The Two Witnesses and the End Time Temple
“ . . . And the seventh angel sounded . . . The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.”
The Third Temple
V. 1-2: 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.2But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.
This passage indicates that there will be a temple in Jerusalem when the two witnesses are active during the Great Tribulation. It’s measurements are not provided, so it cannot be determined if this is the temple Ezekiel saw, or one that pre-exists the final temple of the Millennium. Ezekiel’s temple is the Millennial temple that the Lord will build [in three days] after His return. However, the Temple Mount Faithful organization has plans to build it as it is described in Ezekiel chapters 40 – 44.
This temple identifies the city as Jerusalem, and contrasts the inner court with the outer court of the Gentiles, which is being trampled for 42 months. Here we begin to see the multiple times that the length of The Time of Jacob’s Trouble [The Great Tribulation] is defined – as 3 ˝ years. We will continue to see this over and over in Revelation. He [or she] who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The worshippers in verse 1 would only be Jews. John’s instructions, to measure the inner temple but not the outer temple, imply that God refuses to acknowledge the disrespect of Him in the Gentile courts – there is no worship there, and it is not even included in God’s eyes as part of the temple. This can also compare to Daniel’s comments about the Abomination of Desolation, when he says: Dan 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." The reference here to the wing causes some to believe that the Abomination that makes desolate will not be in the sanctuary, but will be in one of the outer structures of the Temple, although the popular and fictionalized stories place the abomination in the Holy of Holies itself. Here is another translation of the same verse: Dan 9:27: 27He will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler." [New Living Translation].
The Two Witnesses
Rev: 11: 3: "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in sackcloth and will prophesy during those 1,260 days."
The 1,260 days are exactly equal in length to the 42 months [42 x 30] mentioned in verse 2 above and equal to the 42 months of authority given to the antichrist [see Rev 13:5], and may be concurrent in time. However, just the fact that months are used for the antichrist’s reign and days are used for the witnesses implies that the time is different – at least in God’s eyes. Another timing alternative is that the witnesses begin just before the antichrist is given power. When they die, the time remaining to the antichrist is the length of time required for the 7th trumpet – the final Bowl of God’s Wrath to be poured out.
Rev 11: 4-14 These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
The two witnesses are identified as the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of all the earth, who are also identified as the two anointed ones who assist the Lord of all the earth [see Zech 4:11-14 below]. There is much debate about WHO these two are, but it is far more important that we see what they DO, which is what this chapter teaches us. Note however that they are a SOURCE for holy and anointed oil, representing the Holy Spirit. You can put this on your list of questions to the Lord as to who and what they are. Angels? Moses and Elijah? John himself, the Revelator? This has not yet been given to us to know. But more and more heavenly knowledge is being made known to us.
Zech 4:11-14 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?" "Don't you know?" he asked. "No, my lord," I replied. Then he said to me, "They represent the two anointed ones who assist the Lord of all the earth."
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The two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, representing mourning, fire proceeds from their mouth to kill anyone who tries to harm them. Only Elijah has previously had such power, and he called fire down from heaven. These go farther – holy fire proceeds from their mouth and devours any who come against them. They also have the power to shut up the sky so that it does not rain, and to smite the earth with plagues, [all the plagues of Egypt, which were directed against the gods of Egypt] such as turning water to blood, whenever they want. Moses was the one who first had this power before, but so did Elijah, at least as far as withholding rain [See 1Kings 17:1]. They will make the lives of sinners miserable during these days, both from a guilty conscience perspective as well as adding physical pain from the plagues to the existing levels of pain. God will spare no effort to reach the lost.
At the end of the 1,260 days, the beast who comes up out of the abyss fights with them, overcomes them, leaves their bodies in the street for 3˝ days. Just as the Lord stayed in the earth for three days, and Lazarus for four, this meets the official Jewish definition of death. This beast is most likely the physical form inhabited by the demon who had the key to the abyss or one of his minions. As the bodies lay in the streets, the entire world rejoices, because the witnesses had stabbed the world’s conscience, had inflicted plagues and drought, adding to the world’s physical torment.
The two witnesses are then resurrected, and taken bodily up to heaven. This causes great fear and consternation to the witnesses of this event. Note that the whole earth sees the dead bodies, but the Bible does NOT state that the whole earth sees the resurrections – the fear falls on those who see them. The witnesses also hear an audible voice from heaven inviting the two faithful ones to come up. I can see Dan Blather right now, reporting daily for three days on the two weirdos who are finally dead, but NOT reporting the resurrection when it occurs. How typical.
Rev. 11:14: And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
A huge earthquake follows, so destructive that the city breaks into three parts, and in which 7,000 people in Jerusalem die. Finally the rest of the people are again terrified, and give glory to God, an unusual action during these times. Remember that Mt. Zion will become the chief mountain in all the earth [Isa 2:2 below] or the highest – it is the ONLY mountain on earth that will not be harmed by the earthquake that comes with the Wrath of the Lamb. The rest of the mountains will be shattered, and the islands will be destroyed, so great is that quake. But only 7,000 are killed in Jerusalem during this earthquake. We see that the second Woe, the Sixth Trumpet, is now past, and the seventh is about to sound.
Isa 2:2: And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Who are the two witnesses?
Traditional interpretation says Elijah and Moses. Elijah is selected because he called down fire from heaven on his enemies, he caused a 3˝ year drought, he did not die, but was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, and he was predicted to come visit God’s people before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Moses is also chosen because of his powers to call down plagues. Moses and Elijah were also seen with Jesus during the Transfiguration. Speculation is usually two previous prophets. The principle of prophetic return is established in Malachi 4:5. Jesus also referred to John the Baptist as Elijah in Matt 11:14. In Matt 17:11, Jesus prophecies that Elijah will come at the end of the age and restore all things.
Mal. 4:5 5"Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives.
2 Kings 2:11 11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.12Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!" And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his robe in two.
From Israel In Crisis, David Dolan, p.134. “There is no valid reason to spiritualize the plain biblical account here, which forthrightly states that two individuals will appear in Jerusalem one day wearing sackcloth, preaching the gospel, and calling down judgments upon sinful humanity. As John’s account foretold, they will be killed on a city street and then rise from the dead after a specified period of time while the astonished witnesses watch.”
However, it is appointed unto man to die once: Hebrews 9:27 27And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment,28so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Moses has already died once. Exceptions to this were Lazarus, temporarily risen, and several other people that Jesus raised while in his earthly ministry. A few of the prophets were also known to do this.
The results of the witnesses resurrection is finally that people give glory to God.
Following this resurrection, John states that the second Woe is past, and the third Woe, the 7th Trumpet, is coming quickly. This places us in the timeline at the end of the Great Tribulation.
The 7th Trumpet
Rev: 11: 15-19: 15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."16And the twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped him.17And they said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. 18The nations were angry with you, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants. You will reward your prophets and your holy people, all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. And you will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth." 19Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared; there was a great hailstorm, and the world was shaken by a mighty earthquake.
The 7th Trumpet is viewed by John, and the reaction in heaven is recorded - loud voices – wonder and awe. We cannot see how much time passes on earth while the trumpet blast occurs in heaven, but when it is finished, the elders fall down and worship, because title to the kingdom of the earth has been transferred to its rightful owner, Jesus Christ. It is now his to take.
The elders declare that it is time for the Judgment of the Dead – this is not the Great White Throne judgment, it is the Bema Seat of Christ – only the believers are judged, and their rewards given. Note that this reward specifically calls out the prophets, God’s holy people, and all who fear God’s name – so this includes Moses and King David and all of Israel who have died in belief and hope. This specifically contradicts the pre-trib rapture teachers like Tim LaHaye who teach that Israel will not be resurrected until after the 1,000 years – they teach that God will not keep his promises to the nation of Israel, but state that they were all figural promises – not to be taken literally, and that the church receives the promises instead of Israel – they covet the promises to Israel, as if God’s separate reward for them is not enough for them. They make God out to be a liar.
But note also, it is time for the Wrath of the Lamb as well – the judgments on the nations – the people still alive on earth, hating God, rebelling against Him to the last. These will be destroyed – all on earth who have caused destruction.
Traditional teaching is that all seven vials occur within or as a part of the 7th Trumpet. But the first four vials form a pattern with the Horsemen, and the first four Trumpets, but the timing is likely very late, within the last year before the Lord returns. We will cover these in Chapter 16, where we will see that the 5th seal includes the destruction of Babylon for the final time. It is likely that the final Wrath of the Lamb is included in the 7th Vial alone.
