According To The Scriptures:

REVELATION 11

ISRAEL REBUILDS THE TEMPLE

(Black: Scripture)

(Red: Jesus)

(Blue: E. L. Johns)

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 (Rev. 11:1-2).

Divide 12 months into 42 months = 3 ½ years.

27 And he [the man of sin] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he [the man of sin] shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Dan. 9:27).

When the Lord comes in the air and catches up His faithful church members (I Thess. 4:13-18), the world will be left without a governing body to rule the world. At that time, a man will appear that, according to him, has all of the answers politically and religiously; but he is a raiser of taxes (Dan. 11:20), a vile person (Dan. 11:21), and he will obtain the kingdom by flatteries (Dan. 11:21). He makes an agreement with Israel and allows Israel to build again a temple that will replace the one destroyed by Titus in A.D. 70. When the temple is finished, after 3 ½ years (42 months -- Rev. 11:2), he stands in the Holy Place (Matt. 24:15). He exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (II Thess. 2:4). Israel is told to flee.

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Matt. 24:16). 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21).

The end of the tribulation will be signalled by the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.

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. (Matt. 24:30). 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Heb. 9:28).

Compare this coming to I Thess. 4:13-18 where we meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:17). Here nothing is said about sending angels. Here nothing is said about people of the earth mourning. Why? Because, in I Thess. 4:13-18, it is a happy time for all that are saved and are faithful. Everyone that is looking for Him will dress right, be faithful, prayerful, and busy witnessing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and it will be a joy to see my Saviour whom I long to see. Sometimes you hear people say, "We preach the Book, the Blood, and the Blessed Hope." I preach the Book, the Blood, and the Blessed Assurance!

2 ...we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (I John 3:2).

Hallelujah!!! We don't hope, wish, or think -- we know! The end of the church on earth must be near and the building of the temple will begin.

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching... (Luke 12:35-37).

Every prophecy that I know of concerning the coming of Christ for His Bride has been fulfilled.

...Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

Most of the rest of the book of Revelation, until we come to the end of the 19^th chapter, will be dealing with the last half of the tribulation or "the tribulation the great".

WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES?

The answer to this question is so plain and simple that I thank God for revealing the answer in the Holy Bible. These I have heard and read: Enoch, Moses, Elijah, the church, and revived Israel. We will consider each one and see what the Bible says. There are two of the Witnesses and they will prophesy 3 ½ years (divide 12 into 42 months = 3 ½ years). This is how long the last half of the 7-year tribulation will be.

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.

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.

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 (Rev. 11:3-12).

So here we have:

Two Witnesses.
Two olive trees.
Two candlesticks.
Two prophets.

We will now use the process of elimination to identify the Two Witnesses.

Is Enoch one of the Two Witnesses? No! "...for God took him" (Gen. 5:24).

"5 ...Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: ..." (Heb. 11:5).

So where God is, that is where Enoch is. "God is in heaven" (Eccl. 5:2).

Enoch is eliminated as one of the Two Witnesses. The Two Witnesses die -- and Enoch cannot die because God translated him!

Is Moses one of the Two Witnesses? Moses is eliminated as one of the Two Witnesses because Moses died (Deut. 34:5). Heb. 9:27: "...it is appointed unto men once to die"; therefore, Moses is eliminated as one of the Two Witnesses because he has already died.

Is Elijah one of the Two Witnesses? Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (II Kings 2:11), so Elijah has not died and nothing is said about him being translated or changed; therefore, he will die. Elijah was an Old Testament prophet, so he could represent Israel as the true olive tree ( Rom. 11:4). Elijah meets the criteria of the Two Witnesses and, therefore, I believe he is one of the Two Witnesses. The Bible clearly teaches that Elijah will come back.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:5).

Is the church one of the Two Witnesses? No! The church cannot die.

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end" (Eph. 3:21).

"Upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

Is Israel one of the Two Witnesses? Israel is not a prophet and Israel, like the church, cannot die; national Israel will exist forever.

"And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession: and I will be their God" (Gen. 17:8).

The true church and the nation of Israel are eternal. They will not die and do not meet the criteria of the Two Witnesses.

So who is the other Witness? The Bible names the other Witness. It will excite every child of God!

Open your Bible to Rev. 10:11 and Rev. 11:3-12.

As we analyze these verses, notice this powerful verse:

"And He said unto me [John], thou must prophecy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" (Rev. 10:11).

Now compare this to Rev. 11:9: "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" (Rev. 11:9).

But you say, "John died!" Where does the Bible say John died?

The Bible says, "If I will that he tarry [live] till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me" (John 21:22).

"Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die;..." (John 21:23).

In other words, Jesus did not say that John would not die, but that it was none of their business if He willed that John would tarry (live) until He comes.

After the overcomers in the churches are invited to "sit with me in my throne" (Rev. 3:21), John was invited to "come up hither" (Rev. 4:1) "and immediately I was in The Spirit: and behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and one sat on the throne." (Rev 4:2).

So John was taken by the Spirit up into Heaven in his flesh and blood.

But you say John 3:13 says, "and no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but He that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven" (John 3:13).

Notice that Jesus did not say, as most preachers do, that no man can go into Heaven. He said, "No man hath ascended."

Enoch: God took him. (Gen. 5:24)

Elijah: "...went up by a whirlwind." (II Kings 2:11)

John: Was: "in the Spirit." (Rev. 4:2)

While in the body of flesh and blood, anyone going up to Heaven had to be carried by some outside power, but once they have received the resurrected, glorified body, no outside help is needed. For instance, Jesus, after He received His body made alive by The Spirit (no blood) "being put to death in the flesh but quickened (made alive) by The Spirit" (I Pet. 3:18).

He then said in Eph. 4:9 "now that He ascended." To ascend means to go up unaided. Elijah had the use of a whirlwind when in a flesh-and-blood body. John had the use of the Spirit when in a flesh-and-blood body. But, in their resurrected bodies "they ascended," (Rev. 11:12) went up unaided by any outside power. The resurrected, glorified bodies have no limitations. We won't need the expensive fuels of today.

Elijah the Prophet is one of the two olive trees -- the natural olive tree. He represents the Old Testament saints.

John is the wild olive tree and represents the New Testament church made up mainly of Gentiles until now.

These two prophets, as they ascended, represent all children of God in our resurrected bodies.

So many speakers that I have heard speak on the subject of "can the body of flesh and blood go to Heaven" say "No" and then use this verse: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (I Cor. 15:50)

It is one thing to go into a place. It is yet another thing to inherit that place. Notice the scriptures say that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. To me it is so glorious to know that those who receive Jesus' blood as a sacrifice for our sins will receive bodies that will never again have pain, will not die, will never again be separated from our loved ones, friends -- or from our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who could and did pay the price for man's sins. Trust Him by faith and you will have all of the before-mentioned blessings.

At this point in the study of the Book of Revelation, we need to pause and consider in order to understand Revelation Chapter 12 and the remainder of this book. We need to look back to Israel and forward to the “heaven ages“. The Lord’s churches will not be mentioned again until Revelation 19:7 -- and then only as His wife -- because we will be dealing mainly with Israel in this wicked world.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Rev. 11:13)

At the time of this great earthquake, seven thousand men were slain. This happens when Christ comes in the last days of the tribulation. Read Isaiah Chapter 2 carefully and prayerfully.

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:14-15).

Some things need to be understood here. The Lord’s churches are not really the subject of the tribulation and the reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years. The Lord’s churches are caught up to him (I Thess. 4:13-18) and will be kept “from the hour of temptation” (Rev. 3:10). At this point, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up” (Acts 15:16).

It thrills me to see what Jesus can do. He will use the very ruins of David’s tabernacle to build it again. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Where are the churches at this time?

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron.... (Rev. 2:26-27)

The 12 disciples will finally get the thrones promised them:

Matt. 19:28:

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail (Rev. 11:16-19).

What will it be like when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ?

Amos 9:11-15:

11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Isa. 35:1-6:

1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isa. 60:1-5:

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Isa. 65:17-25:

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

If you are not rejoicing by now, repent and trust Jesus to save you, and serve Him! It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. But if a person remains unsaved, it will be terrible to see Jesus. He died for you. Will you accept Him and serve Him?

"Now is the accepted time: Behold now is the day of Salvation."

(II Cor. 6:2)