The Two Witnesses of the Great Tribulation

We have been studying in Revelation for several months now. We have followed the outline of Revelation 1.19, the thing that John had seen (Jesus in heaven), the things that are (letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor), and the things that are to come, (The Worship of Heaven, and the Tribulation period on earth.) We have seen 7 seals peeled off the scroll by Jesus, each one revealing a new judgment of the Tribulation. We have seen 6 of the 7 trumpets blown by the angels, each one declaring a new judgment. Death and destruction have marked the tribulation. We have seen the brazenly unrepentant shake their fist in the face of God, determined that they will not submit to Him (but make no mistake they will). We have seen countless people coming to faith in Christ in great masses, and we have seen that they lose their lives for holding on to their faith. At least 1/2 half of the world’s population has been wiped out ( and I am not even sure that disappoint the groups like planned parenthood, and progressive liberals who are all about population control.

Starting in chapter 10 we saw a parentheses.... a pause on the 7 trumpets as God puts several new things on the table for us all to see. In chapter 10, John is recommissioned to keep prophesying because there is much more to come.

For a while the emphasis of Revelation becomes several characters instead of the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls of judgment.

As I read Revelation 11 I am reminded of two things. 1. God always has a people, a remnant who belong to Him. 2. God always has a witness in the world and to the world.

God’s Special People

Revelation 11:1–2 HCSB

1 Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

A Temple that needs to be measured. When John wrote, the Romans had destroyed the Temple. So this a future, prophetic Temple. It is reasonable to believe that Temple is built right at the start of the Tribulation. Built by Antichrist to draw the Jewish people into a Covenant with him just as predicted by Daniel. Daniel also says that Antichrist will break that covenant 3.5 years in.

There are many mentions of the Temple in the Bible. God first met with Israel in a tent, then in Solomon’s Temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians. Then Zurabbel’s Temple, which was greatly expanded by Herod in the time of Jesus. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. John sees a new Temple. The Temple was always the place where GOD MET HIS PEOPLE!

A People that need to be counted. Worshippers- Those Jewish people who come to faith in the Tribulation are seen here as worshipping in the Temple.

But that is about to shift.

A People who are excluded.- There is a dynamic shift going on here. The door of being able to worship in the Temple is closing. The Gentiles, godless people, are going to TRAMPLE the courtyard of the Temple. The word for trample can mean tread upon. In other words, God’s faithful will no longer have control of the Temple complex, but godless idolaters.

Jesus said that the road to destruction was wide and many people were on it. The road to eternal life was narrow and few would find it.

BUT GOD ALWAYS HAS A FAITHFUL PEOPLE. A people who are faithful to Him, no matter the cost. As a pastor, let me encourage you TODAY to sell out to Jesus. Find ways to commit more of you life to Him. MAke it known that you are one of those who will be counted among His faithful people just like those Jews will be counted by John during the Tribulation.

God’s Special Messengers

Revelation 11:3–14 HCSB

3 I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want. 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which prophetically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And representatives from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. 10 Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets brought judgment to those who live on the earth. 11 But after 3½ days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming quickly!

For some reason it is a fascination of some to want to identify who these to preachers are.

There can be no doubt that the “two olive trees” in verse 4 alludes to the book of Zechariah. In that context they are Zerrubabel and Joshua the high priest. Two great leaders of their day who stood out.

People want to to identify these two witnesses as Moses and Elijah. Note the miracles they do.

Others want them to be Enoch and Elijah.

Here is what I know. These are real people. They live. They serve. They die. and they are resurrected. BUT THEIR IDENTITIES ARE NOT GIVEN. Let’s spend our time obeying what we do know from the Scripture instead of speculating on things God has not said.

Here’s what we can know

They are empowered by God for special service. 5-6

They die only when God is done with them . 7-11

They die at the hand of the Devil and the Antichrist, but ONLY when they FINISH.

Was anyone saved as a result of their preaching… Perhaps. But it seems that the days are gone of masses of people coming to Jesus.

When these preachers die, the people ALL see and they throw parties because God’s Special messengers have been killed.

Please don’t think that Christianity shields you from the harm the world would bring.

As a matter of fact, if you live boldly for Jesus, you may be a lightning rod.

BUT PLEASE KNOW THIS: Nothing can happen to you until God is finished with you.

3. They come back to life when God decides it. 11-14

7000 people die.

But some number of those who are still alive give glory to God.

Were they genuinely saved? Or were they scared to death, and decided to give God props? Only heaven knows.