THE TWO WITNESSES. Revelation 11:3-13

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1 THE TWO WITNESSES Revelation 11:3-13

2 2. THE DIVINE PARENTHESIS In Chapter 10 and most of 11, John is filling in some of the details that will take place during the tribulation period. Back in chapter 10 we saw John take the Word of God, the scroll, and he ate it digested it. And how SWEET God s blessings were to him as he ate God s Word especially the Rapture of the church! 1 THESS. 4:15-18 to 5:9 ROMANS 10:13-17 He saw God s judgment, which was BITTER to him in what would happen to those who have rejected Christ.

3 3. TWO WILD AND CRAZY GUYS v. 3-4 For the first 3½ years of the 7 year tribulation period, these two men will invincibly represent God before the people. As they minister the Gospel they will be wearing sackcloth, or camel s skin, as a sign of mourning over the spiritual condition of not only Israel, but the world. These two witnesses see the salvation of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists plus other Jews and Gentiles. These two faithful witnesses will minister alongside the rebuilt temple, which is a false witness of what Christ has done. The real picture is found in HEBREWS 9

4 4. OLIVE TREES AND LAMPSTANDS? We have seen this picture before in Zechariah 4 in the lives of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Does this mean Zerubbabel and Joshua are the two witnesses in Revelation 11? I THINK NOT. But they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to complete the work that God has called them to do so they are a type of the two witnesses to come. Who will be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit and the light of Christ? SPIRIT-FILLED PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL!

5 THE REAL UNTOUCHABLES v. 5-6 If anyone bothers them or tries to harm them, they will be destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouths. The word devour (KATES-THIEI in the Greek) speaks of the total destruction POOF UP IN SMOKE! That would definitely put to silence many of the critics that are in the world today. Think about it this way, God s Word is a consuming fire. Fire and no rain bloody rivers plagues that should get the world thinking about their message!

6 6. WHO ARE THESE GUYS? Well, I can tell you who one of these witnesses is with 100% confidence Elijah! MALACHI 4:5-6 tells us. Even today, when the Jewish people are celebrating Passover, they set an extra place at the table for Elijah. Also, in 1 KINGS 17:1 we are told that Elijah had the power to stop the rain, and in LUKE 4:25 and JAMES 5:17 we are told that it was for 3½ years! But #2 Some like to say Enoch, for he, like Elijah, did not die, but was transported to heaven alive. Remember, the Tribulation is principally to bring salvation to Israel.

7 7. SO WHO IS NUMBER TWO? On the Mount of Transfiguration we see Jesus appear in His glory before His death and resurrection. LUKE 9:27-35 Who appeared on either side of Jesus? It was Moses and Elijah that appeared with Him. What was this meeting all about between Moses, Elijah and Jesus? VERSE 27 says it relates to the coming of the earthly kingdom of God, and VERSE 31 speaks of Jesus death. MOSES represented the Law and ELIJAH represented the Prophets. I believe Moses is the Second Witness.

8 8. GOD S PERFECT PLANS? v YOUR LIFE WILL NOT END Until the work that God has called you to do is completed. There are no accidents in God s plans see Paul s confidence in PHILIPPIANS 1:6, We should have a No fear attitude even when the Lord allows The Beast to come after us. There is nothing more dangerous than being out of the will of God. Even if Satan Himself comes against you, he is no match for God these two witness only died when God said it was time. As with Jesus and all believers the grave cannot keep us!

9 9. GLAD TO SEE EM GO! v These two guys were nothing but trouble for the inhabitants of the earth. Why? The same reason the world will be glad when the church is raptured! Because the deeds of Satan/Antichrist and his minions were evil and these two witnesses exposed their evilness. Can he same be said about you? Are you a threat to Satan's plans? ASK YOUSELF THE QUESTION Does Satan hate you enough to come after you with the hounds of hell? Are you a threat to the Kingdom of Darkness?

10 10. NOT THEM AGAIN v IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN OUR LIFETIME that we can watch news events that are happening on the other side of the world live in real time as they occur. WOLF BLITZER LIVE IN JERUSALEM And they won t believe it! They didn t believe Jesus either. JOHN 11: 25 OH NO NOT THEM AGAIN. WE ARE DEAD MEAT! YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE WORLD OF THE NEED FOR A SAVIOR! STAND STRONG IN THE LORD 1 CONRINTHIANS 15:58