During
the tribulation there will be two witnesses that come to earth and wield great
powers until the beast comes out of the earth and kills them. This will be an
interesting time as people will believe on Jesus as Lord when these two men
show their miraculous power. We will explore who these two men may be, as well
as their time on earth, but first we must look at some numbers. Numbers tell a story, which is why people
collect data. By looking at data we can
see a clearer picture of global events rather than our narrow perspective. I have been fond of pointing out that it is
human nature for one to simply think like a three year old toddler and believe
the entire world (and the entire Bible) revolves around oneself. By looking at some simple numbers we can more
clearly see humanity; and how the things Jesus said and didn’t say make perfect
sense.
We
reviewed the world population as compared to Christianity a few weeks ago, but
let’s remind ourselves of our numbers.
There are over 7 billion people in the world, and as we know, that
number is troubling when we consider sustainability. From that, we understand that our world
population is on the increase, not decreasing.
Even though we die earlier than the Patriarchs did, the population has
grown considerably since that time. Out
of the 7 billion earth inhabitants, there are approximately 2 billion
Christians worldwide (at best). It seems
a nondescript number. From that number,
approximately 50% or 1 billion are Catholics.
Again, it would seem a disappointing percentage of the world
population. But as we dig a little
deeper we see something else.
Starting
with the United States, we see a total population, from the date of this
writing, of approximately 315,508,964.
However, somewhere between 73%-75% claim to be Christians, 51% are
Protestants and 24% are Catholics. When
we think of the world population, our numbers look insignificant; we have over
7 billion people in the world and potentially only 2 billion Christians. But
when we break this down by country it is absolutely scary.
For
argument’s sake let’s look at round numbers.
What if half of the citizens of the USA are instantly gone? What would
happen to the USA? To bring this into perspective, if you look out your front door
at your neighbor’s homes, imagine what it would be like if half of the homes
you see were empty. Half of the apartments in your complex were empty, half of
the people at your school or work were no longer there. Who would run the city, who would transport
the food? Suffice it to say there will
be no shortage of jobs, no unemployment, and no shortage of housing. Everyone will need to work to keep things
running. After a time of confusion, people on earth would realize that their
neighbors who are gone probably left food and houses would be broken into.
The
numbers for England are similar, with a population of 62, 641,000,
approximately 33.2 million claim to be Christians. In China, the numbers are
hard to track; with 1,344,130,000 total people, the estimated number of Christians
average between 159 million to 200 million.
Even China will have a little extra elbow room after the harpazo. Russia has about 141,930,000 people, and
about 80,000,000 Christians. Brazil has
190,732,694 people and 139,000,000 are Christians. 99% of Mexico’s population claim to be
Christians. 83% of Germany’s population are Christians. The Philippines claim
93% are Christian, Italy claims 90%, France 98%, and Nigeria 45%. We should look at a world map to see the big
picture. In this map that I am borrowing
from Wikipedia, it expresses the same figures I found elsewhere. Looking at this data we see a very scary
picture of the tribulation.
Now
we know why we don’t find certain nations mentioned in the Bible. Despite how hard people try to make North
America and South America a part of the tribulation times, we can see that even
with our conservative look of 50% Christians, this would be the reason the
America’s are not mentioned, as well as most of Europe, Australia and Southern
Africa. Looking at the light shaded
areas we can see why the Bible is primarily concerned with those regions. The rest of the nations of the world will be
scrambling to keep infrastructure and communications going. Now we can understand why the Middle East is
the primary concern of the Bible. Incidentally, this is the land area Shem was
to inherit, as per Noah. If we remember, Noah pronounced a curse on anyone who
would live in the land that was not given to him.
Think
of this world map and those left on earth after the harpazo as being the first
judgment of the tribulation. With the number of people left to run each city
and county, there will be no option for retirement or unemployment. Unless there are systems in place to subdue
chaos, things could get messy quickly.
For example, if there are half as many farmers left worldwide, harvesting
will be twice as slow; with half the number of drivers, transportation of
farmed goods will be slower. With half
the number of gasoline truck drivers, gas stations will only get half as much
fuel. If there are refineries in the middle-east
they will prosper, but other countries will only be buying half as much refined
oil. In like manner, the middle-east will have an oil glut, but will be short
on food. All commerce and trade will now
have to be centered where the population is most dense. Where will that be? The Middle East.
Now
let’s take our thinking one step further.
We see from the book of Revelation that the tribulation will be a bloody
period in time for those who will now confess Jesus as their Lord. What dominant religions will be left on
earth? Why will these religions kill those
who believe on Jesus? One group will probably kill Christians because that is
normally what they do today. For them,
nothing will change, except they will have the upper hand in many nations where
today they are a minority. The other religious
group will most likely be revealed as supporting the new world order. What
earth dwellers will then realize is that there was a pre-planned combining of
these two groups to control and dominate the people of the world, a religious
system, and a governmental system. As
the harlot is revealed, allegiance will be required. At first there will be peace agreements for
Israel, a temple in Israel, and daily sacrifices. When the beast comes, he gives
ten national middle-east leaders’ power, until they discover that their
allegiance to the harlot is required, and then they will give back their power
not wanting to come under the harlot.
Once the harlot’s group is revealed as “in control” midway through the
tribulation, there will be very hard times in the middle-east.
Rev
17:15-18 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore
sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.16 And the ten
horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall
make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.17
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give
their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.18 And
the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings
of the earth.KJV
Simply,
by the view of the population after the harpazo, we can also see why the middle-east
is the center for the one world government.
We can also see that the other nations will not be in leadership power
because of their lack of population and will be vulnerable to this new world
order. But we have some benchmarks to look at first.
According
to the Book of Daniel, there has to be a peace agreement which will be made for
seven years, but broken after three and one half years. What precedes this peace agreement must be a
war involving Israel. The Psalm 83 war
seems to fit these criteria. It will cause Israel to be the world’s dominant
power. (Google The Psalm 83 War, as there are many great teachers who have already
taught on this subject) One might question how that can be, but as of today,
Israel is a free market society, and will have the population to continue
commerce throughout the tribulation. If Israel were to subdue her enemies
around the time of the harpazo, she would be feared. Remember, we see in the second half of the
tribulation God calling His people to come out of her. This would indicate that Israel was buying
and selling in Babylon.
Rev
18:3-4 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,
and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.KJV
Why
are Israelites in Babylon? Because Israel has the infrastructure and the means
to capitalize on the opportunity of free market trade. These people are not being evil; they are
simply working in the world system to prosper. Just a side note, capitalism is
not God’s best plan for anyone because capitalism breeds greed. The millennial
kingdom will be a great place to live.
The
peace agreement that comes to pass will bring a new temple in Israel and the
daily sacrifice will start again. This is another benchmark that we may or may
not see before the harpazo. One
benchmark we have to consider, which we may not see, is the apostasy, the
falling away; it gives us another marker in time. Let’s look at this section in
context to that verse. First, Paul tells
us that God will punish those who persecute the church during the Day of the
Lord, the parousia.
2
Thess 1:3-12 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet,
because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of
you all toward each other aboundeth;4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the
churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and
tribulations that ye endure:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous
judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which
ye also suffer:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you;7 And to you who are troubled rest with
us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;10
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them
that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of
faith with power:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in
you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ.KJV
The
next section was not separated by a chapter in Paul’s writing, chapters and
verses were added later. Keeping that in
mind, the next sentence is a continuation of Paul’s first thought on Jesus’
coming, his parousia. Paul is mentioning
the Day of the Lord and the above
synagogue.
2
Thess 2:1-12 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming [parousia] of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together [episunagoge] unto him,2 That ye be
not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by
letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
The
Day of the Lord, the day of Christ, is not at hand until there is a falling
away. But what is the falling away? Depending on your theology, there can be
several types of falling away.
2
Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away [646] first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
Clearly
this word falling away, or apostasy,
is a revolving door when it comes to definition. It is only used twice, here
and in Acts 21:21, (forsake) Therefore
unless there is a derivative of this word, Strong’s #646, we should not assume
the text would be the same in meaning as say Hebrews 6:6, which uses a
different word altogether for falling
away. The Amplified Bible, in its
footnotes, makes this section “the departing of the church”. We will explore all our options.
2
Thess 2:3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not
come except the apostasy [646] comes first [unless the predicted great falling
away [646] of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man
of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), [Dan
7:25; 8:25; 1 Tim 4:1.] AMP
Footnotes C & D 2 Thess
2:3 c
A possible rendering of the Greek apostasia is "departure [of the
church]." d A possible rendering of the Greek apostasia
is "departure [of the church]."AMP
Clearly,
the theology of the Amplified Bible is that the church will first depart, and
then the Antichrist will be revealed. While the Textus Receptus and the NA 27
both agree, there are a couple of different Aramaic translations.
From
Victor Alexander
2
Thes 2:3 Let no human being mislead you with one of these schemes, because the
desolation has to come first, when the man of sin is revealed by the son of
perdition, (Aramaic New Testament, Victor Alexander pg 411)
The
nations with high numbers of Christians who are gathered will cause desolation
to those nations.
From
Janet Magiera
2
Thes 2:3 Will anyone deceive you in any way? (2) Because [it will not come] except
a rebellion (3) should come first and the man of sin should be revealed, the
son of destruction (4)
(2)
Fig erotesis , lema question, obvious answer “no”
(3)Var
(WSLP): ‘discipline’ or ‘instruction’
(4)
Or “the destructive [one]”
Aramaic
Peshitta New Testament Translation , Janet M Magiera, Light of the Word
Ministry LWM Pubilcations, 2nd edition Copyright 2005, 2006, pg488)
We will
explore this idea of a rebellion in two different ways shortly.
Murdock Translation
01 But we entreat
of you, my brethren, in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, and
in respect to our being congregated unto him,
02 that ye be not soon agitated in your mind, nor be troubled, neither by word, nor by spirit, nor by letter, as coming from us, that lo, the day of our Lord is at hand.
03 Let no one deceive you in any way; because [that day will not come], unless there previously come a defection, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
02 that ye be not soon agitated in your mind, nor be troubled, neither by word, nor by spirit, nor by letter, as coming from us, that lo, the day of our Lord is at hand.
03 Let no one deceive you in any way; because [that day will not come], unless there previously come a defection, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The
gathering could be considered a defection, but there may be a different
defection we should look at.
Etheridge
Translation
But we beseech of you, my brethren, as it regards
the coming of our Lord Jeshu Meshiha, and our assemblage with him, that you be
not soon moved in your minds, nor perturbed, nor by word, nor by spirit, nor by
letter, which (may be) as (if it were) from us, that, Behold, the day of our
Lord cometh! Let no one deceive you by any one of the methods,3 because unless
there shall come first the rebellion,4 and there be revealed the man of sin,
the son of…
There are some things we can observe here. Firstly,
Paul is talking about the Day of the Lord in chapter 1, and it would seem that
this letter is in response to people saying the Day of the Lord is here. As we studied that in detail, we know that
that has not happened yet. But as it was back in Paul’s day, just as it is
today, every time something bad happens, no matter if is only happening in one
city, the “Chicken Little’s” cry out that it’s the Day of the Lord. It is not,
because things have to happen in chronological order; first, a falling
away. Some may look at this as a falling
away from Christianity, which it could also be. However, people have been
falling away from Christianity since the time of Paul. There will always be
people whose faith grows cold, or who are seduced away by false teachers and
hireling pastors. Nothing has changed in
2,000 years. So while this is truly a
possibility, it is improbable that this slide away from Christianity is what
Paul is talking about. Could there be a
fast slide just before Jesus calls the church from the clouds? Possibly, but
again there has been deception, persecutions, and false teachers for many
years, so if this were the case, it would probably take place during the
tribulation when strong delusion is sent.
Not before the tribulation. Could one religion rise up and look like
such a wonderful answer to our world problems that people would change their
confession of Jesus as Lord to something else? Maybe so.
There is another possibility where there could be
a falling away. Once the harpazo
happens, there will be people left on earth who thought they were Christians. Those people will be mad and angry at God for
not gathering them along with everyone else.
These people may rebel from God, intentionally falling away, while at
the same time many other people will recognize they did not know Him and
confess Jesus as Lord, suffering martyrdom in the tribulation. The reason this
could be plausible is that there are large religious groups that do not teach
the confession of Jesus as Lord. It will
be easy for the Antichrist to then turn these people against Jesus, as the
context of this section states because people did not receive the love of the
truth, God will send strong delusion so that they will believe a lie. There
seems to be a “lie” being prepared now for the gathering. It would seem that some groups have already
put into place a story that claims that the resistant and rebellious ones will
be taken away in space ships to be reprogrammed. I know it sounds silly, but that lie has
already been rooted, and is ready for the time of the harpazo. This could
easily be believed because God is sending strong delusion during the time of
the Antichrist.
Keeping these three options of interpretation in
mind, lets read the rest of this section and see if we can understand it
better. The falling away could be:
1. The gathering of the church, the harpazo.
2. People leaving Christianity due to false
teachings before the harpazo.
3. People who thought they knew Christ and are
mad that they were left behind after the harpazo.
2
Thes 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.5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told
you these things?6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed
in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that Wicked
be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is
after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.KJV
So,
before the Day of the Lord, there has to be 1) a falling away, and 2) a
revealing of the man of perdition. Paul says he already told the Thessalonians
about this. He told them; he didn’t
write them about this. Therefore, we
don’t have what he “said” in writing, or in scripture. There is a mystery of lawlessness that is
already working. The mystery is still
working 2,000 years later, which is the intentional evil that exists in the
world. Once the Holy Spirit is taken out
of the way along with the church (those in which the Holy Spirit resides
internally), there will be no faith found on earth. That is when the wicked one
will be revealed, once the one who holds the Antichrist back, leaves. Then the
wicked one can and will be revealed. The
Antichrist may be demonically in-filled now, yet later will be inspired by the
beast, when the beast comes out of the abyss. Then, later, on the Day of the
Lord, Jesus will consume him with the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of
His coming. It will be easy for a religious organization to have a “revealing” or
“unveiling” to its true intentions, and show their connection with a one world
governmental organization because there will be no faith here on earth. Those left behind did not receive the love of
the truth. Those left behind had pleasure in unrighteousness, rather than
disgust in unrighteousness.
Now,
looking backward to the entire context we see Paul talking about the Day of the
Lord. He gives us two options for context, 1) the parousia, the Day of the
Lord, and 2) the episunagoge, the above congregation. What comes first is the
falling away. Then, the wicked man can
be revealed, and then the Lord will destroy him with the spirit of his mouth. Verses
5 through 7 are parenthetical, “Remember I told you… and you know…the mystery
is already at work”. The predominant
context is that the Day of the Lord is not here yet, and before it can come
there is a falling away, and the Antichrist revealed. After looking at the two options for the
context, the parousia and the episunagoge, it seems the answer is that the
episunagoge is a preceeding event (the falling away), to the man of sin being revealed,
and then the Day of the Lord.
Therefore
we can rule out the continued backsliding and typical turning away from God
which leaves us with either the falling away is the harpazo or it is the result
of those left behind after the harpazo. Either
way, the harpazo precedes the Antichrist’s reveal or the Day of the Lord. This is another benchmark for us. The Antichrist is not ruling now, not until
the church is gathered up. He may be alive, but not ruling over the saints. We should remember that, “greater is he that
is in us than he that is in the world”, from 1 John 4:4, we are greater than
the Antichrist because of the Holy Spirit within us.
Paul
talked about the “out resurrection” from the dead, the only time we see an out resurrection is the harpazo, when
the dead in Christ rise. Philippians is the only place this word is used, but
it tells us something. Paul was not
expecting to be alive on earth at the harpazo, but striving to attain to the
out resurrection. To add this thought to Thessalonians 2:1 the gathering, the
episunagoge, it is a gathering of the dead and alive in Christ. The dead are
not in the above congregation yet as we have studied, therefore to have an “above
congregation”, people have to go above.
That is the need for the harpazo.
Phil
3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection [1815] of the
dead.KJV
Phil
3:11 though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.ISV
Phil
3:11 if anyhow I may attain to the rising again of the dead.YLT
NT:1815
exanastasis (ex-an-as'-tas-is); from NT:1817; a rising from death: KJV -
resurrection.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1817
exanistemi (ex-an-is'-tay-mee); from NT:1537 and NT:450; objectively, to
produce, i.e. (figuratively) beget; subjectively, to arise, i.e. (figuratively)
object: KJV - raise (rise) up.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:1537
ek (ek) or ex (ex); a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence
action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or
figurative; direct or remote):(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:450
anistemi (an-is'-tay-mee); from NT:303 and NT:2476; to stand up (literal or
figurative, transitive or intransitive):KJV - arise, lift up, raise up (again),
rise (again), stand up (-right).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
So,
likewise, the out resurrection of the
dead along with “the alive in Christ rising”, forming the “above
congregation”, precedes the revealing of the Antichrist, and later in time, the
Day of the Lord. But we can look a little deeper into the Book of Revelation to
find a more specific time of the revealing of the Antichrist.
The
two witnesses are another benchmark
for us, and we should explore their role on earth. I’ve heard people say they are on earth now,
they are not. The beast comes up out of the pit to kill the witnesses, which is
when the beast starts his time on earth. This gives us a clue, the beast comes
after the witnesses come to earth. First come the witnesses, then the beast.
Rev 11:1-2 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.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.KJV
John
is told to measure the temple; there will have to be a temple built before the
witnesses come. The court outside the
temple is given to the Gentiles. There
was a court of the Gentiles in the old temples but the next phrase is that the
holy city (Jerusalem) will be tread under the feet of the Gentiles for 42
months. That is three and one half
years. So now we know that once the
temple is built, somehow Gentiles will be occupying Jerusalem for 3 1/2 years. If Jerusalem becomes a world power, it would
be understandable that many Gentiles will come to the city to conduct commerce,
especially if the other nations of the world are struggling after the gathering
of the saints.
Rev
11:3-4 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.4 These are the
two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the
earth.KJV
One
thousand two hundred and sixty days is also three and one half years. The witnesses will wear sackcloth which is
like burlap, and is a symbol for repentance and mourning. We have a clue to these witnesses; the word
for witnesses is #3144, martyr. That is
interesting as martyrs have their bodies killed. There are two people in the Bible who never
had their bodies killed, Enoch and Elijah.
Both, as we saw from the acts of Pontius Pilate, were in paradise with
their bodies while no one else just coming into paradise had their bodies.
The Acts of Pontius Pilate written by Nicodemus CHAP. XX.
1 Christ delivers Adam to
Michael the archangel. 3.
They meet Enoch and Elijah in heaven, 5 and also the blessed thief,
who relates how he cares to Paradise. THEN the Lord holding Adam by the
hand, delivered him to Michael the archangel; and he led them into Paradise,
filled with mercy and glory;2 And two very ancient men met them, and were asked
by the saints, Who are ye, who have not yet been with us in hell, and have had
your bodies placed in Paradise?3 One of them answering, said, I am Enoch, who
was translated by the word of God: and this man who is with me, is Elijah
the Tishbite, who was translated in a fiery chariot.
4 Here we have hitherto been, and have not tasted death, but are now about to
return at the coming of Antichrist, being armed with divine signs and miracles,
to engage with him in battle, and to be slain by him at Jerusalem, and to be
taken up alive again into the clouds, after three days and a half. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm
What we can understand
from these two witnesses is that they will be martyred; that would be one
reason Enoch and Elijah would be candidates.
The only one at this point in time who has a new body is Jesus. The rest of the dead do not have new bodies,
they have no bodies at all. Everyone’s
bodies have corrupted in the grave. We
have to wait until corruption puts on incorruption, as Corinthians 15 tells
us. The only two people that kept their
bodies were Enoch and Elijah. Something
else to consider is that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, yet once the
believer is gone there won’t be anyone for the Holy Spirit to indwell. Before the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit
did not indwell people; after the church is gone, the Holy Spirit may be upon some, but not in them. Here however, with
Enoch and Elijah, we see something else, the symbolism of the candlesticks and
the olive trees would say that there is an unending supply of oil for the lamp,
or for the two martyrs.
Zech
4:1-6 AND THE angel who talked with me came again and awakened me, like a man
who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And said to me, What do you see? I said, I
see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of
it and its seven lamps on it, and [there are] seven pipes to each of the seven
lamps which are upon the top of it. [Matt 5:14,16; Luke 12:35; Phil 2:15; Rev
1:20.] 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the
bowl and the other upon the left side of it [feeding it continuously with oil].
[Rev 11:4-13.] 4 So I asked the angel who talked with me, What are these, my
lord? 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, Do you not know what
these are? And I said, No, my lord. 6 Then he said to me, This [addition of the
bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the
olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor
by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of
hosts. AMP
In
other words, there is an endless supply of Holy Spirit power on these two witnesses. It won’t be by might, an army with physical
strength, or power, or force, but by the Holy Spirit that these men perform
miraculous feats. Let’s see what they can do.
Rev
11:5-6 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.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.KJV
They
send fire on their enemies, they keep it from raining, and they turn the waters
red and hit the earth with plagues.
These guys will be fearsome. They
will be witnessing to the whole earth, social media will carry video clips and YouTube
videos to the world, and people will believe on Jesus. If some who thought they were Christians were
left behind, they could be angry and may try to stop the witnesses. If the
mystery religion tries to quiet the witnesses, they will kill them. In the meantime, many will believe and then
be beheaded for their belief in Jesus.
The power of the Holy Spirit will be strong on Enoch and Elijah, but the
beast will be allowed to overcome them after three and one half years.
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. KJV
First
thing we notice is that they will have finished their testimony. This is a scheduled time, not a random
coincidence that they are killed. It is
not by the devil’s timing, but by God’s timing.
Secondly, this beast comes out of the abyss, a spiritual beast. He was not on earth but under the earth. Now the beast comes out to make war against
them. Will this look like an Avengers
movie? Two super heroes fighting the
evil spirit from the abyss? Will there
be lots of super powers used by Enoch and Elijah? Thirdly, we have to notice that they are
killed, martyred. One has to have a
physical body to be martyred, or killed.
The beast could not kill an incorruptible body like Jesus has. The beast could only kill a physical body
like we have. Some people speculate that
the witnesses will be Moses, or John the Baptist, but both of them died and
their bodies corrupted. Of all the men who have walked the face of the earth,
only Jesus rose from the dead; no one else has ever risen and stayed that way,
only Jesus. Therefore, the only ones
left in the Bible that did not lose their bodies were Enoch and Elijah.
Rev
11:8-9 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.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. KJV
The
two dead bodies will lie in the street in Jerusalem for three and one half
days. The whole world will see their
bodies.
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.KJV
The
earth dwellers will rejoice and give presents, kind of like Christmas… The
beast will show himself to be god if we remember Paul’s letter to the
Thessalonians. The wicked one will sit
in the temple of God. Let’s keep in mind
some parallel events. While the witnesses are on earth, the seals are being
opened and six of the seven trumpets are being sounded. All 13 events are happening while the
witnesses are on earth. With each new
event taking place during the wrath of the lamb, the witnesses will, in
conjunction, be drawing attention to Jesus.
They will not be able to be stopped until the end of the three and one
half years.
Rev
11:11-12 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.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. KJV
Again
the whole world will see the two witnesses get up. It might be that the whole world will think
that the “bad times” are over once the witnesses are dead. They will quickly change their minds when the
witnesses rise up. People will hear the voice of God saying “Come up here”. As
they go up, the world sees them. Because there will be great fear, many will
believe on Jesus. The witnesses go up to
heaven at the time Jesus is announced as the kingdoms of the world belonging to
Him. This time is like a coronation, while today we look ahead to that day,
Revelation 11 tells us after the witnesses go up, the ceremony begins.
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.KJV
Now,
exclusive to Jerusalem, there will be an earthquake and seven thousand people
will die. Because of this, more people will believe on Jesus. These witnesses
die, but many people will see and hear and become concerned about what is
taking place. We should remember that God has always had someone to witness for
him; Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Prophets, Jesus,
the Church, the Witnesses, and lastly three Angels (Rev 14:6-11).
The
beast receives his power from the dragon (Rev 13:2). The beast comes out of the
abyss; the dragon comes down being thrown out of heaven by Michael and his
angels. There will be 10 leaders and one of them will receive a fatal wound and
be brought back to life, the beast will in-dwell this person who is an
Antichrist . That is when the world will worship the dragon, satan, and the
beast. Before all of this there will be another benchmark to look at. At the second half of the tribulation, God’s
holy people, the Jews, will be crushed.
But before that happens there has to be a daily sacrifice in the
temple.
Dan
12:7-13 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the
river, when he held up his right and his left hand toward the heavens and swore
by Him Who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half a time
[or three and one-half years]; and when they have made an end of shattering and
crushing the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8
And I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, O my lord, what shall be
the issue and final end of these things? 9 And he [the angel] said, Go your
way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. 10
Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be tried, smelted,
and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall
understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand. [Dan
11:33-35.] 11 And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away
and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
[Dan 11:31.] 12 Blessed, happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous, and to be
envied is he who waits expectantly and earnestly [who endures without wavering
beyond the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days! 13 But you
[Daniel, who was now over ninety years of age], go your way until the end; for
you shall rest and shall stand [fast] in your allotted place at the end of the
days. [Heb 11:32-40.] AMP
Dan
12:7-13 "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both
hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would
be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy
people was brought down the story would be complete. 8 "I heard all this
plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you
explain this to me?' 9 "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The
message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are
about to be wrapped up. 10 The populace will be washed clean and made like new.
But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is
happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.'11
"From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the
obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days. 12
"Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days. 13
"And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When
it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward." (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
From
the time of the daily sacrifice to the time of the next abomination (there have
been several already in history) there will be just over three and one half
years. This gives us another base in
time to understand that there is no sacrifice in a temple in Jerusalem
today. First, the temple has to be
built, and then they can start a daily sacrifice. Some people think that thirty days after the
stopping of the sacrifice, the beast sits on the throne. The abomination of
desolation may be the beast sitting on the throne in the temple, three and one
half years and one month after temple sacrifice is abolished, or it could be
the destruction of the temple as it has been in the past. Jerusalem has been abominated five times and
desolated twice already. This may be the total destruction of the temple by the
beast and dragon. If the destruction of the temple is the desolation, it will
happen at the end of the second half of the tribulation. In either case, the beast will sit on the
throne in the temple at 1290 days, as Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:4. If one
can make it for 75 more days, they will be blessed. We are not sure what happens at 1335 days. We
can see that it will either be about two and one half months into the second
half of the tribulation, called the wrath of God, or at the end of the second
half of the tribulation, after the Day of the Lord. If one who doesn’t believe
in Jesus now believes in Jesus after the harpazo, they will have to stand for
Jesus until they die or until the end of the tribulation. We looked at the role of the martyred saints
last week.
Some
of our markers or benchmarks for time include the Psalm 83 war, the falling
away (the harpazo and the out resurrection resulting in the episunagoge), the
peace agreement, the temple being rebuilt, the daily sacrifice taking place,
the witnesses coming to earth, and the beast coming out of the pit. While the
exact order is not completely known, we do know that the harpazo comes before
the seals are opened. Whether the Psalm
83 war happens first or is a result of the harpazo, we don’t know. We do know
that once the believers who have the Holy Spirit in them are taken off of the
earth, the two witnesses will come with the Holy Spirit’s power, and the power
of the Holy Spirit will flow through them like oil from the olive tree, feeding
the lamp stands. There doesn’t seem to be any indication that the people who
get saved during the tribulation will have the Holy Spirit in them, hence we
understand 1 John 4:4 as greater is he in us than in the world. After the
believers are gone from the earth, the Holy Spirit does not indwell anyone but
the two witnesses, yet people will be receiving Jesus as Lord throughout the
tribulation and martyred for their confession.
They will overcome the dragon.
Rev
12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.KJV
Rev
12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ.KJV
Another
mystery regarding the book of Revelation are “the three woes” and the “seven
thunders”. We will have to explore that
next.
