Revelation Chapter 11

Today Dr. J discusses Revelation Chapter 11.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Welcome to Dr. J at the Bible. Uh, hope everyone is doing well. I have a prophecy news update. Within just 24 hours, a powerful earthquake struck different parts of the globe. And I think it's reminding us of how quickly things are changing, life is changing. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit northern California, causing power outages and prompting inspections of roads and bridges. Japan was shaken with the 7.2 offshore earthquake. And we also see Venezuela, where two powerful earthquakes, magnitude 7.2 and uh even stronger, uh 7.5 followed up a short span of time. And so uh many people are lost or missing, 164 confirmed dead. And so we're seeing a time that in uh as Luke 21, 11 states, there will be great earthquakes, and uh these are the beginning of birth pains. Um, and and Jesus stressed in these times that it would be global, it wouldn't just be uh a specific area, but global implications. So uh today we're gonna look at uh in our study in Revelation, Revelation chapter 11. Chapter 11 focuses on the two witnesses. We'll talk about who those might be, what their purpose will be, and the measuring of the temple and the seventh trumpets. Revelation 11 continues the tribulation narrative uh of uh what's happening. The church has been raptured, and uh we see that from the perspective that the church will be raptured, I believe it's not just a perspective, I think that's gonna be a fact. Uh, and that we will be with the Lord, we will come back with the Lord to reign as Jesus uh separates the sheep from the goats, and uh He will we will reign with Christ during the thousand-year period. Verses one through two, John states, then I was given a reed like a measuring rod, and the angels stood saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. So we look at the read like a measuring rod, Ezekiel 40, chapters 40 through 43. Uh there's an extended passage about the temple, also uh as it's measured. And the temple in Ezekiel is best understood as the temple of the millennial earth and the temple of Revelation 11, uh seems to be before the temple of Ezekiel. And so these are, you know, there's similarities with this, but the temple in Ezekiel is measured extensively and surely looks as the temple of the millennial kingdom. Whereas I believe, and we'll get into that deeper, that the temple being measured in Revelation 11 is the temple during the tribulation, the earthly king or earthly uh ring for the Jews, earthly time of the times of the Gentiles, as they will, the temple will be rebuilt. And and we know that the Antichrist will blaspheme the Lord and the Holy of Holies, and literally all hell will break loose. Uh, that's my take. And I'll get into why in just a second. There are a few other biblical examples of measuring in Zechariah chapter 2, a man measured Jerusalem, a scene that evidently showed God's coming judgment on the city of Jerusalem. Revelation 21, the new Jerusalem is measured. And so we see the rise in the measure of the temple of God. Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, or even preservation. So in Habakkuk chapter 3, 6, Habakkuk prophesied, he stood and measured the earth. And really the idea here, or the principle, was that the Lord owns the earth. And we know from the psalmist that the Lord, uh, you know, the earth is the Lord's and all thereof, and that he owns the cattle on the thousand hills. We also know that he owns the hills, too. And so uh we see this temple in a backup is measured and it shows that God knows it's every dimension is in charge and he is sovereign. So we see God is in charge, number one. You know, the one of the glorious mighty themes of the book of Revelation is Revelation 11, 17, uses the title Almighty for God, the title Almighty God. And the Greek word for Almighty describes the one who has his hand on everything. Uh, nine out of ten times this word is used in the New Testament and is used in Revelation. And the temple will be the scene of great horror and great glory. But God is in charge, working through both the good and the bad actions of men. And as we go back, we can immediately refer back to Romans chapter 8, verse 28, for we know all things work together for the good. To those who love God are called according to his purpose, for he foreknew he predestined. Who he predestined, he sanctified and will be glorified. And so when we look at this, God is in charge of all. He is sovereign. And, you know, even though all things aren't good, God uses all things for the good for those that love him. And so this temple will be a scene of despicable horror, also great glory. But God is in charge, working through the good, the bad, and the ugly. The temple of God, now, the identity of this temple is an important matter. Many see, especially people that are replacement theology, and a quick, quick sidebar, quick rabbit, but it is helpful, rabbit. Uh, we'll jump there for a second. Replacement theology is the belief that God is finished with with Israel. That the Israel now in the New Testament in Revelation is actually the church. Uh, and and you know, I am not that. I believe what God's word says. I think you have a lot of problems with this. You know, Jesus says he's coming back to the Mount of Olivet. Uh, it says he's going to set his temple on the mount, great mountain. It, you know, it specifically gets technical about the Jews and the drawing them back to the land over and over. Ezekiel 36, 37, uh, Jeremiah, Isaiah hits on it, like the old, all the Old Testament and Revelation 11. I mean, you have to be kind of uh blind not to see that, but I take that view. I have some brothers that don't, and they still believe the gospel. I don't know how you can, but they do. So the identity of this temple is an important matter. Like I said, many see it as the symbol of the church. But you know, Paul describes it as a temple, the church. He does. Ephesians 2, 19, 21. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation, the apostles, the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the whole building be joined together, grows into a holy temple. Peter also describes in 1 Peter chapter 2 that we're living stones built to being built upon a spiritual house. But Revelation 11 is quite different. Uh, you know, they they could take, if if it's symbolic and represents the church, why would they need to measure it? I think that's a very important thing to ask. You know, what is the significance of the corpse and the altar? And if the church itself is the temple, who are the worshipers? You know, there's too much specific detail here to match the generalized picture of the church as a temple unto God. Uh, not only that, but we also see that, and we're going to get to this a little deeper as we go into the next couple verses through the chapter, the events occurring during the 42 months, three and a half years, occurred during the tribulation, when the nations, the Gentiles, trampled the holy city. Uh, we also see that the detailed description is very much focused on Israel and Jerusalem. And so it really would not make any sense at all to say this is symbolic.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Okay. Um, so the temple of God is more likely.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

This temple of God here is the temple that must be on earth for the fulfillment of Daniel, fulfillment of Jesus, Matthew, I think it's 24, 25. Uh, and Paul, what he said, abomination and desolation. Prophet Daniel told us the Antichrist will break his covenant, I believe, a peace treaty of seven years, and three and a half years in with the Jewish people, bringing sacrifice and offerings to an end. And the Antichrist will defile the temple and blaspheme and and consider in state that, you know, claim himself to be God. Um, this this to me is what this is. This is the this is the temple before the Millennium Kingdom temple. Jesus said Matthew 24 uh to look for the abomination standing in the holy place. Uh, and this would be a pivotal sign that the season of God's wrath was upon the earth. I think that is talking about this, um, about the temple being rebuilt. It's interesting. In Israel, they are planning. Um, they even have red heifers that they're waiting for this sacrifice to kind of start off their temple sacrificial system, which I find quite interesting, um, that the Jews are really, many of the Orthodox Jews are are committed to this. We I think, now this is a sanctified my sanctified thinking, but from reading scripture and reading chapter 11 of Revelation, that it's a strong possibility that after the rapture, the Antichrist will even help build the temple as a kind of like a uh olive branch, maybe. I think it could be. Um and so the concept of the abomination of desolation is oftentimes, especially those of replacement theology, spiritualized with explaining idolatrous worship and that was kind of uh indoctrinating the hearts of God's people, his temple. I see no evidence of that. I believe this is literal. I believe it's a literal thing. The simplest explanation is that this is a real Jewish temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, yet to be built coming soon.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

I believe it is coming sooner than we think.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

And so um today one can go visit the Temple Institute in the Jewish quarter of the old city in Jerusalem. And there a group of Jews absolutely are dedicated to rebuilding the temple in an attempt to educate the public and raise awareness for a new temple. Israel being a nation again, the efforts to rebuild a temple are real. The main Jewish group leading to rebuild the temple organization called the Faithful of the Mount Temple Mount, say they will continue until it's re-established. One one stated, uh one later said, We shall continue our struggle until the Israeli flag is flying from the dome of the rock. In Israel, there's students being trained for the priesthood, learning how to conduct animal sacrifice in in the rebuilt temple. Rightly, Christians get excited when they see the efforts to rebuild the temple. At the same time, we should understand that the basic impulse behind rebuilding the temple is not of God at all. It's the desire to have a place to sacrifice for sin. And as Christ followers, as Christians, we believe that all sacrifice for sin was finished at the cross when Jesus said, Tell us die, or it is finished. And any further sacrifice for sin is an offense to God because it denies the finished work of Christ on the cross and is a heresy. And so, even though as a Christian, I get tickled when I see these prophecies taking place, because I know our time is short and we're looking, waiting for that trumpet to meet the Lord in the air, um, at the same time, we shouldn't like it either, because it's going against God. So there's a balance. It's kind of like praise the Lord, we're getting close, but man, I hate they're blasphemy our Lord. Um matter of fact, in John 5.43, uh it states that I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive. And I think this is called this is talking about the Antichrist. You know, the Jews considered Jesus blasphemous, they rejected him. But they will accept for a while the Antichrist. I believe they will embrace him. Matter of fact, most of the world, not all the world, but most of the world will welcome the Antichrist with open arms. Um, verse 2, but leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it was given to the Gentiles, and they will tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months. So, what is this leave out the court which is outside the temple? The outer court need not be measured because it has been given to the Gentiles. This is because the outer courts of the rebuilt temple include the Islamic dome of the rock shrine, which currently stands on the Temple Mount, and is point great, is a point of great contention, hostility, or enmity between the Jews and Muslims. When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in A.D. 70, they destroyed the city so completely, devastated the very foundations of the old temple, and it's not easily found. Most have long assumed that the dome of the rock shrine stands on the place of the old temple, but new research gives evidence that the temple may have stood to the north of where the dome of the rock shrine is today. And if that, and that is if the temple were to be rebuilt, it could be rebuilt in that place. So the dome of the rock shrine would be in its outer courts. Now, if this is the case, and the research is by no means settled per se, then it would explain why the angel told John, Leave out the court, which is outside the temple, do not measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot, and the holy city, which is Jerusalem. And it's interesting how uh several years ago, uh not too long ago, four or five, actually about five years ago, five or six years ago, President Donald Trump uh made, you know, supported Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel. And this is once again, uh we see the buildup of prophecy coming to fruition. And so um, the holy city, Jerusalem, will be tread underfoot for a period of 42 months, which equals 1,260 days, three and a half years. And the trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles probably takes place in the last half of the final seven-year period described by Daniel the prophet. Uh, we can see that also other writings, uh, when the Antichrist pours out his fury on the people of Israel, are described in Revelation 12 and also Matthew 24. Um, and you know, it's interesting, the Greek scholar A.T. Robertson that says the treading underfoot means to trample with contempt or with hostility. This is going to be in uh it I think it's Zechariah, don't quote me on that, but right off the cuff, I believe says that instead of one out of three, Hitler killed one out of three Jews, uh, the Antichrist will kill two out of three in another Holocaust coming. Verses three through six, the two witnesses, it says, and I will give my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1260 days. And they are clothed in sackcloth. Two witnesses. Likely these witnesses are literal Jews representing prophetic ministry to Israel during the tribulation period. Remember, we had 144,000 uh Jewish evangelists all over the world preaching the gospel, empowered by God, sealed by God, protected by God. An angel's gonna go across the world sharing the gospel with all with the whole world, warning them to not take the mark of the beast. And now there's two witnesses, and they will be seen by CNN, Fox News, uh, on your social media, all the all the apps, all the things on your little iPhone. The whole world will see it.

SPEAKER_00 19:27

1,260 days, that's three and a half years. Um and this is the first half of the tribulation.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

And it says here in three through six, and I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, two lamb stands, standing before the God of earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth, devours their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, strike the earth with all plagues, as often they desire. So the two witnesses, who are these fellows? Um, the characters of these prophetic ministries is that they, number one, characteristics, they will preach with righteousness, and they will preach repentance. They will be clothed in sackcloth, they will be repenting as well for the nation. And they will be given power, empowerment. Uh, and and they will they will be doing this in spite of antagonism of the world. Matter of fact, we'll see in a little bit that they will be killed by the Antichrist, and the world will give gifts and celebrate. They will they will be drinking, eating, drinking, and be merry, and uh, because these two mischief, maybe they may even call them terrorists. You know? These hateful terrorists, they're so judgmental, they're not inclusive, and people will be giving gifts. But God says he's gonna give them great power and boldness in spite of all this, they will preach. What are these two olive trees, two lampstands? The witnesses have a unique uh continual empowering of the Holy Spirit. We know the Holy Spirit, as is demonstrated in the during the the time of the church, church age, like it is now, he is now, will is sealed. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We're all we're walking around with God inside us.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

But during Revelation, the Spirit will come like the Old Testament, come on, come off. But these guys will be. Specially sealed by the Holy Spirit. And this passage from Zechariah had its first application to two men in Zechariah's day, Joshua and Zerubal. And it says that just as these two witnesses were raised up to be lampstand witnesses for God were empowered by olive oil, representing the power of the Holy Spirit. So these two witnesses in revelation likewise will execute their prophetic office, so to speak. And these, the picture of Zechariah, the oil lamps, really direct was directly from olive trees, which piped oil right to the lamps. It gives this idea of the oil represents the Holy Spirit. And it gives this idea of empowerment and giving light through these men. You know, you can't have light without oil in these lamps. And the lamps shine light. And so these men will, their source of empowerment, of preaching, will be from the Holy Spirit through their personal encounter with Jesus. God's going to give them some special powers, similar to Elijah. You can look in 2 Kings chapter 1. They have the power to shut heaven, turn the water into blood. And I really think, well, I'm very confident that these two witnesses will be Elijah and Moses. We know in James 5, it talks about Elijah, the power. We also know in Moses, Exodus 7 through 12, we see the power there. Malachi predicts, prophesied, that before the Messiah comes, that Elijah would return. And the Jews have always thought this, Elijah and Moses would be those two. Some people say Enoch, because Enoch never died. Moses did. But I also think when we look at the glimpse of the second coming through the um uh the the Mount of Olivet, where um Peter and Peter, Matthew, Peter, James, and John saw the two witnesses.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

They saw Jesus return to in glory.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

They saw a glimpse of the second coming, and they saw Moses and they saw Elijah. Peter says, Can we make some tense? And the father says, Hey, stop it, obey him. Yeah. And and so uh really I I think it's pretty clear that it's gonna be Moses and Elijah. Verses 7 through 10, when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street in the great city, which is spiritually is called Sodom and Gomorrah, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see the dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, uh, make merry, and send gifts to one another, like I said earlier, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell in the earth. So they will make war and overcome them. The two witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit. And this beast, I believe, is Satan himself possessed the Antichrist.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

I believe that's most likely the case. Um but they cannot, they cannot be taken from this earth until God says so.

SPEAKER_01 26:19

Kind of like Job. Kind of like us. We can't die. We are immortal until God says we are finished. We are appointed to once to die and then judgment, and that's one appointment we won't miss. Yeah. The devil does not have power over our lives, like many people want to say. You know, we are witnesses of the Lord, and he will protect us until our testimony is finished. And their dead bodies will lie the street of that great city, spiritually called Sodom and Gomorrah, where our Lord was crucified. So the two witnesses are killed in the city of Jerusalem, and all eyes are on Jerusalem. You're gonna have CNN, all these stations, people looking on their phone, people running into uh, you know, uh trees, whatever, because they're on their phone, they're not paying attention. Like every I'm kidding there a little bit. Some people might. Um, and it will, they cause spiritually Sodom and Gomorrah. And the reason why John says this is it's kind of a mockery of Jerusalem. You know, even though we should support Israel and the Jews, they are not following Christ right now. Matter of fact, they uh in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel often has uh gay pride. Huge. They in the place in October 7th, where unfortunately, sadly, these people were killed by these horrific terrorists, um, this is a place they were worshiping other gods. They were they were uh they were uh relishing their gay gay pride and inclusion. And they were denying the true God. And so Sodom and Gomorrah, as though it's not literal Sodom and Gomorrah, it is talking about their immorality. And Egypt, because it speaks of oppression and slavery, they're enslaved to sin. And the great city is a term often applied to Babylon, the headquarters of the Antichrist. I believe Babylon will be rebuilt. As a matter of fact, they are working on it. You know, uh, I believe Babylon will be the headquarters of Antichrist. I believe more and more every day it will be a literal Babylon in Iraq. Maybe I'm wrong. Some people say Rome, and we'll find out. I don't think so. The older I get, the more literal I take scripture. And during the first three and a half years, Jerusalem leadership is in league with the Antichrist, but somewhere in between, the city, fall, you know, the city that was once in love with the Antichrist enters this covenant, and we're going to see that that breaks. Uh, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over this. The Antichrist kills them. And they started to give gifts. It was by the whole world. This could never have been done until the last 30 to 40 years, where the whole world could see this.

SPEAKER_00 29:28

All people, tribes, and nations. Mass media. It is amazing. It is not far-fetched at all.

SPEAKER_01 29:38

Live in Jerusalem. We're seeing this amazing thing taking place. We got these two crazy guys saying they're Elijah and Moses, and they must be schizophrenic. They're very judgmental. These are terrorists, and the great Antichrist just killed them, and people are going to say, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:00

And so interesting enough, though, we're going to see what happens in 11 through 14.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Now, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from the God entered them and they stood on their feet. Wow. Great fear fell on those who saw them, and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. Just like in Revelation 4, when uh after the seven churches are discussed, uh come up here to John. I believe it says the church, this is the rapture. You have a rapture right here of Moses and Elijah, the two witnesses. And they ascend to heaven in a cloud, and the enemy saw them. That same hour there there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed. The rest were afraid and gave glory to God of heaven. And the second woe was passed. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

SPEAKER_00 31:00

7,000 people from this earthquake.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

And the rest were afraid and gave glory to God. Now, I believe this is where things turn. I believe this is where God starts saving his remnant, where at the end we know the Jewish nation, the Jews as a nation, the people, will say, you know, they will see the one they pierced, and they will say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. I believe this is this is when it starts.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

It starts changing. Yeah, isn't that cool? Um and then finally, 15.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

The seventh angel sat, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying, The king, the kingdom of this world have become the kingdom of the Lord in his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Wow. Glory to God. The seventh angel sounds, and there's profound silence, right?

SPEAKER_00 32:05

And the seventh trumpet initiates joy at the inevitable resolution.

SPEAKER_01 32:13

So the seventh seal brought that silence, and the seventh trumpet initiates joy, and this resolute consummation of things is coming. That can't be more glorious proclamation than this. The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of the Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

Yeah, just like Mendel's uh Handel's Messiah. And they become the Lord's.

SPEAKER_01 32:43

Yeah, come, Lord Jesus. 16 through 18, and the 24 elders sat before God. This is us. So we can see some things, I believe, from heaven, on their thrones, fell on their faces towards God. We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who was and who is to come, because you have taken your great power and reign. The nations were angry, your wrath has come, and this time of the dead, they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants and prophets and saints. Yeah. And those who fear your name, small and great, and and should should destroy those who destroy the earth. Wow. This is uh this is his church up here.

SPEAKER_00 33:29

We are the elders. If you're a believer, this is you. Well, we're praising God.

SPEAKER_01 33:38

And we see something, you know, a lot of people say, where's God in suffering? Where's God now? Why doesn't he fix this? Well, he's going to.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

Yeah. And we're gonna be there to see it.

SPEAKER_01 33:52

And we're gonna be on God's side. I am glad I am on God's side. And I hope you are. I hope you've trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Hope you have a great rest of the day. And uh remember, God can take your mess, turn it into a message for his glory and your good.