Rev. #35 ~11: ~the Two Witnesses ~pt. 2 Series

Rev. #35 ~11:1-7 ~THE TWO WITNESSES ~pt. 2 12-26-09

Today we’ll continue our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, last time we left off in Chapter 11: and verse 7, so we’ll try and get hooked back up from there.

Lets keep in mind that chapter 11:1-13 does not advance the chronological sequence of the prophetic events, in stead it describes, the ministries of the two witnesses, which occur over a three-and-a-half-year period, and the spiritual condition of the temple and Jerusalem as it will exist in the Tribulation.

Then in 11:14 and following, the last woe and the seventh trumpet are introduced along with heaven’s response to do with what this means to the kingdom of God.

Not until chapter 15 will the chronological events continue again, namely the pouring out of the seven vials, which brings about the seventh trumpet and the last woe.

Ø Listen as I try and recap the 1st 7 verses in order to get our thought line back on the right track.

1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

This reed was some type of measuring devise, and this “angel” is still the “Mighty Angel” that we read about beginning in chapter 10:, and we believe that its the Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus of the N.T. is the “Angel of the Lord” of the Old Testament. Why does Christ appear in the Tribulation Period as an angel?

>> He appears as an angel because reference is made to conditions in Israel before their Messiah had been revealed to them in His incarnation. <<

And also lets realize that we’re reading about Jewish things here in these verses “temple, the altar, and a place the Gentiles worship, the outer court”.

So here He takes the same position as He occupied in Old Testament times.

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Ø I want us to notice, that days are used in reference to the two prophets or God’s witnesses, but months are used in connection with the unbelieving Gentile nations. Why? Because God reckons time with believers on a daily basis, showing concern and care for His own, but not so with the unbelieving world.

2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

--This is the last half of the Tribulation---

John is told that the outer court "is given unto the Gentiles” an event having already occurred at this time).

But then John is also told “and the holy city {Jerusalem} shall they **tread under foot forty and two months.” -- (future tense). == It say’s shall they ==so in verse 2 we read “they **tread under foot forty and two months” this is telling us about the last half of the 7 year Tribulation.

So verse 2 is telling about the last half of the 7-year tribulation, 3 ½ years.

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

Let’s be sure to notice that it’s this “Mighty Angel” that says, {And I will give power unto my two witnesses} not just any ordinary angel can give such power to any one, it’s the Lord Jesus, these two witnesses are His.

He will give them what ever they need to carry out their mission, Gods hand is on these two and nothing can harm them in any way until God allows it.

They are “clothed in sack cloth”

And they shall prophesy … clothed in sackcloth” The words “witness, prophesy, and sackcloth” point us to the nature and character of their ministry. God caused them to be so dressed because of what it symbolized, Sackcloth” is referring to a very coarse, dark garment often made of goat’s hair and worn like a sack.

It expressed mourning, repentance and judgment. Their message will essentially be the message of John the Baptist, that of announcing the coming judgments and calling men to repent.

-- and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days,

verse 3 here is telling us about the 1st half of the Tribulation.

Listen-- How could the beast overcome the witnesses at the end of the Tribulation and the world throw a big celebration, and how could the earth dwellers have great celebrations and sending gifts to each other if this was at the end of the Tribulation?

At the end they’ll not be any rejoicing going on, according to Word of God, they’ll be crying out for the rocks to fall on them.

So verse 3 here is telling us about the 1st half of the Tribulation.