted into the family of God, and made joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

Though the church will be removed before the tribulation, God will still preserve for Himself a remnant. We know that at least 144,000 Jews will come to faith in Christ during this seven year time. But John tells us in the Revelation that people from every nation will be preserved as a remnant for God. I refer to this entire remnant as Tribulation Saints. While the 144,000 will be protected from the persecution of the Antichrist and his followers, the rest of the remnant will not necessarily be protected in a physical sense. But in a spiritual sense they will have the same promise which awaits us — to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Our passage this morning focuses on a couple of unidentified characters who appear during the tribulation. They will be hated by the ungodly earth dwellers, but they will be loved and protected by God until the time in which their ministry is completed.

The setting for this passage is the city of Jerusalem (hence the slides showing the skyline of Jerusalem). Jerusalem is a city that is loved by God. It was the capital of the Davidic kingdom. It has a storied history, both of triumph and defeat. It is the place where God chose to have His temple be placed and for all of Israel to gather for the various feasts and festivals.

As we go through our passage this morning we will look at the distinction which God makes between the remnant and the rest, the ministry, and defeat of the witnesses, the triumph of God, and the announcement of woe.

First, let’s read our passage together.

Revelation 11:1–14 NASB 95

Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Let’s begin by looking at

The Distinction

between the remnant and the rest.

Note that,

God has Ownership Over that which Belongs to Him

Look at verse 1.

Revelation 11:1 NASB 95

Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.

This passage is consider by some to be the hardest passage to interpret in the book of Revelation. Some interpreters see the reference to the temple as being a reference to the church. But that does not seem likely. In this passage there are specific references to the temple, the altar, the court outside the temple, and the city of Jerusalem. All of these specifics argue against this being a reference to the church. When we get to verse 2 we will see that the Gentiles are not worshiping — which would be an odd thing if this was a reference to the church since the universal church is predominantly Gentile.

In our passage, John is instructed to measure the temple with a rod which is like a staff. “Kalamos (measuring rod) refers to a reedlike plant that grew in the Jordan Valley to a height of fifteen to twenty feet. It had a stalk that was hollow and lightweight, yet rigid enough to be used as a walking staff (cf. Ezek. 29:6) or to be shaved down into a pen (3 John 13). The stalks, because they were long and lightweight, were ideal for use as measuring rods. In Ezekiel’s vision, an angel used such a rod to measure the millennial temple (Ezek. 40:3–43:17).” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 293.)

I believe the habit would be to cut the rod at a specific height, say ten feet, and then use that to calculate the span of something.

The term used here for temple does not refer to the whole temple complex, but to the inner parts of the temple. John’s measurement was to include the altar and the worshipers. Why is this important enough for it to be included in the divine revelation which is given to us? I can think of two reasons.

First, it shows that there will be a Jewish temple in Jerusalem during the 70th week of Daniel. In the history of Israel there have been only two temples. The first temple was build by Solomon around 950 BC. The second temple was built under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest after the return of a remnant of exiles following the Babylonian exile. This same temple was enhanced by Herod the Great beginning in 20 BC and finishing 46 years later. Which means that it was completed just a few years before Jesus began His public ministry.

This second temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD. Since that time there has not been another temple built, which also means that an end was put to the Jewish sacrificial system.

The third temple will be built during the early years of the seven-year tribulation. The only way it could possibly be built is for there to be some sort of a peace treaty brokered between Israel and those countries which belong to the Islamic faith. That is because the Dome of the Rock, which is the second most holy place in Islam, was built over the same site as was the Jewish temple. It is believed by Muslims that it was from this place that the prophet, Mohamed, was taken to heaven. It seems that somehow the Antichrist will broker this treaty and oversee the building of this temple during the peaceful years of the first half of the tribulation.

The second reason why this is important for us to read about is that it demonstrates God’s ownership over His own. It also shows the distinction between the remnant and the rest. The worshipers in the temple belong to the remnant of God. But the nations do not. Look at verse 2.

Revelation 11:2 NASB 95

Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

The fact that this court remains unmeasured shows that it and the people it represents are not recipients of God’s favor.

Notice the reference to 42 months. That is three and half years, or one half of the tribulation. Most likely this will take place during the final, very troubling years, of the tribulation.

Let’s move on to consider

The Ministry of the Witnesses

There are multiple witnesses to the apocalypse. John, the author of this book, was a prophetic witness, seeing things from a great distance away. The Holy Trinity, all of whom were involved in this revelation, are witnesses to the apocalypse. The 144,000 sealed Jews will be witnesses of God during this time of Jacob’s trouble. And the many martyrs will be witnesses as well. But two specific witnesses stand out in our text.

Note that,

The Time of the Witnesses Ministry Corresponds to the Time in Which Jerusalem will be Trampled on by the Nations

Look at verse 3.

Revelation 11:3 NASB 95

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

How long is twelve hundred and sixty days? It is forty-two months, or three and a half years. What will these witnesses be doing as they minister at this time?

Our text says that they will be prophesying. What does that mean? MacArthur wrote, “Prophecy in the New Testament does not necessarily refer to predicting the future. Its primary meaning is “to speak forth,” “to proclaim,” or “to preach.” The two witnesses will proclaim to the world that the disasters occurring during the last half of the Tribulation are the judgments of God. They will warn that God’s final outpouring of judgment and eternal hell will follow. At the same time, they will preach the gospel, calling people to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 298.)

Though I am not a prophet in the OT sense of the word, I do fulfill an aspect of the office of prophet in that I proclaim the Word of God to you, and I preach the gospel.

These witnesses are clothed with sackcloth, which symbolizes distress, grief, and humility. In verse 4 John gives us the identity of these two men.

Revelation 11:4 NASB 95

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

This is based on the prophecy of Zechariah during the time following the Babylonian exile. Zechariah ministered at the time in which the second temple was being built. And much of his prophecy centers on the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. In Zechariah’s prophecy, these two men were the olive trees and lampstand. The olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of spiritual revival.

Verse 5 demonstrates how these men will be protected during the time of their ministry.

Revelation 11:5 NASB 95

And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.

This is reminiscent of the OT prophet, Elijah. When he was being harassed by military men sent by the ungodly king of Samaria, he called down fire from heaven and it devoured them.

Verse 6 speaks of other aspects of their authority.

Revelation 11:6 NASB 95

These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.

Once again there is a reminder of the ministry of Elijah who shut up the sky so that it would not rain for three and half years. MacArthur pointed out, “This will greatly intensify the torment people are experiencing. The third trumpet judgment resulted in the poisoning of one-third of the earth’s fresh water supply (8:10–11). Added to that, the three-and-one-half-year drought lasting throughout the 1,260 days of their preaching (v. 3; cf. Luke 4:25; James 5:17) brought by the two witnesses will cause widespread devastation of crops and loss of human and animal life through thirst and starvation.” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 302.)

There is a reminder of yet another famous OT personality in our text. The turning of the waters into blood, and striking the earth with various sorts of plagues remind us of Moses during the time of the Exodus.

From scholars who share our viewpoint on the end times there are three basic views as to who these men are. One view holds that they are Enoch and Elijah. Those who support this view do so because the Bible tells us that they did not die. Enoch walked with God, then he was not for God took him. Elijah went to heaven in a chariot of fire.

The second view is that these witnesses are Moses and Elijah. The evidence for that is very strong in the text based on the miraculous works which they performed. Also, these two men appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, so there is a precedent for their appearing.

The third view is that since John did not identify them (and he was one of the witnesses to the Transfiguration) it is best not to speculate. I tend to believe they were Moses and Elijah. But that is nothing more than an educated speculation.

Let’s turn now to

The Defeat of the Witnesses

Note that,

In His Sovereignty, God Ordains the Beginning and the Ending

Unlike the 144,000, the protection of these witnesses came to an abrupt end. Look at verse 7.

Revelation 11:7 NASB 95

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

The term translated have finished gives the idea of the completion of a goal or task. These two witnessed completed the purpose for which God raised them up, and now it was their time to depart from this world. Amir Tsarfati wrote, “It wasn’t until these two servants of God could stand in front of a giant “Mission Accomplished” banner that they became vulnerable to the power of evil. The parallels to Jesus’ ministry on the earth are easily seen. Jesus came and was a testimony for truth. All during His ministry period, the Pharisees and religious leaders tried to bring Him down. Time after time they failed. Until the one time they didn’t. They cheered and jeered as the Lord hung on the cross. Then He took His last breath. They truly thought they had scored a victory. Three days later, they learned how wrong they were. What they had thought was a victory turned out to be a game-changing defeat at the hands of the Almighty God." (Tsarfati, pg. 140)

Regarding the beast who will murder these faithful witnesses, MacArthur noted, “This is the first of thirty-six references in Revelation to the beast and anticipates the more detailed information about him to come in chapters 13 and 17. He is introduced here with emphasis on his origin. He is said to come up out of the abyss, indicating that he is empowered by Satan. Since Satan is depicted as a dragon (12:3, 9), this figure is not Satan. The revelation about him in chapter 13 indicates that the beast is a world ruler (often called Antichrist) who imitates the true Christ, rules over the people of the world, and demands their worship (13:1–8).” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 303.)

Look at verse 8.

Revelation 11:8 NASB 95

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

The picture I’ve always had in my mind is like in a wild wild west film when a gunslinger, or outlaw, was defeated, and his body would lay in a coffin, in the street for all to pass by and see. While it could be that way, the text reads more like their bodies were left in the field of battle — with the field being a street in Jerusalem. There is a definite sense of cruelty in that they didn’t allow them to be buried. Of course, that was according to the predetermined purpose of God, as we will see in a bit.

Notice the reference to the great city which is mystically called Sodom and Egypt. The term translated mystically in the NASB would be better translated as spiritually. Regarding the comparison with Sodom and Egypt, Paige Patterson wrote, “one can safely surmise that this moment is one of the most startling in the entire book of Revelation. Here a Palestinian Jew, who, like most Jews of his day, would have viewed the city of Jerusalem as a holy and sacred place, has referred to it spiritually as “Sodom and Egypt.” In speaking of Jerusalem as “Sodom and Egypt,” the author has taken two of the most reprehensible events in Jewish history and used them to describe Jerusalem. Egypt, of course, summons the memory of slavery as well as the degradation of the Egyptian culture. Sodom stood for consummate debauchery and for ultimate moral corruption; its a term that has even given rise to the English expression “sodomy.” Both marked despicable events to the average Jew, and for a sensitive Jew to refer to the holy city as spiritually Sodom and Egypt marks a departure from what the reader might expect. However, the reasons for doing so seem to be that this city is where the Messiah was crucified and where the temple will be desecrated again by the Gentiles of the tribulation period.” (Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 248–249.)

Look at verse 9.

Revelation 11:9 NASB 95

Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

Until recent decades people would not have understood how this can occur. But with the advent of cable and satellite TV services we see this kind of thing all of the time. Of course, at this point in time news organizations will give a warning about gruesome content, and encourage you to not watch certain things with children in the room. I wonder if that will still be going on during the reign of the Antichrist?

What is even more alarming to me is the way people will celebrate the demise of these two witnesses. Look at verse 10.

Revelation 11:10 NASB 95

And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Daniel Green wrote, “It is sheer irony that here the only earthly celebration of the entire tribulation breaks out. The whole world would rejoice that the prophets who stung them with relentless rebukes were out of the way.” (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2014.)

I’m wondering if this may be seen as a potential replacement for the Christmas holiday? Dead Witnesses Day! I’m pretty sure the Antichrist will not want people celebrating Christmas, even if the celebration is mostly secular like it is today.

Why is it that the people of the earth will hate these two witnesses so much? It is because men love darkness rather than light since their deeds are evil. People don’t like to be constantly told that they are sinners in the hands of an angry God. And yet, that is exactly what they need to hear. The gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive. And we dare not seek to minimize the offense of the cross.

The cross was made necessary because of the sin of mankind. But unrepentant mankind doesn’t believe that they are sinners. As much as this is the case today, it will be amplified greatly during this time in which the church, which has a restraining influence on mankind, will be removed from the earth.

The truth is that only because of the cross of Christ can anyone have a standing before God. The cross was necessary to justify the ungodly whose faith is counted as righteousness. When a person humbles themselves before God, and agrees with Him regarding their sin, and places their faith and trust in Jesus’ person, work, death, and resurrection, they are justified by God. Then they come to be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But Satan, who is the prince of this world, will do anything to keep the citizens of his domain from expatriating and swearing allegiance to the domain of Christ.

Let’s move on to consider

The Triumph of God

Note that,

Satan May Seemingly Win a Skirmish, but God will Always be the Victor

Look at verse 11.

Revelation 11:11 NASB 95

But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.

Picture a reporter assigned to cover the story of the dead witnesses. They are standing as close as they dare to the corpses in the street. The stench is so overwhelming that they are having a hard time keeping their lunch down. As they are talking on live TV suddenly these men who have been dead for three and a half days stand up! I wonder if the cameraman who sees it all happening in real time might not pass out from that sight? Then the reporter might turn around to see what is happening, and usher a loud scream. Drop the mic. Then take off running!

I don’t like read into numbers symbolically, but I do find it ironic that these men had a ministry which spanned three and a half years. Now, three and a half days after their murder they are raised from the dead.

Notice the reaction of the observers — great fear fell upon those who were watching them. I wonder if some thought, “O, hear we go again! Now we will never be able to shut these two up!” Look at verse 12.

Revelation 11:12 NASB 95

And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.

Not only were they resurrected on the third day, like their Lord, but they ascended into heaven in a similar fashion as did He. But instead of having a handful of witnesses, many of their enemies were watching.

But wait, there’s more! Look at verse 13.

Revelation 11:13 NASB 95

And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

At the same hour of the witnesses ascension into heaven there was a localized earthquake which took place in Jerusalem. The result of the earthquake is that one tenth of the people presently in Jerusalem perished — 7,000 people in all. That is one devastating earthquake.

Paige Patterson noted that, “In referring to the 7,000 people who are killed, the text makes use of a rather unusual expression in the Greek New Testament, namely, the use of onomata anthrōpōn as literally “the names of men.” While interpreters cannot be certain what to make of this unusual expression, the fact that the terminology “names of men” is employed seems to suggest that the people who lose their lives in the earthquake are known and perhaps even particularly significant.” (Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 250.)

Remember how I started off this message talking about how God will always preserve for Himself a remnant. In keeping with that, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that there is coming a time when all Israel will be saved. And here, I think that we are seeing a glimpse of that. Notice the last part of verse 13 again. Revelation 11:13 “and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

That these folks gave glory to God indicates their repentance and faith in Christ.

Finally, let’s look at

The Announcement of Woe

Look at verse 14.

Revelation 11:14 NASB 95

The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

It would seem that the second woe began with the sounding of the sixth trumpet, and culminated with the earthquake which killed seven thousand people.

The third woe is just around the corner with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. From this trumpet will issue the rapid-fire bowl judgments which will culminate with the Lord’s return to earth.

My friends, we can draw from this the truth that God has a special watch care over His own. He has a purpose for each of us to fulfill. And a part of that purpose is to share the life-giving message of the gospel with others. And He is in control of when we will exit this earthly existence. Though the events leading up to that exit may be difficult to bear, we can rest in the certain knowledge that what awaits us, after our soul departs from this earthly tent, is far greater than we can ever imagine.

For those who are not believers, understand that God has determined the day of your departure from this life as well. Are you prepared to meet your maker? If not, why don’t You humble yourself before Him, and confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Let’s pray.

Holy Father,

We have feasted on Your word this day. May You use this time to nourish our spiritual beings so that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of Your Son.

Lord I pray for any who have never placed their faith in Jesus — I pray that this would be the day in which they do.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Closing Song: #234

Now Unto Him

Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand in His presence blameless and with great joy.

To the only God, our Savior, thro’ Jesus Christ, our Lord, Be the glory and the majesty, dominion and authority, both now and forever. Amen.

Give Him the glory and the majesty, dominion and authority, both now and forever. Amen.