REVELATION Ep10 The Two Witnesses

REVELATION 10 THE TWO WITNESSES  At the end of Revelation 10, we reached the great prophetic climax. The mystery of God is being brought to completion, and the seventh trumpet is about to sound. We are at the point toward which all the previous judgments have been moving. Today we’re talking about where we belong and with whom we belong and to whom we belong. We all belong to an idea, and people think it’s their idea but there are many thousands of ideas out there that many thousands of people want you to belong to. Those ideas promise to give you what you want for yourself, but it is what they want for you.    Who is they? They are the powers of darkness that work through the minds of influential people who are blinded from what God’s idea is for us. They persuade people to want to belong to their ideas and belong to their values. The problem is that if people are not sure about belonging, they will seek to pressure them to belong in various coercive ways, financially, personally or ideologically or threateningly because they want their ideas expressed through people’s lives so that they have control over their lives.  You fill in the blanks – it’s for everyone  For Christians it’s not about which denomination or which church we belong to. God simply says you belong to him – we belong together with him. He has his unique idea of you which he implanted into your spirit before the foundation of the world –his logos DNA seed word spoken into us by Jesus through the Holy Spirit the Spirit. Jesus said That you might have life and life more abundantly’ John 10:10. Jesus also adds that the thief comes to rob and to kill and to destroy that life. God’s idea for you is that you come to know him and express his life through your soul and live his values into this world. He draws you by his love and truth and grace – not by coercion - and you receive willingly and thankfully. This is where today’s word from revelation Episode 10 begins and ends as we also belong with the two witnesses we’re discussing today. Revelation chapter 11 to chapter 19 deals with all the events within the final 3½ years. But the events are not all presented as a single uninterrupted chronological sequence. Some sections are explanatory “close-ups” or parallel perspectives on the same period. And from Revelation19 we then move progressively toward Christ’s return.  It is like watching a movie and you think you’ve arrived at the end of the story where everything is about to be resolved then a caption comes up on the screen saying ‘Three and a half years earlier’. I think the movie producers learned this technique from the Apostle John. We are watching the same final act of the movie from several different camera angles. The story keeps returning to the same final period, but each “camera angle” reveals another dimension of what is taking place until the return of Christ brings the whole story into the open. Everything belongs in its order to the one narrative, and we belong together to that narrative wherever it is up to now, every day of our lives.   So in Revelation 11 the two witnesses are introduced, Moses and Elijah, who minister during this final three and a half year period and bear prophetic testimony in the midst of a rebellious world.    The seventh trumpet then announces that the kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.   Then Revelation 12 depicts a woman representing the church, being pursued by the dragon, Satan. She is given wings like a great eagle and protected in the wilderness for 1,260 days—three and a half years.   Revelation 13 then introduces the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth, and They exercise authority during this same final time period and demand allegiance from the world.   But Revelation 14 gives us a contrasting picture. While the beast gathers his followers, the Lamb stands with a select group of 144,000 people, and three angels proclaim God’s warnings to the world:  Then comes the harvest of the earth—a picture of the gathering of humanity for judgment as the age reaches its climax.   Revelation 15–16 then brings seven final plagues and seven bowls of God’s wrath of divine judgment upon the kingdom of the beast - preparing the way for the final confrontation.   In Revelation 17–18 , still within the same time frame, from another camera angle as it were, we see Babylon, the great harlot, riding the beast—a picture of the corrupt spiritual, economic and political system that has allied itself with the beast. Babylon ultimately collapses under God’s judgment.   In Revelation 19, the narrative catches up with itself, with the announcement of the Kingdom of Christ - heaven rejoices, the marriage of the Lamb is celebrated, and the Bride is prepared then Christ appears as the rider on the white horse. He comes as King and Judge, defeats the beast and the false prophet, and brings the Antichrist’s kingdom to its end. Rev. Ch. 19 and Rev. Ch. 20 concern the second coming of Christ and the first and second judgement seats, separated  by the one thousand years millennium. Rev. Chs. 21 and 22 deal with the heavenly Jerusalem.  The purpose of these repeated perspective from chapters 11 to 19 is to show us not merely what happens, but what is happening simultaneously from heaven’s perspective, Israel’s perspective, the Church’s perspective, the Beast’s perspective and God’s judgment perspective.  Before the Two Witnesses are introduced in Revelation 11:3 , which I’ll be focusing on in a moment, an Angel is commanded to measure the Temple and Altar and Worshippers, with the measuring rod, (Revelation 11:1,2). Measurement is an important principle of God for us in the Bible. Paul tells us to examine ourselves to see whether we are ‘in the faith’. (2 Corinthians 13:5), and he mentions four area of measurement (metron) that we need to attend to, because whatever is not measured will never get changed, and be neglected.  Firstly, there is measure of faith for the operation of his spiritual gift for serving God and others (Romans 12:3). Secondly, there is the measure of grace for the operation of that gift (Ephesians 4:7). Thirdly, the measure of our stature (character) in of Christ – (Ephesians 4: 13). Fourthly, the measure of our sphere of influence. (2Corinthians 10:3).   The measuring of the Temple here in Revelation is for the ultimate measurement that Christ has for his church Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Eph2: 21 - being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, This refers to Christians who are the temple of God and are living in the truths of  worship, intimate relationship with God in Spirit and in truth, and ‘going on to perfection (telos – completion, salvation/healing of the soul) – a bride being made ready. NB. There is speculation about a rebuilt last days actual temple which would require additional interpretation and application for Israel (a known or an unknown unknown)   The outer court is not measured, but these people belong to God, and they must experience persecution by being trodden underfoot by unbelievers (ethnos/ nations) during this time of tribulation (forty two months);   Some of these outer court people are Christians who have already heard the Gospel, and the call to the Marriage Feast (Matt 22: 1-14), but who have not pursued that promise. Matt 25: 1-13 tells the parable of those who were not prepared for the wedding feast who did not keep oil in their lamps, perhaps like the five foolish virgins and they found the door shut to them from the Marriage. These outer court people are referred to later in Rev. Ch. 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (see also Matt. 8: 12, Matt 5: 13). It is God's people, Israel who are the main constituent of the outer court in this chapter who have been preserved for this time, to hear the testimony of the two witnesses and believe and be saved  Rom. 11: 25-27 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved   TESTIMONY OF THE TWO WITNESSES. These are two actual people, who bear testimony to the work of Jesus during His three and one half years of ministry (sometimes seen as ‘the Two men in White) . They will be known and recognised by the people of Israel, and they will be believed and trusted, and tell of things that describe The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Acts 1: 10) The resurrection of Jesus from the dead (John 20: 12) The transfiguration in Glory of Jesus before Calvary (Luke. 9: 28-31) d)   and possibly other major events in Jesus’ life. EG The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4: 11)      ANOINTING OF THE TWO WITNESSES. Rev. 11: 4    "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The mention of olive trees refers to the anointing of the Holy Spirit that these men have, (Zech 4: 3), and the olive trees now speak of both Israel and Christians. They are called candlesticks also, because the Church has also been the candlesticks for the world.    PARALLEL MINISTRIES OF MOSES AND ELIJAH. Rev. 11: 5,6   "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy; and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." Apart from the similarities seen here between the end time ministries of the two witnesses, and the past ministries of Moses and Elijah, their ministries both feature the following similarities:     1.Both had revelation on Mt. Horeb with fire.  Moses (Ex. 24:16) Elijah (IKings 19: 8) 2, Both fasted 40 days and nights.  Elijah (IKings 19: 8) Moses (Exodus 34: 28 - 10 Commandments) 3. Both erected Altars lit by God.  Elijah ( IKings: 18 ) Moses ( Lev.9: 24 ) 4. Both sent to wicked Kings and persecuted. Elijah (IKings 17: 1 ) Moses (Exod. 6: 27 ) 5. Both used sword against idolaters.  Elijah (1 Kings 19: 1) Moses(Exod. 32: 27 ) 6. Both miraculously divided waters. Elijah ( 2 Kings 2: 8 ) Moses (Exod. 14: 21 - red sea ) 7. Both went up to Heaven beyond Jordan.  Elijah (2 Kings 2: 11 ) Moses (Deut 34: 6 ) 8. Both had anointed successors who also divided Jordan.  Elijah (2 Kings 2: 14 ) Moses ( Josh. 3: 16 ) 9. Both saw fire consume enemies.  Elijah ( 2 Kings 1: 10 ) Moses (Num. 16:35 – sons of Korah - Dathan and Abiram) 10. Both appeared on Mt. of Transfiguration. (Lk.9: 28 )   NECESSITY FOR MOSES AND ELIJAH TO SEE DEATH. Rev. 11: 7  "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and kill them." Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection -1 Cor 15: 20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." A. Moses Therefore anyone whose body has been glorified in Heaven having experienced death before Christ, would therefore be the firstfruits of ‘those that slept’. Moses’ body had been glorified (Luke. 9: 28-3,Deuteronomy 34:6, Jude Vs. 9,), and so to conform to scriptures he must again see death. "Moses was faithful in all his house as an attendant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken afterward" (Hebrews 3:5) - a servant whose faithfulness is explicitly held for later declaration...also - apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:39). They belong together with us. B          Elijah. Elijah went straight to heaven in a cloud with his chariot, so he has yet to see death (2Kings 2:11 Elisha was given the mantle that Elijah had used to divide the Jordan when he ascended, and Elisha also divided the Jordan river as he returned from tha tplace.).  People thought John was Elijah but Jesus said, after John was already dead: “Elijah indeed comes and will restore all things” (Matthew 17:11). Future tense.  John carried Elijah’s commission in his generation but Elijah is seen here as part of a future generation in restoring the Kingdom.s.   The Bible says that it is appointed for every man to die (Heb 9: 27). The only exceptions that scripture itself makes to this are: 1)     Enoch (Gen 5:24, Heb 11: 5)  2)     The prepared End Time Church generation. (1 Thess 4: 15, 1 Cor 15: 51,52,  Ps. 102: 18-22 This will be written for a generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death, To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.   John is showing us that, despite everything about to happen on earth, God knows exactly who belongs to Him. We are purposed and declared to belong – together with one another - to him. The world that belongs to darkness may appear to be taking control, but God is still measuring, identifying and preserving His own. We don’t just live like we know he is going to win – we live as ones who know he has already won. We belong together in his victory every moment.