Two Special Agents

REVELATION 11:1-2

The Temple

John has been recording for us the events that took place as the Lord Jesus opened the seven seals of the scroll held by Him who sits upon the throne. Out of the seventh seal there came forth seven trumpet judgments.

At the beginning of Revelation 11 we have another parenthetical passage (as in Revelation 7 and 10). That is, we break the sequence of events and look at one aspect of the seven-year Tribulation period - God's dispatch of two witnesses to the nation Israel.

John said,

There was given to me a reed [about ten feet long] like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot for forty-two months (Rev. 11:1-2).

John was given a ten-foot long reed and ordered to measure the temple.

The Jews will rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. This could happen during the first half of the Great Tribulation period. When the church is taken out and God again deals with Israel during this last seven-year period, the Antichrist will make a covenant with the nation Israel, but in the midst of the seven-year period he'll break that covenant (Daniel 9:27). I believe that in this covenant the Antichrist will permit Israel to move ahead and rebuild their temple.

At the present time the Jews are making excavations under what is commonly called the Mosque of Omar. But, as close as can be ascertained, the Dome of the Rock Mosque is located at the place of the court of sacrifice in Herod's temple. This is the place where sacrifices were offered, not the sanctuary itself. Many Jewish scholars are convinced that the actual site of the Holy of Holies of Solomon's and also Herod's Temples was 322 feet north of the Dome of the Rock Mosque at a site known today as the Dome of the Spirits and also the Dome of the Tablets.

Orthodox Jews will not go onto the temple mount area at all, because they don't know exactly where the Holy of Holies was located in the original temple, and they don't want to be guilty of walking over it. If, indeed, the site actually is the Holy of Holies, it would situate the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the place of the outer court of the temple of Solomon. Significantly the Lord said to John, "Don't measure the outer court because it is given over to the Gentiles" (Rev. 11:2).

If the Jews have found the site of the Holy of Holies and choose it for the rebuilding of their temple, they won't have to interfere with the Mosque. The Dome of the Rock Mosque is sacred to the Moslems and a holy war would erupt if the Jews ever tried to destroy it in order to build their temple. Thus, diplomatically, the Jews are very careful not to make any reference about building the temple on the Moslemic site.

The Jews were to be dispersed. Jesus spoke of their dispersion (Luke 21:24), Daniel prophesied the dispersion (Daniel 9:20-27), and Moses prophesied the dispersion (Deuteronomy 32:26), as did most of the major prophets of the Old Testament. But then they all prophesied about Israel's gathering together in the last days and returning to the land. Jesus said, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

Jerusalem was trodden under the foot of the Gentiles until 1967 when the Jews gained control of Jerusalem again. Revelation 11:2 tells us that the Jews will lose control of Jerusalem once more, this time to the Antichrist for a period of forty-two months. It was necessary that the Jews first gain control of the city of Jerusalem before the forty-two months of control by the Antichrist could be fulfilled.

These developments in Jerusalem give us a picture of how we stand in the prophetic order. We are clearly very close to the end.

REVELATION 11:3-5

Two Witnesses

Now God speaks of His two witnesses. God is never without a witness. During the Tribulation period not only will there be these two witnesses especially endowed by God, but in Revelation 14 God will even use angels as His witnesses throughout the world.

These two witnesses exist primarily for the sake of the Jews. They are bearing witness to the Jews that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah and that they should even now turn to Him and receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

Their witness will not be well received. In fact, people will seek to destroy them. "I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth" (Rev. 11:3).

Sackcloth was the garment of the prophets and often worn as a sign of mourning over the condition of the nation. These witnesses will be coming with this sign of mourning over the nation to prophesy for three and a half years (forty-two months or 1260 days). This indicates, as does Daniel, that the biblical years of prophecy are predicated on the Babylonian calendar of 360 days to the year.

God will give power to His two witnesses, and they'll prophesy during this period. "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth" (Rev. 11:4).

Zechariah saw an interesting vision. He saw two olive trees growing beside the candlesticks. The branches of the olive trees extended to the candlesticks. Then he saw the olive oil coming from the trees and into the candlesticks, thus giving them a perpetual supply of oil.

In the temple the priest had to take care of the candlesticks daily. He had to fill them with oil and trim the wicks as part of his daily function as priest. Zechariah envisioned a wonderful answer to this daily task, for the olive oil flowed directly from the tree into the candlestick.

The Lord interrupted the vision to Zechariah and said, "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD (Zechariah 4:1-6). The vision actually reveals the glorious and perpetual supply of power that we, as believers, have through the Spirit of God.

These two witnesses are the two candlesticks. The two olive trees speak of their empowering in a mighty way by the Spirit of God.

We see the results of this empowering: "If any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed" (Rev. 11:5).

When Elijah was ministering upon the earth, King Ahaziah sent a captain of fifty men to bring him back as a prisoner. While Elijah was sitting on the mountain, the captain came and said, "Thou man of God, come down! I'm going to take you to the king." Elijah replied, "If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." Fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain with his fifty men.

The king sent out a second captain with fifty men, and the scene was repeated. A third captain with fifty was sent. But this time the captain fell before Elijah and said, "O man of God, have mercy on me. I'm a family man with a wife and children to support. But I'm under orders of the king to take you captive. Would you mind going with me, please?" Elijah went with him (2 Kings 1:1-15). We note that Elijah had called down fire.

Also, when certain of the Samaritans wouldn't receive Jesus in their cities, James and John said, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus called James and John "the sons of thunder." They were ready to send lightning on these Samaritans because of their treatment of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to them, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" and to win the world through love (Luke 9:54-56). But now that the world has rejected His love, God sends fiery judgment upon the earth.

The age of God's grace has come to its conclusion. God deals in judgment with man during the Tribulation period. If any man seeks to hurt these two witnesses, fire comes forth and consumes him.

REVELATION 11:6-7

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will (Rev. 11:6).

Likewise, Elijah went before King Ahab and pronounced that there would be no rain again until he ordered it. God sent a drought to Israel (1 Kings 17:1). The two witnesses have this same power - it will not rain during the time of their prophecy. This will bring a great drought unto the land. In addition, the two witnesses have the power to turn the remaining waters into blood.

Who Are the Two Witnesses?

The identity of the two prophets has often been a matter of conjecture. Many believe that they will be Moses and Elijah, thus representing the law and the prophets. The fact that the water turns to blood and the earth is smitten with plagues seems to speak of Moses. Who would be a greater witness to the nation of Israel than Moses? He is the one to whom the Jews declared allegiance when Jesus was on the earth. In fact, they claimed to be Moses' disciples (John 9:28). It would be very fitting for God to send Moses, representing the law, as a witness of Jesus Christ - for Moses prophesied of Jesus Christ to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:15).

It is fairly certain that the other witness's identity is Elijah. In Malachi God promised to send Elijah before the great and notable day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). Although John the Baptist was a type of Elijah, he was not the complete fulfillment of this prophecy.

After Jesus descended from the Mount of Transfiguration, He talked to His disciples about the relationship of John the Baptist to Elijah. He said unto them, "Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things" (Matthew 17:11). He reiterated Malachi's prophecy that Elijah would come before the day of the Lord.

One of the two witnesses is Elijah. The identity of the other witness is a mystery. It is probably Moses or Enoch or, perhaps, Zerubbabel. God spoke to Zerubbabel concerning the relationship of the olive trees and the two candlesticks. It could even be John the Baptist. However, these identities are just suggestions. You can put your own theory in here if you desire.

"And when they shall have finished their testimony..." (Rev. 11:7). I think this is a very appropriate statement. Until the time they finish their testimony, these men are indestructible. No one can touch them. God's anointing and God's hand are upon their lives.

When the two witnesses finish their testimony, then "the beast that ascended out of the abyss..." This is the Antichrist. Revelation 17 describes the beast that "was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the abyss, and go into Gehenna" (v. 8). The beast that comes out, the Antichrist, "shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them" (Rev. 11:7). But he cannot overcome them until the two witnesses have finished their testimony.

God's hand and protection was upon the two witnesses until they had completed God's work and plan for their lives. We also have God's hand of protection upon us until we finish our testimony. Once we've finished, who wants to stay around? It's time to go! I have no desire to sit on the shelf someplace and rust away. I'd rather burn-out for Jesus Christ and get it over with in a hurry. I'm ready to get on to the future glory with Jesus.

When the two witnesses finish their testimony, God has better things for them. The beast that came out of the abyss had power over them. He overcame them and they were killed.

REVELATION 11:8-14

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified (Rev. 11:8).

This is a terrible indictment against Jerusalem, the city that God loved. God said that His eye would always be upon Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 7:16). Yet, it will become so corrupt that God calls it spiritually Egypt, the flesh, Sodom.

The bodies of the two prophets will lie in the streets of Jerusalem. The people will not even give them a decent burial but will allow their bodies just to lie in the open for three days.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies for three days and an half and shall not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves (Rev. 11:9).

The horrible inhumanity of man!

It is interesting, however, that God said that all those who dwell on the earth shall see their dead bodies.

At the time when John wrote, it was impossible for all the world to see the bodies, unless some artist on the scene quickly drew it and sent runners throughout the nations to show the drawing.

But within our generation this has become a very practical reality. Through television, people sitting in their homes will see the bodies of these two witnesses lying in the street and the people in Jerusalem spitting on them and seeking to mutilate them. It will be televised throughout the world. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled until recent times.

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth (Rev. 11:10).

Man really doesn't want to hear the truth. These two men from God stood up and told the truth. The world is glad to silence the voices of these two prophets. Thus, their death brings on a great celebration, a kind of Christmas celebration - sending gifts, rejoicing, and making merry.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them (Rev. 11:11-12).

Imagine being a TV camera-man on that assignment. You arrive in Jerusalem and focus your camera on these two bodies. Suddenly, they stand up and begin to ascend into heaven. What a shock!

And the same hour there was a great earthquake [in Jerusalem], and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly (Rev. 11:13-14).

There will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem. Jerusalem now has an extensive building program underway. You can imagine the devastation to take place when a tenth part of that city is destroyed by an earthquake.

REVELATION 11:15

The Seventh Trumpet

Now we come back to the trumpets. The seventh trumpet brings the second coming of Jesus Christ.

There have been attempts to relate this "seventh" trumpet with the "last trump" of 1 Corinthians which heralds the rapture of the church (1 Corinthians 15:52). Such an identification only strains the Scripture, and there is no true scriptural evidence to warrant relating the two.

The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:15).

What a glorious day that will be - the day that all Christians throughout the church age have been waiting for. The Old Testament saints were also looking forward to this day. Concerning Abraham and those of faith, the Bible says,

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off... embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13).

They "looked for a city [for a kingdom] which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). They were looking forward to this heavenly kingdom and waiting patiently, as the Scriptures tell us, for that day and the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Hebrews 10:36-37).

There are exciting events within our lives that we anxiously look forward to. For instance, there's the day of your marriage. How time seemed to drag as you were waiting for that hour! But once the hour arrived, it went so quickly! The anticipation for the wedding - the countless details and the hours of preparations - all over in fifteen minutes!

Now we wait for this glorious day when the seventh trumpet shall sound and the great voices in heaven declare, "The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."

The implication here is that the kingdoms of this world are presently not the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. The implication is correct. Satan is the ruler of this world. Man forfeited his rights over to Satan, and Satan became the ruler of the world through Adam's transgression. But Jesus came to redeem the world back to God by purchasing it with His blood. He shall come some day to claim His purchased possession.

As far as the church is concerned, we have been redeemed, and God has given us the Holy Spirit until the redemption of the purchased possession. We belong to Him. Jesus has given us the seal of His Spirit, the down payment of that full work He will do in us through the ages to come.

REVELATION 11:16-17

The time has come when the pronouncement is made: "The twenty-four elders, which sat before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God" (Rev. 11:16). These elders, it seems, are always falling on their faces! They're before the throne of God, saying, "We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and was, and art to come; because thou has taken to thee thy great power, and has reigned" (Rev. 11:17).

God has always had the power and the authority. He could have established the kingdom of God at any time after Jesus paid the price of redemption; but God has now waited almost two thousand years. Yet, we are told in the Scripture to have patience. Wait, for the husbandman is waiting for the complete fruit of harvest (James 5:7). So many times I get impatient with the Lord. I get so frustrated by the problems in the world and the seemingly insoluble situations that exist.

In most cities in the United States the crime rate is at epidemic proportions. We had lunch one day with a girl who was robbed the night before. While she was in the apartment some fellow took vise-grip pliers and twisted off the front door handle. She was dialing the police as he busted the chain and pushed open the door, wrenching off the screws. He stole her television set while she was on the phone with the police. He escaped over the back fence. Fortunately, the TV didn't work.

Living in these days, I get impatient. I say, "O Lord, why have you waited so long? Come quickly!" Yet, when I think of my same prayer five years ago, I'm glad that He waited. During that time so many people have been added to the kingdom. The patience and waiting of the Lord is the salvation of the lost. For God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). God is giving opportunity for men to repent. Thus, the delay is salvation to those who will believe.

But God said to Noah, "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3), and we realize that the Age of Grace is closing out and rapidly coming to an end. God is going to move on with the things of His eternal kingdom.

REVELATION 11:18-19

"The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come" (Rev. 11:18). In Psalms we read, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" (Psalm 2:1). The nations are angry.

At the first coming of Christ, those who really opposed Him were the rulers of the day. They were all fearful of losing their places. The wise men who followed the star from the East came to Herod and inquired, "Where is he who is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:1-4).

Herod was king of the Jews. He didn't want anyone to supplant him. He told the wise men, "When you have found him [the child], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also" (Matthew 2:8). But Herod had no intention of worshipping Jesus. He had every intention of destroying Him, because his own position was being threatened.

The rulers of the Jews turned Jesus over to Pilate because they were fearful of losing their position. They said among themselves, "All the people are going after Him! What are we going to do if they all receive Him as their Messiah?" (Mark 11:18; 15:10). Because they were fearful of losing their ruling position, the Jewish leaders crucified Him. Jesus Christ shook the rulers of the world.

At the second coming, the nations will again be angry. The first time Jesus was here they said, "We will not have this man to rule over us." But He's coming to rule with a rod of iron.

The time of the dead [has come], that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth (Rev. 11:18).

Daniel wrote that the time will come when those in the grave shall be raised. "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). We know from Revelation 20 that there will be the thousand-year period of time known as the Millennium separating the resurrections of the righteous dead from the unrighteous dead.

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail (Rev. 11:19).