May 5, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Revelation? Here’s today’s reading:
Revelation 11 (NIV)
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”.............Continue Reading
The work and identity of these two witnesses is so interesting. They have such power and authority and they witness for 3 and a half years despite opposition. They are protected until its says “when they finish their testimony” then they are killed and left for all to see. It was that those who hated hearing their message of repentance joyfully put took their lives, however, God can always use a situation for His glory and these witnesses rise to their feet and are taken to be with God. Must have made those people so frustrated to know you can not stop the work of God!
Revelation 11:1 – 14 visions precede the 7th angel & Trumpet, of course. Not sure what to make of verses 1 and 2, seems a three and half year period where Gentiles disgrace, disrespect the holy city, which I understand as Jerusalem. Something to consider, either first or second half of the tribulation? (I think 1st) As Kelly aptly pointed out, the two witnesses are an incredible figures!
The Bible says, But sanctify the Lord God in your heart, and be ready always, to give an answer, to every man that is among you, of the hope that is in you, with meekness and in fear. I Peter 3:15
How I think what it would look like, if I stood up in public, right now, at Denny’s and cried, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent ye and believe the Gospel!”
But I can’t. There is fear, fear of what others will think, say or do.
I pray, from time to time, that the Spirit will give me utterance, and put before me an opportunity, to give living water to an unsaved stranger. I am ready, and look for the chance.
These witnesses have no fear, as that is their only mission. So much so, they have power to put down opposition that would hurt them, until the duty is done.
The death and resurrection of the two witnesses concludes two woes. Because the beast of the bottomless pit kills them, I think their witness is during the first half of the tribulation. Rev. 13 introduces the beast. Again, all this is the grace and long-suffering of God. He has purposed for all men to live eternally with him, and created man for this very purpose. Genesis 1 and 2. He wants even the most-hardened souls to repent, and gives opportunity-beyond the comprehension of human mercy- to do so. II Corinthians 6:1,2.
The 7th angel blasts the 7th trumpet, and it is the end of time. Oh how great the grace of God to put his saints in the world to at least be there to share Christ with the lost, even during these tribulation times! We are commissioned to do just that. Mark 16:15-20. KJV. Peace to my friends! See you at services!
The temple. And altar. Does that exist at this time mentioned ? Or does it symbol believers in the church. Either way they will be protected spiritually and those outside are going to suffer. The two witnesses. Proclaiming the laws of Christ. And all those alive are foaming at the mouth to kill them for calling out their sins. They finally get their chance and for 3 1/2 days they are gloated upon but as God always does he turns satan temporary victories into a triumph for us. They come alive and all people are full of terror. Vs 15. The arrival of our Lord. The judgement upon the earth is coming complete. About to unleash his full wrath on evil
The temple measured could be the temple in heaven or the one that is believed to be rebuilt by the antiChrist in his initial treaty with the Jews that he will break in the middle of the 7 years of Daniel. But in both cases it is a tempe that is measured.
I find this chapter about the two witnesses fascinating. They will witness for three and a half years. No one will be able to stop them from prophesying until their testimony is finished. It says that they are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before God. They will be able to have fire cometh out of their mouths if anyone would try to hurt them. They will have power to shut heaven, that it won`t rain in the days that they prophesy. They would have power over the waters to turn them to blood. Smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. This is interesting for tonight and last week we have been teaching the cubbies how God sent plagues to Egypt to free His people. Only those that trusted God were saved. This is my belief but it doesn`t actually say who they are. But I believe that these two witnesses are the very two people who did these in the Old Testament. They would be Moses and Elijah. Some people think that they are Enoch and Elijah because they never died. But death is not a problem with God. Also in the New Testament in Matthew 17; 1–9 and Mark 9; 1–7 when Jesus is transformed in front of Peter, James, and John there appeared to them Moses and Elijah. So they appeared here with Jesus why wouldn`t they also appear at the end times/ But it could be two different witnesses. It`s amazing that after they are dead for three and a half days God raises them up for all people to see as they ascended to heaven. The people also heard a great voice from heaven that called the two witnesses up. They were no longer making merry over the two witnesses but rather were after a great earthquake within the same hour were giving glory to God. It was not over for the seventh angel with the trumpet sounded. Great voices in heaven giving glory to God. The nations are angry and God`s wrath is come.
Yes, these two witnesses are compelling characters and are part of a pattern that exists in Revelation. The six seals and trumpets roll out in succession and then between the 6th and the 7th you have an “interlude” where certain events happen. And then the 7th introduces the next pattern of 7. These witnesses represent another part of God’s efforts to reach out to the godless world. And He packs them with quite a punch, with the things they are able to do to silence their opposition. And they preach for an extended period which is another reenforcement of how hard people’s hearts will be at this time. The only thing they desire is to have these witnesses eliminated. This is seen when they rejoice and even exchange gifts when they are killed. We may see initial expressions of this in our time as well as the world revs up to these end times. And yet miracle of miracle and frustration of frustration (for the world), they are raised from the dead and taken up to heaven.
The seventh trumpet is then sounded and their is an illusion to the millennial reign of Christ. These events will come and the reality of Christ’s authority over the earth is always true, but it will only be accomplished after the antichrist, false prophet and satan are defeated. And those events are still to come. And how interesting that the ark is seen, the instrument that represents God’s presence and covenant with His people, and it is accompanied by many atmospheric expressions that point to its significance.
Revelation 11
Revelations 11
The two witnesses prophesy throughout the world. They are protected by God, and they have the power to destroy their enemies. When their time is up to witness, the Antichrist destroys them, but only for a very short time. They are soon called up to heaven in the presence of their enemies. At that time people will be terrified, some will die, and they will know that the Lord is all powerful so they will give glory to God. God protects his believers who witness to his word.
Psalms 118:6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Even in the midst of God’s plan of wrath on earth, He sends two witnesses to testify.