# 53 2021 Dev. Revelation 11:1,2. Two Witnesses! Read all of chapter eleven first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelation 11:1,2 “Go and measure the temple of God and the alter, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.”
Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.
Rev.11 continues with the interlude and is the end of the first of the two sections of Revelation. John is told to measure God’s Temple, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD but most commentators think this is the temple, don’t forget this is a vision.
Vs.1,2 “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the alter, with its worshipers, but exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the gentiles (non believers) for 42 months.” Jesus also reacted to what was going on in the outer court (Mt. 21:13). Here God has set a boundary separating His own from the desecration by the world. This is meant to include all of God’s sanctuary and all of God’s people from creation up to the second coming of Jesus.
Vs.3-6 “and I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. 1,260 day equals 42 months. Verses 4-6 explain the two witnesses. The following explanation is taken from: “More than Conquerors”, Hendriksen, P 156, paraphrased. 1st Just as “the two olive-trees and the two Lampstands” Joshua and Zerubbabel (Zech. 4) represents the blessings of God through the offices of Israel so God blesses the offices; pastors, missionaries, leaders of the church by the preaching of the Word and the sacraments. 2nd Just as missionaries were sent two by two (Lk.10:1) so the church: her leaders and every true member, fulfils her mission to the world. 3rd Just as the fire of judgment and condemnation proceeded out of Jeremiah’s mouth, destroying God’s enemies (Jer.5:14), so also the church of every generation condemns the wicked on the basis of God’s Word, leading to destruction. 4th Just as Elijah received power that shut up the rain (I Kings 17:1) and just as Moses received authority to turn water into blood (Ex.7:20), the church in the Gospel age has the authority to judge when God’s message of salvation is rejected by the world. The two witness represent all of God’s redemptive grace extended to humankind from the moment of the fall (Gen3) to the very end of time (Jn.3:16-21).
Vs.7-14 “Now when they had finished their testimony…” There comes a time when it is finished, be sure that it is God’s timing. “The beast that comes up from the abyss” attacks and kills them, the churches’ witness is ended, never again to be spoken on the earth. We see the attack of the beast all around today, the attacks on followers of Jesus, on the Word of God, and on the church, sometimes from within, are increasing in our time. The church and her witness is not long dead; the evil world rejoices at her demise but it is short lived. In 3 1/2 days, a short time, God revives His church and calls her to Himself in a very public rapture.
“At that very hour there was a severe earthquake” a tenth of the former holy city collapsed and 7000 died but this is a representative vision of all evil in the world, there will be massive destruction and death. The survivors give glory to God, alas, to no avail, the time is now past.
“The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.”
Vs.15-18 “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” This is what every follower of Jesus is waiting to hear, praise be to God! We join in with the heavenly host in praise! Read vs.16-18 again.
V.19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened and within the temple was seen the ark of his covenant.” God’s covenant: “I will be your God and you will be my people.” This is God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice for our redemption, upheld in us by faith, powered by the Holy Sprit. This is not the end of God’s revelation, part two starts over with much more detail.
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Heavenhigh 