The Dead Witnesses
True Story: God's Vision for His Church • Sermon • Submitted
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ME: (vs. 1-2) God’s Unstoppable Plan
ME: (vs. 1-2) God’s Unstoppable Plan
Part two of the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgment.
The central figures of this part of the interlude are the two witnesses first introduced in vs. 3.
Moses and Elijah were able to perform miraculous deeds by the power of God.
Vs. 5-6 show that these two witnesses are able to accomplish similar tasks by similar means.
There are a variety of OT allusions in this vision.
In vs. 4, two olive trees are mentioned,
These two trees are likely symbolic of the priestly offices of Zerubbabel and Joshua.
Since the olive trees represent the witnesses in this chapter,
It communicates that these witnesses are priest-like representatives of God.
In vs. 7-10, we see these witnesses stand against the beast.
This should bring our mind back to the way Daniel stood against bestial kingdoms in the book of Daniel.
Amid this conflict in our passage, there is a mention of these wicked and oppressive cities in vs. 8.
Sodom and Egypt, and the city where Jesus was crucified is Jerusalem.
Our passage teaches that the wickedness and oppression continues in these cities,
Resulting in the death of these witnesses.
But vs. 11-12 speak of a resurrection.
This resurrection, first and foremost, recalls the resurrection of Jesus.
But the description of this resurrection closely resembles the rapture of Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11,
These two witnesses, in addition to John from last week’s chapter, are all examples for us.
They are faithful to the testimony of Christ,
Even in the face of violent persecution from enemies,
In this instance, the beast.
Like these witnesses, we must live for the testimony of Christ,
And we must be willing to die for the testimony of Christ.
Because God guarantees vindication for His martyrs.
He will not allow unjust deaths to go without His perfect judgment.
After the second woe passes, the second cycle of judgments,
The trumpet judgments,
Come to a close with the seventh trumpet in vs. 15-19 with the description of Christ’s second coming,
Marked by His final judgment and the triumph of God’s coming Kingdom.
All of these events in this chapter begin with God’s Unstoppable Plan in Rev. 11:1-2;
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.
The description here seems to fit the fall of Jerusalem that took place in the year A.D. 70.
The timing of when Revelation was written is not known with absolute certainty.
It could have been written before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, as some believe.
However, most believe it was written a number of years after the fall of Jerusalem,
During a time of heated persecution for Christians in the 90s.
The literal temple in Jerusalem does not need to be standing for John to see His vision.
If we accept this later timing,
Then these verses seem to express the preservation of God’s people amid general attacks and persecution.
We reach this conclusion because the temple, going back to the OT,
Represents God’s presence on earth.
That is why in the NT, the Church, God’s people, are referred to as the temple.
The Holy Spirit who lives in us, makes us the representative of God’s presence on earth.
So, the fact that God commands John measure the temple speaks of God’s awareness and care for His people.
This was first communicated to us in Ezekiel 40:3, 17, 20;
When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.
Then he brought me into the outer court. And behold, there were chambers and a pavement, all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement.
As for the gate that faced toward the north, belonging to the outer court, he measured its length and its breadth.
But John was not told to only measure the temple,
But to also measure the altar and those who worship there.
This represents those who are sealed and protected, as we learned back in ch. 7.
God is having John take inventory of all the worshippers.
Then, God commands John to stop the measurements there,
Because the outer court is given over to destruction.
This represents unbelievers,
Those who are outside of the temple,
Who do not worship God.
This passage is saying these unbelievers will attack God’s people,
As Psalm 79:1 and Zechariah 12:3 predicted;
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.
Jesus also predicted this in Luke 21:24;
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
This conflict between God’s people and God’s enemies will exist for a time.
Vs. 2 says it will last for 42 months.
We also see this time frame used to communicate conflict in Rev. 13:5;
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
If we average out a month to be 30 days,
42 months would be 1,260 days,
Which we see in vs. 3 of our passage and in Rev. 12:6;
and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
So, although 42 months is approximately 1,260 days.
The fact that it is described as these two different ways in vs. 2 then vs. 3,
Would seem to indicate that these references contrast each other.
The 42 months refers to what we call the reign of the beast.
If interpreted literally, then the reign of the beast lasts for literally 42 months,
If we divide 42 months out by 12 months in a year,
We understand this time frame speaks of 3.5 years.
This 3.5 year reign for the beast, is interpreted as the second half of a literal seven year tribulation.
3.5 years is also referred to as a time, times, and half a time throughout the Bible,
For example, we see this in Rev. 12:14;
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
We also studied this back in Daniel 7:25; 12:7;
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
3.5 is not only used as a reference to years,
But we see 3.5 days mentioned later in vs. 9 of this chapter.
Now, 3.5 is exactly one-half of 7,
Which we have repeatedly noted is a number that symbolizes completeness in Revelation.
R.C. Sproul is helpful in trying to make sense of what this could possibly mean;
“It is half of seven years, which from a symbolic point of view suggests a complete period of suffering, cut short by half…It would then designate a persecution of limited length.”
This is one possible way we can understand these verses.
The second most common interpretation is understanding these references as a literal 3.5 years that will take place before the second coming of Christ.
Either way we understand these passages,
The fact that this persecution is coming may be concerning,
But God is giving the measuring rod and commanding this to the Apostle John.
This tells us that it is all part of His plan.
And His plan cannot and will not be stopped.
WE: (vs. 3-6) God’s Promised Protection
WE: (vs. 3-6) God’s Promised Protection
Because His plan does not end there.
We see His plan continues on with His Promised Protection in Rev. 11:3-6;
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.
Let us begin studying these verse by discussing the two witnesses.
These two witnesses could possibly refer to two literal human beings,
It could be two Christians who will come into some position of influence or authority,
That will be martyred around the second coming of Christ.
The period of 1,260 days is a different 3.5 years.
If interpreted literally, this would be the 3.5 years before the reign of the beast.
Also known as the first 3.5 years of the seven year tribulation.
We believe this to be the first 3.5 years because later in this chapter,
The two witnesses are killed,
Which would be part of the reign of the beast,
Making it the second 3.5 years of the tribulation.
But these witnesses are described as being clothed in sackcloth,
A symbol of grief or sorrow.
Sackcloth is worn throughout the Bible to express contrition, lamentation, mourning, or repentance.
But in vs. 4, it says the witnesses are two olive trees and two lampstands that stand before the Lord.
This identification could suggest that the two witnesses are not two literal people,
But instead, symbolic figures for the witness of churches.
As Revelation 1:20 already taught us, the lampstands symbolize churches.
And the reason that two lampstands are mentioned instead of seven,
Could be to imitate the pattern of Zechariah 4:3, 11, 14;
And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Or the way Jesus sent out disciples in Luke 10:1;
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Whether these two witnesses are literal people,
Or they represent churches,
In vs. 5-6, we see God’s promised protection communicated in the form of powerful deeds these witnesses will be able to perform.
These powers are the powers to work miracles.
The ability to perform miracles is something often given to messengers of God as proof that they are witnesses of God.
As the Easton Bible Dictionary notes;
“[Miracles] are fitted to convey the impression of the presence and power of God. Where miracles are there certainly God is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof that he comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God’s messenger.”
This power comes from God and is specifically in response to harm they may endure.
Anyone who harms these witnesses will be killed by the fire that pours from their mouth.
This exact power was prophesied about in Jeremiah 5:14;
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.
God also gives these witnesses the authority to close up the sky,
Preventing rain during the days of their prophesying whenever they want.
Just like Elijah the Tishbite was able to do in 1 Kings 17.
GOD: (vs. 7-10) God’s Persecuted People
GOD: (vs. 7-10) God’s Persecuted People
This Promised protection becomes especially important in light of the persecution seen in the following verses.
Look now at God’s Persecuted People in Rev. 11:7-10;
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.
Here in vs. 7 is the first reference to the beast in Revelation.
It says the beast rises from the bottomless pit and it makes war on these witnesses.
This beast stands in opposition to God’s people.
In this instance, the beast is able to conquer and kill the witnesses.
It communicates the persecution of God’s people.
The beast here is the antichrist,
He was prophesied about back in Daniel 7.
His origin, vs. 7 says, is the abyss,
The same place where the demonic locusts came from back in ch. 9.
Rev. 20 shows that it will also serve as Satan’s prison.
Vs. 7 also begins by saying that the beast was able to make war and conquer and kill the witnesses because they had finished their testimony.
There is much more that could be said about the beast,
But Lord willing, when we get to Revelation 13,
We will dedicate more attention to the beast.
The focus of this morning’s passage is less on the beast,
And more on the witnesses.
It is somewhat ironic to me that vs. 7 says the beast conquers the witnesses,
Because later in this chapter, the witnesses demonstrate that they are more than conquerors by coming back to life.
Before they come back to life, these verses show the persecution experienced during the reign of the beast.
Their persecution here shows why this is the story of dead witnesses.
Vs. 8 shows their dead bodies lying in the great city.
It says this great city is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
It could suggest ancient Jerusalem.
What is interesting is the word translated to symbolically is the same word we translate as spiritually.
So this great city from a figurative, or spiritual, perspective,
Could be a worldly city representing all of humanities rebellion against God.
When we look back over history,
The earliest recorded example is Babel in Gen. 11.
Then, as vs. 8 lists, Sodom and Egypt from the OT,
Then Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified.
Then at the time Revelation was written, the city of ancient Rome is well-documented for its worldliness.
And throughout history into modern-day cities, we see worldly cities.
Perhaps it could even be a prophecy about another future worldly city where these events will occur just before Christ’s Second Coming.
Regardless, we get the idea of how depraved this worldly city is in vs. 9-10.
In vs. 9, we see some from every people, tribe, and language and nation just look upon these dead witnesses and refuse to let them have a proper burial.
It was considered greatly shameful to leave the deceased exposed to elements.
Typically physical provisions would take place the same day of their death to prevent the bodies and the land from being corrupted.
Ironically, these physical provisions were believed to be necessary to aid the travel of the deceased to the afterlife.
They were thought to prepare and preserve the body for the resurrection.
We know this is not necessary,
Because despite the fact that the bodies of these witnesses received no proper care,
Later in the chapter, these witnesses are resurrected.
It is interesting we see this description here,
Because up to this point, it was good to see every people, tribe, and language and nation represented.
Every people, tribe, and language and nation is the target God has for His people.
But the mention of every people, tribe, and language and nation here shows that in the spiritual battle,
Both God and Satan have allies on a universal scale.
God is seeking to rescue and redeem every people, tribe, and language and nation.
Satan is seeking to destroy and devour every people, tribe, and language and nation.
In vs. 10, the depravity reaches another level.
The earth-dwellers of this depraved city,
That is those who do not believe in Christ,
Gloat over the bodies of the dead witnesses.
They are celebrating like its a holiday,
Exchanging gifts because the prophesying of the witnesses tormented them.
YOU: (vs. 11-14) God’s Honored Servants
YOU: (vs. 11-14) God’s Honored Servants
But God is not going to have His servants die in vain.
In Rev 11:11-14, the dead witnesses prove to be God’s Honored Servants;
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.
If we are assuming the two dead witnesses are literal people,
Than we can understand the resurrection account here literally.
However, if we are assuming the two dead witnesses are symbolic of churches,
Then the resurrection account here is symbolic as well.
It symbolizes the victory of Christian witness after persecution.
It is the answer to the question from the martyrs in Rev. 6:10;
“How long, Oh Lord, before you avenge our blood and judge those who dwell on the earth?”
This symbolism can also be connected to the similarities found between this resurrection,
And Ezekiel’s experience of seeing dry bones brought to life in Ezekiel 37:5, 9, 10, 14;
Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
Either way, the earth-dwellers, unbelievers,
Have their party interrupted by a loud voice from heaven.
The dead witnesses they left lying in the street suddenly have life breathed back into them,
And they stand up!
These witnesses were not merely sleeping.
They were dead for three and a half days!
Now those in the city who stared at the dead witnesses are terrified,
Kinda like you cannot look away from a car accident,
Their eyes are locked onto these witnesses,
As this booming voice commands the witnesses to come up to heaven.
So, the witnesses hop on a cloud and float away in to heaven.
Similar to the way Elijah was raptured by God in 2 Kings 2:11;
And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
The enemies who celebrated the death of these witnesses saw the whole thing,
While their eyes are still in the sky in disbelief,
And their jaws are probably on the ground,
Immediately, a great earthquake begins to rock the city killing thousands of people and terrifying the survivors.
But unlike the people described in ch. 9,
Those survivors in the city give glory to God in heaven.
Then, John says, the second woe which began in Rev. 9:13 passed.
WE: (vs. 15-19) God’s Kingdom Come
WE: (vs. 15-19) God’s Kingdom Come
Now, the stage is set for the third woe,
The seventh angel that announces God’s Kingdom Come,
Which we see in Rev. 11:15-19;
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.
This is one of the most straightforward messages in Revelation,
When the seventh trumpet sounds,
The voices in heaven declare that the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jesus reigns in this kingdom forever.
Time and time again this is declared throughout the OT;
Exodus 15:18; Psalm 10:16; 22:28; Daniel 2:44; 7:14; Zechariah 14:9;
Then we see the elders on their thrones again,
Falling on their faces,
And again worshipping God,
Giving thanks and praise to the Almighty,
A demonstration of their adoring devotion to God.
Notice they again refer to Him as the one who is and who was,
But they no longer describe Him as the the one who is to come.
Because at that time, He will have come.
With His great power, He has begun to reign,
His Kingdom has come.
And the nations are furious.
But Psalm 2:1 so insightfully asked the question,
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Because it does not matter, God’s wrath comes with His Kingdom.
The dead will be judged,
And He will reward His servants, that is the prophets and the saints,
And He will reward those who found wisdom by fearing the Lord,
As Psalm 115:13 says;
he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.
Last, He will also destroy those who destroy the earth.
That is those who have corrupted or ruined the earth.
Then, vs. 19, speaks of God’s temple again,
But John takes the temple allusion a step further when he says he sees the ark of the covenant.
Exodus 25 teaches that the Ark was the most holy object in the tabernacle.
It was concealed behind curtains in the OT temple,
So, the fact that John is seeing it is huge!
It indicates that God is revealing His glory!
Both the glory of His covenant from the OT
And His merciful grace signified by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ!
The revelation of His glory concludes with the mention of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.
Which, if you remember, signifies God’s presence.
This Revelation of the seventh trumpet concludes that God’s Kingdom will come.
We will be able to see and worship the fullness of His glory,
As Christ our sacrificial Lamb reigns forever and ever!