“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, only I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me.” - Isaiah 43:10-11
In last week’s message on Revelation chapter 10, the LORD spoke to John personally and encouraged him to continue prophesying. Perhaps this apocalyptic vision of sweeping horrors and terrifying judgments was beginning to get to him. I can see how he might be hesitant to keep watching and writing. If it were me, I might have closed my eyes and cried, “Make it stop! I don’t want to see anymore!” Nevertheless, God lovingly urged John to go on prophesying and, thankfully, he did.
This morning we will discuss another scene that John saw between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments. The one involves 2 witnesses. Open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 11 and let’s get started...
I. THEIR LOCATION & TIMING (Revelation 11:1-3)
John wrote that he was given a measuring rod, similar to a staff, or what we might think of today as a yardstick. He was told to go and measure the temple of God and its altar, and to count the number of people worshiping there. However, he was ordered not to measure the courtyard around the temple, as it had been given to the Gentiles who would “trample the Holy City for 42 months”. In other words, John was instructed to go and measure an earthly temple in Jerusalem where people were freely and actively worshiping and offering sacrifices to God.
In order for this to actually happen, many eschatologists argue that the Jewish Temple will have to be rebuilt and in use prior to the tribulation. After all, how can John be expected to measure a building and count the number of people there if it doesn’t physically exist? Furthermore, the fact that John saw people worshiping God there seems to place these events in the first half of the tribulation period, prior to the Antichrist’s desecration of the temple and the cessation of such worship.
The voice (which seemingly belonged to God) then said, “I will grant authority to my 2 witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days.” I propose that the LORD will raise up 2 witnesses who will minister in or near the Jewish temple in Jerusalem during the first 3 ½ years (or 1,260 days) of the tribulation. After their departure, during the second half of the tribulation, known as “The Great Tribulation” (which is also 3 ½ years or 42 months), both Jerusalem and its temple will be profaned by the Antichrist and his pagan followers. Worship to God will be outlawed and believers severely punished.
II. THEIR POWER & MINISTRY (Revelation 11:4-6)
The 2 witnesses were described as “olive trees” and “lampstands” that stood before the LORD of the earth. This imagery is comparable to that of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah who saw a vision of 2 olive trees that continuously provided oil to a lampstand (Zechariah 4). In his vision, God was revealing that the work of rebuilding the temple would be supernaturally sustained and accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the hands of Zerubbabel and Joshua. In Revelation, God is revealing His intention to protect and empower these 2 witnesses to complete their service.
The 2 witnesses were adequately equipped to confront their adversaries. They were not to go on the offensive, but were given permission to defend themselves against those who sought to do them harm. They had the ability to devour their enemies with fire that flowed from their mouths. In addition, they had the power to withhold the rain from falling, to turn waters into blood, and to strike the earth with a plaque as often as desired. These powers were very similar to those given to Moses and Elijah, prominent Jewish prophets.
Though the Bible does not clearly state the purpose of these 2 witnesses, I think we can make a few reasonable assumptions. First, they will be present to proclaim the message of God in the absence of the Church. Following the Rapture, Christians will no longer be on the earth. God will send these 2 witnesses to declare His name during the first half of the tribulation. As a result, many will be saved. Second, seeing their close resemblance to Moses and Elijah, many formerly unbelieving Jews will give them credibility, hear their message, and accept it. I believe that the 144,000 Messianic Jews (who evangelize during “The Great Tribulation”) will come to faith as a direct result of the ministry of these 2 witnesses.
III. THEIR DEATH & RESURRECTION (Revelation 11:7-13)
At the end of their testimony, John saw “the beast that comes up out of the abyss” overcome and kill the 2 witnesses. Their bodies were left lying in the streets of Jerusalem and many people from different nations, tribes, and tongues saw them. The evil and wicked people who hated God and His witnesses gleefully celebrated their deaths.
Then, after 3 ½ days, God brought the 2 witnesses back to life. They stood to their feet and fear overcame all who were watching. Then a loud voice from heaven (probably God’s) said, “Come up here!” and they ascended in a cloud as their enemies watched. Immediately there was a great earthquake, a tenth of Jerusalem collapsed due to the shaking, and 7,000 people were killed. Those who survived were terrified and gave glory to God.
As stated earlier, I believe these 2 witnesses will appear on the same day that the tribulation begins. They will serve faithfully during the rise of the Antichrist, while he and his forces are still at peace with Israel. However, after 3 ½ years pass, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist comes to power, he will betray God’s people. His evil partner, the False Prophet (Revelation 16:11-18), will subsequently kill the 2 witnesses and seek to take their place. Following my timeline, the death, resurrection, and ascension of the 2 witnesses occurs in the middle of the tribulation, accompanied by a catastrophic earthquake in Jerusalem.
CONCLUSION
Before we conclude, notice that John ends this section of Revelation by saying, “the second woe has passed”. This refers back to the 6th trumpet judgment, which is the second woe. It does not pertain to passages about “the angel and the little scroll” or “the 2 witnesses”, both of which were inserted in the trumpet sequence. The statement marks the end of this parenthetical break. From here, John returns to and concludes his discussion of the 7 trumpets, as we will see in next week’s message.
The main idea for today is this… though he may try to distort it, pervert it, dilute it, and/or distract us from hearing it, Satan simply cannot prevent God from heralding the message of Jesus and His salvation to the world. Throughout history God has chosen representatives to carry this life-saving message, such as Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church. Even during the horrible tribulation of the last days, the gospel of God’s kingdom will be preached starting with the 2 witnesses and ending with the 140,000 Jews. People will be saved because the word of God will not be chained (2 Timothy 2:9).
In last week’s message on Revelation chapter 10, the LORD spoke to John personally and encouraged him to continue prophesying. Perhaps this apocalyptic vision of sweeping horrors and terrifying judgments was beginning to get to him. I can see how he might be hesitant to keep watching and writing. If it were me, I might have closed my eyes and cried, “Make it stop! I don’t want to see anymore!” Nevertheless, God lovingly urged John to go on prophesying and, thankfully, he did.
This morning we will discuss another scene that John saw between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments. The one involves 2 witnesses. Open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 11 and let’s get started...
I. THEIR LOCATION & TIMING (Revelation 11:1-3)
John wrote that he was given a measuring rod, similar to a staff, or what we might think of today as a yardstick. He was told to go and measure the temple of God and its altar, and to count the number of people worshiping there. However, he was ordered not to measure the courtyard around the temple, as it had been given to the Gentiles who would “trample the Holy City for 42 months”. In other words, John was instructed to go and measure an earthly temple in Jerusalem where people were freely and actively worshiping and offering sacrifices to God.
In order for this to actually happen, many eschatologists argue that the Jewish Temple will have to be rebuilt and in use prior to the tribulation. After all, how can John be expected to measure a building and count the number of people there if it doesn’t physically exist? Furthermore, the fact that John saw people worshiping God there seems to place these events in the first half of the tribulation period, prior to the Antichrist’s desecration of the temple and the cessation of such worship.
The voice (which seemingly belonged to God) then said, “I will grant authority to my 2 witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days.” I propose that the LORD will raise up 2 witnesses who will minister in or near the Jewish temple in Jerusalem during the first 3 ½ years (or 1,260 days) of the tribulation. After their departure, during the second half of the tribulation, known as “The Great Tribulation” (which is also 3 ½ years or 42 months), both Jerusalem and its temple will be profaned by the Antichrist and his pagan followers. Worship to God will be outlawed and believers severely punished.
II. THEIR POWER & MINISTRY (Revelation 11:4-6)
The 2 witnesses were described as “olive trees” and “lampstands” that stood before the LORD of the earth. This imagery is comparable to that of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah who saw a vision of 2 olive trees that continuously provided oil to a lampstand (Zechariah 4). In his vision, God was revealing that the work of rebuilding the temple would be supernaturally sustained and accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the hands of Zerubbabel and Joshua. In Revelation, God is revealing His intention to protect and empower these 2 witnesses to complete their service.
The 2 witnesses were adequately equipped to confront their adversaries. They were not to go on the offensive, but were given permission to defend themselves against those who sought to do them harm. They had the ability to devour their enemies with fire that flowed from their mouths. In addition, they had the power to withhold the rain from falling, to turn waters into blood, and to strike the earth with a plaque as often as desired. These powers were very similar to those given to Moses and Elijah, prominent Jewish prophets.
Though the Bible does not clearly state the purpose of these 2 witnesses, I think we can make a few reasonable assumptions. First, they will be present to proclaim the message of God in the absence of the Church. Following the Rapture, Christians will no longer be on the earth. God will send these 2 witnesses to declare His name during the first half of the tribulation. As a result, many will be saved. Second, seeing their close resemblance to Moses and Elijah, many formerly unbelieving Jews will give them credibility, hear their message, and accept it. I believe that the 144,000 Messianic Jews (who evangelize during “The Great Tribulation”) will come to faith as a direct result of the ministry of these 2 witnesses.
III. THEIR DEATH & RESURRECTION (Revelation 11:7-13)
At the end of their testimony, John saw “the beast that comes up out of the abyss” overcome and kill the 2 witnesses. Their bodies were left lying in the streets of Jerusalem and many people from different nations, tribes, and tongues saw them. The evil and wicked people who hated God and His witnesses gleefully celebrated their deaths.
Then, after 3 ½ days, God brought the 2 witnesses back to life. They stood to their feet and fear overcame all who were watching. Then a loud voice from heaven (probably God’s) said, “Come up here!” and they ascended in a cloud as their enemies watched. Immediately there was a great earthquake, a tenth of Jerusalem collapsed due to the shaking, and 7,000 people were killed. Those who survived were terrified and gave glory to God.
As stated earlier, I believe these 2 witnesses will appear on the same day that the tribulation begins. They will serve faithfully during the rise of the Antichrist, while he and his forces are still at peace with Israel. However, after 3 ½ years pass, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist comes to power, he will betray God’s people. His evil partner, the False Prophet (Revelation 16:11-18), will subsequently kill the 2 witnesses and seek to take their place. Following my timeline, the death, resurrection, and ascension of the 2 witnesses occurs in the middle of the tribulation, accompanied by a catastrophic earthquake in Jerusalem.
CONCLUSION
Before we conclude, notice that John ends this section of Revelation by saying, “the second woe has passed”. This refers back to the 6th trumpet judgment, which is the second woe. It does not pertain to passages about “the angel and the little scroll” or “the 2 witnesses”, both of which were inserted in the trumpet sequence. The statement marks the end of this parenthetical break. From here, John returns to and concludes his discussion of the 7 trumpets, as we will see in next week’s message.
The main idea for today is this… though he may try to distort it, pervert it, dilute it, and/or distract us from hearing it, Satan simply cannot prevent God from heralding the message of Jesus and His salvation to the world. Throughout history God has chosen representatives to carry this life-saving message, such as Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church. Even during the horrible tribulation of the last days, the gospel of God’s kingdom will be preached starting with the 2 witnesses and ending with the 140,000 Jews. People will be saved because the word of God will not be chained (2 Timothy 2:9).