When was the last time you used your yellow tape measure? Probably when you were planning to remodel a part of your house or build an annexe like a tool shed or garage. In his final vision before the sounding of the seventh trumpet, John was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. God is building His temple on the rock that is made up of His people, and is asking John to measure the length and breadth of this new establishment.
John was asked to exclude measuring the outer courts of the temple, for it had been given to the unbelievers who would trample on the holy city for three and a half years. God is separating His people from the unrepentant generations. The time for harvest is drawing near and the weeds need to be separated from the wheat (Matthew 13:24-29).
…exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
Revelation 11:2 (NIV)
The ‘holy city’ from John’s vision is believed by some to be the first-century Jerusalem which was invaded and destroyed by the Roman Empire. However, it might be alluding to a future tribulation that the people of God would face which may or may not be restricted to three and a half years. While the number seven is symbolic of completion, three and a half years might mean an incomplete amount of time during which God would appoint His witnesses to prophesy to the people.
The Two Witnesses
And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”
Revelation 11:3-4 (NIV)
The two witnesses dressed in sackcloth would testify about Jesus for forty-two months, the same amount of the time the holy city would be under siege. From King David to the citizens of Nineveh, putting on sackcloth was a sign of humility as the people called out to God. The two witnesses are compared to a pair of olive trees and lampstands that stand firm before God. The lampstand from John’s earlier vision symbolised the church of Christ. The olive trees are a source of oil and when connected with the lampstands, could provide them a source of neverending fuel to light up the two lamps.
“I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
Zechariah 4:2-3 (NIV)
While the identity of the witness has not been revealed to John, many believe that these witnesses would be someone similar to Moses and Elijah. With fire coming from their mouths and the power to stop the rain, they had the power to bring upon this earth the plagues that were witnessed in the days of Israel’s exile in Egypt. Moses was given the laws that guided the nation of Israel and Elijah was a mighty prophet who asked God to hold back the rainwaters for three years.
Furthermore, Moses and Elijah were the men Peter supposedly saw on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. This leads many to speculate that the two witnesses will be someone in the line of Moses and Elijah. However, the vision of the two witnesses could simply be symbolic of the fulfilment of the laws and the prophecies before the coming of God’s kingdom.
Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city —which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.
Revelation 11:7-8 (NIV)
In the Old Testament, Jerusalem is often compared with Sodom and Egypt due to its fall from grace. However, the term great city is used to symbolise a city as corrupt as the mighty city of Babylon. Devoured by the beast that came out of the Abyss, the bodies of the two witnesses were laid bare in the heart of the city for everyone to mock and ridicule. For half a week, the bodies of the martyrs lay in plain view and they were refused even a proper burial as the inhabitants of the earth gloat over their fate.
The Breath of Life
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.
Revelation 11:10-11 (NIV)
The people were tormented by the prophecies of these two witnesses as it would cut their souls like a double-edged sword. Their call for repentance would have invoked massive guilt among the people as satan tried his best to keep his stronghold on their lives. This would have tormented the people as the message of the cross is torturing the evil one and those by his side. Jesus taught us through the parable of the sower that not every ground will be able to or even ready to accept God’s seeds as they have hardened their hearts.
However, seeing evil triumph over God’s witnesses, gave them assurance in their own ways. Similarly, when Jesus spoke against the Jewish leaders, they would have been convicted but their desire to hold on to their power made them ignore their inner transformation. Seeing Jesus on the cross would have vindicated them as they could literally go back to their traditions, the festival of Passover. As it was with His Son, God raised up His witnesses at the end of the week by breathing His Spirit into them. Terror struck the onlookers when similar events that followed Jesus’ crucifixion unfolded.
At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:13 (NIV)
Seeing the slain witnesses of God rise and stand up on their feet, sent shock waves throughout the great city, both literally and figuratively. The people who refused to repent finally gave glory out of sheer fear. It seems a reactionary and a momentary change of heart than actual repentance. They were only repenting because they were witnesses to the deadly consequences of their calloused hearts that were not accepting the testimony of the two witnesses. God does not delight in our glory if it’s driven out of fear but is pleased when we put our trust in Him and in His plan for our lives.
Thy Kingdom Come
In a glorious symphony, the seventh angel trumpeted, and the resounding voices of heaven echoed with undeniable joy, proclaiming that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Son, as He begins to rule forever. The twenty-four elders, seated on their majestic thrones before the Almighty, humbly prostrated themselves and wholeheartedly worshipped God singing,
We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,the One who is and who was,because you have taken your great powerand have begun to reign.
Revelation 11:17 (NIV)
Since the Lord has begun to reign, they omit the last line of their earlier song, the one who is to come, as God’s reign had begun. There awaits a moment of reckoning for the departed souls. It is a time of celebration, as the faithful prophets and humble followers who hold God’s name in the highest regard shall receive their well-deserved rewards. Furthermore, those who have caused harm to His followers and refused to acknowledge His name will face their ultimate judgment.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.
Revelation 11:19 (NIV)
Like He did with His Two witnesses, God renews us by breathing His Spirit into us. Just like the two witnesses, we must become a lamp with a neverending supply of olive oil that shines brightly as a testimony for His name. And when the day of our Lord comes, we hope to be standing before His altar in heaven, singing His praises for all the days of our lives.
Discussion Questions
- Who are the two witnesses and what is their purpose?
- Why describe them as a pair of olive trees and lampstands?
- Why were the bodies of the two witnesses left in the public square to be ridiculed by the onlookers?
- How did the two witnesses torment the people?
- Will the people finally repent before the coming of God’s kingdom?
The Jordan Valley 
Reply