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.
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4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Ø What John saw here in chapter 11: is explained in Zechariah’s vision in
Zechariah, chapters 4:11 + 14 11Then 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?
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that “stand “ by the Lord of the whole earth.
So we understand that the two olive trees represent two individual anointed persons, in Zechariah it was Joshua and Zerubbabel, they were men who were the means that the Word of God was transmitted to the people.
But these two here in the Revelation, the two olive trees, the two witnesses, are Elijah and Moses.
They are two candlesticks standing before the God.
Not only do these two witnesses declare God’s words, but they also do God’s works and perform miracles of judgment, reminding us of both Moses and Elijah.
These witnesses will be able to protect themselves by calling down fire on their enemies who try to harm them, as Elijah did in 1 Kings 18: 37-38.
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5And 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.
Whether they will call down fire on their enemies or the fire actually comes from their mouth is not clear, but through them fire will kill their enemies.
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6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy:
Wicked King Ahab saw no harm in participating in the religion of his neighbors, particularly the religion of his wife. Therefore, he established a center of Baal worship at Samaria. Influenced by Jezebel, Ahab gave himself to the worship of Baal.
Ø Suddenly Elijah appeared on the scene.
Elijah was opposed to the accepted standards of his day when belief in many gods was normal. He appears in the role of God’s instrument of judgment upon a wayward Israel because of the nation’s widespread idolatry.
As punishment against Ahab for building the temple for Baal worship at Samaria, Elijah predicted that a drought would grip the land, and it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years.
1 Kings 17: 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
1 Kings 18: -41-46 Elijah prays for rain and ends the drought.
6-b --and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Ø This is why we believe Moses is the other Witness -
In Exodus, Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrew people leave Egypt. The 10 plagues were a divine demonstration of power and displeasure designed to persuade Pharaoh to "let my people go,"
1. Water to Blood-7:19------- 2. Frogs 8:2-------- 3. Gnats or Lice 8:16----- 4. Flies 8:21—
5. Livestock Diseased 9:3--- 6. Boils 9:8--- 7. Thunder and Hail & fire 9:18--- 8. Locusts 10:4—
9. Darkness 10:21-- 10. Death of the Firstborn 11:4
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7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Last time we talked about- “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit” and we believe it to be Judas Iscariot.
Ø {Iscariot} probably is not his last name, just as “Magdalene” is not Mary’s last name, she was actually “Mary, of A TOWN CALLED MAGDALA”.
“Kerioth”, was a town in the south of Judea (Joshua 15:25) we can read that, Judas Iscariot was probably a native of this place, and hence his name Iscariot.-we believe him to be a Jew.
Let me give you some scripture why we believe Judas will be, “the beast that’s ascend from the pit”.
Ø Never at any time in the 4 gospels are we told that Judas ever called the Lord Jesus Lord. He always calls Him master.
Only two people in the Bible is referred to as "The Son of Perdition", and that was Judas and “the man of sin”, the antichrist.
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John 17: is the Lords prayer and there in verse 12 we read
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Then in
2nd Thess.2:3 we find that the antichrist, “the man of sin” is called the same thing.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;--
In John 6:70-71 we read,
70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
There are many demons, but only one Devil.
The fact that Judas was termed by Christ not a "son of perdition", but "the Son of Perdition", and the fact that the Man of Sin is so named prove that they are one and the same person.
In no other passage is the word "devil" applied to any one but to Satan himself. Judas then was the Devil incarnate, just as the Lord Jesus was God incarnate.
Rev. 11:7 we have the first reference to "The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit".
Here the Antichrist is seen coming forth from the Abyss. What is the Abyss?
It is the abode of a group of lost spirits, “fallen angels” the place of their incarceration.
How did he get there? And when was he sent there? It was when Judas Iscariot died! The Antichrist will be Judas Iscariot reincarnated.
-- Judas went "to his own place", the Beast ascends out of the Abyss, the bottomless pit.
We believe that the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit is Judas Iscariot.
Ø We read this last time but I feel it’s important, so lets read id again.
Listen as I read from
Acts 1: 15-25 15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. –A reference to him hanging himself.
19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. –
Psalm 109: 8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, -unto- that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Here we see the starting point,{from the baptism of John} and the ending point.{unto} the day He was taken up from us.
23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. –the bottomless pit.
Ø Notice; Judas fell from “this ministry and apostleship” he did not fall from grace; no where in the 4 gospels can we find where Judas ever called the Lord Jesus, “Lord”
Judas always called Jesus Master, Judas was never saved, he did not fall from grace but from his place in the ministry. Just because a man may preach, or maybe even be a Pastor of a church does not automatically make him to be saved.
Let me remind us that it is not the person that is dealing with a lost sinner that saves a person, it’s the WORD OF GOD, did you know that a lost person can lead some one to the Lord if he is quoting scripture?
Ø Jesus said in
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,--
Jesus did not say; he that hears a saved person speak My Word. Think about it.
There’s multitudes of people that have read gospel tracts that have the “word of God” in them that are saved without any one at all being there with him or her, so it’s not some person that saves some one, it’s not some person that saves another person, it’s the convicting power Word of God”, when the Word of God is taken in then The Holy Spirit of God gets involved, He will convict that lost sinner and then he can be saved.
I enjoy hearing good gospel music, but know one is ever saved by hearing songs, it’s the WORD, if the WORD is not involved no one will ever be saved, some time in ones life he or she must hear the Word. I said that one time in a Sunday school lessen and a lady was there that was a great singer, but she never came back, and I certainly didn’t mean to offend her, I wasn’t thinking of any one at all.
Paul said in
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
A person can never have saving faith apart from the Word of God.
