1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may 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 kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at 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.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may 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 kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at 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.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Chapter 11 starts with John given a measuring rod and is told to measure the temple. Many futurists base their view of the temple will be rebuilt on this passage. They think that there must be a literal temple, and since there is no temple in Jerusalem right now, it must be rebuilt sometime in the future, many saying it will occur during a final seven year tribulation period just before Christ’s second coming. Interestingly enough, another group also thinks this refers to a literal temple – the temple in Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD.
However, given the figurative nature of the other symbols in Revelation, this too should be considered figurative. A future actual temple would imply reinstituting the sacrificial system. Sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ’s death on the cross, and instituting it would be an abomination. This passage of measuring the temple is best understood against the background of Ezekiel 40-48. The Ezekiel passage was written when the first temple was destroyed and the Israelites were in captivity. The temple is measured and is huge – so much so that it cannot be understood as how the next temple is to be rebuilt, but this is a figurative eschatological temple. The Ezekiel temple was beginning to be fulfilled in an unexpected way with Christ’s death and resurrection. This is because Christ’s death and resurrection are the dramatic turn in redemptive history. Christ’s work is the key to understand the Old Testament expectations. The temple of Revelation 11:1-2 is the church patterned after Christ on the cross, who is the true temple. Like Christ, the church will suffer and appear to be defeated. However, God protects his people through all the trials. God is present and protects his people and guarantees them ultimate victory. Therefore this views Christians throughout the entire church age, not just the beginning of the Christian age or at the end just prior to Christ’s return.
John measuring the temple refers to God’s protection of the temple and those who belong in it. This is inner part of the temple, where God dwells. Jesus refers to his resurrection body as the true temple (see John 2:19-22). Since Christians are joined in union with Christ, they too are part of the temple. Since this is right at the alter, Christians not only view and worship Christ, but they also act as priests. Christians act as priest not only as being direct intermediaries to God, but also sacrifice themselves on the alter of the Gospel. The outer court seems to also refer to Christians who will be persecuted for their faith and identification with Christ.
The period of 42 months (1,260 days = 3.5 years x 12-30 day months) is a figurative number, just as the other numbers in Revelation. This refers to the tribulation period prophesized in Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:7, 11-12. The period of “a time, times, and half a time” (3 ½ years) was understood in Jewish writings in various ways: the period of the Jewish Babylonian captivity or the period Israel must wait before its final redemption. This is also the period of Elijah’s judgment on Israel, which Revelation 11:6 refers to. 42 months also refers to the 42-year wandering of Israel in the wilderness. Its usage here in 11:3 and in 12:5-6 indicates this is a period of time through all the life of the church between the two advents of Christ. It is a period of protection for the church (John measures the inner temple) and a period of trial (the outer court is trampled by the nations).
Revelation 11:4-12 amplifies the ministry of the two witnesses. The two witnesses are identified as the two lampstands – which in Revelation 1 is identified as churches. The number two has a significant meaning. Two is the number of witnesses required in trials (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Hence the number two should not be thought of as a portion of the seven churches in Revelation 1, but shows the witness nature of all the churches. The witnesses are dressed in sackcloth, showing the mourning of the judgment nature of their message and hoping for repentance. The olive tress with the lampstands in this particular part of Revelation alludes to Zechariah 4. The olive trees provide oil for the lampstands, which represent the temple and the people of God. In the vision in Zechariah, God promises his presence to the people and that they will be able to finish rebuilding the temple. Also the duration of the witnesses’ ministry corresponds to the time of Jesus earthly ministry.
Verse 5 – The purpose of measuring the temple is shown here. No one can ultimately harm the two witnesses because the invisible temple of God protects them. Those who attempt to harm them will be judged. Those who reject the message of the two witnesses will suffer spiritual death.
Verse 6 is rich with allusions to Moses and Elijah. In fact, the witnesses’ ministry bears a resemblance to the plagues of Moses, the judgment from Elijah, and the previous 6 trumpets. This means the churches will bear similar witness, calling people to forgiveness, but also calling people to discomfort and misery for their unbelief and persecution.
Verses 7-10 – “And when they have finished their testimony…” shows this period of the church is complete. This is at the end of history. It looks like there will be a severe trial for the church at the end of the church age. This section alludes to Daniel 7. In Daniel 7, the final kingdom on earth will persecute and defeat God’s people. Afterward the persecutors will be judged and God’s people will inherit the kingdom of the world. Revelation sees the fulfillment of Daniel with the persecution of the church at the end of history. Daniel mentions a beast, which is an evil king and kingdom that persecute God’s people. The best in Revelation 11:7 refers to a period just before the end of history when persecuting authorities will persecute the church. They will “kill” the church. This is not a complete obliteration of the church, but the churches’ power, authority, and presence will appear to be gone. The church (the witnesses) will be treated with great indignity – the bodies are left without being buried, which is a huge indignity.
The city referred to as Sodom and Egypt refers to the entire ungodly world. Some take the city to be literally Jerusalem because it describes it as the place where Christ died. However, Revelation has been dealing with figurative symbols, and it is most likely using a figurative symbol here. This worldly city became also like Jerusalem, which crucified Christ. The world is unbelieving, and in their unbelief and hatred for Christ, the world killed Christ.
The three and one-half day period that the witnesses lay dead and unburied reminds of the period of time Christ was on earth. The reference is in days this time, which emphasizes the briefness of the period of apparent defeat, in contrast to the three and one half year period of the churches’ witness and judgment.
Verses 11-13. The witnesses are delivered. While this could be a resurrection from the dead, this appears instead to be God’s destroying the persecutors of the church and vindicating the church. There is great fear on the unbelievers. This is not a fear that brings about repentance. This is the fear that comes from their reversal of fortunes. The witnesses go up into a cloud. This again is using figurative symbols to show the church has God’s approval (which is confirmed with Christ’s voice from heaven).
The earthquake indicates the start of the last judgment. The “tenth of the city fell” and “Seven thousand people were killed” indicates that God is beginning to judge a significant portion of the ungodly earth dwellers. The rest of the ungodly recognize their immanent and acknowledge God as the true sovereign, not our of repentance, but out of seeing the shear power of God on display.
Verse 14 indicates that the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet has ended, the final trumpet will blast.
The picture of the Olive Tree is used under the terms granted by Fioana Alexander's Images.
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