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Revelation 11:1-14  

The events portrayed in Revelation 11 are, in part, an unsealing and further clarification of Daniel 9:24-27 and the segment of time found there--the 70 Weeks (490 days).  Revelation 11 relates to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple (vs. 1-2), the last-day testimony and final cutting off in death of the two witnesses in the city streets (vs. 3-12) and the demise of Jerusalem's holy site (v. 13) at the end of the age (vs. 14-19).  

In similar manner the 490 day prophecy of Daniel 9 speaks of times and events surrounding Israel and Jerusalem (v. 24), the rebuilding of the Temple (v. 25), the cutting off of God's anointed (v. 26)--in the death of the two witnesses, and the desolation of Jerusalem and Temple Mount at the end of the age (vs. 26-27). 

A decree will be made to rebuild war-torn Jerusalem: "It will be rebuilt with streets and trench, but in times of trouble [during the last days]," Daniel 9:25.  For "sixty-two 'sevens,' [434 days]" the construction will be underway; but in the middle of the last 7 days remaining in the 490 day prophecy, the "anointed one will be cut off and but not for himself," Daniel 9:26 (N.I.V. f26).  

Paul stated that "the one [the anointed] who now holds it [lawlessness] back will continue to do so till he [the Lord, through the person of His anointed witness Elijah] is taken out of the way [martyred].  And then the lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed [by setting himself up in the Temple in Jerusalem], whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow...by the splendor of His coming," 2 Thessalonians 4:7-8.  

Revelation 10 speaks of that future day when the Mighty Seventh Angel will "come down" from Heaven and will stand on both land and sea.  All nature will respond when the Archangel's voice is heard, when His seven thunderous messages resound throughout the earth.  Revelation 11 is a continuation of the parenthesis (clarifying comments) that foretells events that lead up to the seventh trumpet and the Day of the Lord at verse 15, where we once again find the Seventh Angel at work with great voices and the momentous events which follow His loud cry.

The focus of our study is Revelation 11.  After John had just eaten the sweet scroll of lamentations that left him with a sour stomach (10:11), he was given a measuring device and was told to "go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there," (11:1). Measuring denotes judgment, with special attention given to detail and the assessment of the worshipers within the Temple.  

Measuring The Temple

1. What does measuring generally precede?

Measuring precedes construction.  No doubt John understood the Temple which lay in ruins in Jerusalem would one day be rebuilt, at least in part.  Attention would be given to the inner area of the Temple, while the outer court need not be measured for it will be given to the Gentiles.  

After every meal many Jews pray the amidah with the petition added, "May it be Thy will that the Temple be rebuilt soon in our days."  A rebuilt Temple is a sign in Judaism that the Messianic Age is at hand. 

2. Luke wrote, "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled," (21:24).  How long did the prophet John indicate the trampling of Jerusalem by the Gentile army would last (Revelation 11:2)?

The Gentile army will trample on the holy city for 42 months or 1,260 days.  According to Luke 21:24-25, the 1,260 days lead right up to the "signs in the sun, moon and stars and... men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken."  Jews associate the "forty-two" letter Name of God to the following: God at creation, the "visible" revelation of God at Mt. Sinai, the eastern gate, the arrival of the Messiah, and the Shekinah coming to its final destination -- the Tabernacle/Temple in the Land of Jerusalem. Therefore, the 42 months (of 30 days) mark off the prophetic time that Jesus, the Creator, the visible Angel of the Covenant at Mt. Sinai, Messiah ben David, our Shekinah, will arrive from the east to His Temple in Jerusalem to deal with the evil foe who has entered onto the Temple Mount to proclaim Himself "God"--the name the Name of God will be proclaimed in all of His Jubilee glory.

John is told to consider the worshipers, and therefore spiritual insight is also implied in the measurement of the inner Temple, where God works and dwells.  How do worshipers show respect?  As we come into His presence, we need to address Yahweh with an attitude of awe.  The twenty-four elders, representative of the redeemed, fall down with faces to the ground before Almighty.  Even now, bowing in this manner is certainly appropriate in showing the honor the Creator of the universe deserves as we bow in humble prayer.

In addition we need to consider the work of God in the Holy Place during the appointed time.  In prophecy there are distinct activities noted that deserve our attention as well as we assess the inner Temple of God.

3. In studying the events occurring in the Holy Place in Heaven and on earth during the last days, why is our sincere reverence and allegiance towards God especially needful at the end of time (Daniel 7: 9, 10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 26, 27)?

In Heaven the Books of evidence are going to be opened and a very serious end-time courtroom drama will unfold. The Ancient of Days (Father) will sit upon His throne, a court of judgment will be set and books opened. The evidence will show that the Son of Man has the right to the kingdom; but before the final judgment is rendered in favor of the saints, God's people will be persecuted.  However, the court will sit, Antichrist's power will be taken away and destroyed and the kingdom will be given to the saints of the Most High.  

Which side each individual takes in the controversy [taking the mark or not taking the mark, etc.] during the Heavenly judgment will determine that person's standing with God, for our actions speak louder than our words.  Will we trust God to care for us when we can't buy and sell?  Jesus said if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before the Father in Heaven. If we take the mark of the beast, we are admitting we don't have a personal, faith-based relationship with Jesus Christ and are not trusting Him to be our Savior. When Christ returns the separation between saint and sinner will be complete: He will be "judging the dead [those worthy of resurrection]. . . and rewarding . . . your saints and those who reverence [His] name . . . and destroying those who destroy the earth," Revelation 11:18-19. 

4. John was told to also measure the altar (Revelation 11:1); what event will occur at the end of this courtroom drama that involves the altar (Revelation 8:3-5)?

Just as the final prayers of worship are being heard, the guilty verdict will be rendered against Antichrist and his followers, and fire will be taken from the altar to be "hurled" to the earth.  John later saw "huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each" piercing earth's atmosphere in a fiery plague upon mankind.  The verdict of the courtroom drama then becomes living reality on earth, and the seven angels will be released with God's trumpet and vial plagues.