THE STUDY OF REVELATION 1
Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG Rtozier@creationrevelation.org At Sunrise Bible Church Las Vegas, NV 2
Behold I Come Quickly Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 3
Behold I Come Quickly. The Study of Revelation Lesson 28 4
Opening Prayer 5
Behold I Come Quickly The Study of Revelation Lesson 28 THE TEMPLE AND THE WITNESSES {REV 11:1-3} 6
ISRAEL S FOUR TEMPLES 7
ISRAEL S FOUR TEMPLES REV 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. So far there have been two temples in Israel's history, not including the portable Tabernacle in the wilderness. The first temple was built by Solomon in about 960 BC. 8
ISRAEL S FOUR TEMPLES This temple was eventually destroyed in the final Babylonian invasion by Nebuchadnezzar about 586 BC. Zerubbabal returning from the Babylonian exile built the second temple 70 years later in 515 BC. This was the temple enlarged by Herod in 20 BC (the temple that Jesus knew), and it remained standing until destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. 9
ISRAEL S FOUR TEMPLES At that time it was burned, and the gold from the Temple flowed into the joints between the stones, causing the Romans to dismantle the stones to get at the gold. Not one stone was left on top of another in fulfillment of the Prophecy of Jesus. MAT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 10
ISRAEL S FOUR TEMPLES Since 1967 preparations have been underway for the rebuilding of the Temple. John was given a measuring rod and told to measure in order, the Temple, the altar, and the worshippers. There are two words used for the word "temple" in Hebrew, Hieron, meaning the building, and naos, meaning the Holy Place. John was asked to measure naos the Holy Place. 11
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 12
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME Lets now look at the temple service. Inside the Holy Place was the golden altar, or the altar of incense. 2CH 4:19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set; In addition to the golden altar in the Holy Place were the golden candlestick and the table of shewbread. 13
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME While the animal sacrifice was occurring in the court of the priests, outside the Holy Place, two priests entered the Holy Place to clean the altar of incense, and to trim and refill with oil the golden lamp. Five of the seven were left burning, while the other two were reserved for a later period of the service. At this point in the service a prayer was offered: 14
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME With great love Thou hast loved us, O Lord our God, and with much overflowing pity hast Thou pitied us. Our Father and our King, for the sake of our fathers who trusted in Thee, and Thou taughtest them the statutes of life, have mercy upon us, and enlighten our eyes [in Thy law; cause our hearts to cleave to Thy commandments; unite our hearts to love and to fear Thy name, and we shall not be put to shame, world without end. (Continued) 15
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME For Thou art a God who preparest salvation, and us hast Thou chosen from among all nations and tongues, and hast, in truth, brought us near to Thy great name, Selah, in order] that we in love may praise Thee and Thy Unity. Blessed be the Lord, who in love chose His people Israel. 16
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME After the sacrifice, a golden bowl was filled with coals from the bronze altar (the altar of burnt offering) and the incensing priest and his two assistants entered the Holy Place carrying the coals and a censer containing incense. The two priests, who had previously dressed the altar, preceded the incensing priest and his two assistants into the Holy Place. 17
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME These two priests now removed the vessels they left behind and exited the Holy Place. The burning coals were placed on the altar of incense by one assistant, after which the other arranged the incense. The two assistants then departed leaving the officiating incensing priest alone to await the signal to burn the incense. 18
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME It was at this moment more than 2000 years ago that Gabriel appeared to Zacharias: LUK 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Continued) 19
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 20 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 21 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 22 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their 23 season. (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. Deep silence ensued at this moment throughout the Temple, similar to the silence in heaven that we previously saw in Revelation 8:1 Coincidence? 24
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME Their Messiah came after Zacharias imposed silence Their Messiah is about to return. John the Baptist witnessed for the first. The two witnesses, which may include Elijah, will witness to the second either as part of the two witnesses, or separately. Notice the scene in heaven of Revelation 8, and then notice the prayer that follows that point of the service. 25
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME REV 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 26 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. At this point in the Jerusalem temple prayers were offered as follows: True it is that Thou art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers; our King and the king of our fathers; our Saviour and the Saviour of our fathers; our Maker and the Rock of our salvation; our help and our Deliverer. (Continued) 27
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME Thy name is from everlasting, and there is no God beside Thee. A new song did they that were delivered sing to Thy name by the sea-shore; together did all praise and own Thee as King, and say, Jehovah shall reign who saveth Israel. Be graciously pleased, Jehovah our God, with Thy people Israel, and with their prayer. Restore the service to the oracle of Thy house; and the burnt-offerings of Israel and their prayer accept graciously and in love; 28 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME and let the service of Thy people Israel be ever well-pleasing unto Thee. We praise Thee, who art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator and the Creator from the beginning! Blessing and praise be to Thy great and holy name, that Thou hast preserved us in life and kept us. So preserve us and keep us, and gather the scattered ones into Thy holy courts, (Continued) 29
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME to keep Thy statutes, and to do Thy good pleasure, and to serve Thee with our whole heart, as this day we confess unto Thee. Blessed be the Lord, unto whom belongeth praise. Appoint peace, goodness, and blessing; grace, mercy, and compassion for us, and for all Israel Thy people. Bless us, O our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Thy countenance. For in the light of Thy countenance hast Thou, Jehovah, our God, 30 (Continued)
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME given us the law of life, and loving mercy, and righteousness, and blessing, and compassion, and life, and peace. And may it please Thee to bless Thy people Israel at all times, and at every hour with Thy peace. [May we and all Thy people Israel be remembered and written before Thee in the book of life, with blessing and peace and support.] Blessed be Thou, Jehovah, who blessest Thy people Israel with peace. 31
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME Israel s salvation is at hand!!! At the conclusion, the priest who trimmed the lamps reentered the Holy Place to light the remaining two lamps. Finally, the pieces of the sacrificed animal were usually arranged on the fire of the bronze altar by the high priest. A blessing was then pronounced by one of the priests, probably the incensing priest, the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26. 32
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME If this was Zacharias (Luke 1:5-22), it explains the astonishment of his speechlessness. NUM 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 33
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME The temple, the altar, and the people are measured to determine how many true worshippers of Jesus there are. The ten-foot measuring rod indicates that God is the judge of man s worship and character, and that man can never measure up of his own accord. The true, once for all, sacrifice was not in the Temple, but on a wooden cross at Calvary. 34
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME The animal sacrifice has become an abomination in its rejection of what God has done. The Jews intend to rebuild their Temple to re-institute the animal sacrifice, but will only gain an abomination. Revelation 11:1 indicates that the Jews have not only regained the Temple site, but the right to do something with it. Continuing in Revelation 8:5 something 35 astonishing happens:
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME REV 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 36
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME REV 11:2 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. 37
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME The outer court and Jerusalem are under control of the Gentiles, and will remain so during the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation, "until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled." LUK 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 38
THE TEMPLE IN JESUS TIME Israel was taken captive into all nations after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. The Gentiles tread down Jerusalem even today, but especially during the Tribulation the Gentiles will be in control of Jerusalem during the last 3-1/2 years (42 months). The push today, is to make Jerusalem an international city where Jews, Christians, 39 and Muslims can worship side-by-side.
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 40
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? REV 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 41
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? THE RETURN OF ELIJAH: Most scholars accept Elijah as one of the witnesses, but differ on the identity of the second. We will see later that Elijah, clearly in REV 11:5-6, had the power to shut heaven that it should not rain, as well as the power to call down fire. Elijah was one of two individuals in the Bible that did not die. 42
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? It is not certain during which 3-1/2 years these witnesses witness. However, John Walvoord believes the case can be made that it is during the last half of the Tribulation. He believes that the judgments poured out by these witnesses, and the protection they need from persecution, best fits the last half of the Tribulation. 43
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Also, we see that the prophecy in Malachi 4:5 indicating that Elijah comes before the great and dreadful day of the Lord seems to point to the last 3-1/2 years. We see Elijah s return in Malachi 4:5, 6: Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: (Continued) 44
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. However, there are respected commentators that believe that Elijah will come and witness during the first half of the Tribulation. I believe that Malachi s prophecy allows that possibility. 45
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Should Elijah come just before the sevenyear Tribulation, or even at the very beginning after the confirming of the covenant (Dan 9:27), then it can still be said that Elijah did come before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. I m caught between the two possibilities, but favor the witnesses witnessing during the first 3-1/2 years. You need to decide for yourself. 46
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? JOHN THE BAPTIST John the Baptist was the messenger of Christ s First Coming: Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 47
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? John the Baptist was also prophesied by Isaiah: Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: (Continued) 48
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It is clear that John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3-5 from the following passages in the Gospels: Matt 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias [Isaiah], saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 49
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Matt 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (Continued) 50
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Even though John fulfilled these Scriptures, he was not Elijah who is to come, and John the Baptist acknowledges this. 51
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias [Elijah]? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, no. (Continued) 52
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias [Isaiah]. (John is quoting ISA 40:3-5) But then we see something else in Matthew 17:9-13 that seems to say that John is Elijah. 53
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Matt 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias [Elijah] must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things. (Continued) 54
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 12 But I say unto you, That Elias [Elijah] is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. 55
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Jesus indicated that Elijah was yet to come in the future, but that he also had already come. John was a type of Elijah. Jesus said that Elijah must come, but alludes to the fact that, in a sense, John the Baptist is Elijah. The explanation is found in Matthew 11. 56
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Matt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias [Elijah], which was for to come. 57
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? However, Israel didn t receive it, Israel rejected the Messiah and the offered Kingdom, therefore Elijah is still yet to come to fulfill Malachi 4:5, 6. Luke 1:13-17 also says that John the Baptist was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. LUK 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 58
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? If Israel had accepted the message, then John the Baptist would have fulfilled Malachi 4:5, 6. Elijah is yet to come, before the Great Tribulation. We have already seen that John the Baptist denied that he was Elijah; he also did not demonstrate the signs of Elijah. So what is the truth of the matter? 59
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? The angel Gabriel said that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, but he did not say that he would be Elijah. 60
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? ENOCH Like Elijah, Enoch did not die. Enoch represented the pre-flood world. Enoch saw a world corrupted by great rebellion, and was God's witness during that period. Enoch and Elijah are logical candidates because they are the only ones that have not tasted death. 61
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? The witnesses are to be killed, as we shall soon see. John the Baptist and Moses would be required to suffer death a second time. The argument against John and Moses is a verse in the book of Hebrews. HEB 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 62
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Arguing against Hebrews 9:27, as a support of Enoch, is the Rapture. During the Rapture all believers who are alive will be caught up to heaven without suffering death. Lazarus died a second time, after Jesus raised him from the grave (John 11:38-44). Previous death or the lack thereof is apparently not requisite. 63
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Finally, Enoch was not connected to Israel; Israel did not yet exist. Enoch was a Gentile. The second reason that Enoch might be the second witness is that he prophesied of the return of Christ and the Tribulation as follows: 64
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? JUD 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 65
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? MOSES Moses, more than any other, represented the Law. Elijah represented the prophets. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets. MAT 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Continued) 66
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Moses appeared with Elijah once before, at the mount of Transfiguration, as witnesses representing the Law and the Prophets. MAT 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Continued) 67
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias [Elijah] talking with him. Despite the fact of the previous death of Moses, I am persuaded that the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. Moses was God's witness before Pharaoh. 68
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? As we shall soon see, the plagues unleashed by these witnesses parallel the plagues unleashed against Pharaoh and Egypt. However, Walvoord believes that these two witnesses will be raised up from among those who turn to Christ in the time following the rapture. 69
WHO ARE THE WITNESSES? Hocking disagrees saying that A strong case can be made for Moses and Elijah, the one representing the law and the other the prophets. You will need to decide for yourself. 70
End of The Study of REVELATION Lesson 28 71
Closing Prayer 72
Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG Rtozier@creationrevelation.org At Sunrise Bible Church Las Vegas, NV 73