Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: God is Never Without a Witness!

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

These words, written by Charles Dickens, in his Tale of Two Cities, describing the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789 could also be used to describe the days before the Coming of the Lord!

In the long parenthesis which began in (10:1) our passage this morning allows us to see the bright side of a very dark picture of the trumpet judgments (which will resume in ()!

John was told that “…the mystery of God will be accomplished” (10:7), and that he “…must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings” (10:11)!

Chapter 11, though it involves John personally (in the measuring of the Temple), is a Word from the Lord that He is NEVER without His Messengers—God is never without a witness!

The more degenerate the times, the more definite the testimony!

In the days before the Flood, God raised up Enoch & Noah!

In the days of Israel’s darkest apostasy, He raised up Elijah & Elisha!

To announce the salvation of mankind, He sent John the Baptist & Jesus!

Many scholars suggest the introduction of the Two Witnesses of brings one of the greatest challenges to Biblical interpretation:

Many commentators have believed that making sense of the verses of chap.

11 may be the most difficult assignment for the expositor of the Apocalypse

Alford notes,

“This passage may well be called, even more than that previous one, ch.

10:1 ff., the crux interpretum; as it is undoubtedly one of the most difficult in the whole Apocalypse.”

The DIFFICULTY is twofold: First, which Temple is John measuring?

Is this Herod’s Temple, destroyed by Titus in AD 70, or is this a future Temple (perhaps Ezekiel’s described in (), or is this the Temple of God that is opened in ()?

Still others suggest this is a picture of the Church as the Temple of God, as taught in ()!

The answers to that question are not as obvious, or as easy as some would have you believe (there are problems with each of the views—including the one I hold).

Added to that, there is Biblical support and Biblical challenges for each of the views, so it is not so simple as one group not reading, or believing their Bibles.

And for the sake of clarify, I have a strong belief, or opinion, depending on what you believe.

But good, godly, born again believers, who are all going to heaven, disagree on the answer!

The second difficulty is in the identity of the two witnesses, though the primary issue is the Temple (and your answer to the first question determines your answer to the second).

Your answer to these questions determines if you are a historicist, symbolic/idealist, or futurist/literalist in your approach to the whole Book of Revelation!

Your answer to these questions determines if you are a historicist, symbolic/idealist, or futurist/literalist in your approach to the whole Book of Revelation!

Let’s begin out study with PRAYER...

I.

The Measuring of the Temple - (11:1-2)

Two major questions face us as we begin our study of Chapter 11: (1) Will a Temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem during the tribulation?

and (2) Why were the temple, its alter, and the worshippers measured?

The Greek word for “temple” used here does not refer to the entire temple complex (hieron), but only the Holy Place (naos) where only the priests could go.

The “alter” could refer to the brazen alter, which stands outside the holy place, or the alter of incense, which was inside the holy place.

1.

Does the Bible teach that a temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem during the Tribulation period?

The current situation in Jerusalem as it relates to the prophecy of this passage suggests it will...

There are rumors and reports constantly from both Jewish and Christian circles about efforts to restore the Temple.

There are also great debates concerning the exact location of the Holy of Holies, into which only the High Priest could go once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Jews have a holy and awesome fear of accidentally stepping on such sacred ground!

An additional problem is that the Muslim Dome of the Rock sits on the temple mount.

Though perhaps not the exact ancient site, it is obviously quite near it, and any efforts to build a Jewish Temple close to it would be met with great resistance by the surrounding nations.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Daniel

It seems clear that the only way the Antichrist can “…put an end to sacrifice and offering” is if there is a Temple!

2 thess

This world ruler, who will initially appear to be on Israel’s side, will set himself up as one worthy of worship!

Again, it seems clear from Scripture that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem during this time.

2. Why Measure the Temple?

Commentators agree that the measuring has nothing to do with the “size,” but rather indicates that God will protect His people during the Gentile takeover - (v.2)

David Hocking, “The act of measuring the temple circumscribes an area that uniquely belongs to God.

As Israel was uniquely separated from the Egyptians’ suffering under the plagues in Moses’ day, so the godly Jews of the tribulation period will be set apart by God and divinely protected.”

3. The Gentile Takeover - (v.2)

Luke

The “42 months” refers to the last half of the tribulation period, a time described by ancient Hebrew prophets as a time of trouble and distress for the people of Israel.

II.

The Ministry of the Two Witnesses - (11:3-13)

1.

A Ministry of Prophesying - (v.3)

When you examine the powerful preaching of these two witnesses during the first half of the tribulation, we must conclude that it is unlike anything we have seen!

They were able to do things we cannot do, and the whole world becomes aware of their abilities and seriousness of their message.

R

For 3 1/2 years, they will preach in “sackcloth,” the traditional sign of mourning in the ancient Near East.

Sackcloth also indicates their message is one of REPENTANCE!

At least SOME will listen!

144,000 Jews will put their faith in the Messiah and be protected by God during the days of the Tribulation ()!

There message will also reach Gentiles:

rev 7

2. The Purpose and Identity of the Two Witnesses - (v.4)

Verse 4 is a reference to , which may be the clue to the purpose of the two witnesses.

The prophet Zechariah preached a message of repentance to the people of Israel during the days of the Babylonian captivity.

His inspired proclamations and visions encouraged the people to return to the land and to rebuild the temple destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC.

In his vision in , he saw a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it.

There were seven lamps with seven pipes connected to the bowl of oil.

On either side of the lampstand were two olive trees from which two gold pipes carried oil to the bowl on top of the lampstand.

(v.4) is an allusion to Joshua & Zerubbabel in Zechariah’s vision!

Joshua and Zerubbabel were the leaders (one civic and one religious) who would take the people back to Israel and inspire them to rebuild the fallen ruins of the temple.

Zerubbabel would lay the foundation of the temple and also finish it!

Zech

This historical incident points to future day when the temple would be rebuilt!

In the same way Zerubbabel & Joshua were used by the Lord to challenge the people to return and build, it is possible the two witnesses of will have the same impact on the Jewish people of the tribulation period—through their preaching, the people would be inspired to rebuild the Temple!

Who are these two witnesses?

Attempts to identify these two fellows have led to a variety of interpretations, including a symbolic approach that sees them as Israel & the Church, or Israel & the Word of God, or the Law & the Prophets, or the Old & New Testaments.

Others connect them with leaders from Israel’s past: Zerubbabel & Joshua, Enoch & Elijah (neither of whom experienced death), or Moses & Elijah (the strongest similarities from Scripture would favor these two men).

At a Jewish Passover celebration today, a young child is sent to the door to see if Elijah has come yet!

Personally, I lean towards these being two unique individuals who have never before existed.

3. The Protection of the Two Witnesses - (v.5)

Anyone listening to these fellows preach better mind their P’s and Q’s (mind your manners)!

4. The Power of the Two Witness - (v.6)

If these fellows are NOT Elijah and Moses, their abilities mirror them!

james 5

ex

5.

The Killing of the Two Witnesses - (vv.7-10)

Nothing happens before God’s plan allows it.

They are protected till they, “…finished their testimony.”

The PERSON who kills them - (v.7)

This is the first of thirty-six references in Revelation to “the beast”

The PLACE their bodies are displayed - (v.8)

That this is in Jerusalem is clear from the reference to Christ’s crucifixion.

Figuratively, Sodom represents wickedness and immorality, and Egypt represents oppression and slavery!

The PUBLICITY the two witnesses receive - (vv.9-10)

Before satellite and the internet, this prediction seemed impossible, but now it is certainly possible!

The reason for their celebration is simply stated: (v.10)