The Two Witnesses
Notes
Transcript
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. 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. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 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.
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. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations 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.
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 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.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
Last Days Series
The scene of this passage: Tribulation
After the tribulation period has began
he ministry of these two witnesses is during the events of the four horsemen of the apocalypse
After the marking of the faithful (144,000)
After the releasing of the locusts from the bottomless pit
Chapter 8 lists many disasters - fire and hail which destroy a third of the trees - and all green grass (1/3 people?)
“great mountain burning with fire cast into the sea” - 1/3 life in the sea dies 1/3 ships
star falls from heaven and 1/3 of waters are poisoned
sun and the moon were dimmed
Chapter 9 describes the locusts from the pit
the releasing of the angels that have been held in bound in Eurphrates reserved for this time (9:15-16)
These bring have been prepared for this time
to bring the army of 200,000,000
to kill a third of men
20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
The two witnesses mentioned in Chapter 11 are prophesying during these times
God is using them to announce His judgements
to bear witness to the cause of these events
without any doubt this will cause many people to be furious
people will say “God would never do such a thing!”
People will say that these do not represent God
Most so-called Christians will denounce the men that say these things as being deranged mean spirited fanatics who do not represent God
this is already happening all over
we are already being conditioned for this.
Imagine what you would say when the true witnesses of God arrive?
They will be labeled as evildoers, perhaps terrorists
their speech will be labeled as hate speech
Eventually, their prophesying will be criminalized
And almost every one of you who are listening to me today will approve of that.
Who are These Two Witnesses?
Who are These Two Witnesses?
Many people have theories about them, with many claiming them to be old Testament prophets returned
Some claim them to be Moses and Elijah - many Jewish tradition shave expected them to return
This is also becasue the powers they are described as using here reflect those of Moses and Elijah - plagues, fire, holding back rain etc.
Some say Elijah and Elisha
Many people say Elijah and Enoch - since both of these were translated without having seen death
also Elijah is expected to return before Jesus -
Yet Jesus said that this was fulfilled in John the Baptist (making it a Spiritual or symbolic return)
For a number of years, I also fell into the last camp, supposing them to be Elijah and Enoch
However, through a great deal of study and prayer,r I have changed my opinion on this.
None of these opinions is correct
Instead, these tend to be sensationalizations of what was being symbolically represented here.
Instead, these two witnesses are not two literal people, and the chapter should be interpreted symbolically
Let’s go through it and look at why
Measure (or count) the Temple of God, the Altar, and the Worshipers
Measure (or count) the Temple of God, the Altar, and the Worshipers
In verse 1 the angel tells John to measure the temple. But to leave out the court for it is trodden underfoot by the Gentiles 42 months
This reference to the temple is a reference to the Church - not the literal temple in Jerusalem
The the altar and the worshipers are those close to God - the Faithful
we have been talking about them in almost every message lately
The outer court, although part of the temple grounds, is left out - not counted
it is given to the Gentiles
it is likely that this area is much larger than the altar area
This is likely to represent the Selfian church of pseudo-Christians that dominate the nominal church these days
These are the nominal Christians who fit in with the “Gentiles” (representative of the worldly system) of today
It is trampled by the Gentiles during these 42 months (3 1/2 years). They will suffer with others during the first 1/2 of the tribulation
Again, this is symbolic - not the literal Temple - Symbolic of the Church of Jesus
I will Give Power to My Two Witnesses
I will Give Power to My Two Witnesses
I have already said that these are not two literal men - as that sinks in - lets look at some of the reasons
There is no reason to believe that these would be old testament prophets
there is nothing anywhere in scripture that suggests these have to be returning prophets
No reason to believe that just because they die, they couldn’t be anyone in the world that has not died
Elijah’s return was fulfilled by John the Baptist according to Jesus
They are referred to as the Two Lamp stands, and the two Olive trees
Zechariah had a vision of something similar
recall last week Zechariah also had a similar vision to the four horsemen
1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?”
So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”
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 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 anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
So here the olive trees represented “the anointed ones” who stand before the Lord of the whole earth
In this case Joshua and Zerubbabel -
this is another reference to the Church - but not the whole church
Just as the temple above differentiated between the altar and the court
Also, John saw representations of the Lamp stands earlier in Revelation and they always represented the Church. (very significant because it is the same book)
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Here John sees seven candlesticks (or lampstands) and Jesus gives him the interpretation that they represent the seven churches
It is very significant here since there are only two lamp stands mentioned in Chapter 11
As Jesus speaks to each of these seven churches there are only two that He does not criticize (Smyrna and Philadelphia)
We have been speaking of this pattern and seen it in several places over the last few weeks
He that is faithful until the end
they that do know their God
the faithful that are sealed
they represent the faithful witnesses
they ones that sigh and cry at the abominations
those who will not altar the Word nor be silent
those who cannot be bought, threatened or discouraged from their God called purpose
These are the faithful witnesses
They will prophesy for 1260 days
this time period is the same period that the outer court is trampled under the gentiles
it is the time the woman is in the wilderness in chapter 12
The time Daniel mentioned
During the time of their ministry they will be proclaiming the judgement of God as the tribulation events are happening
It is not a literal two individuals only - but they are symbolic of the faithful Christians that God will still have in the earth, during this time,
They will reprove, rebuke and exhort - they will not mince words
People will hate them because of the Words they speak - as they did Jeremiah
There will be many catastrophic events occuring
as this is happening God’s anointing of power and prophesy will be increased to His true witnesses - those who will speak His Word faithfully
There will be droughts, famines, meteorites, earthquakes, storms and hail and much more
these are the judgement of God, and true Christians must not be afraid to say so -
anything else dishonors God and is blasphemy
To say God is bringing peace when God’s anger is bringing wrath is just as much a sin as bring wrath when God speaks peace
The Beast will make war against them and overcome them and kill them
The Beast will make war against them and overcome them and kill them
Remember when we spoke of the mark of the beast -
who is able to make war with he beast?
You don’t make war with individuals - war is made with Countries or groups
This is fulfillment of Daniels prophecy also
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
So the beast - the empire alliance of nations - finally gains power to overcome the church
for the first three and one half years, the church prevails, as it has throughout history
no amount of government persecution has been able to stop her -
Those that do know their God continue to be strong
For this first half of the tribulation there are those who are sealed of God - who have power
they are protected by God’s angels
they continue to witness for Him
While many Christians are being martyred, and are suffering, they cannot stop these faithful saints - and the wrath of God continues
and still men repented not - (chapter 6)
But finally, the beast - lead by the antichrist will overcome them - He will prevail against the Church
This is the “abomination of desolation” Jesus warned us about
it is the revealing of the son of perdition as Paul wrote of
this is the antichrist’s crowning moment
the time when he can finally go into the place of God and declare to himself that he is god
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
Their bodies lie in the street 3 1/2 days
the great city - Sodom, Egypt where also our Lord was crucified
obviously this is also not a literal city
this represents the terrestrial city as opposed to the celestial city
they cities of the world opposed to the City of God
Where also our Lord was crucified - the worldly - loved the praise of men more than the praise of God
Three and one half days - represents three and a half years
Once he church has gone into the wilderness - the last half of the tribulation - the devil will seem unchecked
the antichrist system will seem to have dominion
all of the sinful people in the world will be celebrating the defeat of the church
People will celebrate because these Christians “tormented” the earth
If your witness does not offend anyone, are you a witness?
Have you wondered how the church today can be so comfortable with the world?
the world will continue to fall terribly further into sin and judgment - without the prophetic word of God
Angels will still proclaim the gospel (rev. 14)
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 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.
Now this may surpise some of you: if these are symbolic of the Church - the faithful Church - and the rest are martyred
Then this is the resurrection - the catching up - the joining in the air
This is where all the kindreds of hte earth see them
This is where they who are alive are caught up into the air to join Jesus at His return
He says with a Loud voice - with a shout if you will - “Come up Here!”
And all of their enemies saw them
there was an earthquake thunderings, lightening - people were afraid and gave glory to God
This is very different to the other places where people are afraid and are crying to the rocks, and still not repenting
this is where every knee will bow - this is the end -
Let’s look at the end of the passage again -
this is where the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ
And where the Temple of God is opened in Heaven
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
In conclusion, I hope you have learned something today -
there are a few recurring things that we keep seeing repeated in different ways
there will be a tribulation
the Christians will be here during the tribulation
Some of these Christians will have supernatural protection and provision during this time
not all of them, but some of them
This theme is repeated far more times than many would like to beleive
there will be a time of antichrist reul under the beast
the antichrist system is already being put in place
many prophecies are already being fulfilled
Those who know God will be strong and do great things
God will protect them
during the 2nd half God will Hide them
Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved
If you know Him, you need not fear.
Make sure you are ready.