Two Witnesses - Part 3 Series

THE TWO WITNESSES pt 3

Rev 11:8-14

Read Passage / Pray

INTRODUCTION

Oil and Light

Read vs. 4

Each witness is represented by one olive tree and one lampstand

So if we combine these?each witness will be like an olive tree filled with the Holy Spirit and giving off the light of God

Supernatural Acts

These two witnesses will be invincible

They will have unlimited supernatural power

If anyone tries to harm them they have the power to devour them with fire

They will also have the ability to stop the rain from falling

To turn the water to blood and smite the earth with many different plagues

Two Witnesses are Killed

In the middle of the Tribulation, whenever they have finished their mission of providing light to a dark and evil world

They will be overpowered and they will be killed

Read vs 8-14

1. No Burial Plot

Vs 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

John tells us that when the two witnesses are killed, they will leave them lying in the street

No one cares?no burial given?by this time, all of the followers of the Anti-Christ have just as must hate for them as he does

And John refers to the city as the ?great city?

Several cities are called great cities in Bible

This great city, however, is clearly identified as the city, it says in vs 8, ?where also our Lord was crucified?

Now in the days of Isaiah, Jerusalem was a wicked place (Isa 1:1-10)

Things were so bad that Isaiah compared Jerusalem to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah

God destroyed both of those cities with fire and brimstone

John refers to this great city as Sodom and Egypt

The Holy City of Jerusalem will be so degenerate spiritually that she will be called Sodom, which is a symbol of immorality and Egypt, which is a symbol of materialism

When I think of this passage, I see that America could just as easily be referred to as Sodom and Egypt

TRANS: Once the two witnesses are dead, they will be?

2. Seen By the Whole World

Vs 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

The dead bodies of the witnesses will lie in the streets for 3 and ½ days

The whole world will be able to see they are dead

No one will accept their remains and give them a proper burial

Multitudes of every people, tribe, and nation will see their corpses and refuse to bury them or will not allow them to be buried

ED HINDSON: We are living in the most incredible times the world has ever known. Live reports via satellite beam the latest events from around the globe into our living rooms every day. This technology has allowed us, for the first time in human history to actually watch developments of great significance as they unfold

John Hagee: Prophecy states that the whole world will, at the same time, be able to see the two witnesses in the streets of Jerusalem. My father?s generation could not explain that. How could the whole world see two dead men lying in the streets of Jerusalem at one time? It was a mystery. Then came television, followed by international satellites, the Internet, and wireless communication.

Tim LaHaye: CNN international newscasts are already beamed into more than two hundred countries of the world. In fact, ours is the first generation that can literally see the fulfillment of Rev 11:9 in allowing the entire world to see such an awesome spectacle. This is one more indication that we are closer to the end of the age.

TRANS: For the entire time the witnesses are dead, we see the people engage in a?

3. Christmas-like Celebration

Vs 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

When Jesus was born, we know that wise men traveled from the East to see Him

When they arrived, they fell down and worshipped Him with great joy and presented Him extravagant gifts

We too, are about to celebrate the birth of our Savior as we exchange gifts as a symbol of that meeting with the wise men

We see a celebration here as well over the death of these two witnesses

They will be proud of their Anti-Christ for overcoming these two witnesses

These two, that have tormented them for the past 3 ½ years will finally be silenced and they will no longer have to feel the guilt and misery of their sin