The interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets continues. The Revelation is aeries of scenes which move and shift, not a chronological time line. Remember, no time exists in the eternal world of the spirit. This chapter is a trip back to the Church before the catching away, and a closer view of the revival prior to the trumpets. Refer to Revelation 8:6-12. The catching away of the Church is about to come, and we are looking at Revelation from the Church’s point of view, the physical side of the veil, rather than prophecy to be fulfilled.
Verses one through fourteen are tied together as a series of interrelated events. These events are as follows:
1. Measuring of the Church – verse one
2. World-wide revival – verses three through six
3. Persecution caused by the revival – verse seven
4. The assumed defeat of the Church – verses seven through ten
5. The resurrection of the Church – verses eleven and twelve
6. Witnesses are caught to heaven – verse twelve
God’s Holy Temple
Revelation 11
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
In verse one, the temple represents the Church, the bride of Christ. God is testing her to find if she measures up to His expectations. She must be ready; prepared for the wedding to His Son, the Bridegroom. (Esther 2:9-13, Matthew 25:1-13) An important job lies ahead for her (starting in verse three), and she must be ready.
In verse two, the angel told John to leave out the outer courts; no need to measure them. They represent the unsaved world outside the Church. The gentiles will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. Gentiles are symbolic of the unclean, unsaved, and ungodly; those without a covenant with God.
Forty-two months is forty plus two
Forty is the number of universal probation and testing. (Ten, four times)
Two is the number of witness
In Genesis chapter seven (Noah’s ark), God sent the rain upon the earth for forty days. Here in verse two, God is placing mankind on probation. He is not willing any should be lost. Their testing will be a witness to themselves. They will be given the truth of the gospel and the things of the spirit to taste and see. (Verses three through six) But they choose to tread the things of God underfoot, belittling them and persecuting the messengers. (Verses seven through ten) They fail their probation, and the end will soon come for them.
The Two Witnesses
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophecy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Some teach the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. Elijah went to heaven alive (he was raptured, caught up by chariot). He can come back. Moses died and went to heaven. He can’t come back until all the dead in Christ rise. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Elijah, a man with a powerful anointing for miracles, caused drought and rain, and brought people back from the dead. (1 Kings 17:19-22) Moses walked as close to God as any in the bible. His face shone with the shekinah glory of God’s presence. These characteristics are the spirits the witnesses will posses. The power the two witnesses receive is shown in the next section. In the spirit, the two witnesses represent the Church. This will be supported as we proceed through the chapter.
Two is the number of witness. (Not the number of witnesses.) They will prophecy for one thousand two hundred and sixty-two days. This is the same amount of time as forty-two months in verse two, but the number is different. Therefore, the meaning is also different.
1000 = 10 X 10 X 10 or ten three times, the divine completion of ten, the number of restoration, completed trial and completed testing.
200 = 2 X 10 X 10 Two is the number of witness or separation. Two hundred represents witnessing of the trial and testing.
62 = 10 X 6 + 2 Six is the number of man. Sixty-two (6X10+2) symbolizes the testing of man will be witnessed.
This set of numbers symbolizes the perfect and complete (three) amount of time, or the completion and restoration (ten) of God’s plan for mankind (six). The number two appears because this will be a time of witness by the Church. This witness will be used in the judgement process.
Also, mankind is being weighed (ten) in the balance and found wanting. God will separate them (two) as goats from the sheep. Matthew 25:31-33
The time span in verse two is the same as verse three. The witnesses work for the same amount of time as Jerusalem is trampled underfoot. Jerusalem is symbolic of the Church. Here, the ungodly will trample the Church (verse two) because of their testimony. However, while this persecution is going on, the Church’s witness will come to the fore through God’s power. The word used here for power is the Greek exousia, meaning authority. In Matthew 7:29, Jesus preached the word with authority (exousia). The harder the ungodly stomp, the louder will be the Church’s witness. Persecution does that.
The Church will be clothed in sackcloth, and will mourn in public for the lost during this time. God will give power to His witnesses; a special dispensation of power to do signs and wonders to prove God’s presence to the most hardened sinners. It will be the same exousia Michael and his angels have. We will tread on serpents for the benefit of our witness.
Luke 10:19
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
Notice, the miracles in verse six (plague, blood, weather events) are the same as Moses used in Egypt. These witnesses are the two lamp stands standing before God. Refer to Revelation 1:12-13.
In our study, numbers are important. In Revelation chapter one, Jesus stands in the midst of seven lamp stands. Seven is the number of completion. These represent the complete Church.
Here in chapter eleven, the lamp stands remain symbolic for the Church, but the number is different. Two is the number of witness. Here, the two lamp stands, the two witnesses, are the witnessing church. The word witness is the Greek word martus: a spectator, or one who proves his strength of faith to the point of martyrdom.
Olive trees are symbolic of anointing and life in the Holy Spirit. Again, two is the number of witness. The church will witness in two ways:
The miracle-working power of Elijah. (God’s authority)
The testimony of God’s anointing in their lives. (Holy Spirit)
What follows in the next two verses is a picture of the power available to the church in the last days. In reality, we should be observing this miraculous power in the Church today. But alas; we are a spotted bride, and not self-assured in our position in Christ.
Verse five tells us fire devours their enemies. Fire represents judgement.
(2 Kings 1:10) As the church witnesses and shares the Gospel, the ungodly will be judged and condemned by their attitude toward the truth. Rather than repent, they are consumed by bitterness and hatred. If anyone tries to persecute or harm the Church during this time, we are only to speak the gospel to them in love. Their own consciences will judge them, and they will be consumed by their own hatred.
These witnesses demonstrate the exousia to shut up heaven so no rain falls.
(1 Kings 17:1) As Jesus exercised His power over the wind and sea, so the Church will exercise power over drought and rain. This is a miraculous sign for the unbeliever.
But the meaning is deeper. Rain is symbolic for the falling of the latter rain, the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (1 Samuel 10:6,10) When the spirit falls, He brings miraculous signs; people repent, are born again, and are healed of their afflictions. These witnesses will call down the Holy Spirit’s presence to heal and work other wonders, bringing people to salvation.
They will also be given power over the waters. First, power, exousia, (authority) to shut up the heavens. Then, power (dunamis) to work miracles over water and plagues, much as Moses over Egypt. Dunamis is God’s miraculous power. It is the Greek word from which we get our word dynamite.
Refer to Acts 1:7-8. In verse seven, the word used for power is exousia. Verse eight uses dunamis. Compare Revelation 11:6 with Exodus chapters 7–12.
There is a lot going on in this chapter. Part one takes place on the physical side of the veil. In part two, we will meet the beast.