Revelation 11:1-14

Translation

A reed like a staff was given to me with the instruction, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar, and the worshippers in it. The outer courtyard of the temple you must leave out and not measure, because it has been given to the nations, and the holy city will be trampled for forty-two months.

I will give my two witnesses and they will prophesy 1,260 days dressed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lamps which stand before the Lord of the Earth. If anyone should wish to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. They have authority to close the heavens, so that it will not pour down rain during the days of their prophecy, and they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with plagues as often as they wish. When their testifying is finished, the beast will rise up from the abyss to wage war against them, and he will overcome them and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where also their lord was crucified.

Those from peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their bodies for three and a half days, and their bodies will not be allowed to be placed in a tomb. Those who dwell upon the earth will rejoice over them, celebrate, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.

After three and a half days, the spirit of life from God will go into them. They will stand on their own feet, and great fear will fall upon those who see them. They will hear a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.” And they will go up to heaven by cloud, and their enemies will see them. In that hour great earthquakes will come, and a tenth of the city will fall and be killed by the earthquake, seven thousand people. The rest will be terrified and they will give glory to the God of Heaven.

The second woe has passed. Look: The third woe comes quickly!

Measuring Up

John sent to measure the temple, just like Ezekiel 40

Ezekiel’s measurements were for a new, restored temple after exile from Babylon

John also measures a new temple: the spiritual temple of the Church, established by Christ

What, then, is the measurement here? Christ!

Power to the Prophets

The church measured symbolically becomes the two prophets

Two prophets come from Zech 4, and represent the anointed representatives of God

Who are the prophets?

Moses and Elijah?

Elijah and Enoch?

Jesus and John?

Peter and Paul?

A symbol for the church in its prophetic and priestly functions: announcing the word of God while reconciling the world to him through Christ.

For the same amount of time as the destruction of the outer courts, the inner temple prophesies

Where do they prophesy? “Sodom and Egypt”, i.e. Jerusalem

The Holy City has now become like its enemies of the past. The Israelites have become like Pharaoh

Jerusalem frequently compared to Sodom and Egypt in the prophets, but “where their lord was crucified” makes it clear enough

The Church gifted with spiritual gifts to evangelize

No Prosperity Gospel

Despite the great powers and calling God has given his people, this is no prosperity gospel

The Church is empowered to fulfill its mission, but the beast still wages war against it

There is promise of victory, but not without suffering

Anti-Pentecost: the prophets preach to those of every “people, tribe, tongue, and nation” gathered in Jerusalem. This time, there is no great conversion, however.

It is not by great miracles and powers that these people are won over

Story of Lazarus and rich man, miracles won’t persuade

Rev 9, signs won’t persuade

Victorious

Even so, the Church will be victorious.

Just as Christ was rejected by the world but accepted by God, so the church may be persecuted on earth but raised high in Heaven.

It is by the perseverance of the prophets to the end and their vindication by God that the people are won over/converted

The great miracles and powers might serve as a preparation for acceptance of the gospel truth, but it is ultimately by our courageous faith and sacrificial suffering that the world will come to Christ.

Apostles brought to truly know Christ through his death and resurrection, the Church is called to mirror this motif

Courageous Faith

Assurance of our victory in the lamb is the only way to have this kind of power

If we know we are victorious, then the war of the beast cannot frighten or hinder us.

“Perfect love casts out fear”; God’s perfect love for us leaves us with nothing to fear from the world, even death.

Do we trust God enough to go all in? Do we measure up to Christ?