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John is now given a measuring stick to measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. This is significant information, as the Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by Titus and his Roman legions. It has not been rebuilt to this day. Daniel was given the same information in Daniel 9:27 when he was told that the Antichrist would cause the sacrifice and oblation* to cease in the middle of the Tribulation period. In order to have sacrifices and oblations going on, you have to have a Temple. The Temple in Jerusalem will have to be rebuilt either before the seven-year Tribulation begins or at least be finished before the first three and a half years are completed. The Holy City is today trodden down of the Gentiles. It began in 606 BC when God gave Israel into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar because of her sin. It will continue until the "Stone cut without hands" (Daniel 2; The Lord Jesus Christ) returns and destroys the Antichrist and his evil coalition at the battle of Armageddon. In Verse 3 we find God's two witnesses who preach for the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period. Who are they? I believe they are Moses and Elijah for two significant reasons. Verse 6 says that they have power to shut off the rain: that was Elijah in I Kings 17:1-7. They also have power to turn the water into blood and to smite the earth with plagues: that was Moses in Exodus 7-12. The second reason I believe that this is Moses and Elijah is because of the picture that it proclaims. We find this picture in Matthew 17:1-5. In this setting we see our Lord transfigured, and from Matthew 16:28 it is the picture of our Lord coming into His kingdom. Note who the participants are: the Lord Jesus Christ glorified, Moses, picturing the saints who died and will be resurrected at the Rapture, Elijah, picturing the saints who will be alive at the Rapture and will be translated without tasting death and Peter, James and John, picturing the Jews who will go into the Millennial Reign in their physical bodies. The two witnesses are murdered after their time of witnessing is fulfilled and they lie in the street for three and a half days. People used to laugh years ago at the thought that people all over the world could see those dead bodies. Today's television satellite system once again makes God truth, and every man a liar. The truth is always the truth even if no one believes it. God calls to His two witnesses and the cloud of the "Shikinah Glory" of God translates them to heaven. ________________ * NOTE: offerings