We are now in Revelation 11. Starting in Revelation 10 there is sort of a parenthesis (where chronological movement is not taking place) that goes through Revelation 11:14 in the chronological outworking of the book. We have seen the outpouring of the seven Seal Judgments and then the Trumpet Judgments. Then we have a parenthesis between the sixth and the seventh Trumpet Judgment at this point in Revelation 10 where we saw a book, a scroll, that was given to John that contains the seven Thunder Judgments of which he was not allowed to reveal the content.
Then we come to Revelation 11. We are still in this parenthesis. We really don’t know exactly when these things take place. We are being told that other things are happening outside of these judgments. One of those has to do with the two witnesses in Revelation 11. It’s a very interesting section.
Let’s pick it up in Revelation 11:1, “Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” First, we have of the temple. That tells us the temple has been built. We know the temple is not built today. There is no Jewish temple. We know also from 2 Thessalonians that there will be a temple in the Tribulation Period because the antichrist will set himself up as being God in the temple desiring worship. Therefore, sometime between now and the Tribulation Period, or at least the midpoint of the Tribulation Period, there is a temple that is being built or has been built. We have that temple being measured here showing that this is God’s temple and God’s worshipers. The temple court, however, has been given over to the Gentiles with the idea that the Gentiles will trample it under foot for three and a half years or forty-two months.
As we go to Revelation 11:3, we see these witnesses. Something has taken place here and it says, “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” We find these two witnesses showing up. We don’t know where they come from or where they have been, but suddenly they are here. They are dressed in sackcloth. Sackcloth is usually a sign of mourning over sin. So, they are bringing prophecies or judgments against the world because of their sinfulness and that’s why they are dressed this way. They minister for the exact same period of time that we saw just a moment ago where the outer court is being trampled under foot by the Gentiles - three and a half years.
