The 2 Witnesses
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Remember, we are in a parenthetical.
We are in the midpoint of the of the Tribulation Period.
Last week, we discovered a new Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem.
The Jews will consecrate a priesthood and they will offer animal sacrifices as prescribed in the Law of Moses.
They will worship God under the old covenant, not recognizing the fact that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood once for all to save the souls of humanity.
Therefore, God will send an angel to measure the temple, the altar, and the worshippers to determine if it meets His standards.
By measuring the temple, God is taking possession of the temple. The temple, the altar, not the worshippers meet the standard of God and righteousness. Therefore, this temple must be destroyed! It will be desecrated by the Antichrist as he demands to be worshipped as God.
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Man is not saved by keeping the law, nor by making sacrifices as atonement for breaking the law.
Man is saved by Jesus Christ.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
This is done by repenting of our sins, believing that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again on the third day offering atonement for our sins. We then confess or pledge our allegiance and commitment to Him as Lord of our life.
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Salvation is as simple as repenting of your sins against God to God the Father while having faith and believing that Jesus Christ is your provider and sustainer of your salvation.
This is the gospel that John the Baptist preached, Jesus Christ preached, the Apostle Paul preached, and the gospel I preach to you every Sunday.
God doesn’t want to meet us at a tabernacle, God wants to dwell within us.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
So, there will be a new temple in Jerusalem.
However, today we will discover that God will also place 2 witnesses there in Jerusalem preaching His gospel, warning of Judgment and Call to Repentance, to the people in Jerusalem.
The whole world will see them.
The whole world will hear them.
They will be messengers of the living God.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
The Two Witnesses Ministry:
The Two Witnesses Ministry:
Notice first,
Why Two?
Why Two?
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
This is repeated by Paul in 2 Cor 13:1
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Jesus endorsed this method by sending out His disciples two by two, to preach the gospel.
Jesus also endorsed this method for the church, when dealing with a brother that will not repent of their sins.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
This same method is found in Revelation.
We have 2 witness standing and sent from the third witness, God.
Who are They?
Who are They?
Many believe they are Moses, a prophet and deliverer from physical bondage, and Elijah, a prophet and deliverer from spiritual bondage from Ahab and Jezebel, representing the Law and the Prophets who were seen on the Mount Transfiguration with Jesus in His Shekinah glory.
Some believe they are Enoch, prophesied of the coming judgment of the flood, and Elijah representing the Pre flood Preacher and the post flood prophet which neither man died and Hebrews 9:27-28 states,
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
However, hopefully many of us will not die a physical death but will also be taken and given a glorified body at the rapture.
Some even, because of witnesses and prophesying on behalf of God in this chapter, mention Noah a preacher of righteousness, and John the Baptist a preacher of the coming Kingdom and judgment.
For our study this morning, since God did not identify them, we are not going to spend anymore time trying to enter the mind of God and claim
29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
It really is not that important as to “who” are the witnesses will be. The really important matter is who they represent and whose message do they preach.
So, with that being said, notice
Their Design:
Their Design:
They are called “Witnesses”:
They are called “Witnesses”:
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
This word translates the word that gives us our English word “Martyr” meaning someone who gave testimony about something; a witness. As time progressed because so many Christians began to give their lives for the cause of Christ, the word came to be associated with those who gave their lives for their faith.
These two men came giving testimony from God and will die for this message.
They are to “Prophecy” for 1,260 days:
They are to “Prophecy” for 1,260 days:
What will they prophecy? God does not tell us. However, in the context of Revelation and the timeline of Daniel they will be standing outside a newly completed temple that has been desecrated by the Antichrist. Because God has just taken possession of the Temple by measuring it, they will prophecy of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Temple and the sacrifices. They will explain the purpose of Jesus’ death and His resurrection. They will preach the gospel of grace and salvation and warn of the coming judgment.
The 1,260 days correspond as we mentioned last week with the 42 months, and 3 1/2 years of Daniel’s prophecy.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The witnesses will be prophesying during the last half of the tribulation period.
They will wear “Sackcloth”:
They will wear “Sackcloth”:
Sackcloth has always been associated with mourning, repentance from sin and call to return unto the Lord. They are delivering a message of condemnation and judgment to a wayward people.
They are described as “olive trees” and “candlesticks”:
They are described as “olive trees” and “candlesticks”:
They will be ministers by God for God under the authority of God.
The “olive tree” speaks of unction, spiritual power, oil to fuel the light.
The “candlesticks” will shine as beacons of light and truth to a world in spiritual darkness and delusion. Remember, the church was called the candlesticks in Rev 1:20
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The church has been raptured, the 2 witnesses are now the light in midst of tribulation and darkness.
Their Defense:
Their Defense:
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
There message will not be an enjoyable message. There will not be the restraining of evil from the Holy Spirit as He ascended with the church in Rev 4-5. Many will rise up to try to kill them. Stop the message by killing the messenger.
Both Moses, in Numbers 16, and Elijah in 2 Kings 1 had men devoured by the fire of God from heaven.
This time, these men will be protected by God’s power and defended by God’s power with fire from their mouth.
Their Demonstration:
Their Demonstration:
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
To substantiate their message and their authority, these men will be able to use miraculous signs.
They will shut up heaven, like Elijah.
They will turn water to blood, like Moses.
They will smite the earth with plagues, like Moses.
They will have immense power at their disposal and they will be able to use it whenever and however they wish.
Unlike the many liars and charlatans of our day claiming to have the ability to perform miracles, these 2 men will be the real deal.
They will preach the message of God and validate it with wonders and miracles.
Again, the Bible does not identify them and no one can say with ABSOLUTE certainty who they are. We can just compare scripture with scripture. That is what is fun and exciting, However, Who knows? It could be someone not even mentioned in the Bible. We simply do not know.
So let’s move on!
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The Two Witnesses Massacre:
The Two Witnesses Massacre:
Why is that people think they can shut up the conviction of truth and the power of God by killing the messenger?
It never worked when they kill Jesus, or any of His apostles, or anyone else for that matter.
However, the beast, the antichrist, the little horn (we will learn more about him in the coming weeks) will attempt this once again. He will kill the two messengers.
Notice
The Dark Cruelty:
The Dark Cruelty:
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
The dead bodies of the Two Witnesses will lie in the holy city of Jerusalem which is described spiritually as wicked and pagan as Sodom and Egypt, where they crucified Jesus.
They will allow them to lie in the street like dead animals on the side of the road for 3 1/2 days.
The earth will watch them on television, internet, some global visual technology, prophesied over 2,000 years ago.
No one will be allowed to bury them but
If the cruelty is not enough, notice no one wants to bury them.
The Dark Celebration:
The Dark Celebration:
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
There will be rejoicing! The only time “rejoicing” is mentioned during the tribulation and it is happening at the expense of the two witnesses.
What darkness! God’s lights have been extinguished.
Paul told us this in 2 Thess 2:10-11
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
When God’s Two Witnesses are killed, the people will celebrate. “They are silenced now”.
When God’s Two Witnesses are killed, the people will send gifts to each other.
We think the celebration of death and cruelty is bad right now, Just wait to see it on full display.
They are dead. The People are excited, the people are celebrating. Just like they did when Jesus Was Crucified, but wait, 3 days later.
The Two Witnesses Miracle:
The Two Witnesses Miracle:
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Celebration turns to Fear!
The Witnesses are Awakened:
The Witnesses are Awakened:
Before all the world, after 3 1/2 days of celebration the two witnesses are resurrected.
The Antichrist thinks he is in control but he is overcome by one greater.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Now, we see
The Witnesses now Ascended:
The Witnesses now Ascended:
“Come up hither”, the same phrase used for John back in Rev 4:1.
The mystery of God is finished.
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
No more mystery, No more grace. The end is about to come.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The Witnesses are Avenged:.
The Witnesses are Avenged:.
Through Condemnation:
Through Condemnation:
“a great earthquake” destroys one tenth of the city of Jerusalem. 7,000 people will be killed.
God is not mocked.
Avenged through Condemnation and Avenged
Through Confession:
Through Confession:
“glory to the God of heaven”
God got glory from the lives of these men. They were persuasive men. They were men that could not be intimidated, men called of God, men who were prophets, men who were empowered, men who were faithful unto death; and because of that, God got the glory.
Let me close with this thought: We think our world is in bad shape, and it is! We talk about the wickedness of men, the hardness of human hearts, and the evil that flourishes all around us. But, think about this: We are living in a world that is inhabited by the redeemed people of God; the Bible is here and it is preached around the world; the Holy Spirit is here suppressing evil and hindering its spread in the world. In the Tribulation Period, the church is gone, so no one is praying for the world. The Bible will probably be taken out of circulation. You can almost guarantee the fact that it won’t be preached in power and authority. The Spirit of God will leave when the church leaves. A world like that will grow more evil than you and I can comprehend. I am glad that I am saved and that I will not be here for those awful days.
What about you? Are you saved? Are you trusting Jesus as your personal Savior today? If not, you can be! If you have strayed away from Him, you can come home today. If you have loved ones and acquaintances who will be left here for the horrors of the Tribulation, you can at least pray for them today.
At the very least, we need to call on the Lord and ask Him to send us one more revival before the end comes.
There is a multitude that needs to be saved. Let’s ask Him to use us to reach them before it is too late.
