A REVIEW OF THE EVENTS
IN JERUSALEM DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION (FINAL 3 ½ YEARS)
Revelation 11:1-14
As taught by Dave
Lindstrom
I. The Jewish Jerusalem Temple will be
rebuilt and re-established before or during the seven year
Tribulation Period but during the last 3 ½ years it will be trampled
by the Gentile nations (Revelation 11:1, 2).
A. John is told (probably by the
mighty angel speaking for Yahweh) to measure the temple, the altar,
and the worshippers (probably get a count) (verses 1, 2).
1. This is the temple on earth
because the mighty angel came from heaven to earth in Revelation
10:1, 2. Also, Revelation 11:19 distinguishes this from the
temple in heaven.
2. The prophet Ezekiel was given a
similar assignment in Ezekiel 40:3, 4.
3. John received a hollow reed
probably similar to Ezekiel’s for the purpose of measuring.
Ezekiel’s was six cubits or nine feet in length (Ezekiel 40:5).
4. When Yahweh instructs His
prophets to measure something, it means that He has prophetic
plans for those being measured and, therefore, is guaranteeing
that His work will be accomplished and preserved (Jeremiah 31:39; Ezekiel 40:2 – 43:12; Zechariah
2:1-8).
5. John measures from the Holy of
Holies, to the brazen altar, to the worshippers. In other
words, from the inside out (verse 1).
6. In Herod’s temple (at the time
of Christ), the court of the Gentiles was separated from the
inner court by a low wall. John is told not to measure this
because in this future temple, the Gentiles will be in charge for 3 ½
years (42 months) trampling the temple area (verse 2).
a. This is the same amount of time
which Daniel prophesies about in three places. He reveals that
sometime in the future, the people of Israel will have 3 ½ years
of severe trial and suffering before Yahweh sets up His Kingdom
(Daniel 7:25, 9:27, 12:1, 7).
b. This is the same time period
which Jesus and the Apostle Paul prophesied about (Matt.
24:15-22; Luke 21:20-24; II Thes. 2:1-12).
c. This time period will be repeated
several times in the book of Revelation (Rev. 11:3, 12:6,
12:14, 13:5).
THOUGHT: Yahweh has
purposed to set His King on His Holy Hill even though the nations
have raged and will rage! Psalm 2:1-6
II. There will be two Jewish witnesses
(prophets) during the 3 ½ year Great Tribulation in Israel before
Yahweh Jesus takes His rightful throne (Revelation 11:3-14).
A. These two prophets will prophesy
(probably about believing in Jesus and Yahweh’s coming Kingdom)
for 3 ½ years while wearing sackcloth (coarse animal clothing
that are signs of mourning and distress) (verse 3; Daniel 9:3).
B. These two prophets are identified
with Zechariah’s prophesy in Zech. 4:2-14. As Joshua and
Zerubbabel were anointed in leading Israel to restoration from
Babylon, even so these two witnesses are anointed in leading Israel
through their time of distress, the finishing of the mystery of God
(Rev. 10:7), and the return of Israel to Yahweh Jesus (verse 4).
C. These two prophets are given
special anointing during this time to kill their enemies with
mouth fire, make it not rain, and bring any and all plagues
whenever they want (verses 5, 6).
1. The identities of these two
prophets are usually associated with Elijah, Moses, or Enoch
because of some of the similarities to their previous ministries.
2. Many in the early church thought
these were Enoch and Elijah because nothing is recorded that they
ever died (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11). However, there will be
many at Christ’s coming who will never die (I Thes. 4:17).
3. The two most likely candidates are
Elijah and Moses. Elijah’s ministry of calling down fire from
heaven and making it not rain (I Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 1:10; James 5:17) as well as
the prophecy that he will return before the Day of Yahweh (Mal.
4:5) tie him into Rev. 11:5-6a. Moses’ ministry of the ten
plagues (Exodus 7:14 – 11:10) tie him into Rev. 11:6b. Also,
both of them appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30).
4. These two prophets might actually
be Elijah or Moses or two sovereignly chosen prophets with similar
ministry styles.
D. If the pre-wrath tribulation timing
is correct, then these two witnesses would have started their
ministry after seal 4 (Rev. 6:8), would have been active during the
rapture of the church and sealing of the 144,000 Jews (Rev. 6:12 –
7:17), possibly called down the Trumpet judgments (Rev. 8:1 –
9:21), and will be protected until the 3 ½ year ministry is
ended.
E. At the end of their 3 ½ year
ministry, Yahweh will allow them to be killed by the beast (the
first mention of this word for the Antichrist ruler of Revelation 6)
who is possessed by satanic power from the Abyss (verse 7, 2 Thes.
2:9).
F. Their dead bodies will remain
unburied in Jerusalem for 3 ½ days while the world rejoices over
their deaths but they will be raised from the dead and ascend to
heaven while their enemies watch (verses 8-12).
G. In the same hour that the two
witnesses go to heaven in a cloud (like Jesus in Acts 1:9),
Jerusalem has a large earthquake destroying a tenth of the city,
7,000 men will be killed and the rest become terrified and give
glory to the God of heaven (possibly many believe at this time in
Jerusalem) (verse 13).
H. Evidently all this happened between
the beginning of the Great Tribulation and the end of the sixth
trumpet judgment (second woe) and before the seventh trumpet
judgment (third woe) (verse 14).
