The Time of Tribulation:The Two Witnesses

The Time of Tribulation: The Two Witnesses Rev. 10:11-11:13

Psalm 119:137–144 NIV

137 You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. 138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. 139 My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141 Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. 144 Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

Revelation 1:1–3 NIV

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 10:11–11:13 NIV

11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” 1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The Time of the Tribulation: The Two Witnesses Rev 10:11-11:13

Briefly address interpretation of Daniel 7.

Left Behind Movie Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uskSBJsCf38

Introduction:

Sometime around my 7th or 8th grade in school, I was attending summer camp and saw a movie called, “A Thief in the Night.” It was about the rapture and the movie was created to help people turn to Christ. The fascination of this subject did not end there. Since that time there have been quite a few movies on the subject. Many have been produced by Christian companies, but I am not sure if the last one with Nicholas Cage was or not. The truth is that the whole idea of it is just good drama. However, this subject should not be taken lightly and the current movies have left many false ideas in our brains about what the final “Great Tribulation” will be like.

Over the next few weeks, I wish to help correct these misconceptions. It is not my intent to create fear or to sensationalize the subject. It is sensational enough as is. However, I want to prepare us as best I can as I believe these events are close upon us and we need to be ready. We need to understand what to watch for and what to expect.

It is true that there are details that are not fully understood. There are different interpretations for some of the scriptures talking about these events. I hope to present to you the most common and most likely scenarios. However, I do not believe it is important to understand everything to the minutest detail as I believe we will have enough understanding that when the events truly begin to take place, we will recognize them and know them for what they are. I also believe that whether or not you agree with the suggested timing of these events, it really does not matter because the basic message and what we are to do with it is all the same. We are to be ready!

These subjects can be frightening to some, but I would encourage you to not ignore them because of fear. Education can alleviate fear if fear is due to a misunderstanding of the events. However, fear is sometimes caused because we are not ready. If this is the case, we need to recognize that and do what we need to do to get ready.

With this in mind, let us begin with prayer.

Pray

There is far more evidence regarding the subjects I will be preaching over in these next few weeks, than I can present in each sermon. For this reason, I hope to provide a Bible study on these subjects where you can see more evidence for yourself. I hope you will take advantage of the Bible Study opportunities, not only for your understanding, but to equip you to share when others ask questions of you. However, I hope to provide enough scriptural back up for you to feel confident about what I am presenting each week. With that said, let us launch into...

I. The Great Tribulation

The tribulation has been a topic of much discussion these days. It seems to be debated whenever there are times of major crisis, but at no other time in my lifetime, have I heard so many in agreement that it is here or about to be here. Why is that? Because of the current worldwide pandemic! But it does not end with COVID. When Pastor Dick was here in August, he mentioned a plague of locust in China and East Africa. But it goes beyond even that. It seems like wherever we look, there is some disaster happening; fires, floods, tornadoes, Hurricanes, tsunami’s, etc...

With that said, a good question is this...

A. Are there any scriptures that indicate a timing for the end times?

There are those who say the answer is “Yes!” Look at Hosea 6:1-2 for this prophetic timetable.

Hosea 6:1–2 NIV

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

To begin, we need to find what we understand. We can understand that the time when they will “live in is presence” is a reference to Christ’s return. We know since the only other time He was here was His birth and He did not restore them then. So this is a reference to His second coming. It then tells us that this will happen on the “third day.” So, what is the “third day?” Dates are often in code in the bible. We can look at what has happened to fulfil prophecy to help identify the correct code for a passage. In this case, our answer is found in 2 Peter 3:8.

2 Peter 3:8 NIV

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Using this key, we look at Hosea again and find that Israel will be revived sometime in 2 days and on the 3rd day they would be living in His presence. Watch this video for a better picture. Keep in mind that the dates are not absolute, but approximate. We do not know the exact year of Jesus crucifixion, only approximately. It is assumed to be approximately 30-33 A.D.

AoCNetwork Movie Clip

In Daniel 9, we find that the tribulation will be the last 7 years before Christ’s return. That tells us that the true tribulation should begin around 2023-26. Over the past week’s I have been showing you how situations and circumstances are setting us up for just that. The fact that we can trace the fulfillments of the first part of this prophecy is a good indication that it is on target.

Now, you may wonder, “If this is true, why have I not heard of this before?” I believe God has a way of revealing the answers as we need them. I also believe He sometimes closes are minds from things until the time is right for us to understand them. As we draw closer to the end, more and more is becoming clear to us all.

Now you may be asking at this point, “But the Bible says we will not know when?” Let us look at that scripture, it is found in.

Mark 13:32–33 NIV

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

This is talking about the second coming. We also do not know the timing of the rapture. However, Jesus talks about being aware of the season. We should be able to tell by the things happening around us that we are within the season. Scriptures do not give a specific day and time, but Jesus gave us clues regarding the happenings of the time so we could begin to anticipate it. It is interesting to note that the Jewish spring feasts were symbols pointing to Jesus crucifixion, resurrection, and Pentecost and each of these occurred on exactly the same day as the feast. Likewise, the fall feasts point to His second coming. They are the Feast of Trumpets representing the tribulation, the Day of Atonement referring to Jesus 2nd coming and the final is the Feast of Tabernacles representing the Millennial reign of Christ. There are those who believe just as each of the spring feasts occurred in the spring, the events of the second coming will each begin in the fall. Are they correct? I do not know. We each must decide for ourselves, but no matter what, as is written in Mark and Matthew, we must be ready!

So, what will be the first real indication that it has begun? That question brings us to our topic today.

B. The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:1-13)

Revelation 11:3 NIV

3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

The two witnesses minister for 3 1/2 years and are then dead for 3 1/2 years. That makes it clear that they must come on the scene around the beginning of the 7 year tribulation. This will probably be our first indication that the actual 7 year period has begun. So...

1. Who are the two witnesses?

This is the question that people have been trying to answer for a long time as the Bible does not give specific names; or does it? Unfortunately, what makes good drama is what was chosen for the movies rather than what makes the most logical sense. There are three main theories. The first two theories take this verse rather literally based on the fact that they are prophesying and where sackcloth. In these first two theories, it is believed to be two prophets of the past. The first theory is...

a. Enoch & Elijah

There are some who believe it to be Enoch and Elijah. The reason they believe it is Enoch and Elijah is because neither of these men died. They were both just whisked away by God. However, that is not much of an argument. There are no real scriptural reasons to believe this theory. Another theory is...

b. Moses & Elijah

Many have speculated that it would be Moses and Elijah. This theory has more Bible application for it and is based on two main reasons.

1. These were the two with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.

You remember the event? Jesus was with His disciples on the mountain with a few of his choice disciples. Suddenly they are amazed to see Jesus body glistening and talking with him are Moses and Elijah. Because of this event, some believe they will be the witnesses. The movies portraying the witnesses usually follow this line of thought. However, there is one more reason why they consider these two.

2. The miracles performed by the witnesses are similar to those performed by Moses and Elijah.

Elijah had called down fire from the sky and Moses had turned water into blood. We see the same and similar actions from the witnesses.

However, there is a third school of thought that has been around for a while and is growing in popularity. To me, it makes the most sense and has the most Biblical scholarship behind it. It is that the two witnesses are not two individuals, but two people groups. These two groups are...

c. Devout Jewish and Gentile believers. (Rev 11:4)

In other words, we may be part of the two witnesses. So, how do we arrive at this conclusion? Look with me at verse 4.

Revelation 11:4 NIV

4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”

This is where the Bible study needs to come in. This is deep and complex, far to complicated to treat here. We do not have time to look at it all here, so I will touch on this just briefly. According to verse 4, the two witnesses are...

1. “The Two Olive Trees”

If you were to do a search of other places in the Bible where it is talking about “olive trees,” you would find that it is talking about the Jewish people and Gentile believers are grafted into that tree. Israel as a whole was represented by an olive tree. Later that tree split into two trees: Judah and Israel. Gentile believers, according to the book of Romans are grafted into the tree of Judah since we are grafted in by Jesus and he was of the tree of Judah. The second tree of Israel is also a part, but that is too complicated to go into here.

Next, verse 4 tells us that they are also...

2. The two lampstands

This one is simpler. In a previous vision in Revelations 1:20, the angel tells John that the lampstands are the churches. We find in this previous vision, that there are 7 churches yet we find that 5 are removed due to their wrong motives and repentant sin. Here again is a full sermon all its own. Let me just give a short qualification. These churches are removed because they do not repent and change. They say they love God but they do not truly follow God. They are focused on the wrong things. These seven churches were real churches in John’s day, but their attitudes can be found in churches and Christian’s today. It is not necessarily talking about denominations, but it has to do with individual attitudes. The church of Smyrna and Philadelphia stand true before God, not because they are perfect, but because they truly love and serve God. Unlike others who say they do, but still live according to this world instead of God. So the two lampstands represent believers that fall into the category of the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Based on this understanding, the two witnesses will be the Jewish and Gentile believers. Folks, if you are living your best life for God, you are in that category. One final comment that points to this idea of the two witnesses being people groups is found in the preceding verse to chapter 11. Look with me at Rev 10:11.

Revelation 10:11 NIV

11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

In verse 11, John is told that his next vision and prophesy will be about “many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” Then it goes into the story of the two witnesses and the Anti-Christ kingdom. So it could be alluding to the fact that the two witnesses are people groups, not literally, “two men.”

So, now that we have established who these two witnesses may be, let us look at what they will do as this will be what identifies them for us, whether it is us or not.

2. What do the “two witnesses” do? (Rev. 11:3, 5-6)

Revelation 11:3 NIV

3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:5–6 NIV

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

a. Prophesy (v 3)

b. Sackcloth (v 3)

c. Fire from mouth (v 5)

Jesus when tempted by Satan

d. Miracles (v 6)

e. For 3 1/2 Years (v 3)

3. The death of the “two witnesses.” (Rev 11:7-10)

Revelation 11:7–10 NIV

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

a. They are killed by the beast once they have fulfilled God’s call (v 7)

b. Sodom & Egypt - The city of the great kingdom of the Anti-Christ. (v 8)

Note the place that the Anti-Christ has chosen, where Christ was crucified. More in later sermon.

c. The world celebrates

1. Why the world celebrates the death of two witnesses?

2. Why are they hated so much?

3. What was the torment of the two witnesses?

4. The resurrection of the “two witnesses.” (Rev 11:11-12)

Revelation 11:11–12 NIV

11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

5. The resurrection of the two witnesses signifies the 2nd Coming. (Rev 11:13)

Revelation 11:13 NIV

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Look at how this is similar to Christ’s crucifixion

The revelation of who the two witnesses are will signify the beginning of the tribulation. Their resurrection will signify the time of the end. So, their ministry is an important part of the 7 year tribulation.

Conclusion:

This sermon is highly informative, but it calls for a conclusion and possible action on each of our parts. You see, if the two witnesses are the believers, will you be included? There were 7 lampstands representing 7 churches or spiritual attitudes if you will. Only two of those seven will qualify. I do not believe it represents denominations as some believe. I believe it has to do with individuals. There are many people in every denomination that I see only half living their life for God. Yet in every denomination I recognize people who through their fruits demonstrated that they are truly God’s people. It is not because they are perfect, but it is because they are living full out for God. They are not living as citizens of this world, but are living as citizens of heaven. God’s word is clear, if we are living in disobedience to God, we do not love him. That means if we are living according to the standards of this world. We find a nice list in Gal 5:19-26.

Galatians 5:19–26 NIV

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

If any of these apply to your life. Do not wait! Do not put of for another day getting things right with God. If you are living for a life in this world, it will cost you more than you will ever want to pay.

On the day, when God empowers the witnesses, there will be two reactions among Christians not called. Either they will repent finally realizing God was serious or they will resent that they were not included and fall prey to the anti-Christ. If that empowerment of the witnesses happened today, where would you stand?

Pray