Revelation 11

1. Then I was given a measuring stick like a rod. I was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of people worshiping there.

The Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. John is talking about a new temple that will be built after the antichrist makes an agreement with the Jews. This temple will be built to try to get the Jews to return to Judaism, not to true worship of God.

2. But do not measure the yard outside the temple. Leave it alone. It has been given to the people who are not Jews. They will walk on the holy city for three and one-half years.

Ezekiel was also told to measure the temple. This measurement means that God is checking on the spiritual life of the people. Today we see Israel sharing the temple area with the Muslims. This was not true when John wrote this, so we see that God knew this would happen. Ezekiel 40:5

3. And I will give power to my two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days. They will be dressed in rough cloth to show how sad they are.”

There are two men in the Old Testament who the Jews have always honored: Moses and Elijah. God sends them back to Israel to see if Israel will listen to them.

4. These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

This reminds us of Zechariah 4:3.

5 – 6

If anyone tries to hurt the witnesses, fire comes from their mouths and kills their enemies. Anyone who tries to hurt them will die like this.

These witnesses have the power to stop the sky from raining during the time they are prophesying. They have power to make the waters become blood. They have power to send every kind of trouble to the earth. They can do this as many times as they want.

This reminds us of the things that Moses and Elijah did during their ministry.

7. When the two witnesses have finished telling their message, the beast will fight against them. This is the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit. He will defeat them and kill them.

It is the same with us, we cannot die until we finish the job that God sent us to do.

8. The bodies of the two witnesses will lie in the street of Jerusalem. This city is named Sodom and Egypt. These names for the city have a special meaning. It is the city where the Lord was killed.

At this time Jerusalem has become spiritually like Egypt and like Sodom and their flesh.

9. Men from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and a half days. They will refuse to bury them.

The world will see their bodies on their cell phones and computers and television screens.

10. People who live on the earth will be happy because these two are dead. They will have parties and send each other gifts. They will do these things because these two prophets brought much suffering to those who live on the earth.

It is amazing how people are so happy when they do not have to hear the Word of God anymore.

11 – 12

But after three and a half days, God put the breath of life into the two prophets again. They stood on their feet. Everyone who saw them was filled with fear. Then the two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven say, “Come up here!” And they went up into heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched them go.

Everyone will see that God’s power is stronger than the power of the beast.

13. At that same time there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city was destroyed. And 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. Those who did not die were very afraid. They gave glory to the God of heaven.

There are always people who will honor God with their mouths, but not with their hearts.

14 – 15

The second great trouble is finished. The third great trouble is coming soon. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven. The voices said: “The power to rule the world now belongs to our Lord and His Christ. And He will rule forever and ever.”

God’s kingdom already is inside of us, but now His kingdom will be over the whole earth."

16 – 17

Then the 24 elders bowed down on their faces and worshiped God. These are the elders who sit on their thrones before God. They said: “We give thanks to You, Lord God All-Powerful.

You are the One who is and who was. We thank You because You have used Your great power and have begun to rule!

The elders are saying that things are now how they should be on the earth. When we are working closely with the Lord and bringing others to Him, we are helping the earth to be the way it should be.

18. The people of the world were angry; but now is the time for Your anger. Now is the time for the dead to be judged. It is time to reward Your servants the prophets and to reward Your holy people, all who respect You, great and small. It is time to destroy those who destroy the earth!”

We see that it is men who have destroyed the earth because of their selfishness and pride. You will notice that everything the devil does is to destroy. He is always saying that we need to listen to him and destroy everything. The devil does not understand what love is. He does not understand how to build up, but only to tear down.

19. Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The Ark of the Covenant that holds the agreement that God gave to His people could be seen in His temple. Then there were flashes of lightning, noises, thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Hebrews 9:23 shows us that there already is a temple with the Ark in heaven. The Jews built a new temple but now they can look up and see God’s temple. God shows them what is real and what is not real.