Revelation 11:1-6 NKJV – Then 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. 3 “And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands 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 that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
V1 “Then 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.” This is the third temple and is the one that the antiChrist Temple defiles in the Tribulation. Israel did not build it for that reason, but the antiChrist usurped God by walking into the Holy of Holies and proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 8:8-14, and Matthew 24:15). The measuring rod is according to John Gill: “A measuring reed, which with the Jews was six cubits long, Ezekiel 40:5; with the Greeks and Romans, ten feet long.” 10 cubits = 15 feet/~4.5 meters. There are 4 Jewish temples: 1) Solomon’s, 2) Zerubbabel’s (Haggai 1:8, etc.), 3) Tribulation (this one), and 4) Messiah’s (Zechariah 14:16 and Ezekiel 40-44). The altar refers to the altar of incense that is in the Holy Place and in front of the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Warren W. Wiersbe writes: “The place is Jerusalem, and the time is the first half of the Tribulation. Israel is worshiping again at its restored temple, built under the protection of the Antichrist, whose true character has not yet been revealed. To spiritualize Revelation 11:1-2 and make the temple refer to the church creates a number of serious problems. For one thing, how could John measure an invisible body of people, even if the church were still on Earth? If the temple is the church, then who are the worshipers, and what is the altar? And since the church unites Jews and Gentiles in one body (Ephesians 2:11), why are the Gentiles segregated in this temple? It seems wisest to interpret this temple as an actual building in the holy city of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1, Nehemiah 11:18; Daniel 9:24).”
V2 “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.” John was to measure the Holy Place only. This is referred to in Forty-two is 1260 days (the prophetic year is 360 days). The Gentiles (unbelievers in this case) defile the Temple because they are evil and worshiping the antiChrist.
Utley writes: “”the court which is outside the temple.” This concept of the outer court refers historically to the court of the Gentiles in Herod’s Temple. There are several OT allusions to the idea of Jerusalem and the Temple being trodden down by Gentiles (cf. Psalm 79:1-7; Isaiah 63:18; Daniel 8:13; Zechariah 12:3 in the Septuagint).”
V3 “And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” The two witnesses have been identified in a number of ways. Most agree that one is Elijah (Malachi 4:5) and either Moses (based on the miracles God gave him authority to do) or Enoch, who never died. All are required to die (Hebrews 9:27) except those at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:50-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16) and end of the Millennium. The purpose of the two witnesses is to bring revival to the world, especially to Israel.
V4 “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.” Zechariah 4:14 is similar, but there the two olive trees are Joshua and Zerubbabel, the High Priest during the second temple rebuilding and government leader, respectively. Olive trees supply food and oil, lampstands supply light. They are symbolic for preaching and teaching God’s Gospel, His way of life, and living it as light to the world.
V5 “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.” The ability and authority to do these miracles. I would think at such a display all would repent and put their faith in Jesus, the only Messiah. The miracles done by the False Prophet are lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:29, Exodus 7:22, Matthew 24:24, and Revelation 13:13). When God commissions believers, they are given all they need to complete their ministry and cannot die until their ministry is over. The total time of their ministry is 1260 prophetic days (based on 360 days a year), which is 42 months/3.5 years. We know that “fire from their mouth” is symbolic because no human can do this. It refers to God giving them authority to call fire down from heaven (2 Kings 1:10-14).
Keathley writes: “”For twelve hundred and sixty days.” In Scripture, a prophetic year is 360 days. Thus, the 1260 days equals three and a half years–exactly half of the seven-year Tribulation. The big question is in which portion of the Tribulation do they minister, the first half, last half, or in a portion of each? Many try to place their ministry in the first half, but there are a number of reasons that seem to favor the last half instead.”
This is a summary of Keathley’s reasons why the two witnesses are ministering in the last half of the Tribulation:
• Immediately after this teaching regarding their ministry, there is the announcement of the third woe and the seventh trumpet (cf. Rev 11:14-15).
• The two witnesses pour out judgment on any who would attempt to harm them (Rev 11:5).
• The hideous acts of Rev 11:9-10 also seem to fit better with the character of the last half of the Tribulation with the lawlessness of the beast and his system and the worship of Satan (Rev 13:4).
• The reaction of men in Rev 13:13 with mankind terrified and giving glory to God also better fits the very end of the Tribulation than the middle or even somewhat later in the seven-year period.
• There seems to be a natural sequence and tie between Rev 11:1-3. In Rev 11:1-2 we see the temple that is to be measured.
For a complete explanation see J. Hampton Keathley III – Studies in Revelation note on Revelation 11:5
V6 “These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.” These miracles are to authenticate their ministry. They will be real, consistent, and understood by the masses of whom most will reject the Gospel that these two witnesses preach.
They will bring miraculous punishments by speaking it in God’s name (Exodus 9:23 and 1 Samuel 12:18). They will stop rainfall, turn water into blood, and bring plagues on the earth as often as they wish.
God and these witnesses want repentance and people trusting in Jesus as THE Messiah, especially Israel.
We learn:
- God knows the future
- What God commissions no one can stop until the ministry is over
- God judges sin