TOPIC:‌“The Life and Times of the Two Witnesses”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Revelation 11:1-19

 

‌‌“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand

‌‌two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth” (11:3).

 

William Barclay, in his book, The Revelation of John, states: “This chapter is at one and the same time the most difficult and the most important chapters in the Revelation.” I fully agree! Much of the reason for the difficulty lies in the spiritualizing by Bible students of the main places, events, people and things portrayed in this chapter instead of a literal interpretation of much of which John writes. Only such a literal interpretation will bring some kind of intelligence and unity out of a chapter, which otherwise would be confusing, perplexing, and undoubtedly, most difficult to understand by any of us.

 

The parenthesis which John started in 10:1 continues to 11:15 where the seventh trumpet judgment is introduced. Out of this seventh trumpet judgment will proceed the seven bowl judgments beginning in chapter 15 which we shall look at in forthcoming messages. Now let's begin our study of one of the most interesting chapters in the book of Revelation.

 

I.

 

Consider, first of all, the MEASURING of the Temple. In verses 1 and 2 John states: “And there was given me a reed like a rod; and the angel stood, saying; Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship in it. But the court, which is outside the temple, leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

 

As the beginning of this chapter opens John is given a reed similar to a rod which is a regular unit of measurement of ten feet long employed by the Israelites in the Old Testament. With this measuring rod John is told to measure the Temple of God, the altar, and number those who worship in it. The words “the angel stood saying” are not found in the oldest and best manuscripts. The best rendering would be, “And one said, Rise.” The voice of the one who spoke to John could have been the voice of God Himself.

 

The command to John to measure the Temple is seen by Merrill C. Tenney in his commentary as indicative of preservation and protection since it belongs to God in some special way and for a special purpose. It is also an indication that a literal Temple, consisting of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, will be rebuilt by the faithful . . .