The Book of Revelation
Chapter 11
“Rebuilding the Temple”
The Bible speaks of 3 Temples that will be built in Israel.
The first was built by King Solomon, David’s son, and was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar as he invaded Israel in 586 B.C.. The second temple was built by Zerubbabel between the years of 520 -516 B.C. This was the temple that was in existence when Jesus came to the earth.
One day as the disciples were taking Jesus on a tour of this 2nd temple, Jesus said this to them:
Mark 13:1-2
1 Then as Jesus went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
38 years later, Titus came with his Roman army and set fire to the temple and in the process of this fire, all the gold and silver in the temple melted and ran down into the cracks of the walls of the temple.
The siege by the Roman Army in 70 A.D
Burning of the Temple in 70 A.D.
In their lust to get the gold and silver, the Roman soldiers pried each of the stones of the temple apart and rolled them down the hill of the temple mount.
According to Bible Prophecy, there will be a third and final temple built in the “Last Days” at the beginning of the terrible 7-year Tribulation period
As we approach chapter 11 in the Book of Revelation, we see John who is told to take a measuring device and measure this third “Temple of God” .
This is very exciting, because here in chapter 11, and also in 2 Thessalonians, we see clear evidence, that at the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation, the Temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem, on the Temple mount. It will be the 3rd Temple.
In the Book of 2 Thessalonians, the antichrist, whom the entire world will have embraced as their leader and savior, will go into the newly built temple to erect a statue of himself and command that the world should worship him as god.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
…the man of sin … the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Let’s follow John now as he describes chapter 11 for us:
Revelation Chapter 11
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 forty-two months.
This is a truly amazing chapter in the Book of Revelation.
Remember that this was written about 90 A.D., more than 1,900 years ago, and yet it speaks clearly of the temple in Jerusalem being measured. At the time John is writing this, their own temple had already been destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus and his Roman army. John sees a temple that is future for him, the Third temple that will exist on this site, will not be built until the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation period.
You see, we have a bit of a problem right now, in that the Islamic Religious site, the “Dome of the Rock”, occupies the Temple mount site in Jerusalem.
Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount
How is it that John knew 1900 years ago, that a gentile religious building would occupy the temple mount site, other than the temple itself. If you think about it, this is an outrageous thought to any Fundamentalist Jew. That a gentile religious site would share the temple mount site with their temple. And yet, 1900 years ago, John sees that there is just such a structure there, in the outer court of the temple, AMAZING!
John is told to take a “Reedâ€, a device used during that time for measuring things.
He is to go and measure the temple. He is told to not measure the “outer court” because it “Has been given to the Gentiles.”
Ezekiel 40:5 Ezekiel saw “A Wall around the Temple”
There was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod
The temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the last days, just before Jesus returns.
Most likely the construction and completion will not start until the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period. As the antichrist is introduced during the opening of the first “seal”, he brings peace with him that appears to last 3 1/2 years. We believe part of this peace plan will be a treaty between Israel and the Arab nations. The very thing that they are clamoring for right now, someone to make peace between the Arab people and the Jewish people.
To make peace with the Arab people, Israel will give up something in exchange for the permission to rebuild their temple.
The Palestinians are insisting on being given their own land. The problem is that God gave this land to the Jewish people when He called Abraham, back in the 12th chapter of the Book of Genesis. “God said that the land would belong to Israel forever! God is not going to allow them to give away their land…
There is currently a very active movement in Israel to rebuild the temple.
Various groups such as “The Temple Mount Faithful” are actively pursuing the rebuilding of the third temple. From this verse here in Revelation 11 and other verses, we also know that the sacrifices are to be re-instituted. Because the antichrist will stop the “daily sacrifices” 3 1/2 years into the tribulation as he brings a statue of himself into the temple and commands that it should be worshipped. Some groups are trying to bring the rebuilding of the temple by peaceful means, others are radical and trying to plan an attack on the temple mount to blow up the dome of the rock.
Dr. Asher Kaufman has studied the temple site and the ancient documents for many years.
He is convinced that the original temple stood 322 feet north of the Arab “dome of the rock”. If you look, there is a little flat rock outcropping called the “Dome of the Spirits” or the “dome of the tablets”. Dr. Kaufman believes this is where the “Holy of Holies” was located in Solomon’s temple.
The following illustrations show the Temple mount area today, with the “Dome of the Rock” and the Temple that will be rebuilt right next to it.
Dome of the Spirits
The next illustration show an aerial view of the Temple Mount area. You can see an open area just north of the Gold topped “Dome of the Rock”, the Islamic site where there is adequate space to rebuild the new temple.
Temple Mount Diagram
The Blue line shows the wall that will be built between the newly built Temple and the Dome of the Rock, separating the two, just as John is told here in Revelation 11, not to measure that area outside the temple, because it has been given to the Gentiles.
Another amazing fact is that if the temple were to be built in this open part of the Temple Mount, The east-west axis of the Dome of the Tablets would line up exactly with the Ancient Eastern Gate located underneath the Southern side of the present day East Gate!.
We know that the original Temple, was aligned directly with the East Gate.
This photo taken from the Mount of Olives, looking straight across the valley to the East Gate, with the temple mount in the background. The “Dome of the Spirits” is where Holy of Holies stood in the original temple, (red arrow in the background).
East Gate must line up with the Holy of Holies
Originally, when the original Temple existed, if you were standing on the Mount of Olives you could look directly over the valley and see the Eastern Gate (also called Shushan or HaKohan gate) into the huge area (presently north of the Dome of the Rock) and see all the gates (at different levels) in a perfect line.
This next picture is a shot of the Temple Mount, with the Islamic Dome of the Rock, and superimposed into the picture, a illustration of the new Temple that will be built, what it will look like.
Notice that the entrance to the Temple is in perfect alignment with the eastern gate.
Temple aligned with the East Gate
All the walls around Jerusalem were high, except the wall in the east, so that the priest who burned the heifer, standing on the top of the Mount of Olives, could look, through the gateway of the sanctuary, at the time when he sprinkled the blood.” During the day of atonement [Mishnah, Middot 2:4]
Dr. Asher S. Kaufman concluded that the original site of the Temple was at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount north of the Dome of the Rock. He has determined that the east-west line aligning the Mount of Olives with the Eastern Gate and the Temple bisect on a small shrine called the Dome of the Spirits.
Diagram of Temple next to Dome of the Rock
The Holy of Holies is thought to have been located on the bedrock covered by this small area today where the little Dome of the Spirits is located. Dr. Kaufman noted that the bedrock inside this little domed area is the only such bedrock appearing on the Temple Mount –it sticks up from the surface.
Dome of the Spirits showing bedrock beneath
The rest of the area around the Dome of the Rock has been paved. This is the “Eben Shetiyyah” (Foundation stone) that was the floor in the ancient Holy of Holies.
Dr. Asher Kaufman, Biblical Archeology Review, Vol IX No.2, Mar./Apr. 1983, Where the Ancient Temple of Jerusalem Stood, Extant “Foundation Stone” for the Ark of the Covenant Is Identified]
“JUST PUBLISHED: The 4-inch-wide, 3.5-inch-tall ostracon, or inscribed potsherd, shown contains the oldest complete extra-Biblical mention of the House (or Temple) of Yahweh ever found. The 8 Hebrew letters are read right to left. Lamed, Bayit, Yod, Tau La-Bayit = The House Biblical Archaeology Review, Nov./Dec. 1997, Vol. 23, No. 6, p. 30 (p. 28-32) -
Ostracon discovered in Israel
According to Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) in referring to Talmudic writings from the times before the destruction of Herod’s refurbished Temple in 70 A.C.E., the Temple was not built in the center of the Temple Mount (in the Dome of the Rock location [Encyclopedia Judaica CD, "Temple Mount"]).
He states that the Temple Courtyard was not situated directly in the center of the Temple Mount. Rather, it was set off farther from the southern wall of the Temple Mount than from the wall of any other direction. [Mishnah, Middot 2:1] This explains why the entire inner court fits perfectly in the area north of the Dome of the Rock and west of the present day East Gate!
“Ever since first being built by Solomon, the Temple stood at the top of a hill that came to be known as the Temple Mount.”
This open area next to the existing Islamic Dome of the Rock, is the only location that permits you to see the “East Gate” and the mount of olives, this would confirm the position of this location.
Dome of the Rock next to open area
There is a very interesting statement in the Book of Ezekiel, regarding this Eastern Gate:
Ezekiel 44:1
Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut.
The East Gate From a Distance
East Gate Up Close
The Eastern Gate is the most important and most impressive gate in Jerusalem, and the only visible entrance to the city of Jerusalem from the East. This oldest of all the gates to the city was the only one not rebuilt by the Islamic leader Suleiman the Magnificent in AD 1539-42. Suleiman understood from the Bible, that the Messiah was supposed to come through this Eastern Gate upon His return to the earth so The Eastern Gate was walled up by the Arabs in the year 810. It has remained closed now for nearly 1,2oo years.
The Bible says that when Jesus returns, He will descend out of Heaven (Revelation 19), and descend upon the Mount of Olives, the same place that He departed the earth back to heaven.
Acts 1:11
… “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven
Zechariah 14:4
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east
700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Malachi said that when Jesus comes, it will be to His temple, and suddenly.
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple…
This was true at Jesus first coming, as He was brought to the temple as a baby, and it appears that He will come first to His temple again, as Malachi predicted, when Jesus returns the second time.
Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Again, When Jesus returns, He will touchdown on the Mount of Olives, and then travel through the East Gate.
Zechariah 14:1-4
1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.
At the moment that Jesus’ feet touch the Mount of Olives, there will be a tremendous Earthquake, causing the Mount to split in two… The surface of the earth is cracked and broken and is in a constant state of movement, that we call earthquakes. Whenever two different plates on the earth’s surface move against each other, pressure is built up until the pressure is released by an earthquake.
The Jordan River and Jordan Valley exists because of a great Tectonic Plate fault that runs straight up the Red Sea, through the entire land of Israel, under the Jordan River.
This next map shown by the black line, the fault lines in the tectonic plates of the earth, in the area of Israel and Saudi Arabia. The red circle shows the area that the Mount of Olives is in: Notice that there is a major fault line right where the Mount of Olives is at:
Tectonic Fault Lines at the Mount of Olives
When Jesus ascended back to heaven, it was from the Mount of Olives…
Acts 1:9-12
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
In other words, the Mount of Olives was Jesus’ point of departure and it will be the point of entry when He returns
Revelation Chapter 11
(John Says) 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 (the Gentiles) will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
Jerusalem will be “Tread under foot for 42 months” (3 1/2 years).
This outer court is where the “dome of the rock” is, the Arab mosque. During the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation, the new Temple will co-exist with the Islamic dome of the rock. Even as we speak, there are preparations under way for this new temple that is soon to be built.
There is currently a school to train the young men in the priesthood right now in the “Yasheva’s” in Israel. They are teaching them how to sacrifice the animals in the temple and carry out the different sacrifices required in the Bible.
Training for the New Temple
The red heifer needed for the purification of all of the articles in the temple, has recently been discovered. If the Red Heifer stays completely red it will be able to be used to purify the temple.
According to Jewish sources no flawless red heifer has been born in Israel since the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. One Jewish activist said “We have been waiting 2,000 years for a sign from God, and now He has provided us with a red heifer.” The birth of the red heifer is viewed as a sign of the imminent coming of the Messiah and reestablishment of the Temple with its sacrificial system.
Such an animal is necessary for purification of the temple site according to Numbers 19:2-7.
Red heifers are rarely born in Israel; perhaps only one time per generation. It was a miracle when one was born. Even though they are rare, it was sufficient because it takes only a small amount of red heifer ash to mix with pure water for purification. There were nine red heifers born while the Tabernacle and two Temples existed. The tenth red heifer is predicted to be born in the end-times for the Third Temple.
Red Heifer born in Israel
Red Heifer Collage
The Red Heifer
By vfzadmin
Apr 10, 2002, 15:02
Israel National News reports:
“It can now be revealed that less than one month ago, a “Red Heifer” was born in Israel. After the heifer’s owner contacted the Temple Institute, on Friday, April 5th, 2001.The rabbis found her to be kosher and were satisfied that this heifer could indeed be a candidate to be used in the process of purification of the Temple priests described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19.”
According to Numbers 19, no priest can go into the Temple who has not washed himself with the ashes of the “Red Heifer.” So having a red heifer is one of the most important Biblical signposts that the time is approaching when the third Jewish temple will be rebuilt.
When the verse say, “no defect,” it means there cannot be a single white hair found anywhere on the heifer’s body.
The red heifer must be 3 years old before it can be sacrificed.
This is Biblically significant because it is the first “Red Heifer,” born in Israel in 2,500 years.
The red heifer must meet 3 criteria
1 The heifer must be entirely red
Have no blemish
Upon who a yoke has never been placed
Revelation 11
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
God is going to send his 2 witnesses to the nation of Israel, to the Jewish people for the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation Period. Antichrist will be in power, and Israel will be believing that this new world ruler is their Messiah, as he will bring them peace and allow them to rebuild their temple.
The Bible says that God still has 1 more 7-year period in history to finish his dealings with the Jewish people. In Daniel chapter 9, “Seventy seven’s” , or a period of 490 years were determined for the nation of Israel. 69 of these seven-year periods of time were fulfilled when Jesus came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday 32 A.D..
According to Daniels’s Prophecy, There is one 7-year period left for God to deal with Israel.
This is one of the primary purposes for the 7-year Tribulation period. In the beginning of the 7-year period, God will send these 2 witnesses. We believe one of them is Elijah, the other is most likely Moses.
Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
One of the abilities that the Lord gave to Elijah, was that he had the ability to call “Fire Down from Heaven”, as he did so upon the 450 prophets of Baal in 1 Kings chapter 18.
Elijah Calls Down fire from Heaven
Kings 18:37-38
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
One of the 2 witnesses that are spoken of here in Revelation 11, is said to have power to call fire down from Heaven.
Revelation 11
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 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.
The second of the 2 witnesses, we believe will be Moses, Who in the Book of Exodus had the power to turn the waters to blood.
Moses coming down from Mount Sinai
One of the two witnesses can turn water to blood
Revelation 11
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.
Remember Elijah also had the power to shut up the heavens so that it does not rain. Moses had the power to turn the water to blood, and to send all kinds of plagues. If the 2 witnesses are Moses and Elijah, then this would represent to the nation of Israel, “The Law and the Prophets”
Moses Represented the Law, Elijah Represented the Prophets.
Matthew 22:34
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
Matthew 22:40
(Jesus told the Pharisees) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets
Here in Revelation 11, these 2 witnesses are referred to as:
Revelation 11
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
In the book of Zechariah there is a reference to 2 candlesticks standing in front of the god of the earth. Zechariah saw this vision
Zechariah 4:11-14
11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?”
12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my Lord.” So he said, “These are the two annointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
The two witness spoken of here in Revelation 11, seem to be the same “Anointed Ones” that are spoken of here in Zechariah 4. These two witnesses are to witness to the Nation of Israel, the Jews, as “The Law and the Prophets”, that Jesus is their Messiah.
Revelation 11
Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
This is the scripture that leads us to believe that when the antichrist comes on the scene at the beginning of the 7 year tribulation, he will come from up out of the Bottomless pit at the center of the earth.
The 2 witnesses to Israel, whoever they are, only have 3 ½ years to be witnesses, apparently after the 3 ½ years are finished, the “Beast”, the antichrist, has the power to kill them
Revelation 11
And their (The 2 Witnesses) dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
This verse had puzzled people that have read it, for the past 2,000 years. Notice that it says that the bodies of the 2 witnesses will lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days.
Here is the amazing part: “
“Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days” Think about it, up until the advent of Satellite and Cable TV, this would not have been possible, that everyone throughout the whole earth could see the bodies of the 2 witnesses, at the same time.
Revelation 11
And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
These are “God’s Witnesses”, they are just doing what the Lord told them to do, and they are killed for it.
The Lord is the one that has control over their lives. When you gave your life to him, he began a plan in your life. He will not allow you to die or be killed until the job he has for you is finished. You will not be here one more day past the time you are finished. We should gain allot of peace and satisfaction in knowing that our lives are in the Lord’s hands
Paul said:
Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
They tried to kill Paul several times. On one occasion the actually did stone Paul to death.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago– whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows– such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man– whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Revelation11
then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
You can take a deep breath and relax today, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. You belong to Him, and He always takes excellent care of the things that belong to Him. You can stop worrying, you can stop being afraid, the future is going to be glorious for you. Until then, you your life, your body, your finances, your family, everything in your life, is under His mighty hand.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Revelation 11
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
All Of These Judgments Have Happened To Prepare The Earth For The Coming Of God’s Kingdom.
Revelation 11
And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
The building of the third Temple will occur just after the Church is Raptured and removed from the earth, at the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation. From the appearance of current events, the readiness of many to begin construction of the Temple, and the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the world ruler who will be called the beast, it may not be much longer before the Lord returns for us. Time is short and we do not have much time to tell our friends, families and loved ones to turn to Jesus and be saved so that they might also be removed before the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Listen to Rob’s complete study in the Book of Revelation on MP3 Audio by FOLLOWING THIS LINK
