The Text …
“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. 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. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”
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John’s measuring stick, the reed …
“A bamboo like cane that grew prolifically along the banks of the Jordan River. About 20 feet lone when mature. In short cut-off pieces the small end could make a stylus, a pen!”
“An ancient writing implement, consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on wax-covered tablets, and a blunt end for obliterating them.”
A Bible example of the latter … 3 John 1:13 … I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee …
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Massive!
The outer court in Herod’s Temple … about 26 acres in area!
Including the Courts of the Gentiles, Women, Priests and Israel!
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Proof of a Temple during the Tribulation …
From Jesus …
Matthew 24:15 … When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the HOLY PLACE, whoso readeth, let him understand …
From the Prophets …
Daniel 9:27 … And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation
(which demand a Temple, an Altar) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
From Paul …
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 … Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin (anti-Christ) be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
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Fire as a judgment from God?
Two examples …
Leviticus 10:1-2 … And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Jeremiah 5:14 … Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
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As John writes, around 95 AD, there is no Temple in Jerusalem!
Not since 70 AD, when Rome destroyed Jerusalem!
Matthew 24:2 … And Jesus (in or around 30 AD) said unto them, See ye not all these things (the Temple)? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
It happened just like our Lord said it would!
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Israel and the nations …
1 Peter 4:17 … For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Psalm 9:17 … The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
First, God purifies His people!
Then God punishes His enemies!
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God’s longing for witnesses …
Acts 1:8 … But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Matthew 10:32-33 … Whosoever therefore shall confess (being a witness) me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me (the opposite of witnessing) before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
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In case you missed the chart I used in class …
The Temples of the Bible …
Tabernacle in the Wilderness … Exodus 25-40 … 1500 BC
Solomon’s Temple … 2 Chronicles 2-3 … 1000 BC
Zerubbabel’s Temple … Ezra 6 … 500 BC
Herod’s Temple … The Gospels … 30 AD
The Tribulation Temple … Revelation 11 … date ???
The Millennial Temple … Ezekiel 40-48 … date ???
For all Eternity … No Temple, yet … the Greatest Temple!
(Revelation 21:22 … And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.)
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Now, watch the class if your Internet service is fast enough …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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