Rev. David Holwick
Study Notes
October 27, 1991
Revelation 11
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I. The history of the Jewish Temple.
A. King David had a desire to build it, but had too much blood on his hands and
too little time. He drew up the plans and gathered supplies as God directed
him. 1 Kings 8:18-19; 1 Chron 22:8-9,14
B. King Solomon built and dedicated the Temple around 1000 BC. 2 Chron 2:1
1) Idolatry was later practiced in the Temple. 2 Kings 21:1-7
a) Ezekiel had a vision of God's Skekinah glory leaving the temple.
Ezek 10:4,18; 11:22-23
b) Ezekiel also had a vision of a future temple in the millennium. Ezek 40-48
2) The Babylonian army sacked and burned the Temple around 586 BC. The ark and
all its utensils were destroyed. 2 Chron 36:17-21
C. Under Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah the temple was rebuilt, though it
did not attain its former glory. Ezra 3:10-13
1) The pagan king Cyrus gave the Jews permission to rebuild the Temple. Ezra
1:3; 5:13-15
2) The Jews call this the Second Temple.
D. King Herod and his family completely rebuilt the Temple from 20 BC to AD 64.
(Jews still considered it the Second Temple) John 2:20
1) It was a beautiful structure and one of the wonders of the world. Luke 21:5
2) It figures prominently in the New Testament:
a) Jesus drove out the money changers in the outer courts.
b) Jesus taught that the real temple was his body, and that the literal temple
would be torn down stone by stone. John 2:19-21 / Luke 21:6
c) At his death the veil in the Temple, separating the Holy of Holies from the
people, was torn down the middle. Matt 27:51
d) Stephen, the first Christian martyr, preached that Jesus superseded the Temple
and that even the Old Testament realized God could not be contained in a
single building. Acts 6:13-14; 7:47-49
3) The Roman general Titus completely destroyed the Temple in AD 70. Not a trace
remains.
4) A Moslem mosque was built on or near the site around AD 700.
II. Will the Temple be rebuilt?
A. Use of the word "temple" in the New Testament.
1) Greek "hieron", a broad term that refers to the whole structure of Herod's
temple, including courts, colonnades, etc. Matt 4:5; John 2:14
2) Greek "naos", a narrower term that refers to the sanctuary or inner house
where only the priest were allowed. Only term for temple used in
Revelation. Also see Matt 23:35; 27:51
a) In the Gospels, "naos" always refers to the physical temple in Jerusalem,
with the single exception of John's Gospel, where it refers to Jesus' own
body. John 2:19-21; compare Rev 21:22
b) Only in 2 Thess 2:4 is it debatable whether Paul means the literal
Jerusalem temple or the church. [Jo]
B. Many passages assume a literal building will exist in the end times.
1) Daniel speaks of an Antichrist-figure desecrating the altar in the temple.
Dan 9:26-27
a) Some believe the despot Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled this in an event that
led to the tragic Maccabean revolt in the second century before Christ.
b) Others believe Antiochus was just a foretaste of the future Antichrist.
2) Jesus, quoting Daniel, says "the abomination that causes desolation" in the
Temple by the Antichrist is still future. Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14
a) Luke 21:20 says the "desolation" will be caused by armies surrounding
Jerusalem. Fulfilled already by Titus in AD 70?
3) Paul says the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God in his Temple. 2
Thess 2:4 (see above and below)
III. It is also possible to see some of the references to "temple" as being figurative.
A. Paul often speaks of the "temple" as being the physical body of Christians or
the Church, the "body" of Christ. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21
1) If 2 Thess 2:4 is taken in this sense, the passage means the Antichrist will
infiltrate the Church and proclaim himself to be God there.
2) (Compare 1 John 2:18-19, which teaches that the Antichrist(s) is associated
with the Church)
B. In Revelation, John speaks of believers being a "pillar" in God's temple,
which is a figurative use. Rev 3:12
1) Note that Rev 21:22 says there is no temple in the New Jerusalem, because the
whole city is a temple.
IV. The use of "temple" in Revelation 11.
A. John speaks of a temple in heaven throughout Revelation, but it is
probably not in view in this chapter. Rev 11:19; 15:5,8; 16:17
1) Note that the "outer court" is given to the Gentiles, which implies an earthly
setting for the temple.
B. Those who take the Dispensational approach believe the temple in Rev 11:1 is a
literal rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
1) They point out the specifically Jewish imagery used in the passage, such as
"measuring," "altar" and "outer court."
2) They prefer to give words their most basic meaning.
C. Others prefer to see the temple as an image for God's people, the Church.
1) John uses "temple" this way elsewhere in Revelation. Rev 3:12
2) The New Testament has strong support for this spiritual sense.
3) It would parallel other images of God's people in Revelation, such as the
"woman" in Rev 12 and the "bride" in Rev 19.
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