Okay, we're in Revelation chapter number 11.
And Revelation chapter number 11 deals with the third temple, the two witnesses and the
millennial reign, the establishment of the millennial reign.
And actually this chapter concludes the first half of the book of Revelation.
You have chapters 1 all the way to 11 dealing with the first century A.D. all the way through
tribulation, great tribulation, wrath of God, and then you have the millennial reign being
established.
And then the story basically repeats itself thereafter.
You have it from chapters 12 to chapter 16, the same exact thing from a different perspective,
really highlighting the vials of the wrath of God.
Chapters 17 and 18 are the fall of Babylon, 19 is when Jesus Christ comes and establishes
his millennial reign, and then the rest of the book of Revelation, they're dealing with
the white throne judgment, new heaven, and the new earth.
So this is the very last chapter dealing with this, with the first segment of what we see
in end times Bible prophecy.
Now look at verse number 1, let's look at a couple things here.
I want to talk about the measuring of the temple, because this is a very cryptic and
ambiguous two verses that we see in chapter 11.
I want to explain what I believe it means, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to
convince you tonight that this is exactly what it's talking about.
Look at verse number 1, it says, 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.
Now the question is, why are the temple, the altar, and the people who are worshiping inside
the temple, why are they being measured?
And in fact, this is the only time you see this being stated, other than what you see
the measurements, measurements of the new heaven and new earth, when we see in Revelation
chapter 22, but here is he just, John is given instructions, he's given a reed, like unto
a rod, he's measuring these three elements, and we wonder, what is the purpose of measuring
it?
Well look at verse number 2, it says, But the court which is without the temple, leave
out and measure it not.
Now what is he stating?
Measure the temple, don't measure the court that is without.
Why?
It is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread underfoot forty and
two months.
Now that is a clue as to what we're talking about here.
Because we see that verse number 1, he tells them to measure these three elements, and
then he says, don't measure the court, because the Gentiles are going to tread it underfoot.
Now go to Luke 21, I know this is all basic, foundational, you know some of these things,
but I want to lay some principles down so we can understand what I'm about to show you.
Look at Luke 21, dealing with end times Bible prophecy, and in fact, very descriptive of
what we just read in Revelation chapter number 11, look at verse number 20 of Luke 21.
It says here in verse number 20, And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
So what is this referring to?
This is what we see in Revelation 11.
The Gentiles are trotting Jerusalem underfoot, it's referring to what we see here, Jerusalem
being encompassed about with armies, okay.
This is basically the antichrist allowing armies to compass Jerusalem, destroy it, kill
people, etc.
It says in verse 21, Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them
which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries they're
into.
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
So keep in mind, the treading underfoot of Jerusalem is synonymous with the Gentiles
treading underfoot for 42 months, and it's synonymous with the days of vengeance.
So God is carrying out vengeance upon Jerusalem outside of the temple for 42 months.
This is what it's referring to.
And it's judgment upon, what does the Bible say?
These people, which are the Jews, right?
So what does this tell us about verse number one of Revelation 11?
He's referring to the fact that the outside is being judged.
The inside shall be judged as well.
But measure it first, we're not going to judge it yet.
Don't measure the outside because that is already being, it's already going to be judged.
The Gentiles shall trot it underfoot for 42 months.
You see, that still doesn't answer the question, why is it being measured, okay?
I know.
Just hang in there, all right?
So the question is this, if this is the days of vengeance upon the outside of the court,
and you're saying that the measurement is basically implying that it shall be judged
as well, the temple, the altar, and the people they're in, why is that?
What does the measurement even signify?
Well keep in mind, go to 2 Thessalonians chapter number two, 2 Thessalonians chapter number
two.
Keep in mind that the third temple, which has not yet been built, is going to be built,
and in fact the purposeful effort has been made by Jews, by mainstream Christianity,
to build the third temple, and mainstream Christianity has been into this lie that it's
for Jesus, right?
But in reality, we know who it's for, it's for the anti-Christ.
Because this is what the Bible teaches us, is that this temple is not for Jesus Christ,
it's for the anti-Christ.
Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter two, verse number three, it says,
This is referring to the anti-Christ, and the Bible tells us that the anti-Christ shall
receive a deadly wound to the head, his deadly wound is healed, and we know that Satan possesses
the anti-Christ and thus becomes the son of perdition, right?
What does he do?
The first thing that he does when he comes into office, after Satan has possessed him,
look at verse number four.
So at this point, it's no longer a type of religion where everyone can worship whoever
they want, and you just do your type of religion, I do my type of religion, we can coexist.
At this point, he's opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God, or that
is worship, so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he
is God.
So what is he doing?
When he comes into the temple, he's saying, I am God, I'm God.
I oppose myself above all that is called God, all that is worship, and I am God.
And in fact, in Revelation chapter 13, the Bible says that he opens his mouth and blasphemies
against God, against his tabernacle, and against those that dwell in heaven.
Wouldn't you agree that these are some pretty bold statements that he's making?
Blasphemous, bold statements that he's making, right?
Claiming that he's God, he's blaspheming against God, against his name, against his tabernacle,
I mean, he's mocking God.
Now what is a measure?
Well, a measure, basically, to measure something is to make a comparison according to a standard,
right?
And this is why John is measuring the temple.
You say, why is that?
Because think about this, if he's claiming to be God, he's telling the world, he's God.
He's judging himself to be God.
He's judging that the true God is not God.
What does the Bible tell us about that in Matthew chapter 7 verse 2?
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye meet,
it shall be measured to you again.
So what is he saying?
God's saying, I'm going to hold you accountable for that which you just said.
What judgment ye judge, oh, you claim to be God?
Oh, you think you're better than the true God?
Or you're going to oppose me and exalt yourself above all that is called God, all that is
worship?
If you're going to think that you're God, well, I'm going to measure that back to you.
We're going to see who truly is God.
Amen.
So he says, John, measure the temple, the altar, and the people therein, and we're going
to see who's the true God.
So that's never been done before.
Have you heard of Elijah?
Where Elijah was going at it with the false prophets of Baal to prove who is the one true
God?
God is basically telling John, hey, measure this because every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words, thou shall be justified, and by thy words, thou shall be condemned.
This is why the temple is being measured because he measured himself and claimed to be God.
Well, we're going to see if that's true or not.
Go to Daniel chapter number five.
This is going to solidify this, Daniel chapter number five.
Throughout the Bible, you see different people that are symbolic of the Antichrist, right?
Let me turn to myself.
Daniel chapter number five.
The more I read the Book of Daniel, the more I realize that the stories that proceed, that
come before the actual prophetic declarations that we see in the Book of Daniel, the stories
that we see prior to that are symbolic.
Many of them are very symbolic of what's taking place in the end times.
Daniel chapter five is one of those, okay?
Now what do we see in Daniel chapter number five?
Look at verse number one, it says, Belshazzar, the king made a great feast to a thousand
of his lords and drank wine before the thousand.
Belshazzar, whilst he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which
his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple, which was in Jerusalem, that the
king and his princes and his wives and his concubines might drink therein.
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house
of God, which is at Jerusalem, and the king and his princes and his wives and his concubines
drank in them, and they drank wine and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass,
iron and wood and of stone.
So what do we see here?
We see Belshazzar is just desecrating the temple of God, right?
He's taking the vessels, he's drinking out of them, and what happens?
That very night, he's judged, he sees the writing on the wall declaring his condemnation,
declaring his judgment, right?
Now look down at verse number 25, of course, he can't interpret what he sees on the writing
on the wall.
They call for Daniel, he's able to interpret what it says, and he pronounces judgment upon
Belshazzar for his blasphemy, right?
Look what it says in verse number 25, it says, and this is the writing that was written.
Many many tekol ufarsin, verse 26, this is the interpretation of the thing, many, God
hath what?
Numbered thy kingdom, and it is finished.
What does it mean to number, to measure it?
Measure it.
Look at verse 27, tekol, thou are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
So what is this referring to, how can we compare this to Revelation chapter number 11?
When they're measuring the temple, he's basically saying, okay, if this is who you claim to
be, you're gonna be weighed in the balances.
You're gonna be measured according to the word of God, you're gonna be judged according
to what you're saying, and you know what, you're gonna be found wanting.
Now what happens after Jesus Christ comes and just completely just destroys the anti-Christ?
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.
Because it's war.
This is the ultimate war that takes place where he just completely conquers earth, and
the kingdom is given to him.
Look at Paris, verse 28, thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
So when Jesus Christ overcomes the anti-Christ, he just takes what's his, it's his.
So what do we see in Revelation chapter number 11?
Go to Amos chapter 9, if you would, Amos chapter 9.
Measuring the temple, what he's doing is basically he's gonna weigh him in the balances.
He's gonna hold him accountable for what he is stating, okay?
Now it's interesting because in Revelation chapter number 11, he's given a rod, he's
gonna read like unto a rod, and if I'm not mistaken, that's more of a horizontal tool
to do measurements.
Now in Amos chapter 9, that's in the New Testament, in Amos chapter 9, look at verse number 1,
it says, I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said, smite the lint over the
door that the post may shake and cut them in the head, all of them, and I will slay
the last of them with the sword.
He that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be
delivered.
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them.
Though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down, and though they hide themselves
in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence, and though they be hid from
my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite
them.
What do we see in Amos?
Well, in Amos, we see that he's basically saying it's gonna be a thorough judgment upon
them.
In previous chapters in Amos, he uses a plumb line to judge them.
How many of you know what a plumb line is?
It's something that you measure from what?
Yeah, from top to bottom.
So in the Old Testament, he does a measure of judgment from top to bottom, in the New
Testament, he uses a reed, a horizontal one.
What is that telling us?
He's telling us that it's gonna be a complete judgment upon the Antichrist, he's gonna judge
it all.
He's gonna measure it, he's gonna judge out that same measurement unto them, and hold
him accountable for the things that he has said.
Now, when you read about the measurements in Revelation chapter number 11, doesn't it
sound familiar to a story that we've read in the Old Testament in the book of Ezekiel?
Where in Ezekiel chapter 40 all the way to 42, Ezekiel is also given the instruction
to measure the city, and it's very detailed, you see these measurements being given out,
he spends literally chapters 40, 41, and 42 describing and going over the measurements.
Now in chapter 43 of Ezekiel, we see that the glory of the Lord descends upon the city.
So the measurements in chapters 40 to 42 was really in preparation for the glory to come
and descend upon the city.
Well, what do we see at the end of 42 months in the book of Revelation?
We see at the end of that, that Jesus Christ descends down and takes the kingdom.
Now go back to 2 Thessalonians chapter number 1, 2 Thessalonians chapter number 1.
Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter number 1, by the way, this is the third coming when
he comes in Revelation chapter 19 to establish his millennial reign.
It says in verse number 7, And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, inflaming fire, taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the
glory of his power.
So just as you see the measurements being given in Ezekiel 40 to 42 and then the glory
of the Lord descends upon it in chapters 43, it's the same thing that we see here.
Once the measurements are given, when the abomination of desolation is set up, 42 months
into that, Jesus Christ comes down and what happens?
They're destroyed from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.
That's why the measurements are being given there.
Now go with me if you would to Proverbs chapter 13, Proverbs chapter 13.
So this is interesting, we see in Revelation chapter 11, the measurements are given, he's
given a rod, he's measuring the temple, the altar, the people they're in, and these are
the main people who are worshiping the antichrist when they're in that temple and he comes and
he measures it because he's going to judge them according to what they're doing.
Now the question is this, why do they refer to it as the temple of God?
You ever think about that?
Why does 2 Thessalonians 2 call it the temple of God?
Is it called the temple of God in the holy city in the book of Revelation?
Why is that?
Because we obviously understand that we're the temple, right?
We're the temple of the Holy Ghost, the Bible refers to us in the New Testament as the temple.
This is basic, this is plain.
So now the question is, so why is it referred to as that?
Well, here's a couple reasons why, okay?
You know, the reason why it would be referred to as the temple of God is because, you know,
in spite of the fact that God did not sanction it, this is basically a building that is dedicated
to God, okay?
Now does it make it right?
It doesn't make it right, but it is a building that, obviously it's not a synagogue, right?
They're not calling it a Muslim mosque, they're not calling it the Mormon temple, this is
referring to a temple that's dedicated unto the Lord.
It's not right, God's not sanctioning it, but this is why it's referred to as that.
But here's another reason, okay, and this is the main, this is the reason I believe
it's referred to as the temple of God, because eventually it'll be his.
He's going to snatch it, is what I mean.
You say, what in the world are you, you're saying that he's going to actually use that
temple?
Yeah, I believe he's going to use it.
I believe he's going to take it from them when he comes.
Now you say, well, prove it, well, do you see the temple going away after Jesus Christ
takes over?
No, in fact, he keeps it for the entire millennial reign, the only time we see another temple
coming is when it descends from heaven, right?
In the new heaven and new earth.
But look at what Proverbs 13 verse 22 says, a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's
children and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
We like that verse, don't we?
The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
So you know what God is saying?
Go ahead and build that temple, it's going to be mine anyways.
You say, well, that's a little stretch.
Well, don't you remember in the Old Testament, what did God tell the children of Israel in
Deuteronomy chapter six?
In fact, what did the children of Israel do when they entered into Canaan land?
He specifically promised them in Deuteronomy chapter six, that they shall inherit buildings
that they did not build, vineyards that they did not plant, wells that they did not dig,
they shall inherit it.
So he was telling them, go into the promised land, wipe all these people out and just take
all their stuff.
Like, that's not right.
Yeah, that's right.
Of course it's right.
Heck yeah, that's right.
He's like, you don't have to build anything, you don't have to plant anything, you don't
have to dig anything, just take it because it's theirs and they build it, just wipe them
all out and you take it from them.
Why?
Because the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
This is not just in the Old Testament, this is even today.
This is going to be in the millennial reign.
This is going to be in the millennial reign when they build this temple, it's going to
be glorious, it's going to be beautiful and it's just like, we're done.
He exalts himself to be God, he claims to be God, he dies and Jesus Christ comes and
just takes it from him.
I have a temple, you had the temple, right?
You had the temple.
I believe it's almost like mocking them because obviously they're trying to mock God, they're
making fun of God, they hate God and what's the best way to just get them back?
Well, I'm just going to use what you made and just take it from you.
We're going to inherit the earth that they're leaving behind.
That's why I believe it's called the temple of God.
Obviously God did not sanction it but he'll use it.
Even today, if you shop at the thrift store, you might buy a suit that belonged to an unrighteous
person who died and left it there for you, right?
That happens all the time.
You say, oh man, am I buying a suit from a dead man?
Don't ask, don't tell.
Just wash it, send it to the dry cleaners and you're good to go.
What I'm saying is this, is that God will often do that, he's done it throughout the
Old Testament where he'll literally allow the rich to get richer, he'll allow wicked
people to just rack up wealth in order to bless the righteous, okay?
And so, go back to Revelation chapter number 11, Revelation chapter number 11.
It says in verse number 1 again, there was given 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.
But the court which is without the temple leave out, measure it not, for it is given
unto the Gentiles and the holy city shall tread under foot forty and two months.
This is why he's referring to this because of the fact that judgment is already coming
upon the outside, the court which is without.
They're already treading that under foot for forty and two months, that judgment that's
going to come upon them thereafter is when the judgment comes upon the temple itself.
Verse number 3 says, and I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesy
a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth.
Now this is great because if we make it into the beginning of sorrows and great tribulation,
we're going to see these two witnesses with our own eyes because it's telling us here
that their ministry begins at that abomination of desolation.
From there you have forty and two months until the last of the seventh trumpet where Jesus
Christ ends up establishing his millennial reign.
Forty-two months into that is the abomination of desolation, seventy-five days prior to
the rapture.
So we're going to see these guys and you know what, they're going to have a public ministry,
we're going to be able to see them preach and prophesy, they're going to stay even after
the rapture has taken place, it's going to be great.
It says in verse number 4, these are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing
before the God of the earth, a reference to the Old Testament, and if any man will hurt
them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoured their enemies and if any man will
hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Now this is great because you have these guys who literally preach hell, fire, and
damnation.
They're not just preaching fire because they're preaching the word of God, literal fire comes
out if any man desires to hurt them, God gives them this special ability, this superhuman
power to be able to just scorch men with their mouths.
Talk about hot breath, right?
Verse number 6 says, 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 smite the earth
with all plagues as often as they will.
Now the identity of these two is pretty obvious according to their abilities.
Some people speculate, I just believe this is who they are, Moses and Elijah, and it's
obvious based upon their abilities.
Now go if you would to Matthew chapter 17, you know Elijah in the Old Testament had the
power to shut heaven that it rain not and isn't it interesting that in the Old Testament
when he did that, he actually shut heaven for the space of three and a half years.
Three years and six months.
So he had this incredible ministry in the Old Testament that lasted for three and a
half years and guess what?
In the end times he's going to have a ministry for three and a half years as well.
So total he served God for seven years, okay, but there's some of the seven most terrific
years that you know you will ever see and in fact here we have the first time travelers.
Think about that.
These guys haven't been around for a long time.
I mean they're in the, I mean this is not even, they weren't even around in the New
Testament, they're in the Old Testament.
Thousands of years ago and all of a sudden God just launches them forward, you know,
allows them to travel time to even the distant future or even, who knows, maybe close, you
know, tomorrow or something, depending on how things are going, you know.
They're going to come and they're going to preach the word of God and by the way, I believe
their preaching in Revelation is going to be exactly the same the way they preached
in the Old Testament because preaching has always been the same.
You know I want to see, oh I don't want to see, but yeah, I want to see from heaven,
you know, some people talking about, oh that's not the way you're supposed to preach, you're
going to lose people like that, you know, well you know what, that's exactly how these
prophets preach in the Old Testament, that's exactly how they're going to preach in the
New Testament.
The only difference is they're just going to burn people.
Boy do I wish I had that ability today, you know.
So I believe it's Elijah who's preaching and of course Moses because he's turning the water
into blood and smiting the earth with plagues, okay.
Now look at Matthew 17 verse 1, it's interesting because the seven year period known as Daniel
17th week is referring to seven years and you see here in verse number 1, and after
six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother and bringeth them up into a high
mountain apart and was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and
his raiment was white as the light and behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah
talking with him.
Now why is this, well I believe it's symbolic of what we're going to see in the end times.
Why is it that out of all the prophets, out of all the preachers, Moses and Elijah are
the ones speaking to Jesus Christ when he's transfigured, basically when you know, a glorified
Jesus Christ, a temporary glorified Jesus Christ in Matthew 17.
I believe it's referring to, it's foreshadowing what we're going to see in the Old Testament.
Now these two men had fairly unique departures, did they not?
You have Elijah who departed in a whirlwind of fire, which chariots of fire did not die,
is in heaven today in his physical body still.
Now Moses did die, but here's the difference with him is that God was the one who buried
Moses.
Right?
Go to Deuteronomy chapter 34, Deuteronomy 34.
Elijah had a pretty awesome exit out of this world, you know, in a whirlwind, chariots
of fire and Moses when he passed, you know, his pallbearer was God himself.
The person who was burying him was God himself and look what it says in Deuteronomy 34 verse
number five.
So Moses, the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab according to the word
of the Lord and he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor,
but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.
Now go to Jude, the book of Jude in the New Testament, verse number nine.
Jude, look at verse number nine, yet Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil,
he disputed about the body of Moses, dirts not bring against him railing accusation,
but said the Lord rebuke thee.
So what's this argument about?
Why is Satan trying to get a hold of Moses?
I believe it has to do with the fact that he's going to be used in the New Testament
in the book of Revelation and his preaching and his ministry is going to impact the world.
He knew he was going to bring him back.
He knew he was going to use him.
You say, how do you know that he knew that?
Because of the fact that the devil knows the Bible.
He knows the word of God.
He knows what the Bible says.
He knows the prophetic timetable.
He knows all these things.
And so I believe he's basically trying to uncover where that body is in order for him
to possess him, potentially use him, etc.
Now go to Malachi chapter number four.
So those are some reasons why I believe the two witnesses is referring to Elijah and Moses
because of the fact, because of their abilities to shut the heavens that it rained not.
You know, Moses turning water into blood because keep in mind, when the waters are turned into
blood during the trumpet judgments, not all waters turn into blood.
You have a third part of the oceans.
You have a third part of the rivers being turned into blood.
So there's still pockets of water that still exist that have not been affected.
But you know what?
Moses is just going to come and he's going to take care of those of that part as well
because he's going to turn that water into blood.
Now I believe this is the biggest, most strongest case that to show us that this is Elijah that's
being referred to in the book of Revelation.
Look at Malachi 4 verse 5, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming
of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Now we understand because of verse number six that this is also foreshadowing who?
John the Baptist.
He came, we see that Jesus Christ makes mention of that.
However, this is a dual prophecy.
Where we see the first fulfillment of this is when John the Baptist comes on the scene.
But the ultimate fulfillment of this is Revelation chapter 11.
Now how do we know that?
It says that Elijah the prophet will come at the, excuse me, behold, I will send you
Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Well when do Elijah and Moses come?
Before the great and dreadful day of the Lord in Revelation chapter six, the sixth seal.
In fact, to be more specific, they come 75 days prior to that.
Now we can say that when Jesus Christ came the first time, that was a great and dreadful
day to a certain extent because he comes, he preaches the word of God, it is the day
that he was born, et cetera.
However, the actual fulfillment of this is the sixth seal.
When he comes, he brings judgment and we understand that that's when Elijah comes 75 days prior
to that.
Now go back to Revelation chapter number 11.
Now here's the thing, could it be someone else?
Yes, it could be someone else.
It could be just two men who have the spirit of Elijah, you know, that's what we have with
John the Baptist.
It could be someone who has the spirit of Elijah and the spirit of Moses.
It could be, you know, one of you guys in here, who knows, you know, I know some guys
would like to have that job but it's probably not going to happen guys, you know.
I believe it's just Elijah and Moses who, because here's the thing, you know, what's
impeding God from doing such a miracle and you know what, two of the greatest men in
the Old Testament is Elijah and Moses.
I mean these are some of the greatest men in the Old Testament.
Popular characters did great exploits for God, you know, and stood when no man wanted
to stand, right?
You know, Moses was a friend of God and even though we see that Elijah had a relapse in
faith, he was still used greatly of God, okay, and was used to do great wonders and it could
be that before his relapse in faith carried on even further, that's probably why God took
him home, okay, in order to prepare him for these last days.
Now look at verse number seven.
It says, and when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended out
of the bottom of his pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them
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.
Now verse number nine, and they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall
see their dead bodies three days and a half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to
be put in graves and they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and make
merry and shall send gifts to one another because these two prophets torment to them
that dwell on the earth.
You know, isn't it funny that even in the end times, especially in the end times, people
don't like hard preachers, even to the point that when they die, they rejoice over them,
even to the point that when they die, they not only rejoice, they give gifts to one another.
You would think it's Christmas for them.
This goes to show you that a prophet shall never be popular today, right?
A prophet, one who's preaching the word of God, who's preaching fire will never be popular
amongst the world, not just amongst Christians, but just amongst the world, period, even to
the point that they would seek to kill them and rejoice over them, make merry, send gifts
one to another.
Now I also want you to notice in verse number eight, it says, and their dead bodies shall
lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where
also our Lord was crucified.
Now what city is that referring to?
Jerusalem.
Now, why is it called Sodom?
Because there's a bunch of fags there.
It's not called Sodom because it has, you know, waters that are well, the plains filled
with water because it's beautiful.
It's called Sodom because there's sodomites living there.
There's sodomites living there today.
And when we look at something like that, we can say that place is Sodom.
When we look at a city like Long Beach, we can say that that place is spiritually Sodom.
When we look at a place like San Francisco, that place is spiritually called Sodom.
When we look at the United States of America, we can say that place is spiritually Sodom
and Gomorrah.
Why?
Because they embrace sodomy, they embrace homosexuality, they embrace faggotry.
And God basically says, you can call yourself in the United States all you want.
To me, you're Sodom.
To me, you are Egypt because you are the center of worldliness, of things that are anti-God,
anti-Christ, okay?
And so these men are obviously not honored when they die.
When they die, they allow their bodies to just lie in the streets without being buried,
okay?
Now, look what it goes on to say in verse number 11, and after three days and a half,
the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and
great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither, and they ascended
up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
So picture this.
What do we see here?
We see that they're preaching hellfire, they're burning people, they're sending plagues, they're
turning water into blood, they're impeding from rain coming down from heaven when there's
a need of water.
And they're striking fear in the hearts of those who dwell upon the earth.
People hate these guys, and no one's able to stop them.
When they send their military in, when they send the big guns, they just get burned up.
They send their tanks, they send whoever, they just get burned in that manner.
So they feel hopeless until their savior comes who's the anti-Christ who's actually given
the authority to take their lives away.
So he receives greater recognition because of that.
And then they die, they lie in the streets, but then what do we see?
We see that God breathes life into them once again, and fear struck in the hearts of those
who dwell on the earth because of the fact that they come back to life, and they go back
to heaven.
You hear that great voice.
And look what the Bible says in verse number 12.
Come up hither, and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
Now look, this is prior to the seventh trumpet.
You would think that after seeing that, you'd be like, okay, I'm convinced.
This is the Lord.
Hearing a voice that says, come up hither, these guys who have been dead in the streets
for three and a half days, zombie apocalypse type thing, these guys come back to life,
and to make matters even greater, they ascend into heaven out of a cloud, out of their
sights.
The Bible says that their enemies beheld them.
But instead, what do they do?
They continue blaspheming the name of God.
They continue hating God.
Why?
Because they're reprobates.
And at this point, it doesn't matter how much truth you give them.
It doesn't matter how much of the word of God you give them.
It doesn't matter what you do.
They will never believe, and they will never submit themselves unto the Lord.
He said then why would Elijah and Moses be sent to preach if the vast majority of people
are not going to believe?
It's the same reason why we're being sent to preach the word of God, even though the
vast majority of people will not believe.
Because God is not necessarily concerned with the whole world being saved, because they're
not going to get saved.
He wants the few who still are receptive, those who have not become reprobate, those
who are still willing to listen, to get saved.
You know, when we went out this afternoon, we hit an entire block, two blocks, and only
one person got saved.
But guess what?
That one person was worth it.
Why did you knock all those doors, and they shut the door on you, they didn't want to
listen to you, you know, they just had something better to do, well, because it was worth getting
that one girl saved.
And God is concerned for that one soul, just one more soul.
And this is the kind of attitude that we need to have when we go out soul winning, is that
we don't feel like failures when we go out and preach the gospel, but we only see a few
people saved.
That's great.
And look, it's so much better if we see a ton of people saved, amen.
But if we get one, that's what God is concerned with, you know, because a soul is an eternal
life that will last forever somewhere, and we want to make sure that we get them saved
in order, you know, to continue to reach people for Christ, we need to have that attitude
there.
But even, you know, even in spite of seeing that, they still harden their hearts, they're
refusing to submit.
Look at verse number 13.
It says in the same, and by the way, during this time, what do you have, the 144,000 also
preached in the Word of God in indigenous areas.
You know, obviously, the two witnesses probably have a public ministry where they're being
broadcasted live, you know, people are watching them on TV, they're seeing the fire that is
devouring their enemies, whereas the 144,000 are potentially just soul winners who speak
different languages.
They're able to go into indigenous areas throughout the world to win people to Christ who don't
have television, don't have technology, et cetera.
Look at verse 13, it says, in the same hour, was there a great earthquake, and the 10th
part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men 7,000, and the remnant were
affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Now, let me just say this, the remnant is not referring to the Jews.
Because people will say, well, you know, this is what this is for, you know, it's the time
of Jacob's trouble, God is dealing with Israel, and these Jews are getting saved, and they're
giving glory to God.
Well, the remnant is not the Jews, the remnant are Christians.
You say, there's Christians during this time?
Yes, that's why the 144,000 and two witnesses are there.
These are the people who they saw saved.
And the Bible tells us that they see these things take place, and they become fearful.
Why?
Because, you know, God's judgment is a fearful thing, but they give glory to God, the God
of heaven.
Verse 14, the second woe is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Now, keep in mind that the third woe basically ushers in, it's a final judgment that ushers
in the millennial reign.
It says, 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 forever and ever.
I like how he just speaks of those things, which are not as though they were.
What he's saying there is like, it's already in the bag, right?
Because towards the end, you see at the very end, verse 19 says, the temple of God was
opened in heaven, and there were seen in his temple the ark of his testament, and there
were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an earthquake and great hell.
That's when the final judgment comes.
So he's basically saying, hey, this entire world now belongs to God because he's about
to reign the final judgment upon this world.
It says in verse 16, and the four and 20 elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell
upon their faces and worshiped God, saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
which art and wast and art to come, because thou wast taken to thee thy great power and
hast reign.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath has 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, shouldest destroy them,
which destroy the earth.
So what do we see here?
Verse number 18, we see that when Christ comes to set up his millennial reign, the time to
be judged is referring to the fact that the people who have died, they're going to be
judged according to their deeds that they've done.
And it says that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, the prophets and to the
saints, and them that fear thy name.
This is referring to the additional of the rewards that people are going to get.
So a clearer or a far more detailed verse that we see here, go to Revelation chapter
19, chapter 20, excuse me.
Look at chapter 20, verse number 1, it says, And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him
a thousand years, and cast them into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him
that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.
And after that he must be loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon him, and judgment was given unto them, and
I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word
of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand
years.
So we see that in chapter 11, a concise version is given of this in verse 18, where it talks
about the rewards being given out.
So again, I reiterated this in previous chapters, but when the rapture takes place, the biggest
reward that we get at that time is our glorified bodies, right?
We get glorified, we shine as the firmament, that's based upon the souls that we win and
the people that we turn to righteousness, and then the rest of the rewards are given
out when the millennial reign is being established.
Now that would make sense, because when he comes to establish his millennial reign, he's
debunking, he's basically dethroning every single ruler of the world, and now new people
have to take over.
A new government is coming into power, right?
The seas are no more, you know, he begins to establish his millennial reign, and at
that point he begins to deputize rulers and kings over different portions of the world,
and that's what we see there.
Go back to Revelation 11, it says, the nations reign in thy wrath has come in 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 then that fear thy name, small and great, that thou
shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
And it says in verse 19, the temple of God was opened in heaven, and it was seen in this
temple the ark of the testament, and there were lightnings and voices and thunderings,
and an earthquake and great hail.
This is obviously referring to the completion of Daniel's 70th week when Christ establishes
millennial reign.
So what do we learn from chapter 11?
Well, we learn that first and foremost that every idol, men shall give an account for
every idol word.
Now I remember people preaching about that, and they would often make that reference to
us as Christians, and say, you know, everything that you say you're going to be accounted
for, not true.
Not true at all.
You've got to be careful what you say, because every idol word, you're going to give an account
to that in the day of judgment.
Not true.
Why?
Because it says afterwards, by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou
shall be condemned.
That's referring to salvation.
So if you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you've confessed him, right?
You confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead.
Thou shall be justified.
But hold on a second, if you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, right?
If you've rejected Jesus Christ, by thy words thou shall be condemned.
You know, I don't believe Christians will ever have a panorama, you know, a screen highlighting
your sins, but you know what?
There might be a screen for the unsaved, where people say, well, no, I actually believed
in you.
Well, that's funny, because on, you know, March 19th, 2020, this homeowner came to your
door, gave you the gospel, and you rejected it.
No, no, no, I actually listened to it.
Well, let's pull out the record here.
No, thanks, I don't have time.
I got my own beliefs.
I'm Catholic.
I go to, you know, La Lupita, you know, I don't want to hear it.
I don't have time for that.
I got a meal on the stove.
I got other things to do.
By thy words thou shall be condemned.
You know, and it's at that time that people are going to regret not allowing the food
to burn on the stove.
They're going to regret not giving time, the time of day, to the soul owner that was coming
to them to see them saved.
So you know, what can we learn from this?
We learned that the people who reject us, the people who just reject Jesus Christ, they're
going to give an account to that if they choose not to get saved, right?
And you know, thank God for the fact that we're not accountable for what we say, you
know, when it comes to heaven and earth.
You know, as far as being justified, you know, if you have a slip of the tongue, if you curse
or if you badmouth someone, you know, whatever, God's not going to hold you accountable for
those things in the life to come.
You know, those things are washed away by the blood of Christ.
And so, but the great thing is about the measuring of the third temple is this, is that the person
who's going to be held the most accountable for everything is the antichrist.
You know, he's going to be judged according to the judgment that he met out himself when
he claimed to be God and when he claims to be God.
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer.
Father, we thank you so much for your word.
I pray, God, that you'd help us and give us a greater understanding of it.
And Lord, as we study this, obviously we know that we're not going to be here during those
three and a half years of judgment, but we surely will be here for those three and a
half years when the antichrist judges us.
And when we go through tribulation, I pray, God, that you strengthen us as a church and
Lord be with us throughout these next couple of days and weeks.
Our nation is in a crisis, our state is in a crisis and it's affecting us as well.
We know that you're not caught off guard.
I pray that you'd give us wisdom.
Help us as your people to draw nigh unto you through the word of God and through prayer.
And may you bless our little mini church services that we're going to have, Lord, that are going
to be spread abroad.
And I pray that you'd continue to help us, to keep us in the way.
Help us to live a life that's pleasing to you.
And Lord, help us to continue to see people saved during this time.
And in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.