Revelation 11 The Two Witnesses

Verse 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. Verse 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.

So we see that the temple of God has been rebuilt. It is a fixture in the city which can be measured. We also see that the court that is without the temple is given unto the Gentiles and they shall tread upon the holy city for forty two months or three and a half years.

Just recently, a Muslim scholar has called for a Jewish place of worship on the temple mount. Jews have been banned from praying on the Temple Mount due to pressure and threats from Muslim groups.

Salafi cleric Sheikh Yassin Al-Ajlouni says allowing a place of worship on the Temple Mount would not entail harming of the Al Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. The part of the courtyard where there are trees would be given to the Israelites for prayer.

Jewish activists have no interest in the mosque. It's outside of the Temple Mount! Ramat Gan's Chief Rabbi Ya'akov Ariel says that the mosque itself stands outside of the sanctified areas of the Temple Mount. It is a part of the wider complex though. So it can be understood how the court which is without the temple can be given unto the Gentiles:

Verse 3.. And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Verse 4.. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 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. Verse 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.

In verse three we find that the two witnesses shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days or three and a half years and if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. It seems inconceivable that the Gentiles would be able to have their way in the holy city as long as these two witnesses are around. But in verse seven, the time of the witness comes to an end. The beast that comes out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 13:5 tells us that this beast has power to continue forty and two months or three and a half years. These facts lead us to believe that the first half of the tribulation period or three and a half years will be a time when the beast and his antichrist are coming to power. They will not have full power because of the two prophets.

The inauguration day will be right in the middle of the tribulation period. Matthew 24:15 "When you see the abomination of desolation , spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" and 2 Thessalonians 2:3 &; 4 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" These verses describe this event. He will murder the two witnesses and make war with the saints and overcome them.

Antichrist comes into full power right around the time of the third and final woe which is revealed when the seventh trumpet sounds. These are the final bowl judgments.

So a celebration begins. Verse 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." But the party comes to an end. Verse 11.. "After three and a half days the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them." Verse 12.. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up here! And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them." Verse 13.. "And the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain seven thousand men besides women and children: and the remnant were frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven." Verse 14.. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

This second woe began with the sixth trumpet Rev 9:13 and ends with the resurrection of the two prophets. They could very well have a hand in the plaque of the 200,000,000 horsemen. The prophets are able to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will. Rev. 11:6

The first woe started back in Rev. 9:1 with the locusts. The final woe is revealed when the seventh trumpet sounds and reveals the seven bowls.

Verse 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." Verse 16.. And the twenty four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, Verse 17.. Saying "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

So the inauguration of the beast and his Antichrist is marred with this opposing statement from heaven. His three and a half years of glory will be visited with the bowl judgments that are revealed during the sounding of the seventh angel.

Verse 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." 

Verse 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.