Continued from previous post...
Now we are ready to read what John was shown.
Now we are ready to read what John was shown.
“Then
there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and
measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the
temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they
will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” Rev. 11:1, 2
Since 70 CE, when Titus
and his army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, no other temple has been built
to replace it, and the New Jerusalem does not have a temple (Rev. 21:22), so we
can eliminate both of these as the holy city that will be trod on for forty-two
months (1260 years, see Appendix 2).
“And
I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve
hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before
the Lord of the earth.” Rev. 11:3, 4
We saw
in Revelation Chapter 1 that the seven churches are represented by the seven
lamp stands surrounding Jesus– one lamp stand for each successive church. So why are only two lamp stands mentioned in
Rev. 11? What happened to the other
five? There are only two lamp stands in
this vision because the events that are being described apply to only two of
the churches – Thyatira and Sardis.
These two churches existed during the 42 months, the 1260 years,
mentioned above in Rev. 11. This time
span lasted from the time the Bishop of Rome achieved undisputed authority in
538 CE until the Pope was put in prison in 1798 CE.
Martin Luther/Reformation