1. Last week we saw how the two witnesses represent the church of Jesus Christ and those who have been anointed or ordained to minister the truth to them. That includes us. We saw how those would seek to harm them , would not effectively do so, unless they could make us waver in our testimony or deny Christ. And yet we have a power to kill those who would harm us. Not physically but spiritually kill them. That is by the fire that comes out of our mouths, which symbolically represents the word of God (Jer. 5:14). The truth will condemn those who oppose it and defeat their cause.
2. When the two prophets finished their testimony, they are attacked by the beast. Notice that John says THE beast, not A beast as the two beast in Rev. 13 are described.
3. Who is this beast? We see that he comes from the abyss. The same place the demonic powers of the 5th and 6th trumpets came from. His origin and his power is demonic. The beast is also known as the anti-christ.
4. The beast is further described in Daniel 7. And as we look at some verses in Daniel 7, we will see that there is a historical and a symbolic representation of the beast. And I wish we could tie up a nice neat explanation of how it all comes together. But remember how many historical events, especially those mentioned in the Bible have a symbolic aspect of a spiritual reality and of present age and later end-time events. For instance the temple is symbolic of the church. And the rebuilding of the temple we saw in Zechariah 4 is an actual event but also points to the rebuilding that takes place through the present age of the church and especially at the end -time.
5. The beast is the fourth of four beasts that Daniel saw in a vision.
Dan 7:4-7 "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule. After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns."
6. What were these four beasts?
Dan 7:17 The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.
And many have shown how historically these four beast represent the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek and the Roman empires.
7. The fourth beast had ten horns and another little horn came up among them. Daniel asked what this meant and was told:
Dan 7:23-25 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time."
8. There will be ten kings or political powers that arise out of or after the fourth beast. And then an evil power will arise .
9. Notice the saints, we could say the two witnesses, the church will be handed over to him for a time (1), times (2), and half a time (½). Add these up and this comes to 3 ½. Could that be the same as the 3 ½ days that the bodies of the prophets are laid in the streets?
10. We could say the anti-christ is a demonic power in earthly form or operating through an earthly power. And this beast exists through this age and is battling the work of the church. Could it be through governments or economic forces and power? Is he behind the persecution of the church and the deluding of the church’s message?
11. Toward the end he will be allowed to gather his strength and battle the saints.
12. But if you look in more detail at Daniel 7 you will see that God is in control and God hold back the anti-christ so that he can openly appear before the time set by God Himself. And this time will not occur until the work of the church is finished. He will attack when they have finished their testimony
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
13. First the gospel must be preached to all the nations. Second - the testimony against the wicked world and the false church must be completed. But as we have said before, in the midst of the greatest opposition and persecution God is still in control and He will have the last word.
14. Back to Rev. 11:7. The NIV says that the beast will attack the witnesses. The Greek says that he will make war with them. That ties in with our belief that the witness are a larger group (that is the church) rather than just two people. One does not make war against two, but with a bigger group.
15. Just a note for us to remember again. What we are reading in chapter 11 will be presented to us in greater detail in the remainder of the book.
16. This time is the terrible time of persecution, the last and terrible tribulation.
17. The beast will kill the witnesses, the church. This does not mean that he will kill all of the people of God individually. For we know that at the second coming of the Lord there will still be saints living, who will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. But what this means is that the anti-christ has silenced the testimony of the witnesses. The anti-christ will succeed in two ways.
a. First, there will be literal persecution. People of God will be put into prison. We may de deprived of our property and freedom. Some may actually be killed.
b. Second, the true church of Jesus Christ will be declared to be dead. We shall be cast out of society, considered to be outlaws. We shall not be allowed to buy or sell unless we have the mark of the beast. We shall literally be forbidden to worship. It will be a victory for the beast and the church will be heard of no more.
18. The Anitchrist shall reign supreme. vs. 8 says that their bodies will lies in the street of the great city Jerusalem. A city which is figuratively or spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. Called this for the way God’s people are treated. His angels mistreated in Sodom when rescuing Lot and Egypt enslaving the people of God.
19. This also must not be taken too literally. Remember what the two witnesses represent. The false church, Jerusalem and the slow church are trampling under foot the holy city and celebrating their victory over the church of Christ. The church still exists but is dead. She has been declared dead. And for a dead body to be left lying in the street would be a sign of contempt and deep shame. The church will be the object of the greatest contempt all over the world
Mat 24:9 Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
20. Our power and influence will be gone. There will great rejoicing over all the earth. They will gloat in their victory. And send gifts to each other in celebration. The church can no longer send her plagues upon the wicked through her prayers.
21. Friends, can w e see signs of this happening already today. Look in the newspapers, see the talk and comedy shows. Ask what influence we really have in the world.
22. This is the beginning and it will get much worse. We may have to ask ourselves if we really want to be part of the church, an object of contempt which will lose, it seems, in the end.
23. But I hope we will all stick it out and endure. For the story is not over.
Rev 11:11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.
24. The tribulation is to last only 3 ½ days. The anti-christ will not be allowed to complete his work. He is not allowed a full week but only half a week. Just as this age is represent by 1260 days or 3 ½ years. The overall persecution of this age will not be completed. The antichrist will not be able to accomplish his purpose.
25. The time of persecution has been cut short for the sake of the elect.
Mat 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
26. The church, the believers will be brought to life again. The breath of life breathed inti us from God. We shall stand and terror will strike those who see us. And we shall be resurrected . We will be called up and we will ascend into heaven in a cloud, while our enemies look on. We cannot fathom how that will be like.
27. The antichrist and his followers will remain on the earth. A severe earthquake will take place. And a tenth of the city will collapse. A tenth of the power of the beast will be destroyed. 7,000 people will be killed. And those who survive will realize too late the mistake they made. They will be terrified and give glory to God. Not repenting for the time of repenting is past.
28. God’s people are already taken up - they will miss that terrible judgement of God that will take place. We will be raised and glorified. The darker it gets for us as believers to remain true to God’s word, the more we are ridiculed or persecuted, the sooner it will be that we will have victory. The light of victory will seem even lighter because of the darkness that preceded it.
29. But that time has not yet come. We still have work to do. To bear witness among the people.
30. There will be a time when we will not be able to, the time of tribulation and there will be a time when it will be to late, for God’s church will be taken up.
31. O God, let us see our lives, our church’s missions and existence, in light of all this that will happen. May we witness of your mercy and majesty and holiness. May we keep our eyes fixed on your purposes and the assurance that your will shall be done.
