Today we find ourselves in chapter 11 of Revelation, which puts us at the book’s halfway mark. Before we dive in, let me share some quotes about Revelation 11.
“Revelation 11 is universally recognized as difficult to interpret” – Robert Mounce
“Revelation 11 is the most difficult section in Revelation.” – Gerhard Krodel
“Nowhere in the book of Revelation has there been more confusion among the commentators than in the verses which open the 11th chapter.” – Donald Barnhouse
“Revelation 11 is undoubtedly one of the most difficult in the whole Apocalypse.” – Dean Alford[i]
Lehman Strauss quotes William Barclay as saying, “This chapter is at one and the same time the most difficult and the most important chapter in the Revelation.” [ii]
So, this should be fun, right? Let’s take it a little bit at a time.
Revelation 11:1 NIV “11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, ‘Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers.’”
We don’t know who gave the measuring rod to John. In Revelation 21, there is an angel who holds a measuring rod. Perhaps this is also who hands the reed to John and tells him to measure three things. The temple of God, the altar, and the worshipers.
Ezekiel 40 and Zechariah 2 both give accounts of taking measurements.
Ezekiel is given a vision of a man holding both a tape measure and a measuring stick. For several chapters, they go about measuring different gates, courtyards, and rooms around the temple. Exact measurements are recorded in Scripture.
Zechariah, too, is given a vision. “Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?”
And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” (Zechariah 2:1 NKJV)
What John is experiencing isn’t new. This has been done before. But what is the significance here?
Some interpret the reference to the temple as a reference to the church or body of Christ. I think you’ll understand why this doesn’t seem logical as we go on in the discussion. One of the main reasons people adhere to this belief is because there is no temple when John writes this. The third temple had been destroyed about 15 to 20 years before John was given this vision. The destruction of the temple would have been known to John.
Rather than interpreting “temple” to mean “the church”, most reliable Biblical scholars see this vision as an indication that the temple will be rebuilt and we are given scripture to substantiate this.
Daniel seems to validate this for us. “He [Antichrist] will confirm his promise with many for one set of seven time periods. In the middle of the seven time periods, he will stop the sacrifices and food offerings. This will happen along with disgusting things that cause destruction until [those time periods] come to an end. It has been determined that this will happen to those who destroy [the city].” (Daniel 9:27 GW)
What we understand will happen is that the Antichrist will come in as a hero or savior to the world after the rapture. Part of his appeal will be his covenant with the Jewish community to rebuild their temple.
There is currently a Muslim mosque/shrine (Dome of the Rock) which is built on what is presumed to be the location of at least two of the original temples. Even today, there is a lot of controversy and conflict regarding this location. The Muslims maintain control so they don’t always permit outside visitors. Jews are sometimes permitted to go there, but not necessarily allowed to pray. So, for someone (even the Antichrist) to come in and make a treaty to rebuild the temple for the Jews is a huge deal.
However, Daniel tells us that midway through the seven years, the Antichrist will change things. Daniel uses words or phrases such as “disgusting things”, “destruction”, “abomination”, “terrible deeds”, “sacrilegious”, “awful horror”, and “detestable things”.
The Antichrist will break the treaty with the Jews and his true intent will be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 fills in the blank. “4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV) Verse 3 informs us that “he” who is referred to in verse 4 is “the man of lawlessness” or the “man of sin”. This is when the eyes of the Jews are opened and they realize this man isn’t the hero or savior they thought him to be.
Jesus, Himself, also warns of this in Matthew 24. “15 “When you see the disgusting and destructive thing that Daniel talked about standing in the holy place (the reader should understand this), 16 then those in Judea must escape to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15 CEB) “21 There will be great suffering such as the world has never before seen and will never again see.” (Matthew 24:21 CEB)
Jesus, Daniel, Paul, and others warn us about the Antichrist and his intentions, and yet, many will be enamored by him and not see his wickedness at the onset.
The last point to discuss in this verse is why John is told to measure the temple.
It’s thought to be symbolic. “Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, and preservation.”[iii] This seems to indicate God’s way of claiming ownership of the city and the temple. But, interestingly, no measurements are written.
Verse 2 is interesting and difficult to interpret. “2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” (Revelation 11:2 NIV)
Lehman Strauss says that the outer court is to be rejected because it is the court of the Gentiles. Before we get offended by that, remember Galatians 3:28 NIV “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to say that the area outside is given to the Gentiles but that doesn’t indicate they are “being favored by God above the Jews, but rather God is using them for the chastisement of Israel (Zechariah 14:1-2).”[iv]
Because some translations use the word “nations” rather than Gentiles, this seems to refer to the unsaved. Biblical Hermeneutics gives us this explanation. “This is the entire world — e.g. you have gentiles mixing with believers in the outer court, then the inner courts, then the holy place and most holy place.”[v]
What we can determine, however, is that the Gentiles (or nations) will trample or tread underfoot for 42 months. “Greek scholar A.T. Robertson said that to tread underfoot means “to trample with contempt.”[vi] That makes sense because Paul wrote to the people in Thessalonica “There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. 3 When people say, “Everything is quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1 GNT)
After the Rapture, part of what makes the Antichrist so enticing is the peacefulness, calmness, and security he seems to ignite. But remember the four horsemen that are ushered in by the first four seals? The Antichrist is the first, and the second horseman (the fiery red one) is given the authority to remove the peace which paves the way to war and conflict and most certainly, contempt.
The period that is given for this trampling is 42 months. Very specific, isn’t it? Twelve months in a year. Twelve times 3 is 36 months. Half a year is 6 months. 36 months plus 6 months gives us a grand total of 42 months which equates to….drumroll, please…..3.5 years. This would mark the halfway point of the Tribulation period and the beginning of what’s known as the Great Tribulation period (the last half and the worst part of the 7 years.)
Revelation 11:3 NIV “ 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Two witnesses are appointed for this mission which is to prophesy. We’re told they have an allotted period – 1,260 days which is 3.5 years according to the Biblical calendar. (Biblical calendar is 12 months with each month having 30 days.) The Gregorian calendar that we use is just a little bit off from that. The two witnesses have been prophesying since the beginning of the Tribulation; in the first half of the seven years. Like the 144,000, their purpose is to testify of God’s Word and to warn people of the consequences of not choosing Him.
And how are they dressed? In sackcloth which represents repentance. Their message from God to the people is “Repent! For the time is near!” Back in Biblical times, this wasn’t that unusual; however, in today’s world or in the future world, men dressed in sackcloth are going to look strange.
These are actual people. “In the ancient Greek grammar, all the nouns used to speak of the two witnesses in this passage are in the masculine gender.”[vii] There are two witnesses which is the Biblical requirement (in the Old & New Testament) for something to be true or lawful. These particular witnesses are stationed in Jerusalem. And we’ll see that they have great power.
Revelation 11:4 NIV “ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.”
The two witnesses are referred to as “the two olive trees” and “the two lampstands”. This description is also used in Zechariah chapter 4. Zechariah is awakened by an angel and he sees a golden lampstand and two olive trees. As far as the lampstand goes, Zechariah is told, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV) It’s interesting to remember that Zerubbabel was responsible for rebuilding the temple (the second temple) after the Babylonians destroyed the first one.
Zechariah asks about the two olive trees. Zechariah 4:11 RSV “I responded to him,
“What are these two olive trees on the right and left sides of the lampstand?”
12 Then I responded a second time,
“What are these two olive branches that empty out golden oil through the two gold pipes?”
13 He said to me, “Don’t you know what these are?”
I said, “No, sir.”
14 He said,
“These are the two anointed ones standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”
The language and the descriptions are nearly identical to what John writes. These witnesses, we’re told have some powers. If they are threatened, fire comes from their mouths and kills their enemies. They have the ability to stop rain from falling and to turn water into blood. They can also bring about any plague as often as they like. The big question is: who are these two witnesses?
Spoiler alert: no one knows for sure, but there are some fairly valid thoughts. Let’s see what you think.
Probably the most widely believed theory is based on their powers or abilities. Turning water into blood and delivering plagues to the enemies is most often associated with Moses. We’ve seen here in Revelation that the wraths are like the plagues in Egypt.
Elijah, you may remember calls fire down from heaven and he boldly tells King Ahab (aka Mr. Jezebel) that it won’t rain by the power of God’s name until Elijah says so. And it didn’t. And do you happen to remember the length of time there was no rain, not even morning dew? Three and a half years!
Another piece of the Moses-Elijah argument is the transfiguration of Jesus. Interestingly, John (who wrote Revelation), along with Peter and James witnessed the transfiguration. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of this event; however, John doesn’t mention it although he was there. In one account we are told, “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30 NIV)
One more thing to make you consider this theory. The very last verses of the very last book of the Old Testament talks about Moses and Elijah. Malachi 4:4 NLV “4 “Remember the Law of My servant Moses. Remember all the Laws I gave him in Horeb for all Israel. 5 See, I will send you Elijah the man of God before the day of the Lord comes, that great day that will be full of much trouble. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Or else I will come and destroy the land with a curse.”
It’s a reminder of Moses and the law that was given to him and a reminder of Elijah who represents the prophets.
The fact that Moses and Elijah are seen together and are seen talking with Jesus about future events during the Transfiguration, and the fact that their powers or abilities in Revelation are the same as when they were on the earth and that God chose to close out the Old Testament mentioning them together is quite convincing that the two witnesses just might be Moses and Elijah.
But…consider this.
Hebrews 9:27 GNT “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God.”
Elijah, you may recall, did not die. Instead, he was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire with horses of fire in a whirlwind. Elijah did not experience death. That makes him a double contender for one of these witnesses.
There was another man who never died. Enoch, who was Methuselah’s father. Genesis 5:23 NIV “ 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
There are nearly 2,000 people named in the Bible[i]. Out of those, only 2 escape death. Why is that?
“Why did God take Enoch and Elijah? The Bible does not specifically give us the answer. Some speculate that they were taken in preparation for a role in the end times, possibly as the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3-12. This is possible, but not explicitly taught in the Bible. It may be that God desired to save Enoch and Elijah from experiencing death due to their great faithfulness in serving and obeying Him. Whatever the case, God has His purpose, and while we don’t always understand God’s plans and purposes, we know that “His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30).”[ii]
These two witnesses here in Revelation will experience death, thus fulfilling Hebrews 9:27 that everyone must die once so that could mean that this will be Elijah and Enoch serving as the two witnesses.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t throw in this little bit about Moses just in case you lean towards the Elijah and Enoch theory.
Deuteronomy 34:5 NIRV “5 Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in Moab. It happened just as the Lord had said. 6 The Lord buried the body of Moses in Moab. His grave is in the valley across from Beth Peor. But to this day no one knows where his grave is.”
And then just a random, obscure mention in Jude. “9 Not even the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil about who would have the body of Moses, dared to judge the devil guilty. Instead, he said, “The Lord punish you.” (Jude 1:9 NCV)
This altercation between Michael and Satan isn’t found anywhere else in the Bible and Jude’s point in telling us about this is more about how we are to deal with demonic powers. Michael (even being an archangel) doesn’t curse, punish, or rebuke Satan on his authority, but rather, he calls on God to intervene. That’s a lesson for us. But, interestingly, Satan wants the body of Moses.
Some suggest that Satan wants to desecrate Moses’ body for the killing of the Egyptian or he wants to create an idol out of the body. For me, that seems a bit far-fetched.
“It is more likely that the devil anticipated a purpose God had for Moses’ body, and the devil tried to defeat that plan. We know that after his death, Moses appeared in bodily form at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3) with Elijah (whose body was caught up to heaven in 2 Kings 2). Perhaps also Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses of Revelation 11, and God needed Moses’ body for that future plan.”
Just food for thought. This scripture about the body of Moses does pique curiosity but the bottom line is we don’t know the identity of these two witnesses, but we do know Who commissions them and empowers them.
He’s the same God who commissions us and empowers us. Are we willing to accept His mission?
So often we get caught up in just simply reading the scripture and not making application to ourselves. God’s purpose for Revelation isn’t just a warning for the end times and it’s not meant to read like an apocalyptic novel. There’s a message in it for us, individually. What is God’s message to you?
[i] Names in the Bible – BibleAsk
[ii] Why did God take Enoch and Elijah to heaven without them dying? | GotQuestions.org
[i] The Journey Church: Marietta OH > One of the most difficult passages in Revelation… (thejourneychurchmarietta.com)
[ii] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[iii] Study Guide for Revelation 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org)
[iv] Revelation by Lehman Strauss
[v] prophecy – Revelation 11:2 literal or figurative? – Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange
[vi] Study Guide for Revelation 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org)
[vii] Study Guide for Revelation 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org)
Beacons of Light 