1. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without 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.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 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.
Who many believe the two witnesses to be
“So here we have the Two Witnesses. Who are they? Many scholars and teachers believe that these two are Moses, Elijah and or Enoch. Why Moses? He had the power to turn water into blood. (Exodus 7:17) And Elijah had the power to call fire down from Heaven. (1 Kings 18:38) And Enoch was translated so that he shouldn’t see death. Enoch and Elijah are believed to have never seen death. Therefore according to Hebrews (9:27) it is appointed to all men to once die. In order for one the two witnesses to be Moses; he would have to be resurrected to just die again. First we will look at Elijah and Enoch.
Enoch
God took Enoch. (Genesis 5:21-24) What does that mean? In Hebrews 11:5 we see that Enoch was translated that he shouldn’t see death. We could possibly go down a rabbit trail here in explaining what exactly happened by this, but we will keep this short. The word “translate”, means to transfer, to change, remove or convey to another place. Where did God take him? The bible doesn’t give us a clear answer. In the context of Hebrews chapter 11, the writer is describing people who had faith and pleased God. The writer summarizes Heb 11:4-12, in verse 13, by stating “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them a afar off.” Therefore it seems that Enoch eventually did die, we just do not know when or how. Perhaps, the death that he “should not see” in the future tense could have been a reference to the flood or a reference to the second death in Rev. 20:6.
Moses
(Deu. 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.) So Moses would have to be resurrected in order to fulfill this prophecy just to die again, even this has taken place once before in Matthew (27:52-53) it is very unlikely this will occur again. Even though there is the strange occurrence in the book of Jude(:9) where Satan and Michael (the Arc Angel) disputed over Moses’ body. Perhaps Satans’ intention was to prevent Moses from being able to dwell in his resurrected body during the millennium. We don’t know the exact reason.
Elijah
In 2 Kings 2:1, Elijah was taken up in whirlwind into heaven. How ever, Jesus says that no man has ascended up to heaven, even the son of man. (John 3:13) Here Jesus is referring to the 3rd heaven, the place of God’s throne. From an overview of scripture there are three levels of heaven. (Hebrews 8:1-5, Psalm 8:3, Genesis 1:15,20, 27:28, Deu 33:28) Elijah was taken up into the sky, but was he glorified in order to enter into heaven? (see Hebrews 11:32,39-40) When Elijah was taken up, 50 men went out to search for him, so even they expected that Elijah was just relocated and not taken to be with God in heaven. (2 Kings 2:16-18) Immediately before Elijah disappeared into the distance a new king had come to the throne in Israel (compare II Kings 1:17 with II Kings 3:1). The new king's name was Jehoram, or Joram, as this name is sometimes spelled. He was another son of Ahab. The first year of Jehoram's sole reign, which was the sixth year of his joint reign—first with his father Ahab, then his brother Ahaziah—was 849-848 BC. During Jehoram's reign Elisha was the recognized prophet of God (II Kings 3:11). Meanwhile, in Judah, the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign as co-regent along with his father (II Kings 8:16). This king, who began to reign in the fifth year of the joint reign of Jehoram, king of Israel, was also named Jehoram (or Joram). This Jehoram was associated with his father Jehoshaphat on the throne for nearly six years. Jehoshaphat died in the year 845 BC. This was full four years since Elijah had disappeared (remember, he had disappeared almost immediately after Jehoram of Israel began his sole reign in 849). When Jehoshaphat was dead, his son Jehoram, now sole king of Judah, slew his brothers and some of the princes to further secure the throne (II Chronicles 21:1-4). The year after the death of Jehoshaphat, Edom revolted from Judah's king Jehoram (II Kings 8:20-24and II Chronicles 21:8-10). After that brief war, Jehoram of Judah set about to build high places and introduce pagan customs (II Chronicles. 21:11). He followed the ways of the nations about him and did evil in God's sight. A full four years had now expired since Elijah was taken from the people. Then a Letter Comes from Elijah. Yes, after this wicked rule by the Jewish king, God chose Elijah to write a letter and have it sent to the king! The contents of the letter are found in II Chronicles 21:12-15. In part it reads: "Because thou hast not walked in the ways of . . . thy father . . . but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel . . . and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better that thyself . . .thou shalt have great sickness by disease." From the wording of the letter, it is clear that Elijah wrote it after these events had occurred, for he speaks of them as past events, and of the disease as future. Two years after the king became diseased, the king died (843 BC)—having reigned only eight short years (II Chronicles 21:18-20). This proves that the letter was written in the fifth year after Elijah had been taken to another location by the whirlwind. God used Elijah to convey the message because he was the prophet of God in the days of the present king's father—and the son was not going in the ways of his obedient father, Jehosaphat. The letter he had others deliver was recognized as his—proving that he was known to be alive someplace. Just how much longer he lived, the Bible does not reveal. But in that "it is appointed unto men once to die"—Elijah must have died somewhat later. See Hebrews 9:27. All human beings born of Adam, and that includes Elijah, must die—for we read: "In Adam all die" (I Corinthians 15:22). Elijah was a man"subject to like passions as we are" (James 5:17)—subject to human nature and death! Elijah the prophet, being mortal flesh as we are, died. He is certainly one of the "prophets" (Hebrews 11:32) who died in faith not yet having received the promise (verses 13 and 39). (Cited source by Herbert W. Armstrong cgg.org)
The last connection of Moses and Elijah can be found in Matthew 17.
"[Mat 17:9-13 KJV] 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Even though we have these clues based on Moses and Elijah’s ability’s, the truth is, these abilities were God given for Gods purpose. The spirit of Elijah is the Holy Spirit. God can give these abilities to whomever he needs to in order to do his will.
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
The Natural and Wild Olive Trees.
Romans 11: 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
(Here Paul is referring to the gentiles being a wild olive branch of the same olive tree that the Jews are apart of because of the Jews rejection gentiles was able to be grafted in. And now we are connected to the same root.)
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
(Many people are represented by 1 single tree so 2 olive trees are two groups of people not two single people. Also, the gentiles here are called the wild olive branch.)
From Ezekiel 37:16-27 lets see how God talks about grafting in, and how this prophecy can play into the later days of Israel. As much as would apply to the tribes of Israel, would also apply to Jews and gentiles.
Ezekiel 37:
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Revelation 21:3)
28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
[Rev 21:3 KJV] 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
“So here we see the natural olive branch and the wild olive branch will grafted together when Christ sets his kingdom on the earth mentioned in Ezekiel 37:27-28 matching the scene in Revelation 21:3.
The gentiles are part of the tribe of Judah because we have been hid in Christ or grafted into the branch of Judah. [Rom 11:24 KJV] 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?
[Gal 3:28 KJV] 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah: [Rev 5:5 KJV] 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Therefore both Jews and Gentiles are represented by two Olive trees and are made into one in Christ in the new heaven and new earth fulfilling the Ezekiel 37 Prophecy.
The Two Olive Trees are Two people Groups:
Zechariah 4
1. And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
“So here is a golden candlestick with a bowl sitting on top of it, and there is seven lamps in the bowl and seven pipes connected to the lamps. This is very interesting when comparing to Johns vision in Revelation 2:12 John turns to see the voice speaking with him and there is 7 golden candlesticks and in the midst thereof he sees Jesus. In verse 20 Jesus tells John that the 7 golden candlesticks are the 7 churches. So we now know that a candlestick is a representation of a church.
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
“So here Zechariah asked about these two olive trees, and the angel answer is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of Host.” The Lord says this is my spirit, The Holy Spirit. Who do we know that has the Holy Spirit? We do.
[Rev 11:3-4 KJV] 3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Zech. 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
“So there is golden oil being emptied out onto these branches. Golden oil? Where else is oil mentioned, what is oil a representation of. In Matthew 25, Jesus gives the parable of the 10 virgins. Because 5 of them did not have any oil in their lamps they were unable to make it through the darkness and unable to go to the marriage supper. In this parable the oil is a representation of the Holy Spirit. So perhaps the Holy Spirit is being poured upon the two olive branches. So the two olive branches must be people. Who are they?
Zech: 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
They are anointed ones, anointed by the Holy Spirit. In direct relation to the Two Witnesses. And these are also a direct connection to the candlesticks, which is the church. Zechariah 4:14 matches up exactly with Revelation 11:4 “the two candlesticks standing before God of the earth”.
“So after reading all of that, the passages strongly suggest that two olives trees or two olive branches are in direct reference to saved Jews and Gentiles. So now lets go back to Revelation 11:3 and it mentions that the Two Witnesses are clothed in sackcloth. What does this mean? For Israelites, back in the day, being clothed in sackcloth meant that they were in mourning as in prophesying doom, or a sign of submission, self-humiliation also known as making oneself to be humble. At this point we’ve seen much evidence that Two Witnesses, are indeed the two candlesticks, the two olive trees. The two elects, the church, and newly repented Jews. This brings up an issue. If Christians and Jews are the Two witnesses, which would mean that the Jews came to the faith, so they looked upon the one who they have pierced, and how can all of this fit in with a pre-tribulation rapture? It doesn’t fit.
“As already mentioned, Gods spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, we will all prophesy, have visions, dreams, signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire, smoke. The two witnesses will be doing all these things. These two witnesses are the Saints, The Tribulation Saints. What else ties in with this one might ask? How about the 7 Trumpets.” Are the 7 Trumpets a part of Gods wrath?
Revelation 8:
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
It is very clear that God is giving John several visions and different perspectives on the entire period of the 70th week of Daniel. And here Revelation 8: 3-5 Matches up perfectly with Revelation 11 5-6. The prayers of the saints are building up and causing the plagues coming down from the trumpets being blown.
Revelation 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 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.
“The Prohecy that the Two witnesses will give Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ”
[Rev 19:10 KJV] 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”
The trumpet judgments are not for those who are in Jesus Christ
Many people believe that the trumpet judgments are part of the wrath of God, and the saints/church are not designed to the wrath of God. (1 Thess. 5:9-10) Indeed the saints are not destined to wrath. Taking a closer look at Revelation Ch. 8&9 who is being plagued? Revelation 8:10-11 a star called Wormwood hits earth and ruins a third part of the waters and their made bitter, and many men dies because of it. Mark 16:18 “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
They can only hurt those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. Does the Holy Spirit seal not Christians? (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Romans 8:9)
Rev. 9:19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
They have power as scorpion, and tails like serpents. These creatures are no doubt demonic. But remember what Jesus said in Luke 10:18-20 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Revelation 12: 9-12 Satan is cast out of heaven, he has great wrath because his time is short, and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and their testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death.
Their testimony is their witnessing. It is the sword and power of the word of God that comes out of their mouth as fire. The ones who suffer from the trumpets are the ones who refuse to repent in verse 21.
When and how does their testimony end?
The beast who comes out of the earth at the Fifth trumpet is the one who eventually given enough power to make an end of the Two witnesses ministry.
[Rev 9:1-2 KJV] 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
[Rev 11:7-10 KJV] 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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.
“as shown in Rev 11:10 they rejoiced when the witnesses were gone because they were tormented by them with the plagues they called down.”
When will the Two witnesses Be Vindicated?
[Rev 6:9-11 KJV] 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.
Rev. 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev. 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Mat 24:29-30 KJV] 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
[Mar 13:24-27 KJV] 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
[Rev 11:11-12KJV] 11 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. 12 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. (Rapture)
Post Rapture
Rev 7:(13-15) 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
“The Ministry of The Two witnesses is over the Gospel has been preached to the whole earth and all believers those dead in Christ and those still alive are called up to meet the lord in the clouds and this occurs some time after the sun and moon go dark and before the wrath of the lamb is going to be poured out on all who have rejected the Christ and his Gospel.”
[Rev 6:12-17] 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Immediately after chapter 6, chapter 7 shows us insight in heaven after the rapture of the church. Then immediately after chapter 7, chapter 8 verse 1 should be read as the last verse of chapter 7. I strongly believe that this was a bad chapter break that the scholars inserted.
Revelation 8:1 and when he had opened the seventh seal there was a silence in Heaven about the Space of half an hour. Then, Revelation chapter 19 continues that same heavenly visual from chapter 7.
The Measuring of The Earthly Temple
Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without 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.
Clearly much of revelation chapter.11 is occurring in Israel. So how does this work on a global scale of witnesses? I do not expect all of the Christians in the world to travel and live in Israel during the tribulation. I do believe that two prominent churches will take a stand in Jerusalem during this time period, as in the two remaining churches who’s lamp stands we not removed. One church representing the gentile nations of the world, and the other church being made up of Jews who have came to the faith. We, the rest of the body will stand with them in spirit and minister to those on our own soil. Perhaps, the measuring of the temple is to set boundaries of protection for the true believers during the tribulation. The 42 months given to the nations to trample the cities made holy by the presence of the temple in Jerusalem. My over hope is this event will finally end the divisiveness that is in the body of Christ today. No more, separation of Baptist, Pentecost, Methodist, Church of Christ etc. The hopeful ending of denominations, and finally a full unity of the Body of Christ.
Conclusion
It seems that once the two witnesses are identified, the entire book of Revelation evolves around them, and all the events seem to falls into place. The repented and un-repented going through the final trials that are ultimately building up to the main event of the revealing of Jesus Christ. My personal greatest concern is the five other churches, and what happens to them? Paul tells us 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that our gathering up together will not occur until two things happen first; the apostasy or the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed. I’ve heard many teachers simply get this wrong and suggest that those two things occur after the rapture of the church. They say there are no prerequisites to the rapture. Because Jesus says “always be watching and waiting, be ready”. Jesus also says, “when you begin to see these things, your redemption is near”. Most definitely we should always be ready, for we do not know when our last breath will be. Anyone could die at any point in time, and no one can afford to die in his or her falling state. With that being said, I do not fear the man of sin being revealed. I do fear the apostasy from the faith. I ask myself what could cause the apostasy of the church? When the tribulation begins and no one is raptured. The man of sin shows up doing signs and great wonders, and many are deceived into a lie. Perhaps many Christians will think that the preachers and teachers got it wrong about the rapture, and that maybe even the bible is wrong, and some guy shows up saying, “peace be with you, I’m your savior”. And they’ll fall from grace by leaving the true faith and following the anti-Christ. Nowhere at any point does Jesus ever say things will be easy and at the end Ill come back and get you before bad stuff happens. If I’m expecting to through the worst of the worst and my faith is strong and I fully trust God to see me through to end, then nothing can break me. And, if I’m completely wrong, and if there is a rapture of the church before the tribulation occurs, I will be more grateful for the escape. But if my expectation were to be pulled out of danger and to never assume that I may be called to die for my faith, as if I was left behind and God forgot about me, what would be of my faith then? Will I be that evil servant in the parable in Matthew 24:48-51. The return of Jesus Christ is our blessed hope, and yet we should still be prepared and have enough faith to die for him. As a church are we willing and ready to die for Jesus? Revelation 12 (9-12) 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Therefore, we should look forward to the 70th week. We will also have a short time. The last opportunity to go our and witness for Jesus Christ. An all hands on deck scenario, one last push for the kingdom.
Revelation Study Tool 