The Two Witnesses, Part 1

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.)