Understanding the Second Coming: The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11 is a continuation of chapter 10. John has been given a
mandate for God’s people. Though they have gone through a bitter
disappointment, they “must prophesy again” (Revelation 10:11).
The 2300 prophetic days equaling 2300 literal years pointed
unquestionably to the incarnation of Christ, “the mystery of godliness”
(1 Timothy 3:16). It opened to us His anointing, His death, the
end of the earthly sanctuary system and Israel’s rejection of the gospel
as a nation. It also took us to the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary
and the final work of intercession by Christ in behalf of mankind (see
Daniel 8:14; Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:23-28). Soon the eternal destiny of
every soul will be decided. The world must be given the final warning.
The history of the church is now recounted. Terrible apostasy and
the sure results of rejecting the Bible are brought to the prophet’s view
in this chapter. The testimony of God’s Word is recorded in the context
of coming judgment that all who would might be warned.
A Reed Like Unto a Rod
The reed given to John is a measuring device. Today we have
many standards by which we measure people, like wealth, intellect,
race, etc. The Bible reveals one absolute rule by which our actions
will be weighed for eternity. It is God’s standard of love revealed in
His law (see Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:10). The reed by which
the temple of God, the altar and them that worship therein are measured
is the law of God (see 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Romans 7:7, 12). “If
ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye
commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of
all. . . . So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of
liberty” (James 2:8-10, 12). The first to be measured by this standard is
the “temple of God” (Revelation 11:1).
Measure the Temple of God
The temple of God is the place where God Himself sits enthroned. God
is the source of all life, who gives “to all life and breath, and all things”
(Acts 17:25). He is the Author of all faith, and “hath dealt to every man the
measure of faith” (Romans 12:3; Hebrews 12:2). He is the source of all
light and “lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). “God
is love” and He loves the “world” (1 John 4:8; John 3:16). He has revealed
“His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us” (Romans 5:8). Through this manifestation of His love, He “will
draw all men unto” Himself (see John 12:32). “The grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). And so the
Bible says that Christ is “the Savior of all men, specially of those that
believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).
The temple is to be measured. This means that we are to measure the
love of God. We are to understand that “God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Looking beyond the pain and curse of
sin, we are to measure a God who “was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). In
the midst of the conflict between good and evil, every act and every purpose
of God will be measured by all the universe. In the history of nations God’s
character will stand true when measured by the standard of love.
Measure the Altar
Next, a similar command is given to John to “measure . . . the altar”
(Revelation 11:1). There are two altars referred to in the Bible, both having
prophetic significance. One is the altar of sacrifice representing the
cross where Christ gave His life for mankind (see Hebrews 13:10-15).
This points to the great gift of Christ for the redemption of the world. The
other is the altar where Christ now mediates in the heavenly sanctuary in
behalf of the world (see Revelation 8:3-5; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).
Measuring the altar means that we are to comprehend “the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height and to know the love of Christ” (Ephesians
3:18-19). We are to see the life and death, the resurrection and intercession
of Christ in our behalf. The love of Christ is to be measured;
and when it is measured, it will be seen that we have a Savior who has
redeemed us from the effects and results of sin. He is One who can save
to the uttermost, One who ever lives to make intercession for us (see
Hebrews 7:25).
Measure Them That Worship Therein
John is told to measure “them that worship therein” (Revelation
11:1). This points to all who profess faith in Christ. All who profess to
be His followers, to love Him, will be measured by the standard of love.
Christ says, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” and “Love is the
fulfilling of the law” (John 14:15; Romans 13:10). To measure the temple
is to measure God’s love. To measure the altar is to measure Christ’s love.
To measure “them that worship therein” is to measure our love (see Revelation
11:1). And to measure our love is to look for Christ in us, the hope
of glory which is the finishing of “the mystery of God” (Revelation 10:7;
Colossians 1:26-27).
Do Not Measure the Court
John is then told not to measure the court, which is without the
temple (see Revelation 11:2). The court is given unto the Gentiles or
nations. In the New Testament the great temple in Jerusalem included a
large outer court for devout Gentiles who desired to worship God. This
was separated by a low wall from inner courts where only Jews were
allowed (see Ephesians 2:14). The fact that those in the court are not
measured is definitely a negative. As in the Jerusalem temple, these may
refer to Gentiles who profess devotion to God. Yet in Revelation 11:2
their actions condemn them. They tread the “holy city” underfoot for
forty and two months” (Revelation 11:2). The treading underfoot of the
holy city is very similar language to Daniel 7:7 and it infers persecution.
Forty and Two Months
Forty-two months are equal to 1260 days given the biblical rule of 30
days to a month. Applying the day-for-a-year principle, we find Revelation
11 pointing to a 1260-year period. In this time the Gentiles, professed
followers of God, tread underfoot the holy city (persecute God’s
faithful followers). This infers a period of persecution during which
God’s witnesses were to prophesy in sackcloth (see Revelation 11:2-3).
42 prophetic months
x 30 days in a month
1260 prophetic days
1260 prophetic days = 1260 literal years
The Two Witnesses
The two witnesses are the Word of God, both the Old and the New
Testament. Christ said of the Old Testament Scriptures, “It is they that
bear witness to Me” (John 5:39; RSV). At this time the New Testament
had not yet been written. Then, in the Olivet discourse, He said, “And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). This was
more specifically talking of the message of His first advent and sacrifice
for us as outlined in the New Testament. Revelation 11 shows that God
gives power to His two witnesses, to the Old and the New Testaments of
the Bible, and they bear a message to all the nations of the love and truth
of our Creator.
John was also told that these were “the two olive trees and two lampstands
which stand before the Lord of the earth” (Revelation 11:4, RSV).
Olive trees were the primary source of fuel for lamps in Bible times.
Psalm 119:105 refers to the olive oil lamp as a symbol for the Bible when
it says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” This
means that during this period of 1260 years the Bible would stand forth
to the nations as a witness to the truth.
Clothed in Sackcloth
In the Bible sackcloth has at least two important representations. One
is repentance for evil or sin (see Jonah 3:5-9; Matthew 11:21). The other
is affliction, persecution, physical suffering and the loss of loved ones
(see Job 16:15). The two witnesses prophesying in “sackcloth” symbolize
a message of repentance for sin. And this message is given in a time of
affliction and persecution brought on by those who oppose God’s Word.
An illustration of this persecution is mentioned in verse 10 of Revelation
chapter 11. Those who are tormented by the message of the Bible,
the Old and New Testaments, rejoiced over the harm that came upon
God’s people who faithfully shared the gospel truth. It says in this verse
that they were “merry” and sent “gifts one to another because these two
prophets tormented them” (Revelation 11:10). A striking fulfillment of
this was seen in the account of the St. Bartholomew Massacre. On the
night of August 24, 1572, Protestants by the thousands slept in France,
with their trust in the king, when without warning they were dragged
from their beds and murdered in cold blood.
“When the news of the massacre reached Rome, the exultation
among the clergy knew no bounds. The cardinal of Lorraine rewarded the
messenger with a thousand crowns; the cannon of St. Angelo thundered
forth a joyous salute; the bells rang out from every steeple; bonfires
turned night into day; and Gregory XIII, attended by the cardinals and
other ecclesiastical dignitaries, went in long procession to the church
of St. Louis, where the cardinal of Lorraine chanted a Te Deum. . . .
A medal was struck to commemorate the massacre, and in the Vatican
may still be seen three frescoes of Vasari, describing the attack upon
the admiral, the king in council plotting the massacre, and the massacre
itself. Gregory sent Charles the golden rose; and four months after the
massacre, . . . he listened complacently to the sermon of a French priest,
. . . who spoke of ‘that day so full of happiness and joy, when the most
holy father received the news, and went in solemn state to render thanks
to God and St. Louis’” (Henry White, The Massacre of St. Bartholomew,
chapter 14, 1871).
They Have Power to Send Plagues
Revelation 11:5-6 says that if any would hurt the two witnesses, they
would be hurt by fire and plagues. Revelation 22:18 gives the needed
insight when it warns, “Everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues
described in this book” (RSV). In other words, those who “hurt” the two
witnesses by changing or undermining their message would receive the
plagues of Revelation.
Backing up this warning is the statement, “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” (Revelation 11:6). This is a direct
reference to the Old Testament record of Moses and Elijah who, when
directed by God’s Word, brought plagues and drought upon the earth
(see Exodus 7:20; 1 Kings 17:1). Thus the power of the two witnesses
is demonstrated.
Throughout the Dark Ages these two witnesses faithfully bore testimony
to the true God. Though the Bible was prescribed and those who
dared to read it were persecuted and killed, the light shone still. Turning
from the light of Bible truth brought in its train intellectual and moral
darkness. This resulted in plagues, wars, and bloodshed.
The judgment of fire, spoken of in Revelation 11:5, will find its ultimate
fulfillment in the destruction of the wicked (see Revelation 20:9). It
is yet to come upon those who hurt God’s witnesses during this prophetic
time period.
The Beast Out of the Bottomless Pit
The two witnesses were to testify for a period of 1260 literal years.
This period began in 538 A.D. This date marks the rise of papal Rome
and a time of spiritual darkness through which the Bible was to shine
amidst the development of error. During the following 1260 years much
of the persecution came against God’s Word by professed Christians.
But now, at the close of their time of testimony, as the light of the reformation
began to grow brightly, another power would arise.
When they “finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of
the bottomless pit” was to “make war against them” and “overcome them,
and kill them” (Revelation 11:7). A beast in the Bible represents a power
or kingdom (see Daniel 7:17, 23). This power ascending from the bottomless
pit, and the time frame being 1798, points to the rise of atheism. The
fulfillment of this prophetic prediction is found in the history of France.
During the period 1793-1798 the French Revolution occurred. Religion
was despised and the goddess of reason set up. The Bible was tossed into
the street, and burned in great heaps. In this manner it lay “dead” in the
street for “three days and an half” (Revelation 11:8-9); that is, three and
one-half prophetic days equaling three and one-half literal years.
“The licentiousness of Sodom in the days of Lot, was repeated in
France, especially in her capital. The gross idolatry of Egypt, with its
proverbial darkness, was to be found again in modern France. As the
Jews, by rejecting the Word of God sent by the prophets, severed their
connection with heaven and crucified their Lord, so France repeated
the sin, and crucified again the Son of God” (The Story of the Seer of
Patmos, Stephen Haskell, p. 201).
The Great City
“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” (Revelation 11:8). France had professed to be a Christian
nation, but it now boldly turns from God to “kill” His faithful witnesses.
In this way they “commit apostasy.” Describing those who turn from
the Bible, the apostle Paul says that “they crucify the Son of God on
their own account and hold Him up to contempt” (Hebrews 6:6, RSV).
As a nation France represented “the tenth part of the city” (Revelation
11:13). Though more blatant than its counterparts, France was one of ten nations “making up that great city Babylon”. Revelation 18:10.
In the Old Testament book of Daniel, the literal nation of Babylon
represented a nation with four characteristics:
1) It professed faith in God (see Daniel 2:46-47).
2) Yet it changed or distorted the truth of God’s Word (see Daniel 2:32-
33; 3:3).
3) Then it forced people to worship according to this change of God’s
Word (see Daniel 3:5).
4) If any refused to acknowledge and worship, they would be killed (see
Daniel 3:6).
These characteristics were seen in the nations of Western Europe during
the 1260 years of persecution against the two witnesses. The truth of
God’s Word had been changed by a power who professed faith in God.
Multitudes of people were forced to worship according to the dictates of
this power. In the 1260 years during which the two witnesses prophesied
in sackcloth, millions who refused to go along with changes in Christian
teaching and practice lost their lives.
This Bible prophecy reveals the ultimate consequence of changing
God’s Word. As Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind for seven years and
became as a wild beast of the field, so France, for three and one-half
years, reaped the consequences of apostasy from the truth.
They Ascended Up To Heaven
The “earthquake” of revolution that shook the country of France
caused great fear and terror to come upon the western nations of Europe
(see Revelation 11:11, 13). Many of the most talented of the nation of
France had fallen. Yet through this terrible tragedy life was given to the
Word of God. People saw what happened to a nation which divorced
itself from the Word of God. Bible and tract societies were established
in England and the Bible was resurrected throughout Europe (see Revelation
11:11). Today the Word of God has ascended into the heavens,
beamed through satellites and radio waves, fulfilling the prophecy, “and
they ascended up to heaven in a cloud: and their enemies beheld them”
(Revelation 11:12).
A Closing Thought
The message of Revelation 11:1-13 is a message of judgment. The
inhabitants of the world and all creation are called to judge their Creator
and His great sacrifice. The two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments
of the Bible, bear testimony to God’s character of love. Also we find a
judgment for those who worship God. Their profession is assessed in
relation to His law of love. And finally we find judgment, both immediate
and delayed, revealed against those who trample upon God and His
people. Though it seems for a time that God’s truth is destroyed, it will
triumph still. One day soon every knee will bow “in heaven, and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11, NIV). And as the Word
of God ascends on high, so too will every person who chooses Christ
as the King and Savior ascend with that Word. May we be among that
people. Amen.
Understanding the Second Coming: The Two Witnesses
