INTRO Good morning, and welcome to The Morning Meditation Podcast. I’m Joe, and I’m thankful you’re here. Today we’re reading Revelation 11 in the King James Version. This chapter is packed—measuring, prophecy, two witnesses, opposition, resurrection power, and then that thunderous announcement from heaven that reminds us who really owns the timeline. Let’s get into the Word. ===================== SCRIPTURE READING (KJV) — REVELATION 11 1 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. 2 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. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 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 to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 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. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an 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. 12 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. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 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 for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is 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; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. ===================== STORY I’ve spent a good chunk of my life around measuring tapes. You’d be surprised how often a “little” measurement mistake becomes a “big” problem. A board looks right… until you try to fit it. A door seems square… until it won’t close. And that’s when you learn the old rule everybody ignores at least once: Measure twice. Cut once. But Revelation 11 starts with something even more interesting than accuracy. It starts with God measuring what belongs to Him. “Measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.” Not just the building. The altar. And the worshippers. Then the Lord says, “Leave this part out.” That hits me, because a lot of life feels like that. There are things you can control—things God expects you to be faithful with. And then there are things outside that line… things you can’t fix by worrying harder. And right after the measuring comes the witnessing. Two witnesses stand up in a world that hates their message. They don’t win popularity contests. They don’t get applauded. They do what God told them to do… until they have finished their testimony. And the world celebrates like it finally got what it wanted. But God isn’t done. Three and a half days later, the Spirit of life from God enters into them. They stand up. And fear falls on everybody watching. Then the seventh angel sounds— and heaven announces what earth keeps trying to deny: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” That’s the kind of sentence that makes you put the tape measure down and remember who’s really in charge. ===================== 3-POINT REFLECTION
