The Two Witnesses

Good morning. Welcome to Central. My name is Matt Dumas, and it’s great to be with you guys. Thanks for joining us.

And welcome back to Revelation. It’s been awhile, so we should probably do a bit of review.

Revelation 1…beginning of the Story. Introduced to the Main Character…a Guy named Jesus and given the lay out of the book. “…the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”

Revelation 2-3…the letters to the churches. Overall things are not going too bueno. They are a mess. The world is having a bigger impact on many of them than they are having on the world. Doesn’t much look like “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. And yet the gates of hell have not prevailed against the “C” Church. Even though the “c” church may falter and her lamp may go out, the flame is passed on…from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. The Church marches on.

Revelation 4-5…John visits the throne room in heaven where he witnesses the Lamb taking the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne. Title deed to planet earth. Who has the right to rule?

Revelation 6-9…breaking of the seals, unleashing of the four horsemen, and sound of trumpets as the tribulation comes crashing down on planet earth…the spiritual and the physical colliding in terrifying ways.

Revelation 10…a big angel gives John a little scroll and tells him to prophesy again the unfolding events of the tribulation.

One or two other things to keep in mind. Revelation is the culmination of the Story that began in Genesis. The Bible is one Story. Many of the things that happened earlier in the Story have a bearing on what is going to happen as the Story unfolds, and so we take frequent trips back to the OT to help us understand what’s going on.

In Revelation, the great reconciliation has begun…the crashing together of heaven and earth, the spiritual and the physical, the divine and the common. The imagery is fantastic and other-worldly…it’s what we should expect as this present world comes to an end in anticipation of the new heavens and the new earth that God has promised. So while some of the language is metaphorical…much of it coming from the OT…some of it is John’s attempt to describe the supernatural.

God is faithful to His promises, and so it shouldn’t surprise us that the focus is on Israel. God’s promises to the Hebrews of reconciliation and restoration, most of which are found in the prophets, have yet to be fulfilled. Israel is the olive tree, and we are branches that have been grafted in. But the promises still belong to her. We just get to benefit from those promises.

Our job through it all…1) don’t give up. Don’t give in. Because Jesus wins. 2) Share your story. Share the hope that you have with others. This world is in desperate need of hope…most of the folks you interact with on a daily/weekly basis are in desperate need of hope. And if you’ve been with us through this series, you know that things are only going to get worse. They need to hear about Jesus. They need to hear about the difference He’s made in your life. They need you to tell them.

I think that gets us caught up. We are ready to continue in the book of Revelation with The Two Witnesses.

Please turn to Revelation 11. Let’s pray.

Digging In

Let’s take a look at verse 1: “Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, ‘Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.”

At the end of Revelation 10, John was told to prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. And so now he takes us back to the beginning…the beginning of the tribulation. To the time when the first seals were broken and the four horsemen of the apocalypse began their ride.

John’s given a measuring rod, like a staff, to measure the temple and the altar and those who worship in it. Let’s stop there for just a second. First question…where is this temple? In heaven or on earth? Is this a spiritual temple or a physical temple? And if it’s in heaven…if it is a spiritual temple, then why the description of a measuring rod like a staff? And why measure it, especially if it’s a spiritual temple (and how would you do that)?

Let’s go back to what we talked about earlier. The focus of the tribulation is twofold. The restoration of Israel and the pouring out of God’s wrath on His enemies. And so the seal judgments, particularly seals 2-4 (war, famine, pestilence, wild beasts) resemble the curses of the covenant are designed to bring Israel to repentance.

[Here we have a temple. Where else in the Story do we see a temple? From Solomon on…sort of. In Jerusalem. The Babylonians destroyed the first one around 597BC. It was rebuilt during the governorship of a guy named Zerubabbel (Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah). It was expanded during the days of Herod and became a wonder of the ancient world. That temple was subsequently destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

Sidenote. What was the purpose of the temple? Same as the tabernacle. What was the purpose of the tabernacle? God’s presence with His people. In a special way. The heavens are God’s throne and the earth is His footstool, so no building on earth could “contain” God. But in a special way His presence…the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle/house of the LORD…would be there with His people (Exodus 40.34-35, 2 Chronicles 7.1-2). The temple reflects the heavenly throne room, as we saw earlier in Revelation 4, where God’s presence dwells in a bigger way…a “Him who sits on the throne” kind of way. That’s why the scene is so heartbreaking in Ezekiel 10, when the glory of the LORD departs from the temple…and won’t return until Israel is restored (when once again the glory of the LORD will fill the house (Ezekiel 43.5).

And while there is no temple currently, it doesn’t mean there won’t be when these events begin to unfold. In fact, if this is a physical temple, which I believe is extremely likely, then there will be. And it will be in this future temple that the abomination of desolation that Jesus warns His disciples about in Matthew 24.15 will be set up by the beast/antichrist/prince of the people (from Daniel 9). We will talk about that more in a bit.

Why measure the temple and the altar and those who worship there? It could be to show the fulfillment of God’s intention to save Israel. In the book of Numbers, there are two censuses taken. One at the beginning of the book and one at the end to show that despite Israel’s disobedience, God is still faithful to bring His people into the promised land. And in Revelation 21, the new Jerusalem is measured. Taking measurements of the temple/altar and numbering the worshipers would also show the physicalness of what’s going on. Not just a spiritual thing. But we don’t know for sure. It could also be marking out what belongs to God.

Who would we expect to be worshiping in the temple? Jews, right? When we hear about folks worshiping, we automatically think they must be believers. But that may not be the case…it certainly isn’t with those who worship the beast and his image. And it’s not necessarily true here either, depending on when on the timeline this takes place…before or after Israel repents. Again we don’t know for sure.]

The court outside the temple is given to the nations who will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. Given means…given. It’s not inherently theirs, but something that becomes theirs. Given by whom? God. He’s still in control. And so, as has been the case since Jerusalem fell in 597BC, the Jews/Jerusalem will be tread under foot by the nations.

Why forty-two months? Seems pretty specific. And it is. Three and a half years. Half of the seven year period of the tribulation, Daniel’s seventieth week. We will see why that’s important in just a minute.

Let’s take a look at verse 3: “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’ 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire. 7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And in 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. 14The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”

So we have two new characters introduced into the Story. Two witnesses. Whose witnesses are they? God’s. Which means they are testify about Him. Basic, but helpful to keep in mind. God’s given them authority to prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days. Another specific period of time. How long is that? Again three and a half years based on a solar calendar (30 days/month). Hmmm…so same length of time that the nations are allowed to tread under foot the holy city. But we’ll see as the Story continues to unfold, that though they are the same length of time, they actually represent opposite halves of the tribulation.

The two witnesses begin their prophesying at the start of the tribulation, prophesy for three and a half years and then are killed, resurrected and taken up to heaven. At that point, the nations will begin to tread the holy city underfoot.

The two witnesses are described as both olive trees and lampstands, both of which are very Jewish. Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree to describe Israel as the tree into which believing Gentiles have grafted in (Romans 11.17-24). Olive wood was used in the construction of the temple (1 Kings 6.31-33). And of course the lamp stand was in the temple. So…we have two Israelites prophesying about God.

These two are supernaturally protected. If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths to devour them. Real fire? Or just fiery words? Well, I think we have to be consistent. Do they really shut up the sky so it can’t rain or turn water to blood or strike the earth with plagues? Remember we are talking about the breaking in of the spiritual into the physical. We shouldn’t expect ordinary…far from it.

Let’s stop there for a minute. Just a quick detour about language and how it works. How come we wouldn’t consider the two witnesses to be actual lampstands and olive trees if we are being “consistent” and saying that the fire coming out of their mouths is actual fire? Great question. Neither lampstands nor olive trees can talk…much less prophesy. And so, they must be symbolic. Yeah, but can fire come out of someone’s mouth? Sure. But its also mentioned in two different ways. “Fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies”…“if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.” As strange as fire coming out of someone’s mouth may sound, I’m not sure that fiery words can kill. Couple that with the OT miracle of Elijah calling down fire from heaven to devour his enemies (2 Kings 1.10)…

Calling down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1.10), shutting up the sky (1 Kings 17.1), turning water to blood (Exodus 7.17-25) and striking the earth with all kinds of plagues (Exodus 7-11)…sounds a lot like Elijah and Moses, doesn’t it? Both were prophets to Israel and used by God in extraordinary ways. The two witnesses are like Moses and Elijah, but doubtful that they are actually Moses and Elijah. Remember John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1.17, Matthew 11.14).

So at the end of one thousand two hundred and sixty days, the two witnesses finish their testimony, and the beast comes up from the abyss makes war with them and overcomes them and kills them. Wait a minute…what!?!

Who is this beast and have can he overcome the two witnesses and kill them? Well, he’s from the abyss, so that tells us a lot. It means he’s demonically empowered somehow. We will learn more about him Revelation 13. If we are right about the first seal and the white horse rider from Revelation 6, then this is the same guy. The same one who will make a covenant with Israel at the beginning of the tribulation according to Daniel 9. He’s also known as the antichrist.

So why call him the beast? Revelation 13 makes it more clear, but it goes back to Daniel’s vision of the Gentile kingdoms that would rule over Israel from Daniel 7.

Anyway, the beast wins…or so it seems. Leaves the corpses of the two witnesses in the streets of what city? Sodom…Egypt…where their Lord was crucified…Jerusalem, right? But why not just call it Jerusalem? Did you notice that John said the great city which is spiritually (some translations “mystically”) called…what’s the spiritual condition of Jerusalem at this time? Immorality, idolatry, aligning with the beast…

The world (peoples, tribes, tongues, nations) will celebrate the death of the two witnesses…sending gifts to each other like it’s Christmas because they had been tormented by the two witnesses. How were they tormented? Conviction of sin. Like OT prophets who condemned Israel for her unfaithfulness.

And for three and a half days the corpses of the two witnesses will lie in the street. Three and a half…where have we heard that before? Trick question. We’ve heard forty-two months and one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which both equal three and a half years… and then the breath of God comes…where have we seen that? Ezekiel 37 (valley of dry bones) and of course Genesis 2…and they stand on their feet. You can imagine the shock and awe that folks would feel. And then the two are called up to heaven. And much like the cross, the apparent defeat quickly turns into victory.

Then a great earthquake and a tenth of the city falls and seven thousand are killed…but what about the rest? They are terrified and give glory to the God of heaven. Where is this again? Yeah, Jerusalem. So who might these people be who are terrified and giving glory to God? Yeah, Jews. And what does Paul say in Romans 11? And so all Israel will be saved. I think this is that. We’ll talk about it more when we get to Revelation 12.

BTW how long did the two witnesses prophesy to the folks in Jerusalem? Three and a half years. How long were they dead? Three and a half days. And then they were brought back to life like the dry bones of Ezekiel 37. During the first three and a half years of the tribulation Israel is dead (spiritually speaking…Sodom and Egypt where their Lord was crucified), but then they are terrified and give glory to God. They too are brought to life like the dry bones of Ezekiel 37.

The second woe is past…having gone back to the beginning of the tribulation, now John is ready to continue where the story previously left off.

Implications

The two witnesses prophesy in the streets of Jerusalem to the nation of Israel, calling them to repentance like the great prophets of old. When their testimony is complete, they are overcome and killed by the beast, and their dead bodies are left in the street for all to see. After three and a half days they are resurrected and called up to heaven. Afterwards, the city is rocked by a great earthquake, and Israel is saved.

God is faithful to His promises. He promised Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. And while the people failed at every turn, still God was determined to save the people He had chosen and through them to bring salvation to all peoples.

When it comes to following Jesus, winning often looks like losing. It looks like suffering and persecution and giving up my good for the good of another, but suffering comes before glory. And though the world may see us losing, the joy, the peace, the hope that we have in the midst of it all leads to an abundance of life that the world will never know. “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

[Transition to Communion]

Now we are going to enter our time of communion. There’s an old hymn that goes, “All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all! O seed of Israel's chosen race now ransomed from the fall, hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all. Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all! Let every tongue and every tribe responsive to his call, to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all! Oh, that with all the sacred throng we at his feet may fall! We'll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all. We'll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all. ” That’s what we celebrate at the table. Take a few moments to reflect on what we’ve talked about today. I’ll lead us in the elements in just a few moments.

“While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26.26-28).

Let’s pray.