John Eats the Scroll and the Introduction to the 2 Witnesses (Day 20)

John Eats the Scroll

 

Revelation 10:8-11 ⁽⁸⁾Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” ⁽⁹⁾So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ ” ⁽¹⁰⁾I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ⁽¹¹⁾Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

 

          John was told to take the scroll and eat it. It would taste like honey, but turn his stomach sour. He was then told that he must prophecy again about many people, nations, languages and kings. When God has called a leader to ministry and speak His truth, it is not always received well by others. It is a good and necessary word because it come from God himself if that leader is aligning himself with God. However, it can produce a sourness to those who hear it and to the one giving it because many do not want to hear the truth. Ezekiel was given the same instructions in the vision that he had. Ezekiel 3:1-3  ⁽¹⁾And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ⁽²⁾So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. ⁽³⁾Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. (NIV) He too had to deliver an unpopular message for his day. Many people do not want to hear the truth and would rather listen to a lie. However, just as Ezekiel had to do, one must still deliver God’s word when called even if people will not listen. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (NIV) Many churches are filled today because the pastors are tickling the ears of the people instead of calling them to repentance, salvation, and warning of end times. An alarm must be sounded and John was given the prophetic warning to give to the church, so that people all across the world could understand what God wants and requires of His people as well as have them prepared for troublesome times.

 

 

 

The Measurement of the Temple

Revelation 11:1-2 ⁽¹⁾I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. ⁽²⁾But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

 

 

 

          John had been given a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple of God and the altar with its worshipers, but not to measure the outer court for it had been given to the Gentiles. There is an organization called, “The Temple Institute,” whose primary goal is for the rebuilding of the third temple in Jerusalem. During David’s reign as King of Israel, God had given him instructions about the building of the first temple through the prophet Nathan. However, David would not be the one to build it, but his son, Solomon who later became king would do so. Unfortunately, Judah rebelled against God, so He allowed the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar to overtake them. This was when the first temple was destroyed around 587 B.C. 70 years after the first temple was destroyed, it was rebuilt under the reign of King Darius. In 66 A.D. the Jewish people rebelled against the Roman Empire whose control they were under. However in 70 A.D. the Romans under the leadership of Titus destroyed the second temple and most of Jerusalem. This leads us to today where there will be a rebuilding of the third temple in accordance to Bible prophecy.

 

 

          Now how does this third temple relate to what John saw in his vision? In the media, there has been talks of a 2-state solution with regards to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The fight for Jerusalem and the annihilation of Israel still continues today. Just as the Jews were despised in the days of old, they are still a bitter taste in the mouths of most Middle Eastern countries. The United States Government under the Obama administration is in a major push towards this seemingly peace effort. This means that Jerusalem will be divided. However, there is a Bible prophecy that warns against all who have a part in this divide. Joel 3:2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. (NIV)

 

 

          The Temple Institute is working towards the rebuilding of the third temple. All the pieces including the red heifer is in place for the fulfillment of this prophecy. However, if there is a 2-state solution, This may be cause a problem with the Palestinians once the temple is built. They may want rights to the temple and therefore, this would be the part of the prophecy where the Gentiles trample on the holy city for 3 ½ years.

 

 

The Two Witnesses

 Revelation 11:3-4 ⁽³⁾And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁽⁴⁾They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.

 

          John described there being two witnesses who would prophecy for about 3 ½ years clothed in sackcloth. There were two olive trees and two lampstands who stood before the earth. Let’s breakdown the meaning of this so that there’s a clear understanding into how this relates to the end times.
 

          The world is full of wickedness and there is a total disregard for God. Throughout the scriptures in the Bible, God constantly sent prophets to warn His people in regards to upcoming judgments that would take place if they did not turn away from their wicked ways. God never does anything without there being a warning given first in order to allow for change to take place. Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (NIV) There are various theories as to who these two witnesses. They are to prophesy for approximately 3 ½ years during a time when the wickedness of man has no boundaries. That time is quickly approaching. Rather these days are literal or symbolic, this will be a time of extreme ungodliness. However, due to the number 7 representing completeness, 3 ½ means incomplete or being found lacking.

 

 

          The two witnesses are believed to be the two olive trees and lampstands. The olive from which oil is made is a special anointing. Psalm 52:8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. (NIV) This means that the two witnesses will have a special anointing from God to do that tasks they are called to do on the earth. This coincides with the lampstands, which in Revelation represents the church. Therefore, these two witnesses represents the special anointing of the church as well as being a witness to proclaim God’s message in the last days.

      The two witnesses were dressed in sackcloth. During the Biblical days, people wore sackcloth made of goat’s hair when they were in mourning. Esther 4:3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. (NIV) This means that the witnesses were dressed in clothes of sadness because of the sins of the wicked who would not come to repentance.

Join us for tomorrow's continuation of the Two Witnesses. These lessons are available on Amazon.com. "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lessons 1-11.