Revelation 11:1-14

THE TWO WITNESSES

Revelation 11:1-14

I have seen shows and read stories of the two people in the courtyard, they are believed to be two of these men (1) Moses and Elijah, (2) Enoch and Elijah, But in truth no one really knows. Moses has sent similar plagues that these men were empowered to do. Enoch had the same sort of power in 2 Kings chapter 1. These two, Moses and Elijah were also seen in the transfiguration. Enoch and Elijah have also been suspected because they have never seen death. The basis for this is the verse Hebrew 9:27.  Enoch strongest support comes from Malachi 4:5. Moses strongest support comes from Deuteronomy 18: 15-18.

Rev 11:1  Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, "Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers.

This is close to the same order given to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 40–42 where he was told to measure the temple. But John had to count the people at that time so that was different. There are split beliefs here so quoting from the Life Application New Testament Commentary , "there are two main interpretations of the Temple that John was told to measure. (1) The Temple, the altar, and the worshipers are literal and focus on the Jews and their place in these final days. (2) The Temple, altar, and the worshipers are symbolic and refer to the “true Israel,” the church, consisting of all believers in Christ.

Those who believe that this is a reference to the Jews have two slightly different views. Some understand the Temple to be a real, physical rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This view envisions the Antichrist permitting the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of Jewish worship. After three and a half years, however, the Antichrist will break his treaty with the Jews and destroy the city. Then Christ will return to deliver the Jewish people. Others who also consider this section to refer to the Jews believe that the Temple and the city of Jerusalem are not to be taken literally. Instead, they say, John was predicting the eventual salvation of the Jewish people (see also Rom_11:26). The Temple, altar, and worshipers represent the believing Jews, while the outer courtyard represents the unbelieving Jews.The second way of interpreting this passage is that it refers not just to the Jews but to all believers. In this view, the Temple is a symbol of the church (all true believers—whether Jews or Gentiles). Some who believe that the believers have already been raptured (taken to heaven) by this time will say that this action is primarily focused on the Jews, as a way to draw them to Christ before the end. Those who believe that the Christians are still on the earth understand this to refer to God’s protection of his people, similar to his sealing them in Rev_7:3 (see also 1Co_3:16-17; 2Co_6:16; Eph_2:19-22; Rev_2:4-10)."

Rev 11:2  But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.

The amount written on this verse would take a book to fill. In short the courtyard is where the gentiles that had turned to Judaism were allowed to worship. Turned over to the nations could mean, Life Application New Testament Commentary  "This courtyard had been turned over to the nations who will trample the holy city for 42 months. This statement could refer to Jesus’ words about a time of great apostasy (Mark 13) and the coming of the Antichrist, who will rule over the nations, trample the holy city, and set himself up as god (see also 2Th_2:3-4)."

Rev 11:3  And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days." Rev 11:4  These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. 

John described these two prophets as two olive trees. This picture is in Zec_4:14. Zechariah saw a vision of a lampstand and two olive trees. The lampstands may be two of the lampstands talked about earlier in Revelations about revival for the Jews and the gentiles.

Rev 11:5  If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. Rev 11:6  They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

These two prophets had 1260 days to complete their testimony. After that they will lose their powers and be able to be attached by the beast. Then God would remove their supernatural protection and powers and would allow the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit to conquer and kill them.

Rev 11:7  When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. Rev 11:8  And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called "Sodom" and "Egypt," the city where their Lord was crucified.

 The reference to Sodom is what Jerusalem has become. It has equaled the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Rev 11:9  And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. Rev 11:10  All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them. Rev 11:11  But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them.

This rising from the dead is another showing of Christ's ability to trample all of Satan's plans. Life Application New Testament Commentary says; 11:11-12 Because God always controls events and timing, these two witnesses remained dead for only three and a half days (see Rev_11:9). Their bodies had been left out for all to see, but suddenly, the spirit of life from God entered them, and they stood up. Later, the Antichrist would copy this resurrection (Rev_13:3). Obviously, the merriment surrounding their death stopped, and terror struck all who were staring at them

If you read Rev_13:3 you will see that the anti-christ will also do the same raising someone from the dead. Some but not all of his followers believed in him even more.

Rev 11:12  Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, "Come up here!" And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched. Rev 11:13  At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. Rev 11:14  The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is coming quickly.

 

Tyndale House Publishers ^{Life Application New Testament Commentary}