Revelation 11:1-13

The Two Witnesses

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Outline of the Book of Revelation

• Introduction (1)
• Letters to 7 Churches (2-3)
• A Scene in Heaven (4)
• The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
• The 7 Seals (6-8)
• The Sealed People of God (7)
• The 7 Trumpets (8-11)
• The Angel & Little Scroll (10)
• The 2 Witnesses (11)

• The Woman & the Dragon (12)
• The Beasts (13)
• People of God & People of the Beast (14)
• The 7 Plagues (15)
• The 7 Bowls of Wrath (16)
• Babylon is Fallen (17-18)
• A Fourfold Hallelujah (19)
• Final Judgment (20)
• New Creation (21-22)

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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - Revelation 1:1 (ESV)

Written by John near end of 1st century AD while exiled on island of Patmos

Reading

• Revelation 11:1-14

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The Tabernacle - Precursor to the Temple

Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it. - Exodus 25:8-9 (WEB)

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who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” - Hebrews 8:5 (WEB)

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The Tabernacle

• Plans described in Exodus 25-30
• Construction described in Exodus 35-40

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Overview of the Tabernacle from Hebrews 9:2-7 (WEB)

For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.

After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.

Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.

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The Tabernacle - Layout & Dimensions

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Most Holy Place

Holy Place

Ark & Mercy Seat

Altar of Incense

Lampstand

Table of Showbread

Altar of

Burnt Offerings

Washbasin

Outer Court

Veil

Door

10 cubits (15 ft)

20 cubits (30 ft)

~10 cubits (15 ft)

100 cubits (150 ft)

50 cubits (75 ft)

Transition to a Temple

• David has aspirations to build a temple (house) for God but told his son will do it instead (2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17).
• David prepares and commissions Solomon to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22, 1 Chronicles 28-29).
• Temple built and dedicated in 1 Kings 6-8, 2 Chronicles 2-7.
• Many similarities structurally to the Tabernacle.

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First Temple (Solomon’s Temple)

• Main temple

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• Also built other things (his own palace, etc.)

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First Temple - Inner Area Dimensions

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Most Holy Place

(20 x 20 cubits - 30 x 30 ft)

Holy Place

(40 x 20 cubits - 60 x 30 ft)

Porch

(10 x 20 cubits - 15 x 30 ft)

First Temple - Courts

• He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams. - 1 Kings 6:36 (WEB)

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• Furthermore he made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze. - 2 Chronicles 4:9 (WEB)

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Destruction of First Temple

• Destroyed across 2 phases of Babylonian invasion (597 and 586 BC):
• …Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged…He carried out from there all the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in Yahweh’s temple, as Yahweh had said. - 2 Kings 24:10-13 (WEB)
• …Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned Yahweh’s house, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, he burned with fire. - 2 Kings 25:8-9 (WEB)

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Second Temple (Restoration After Exile)

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, “Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, in addition to the free will offering for God’s house which is in Jerusalem.’” - Ezra 1:1-4 (WEB)

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Herod’s Temple

• Herod the Great (around when Jesus was born) performed building projects on temple to gain favor with the Jews.
• Likely couldn’t change core inner temple dimensions but could expand or improve elsewhere.
• Various courts:
• Court of Priests
• Court of Israelites
• Court of Women
• Court of Gentiles
• Ultimately destroyed in 70 AD

by Romans.

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Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezekiel 40-48)

• Ezekiel has a vision of a temple starting in Ezekiel 40 that is measured in detail.
• At least 500 x 500 cubits (3000 x 3000 ft) for total surrounding area (including courtyards) encompassed by a wall (Ezekiel 42:15-20).
• Holy & Most Holy Places likely similar in size (Ezekiel 41:1-4).
• Other measurements are more complicated but often very square and multiples of 25.

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Non-Physical/Non-Building Temples

• Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (WEB)
• Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, - 1 Corinthians 6:19 (WEB)
• What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” - 2 Corinthians 6:16 (WEB)
• in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:21-22 (WEB)
• I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. - Revelation 21:22 (WEB)

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Questions (Revelation 11:1-2)

What is John told to do (and not do)?

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Why do (and not do) these things?

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Trampling of the Holy City (Revelation 11:2)

Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. - Revelation 11:2 (WEB)

They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. - Luke 21:24 (WEB)

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42 Months and 1,260 Days (Revelation 11:2-3)

Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” - Revelation 11:2-3 (WEB)

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42 months x 30 days/month = 1,260 days

1,260 days / 360 days/year = 3.5 years

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Question (Revelation 11:2-3)

Are the “42 month” and “1,260 day”

time periods here the same?

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Similar Numbers Elsewhere in Daniel

He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. - Daniel 7:25 (WEB)

He said to me, “To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.” - Daniel 8:13-14 (WEB)

He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. In the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease… - Daniel 9:27 (WEB)

…it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished. - Daniel 12:7 (WEB)

“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. - Daniel 12:11-12 (WEB)

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Question (Revelation 11:3-12)

Who are the two witnesses?

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These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. - Revelation 11:4 (WEB)

Who are the two witnesses?

Common options:

1. Two “generic” witnesses
2. Symbolic representations related to Zechariah 4
3. Some specific individual people

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The Two Witnesses as Two “Generic” Witnesses

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. - Deuteronomy 17:6 (WEB)

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. - Deuteronomy 19:15 (WEB)

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The Two Witnesses of Zechariah 4

Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lamp stand and on the left side of it?”...Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” - Zechariah 4:11-14 (WEB)

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• Possibly Zerubbabel (king) and Joshua (priest) of that time in the face of adversity in rebuilding the temple.
• Olives often closely connected to Israel (Romans 11, Mount of Olives, emblem, national tree, etc.)
• Lampstands closely connected to the church (Revelation 1-2)

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Two Witnesses As Specific Individuals

Common candidates:

• Enoch
• Elijah
• Moses

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Two Witnesses As Specific Individuals

Common candidates:

• Enoch
• Elijah
• Moses

Enoch and Elijah didn’t die:

• Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him. - Genesis 5:24 (WEB); Hebrews 11:5
• As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. - 2 Kings 2:11 (WEB)

All people dying once:

• Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, - Hebrews 9:27 (WEB)

But:

• Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, n a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (WEB)
• For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (WEB)

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Two Witnesses As Specific Individuals

Common candidates:

• Enoch
• Elijah
• Moses

Elijah coming before the end:

• Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. - Malachi 4:5 (WEB)

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Shutting up the sky to prevent rain (Revelation 11:6):

• Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” - 1 Kings 17:1 (WEB); James 5:17-18

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Two Witnesses As Specific Individuals

Common candidates:

• Enoch
• Elijah
• Moses

Appearance with Elijah:

• Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” - Matthew 17:3-4 (WEB)

Turning waters to blood (Revelation 11:6):

• Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. - Exodus 7:20 (WEB)

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The Beast & The Abyss

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. - Revelation 11:7 (WEB)

• First mention of a “beast” in Revelation
• More to come in Revelation 13+

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• An “abyss” mentioned in Revelation 9
• More to come in Revelation 17+

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“Spiritual” City Naming (Revelation 11:8)

pneumatikos - https://biblehub.com/greek/4153.htm

Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. (NIV)

and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. (ESV)

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. (KJV)

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (NASB 1995)

Their dead bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which prophetically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (HCSB)

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History of Sodom

• Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh. - Genesis 13:13 (WEB)

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• Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19):
• Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, - Genesis 18:10 (WEB)
• Men try to have sex with angels visiting Lot (Genesis 19:1-5)
• Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky. - Genesis 19:24 (WEB)

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“Sodom” Applied to Israelites

like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim…“Why has Yahweh done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?” Then men will say, “Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, and went and served other gods and worshiped them… - Deuteronomy 29:23-26 (WEB)

Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh. They have despised the Holy One of Israel…Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom!...“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?...When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?...Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” - Isaiah 1:4-17 (WEB)

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“Sodom” Applied to Israelites

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves. - Isaiah 3:8-9 (WEB)

In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.” - Jeremiah 23:14 (WEB)

“‘“Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters. She also didn’t strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. They were arrogant, and committed abomination before me. - Ezekiel 16:49-50 (WEB)

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History of Egypt

• Abram visits Egypt (Genesis 12)
• Joseph sold into Egypt, becomes second-in-command, saves Egypt from famine, family comes down to live in Egypt (Genesis 37-50)
• Jews multiply in Egypt and become slaves (Exodus 1)
• God appears to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3+)
• Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments. - Exodus 6:5-6 (WEB)

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3.5 Days (Revelation 11:9-11)

• Lack of burial consider a tragedy (Psalm 79:3, 1 Kings 13:22, Jeremiah 8:1-2)

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• Example of Lazarus (John 11) - belief in spirit only hovering around body for 3 days

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• 3.5 - “partial” amount of time in which God may allow some peril before intervening

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Earthquakes in Revelation

• I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. - Revelation 6:12 (WEB)
• The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed. - Revelation 8:5 (WEB)
• In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. - Revelation 11:13 (WEB)
• God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. - Revelation 11:19 (WEB)
• There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as has not happened since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, and so mighty. - Revelation 16:18 (WEB)

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Questions (Revelation 11:3-12)

What are the witnesses able to do in this chapter?

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How are they able to do these things?

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Questions (Revelation 11:5-13)

What kinds of reactions/responses do the witnesses receive?

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What are the results of the witnesses’ ministry?

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