The Two Witnesses, Part 1
Revelation, Part 13, Revelation 11:1-3
Introduction
- John receives specific orders that he must continue spreading the Gospel!
-- Even though he is being shown a glimpse of the end of time as we know it
-- He is still being told by God that spreading the Word is vital!
VERY IMPORTANT APPLICATION: SO ARE WE!
- John is preparing to see the Gospel propelled around the globe
-- He is being given strength for what is to come … the worst of time
-- APP: The last three years of the Tribulation are now upon mankind
- The scroll that John ate was the literal, physical strength and nourishment
-- This is his strength to continue writing of the next 3.5 years
-- APP: God’s Word ought to be OUR daily bread as well!
- It should be our nourishment every day – and we should devour it …
-- God is not calling us to give one another lip service, but to be devoted
-- Here we see how devoted John is to God … are we?
Ω Map
This lesson is a teaching lesson … gives foundation for Sunday’s message
-- Today, we see the example of two souls unashamed of the Gospel
-- These two souls are brought forth from God to preach the Word
-- They show John how he too must preach after being fed in Chapter 10
-- APP: Show us that we must continue to preach!
- This message is a message for anyone who claims Jesus as their Savior
-- It is our mission to help spread the message of salvation to this world
- Read Revelation 11:1-3
Ω Point 1 – The Temple in Jerusalem (read v1-2)
- The purpose of the rod given to John is to measure the Temple and Altar
-- The temple is being measured for our benefit, so that we may understand -- But most importantly, so we would know where the temple resides
- In 70 AD, the temple of God was destroyed by the ruler Titus
-- Today the Dome of the Rock now sits in its exact location
-- This sacred spot is considered most holy in Jerusalem
-- This is why it is the center of so much controversy today
- Jews, Muslims, and even Christians lay claim to this area as being sacred
-- The world still fails to realize how important Jerusalem is to God’s plan
- In the New Testament the temple is talked about at great length
-- Matthew 24:15 says, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.”
- Many may wonder what The Abomination of Desolation is:
-- In 167 B.C. a Greek ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
-- He also sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem
-- To the Jews, this is defiling to their traditions (pigs are unclean)
-- Bible prophecy says that the anti-Christ will perform this very same act
He orders that sacrifices are made to His image
- In 2 Thessalonians 2:4 we are informed that the “man of lawlessness”, who is the Antichrist, will set himself up in God’s Temple and proclaim himself to be God. “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
Ω Point 2 – The Timeline of Events (read v2 again)
- Revelation mentions time-periods; here is the explanation of those times:
-- 12 months x 3.5 years= 42 months
-- Considering a month has 30 days, 42 x 30 = 1,260 days
This period of time is repeated time and again Daniel and Revelation
-- 42 Months – Rev 11:2 and 13:5
-- 1260 days – Rev 11:3; 12:6
-- 3.5 years – Dan 9:27
-- Times, time & ½ time – Dan 7:25; Dan 12:7; Rev 12:4
- All of these times refer to the Tribulation
-- This time is God’s judgment on this world
-- But during this time God’s mercy continues to give man an opportunity
-- Opportunity for what? To repent and ask forgiveness!
- This brings us to God’s physical witnesses who proclaim the Gospel
-- If you are a Christian today, these two witnesses ought to be heroes
- They show God’s anointing (nothing can be done without anointing)
-- They show God’s power (He can overcome anything)
-- They most importantly show total obedience to the Lord without fear
-- God said He would make a footstool of your enemies in Psalm 110:1; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:35; Hebrews 1:13; and Hebrews 10:13.)
- What God is seeking of His servant is these three things combined
-- APP: HUGE: He is looking for that in all of us at this very minute
Ω Point 3 – The Two Witnesses (read v3)
These witnesses receive power from God to preach the word!
-- Revelation is literal here; these witnesses are two distinct individuals
-- Two because two are required to establish the truth of testimony!
--- Duet 17:6, “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”
--- John 8:17, “In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.”
- The disciples were sent out by Jesus in two's
-- Mark 6:7 says “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.”
To understand who they are, we have confirmation of one of them
-- Malachi 4:5 declares, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
-- The great and dreadful “Day of the Lord” is Daniel’s 70th week
-- It is the time of judgment upon the Earth that Daniel prophesied about
-- The same time Jesus confirmed in Matthew 24
- FACT: Elijah was taken up to heaven in 2 Kings 2:11 which says, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”
-- IMP: Elijah did not suffer a natural death!
-- Thus, before the great Day of the Lord, Elijah would be sent back!
- Here are some facts to consider about Elijah:
1. Elijah, along with Moses, appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matt 17:3 which says, “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”
2. John the Baptist came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17) to prepare people for coming of Jesus Christ. “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
3. During the Jewish Passover, there are five cups of wine; one cup is left for the coming of Elijah who comes before the Messiah.
- Using this knowledge the other witness is either … Moses or Enoch!
Some believe Moses for the following reasons:
1. Moses appeared with Elijah when Jesus was transfigured (Mt 17:3)
2. Scholars agree that the judgments on Earth during the tribulation period parallel the plagues on Egypt for which Moses was present and warned Pharaoh about.
Others believe Enoch was the other Witnesses for the following reasons:
1. Enoch, along with Elijah, was the only other person to not die prior to the rapture. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
2. Enoch represented God’s judgment on the days before the flood.
- These witnesses will proclaim God’s Word for 1260 days, or 3.5 years
-- While they go about spreading God’s Word, they are dressed in sackcloth.
-- Sackcloth was used to show mourning
-- Sackcloth is coarse clothing worn to show remorse or mourning – think of wearing a burlap bag as your clothes.
-- Worn by the citizens of Nineveh after Jonah preached
-- The residents repented of their ways and to show they believed Jonah’s message they dressed themselves in sackcloth.
- So, with all this information … what is our application besides knowledge?
Ω Big Ideas
- The temple, the timeline, and the witnesses have specific meaning
-- They depict real location and times that are verifiable with Scripture
-- IMP: Scripture ALWAYS testifies to scripture (basis of truth)
- God gives us clear examples to follow/gain strength from
-- We see here during this witnessing that repentance is extremely important
-- On Sunday we will conclude with their specific ministry
- The same repentance that these two preached is important for us:
-- IMP: We must practice this in our own lives!
-- Joel 2:12-13, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
- God wants you to examine your life, right where you are
-- Are you a witness, prepared to do whatever it takes to testify?
-- Would you willingly be part of a “two” who would share the Gospel?
- Pray
