@Dave-L . Here we go. My line by line. Expecting your line by line.
Hebrews 11
11 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. [
a]And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot
for forty-two months.
>This is the temple in Israel (Jerusalem) which will be in place during the tribulation. Most likely built in the first 3.5 years of the 7 year tribulation, but when the Antichrist sits in the temple of God, saying he is God (2 Thessalonians 2v4) this triggers the next 3.5 years (42 months of Great Tribulation).
>This is the warning (to Israel) given in Matthew 24
>Matthew 24 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
3 And I will give
power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
>These are two physical witnesses.
>They will prophesy (speak the words of God)
>They are dressed in sackcloth (physical garments)
>They will prophesy for the same time period as the great tribulation.
>This is literal
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the [
b]God of the earth.
>This has an old testament corollary in Zechariah 4: 11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” 12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip [c]into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” 13 Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?”And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 So he said, “These are the two [d]anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
> As to who these two (anointed ones) are, has been the subject of much debate. I (personally) am of the opinion that they are Enoch and Elijah (the only two people in scripture who have not tasted death up to this point, both having been taken up by the Lord).
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
>as supernatural as it gets. The authority has been given to them to perform all these miracles (I would say that these are baptised in the Holy Spirit, not so?). Nor can they be stopped or killed UNTIL the appointed time by God.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
>The only one with authority to kill them, at the appointed time, will be the Antichrist.
8 And their dead bodies
will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also [
c]our Lord was crucified.
>further proof that they have been in Jerusalem all this time, prophesying. Two people.
9 Then
those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [
d]will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
>The only way that peoples from all nations could see their bodies would be either the fact that representatives of all these people were present in Jerusalem, or instead (what I believe) it is televised (CNN and the like).
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 And [
e]they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
>These two (possibly Elijah and Enoch) will taste death and will also be resurrected. In full view of the enemies who killed them. After their ascension, an earthquake wipes out a tenth of Jerusalem. This death and resurrection, as well as earthquake – are signs to Israel that Jesus is Lord. For in a similar way Jesus was killed in Jerusalem, was raised in Jerusalem, and an earthquake hit Jerusalem. The reason God does all of this is for his remaining elect (Israel) during the great tribulation.