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                    THE BOOK OF REVELATION

CHAPTER.11.

THE TEMPLE:
Rev 11:1-2

The reed referred to here is also mentioned in Rev 21:15-16.
it is like a rod or sceptre, and is about twelve and one-half
feet long.  The measuring done in this scene is not for
building, but for destruction.  Passages such as 2 Sam 7:14,
Psa 2:9, 89:32, Is 11:4, Lam 2:8, Exek 20:37 and 1 Cor 4:21
bring out the thought of a rod of chastisement.

This is not Herod's temple.  That temple was destroyed some
twenty-five years before John had this vision, at the
destruction of Jersualem, 70 A.D.  This will not be the
Millennial temple as described in Exek 40-48.  It will not be
built until Christ comes to earth ( Zech 6:12-13).  This
particular temple is the one that will be rebuilt by the Jews
before the Tribulation Period, and destroyed at the end of
that time, either by the earthquake under the seventh vial
(16:18-19) or by the armies of the Antichrist when they take
over Jerusalem (Zech 14:1-5).  It is clear from both
Testaments that sacrifices will be offered for at least three
and one-half years in this temple; after which time it will
be made desolate for three and one-half years, and will be
polluted by the Antichrist and the Gentiles ( Dan 9:27, 12:7-
12, Matt 24:15, 2 Thess 2:2-4).

It should be noticed that everything pertaining to the Jewish
part of the temple and worship, the Old Testament type of
worship, will pass under the rod of judgment and desolation
for the purpose of breaking the spirit of Israel.  The court
of the Gentiles was not measured to be trodden down of the
Gentiles for it is already in their possession.  It was
considered by the Jews to be polluted and fit only for
Gentiles.

Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles for forty-two
months.  The time of the Gentiles will not  end until the
return of Christ at the end of the forth-two months.  The
phrases and `threescore days' `a thousand two hundred and
threescore days' and `a time, times and a half-time' all
refer to the last three and one-half years of Daniels
seventieth week when the Antichrist will reign supreme (11:2-
3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5, Dan 7:25, 12:7).

THE TWO WITNESSES:
Rev 11:3-13.

"I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall
prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days (forty-
two months or three and one half years)."

There is much debate as to the identity of these two
witnesses.  Some believe them to be Elijah and Enoch, and to
support their claim, they quote the rule of Hebrew 9:27, "It
is appointed unto men once to die..."  Both Elijah and Enoch
were translated to heaven without tasting death!  But the
claim is nullified in the fact that all of the living saints
at the time of the Rapture will escape death, being clothed
with immortality.

Others believe them to be Elijah and Moses, but as these two
witnesses die (11:7) the question naturally arises, could
Moses die a second time?  And so the debate continues.  In
verse 10 they are divinely designated as `these two
prophets', thus if God chooses to obscure their identity
perhaps the most important interest is not in who they are,
but what God purposes in and through them.

The fact that while witnessing `these two prophets' needed
divine protection lest they be slain, would make it seem more
likely that being God's last witnesses their fearless
testimony was purposed of God for the very last days of
opportunity for the deceived masses to seek the true and
living God: `before the great and dreadful day of the Lord'
(Mal 4:5).

"These two witnesses" are described as the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks (lampstands).  These figures,
carried over form Zechariah 4:3-14, indicate that they are
anointed ones - lightbearers - testifying of God's truth in
the darkest days of human history.

They will be given power, or authority, and the right to
exercise it as they choose (11:5-6).  These witnesses can
destroy their enemy, and they will cause the rain to stop
during their ministry.  At their command, water shall be
turned to blood, and they can smite the earth with plagues.
God has used plagues many times in history because of sin and
idolatry, and they will be used again (Ex 7:20-36, Lev 26,
Deut 11:14-17, 28:1-30, Lam 6:4).  Having completed their
testimony, they will be at the mercy of their enemies.  The
beast will then ascend out of the abyss to make war on them
and overcome then and they will be killed (11:7).

Their death causes great jubilation, as their dead bodies are
publicly displayed for three and a half days.  The rejoicing
of the multitude, however, is but short lived for after the
three and a half days the Spirit of life from God enters into
them, and they stand up.  Adding to their terror, they heard
a great voice from heaven saying, "Come up hither," and to
the utter amazement of the now fearful multitude, they
actually saw the two prophets who they had slain, now alive
and ascending up to heaven in the cloud (the use of the
definite article suggest the cloud - the Shekinah Glory).

The Second Woe:
Rev 11:13-14

"And the same hour was there a great earthquake..."  As
literal an earthquake as that which attended both the death
and the resurrection of the Son of God.  John beheld a tenth
part of the city crumble, and the death toll was 7 000.  The
survivors were terrified and `gave glory to the God of
Heaven' - not the glory however of salvation through
repentance but fearful recognition of divine power.

In summing up the events which occurred during the interval
which began after the sounding of the sixth trumpet and
continued to the time of the testimony, death, resurrection
and ascension of the two witnesses, in verse 14 it is
declared the "The second woe is past; and behold the third
woe cometh quickly."

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET:  The Third Woe.
Rev 11:14-19

The blowing of the seventh trumpet (which is the third woe)
does not initiate anything on the earth.  Instead, it is much
like the breaking of the seventh seal of Revelation 8:1.  it
merely introduces the next series of judgments, the seven
bowls.  Occuring exclusively in heaven, the scene introduces
activities that project a meaning to the earth to be
disclosed later.

In order to comprehend the chronological events of this
passage of Scripture, one should understand that immediately
after this heavenly introduction to the seven bowls, there is
another lengthy parenthetical passage which extends from
Revelation 12:1 to 15:4.  This parenthetical passage conveys
details of events that will take place during the entire
Tribulation Period.  These events include the persecution of
God's children (chapter 12); the Antichrist, or the beast
that came out of the sea, and the false prophet (chapter 13).
Also the heavenly vision of chapter 14 and the introduction
to the last half of the Tribulation (chapter 15).  This is a
heavenly setting, announcing the great events that will come
upon the earth.  Awesome beyond description, it is called
"Great Tribulation" because it reveals the most fantastic
events the world has ever known.

The Seventh Trumpet:

"And the seventh angel blew his trumpet.  There arose loud
voice in Heaven and they were saying, the kingship of the
world now belongs to our Lord and to his Christ, and He shall
now be King for timeless ages!" (v15 Phillips).

The sounding of the seventh trumpet is the proclamation to
the whole disturbed universe that Christ, as King of kings
and Lord of lords, after overthrowing Satan the usurper and
destroying forever his kingdom of darkness, will set up His
own Kingdom of Righteousness and reign to the ages of ages.
Released from the powers of darkness the whole earth shall be
filled with His glory.

Upon hearing the long awaited proclamation the four and
twenty elders prostrate themselves and worship God for at
last assuming His everlasting Kingship in the earth (11:17).

While there is rejoicing in heaven, there is a display of
anger on earth.  This is not surprising when the unrepentant
realize their doom, while the prophets and the saints of God
(Whom they despised with satanic hate) are now to receive
their reward (11:18).

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of
His testament was seen, attended with lightnings, voices,
thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail."  The ark of His
covenant was a reminder of His unchanging faithfulness toward
His people Israel (Ps 135:4) before the final outpouring of
judgment.

The temple of God in heaven must be a literal celestical
temple for Moses was instructed to "See....that thou make all
things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."
In Hebrews 9:23 they were called patterns (copies, or
likenesses) of things in heaven.  Originally the earthly
tabernacle and earthly worship was patterned after the
heavenly, but sin defiled the earthly.  Therefore, when
Christ laid down His life as the sacrificial lamb, `the veil
of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom'
(Matt 27:51); the way into the holiest was opened, and the
unapproachable became approachable for whosoever will.  The
opening of the temple in heaven (11:19) is the last display
of assuring glory before the on-coming flood of judgment.
The worship of both worlds is the answer to `as it is in
heaven so shall it be on earth.'