The Two Witnesses, Part 2
Revelation, Part 14, Revelation 11:3-10
Introduction Mark place at Zechariah 4
- Wednesday we set the stage for the 11th Chapter of Revelation
-- Defined who these witnesses are: Elijah and Moses or Elijah and Enoch
-- They will come with one mission – to preach the Gospel
-- They have a never-ending passion for sharing Jesus
- Today we continue in Chapter 11
-- Begin to examine these witnesses specific ministry
-- Why we, as believers today, ought to consider them spiritual heroes
- Before we get into today’s passage, let’s be reminded of something:
-- Let’s remember what an angel has told the disciples before:
Ω -- Acts 1:11, “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
- These angels hit the disciples’ mission right on the head
-- It is times like this that as the church we need to get busy …
-- We must STOP acting like we do not know what is going on in this world
- This same Jesus is returning & I do not want someone else to speak for me
-- I want to tell others about Jesus Christ … and as a Son of the True of God
-- The Living God that is my ONLY responsibility to this world
- It is your responsibility also, and let me tell you: There is none greater!
- Let’s see how these two Men of God carry out their duties.
- Read Revelation 11:3-10
Ω Point 1 – The Two Witnesses (v4-6)
- The two olive trees reflect back on Zechariah 4:1-14 (read)
-- These 2 trees are described as two people who stand beside the Lord
-- These 2 are obviously very special to the Lord, and to witnessing for Him
- Their mission here in Revelation is to witness to the testimony of Jesus
-- They have come for one reason: to preach Jesus and Him crucified
- Note the power & authority that these two witnesses have:
-- These men will have the same protection from the Father that was granted unto Moses when he stood before Pharaoh
-- Surely, Pharaoh could have struck them down and had Moses killed for his demands, but he was spared
- It is no accident that Moses was originally raised by Pharaoh’s wife
-- APP: God placed him there to be a step-brother to the man who would eventually become Pharaoh – and we need to see that
-- IMP: This same protection that Moses had will be the same super-natural protection that the witnesses have
- 2 Kings 1:10-12 says, “Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.”
- IMP: God gives you a power and authority – and if you use it, you shall ALWAYS have it! It is when it is not used that God removes it
-- Reference the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25
-- APP: If we do not continue to work for the Lord, He will remove His gifts to us and we will become as lazy as the world
- Perhaps some are in that same rut today and have no idea how to get out?
-- Perhaps some just are not ready to admit that they are even in a rut?
-- I assure you, if you are not working for God, you are disobeying Him
-- IMP: Worse than disobeying God, is choosing to do so willingly!
- The first step to a right relationship with God is to be willing to change
-- Must admit that you need to change – and then to follow as He directs!
- The judgments that these men bring about on the Earth are cataclysmic
-- These men have the power to bring them whenever they want
-- This is a gift from God – but they are meant to get our attention
-- APP: They are meant to show us God’s sovereignty, not our own
- IMP: These men will NOT be favored among the Earth
-- They will be constant targets of those bent on destroying Jesus Christ
- As with anything, society will grow angry with them
-- Demand that the anti-Christ do something to remove them
-- They are destroying the “perfect world” that has been set-up for them
- Those on Earth will rebel harder against these men than ever seen before
-- Why? Because we want what we want and God has no place in it!
-- Remember, this world will be under the control of Satan Himself
-- We need to understand that without Jesus Christ this world will suffer
- TRANS: So, for their witness … these two men will be killed also
Ω Point 2 – The Witnesses are Killed (v7-10)
- These men will witness for 1,260 days – which is also 3 ½ years (ref v3)
-- This is all God gives them to proclaim the Gospel to this world
-- IMP: They are obedient to that time schedule
- For 3 ½ years they will preach and share their testimony
-- The testimony is: Why this world needs Jesus
-- Most believe they will preach at The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
-- This is sacred to God’ and He uses Israel to see His plan unfold
- What is pivotal here is that the entire world hears their testimony
-- News stations will carry it; the internet will publicize it, etc.
-- Today they carry anything that is “news worthy”
- Think of it this way:
-- When bad news happens, it is on TV immediately
-- When good news happens, well, that is just not news, is it?
-- These men will be considered disruptive/against the flow
-- Therefore, the news will carry their message, and of course
-- Their judgments upon mankind with fire from heaven
- The beast that ascends refers to Satan himself
-- John is seeing the devil come against these men with fury
-- He confirms these men will directly battle Satan for their lives!
- This beast comes to kill them and mock God
-- Remember what the world did to Jesus? (Mock and Crucify)
- This also lends weight that it will be in Jerusalem that this happens
-- Jesus died there and the city celebrated
-- These men will die there as well so that the world can celebrate
-- Why? So Satan can feel victorious over God (for a short while)
-- IMP: Remember, all this happens UNDER God’s authority
- So, we’ve established that the Great City is Jerusalem
-- IMP: Let me stress that WE need to be on side with Jerusalem
-- Any nation that comes against it will not stand and I say this clearly:
-- If the United States breaks ties with Jerusalem and stops being its ally we will be doomed. This is God’s land, and we need to be on side with God!!
- John is seeing something VERY unique here
-- He is saying that everyone will see these men at the same time (ref v9)
-- But, he is writing this at a time when this is impossible
-- Remember again the news broadcasting everything instantly?
- When these two witnesses die – the world will celebrate!
-- There will be gifts exchanged, relationships mended, total celebration
-- CNN will carry the images of their dead bodies for 3 ½ days
- The world will celebrate because they will be convinced:
-- All the judgments that fell upon the Earth were the fault of these two men
-- And now … it is time to party … for they are gone!
NONSENSE!
- This is God’s plan – all happening under God’s authority
-- God has a plan for this world and we are seeing it unfold in Revelation
-- APP: As Christians today it is our role to tell the world about these events
Ω Big Ideas
- (How do we tie this into APP for us) - let’s close by looking at ourselves:
-- Ask yourself these two questions:
-- “Why will society celebrate the death of men?”
-- “When is the death of someone a great cause for celebration?”
- Go with me to John Chapter 3
-- I want you to see John 3:16 in its TRUE context
-- Sure this is a great verse for salvation, but look at the implications
-- Read John 3:16-21
- The explanation of this is simple:
-- When we (that is you and I) are confronted with sin, we become angry
-- We become bitter, negative, defensive, etc.
-- We find every other excuse in the world to not admit who we are
-- We also seek to place judgment on others to get away with our sin
--- “Well God, I’m not as bad as …”
- The people in this passage are the same way
-- Those who fight against (and kill) the witnesses do so because:
-- IMP: They are angry at the message of truth!
-- APP: The truth hurts!
Ω - We don’t like to hear things like:
-- You must love people unconditionally (John 13:34-35)
-- You must serve others because Jesus served you (John 13)
-- You must make disciples as you are going (Matthew 28:19-20)
-- You must tithe a portion from of your income (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
-- You must serve and worship ONLY the Lord your God (Exodus 20:3)
- It is time Saints … TIME to get a little truth in us!!
-- We must understand that God’s truth is what sets us free
-- Until we can face the truth of our sins and what we need to repent of – God will continue to work on us to get our attention
- APP: If God has to use fire and death and witnesses ... then so be it!
- This world has had ample time to change
-- Look between 1950 and 2014 – we have certainly gone away from God
-- It is time to admit that we need to change – before it is too late
Pray
