Sunday
Morning Bible Study
February
5, 2012
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk
– Meat – Manna Preach for a decision
I want to offer this public service announcement for all today’s Football
parties…
The apostle
John found himself caught up into heaven before the throne of God.
He saw Jesus
take a scroll from the hand of God that had been sealed with seven seals. As Jesus broke each seal
and unrolled the scroll a little further, events begin to take place on the
earth and the time that we call the Tribulation begins to unfold.
The Tribulation is a time when God’s wrath is poured out on an unbelieving
world and God begins to make right all the things that have been so wrong.
Built within
the seventh seal are seven trumpets.
We are now in a break between the sixth and seventh trumpets.
11:1-6 Two
Witnesses
:1 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.
:1 reed – kalamos –
a reed; a measuring reed or rod; writer’s reed, a pen
:1 measuring rod – rhabdos
– a staff, a walking stick, a twig, rod, branch; a staff
:1 measure – metreo (“meter”)
– to measure, to measure out or off
:1 the temple – naos
– used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or
sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies
:1 the altar – thusiasterion
– the altar for slaying and burning of victims used of
:1 those who worship – proskuneo
– to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; in the NT by
kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance
:1 measure the
temple of God
Though John is told to measure the temple, he doesn’t record the measurements
of the temple.
Ezekiel lived
in Babylon after the destruction of the first temple, and he was given a vision of
a rebuilt temple (Eze. 40). He too was given a measuring rod, but Ezekiel
actually writes down the measurements of the temple he sees.
Though I do not
believe that Ezekiel’s temple is the same as John’s, it might actually be
something that the Jews will consider when they rebuild their temple. Ezekiel’s temple is HUGE compared to the
other temples.
John’s measurements are not just about the temple, but also about the
altar and those who are worshipping.
The altar was located in front of the main building.
How does he “measure” the worshippers?
The Temple problem
There have been several Jewish Temples in Jerusalem.
Solomon built
the first Temple.
The Second Temple
was built by Zerubbabel and refurbished and expanded by King Herod.
That Temple was
destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, and there has not been a Jewish Temple since.
The next Temple
will be known as the “Third Temple”.
The Bible tells us that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem in the last
days, but this presents a problem.
The site we call the “Temple Mount” is currently under the control of
the Muslims as it has been pretty much since they conquered Jerusalem in 637
AD.
When
Israel took over all of Jerusalem
after the 1967 war, Moshe Dayan met with a council of Muslim clerics and gave them control of the
entire temple mount, as a way of making peace with the Islamic residents of
Jerusalem.
There are two important Islamic structures on the mount – the al-Aqsa Mosque is a functioning
mosque that holds regular services. The Dome of the Rock is
important because it sits on top of the rock that the Muslims claim that Abraham
sacrificed Ishmael, which is also the place where the Bible tells us that Abraham
sacrificed Isaac.
The Temple Mount is considered the third holiest site in Islam. They are not going to give it up without
either a fight or without some incredible supernatural diplomatic efforts by a
strong world leader.
It is possible that the antichrist’s treaty with Israel at the beginning of
the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27)
will pave the way for their temple to be rebuilt.
(Da 9:27
NKJV) Then
he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the
week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation,
which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
When the Jews rebuild
their Temple, they will do it on wherever they finally decide is the ancient
location of the holy of holies.
The common theory is that the Dome of the Rock is also on top of what used to be the Holy of
holies.
There is a
square indentation on the Rock that some suggest was the place that the Ark of
the Covenant once sat.
Another theory
is that the Holy of Holies might have been on a spot 330 feet north of the Dome
of the Rock.
Some think it was located south of
the Dome of the Rock, perhaps in the area between the al-Aqsa Mosque and the
Dome of the Rock.
For some time now a fellow named
Dr. Asher Kaufman has suggested that it was located north of the Dome of the
Rock by some 330 feet.
Play “The Dome
of the spirits” clip of Miriam.
Why is it
important that the Holy of Holies be lined up with the Eastern Gate?
Because in Ezekiel’s description of the Temple, there is a straight line
from the Eastern Gate through all the inner Temple gates straight into the Holy
of Holies.
I think it’s very possible that Ezekiel’s vision might be
the one used by the Jews to built support for rebuilding the Temple on the
northern spot.
Lesson
We are close
There is an organization
called “The Temple Institute” that has been working for years towards the goal
of rebuilding the Temple.
Priests have
been trained
Garments have
been made.
The Temple items like the Menorah, the Altar of Incense, and the Table of Showbread and
lots more have all been constructed.
A few weeks ago the Temple Institute released their blueprints for the
portion of the Temple where the Sanhedrin will meet.
We are very, very
close. Are you ready for Jesus’
return?
All that’s left is for someone to figure out how to allow the Jews to
rebuild their Temple, and that can happen after we’re gone in the Rapture.
:2 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
forty-two months.
:2 the court
– aule – the courtyard around the
Temple
:2 outside – esothen –
from within; within, that which is within, the inside
Some mss have exothen – from without,
outward
:2 leave out
– ekballo – to cast out, drive out,
to send out
What’s interesting the use of this word is that it’s the word that’s often
associated with casting out demons:
(Mt 8:16
NKJV) When
evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word…
:2 the Gentiles – ethnos
– a tribe, nation, people group; foreign nations not worshipping the true
God, pagans, Gentiles
:2 the holy city – Jerusalem
:2 tread – pateo –
to tread; to trample, crush with the feet
:2 tread the holy
city underfoot for forty-two months
The idea is that Jerusalem will be ruled by Gentiles for 3 ½ years
I think it’s possible
that these forty-two months are the last three and a half years of the
Tribulation.
The Tribulation
is a period of seven years. It’s the
last “week” of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” (Dan. 9:24-27). We
have learned that these “weeks” are groups of seven years.
There is a specific
time marker in the middle of this last seven years known as the “Abomination of
Desolation”. Daniel wrote,
(Da 9:27 NKJV) Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the
middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one
who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the
desolate.”
In the middle of this seven year period, the Antichrist will do
something so horrible (abominable) that he will bring a sort of “desolation”.
We believe this is when the Antichrist reveals himself as
the evil person he really is, and will declare himself to be “god”.
Jesus said of this event:
(Mt 24:15–16 NKJV) —15
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him
understand), 16
“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
The Jews fleeing will leave Jerusalem to the Gentiles.
In Luke, Jesus describes what will happen to the Jews in Jerusalem that
don’t flee:
(Lk 21:24
NKJV) And
they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all
nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the
Gentiles are fulfilled.
So – this 3 ½ years might refer to the last half, when the city is
“trodden” by the Gentiles.
:2 leave out the
court
Why is John told to not include the outer court as he measures the Temple?
It has been
given to the Gentiles.
Ezekiel describes his Temple as having a wall around it to separate the
holy from the “profane” or “common”
(Eze
42:20 NKJV) He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five
hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas
from the common.
That makes some
of us think that there might be some sort of solution created one day to have
the Dome of the Rock standing in what would be the outer court of the Jewish
Temple with a wall between the two.
:3 And I will
give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two
hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
:3 power
Not in the Greek text. It’s just
“I will give to my two witnesses …”
“Power” makes sense, but it’s simply understood, not translated.
:3 sackcloth – sakkos
– a sack; a course cloth, a dark course stuff made especially from the hair
of animals
:3 clothed in
sackcloth
They are
wearing clothing made out of gunny sacks. Why?
This is a
traditional thing to wear when you are in “mourning”.
When Jacob thought that his son
Joseph had been killed by wild animals:
(Ge 37:34 NKJV) Then Jacob tore his
clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
It would be like making underwear out of the scratchiest roughest material
you could find – not very comfortable and it reminds you of how miserable you
are.
These two witnesses aren’t here to
announce a big party. It would seem more likely that they’re here weeping and
mourning over the judgment that’s around the corner for those who won’t believe
… something like what Jeremiah
wrote,
(Je 4:8
NKJV) For this,
clothe yourself with sackcloth, Lament and wail. For the fierce anger of the Lord— Has not turned back from us.
Lesson:
Sharing
the bad news
On one hand, the message we have for
people is “good news”.
The
word “gospel” means “good news”.
We have the good news that God wants
people to be right with Him, and that He has made it possible by sending His Son to earth
in order to die and pay the penalty for our sins.
The good news is that all we need to do
is to turn to God and receive His gift of eternal life by faith.
But “good news” isn’t all that good
unless it is contrasted with the “bad news”.
The
bad news is that a person without
Christ is going to stand before God in judgment one day.
The really bad news is that they will
be facing an eternity
away from God in hell unless they do something about their sin.
Sometimes there is a place for weeping and grief when we
witness. The truth about sin and hell ought be break our hearts concerning those
that don’t know the Lord.
What does this all look like?
Jesus said that we were to be
lights in this world.
(Mt 5:14 NKJV) “You are the light
of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
He also said that you don’t bring a
light into a room and hide it under a basket, but to put it on the stand so
that dark things could be revealed in the light.
(Mk 4:21–22 NKJV) —21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a
basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor
has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
Sometimes as God’s “lights” we will
be the bearer of bad news as we bring things done in the dark out into the
light. Here’s one way that looks:
:3 one thousand two
hundred and sixty days
It seems since the time that Daniel was in Babylon, that much of Bible
prophecy is based on a Babylonian calendar, which consists of 360 day years.
That means this is also a period of 3 ½ years.
I believe this
3 ½ years is the FIRST half of the Tribulation.
These individuals are allowed to speak until the Antichrist is given
permission to kill them.
That fits best as taking place at the mid-point of the Tribulation, when the
Antichrist reveals himself as pure evil.
:4 These are the
two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
:4 two olive trees
:4 olive trees – elaia
– an olive tree
In John’s day, olive
trees were not valued as a source of olives to eat, but olives to make olive oil.
Olive oil was what drove the lighting industry. Olive
oil brought light.
Olive oil is
also a picture in the Bible of the Holy Spirit.
:4 two lampstands
:4 lampstands – luchnia
– a (candlestick) lamp stand, candelabrum
These witnesses are describes as “lampstands”, the same word used by Jesus to describe us as
being lights (Mat. 5:14-15)
(Mt 5:14–15 NKJV) —14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do
they light a lamp and put it under a
basket, but on a lampstand, and it
gives light to all who are in the house.
We’ll talk more about the trees and lamps in a minute …
:5 And if anyone
wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies.
And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
:5 fire proceeds
from their mouth
This may be
talking about really, really bad breath.
It may be something
more like what happened with Elijah, the ability to “speak” and call down fire
(lightning) from heaven.
When the king
of Israel sent soldiers to have Elijah arrested, Elijah called down fire from
heaven and they all died (2Ki.
1:10)
(2 Ki 1:10 NKJV) So Elijah answered
and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire
come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down
from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
This happened several times with
several groups of soldiers.
Elijah was a dangerous man.
:6 These have power
to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they
have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all
plagues, as often as they desire.
:6 power to shut
heaven
This too was
something that Elijah was known for.
(1 Ki 17:1
NKJV) And Elijah
the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I
stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
How long was it before Elijah ended the drought and commanded rain to come?
3 ½ years. (James 5:17)
(Jas 5:17–18 NKJV) —17 Elijah was a man with a nature like
ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on
the land for three years and six months. 18 And
he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
:6 waters … to
blood
That sounds like Moses
when he challenged Pharaoh, turning the Nile into blood (Ex. 7:20)
(Ex 7:20 NKJV) And Moses and Aaron
did so, just as the Lord
commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in
the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all
the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
:6 to strike the
earth with all plagues
That too sounds
like Moses.
The book of Exodus records the ten plagues that God brought through Moses
in order to bring the Israelites out of slavery.
Who are the witnesses?
There have been lots of suggestions through the years.
1. Unique
individuals
It’s possible that they are simply two individuals who will show up on the
earth at this point of time.
2. Enoch …
Zerubbabel
One of these two are often paired with Elijah (we’ll talk about him later)
Enoch was unique in that he didn’t die.
(Ge 5:24
NKJV) And Enoch
walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
The suggestion is that this qualifies him to come back, be
a witness, and then die.
Zerubbabel is the focus of a lamp and olives prophecy in Zechariah
(Zec 4:6
NKJV) …“This is
the word of the Lord to
Zerubbabel…”
3. Moses and Elijah
These are my personal favorites.
Elijah didn’t
die – he was taken to heaven in a chariot.
Moses died, but his body was never found.
These fellows do
the miracles that were unique to Moses and Elijah.
They have
already appeared together when they appeared with Jesus on the Mount of
Transfiguration.
They are often
talked about together as symbolic of the Old Testament, representing the “Law
and the Prophets”.
Malachi tells us that Elijah will one day return:
(Mal 4:5 NKJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord.
The Jews today keep an open spot at
their dinner table during Passover for Elijah.
:4 the two olive
trees
The image comes from a vision of Zechariah where he sees a lampstand that
is able to keep burning continuously because it is connected directly to a pair
of olive trees.
(Zec 4:6–7 NKJV) —6 So he
answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by
power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord
of hosts. 7 ‘Who are
you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And
he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
The mountain in
Zerubbabel’s life was the huge task of rebuilding the second Temple. Yet God promised
that when it was finished, people would be amazed at the “grace” that God had given
in completing the project.
God was
promising to be Zerubbabel’s supply of strength.
Lesson
God will supply
Zerubbabel would be able to finish the project, not because he had enough
strength of his own, but because God would supply the strength through His
Spirit.
Illustration
A pastor named Kyle writes, “When I started a new church in Los Angeles County, California, I
found that I was overwhelmed with pressure and stress. I was working more than
seventy hours a week. My wife would ask me to take a day off, and I would say, “I
can’t.” I wasn’t sleeping at night, and I started to take sleeping pills. When
the church was about a year old, I woke up in the night, and I had this strange
sense that God was laughing at me. As I lay in bed, I wondered, Why is God
laughing at me?
“It would take five years before I finally got an answer to that question.
Here’s how it happened: when we moved into our current house, I saved the heaviest
piece of furniture for last—the desk from my office. As I was pushing and
pulling the desk with all my might, my four-year-old son came over and asked if he could help. So
together we started sliding it across the floor. He was pushing and grunting as
we inched our way along. After a few minutes, my son stopped pushing, looked up
at me, and said, “Dad, you’re in my way.” And then he tried to push the desk by
himself. Of course it didn’t budge. Then I realized that he thought he was
actually doing all the work, instead of me. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“The moment I started
laughing at my son’s comment, I recalled that middle-of-the-night incident and
I realized why God was laughing at me. I thought I was pushing the desk. I know
that’s ridiculous, but instead of recognizing God’s power and strength, I
started to think it all depended on me.