A student in Bible School was confused when his theology professor began a series of lectures on Bible prophecy properly called “eschatology”. The professor taught through the three differing positions that Christians hold to: pre-millennialism, a-millennialism, and post-millennialism. Then he taught about the three differing Christian views of the rapture of the church, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation. Finally, the professor ended the week-long lecture with the preterist view which is also held by some Christians. It was more than the student could take.
A student in Bible School was confused when his theology professor began a series of lectures on Bible prophecy properly called “eschatology”. The professor taught through the three differing positions that Christians hold to: pre-millennialism, a-millennialism, and post-millennialism. Then he taught about the three differing Christian views of the rapture of the church, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation. Finally, the professor ended the week-long lecture with the preterist view which is also held by some Christians. It was more than the student could take.
On the day of a review quiz , this student folded his arms, sat down and wrote, “I.A.K.” on his paper.
Later in the day, the professor called him in his office and asked, “What does “I.A.K.” mean?”
The student replied, “That means “I” “am” “confused.”
The professor said, “confused doesn’t start with a “K.”
The student responded, “You don’t know how confused I am.” (George Sweeting, Why Study Prophecy? Founder’s Week Messages, 1978)
Many people find the study of Bible prophecy, or eschatology, confusing. The book of Revelation doesn’t make sense to a lot of people, and many find it to be irrelevant for today. After all, who cares about the Great Tribulation to come when: One, we probably will not even be around, and two: It doesn’t mean anything for people today.
However when we look at what these believers did during the Great Tribulation, we learn what is important to God. In Revelation 11:1-2, we see God’s people continuing to gather and worship even during the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there… (ESV)
It really shouldn’t surprise us that during the Great Tribulation, there will still be people who will continue to worship God on earth. In the middle of chaos and evil there will be people that devote themselves to God and call on Him to save them. They know where to go and gather with other believers to honor God. Now notice in verse 2 what is left of the world and Jerusalem.
Revelation 11:2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. (ESV)
There are several questions that need to be cleared up. What is “the Temple of God?” And why measure it? Why is the outer court excluded? Why is it “given over to the Nations?” And what does it mean when “they will trample the Holy City for 42 months?”
This is Bible prophecy, and the first rule of thumb in understanding prophecy is that if the passage makes sense seek no other sense. So let’s take things at face value. The Temple is a literal temple in the Holy City, Jerusalem. This temple will be rebuilt before or during the Tribulation. The temple will be built with the specifications of the last Temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed in AD70. The temple will have an inner court for the Jews and an outer court for the Gentiles. Finally, for a literal period of 42 months the other nations (Gentiles) will overrun Jerusalem.
The important question is, “So what?” … “What is the significance of all this?” I believe the significance is found in the instruction to “Rise and measure the temple…and those who worship there” (vs.1). It is an expression of ownership. God has His property appraised when He comes to claim it as His own.
What do we do when we look to take possession of a house? It needs to be appraised. It’s measured and evaluated. We put a value on the property.
This was done one other time in the Bible: In Zechariah chapter 2:1, Jerusalem is being measured and near the end of the chapter in Zechariah 2:12 it tells why there was a measurement taken, “The LORD will inherit (or possess) Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” God is claiming His property, and I believe that is what God is doing in Revelation 11. All those who continue to gather in the temple to worship God belong to God.
On a recent Wednesday small group study a question was asked; How do you feel when you worship God together with other believers? I thought that’s an interesting question? I thought when I worship God with other believers, I feel safe and comforted. I have that joy in what the Bible talks about. I feel a unique connection to God and His people and there are many other exhilarating feelings.
In this Bible prophecy, in Revelation, it is during a very difficult time on the earth, and yet there are people gathering and bowing before Him and giving Him praise during a time when the world has rejected God and destruction and evil is rampant.
The most amazing thought is that this is what God’s people are doing in the Great Tribulation. There is one fact that I can say, God’s people are never told to stop gathering together with other believers to worship in the Bible.
Notice from verse 1 that this activity of worshipping God together is an identifying mark that they are God’s very own people. In this case, they are Jewish believers in Jesus, because they are in a place where Gentiles are excluded. They are in the Temple, and they are worshipping the true and living Jesus, unlike much of the rest of the world who will worship the antichrist at this time.
What can be taken away for us today? The truth is that corporate worship to God has great side effects. It can create an oasis amid turbulent times. It can be a great comfort to God’s people. And it sets believers apart from the rest of the world.
Christians have been gathering together since the first century and have faced their persecution by worshipping Jesus Christ.
It’s what the early Christians did when they faced hatred, persecution and even death. It’s what these Tribulation saints will do when they are faced with evil and the antichrist, and it’s what we must still do today. It’s a testimony to the world that we are devoted to Jesus Christ.
When we worship together it helps us to look to Jesus, who will rule forever even though evil people seemingly rule today. Our worship together will cause us to look beyond our circumstances to Jesus, who suffered for our sin and gave us eternal life. As the Author of Hebrews wrote “looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, Who loves us as His own.
What does it take for a church to gather together and worship Jesus until He comes again? Gathering together takes effort and sacrifice from each individual. Following our service this morning, our business meeting will be held. This is important since the meeting results will make it possible of us to gather and continue to be a church that meets together to honor God.
The 1st century believers after the resurrection “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers –Acts 2:42. In our communion passage, 1Corinthians 11:26, commands believers to gather and: “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
Participating in communion is a special gathering time of worship. Communion is a unifying reminder that we all share in what Jesus has done for us. To prepare for communion let us each remember the Lord’s death and resurrection for our sin. Let’s treat this high act of corporate worship with humble hearts confessing our sin to Him. Maybe there is a person listening that does not know that Jesus paid for their sin. We are proclaiming Jesus’ salvation when we take communion together. At this moment this can be your salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Let’s take a moment to personally prepare to worship Jesus together silently.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Our tradition following the Lord’s Supper, we collect a special offering. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17-18; 23–24 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the people who keep His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”