A Daily Walk

Narrator: Today on A Daily Walk, we're introducing two witnesses that will enter the scene during the great tribulation. And Pastor John Randall reminds us that we're called to be witnesses, too.

John Randall: The Apostle Paul said, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." We have this message. We have this hope. And this is something that we must be proclaiming, something we must be living in the days in which we are here. This is why we're still here and he hasn't come for us yet because we are to be a witness. This is my question: Are you a witness for Christ?

Narrator: Hello again. Glad you could make it today as we present A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. We've been studying the Book of Revelation here lately as part of our "Through the Bible" study.

During the tribulation period, the Lord will send out two witnesses to testify of his grace, love, and forgiveness. Though they'll have the power and the authority of God, they'll be opposed at every turn. Similarly, we are called to be God's witnesses in a hostile environment. Thankfully, we have the power of the spirit to help. Here's Pastor John to explain.

John Randall: Beginning in verse one, if you'd follow along with me. "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood saying, 'Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the gentiles and they will tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses and they will prophesy 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth.'"

Throughout the history of the church, there have been many faithful witnesses who have paid the ultimate price to present the message of the gospel to a lost and dying world. Revelation chapter 11 is part of a parenthetical section of the book that began in chapter 10, verse one, and will continue until chapter 14, verse 20. And this chapter points out some familiar pictures from the Old Testament. We'll see a rebuilt temple, two powerful prophets who bear a keen resemblance to other prophets found in the Bible.

It was at the close of the 10th chapter that the Apostle John was given a little book that he was instructed to read. And after reading and assimilating the information found in the little book, he said that it was sweet to his taste, but it made his stomach bitter. Then John was instructed to continue to prophesy about many peoples, tongues, and kings. Now that John was given a book, it says in chapter 11, verse one, he's given a rod. "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod."

When it says that John was given a rod which was like a reed, it's actually a plant that grows out of the Jordan Valley. The height is about 15 to 20 feet, and they would use it as a measuring stick. And with the rod, John was given specific instructions: what to measure and also what not to measure. He was commanded to measure the temple, the altar, and those who worship there. But he was not to measure the outside of the temple.

Now, this is not the first time in the Bible that we find the Lord calling for measurements. For example, in Zechariah chapter two, a man is seen measuring Jerusalem, portraying God's divine judgment. In Ezekiel chapter 40, the temple that will stand during the millennial reign of Christ in his future kingdom is carefully measured off. And then in Revelation chapter 21, in the New Jerusalem, you find the measurements given there.

The measuring that the Lord calls for is more than pointing out dimensions, but rather the measuring implies all that belongs to him. It's an evaluation. It's an assessment of what belongs to God. John was told to measure the temple. If you have read through the Bible, you know that there are five temples that are mentioned in scripture. And what we will discover is that during the seven-year tribulation period, there will be a rebuilt Jewish temple there in Jerusalem. And this will be the fourth temple mentioned in scripture.

One of the most controversial and contested locations in all of the world is Jerusalem, and specifically the Temple Mount. The temple for the Jews has always played an important role in their national and spiritual life. It started back in the book of Exodus, where the Lord instructed Moses as the nation had made their way into the wilderness to build a tabernacle, or a large tent of meeting.

And the purpose of the tabernacle was to provide a place where God's people could have fellowship with him. It was a place where sins could be repented of, atoned for, covered, and forgiven. And since Israel had to maneuver through the wilderness for 40 years in different locations, they would pick up the tent and break it down and then set it up once again wherever the Lord called them to be located at that time.

Finally, when they came into the land of Israel, the promised land, the tabernacle dwelt in a place called Shiloh. But later on in 1 Samuel chapter 13, while King David was sitting in his palace one evening, he came up with a desire and an idea to build the Lord a permanent house. It didn't seem right, it didn't seem fair, that David should be dwelling in a palace while the Lord God was living in a tent. And so he began to put together some blueprints for construction.

However, the Lord told David that because he was a man of war, that he would not be able to build the temple. But his son, who would come after him, would build the temple. Years later, following David's death, God's word came to pass. And King Solomon began to build a magnificent temple. And the temple was placed on Mount Moriah. And Solomon spared no expense and made the house of the Lord elaborate, covered with gold, covered with marble.

And when he completed the temple, they had a dedication service, and it says there in the Bible that God's glory came down and filled that temple so much so that the priests were not able to go in because of the thickness of the presence of God. Then some 400 years later, as the spiritual life of the Jews began to decline, they were engaged in idolatry, immorality, the Lord allowed Babylon to come and attack them. Under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar, the people were displaced and the temple was destroyed.

Then 70 years after that, the Babylonian empire was replaced by the Medo-Persian empire and the Jews were given permission to leave Babylon to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, rebuild their lives, and rebuild their temple. Under the leadership of Joshua the high priest, and Zerubbabel, and the prophet Zechariah and Haggai, they began to lay the foundation of that temple and eventually rebuilt it. But it really didn't compare to the temple that Solomon had built before.

Eventually, world-dominating powers shifted again. This time, the Greek empire conquered the Persian empire and a man by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes went in and desecrated the temple of the Lord. Then some 40 years after that, before Christ, 40 years before Christ, Herod the Great rebuilt and remodeled the temple, making it even more glorious and expensive, and it was actually referred to as Herod's temple.

But during the ministry of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, the disciples were pointing out to Jesus right before his death how wonderful the temple was. And Jesus made a prophetic announcement. He said not one stone of this temple will be left upon another; all will be thrown down. It was only 40 years after that prophetic announcement of Jesus in 70 AD that the Romans now laid siege to the city of Jerusalem.

Although orders were given to spare the temple, it caught fire. And the gold in the temple began to melt in between the stones. And as it began to solidify and harden, the soldiers wanted the gold. So they began to pull down one stone after another to get to the gold. Not one stone was left upon another, just like Jesus had said. The only thing remaining is the Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall.

It's on the western side of Temple Mount, and it's 187 feet high with a section of the ancient wall built by Herod the Great. It was actually a retaining wall of the Temple Mount complex. At least 17 layers of the wall are below street level. But the Jews gather there and they pray, going up to the wall, writing their prayers on little pieces of paper and sticking them inside the wall.

At the present time, the Jews do not have a temple as they once did. But listen, this is the point: the Bible makes it clear here there will be a fourth temple rebuilt during the tribulation period. Sacrificial worship will begin again. Several scriptures point to this fact. The Prophet Daniel declared that the Antichrist would establish a covenant with the nation of Israel, a seven-year agreement with them.

And in the first three and a half years, he would rebuild their temple. But halfway into that agreement, three and a half years in, he will break the covenant, demand to be worshiped as God, and he will engage in what is called the abomination which brings about desolation. Jesus mentions it, Paul the Apostle mentions it. It's where he goes into the temple and demands to be worshiped as God. Jesus said when you see that happen in the rebuilt temple, you better flee because he's going to turn all of his opposition and his arsenal on the Jewish people.

All of these verses collectively implying there must be a rebuilt temple in order for these things to take place. They haven't happened yet. It is yet in the future. Right now, you may not be aware of this, but Israel has everything they need in order to build another temple. They just need permission to do so. There was a place called the Temple Institute that you can visit, and I've visited it many times. They have all of the articles that were used, everything that they need.

In fact, the last time I was there, they said we don't even need a temple; all we need is permission to go onto Temple Mount and within 30 minutes, we could take this altar and set it up and start sacrificing and be ready to go. There's coming a moment, there's coming a day, when there will be a rebuilt temple. And so John is told in advance, "Look at the measurement." He measures the temple, he measures the altar, and he also measures the place of sacrifice and the worshippers.

But he is told specifically, "Don't measure the outer court because it's given to the gentiles and they will tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months." The reason that the outer court wasn't to be measured was because it was to be given to the gentiles. During the time of Herod's temple, the Jews were allowed to put to death any gentile that came beyond what was called the court of the gentiles.

Why not measure this area? It may be the instruction not to measure the outer courts was because the outer courts of this rebuilt temple would include the Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine that is presently there, which currently stands on Temple Mount and is a point of great contention between Jews and Muslims. When the city of Jerusalem—and this is speculation—but when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, the destruction was so thorough that the foundation of the old temple is not easily found.

In fact, most have assumed that the Dome of the Rock shrine stands on the place of the old temple. However, there has been some research done through the years that suggests that the temple may have stood 26 meters to the north of where the Dome of the Rock shrine is today. And that if the temple were to be rebuilt at that site, 26 meters to the north, then the Dome of the Rock shrine would be in its outer courts or the court of the gentiles.

Therefore, they conclude that the temple could be rebuilt and the Dome of the Rock could be left standing without being disturbed. It would be the outer courtyard of the temple, which John is told don't measure that area. Perhaps that's the reason. But here's what we know for sure: there's going to be a rebuilt temple during the days of tribulation. And it says that they are going to tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months. That's 1,260 days. That's the last three and a half years of the seven-year tribulation period.

But at the end of this trampling, you'll notice that John points out, it's revealed to him that there will be two individuals, two witnesses, who will prophesy for 1,260 days and they will be clothed in sackcloth. "And these are the two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." In the Old Testament, the job of a prophet was to speak to God on behalf of the people and to speak to the people on behalf of God.

And throughout Israel's history, the Lord had raised up certain individuals empowered by the spirit to call the nation to repent and to turn back to God. And during the tribulation period, there will be two witnesses standing for the Lord. The word "witness," by the way, is a word where we get our English word "martyr." Notice first of all the authority of the two witnesses. It says, "I will give power to my witnesses."

Two messengers who will be opposed and hated by the world because of the message that they preach. Yet the Lord gives them power to remain strong, to remain bold in their witness. And the authority that they have comes from the Lord God himself. Now, we know that the Antichrist will be filled with the power of Satan, but these two men will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today, the Bible tells us that we are called to be witnesses for Jesus in this world. And as a witness, the Lord promises to give you power and authority to stand for him. The Bible says in Matthew 28, Jesus said in the Great Commission, "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus, in the Great Commission, his last words to his disciples prior to his ascension, is, "I want you to go. Go into all the world and make disciples. And I'm going to give you my authority to carry out this mission." Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."

This is our calling as the church: to be witnesses, to be the light with the authority of Jesus Christ. But notice the message that these witnesses preach. It says they will prophesy. They'll be prophesying for three and a half years, meaning they will be proclaiming and preaching the truth to a world that is believing and in bondage to lies. They will warn people of further judgment to come.

They will give the reasons and answers why judgments are coming from God. They will be preaching the gospel. They will be telling those on the earth how to repent. They will call Jewish people to return to their Messiah as well. This will be their message to the world. We have a message for the world. It's a message of hope. It's a message of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." We have this message. We have this hope. And this is something that we must be proclaiming, something we must be living in the days in which we are here. This is why we're still here and he hasn't come for us yet because we are to be a witness. This is my question: Are you a witness for Christ?

Are you standing for him at this moment? These witnesses arrive on the scene with authority and a bold message to proclaim. And John tells us what they're dressed like. He says they were clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth was the garment of mourning. When you place this garment on your body, it was an outward symbol of inward grief. And these two witnesses will wear the symbols of their grief before the world.

In verse four, John tells us that these two, these witnesses, are two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. Notice this phrase. I've told you before that the Old Testament ties directly into the Book of Revelation. There are pictures and symbols that John uses that take you directly back into the Old Testament scriptures, and this is one of them.

When he mentions two olive trees and two lampstands, that takes you back to Zechariah chapter four, where Zechariah saw a vision of two lampstands being fed with continuous oil from two olive trees. And the vision that he was given had both a near fulfillment and a future fulfillment. The near fulfillment was directed to Zerubbabel and Joshua. They were two men who were used by the Lord to help rebuild the temple when they came back from captivity.

But the future fulfillment of that same picture is right here. Just like Zerubbabel and Joshua were empowered to rebuild the temple, these two individuals, these two witnesses, will be shining lights in a dark world empowered by the spirit of God. And this is exactly what the church is to be doing at the present time. We're to be shining the light to a dark world. That's our job. That's what we're here for.

Some people say, "Why don't you guys go back inside already?" Because we're a light out here in the midst where you can see us publicly and openly. The church has left the building. Jesus said, he said, "You are the light of the world. You're like a city that's set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all those who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

The Lord has called us at this time, at this moment in history, to be light in the world, reflecting his light in the midst of darkness. And we must have the power of the Holy Spirit in order to carry out this mission that we've been given. The two witnesses sent by God, preaching the word of God, are empowered by the spirit of God. But here's the question that so often comes up when you come to this passage: Who are they? Who are the two witnesses?

I can tell you on more than one occasion I have been asked, "Hey, Pastor John, who are the two witnesses? Can you tell us who they are?" Well, let's see if we can discover the identity of the two. I want to begin by saying this passage actually doesn't tell us who the two witnesses are. So dogmatism is avoided when you look at this text. However, there are some hints that might help us. Look at what it says in verse five and see if this is familiar to you.

"If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed in this manner. They have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the day of their prophecy. And they have power over water to turn it to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire." These guys are going to be opposed, they're going to be hated. And yet, when they are opposed, they have power to overcome their enemies.

And so there are varying opinions as to the identity of these witnesses, but the most common response is Elijah and Enoch, or Elijah and Moses. The reason that some suggest Elijah and Enoch is that both of these men did not die, but they were taken by the Lord. Enoch, in the book of Genesis, it says that he walked with God and he was not because God took him.

In the New Testament, it says concerning Enoch that while he was on the earth, that he prophesied that the Lord would come with thousands upon thousands of his holy angels to judge. And when you think about the experience of Enoch being taken before judgment, it's a prefiguring of the church being taken before judgment. He was raptured before the flood came. And I believe that the church will be taken before the tribulation comes.

But then people say Elijah. Like Enoch, he had a unique departure from this world. And the Prophet Malachi predicted that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Today, for example, at the Passover meal that the Jews celebrate, did you know that they leave a vacant chair at the table for Elijah just in case he shows up?

And they even do something with the children who are little. Someone will knock on the door and they'll tell their child it could be Elijah; go see who it is. And they'll go to the door and they just tell them okay, Elijah wasn't there, it's your grandma. But nonetheless, they leave a chair open for Elijah because they're expecting him to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, do you remember? They said, "Wait, we think he's calling for Elijah." They were anticipating him coming.

Narrator: As we draw today's edition of A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall to a close, I have just a few things to tell you about that you might be interested in. What you heard today is one part of a series of studies based in Revelation. You can hear it again at adailywalk.org, oneplace.com, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A case could be made that we've never been more divided as a nation than right now. When a nation is divided, to whom can we turn? Well, that's answered for us in a book we'd like to get into your hands from Jack Countryman. It's titled If My People: A Prayer Guide for Our Nation. You'll receive 40 days of prayer and reflections in the spirit from 2 Chronicles 7:14. And we're making it available to our A Daily Walk listeners for the cost of just $8.

You can call us for the ordering details at 877-242-0828. That's 877-242-0828. Or request it online at adailywalk.org. We are thankful for your support, especially during these summer months. If you've been encouraged and blessed by the teaching of the word and want to help us deliver the good news all across the nation and the world, stop by adailywalk.org or call 877-242-0828.

Well, that's all the time we have for today, but come back next time when Pastor John Randall will continue through the Bible with another stop in Revelation. This program is made possible through your generosity and brought to you by Calvary South OC.