11:1-19   The Two Witnesses / parenthetical section of 10:1 - 14:20 / 15:1 begins the 7^th trumpet (7 bowls or vials).  Chapter 11 is definitely Jewish in character and nature.  The temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem.  There were 3 temples

Solomon: I Kings 8, destroyed by Nebuchadnezer in 583

Zerubbabel: Ezek. 3, destroyed by Antiochus in 168

Herod: John 2:20, destroyed by Titus in 70 A.D.

11:1 Areed like unto a rod@/ common in Jordan Valley / rod was an instrument of chastisement - 2:27; 12:5; 13:14-15

Ameasure@/ God=s evaluation of His property

Atemple of God@/ notice the altar - there is no altar in Christian worship / Heb. 10:19-22 

Three times temples were measured in the Bible:

Zech 2 in Jerusalem

Ezek. 40 - the temple of the future kingdom

Rev. 21 - the New Jerusalem 

Aand them that worship therein@/ measure them also - How do you measure up?  God is the judge of man=s true worship and character - the reed measures us as falling short. 

11:2 AHoly City@/ Neh. 11:1,18; Isa. 52:1; Dan. 9:24; Matt. 4:5; 27:52-53 

Aforty-two months@/ Dan. 7:25; 12:14; 9:24-27; Rev. 12:14 

11:3 Apower unto my two witnesses@/ real people / Who are these two men? 

*Elijah: 2 Kings 2:9-11; Heb. 9:27 / Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return and prepare the way for the second advent: Mal. 3:1-3; 4:5-6, and Elijah preformed the same miracles as the two witnesses. 

*Enoch: Gen. 5:24; I Tim. 6:16 

*Moses: Matt. 17:3; Jude 9 

*Two prophets that were saved during the tribulation and raised up that purpose 

Aclothed in sackcloth@/ garment of repentance: Matt. 11:21; Luke 10:13 

11:4 In Zech. 4-5 the olive trees represent 2 real people: Joshua and Zerubbabel / Cf. Haggai 1:1; 2:2-4 

11:7 Immortal until finished with God=s task / This is the first of 36 references to the beast in Revelation / there are three beast mentioned in Revelation (unholy trinity):

Satan in 11:7

The false prophet in 13:11

The world dictator in 13:1 

11:9 You can silence the witness for truth by death, but you can=t destroy the truth that has been announced.