Intro:

Revelation 11 is probably the most important chapter in the entire book in terms of providing the keys that unlock the Old Testament and the Old Testament is the key to the New Testament. The key to Revelation 11 is believing it as it stands without changing anything.

I. MEASURING THE TEMPLE (11:1-2)

The "reed like unto a rod" is a measuring stick. This "temple of God, and the altar of them that worship therein," to be measured, is not the heavenly temple referred to in (Rev. 8:3-5). The temple of (Rev. 8:3-5) is found again in (Rev. 11:19) the temple in (Rev. 11) is on Earth. It is obvious that there will be a literal temple that is yet to be rebuilt on a literal earth for a literal 42 months. Therefore, if you believe what we read, we must believe that temple worship will be restored in the future. (See Matt. 24:15; Heb. 9:3,12; 2 Thess. 2:4).

II. THE TWO WITNESSES (11:3-13)

A. What are they?

You don't have to be too bright to figure out that these two olive trees are not the Bible and the "Book of Mormon" or the Bible and the "key to the Scriptures" (as Mary Baker Patterson Eddy believed) or the Bible and the Apocrypha as the Pope believes. (Zech. 4:11-14) makes it very clear that these two witnesses are "two anointed ones" that stand by the Lord of the whole earth (present tense in Zech. 4 - written 530-487 B.C.). No book of Mormon around in those days boy - oops!

B. Who are they?

Verse 6 is the tip off - compare this to (James 5:17; 1 Kings 17:1; Ex. 33:20-21; Num. 16:31,34,35; 2 Kings 1:10). Now consider the following: Moses and Elijah were both anointed, they stand by the Lord of the whole earth, they both destroyed their enemies by fire, they smote the earth with plagues and kept it from raining for 3 1/2 years, they were both on Mt. Sinai forty days and forty nights, they both fasted 40 days and nights, they both had ministers who took up their ministry (Joshua and Elisha), they both appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and finally they are mentioned in connection with Mt. Sinai (Horeb) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

C. What is their ministry?

Chapter 11 makes it clear that their ministry is to bear "testimony" (vs. 7) and this testimony is given its credibility by signs and wonders (vs. 6). In the light of (1 Cor. 1:22) it ought to be very clear as to who this ministry is intended.

III. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET (11:14-19)

The sounding of the seventh trumpet marks the opening of the last stage of judgment - this is the time all heaven has been waiting for, the time when Christ will return to the earth and reign. Several observations need to be made in reference to these verses:

[1]. The kingdoms of this world are headed for doom.
[2]. No man or group of men will bring in God's kingdom.
[3]. The devil's crowd is mad (vs. 18) - all their programs have failed.
[4]. Rewards are given to faithful servants (vs. 18 & Lk. 19).
[5]. Judgment is waiting for the Christ rejecters. The social do-gooders that have left the Lord out are termed as those who "destroy the earth ".