The End Times as God Reveals Them Pt. 31 Two Witnesses with Great Power Serve God in Jerusalem

 In this post we are introduced to the "two witnesses." We will see that they operate very much like one of the Old Testament prophets. Remember, that God previously sealed 144,000 servants who will go around the world preaching the gospel. Therefore, the ministry of these two men must be different to some degree.

Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days.

Revelation 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

The two witnesses are introduced without much fanfare. God is still speaking and He states that He will empower the two witnesses and they are going to prophesy. He has also set the limits of their ministry at 1,260 days which represents 3 1/2 years of ministry. 

We have judgments for 3 1/2 years, the 144,000 serving God for 3 1/2 years and these witnesses prophesying for 3 1/2 years. Rebellion against God and idolatry will erupt during the latter portion of the great tribulation. God's wrath and judgment upon all sinners will be poured out during this same time. 

Christ foretold the Times of the Gentiles

Luke 21:20-24  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

In the Olivet discourse, Jesus is giving His disciples a lesson in eschatology, the study of End Times. From this portion of His teaching we see that in the great tribulation at some point, Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. The desolation of the Temple will be very close at hand (Daniel 8:13).

Jesus told His disciple that when this time comes the people must flee because all the vengeance of the Lord spoken by the prophets is going to be literally fulfilled. Great distress is going to fill the land of Israel as the wrath of the Anti-Christ is turned against the Jewish people. Some will be martyred and some will be taken prisoner. Jerusalem will be overrun and controlled by the Gentiles until the "times of the Gentiles" is completed. 

The Two Witnesses will wear sackcloth.

John saw that the two witnesses were clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth symbolized mourning for the nation Israel because of sin and judgment. It represents humility before God, seeking His intervention to revive the people and restore them to Himself. It represents being stripped down to the essential things of life so one can focus on the glory of God. Israel's most well known prophet Elijah, was clothed in sackcloth and so was John the Baptist who came in the spirit and power of Elijah as Christ's forerunner. 

The names of the Witnesses are not given.

We are not given the names of the two witnesses and this has led to widespread speculation about who they may be. We do know that it is appointed once unto men to die. However, there were two Old Testament prophets who did not die. Both were taken to heaven by God. Enoch is one and Elijah is the other. 

Enoch walked with God and one day God took him home to heaven. However, Jude 1:14-15 tells us that Enoch preached righteousness and the great day of Jehovah's impending judgment, so his name is connected with judgment. 

Elijah was the model prophet during the Old Testament. He judged Israel for their idolatry with Baal, and he prayed that there would be no rain for 3 1/2 years and it did not rain during that time. Then, he prayed that God would send fire down on the soldiers who sought to take his life, and He did. Elijah is prophesied to come right before the return of Christ in that great and dreadful day of Jehovah's judgment (Malachi 4:5).

Both men served God faithfully and had a testimony that pleased God. The name "Enoch" means "dedicated to God" and the name "Elijah" means "Jehovah is my God." 

Two Olive Trees & Two Candlesticks

Revelation 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 

Zechariah 4:6; 11-14  6) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 

11)Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12) And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13) And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14) Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 

What John heard next was that the two witnesses were compared with two olive trees and two candlesticks. John knew the Old Testament scriptures and he would have made the connection between what the angel said and what the prophet Zechariah wrote almost 700 years before John was born. All of Zechariah 4 is devoted to explaining the olive trees and the candlesticks. 

An olive tree produces oil for medicine, cooking, oil for anointing purposes and also oil for certain sacrifices along with oil for lamps, and wood for furniture. They were and are valuable resources.

Oil and light are both symbols of the Holy Spirit of God and both symbols meet in the images of the olive trees and candlesticks. This is why Zechariah said "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." These witnesses will have a Spirit guided and Spirit empowered ministry on earth during the great tribulation.

Zechariah calls them the two anointed ones who stand for Jehovah. We will learn that this is what the witnesses will do: stand firmly for the God of heaven with a testimony of righteousness in the face of rampant idolatry.  The olive tree and the candlestick that Zechariah saw are anointed or empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. 

The Two Witnesses will have great powers from God's Spirit.

Revelation 11:5-6  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth 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. 

If any man attempts to injure the witnesses, fire will proceed out of their mouths to devour their enemies. This is the idea of calling on God to send fire down upon them like Elijah did (2 Kings 1:10-12). They will have the power to cause a severe drought by stopping the rain, just like Elijah did (1 Kings 17:1). They will be able to turn the waters into blood like Moses did (Exodus 7:14-25). In addition, the two witnesses will be given power to smite the world with plagues as often as they think it necessary. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

If you are not born again when the rapture of the church occurs, then you will have to live through the horrendous judgments that we have been studying. God is offering the gift of salvation to all who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you turn from your sins and embrace Jesus Christ by faith? 

The two witnesses are going to be active during the last 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week. The very things that Jesus Christ foretold for the future will be the things going on at that moment in time. God is sending the two witnesses to bring a strong testimony of His righteousness to the place where the Anti-Christ is reigning in Jerusalem. 

They will exercise the power of the Spirit of God against those who seek to do them harm because they are preaching God's truth. Fire, water turning to blood and plagues will provide a vivid testimony to the Great Day of Jehovah's judgment coming soon.

We are about 1/2 way through the book of Revelation and we know what is coming. God's judgment will be upon all who rebel against His authority and His judgment will be against all sinners. 

Are the perilous and deadly times of judgment something that you want to experience? You will go through all the calamity if you have not repented of your sins. Think about the 10 commandments for a minute. Have you ever loved something more than God? Have you ever chosen to do something on the Lord's Day that doesn't honor Him? Have you ever lied? Have you ever dishonored your parents by being disobedient or disrespectful? Have you ever taken something that was not yours? Have you watched pornography and lusted? Have you thought murderous thoughts toward someone you detest?  

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you have sinned. The Bible makes it very clear that all mankind sins and falls short of the glory of God. There are consequences for our sins and life becomes harder when we live in sin. Such misery and self centeredness is not what God wants for you or me. 

The wages of sin is death and you will die one day. If you are not born again you will stand before holy God in your sins and be condemned. If you are born again you will stand before Him robed in the righteousness of Christ. 

Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross so that we might have eternal life through faith in Him. When Jesus rose from the grave death could not hold Him. His resurrection proves that we can be justified by faith in Christ. The word justified means no condemnation, no more guilt or shame from sin because they have been removed from us through the work of Jesus Christ.

When you are born again, you receive a fresh start in life, a new beginning and you enter into a relationship with God. I am praying that the Lord will speak to all of us and work out His saving purposes in our lives. May we share the good news of the gospel with our family and friends. 

Bob