THE TWO WITNESSES
Our text: Revelation Chapter 10-11:14
We have been studying the trumpet judgments and we are up to the sounding of the trumpet of the sixth angel. The most evil army that has ever been on Earth has been set free by the Anti-Christ. Satan has turned on all the people of the Earth to destroy them. He has a two hundred million man army bent on the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people and anyone that calls on Jehovah God. These are the worst times the Earth has ever seen. During this horrendous time we begin Chapter Ten and we see that God still has mercy and He will send two witnesses into Jerusalem. Now we must not forget the 144,000 likeness's of the Apostle Paul and John the Baptist are still preaching "repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand" and many truly will be saved during this horrible time.
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
There are many that say a loving God would not be so unmerciful to destroy His creation. I say when you deny God you accept the truth of His wrath.
God's first rule:
Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
No matter what people think Satan desires the worship of all people. God simply will not allow that to happen.
Our text:
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
I believe that without a doubt that this mighty angel is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He that has the "title deed" to the Earth! It is He that broke the seals! It is He that now lays claim to His purchased possession!
The token of the "promises", the rainbow, He is wearing it:
Gen 9:12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
We have the description of John:
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
The Lion of Judah:
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The Prophets say:
Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Joe 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Joe 3:16 [The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem]; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Isa 42:13 [The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man], he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Isa 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, [The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth].
Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Hos 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: [he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west].
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amo 3:8 [The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken], who can but prophesy?
We can see that God has warned us all many times. There will be no excuses at the "White Throne Judgment Seat" because even at this time of the end many will be told of the coming death and the redemption of the Lord.
Psa 24:1 says The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Our text:
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
What are these seven thunders?
Psa 29:3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The Book of Job is probably the oldest piece of written literature on this planet. We know that before Job could have had any other written knowledge of the Lord, Job had these words:
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? [or canst thou thunder with a voice like him]?
Job also had these words:
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that [he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth]:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, [yet in my flesh shall I see God]:
Job 19:27 [Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another]; though my reins be consumed within me.
That Redeemer of this Earth is the source of those "seven thunders".
I believe there was no need to write the words of the "seven thunders" because Christ will deliver those words in person the day He sets His feet down on the Mount of Olives.
Our Text:
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Who is this angel swearing to?
Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, [because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself],
We can be sure that this is Christ our Lord!
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 [I have sworn by myself], the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
There is salvation in no other name!
Jer 22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, [I swear by myself, saith the LORD], that this house shall become a desolation.
(time no longer)
God is not saying in the verse that this is the end of time. What He is saying is that there will "no more delay". Remember what He told the souls under the altar?
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, [that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled].
God knows when His last child will be killed. That time of fulfillment has been reached. There will be no more delay.
Isa 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isa 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: [therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me].
Isa 63:6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, [but rather give place unto wrath]: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Our Text:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Here we see that it is when the seventh angel sounds, in that time frame, then the mystery of the Lord, the "mystery" of God should be finished".
There have been basically seven mysteries in the Bible that are already revealed:
1.) The "mystery" of God's will:
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
2.) The "mystery" of iniquity": (the Devil in the flesh)
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
3.) The "mystery" of Godliness:
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
4.) The "mystery" of God:
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
5.) The "mystery" of the seven stars:
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
6.) The "mystery" of the woman and the beast:
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
7.) The "mystery" of Israel:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
There is really only one more mystery that is unfolding in the Book of Revelation!
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
You know, only an all knowing God would know when the fulness of the Gentiles came in:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, [until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in].
The Rapture takes place!
Only an all knowing God would know when the last of His children would be killed in the Great Tribulation:
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, [until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled].
The Second Coming takes place!
This is when the end of the "mystery" of a loving God will take place. Praise God!
Our text:
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
We are supposed to feed upon the word of God and make His prophecy be a part of us. We have no right to neglect what God has preserved for us.
This book is the same book that is mentioned in chapter five:
Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
We know that the word of God is sweet:
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
When we are reading and meditating on God's word we are then eating God's word:
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
To eat this book would make it John's book. It would be a part of him his remaining days and God informs him his preaching days are not over yet. God told the Apostle John that until this word had been delivered as he had been taught then he would be invincible. We know that this happened because we have the book now ourselves. John left the Isle of Patmos and went back to preaching. Tradition has it that John was placed in a pot of boiling oil and acted like he was taking a bath. If you are in the will of God you will be invincible until your work on Earth is done. Then God will take you home.
The Bible says:
Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
And again:
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
You see:
1.) If we "hear" the word of God.
2.) And "believe" the word of God.
3.) Then we can have "everlasting life".
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Faith comes by hearing God's word:
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then you can be "Born Again":
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
John will now prophesy "of" these things he has eaten!
Our text:
Chapter Eleven verse 1-2
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
What is this reed?
Eze 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Eze 40:5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
John is to measure the Tribulation Temple. This Temple was probably more or less built by the Jews with the help of the Anti-Christ and built so he could sit in as God.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
John is measuring this temple so God can put a hedge of protection around parts of this temple. God will preserve and protect the temple, the altar, and those who worship there. Who is to say that the location of that Mosque on the Temple mount is not in the exact location where this court is outside this New Temple?
Israel is an earthly people with earthly promises:
Zec 1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
The Church, The Bride is a heavenly people with heavenly blessings.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
The Church can worship anywhere, "where two or three are gathered in the name Of Christ".
The children of Israel could only worship in the Temple! This is the place Christ will meet the 144,000 soon.
The child of God has no temple EXCEPT OUR BODIES on Earth.
1Co 6:19 What? [know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you], which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? [for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people].
This is not so for the Jewish worshiper. The Temple and the Altar are essential to Jewish worship!
Jesus also mentions this left out court:
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, [until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled].
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 {Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains}:
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and [in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate], even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Our text:
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These Jews may be scattered again when the Anti-Christ sits as God in the temple. The 144,000 are world wide missionaries. God will bring two special witnesses into the city of Jerusalem to preach against this false messiah for exactly 3 and one half years.
The Jewish law demands at least two witnesses to give evidence concerning matters of law and religion.
Deu 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Deu 17:7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
God will always obey His own law!
We will not try to say who these two witnesses are because we can only guess. These are God's witnesses and that's all that is important! Their own description will lead us to believe they are the two that met Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. Hebrews 9:27 would lead us to believe that one of them could be someone else. The entire Church will be in Heaven at this time. It could be any two of those. One could even be the writer of this book. These are the two chosen of God!
Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and [my servant whom I have chosen]: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isa 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
(they were dressed in sackcloth)
The clothing of a mourner, Jesus said:
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The message of these two Saints of God will be more like that of John the Baptist and Jonah. (Repent, repent, repent)
Our text:
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
The Prophets say:
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
We know that this candlestick represents the Children of Israel.
Zec 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
These two olive trees that represent oil and the oil represents the Holy Spirit. These two olive trees will be sustained by the Holy Spirit while they bring the truth of God to Israel and all that worship the Anti-Christ. The reference to the two candlesticks represent the New Covenant to Israel. Remember a candlestick is only a light holder. That light, that message, will still be of Jesus Christ.
Our Text:
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
We know that Satan is a powerful angel. We know that the Anti-Christ operates on the power of Satan. We also know that there is no real power unless it comes form God.
Jesus said:
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, [Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above]: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Paul wrote:
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
God has given to these two men certain powers that they will live until their work is complete. God says if you resists His power you will receive damnation. These two have the power to kill and devour their enemies but also to make the lives of some people miserable with water and plagues as often as they wanted to. These two will preach "salvation through the blood of Jesus". These people will see a lot of their water turn to blood. There is no force on Earth that can stop these two, who came to witness for Jesus, until their message is complete. Only Satan has the power to overcome them even then but He will have to show his evil face to all the world to do so. Satan will have to come out of hiding before God will allow him to kill these two witnesses. This is all in God's plan as we will see in the next verses.
Our text:
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
In Job we see:
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
and again:
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
This may be that the Anti-Christ has to personally kill these two men of God but the power is of Satan [but came from God]. When this happens the world will believe that the Anti-Christ is truly the Messiah and it goes downhill from this verse for him.
Verse 8 leaves us no doubt that these things happen in the City of Jerusalem.
Our Text:
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
The world hates Jesus Christ!
He explains why.
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because [I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil].
Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
I know God does not need the technologies of mankind but we can easily that this verse 9 could not have been fulfilled until this time we live in. With cell phones, and satellite broadcasting and the way news is covered around this world, we can see that the whole world could see the bodies of these two witnesses of God lying in the street of Jerusalem and it would be a great tragedy but truth that they will lay there for 3 and one half days. They would have lain there for who knows how long if God had not decided to show the world who really has the power. The words Sodom and Egypt tell us the spiritual nature of Jerusalem at this time. It is full of hate and abuse and immoral living.
God said:
Luk 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Luk 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Not one decent person to place the bodies of these men in a grave!
Our text:
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
We can see again how God ties the book of Revelation to the book of Genesis:
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Life comes from the life giver! He is the creator of this world we live in! It is God who sits on the throne in Heaven. The whole world who had the cameras focused on the bodies of these two men of God will suddenly see that the Anti-Christ and the ones who gives him power (Satan) are not the supreme power of this world. The false messiah will be proven to be false, whether they call him the Mahdi or the Messiah he is false!
That voice of thunder will call them home just as He did the raptured Saints of God. (come up hither)
Pro 25:7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
You know by the time this evil world figures out the truth of Jesus Christ he will have shut the door of grace!
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, [My spirit shall not always strive with man], for that he also is flesh:
Our text:
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
We know that throughout the Bible God has used the earthquake for special occasions. We also know that in our day it seems that we are have more of them and they seem to be more devastating but that may be hard to prove. In the tribulation period or at least at the end of it the world will see the most devastating earthquake that has ever been recorded because it is recorded in the Bible.
Some times God has used the earthquake:
The Cross:
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Paul and Silas:
Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
The sixth seal:
Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
The BIG one is coming:
Rev 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
God does not need bombs for His army! That voice of thunder controls everything in God's creation!
Let's pray!
Our text: Revelation Chapter 10-11:14
We have been studying the trumpet judgments and we are up to the sounding of the trumpet of the sixth angel. The most evil army that has ever been on Earth has been set free by the Anti-Christ. Satan has turned on all the people of the Earth to destroy them. He has a two hundred million man army bent on the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people and anyone that calls on Jehovah God. These are the worst times the Earth has ever seen. During this horrendous time we begin Chapter Ten and we see that God still has mercy and He will send two witnesses into Jerusalem. Now we must not forget the 144,000 likeness's of the Apostle Paul and John the Baptist are still preaching "repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand" and many truly will be saved during this horrible time.
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
There are many that say a loving God would not be so unmerciful to destroy His creation. I say when you deny God you accept the truth of His wrath.
God's first rule:
Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
No matter what people think Satan desires the worship of all people. God simply will not allow that to happen.
Our text:
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
I believe that without a doubt that this mighty angel is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He that has the "title deed" to the Earth! It is He that broke the seals! It is He that now lays claim to His purchased possession!
The token of the "promises", the rainbow, He is wearing it:
Gen 9:12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
We have the description of John:
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
The Lion of Judah:
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The Prophets say:
Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Joe 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Joe 3:16 [The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem]; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Isa 42:13 [The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man], he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Isa 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, [The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth].
Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Hos 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: [he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west].
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amo 3:8 [The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken], who can but prophesy?
We can see that God has warned us all many times. There will be no excuses at the "White Throne Judgment Seat" because even at this time of the end many will be told of the coming death and the redemption of the Lord.
Psa 24:1 says The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Our text:
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
What are these seven thunders?
Psa 29:3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The Book of Job is probably the oldest piece of written literature on this planet. We know that before Job could have had any other written knowledge of the Lord, Job had these words:
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? [or canst thou thunder with a voice like him]?
Job also had these words:
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that [he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth]:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, [yet in my flesh shall I see God]:
Job 19:27 [Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another]; though my reins be consumed within me.
That Redeemer of this Earth is the source of those "seven thunders".
I believe there was no need to write the words of the "seven thunders" because Christ will deliver those words in person the day He sets His feet down on the Mount of Olives.
Our Text:
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Who is this angel swearing to?
Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, [because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself],
We can be sure that this is Christ our Lord!
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 [I have sworn by myself], the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
There is salvation in no other name!
Jer 22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, [I swear by myself, saith the LORD], that this house shall become a desolation.
(time no longer)
God is not saying in the verse that this is the end of time. What He is saying is that there will "no more delay". Remember what He told the souls under the altar?
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, [that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled].
God knows when His last child will be killed. That time of fulfillment has been reached. There will be no more delay.
Isa 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isa 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: [therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me].
Isa 63:6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, [but rather give place unto wrath]: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Our Text:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Here we see that it is when the seventh angel sounds, in that time frame, then the mystery of the Lord, the "mystery" of God should be finished".
There have been basically seven mysteries in the Bible that are already revealed:
1.) The "mystery" of God's will:
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
2.) The "mystery" of iniquity": (the Devil in the flesh)
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
3.) The "mystery" of Godliness:
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
4.) The "mystery" of God:
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
5.) The "mystery" of the seven stars:
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
6.) The "mystery" of the woman and the beast:
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
7.) The "mystery" of Israel:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
There is really only one more mystery that is unfolding in the Book of Revelation!
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
You know, only an all knowing God would know when the fulness of the Gentiles came in:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, [until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in].
The Rapture takes place!
Only an all knowing God would know when the last of His children would be killed in the Great Tribulation:
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, [until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled].
The Second Coming takes place!
This is when the end of the "mystery" of a loving God will take place. Praise God!
Our text:
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
We are supposed to feed upon the word of God and make His prophecy be a part of us. We have no right to neglect what God has preserved for us.
This book is the same book that is mentioned in chapter five:
Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
We know that the word of God is sweet:
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
When we are reading and meditating on God's word we are then eating God's word:
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
To eat this book would make it John's book. It would be a part of him his remaining days and God informs him his preaching days are not over yet. God told the Apostle John that until this word had been delivered as he had been taught then he would be invincible. We know that this happened because we have the book now ourselves. John left the Isle of Patmos and went back to preaching. Tradition has it that John was placed in a pot of boiling oil and acted like he was taking a bath. If you are in the will of God you will be invincible until your work on Earth is done. Then God will take you home.
The Bible says:
Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
And again:
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
You see:
1.) If we "hear" the word of God.
2.) And "believe" the word of God.
3.) Then we can have "everlasting life".
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Faith comes by hearing God's word:
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then you can be "Born Again":
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
John will now prophesy "of" these things he has eaten!
Our text:
Chapter Eleven verse 1-2
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
What is this reed?
Eze 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Eze 40:5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
John is to measure the Tribulation Temple. This Temple was probably more or less built by the Jews with the help of the Anti-Christ and built so he could sit in as God.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
John is measuring this temple so God can put a hedge of protection around parts of this temple. God will preserve and protect the temple, the altar, and those who worship there. Who is to say that the location of that Mosque on the Temple mount is not in the exact location where this court is outside this New Temple?
Israel is an earthly people with earthly promises:
Zec 1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
The Church, The Bride is a heavenly people with heavenly blessings.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
The Church can worship anywhere, "where two or three are gathered in the name Of Christ".
The children of Israel could only worship in the Temple! This is the place Christ will meet the 144,000 soon.
The child of God has no temple EXCEPT OUR BODIES on Earth.
1Co 6:19 What? [know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you], which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? [for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people].
This is not so for the Jewish worshiper. The Temple and the Altar are essential to Jewish worship!
Jesus also mentions this left out court:
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, [until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled].
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 {Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains}:
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and [in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate], even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Our text:
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These Jews may be scattered again when the Anti-Christ sits as God in the temple. The 144,000 are world wide missionaries. God will bring two special witnesses into the city of Jerusalem to preach against this false messiah for exactly 3 and one half years.
The Jewish law demands at least two witnesses to give evidence concerning matters of law and religion.
Deu 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Deu 17:7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
God will always obey His own law!
We will not try to say who these two witnesses are because we can only guess. These are God's witnesses and that's all that is important! Their own description will lead us to believe they are the two that met Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. Hebrews 9:27 would lead us to believe that one of them could be someone else. The entire Church will be in Heaven at this time. It could be any two of those. One could even be the writer of this book. These are the two chosen of God!
Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and [my servant whom I have chosen]: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isa 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
(they were dressed in sackcloth)
The clothing of a mourner, Jesus said:
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The message of these two Saints of God will be more like that of John the Baptist and Jonah. (Repent, repent, repent)
Our text:
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
The Prophets say:
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
We know that this candlestick represents the Children of Israel.
Zec 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
These two olive trees that represent oil and the oil represents the Holy Spirit. These two olive trees will be sustained by the Holy Spirit while they bring the truth of God to Israel and all that worship the Anti-Christ. The reference to the two candlesticks represent the New Covenant to Israel. Remember a candlestick is only a light holder. That light, that message, will still be of Jesus Christ.
Our Text:
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
We know that Satan is a powerful angel. We know that the Anti-Christ operates on the power of Satan. We also know that there is no real power unless it comes form God.
Jesus said:
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, [Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above]: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Paul wrote:
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
God has given to these two men certain powers that they will live until their work is complete. God says if you resists His power you will receive damnation. These two have the power to kill and devour their enemies but also to make the lives of some people miserable with water and plagues as often as they wanted to. These two will preach "salvation through the blood of Jesus". These people will see a lot of their water turn to blood. There is no force on Earth that can stop these two, who came to witness for Jesus, until their message is complete. Only Satan has the power to overcome them even then but He will have to show his evil face to all the world to do so. Satan will have to come out of hiding before God will allow him to kill these two witnesses. This is all in God's plan as we will see in the next verses.
Our text:
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
In Job we see:
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
and again:
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
This may be that the Anti-Christ has to personally kill these two men of God but the power is of Satan [but came from God]. When this happens the world will believe that the Anti-Christ is truly the Messiah and it goes downhill from this verse for him.
Verse 8 leaves us no doubt that these things happen in the City of Jerusalem.
Our Text:
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
The world hates Jesus Christ!
He explains why.
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because [I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil].
Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
I know God does not need the technologies of mankind but we can easily that this verse 9 could not have been fulfilled until this time we live in. With cell phones, and satellite broadcasting and the way news is covered around this world, we can see that the whole world could see the bodies of these two witnesses of God lying in the street of Jerusalem and it would be a great tragedy but truth that they will lay there for 3 and one half days. They would have lain there for who knows how long if God had not decided to show the world who really has the power. The words Sodom and Egypt tell us the spiritual nature of Jerusalem at this time. It is full of hate and abuse and immoral living.
God said:
Luk 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Luk 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Not one decent person to place the bodies of these men in a grave!
Our text:
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
We can see again how God ties the book of Revelation to the book of Genesis:
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Life comes from the life giver! He is the creator of this world we live in! It is God who sits on the throne in Heaven. The whole world who had the cameras focused on the bodies of these two men of God will suddenly see that the Anti-Christ and the ones who gives him power (Satan) are not the supreme power of this world. The false messiah will be proven to be false, whether they call him the Mahdi or the Messiah he is false!
That voice of thunder will call them home just as He did the raptured Saints of God. (come up hither)
Pro 25:7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
You know by the time this evil world figures out the truth of Jesus Christ he will have shut the door of grace!
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, [My spirit shall not always strive with man], for that he also is flesh:
Our text:
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
We know that throughout the Bible God has used the earthquake for special occasions. We also know that in our day it seems that we are have more of them and they seem to be more devastating but that may be hard to prove. In the tribulation period or at least at the end of it the world will see the most devastating earthquake that has ever been recorded because it is recorded in the Bible.
Some times God has used the earthquake:
The Cross:
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Paul and Silas:
Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
The sixth seal:
Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
The BIG one is coming:
Rev 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
God does not need bombs for His army! That voice of thunder controls everything in God's creation!
Let's pray!
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