The Two Witnesses
Notes
Transcript
Handout
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, 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. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Our jumping in point will be the statement from verse 15: the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.
What does it take for a kingdom to exist? Someone (or some group) must assume authority. Whether they accept, receive or take it by force, authority must be the foundation to the kingdom. If those in the kingdom don't recognize the authority the kingdom will not stand. For a kingdom to succeed there has to be goodness, righteousness and justice.
The kingdom of heaven has a King. He sits on the throne. He will reign forever and ever. All authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. His kingdom stands. But those who do not recognize His authority will not stand. Ultimately they will bow. We all will. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord!
In the kingdom we have the role of making known the king’s will. Of doing the business of furthering the kingdom. We do this by exercising the goodness, righteousness and justice the king has shown us. The more time we spend with the king, the better we know the king, the better we are able to further the kingdom. The better the kingdom becomes.
‘Great’ is used 8 times in this chapter. Truly the world will be in a time of heightened emotions and opinions. People will feel strongly about what they see happening. The earth itself wil be subject to this heightening.
The Wrath of God - so different from man’s wrath. Whereas we experience a flash of passionate anger, God’s wrath is an indignation. It is a settled attitude of judgement against sin.
The picture painted in Ch11 is in technicolor! Measuring the temple. The two witnesses who are the olive trees, the two lampstands. Are they actual or symbolic? Are they human or angelic? Jesus is their Lord. They are untouchable until their work/time is done. They are martyred and resurrected 3.5 days later. They are the second woe? They are definitely pouring out God’s judgement. WOW!!
The Seventh Trumpet
Whereas the first six trumpets announced terrifying judgements on earth, the seventh makes a wonderful declaration: THe kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.
This is the announcement of victory. The actual battle hasn't been fought yet but victory is certain. The kingdoms offered by Satan to Jesus in the wilderness are rightfully His! John’s gospel ch18 we saw a glimpse of the truth of King Jesus’ power in the garden. Here we see the victorious King in His glory! In this part of John’s vision the King of righteousness from Hebrews 7 has taken his throne!
The 24 elders surrounding the throne lay before God and give thanks for Christ’s reign, His righteous judgement and for the gracious rewards given to His servants.
We’ve seen them take this attitude before. In ch4 they praised the Creator. In ch5 they worshipped the Redeemer. Here their focus is on the Conqueror and King.
Finally at the sounding of the seventh trumpet we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to creation. When the temple was opened and the ark was seen John must have remembered “your will be done, your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”. This temporary existence is just a shadow of what is forever in heaven.
And seeing the ark, knowing the reason for it even existing on earth should fill us with the confidence God has not abandoned His plan. The kingdom is still His and still moving forward.
His Word endures. The tablets.
The giver of life will make all things new. Aaron’s rod that budded.
The sustainer of all will see us through. The manna.