"How to be a witness."

After the death of Christ we see how the church and apostles began to live as faithful witnesses. In Acts chapter 7 we learn about the man named Stephen who was a leader in the church. He is the first recorded individual who gave his life for the sake of the gospel. We then learn of the other faithful witnesses.

Peter and Paul

Both martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew

Went to the "land of the man-eaters," in what is now the Soviet Union. Christians there claim him as the first to bring the gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.

Philip

He was known to have had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.

Matthew

The tax collector and writer of a Gospel ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew

Had widespread missionary travels attributed to him by tradition: to India with Thomas, back to Armenia, and also to Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a martyr for the gospel.

James

The son of Alpheus is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.

John

The only one of the apostles generally thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was the leader of the church in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Domitian's persecution in the middle '90s, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament--the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.

In Revelation 1:5 we see that Jesus is the first faithful witness mentioned. In Revelation 2:13 we see a man named Antipas who was known for being a faithful witness. John the author of Revelation was in exile on the island of Patmos when he wrote Revelation because of his stand for his faith. He would be counted as a faithful witness as well. My point for showing you this is so we can understand that Christ desires his followers to remain faithful for him and to be a wonderful witness for His namesake.

Revelation 11:1–3 ESV

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.”

What in the world is going on here? What is this all about? Here are just a few questions i want to try and address before we jump into our message. These questions are important because they clear up some confusion you may have about the text. So, let me help you understand what John is seeing and writing about. The first thing we need to understand here is that John is told to take a measuring rod and measure the temple, alter, and worshipers. What this shows us and symbolizes is God’s protection of the saints. John is also told not to measure the courtyard. What is meant by the outside courtyard here is this. Even though God protects His people from his wrath, they will still face persecution.

-What is John referring here to the temple as? There are some scholars who believe there will be an actual temple and alter rebuilt in the last days so some think this will be a literal temple and alter. But, I believe that a literal take is unlikely. I see that all three of these names refer to the people of God. Believers are called the temple because they are the dwelling place of God. As believers we are God’s temple and represent His name.

-What is meant by 42 months? The nations will trample the Holy City for 42 months. Believers will be persecuted during this time. There are some scholars who again take this as a literal time during the tribulation. I see this symbolically as the final era in history between Jesus’ resurrection and His second coming.

-Who are these 2 witnesses? One of the interesting things that stand out to us here is that God will raise up His witnesses to come in the power and spirit of men like Elijah and Moses. There are some scholars who think that it will actually be these men in human form that return to earth and witness. Even though the case could be made for that, it seems best to see the two witnesses as individuals or a group like the church (believers) who come in the spirit of these men, and will fulfill a specific ministry given to them by God.

1. A faithful witness speaks and lives for Christ.

Revelation 11:4–6 ESV

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.

When we think about the importance of being a faithful witness, it is not just about what we say but also how we act and live. Our character matters as well. In Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 we see the importance for believers to keep God’s commandments and hold fast to the testimony about Jesus. Scott Duval says in his book the Heart of Revelation, “For people to truly hear what we say about Jesus (our witness) they must first see that we live like Jesus. If you are not living for the Lord it will be hard for you to witness to your neighbors, coworkers or friends.

Here in verse 4 we see that the witnesses (church and believers) are to be the two olive trees and lampstands. In other words we are to be the light and truth for God and share His wonderful name with others. In verses 5-6 we see the power of the word of the witnesses. The world is screaming out to live however you want while God and His word tell us to live for Him. These witnesses prophesy and speak the truth of God’s word so that all the world can hear.

Pastor Adrian Rodgers once said that we as pastors and preachers have always taught about sin and spoke against it. In our world today sin is viewed as preaching against sin. People think that that is sinful and hurtful when actually it has always been needed.

When it comes to being a witness for the Lord we should always aim to show the fruit of the spirit. We want to be patient, kind faithful, gentle and be self-controlled. If we get into arguments and shouting matches we can push people further away. Ask God for wisdom and discernment and you begin to share Christ with others and he will help you be a faithful witness.

2. As witnesses we can expect persecution.

Revelation 11:7–9 ESV

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,

Being a Christian and especially a witness means that there will come times where we face difficult days and persecution. The Greek word (martys) is the word for witness and many times we see in Scripture that it refers to martyrdom. It can be very hard for some of us to think about giving our lives for the Lord but this is exactly what the early church did. Many apostles and believers gave their lives for the name of Jesus. Here in verses 7-9 we see that the beast attacks the witnesses and kills them. Because the witnesses have spoken out against sin and have told the world to repent and turn to God the message was not a popular message. The people rebelled against the message and turned a deaf ear so the beast comes along to wipe out the witnesses. The bodies of the witnesses lay in the street for a time while the world rejoices in their death. I want us to see this today because the reality is that being a witness for the Lord can mean you will go through severe persecution. Over and over again throughout Revelation we see Christians facing persecution.

-Revelation 2:13 Antipas gave his life for Jesus and was considered a faithful witness.

-Revelation 6:9 John sees the souls of those who have been slain.

We see the same thing in Revelation 16:5-6, 17:6, 18:24, 20:4.

As our world continues to trend toward a downward spiral and get further and further away from God I think we will begin to see more persecution against the church and God’s people. We may not face death, but persecution may come in the form of being ridiculed, slander, excluded or even economic persecution. The bottom line church is that we need to be ready and live for Christ until He returns or calls us home. Pray for those who are being persecuted today. Pray for our missionaries who are facing persecution at this very moment.

3. As Witnesses we can anticipate God honoring those who have remained faithful.

Revelation 11:11–14 ESV

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.

Here in these last few verses we see that God’s faithful witnesses are protected by the words that come out of their mouths. Fire can pour out of their mouths and consume people. They also have the power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall and power over the water. But eventually God’s witnesses die so how in the world are they protected right??? Well they are protected from God’s wrath and judgment that He is getting ready to unleash on the world and on those who are unbelievers. He has given the world time to repent and turn from sin but eventually their time runs out and judgment will come. So, God’s protection for his faithful saints or witnesses is that He keeps them from the hour of trial that is coming upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) It may not look like the witnesses are protected but they are.

Eventually God raises their bodies and great fear falls on those who see this happen. God calls His faithful witnesses to come up to heaven and the unbelieving world watches this play out. Also at this very same time an earthquake happens in the city and 7,000 people are killed. The important message that I want us to see here is that when God raises up his witnesses here this is a resurrection of the church. This is a picture of Ezekiel chapter 37 when God calls the valley of dry bones to come to life and they do. So, because of God’s resurrection persecution and martrydom are not the final verdict. God will defeat sin and evil once and for all and return to vindicate His people. When God returns He not only resurrects his faithful witnesses but he also honors them and rewards them. (Revelation 11:17-18) Someday God will punish the evil of this world. He will punish the wicked who don’t repent and turn to Christ. So my challenge today is continue to remain faithful even if that means suffering and facing persecution. Someday God will return and He will honor those who have remained faithful for Him.

Our response today through the power of the Holy Spirit is to remain faithful witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our job is to share the wonderful message of hope and salvation to a lost and dying world that truly needs hope. Yes, there may come times where people don’t like the message of Jesus and we will suffer and be despised for the message. But, we can take heart and be of good cheer because we will see Christ one day. Be encouraged today to continue to be a faithful witness.