CHAPTER TWELVE

 

The Temple and Two Witnesses (11:1-14)

 “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.”  Revelation 11:1

Israel will rebuild their temple in Jerusalem prior to the opening of the first seal. That it “will be built” is a fact of Scripture. Paul’s comforting words to the Thessalonians was that the Day of the Lord had not come during their day. He says, “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 opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).  Before the Antichrist comes and defiles the temple, it must first be rebuilt.

 

Five Jewish temples are mentioned in Scripture:

 

1.   Solomon‘s temple (1 Kings 5-8). It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 583 B.C.

2.  Zerubbabel’s temple (Haggai 1-2; Ezra 3:4-13; Ezra 6:1-22). It was destroyed by Antiochus Epiphanies in 168 B.C.

3.  Herod‘s temple (John 2:19-20; Matthew 24). It was destroyed in AD 70.

4.   The future Jewish temple that could be built any day now and will be desecrated by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:45; Daniel 12:7; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1-2).

5.   The Millennial temple (Ezekiel 40-48; Zech. 6:12-13; see Ezekiel 45:7), which will be built by Christ.

When the seven-year tribulation begins, the temple will already exist and many Jews will worship in it. John is told to measure this temple, the altar, and those who worship therein. The measuring is not for dimension but for judgment. The Jews will be worshiping there, in apostasy, when the abomination spoken of by Daniel takes it over.

This rebuilding of the temple is not an act of righteousness nor is it pleasing to God. See Isaiah 66:3-4, ^“He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” It is further testimony to their rejection of the Messiah and their Scriptures. God will judge the rebellious nation and their temple. As we said, the measuring of the temple, the altar, and the people is for judgment.

When the Antichrist is seen in that temple, it is a sign to the believing Jews to get out of Jerusalem. ^“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:” (Matthew 24:15-20). Some will flee and survive, others will remain, and many will be killed. Today, there are many Jews determined and eager to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

 

Anyone with connection to the World Wide Web can access the Temple Mount Faithful and read their newsletter. You will see a corner stone ready to be laid for the new temple.

The temple that will be built is the one Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:15. “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” The holy place may be within the temple, or it could be the temple site itself. It is believed the Antichrist will enter the temple in the three and one-half year mid-point of The Lord’s Day. (See Daniel 8:9-14; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:45; Daniel 12:1,7,11; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:4-6.)

 

 “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.” (Revelation 11:2).

The temple will be built in troublesome times. The Jews will not be able to take possession of its outer court or the old city of Jerusalem. During the six-day war (June 5-10, 1967), Israel took possession of old Jerusalem, and the place of the temple mount. However, the Jews have not been able to enter the Dome of the Rock nor build their temple on the site. Events will develop which will destroy the Dome of the Rock and a new temple will be built on its site, or the new Temple will be built on a site near the Dome. There will probably be an agreement between the Jews and the Ten Kings, which will allow them to rebuild the temple.

The time of this full takeover by the Antichrist will be at the mid-point of Daniel’s seventieth week. Only three and one-half years of Gentile hostilities against Israel remain from that mid-point.

The Antichrist will enter the holy land and take over Jerusalem and the temple. “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months” (Revelation 13:5). Forty-two months is exactly three and one-half years. The prophecy, that only three and one-half years remain, was given by John to encourage the Hebrew to overcome and reject the mark of the beast.

 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”  (Revelation 11:3).

The two witnesses (v.3-13) of verse three will begin their ministry of three and one-half years at the week’s mid-point, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The Hebrew calendar has thirty days per month. One thousand two hundred and sixty days divided by thirty equals 42 months. That comes out to three and one-half years.

 

The two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, which is symbolic of great mourning and contrition. This illustrates the gravity of their ministry.  (See Genesis 37:34; 1 Chronicles 21:16; Esther 4:1-2; Job 16:15; Isaiah 22:12; Lamentations 2:10; John 3:5-8.)

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

There is no possibility of understanding the Bible unless one interpreters the word within the context. The structure must first be discovered,  then the scope of the passage can be ascertained. From that, one can correctly determine what the words mean in the context of the passage.

The mistake by many, who study the Bible, is to assume that the same word will have the identical meaning wherever it is found. The key to any passage is the meaning of the word usage within that passage. With that in mind, we will look at four words where it is imperative that these rules be followed.

• Baptized unto Moses- “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;” 1 Corinthians 10:1-2. Here we have the baptism of an entire nation. They had no knowledge that it was a baptism, and no one got wet. The key is that the nation was “baptized unto Moses.”

How is the word “unto” used in this passage? The Oxford English Dictionary says it is “Denoting attachment, union, adherence, or kinship to a person.” Thus, when they followed Moses through the Red Sea, under the cloud, they were demonstrating the above definition of the word “unto.”  They were not baptized “into” Moses, but “unto” him. They would follow his leadership.

•  Baptized into Christ- The first use of the word “baptize” in Romans, is 6:3. “ Know  ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were  baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”There is no water in the passage.  No one is baptized into Christ by water. The context and the word usage make that clear. When we arrive at the book of Romans, we are beginning the doctrinal section of      the church epistles. This is a spiritual operation.  Neither is there is a resurrection of the believer in the text. The believer, in the passage, is in a state of death and burial. Thus, this is his standing in Christ. He is out of site, and      nothing can touch him!

 

The word “into” shows placement, and position.  Every believer has been baptized “into” His death and burial.  We are not baptized unto Christ, but into Him. There is a world of difference. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27.  You were put “into” Christ in His death and burial by the Holy Spirit.

 

• Baptized by the Spirit– “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or      Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into  one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13. The third word one must understand is “by.” When God baptized the Nation of Israel, He was the baptizer, and  no one got wet. When we were baptized “into” Christ death and burial, water was not involved. Also, when we were      baptized “by” the Holy Spirit, there was no water present. The Holy Spirit is doing the baptizing.

 

Some Baptist, like Church of Christ, Mormons, and Catholics see water just about every time baptism is mentioned. That is a great error.  Paul says, it is the Holy Spirit who does the baptizing. All believers are baptized “by” the Spirit into Christ’s body. That body comprises all believers in this dispensation. There is no water is this passage.

Paul reinforces this when he says, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Ephesians 4:5. We know of at least seven different kinds of baptisms, but Paul is saying there is really only one Lord that matters, one body of faith for the church, and one baptism that puts one into Christ.  That baptism is the only one that puts you into Christ, and it is “by” the Holy Spirit.

 

• Baptized “with” the Spirit-“I indeed baptize you “with” water “unto” repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and “with”  fire:” Matthew 3:11. In this baptism, Christ is the baptizer, the Spirit is the element, and Israel is the recipient. Notice it “with” the Spirit they would be baptized. No water here either. This baptism was      prophesied throughout the Old Testament, and it involves the nation of Israel.

 

Notice the following promises to Israel. “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Proverbs 1:23 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Isaiah 44:3  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 8:16. So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Isaiah 52:15 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Ezekiel 36:25.

So, no Christian should be confused by the words “unto, into, by,” and “with.” The nation of Israel was baptized “unto” Moses. The believer today in baptized “into” Christ “by” the Holy Spirit, and at Pentecost, the Apostles, and believing Jews were baptized “with” the Spirit. That baptism will happen again at the end of the Tribulation when a Jewish remnant repents. God will “pour out”  His Spirit and a new nation will be born. John’s baptism my have symbolized that baptism.