Revelation 11

REVELATION CHAPTER ELEVEN

            "Chapter 11 is for me one of the most difficult to understand. My comfort level in talking about it is not as high as with others, especially if pushed into too much detail." (Wilcox p. 141) "It is better to be intellectually uncertain rather than superficially sure. This will still leave us with a great deal to be certain about, while maintaining a humility to learn." (Wilcox p. ix)

             “John informs us that after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews and the Gentiles will tread it under foot 42 months during which time there will be two prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. It seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying and overthrowing the city, while these 2 prophets continue. But after a struggle of 3 ½ years they at length succeed in destroying these two prophets and then overrunning much of the city, they send gifts to each other because of the death of the two prophets and in the meantime will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem 3 ½ days” (PPP, A Voice of Warning, p. 41-41)

 Vs. 1 – To measure seems to indicate a judgment resulting in protection or not. The reed is apparently a measuring rod or surveyor’s rule, probably made from the “giant reed” (arundo donax) that grows in the swampy areas of the Mediterranean lands. The reeds were usually 10 feet long, some as long as 20. The temple referred to here was probably not Herod’s temple. It had been destroyed 20 years before this revelation. It probably refers to the temple to be built in the latter days in Jerusalem. Ezekiel described this temple in great detail in Ezek. 40-46. Joseph Smith also spoke of this temple, “Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple. (TPJS p. 286) Also note that the saints of God are referred by Paul are “an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19-21; I Cor. 3:16). That is to say, the community of Saints, speaking of those who attend the temple and worship within its walls, constitute a temple of God. These are measured by John and receive protection. The question we might ask is, "How do I measure up?" I wonder if temple worthiness is the standard. In New Testament times only those who held the priesthood could enter the temple proper. See also 2 Nephi 6:14, Joel 2:11-18

Vs. 2 -Those judged to be within the walls of the temple worship are to be protected (vs. 1), while those in the outer court are not to be given this protection. See also D&C 1:9; 101:11; 109:45.

42 months- the number 42 is manifest scripturally in several ways, each of which equals three and one-half.

Dan. 7:25         Dan. 9:27         Dan. 12:7         Rev. 11:2         Rev. 11:3         Rev. 12:14

Rev. 11:11       Rev. 13:5         Luke 4:25        James 5:17

            Forty-two months, or three and one-half, or 1,260, belong to the wicked and apparently signify their work. The number 3 ½ may mean that the work of righteousness is cut short. That number is one half of 7, the number of perfection and completion, which belongs to God and his Saints. We recall that the number 7 is used symbolically many times in Revelation with regard to God and his work…Further, the root of the Hebrew word for seven (sheva) is identical to the Hebrew verb that means ‘to take an oath’, thus connecting the word seven to covenants and covenant making. One-half of seven, or 3 ½ represents an incomplete covenant (religious systems that appear to be spiritual and to possess power but do not) or the broken covenant (apostate conditions). (Parry 137-138)

Vs. 3 – D&C 77:15 – Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation?

A.     They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.

See also 2 Nephi 8:18-20

            Two is the canonical number necessary to sustain a charge at court. (Dt. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1; Dt. 17:6; Num 35:30) They will provide a dual testimony. “No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or the First Presidency of the Church.” (BRM – DNTC 3:509)

            Sack cloth is a symbol for humility and sorrow, worn by the poor and those who are mourning. (Gen. 37:34; Esther 4:1; Isa. 37:1)

Vs. 4 – See Zech. 4: 3, 11-14- Note that they stand next to the Lord. Many of the events connected to the work of these two prophets recall events of the mortal ministry of Jesus; 3 ½ year ministry, prophesying, miracles, control over elements anointed with oil, slain in Jerusalem by evil men, their ascension into heaven. Meahem Haran wrote: “In general, any religious activity to which the biblical text applies the formula ‘before the Lord’ can be considered an indication of the existence of a temple…this expression…actually belongs to the temple’s technical terminology.” (Temples and Temple Service, p. 26, quoted in Parry, p. 140)

            The reference to two olive trees is an indication that they have been anointed with holy oil in the Lord’s temple.  Also olive oil is put into lamps so people can be prepared to meet Christ as in the parable of the 10 Virgins.  The reference to candlesticks indicates that they will be an example to the world. (Matt. 5:14-16)

Vs. 5 – the words from their mouth would likely bring fire from God. See 2 Kings 1:10-18 and Numbers 16:35.

Vs. 6 – This verse calls to mind the sealing of the heavens by Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 and Nephi in Helaman 10 & 11. Jesus referred to this famine in Luke 4:25 and said that it lasted 3 ½ years! Also Nephi in Helaman 10 & 11.

            Other powers are talked about being held by all Melchizedek Priesthood holders in JST Genesis 14:30-32 and D&C 43:25. Power over water is referenced in Moses 7:13; Moses 1:25; Hel. 8:11; Mark 4:39; D&C 61:27.

            As often as they will may be an indication that these Elders will need frequently to call upon their Priesthood power.

Vs. 7 – This beast may be the beast of Rev. 13:1-8. Like Jesus, Joseph, Abinadi and other martyrs, death will not come until their mission is finished.

Vs. 8 – The prophet Joseph Smith taught, “It has always been considered a great calamity not to obtain an honorable burial: and one of the greatest curses the ancient prophets could put on any man, was that he should go without a burial.” (HC 5:361) See also Psalms 79:3-4;. and 2 Maccabees 5:8-19  9: and he who had driven many from their own country into exile died in exile, having embarked to go to the Lacedaemonians in hope of finding protection because of their kinship. 10: He who had cast out many to lie unburied had no one to mourn for him; he had no funeral of any sort and no place in the tomb of his fathers.

Sodom (Gen. 19:24)  and Egypt (Abr. 1:23, Egypt=that which is forbidden) take us back to the days of Abraham.

Vs. 9-10 – The rejoicing over the death of these two prophets appears to be wide-spread. (CNN will be loving it.) The message of these 2 prophets is pricking the conscience of wicked people world wide.

Vs. 11-12 – See Elijah’s account in 2 Kings 2:11. Also according to Clement of Alexandria, Moses was taken by a cloud. (Draper, p. 123) See also Ezekiel 37:10 – And the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet.”

Vs 13 – “The damage is selective. A tenth of the city falls. This is the Lord’s portion-his tithe that he will demand of the wicked. The number ten indicates, among other things, the whole of a part. The ten plagues were the whole of that portion of God’s wrath brought against Egypt, but not the fullness of his wrath. The number ten represents all the tribes taken into captivity, but not all of the house of Israel, nor all of any one tribe. Thus, it may be that the Seer indicates that the judgment came at the moment of ascension, upon all the wicked who fought against the witnesses.

            That John uses the figure seven thousand as the number devoted to death lends support to this idea. The number is probably not to be taken literally. Rather, it signifies, as in other places, fullness and completeness. Thus, the specific number doomed to death all died during this judgment.” (Draper p. 123-4) It also appears that some are converted in seeing this miracle.

Vs. 14 - 2nd woe is past

Vs. 15 – The 7^th angel (Michael-D&C 88:112) is announcing the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign. “Christ will reign personally upon the earth”. Note a little Handel's Messiah at the end of the verse. Also note the JST takes the "S" off of Kingdoms. There will just be one.

Vs. 16 – These Elders repeat this action of worshipping He who sits upon the throne 4 times in the Book of Revelation; 4:10; 5:14; 11:16 & 19:4. In 5:8 they bow down to the Lamb. These are the same ones who back in 6:10 asked how long it would be before justice would come on the earth as they witnessed the persecution in the days of John.

Vs. 17-18 – The words are given here of the praise of the 24 Elders mentioned in vs. 16.

The rewards of the Savior to the righteous will be discussed in Rev. 19-22 and include a wedding, a feast, a magnificent city, healing fountains, and fruit-laden trees of life, and the comforting peace of the Master’s gentle touch. They were detailed also in the D&C 76:92-95. The rewards to the wicked are covered in chapters 13-18 and part of 19. They consist of the withdrawal of his Spirit and allowing the minion of the adversary to bring about their own collapse. (See 2 Nephi 26:10-11) (Wilcox p. 156-7)

Vs. 19 – The temple is open in preparation for its chief occupant to leave its sanctity and descend to the earth. (Wilcox p. 158) Also to receive those who are worthy to enter it. (Parry, p. 147)

            John’s statement that there was seen in his temple the ark of his testimony” indicates that all exalted Saints, not just the high priest of the earthly temple, will be privileged to gain access to Jesus Christ and his sacred, heavenly dwelling. (Parry, p. 147)

            “Few things could better symbolize the covenant that God made with Israel than the display of the ark of the covenant. At this moment, when all that was promised is about to come about, the heavenly host enter the Holy of Holies and receive their eternal rest. But not all is done. The worlds wicked must still stand judgment. So from the temple issue flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. All these are sent against the earth once more. (Draper, p. 125)

Parallels between the ministry of these two witnesses and the Savior;

1. Both in Holy Land.  2. Length of ministry   3. Light of world and 2 candlesticks   4. Power over elements   5. Martyrs   6. Wicked rejoice at death   7. Resurrected after 3 days   8. Destruction accompanies death 9. Many converted by their resurrections. (Taken from Ridges p. 439-40)