In today’s study we will cover the Two Witnesses. A very powerful chapter with knowledge for God’s elect. Rev.11 and verse 1 reads.
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.
A reed to measure the people, a rod for correction. David wrote of this rod in Psa.23 written for when the antichrist is on earth. Let’s go to Psalms 23 and verse 4 reads.
Psa.23:4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
We will see this chapter is at the sixth trump, Satan is here claiming to be Christ but is the antichrist which means “Instead of Christ”. Back to Rev.11 and verse 2 reads.
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.
Daniel gave us the time of tribulation as seven years. Dan.9:27 he tells us that Satan is here de-facto in the midst of the week. Making it 3 ½ years, or forty-two months. Let’s go to 2Thes.2 and pick it up with verse 1 and it reads.
2Thes.2:1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together 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.
Going to tell us how it will happen at the end times.
2Thes.2:3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
First comes the apostasy because of the son of perdition, Satan.
2Thes.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.
Satan comes at the sixth trump, Christ comes at the seventh trump and it is that simple. There is no rapture or flying away from the tribulation, those that are here and are deceived will worship Satan thinking he is Christ. This also shows us that it is the 3 ½ years or 42 months that was shortened to 2 ½ months. Being that the seven years of tribulation was shortened to 5 months. Rev.9:10, Mark 13:20. Now, I want to draw your attention to the fact that all prophesy written in moons are of the Devil and all prophesy written in days are for the children of God. Rev.11 and verse 3 reads.
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 two witnesses also are here for 3 ½ years, given in days. But, also shortened to 2 ½ months. They will teach and open the eyes of the very elect and plant seeds for when the very elect will be delivered up, and it is at that time the eyes of the 144,000 will be opened. We will see that these two are Moses and Elijah.
Rev.11:4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Ever wonder who is on the right hand and on the left hand of God? James and John thought they might sit there, but Jesus told them that it was not his to give. Mark 10:35-40. It is given by the Father to Moses and Elijah. Let’s go to Zec.4 and pick it up with verse 11 and it reads.
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?
[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?
These golden pipes that empty the golden oil represents the two witnesses that bring forth the truth (oil). Showing they are here to give truth to the elect.
Zec.4:13] And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
[14] Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
The one on the right hand and the other on the left hand. Now, let’s see why I know it’s Moses and Elijah. First both were transfigured, their bodies never saw death. Jesus was with them on the mount of transfiguration. Some will argue with me about Moses, I know it says he died in the last chapter of Duet.34:5. But even Satan argued with Michael over his body. Jude 1:9. The point is Moses was the law giver, and Elijah was the prophet of prophets. Jesus would say in Mat.5 beginning with verse 17.
Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
He did emphasize on law, did he not, and also fulfilled the prophets. Now another might argue that it would have to be Enoch, and here is why I would disagree. I know that Enoch also was transfigured, Gen.5:24. But as I said in Rev.2:13 when speaking of Antipas (like his father) a Christian Martyr from the church of Pergamos would likely be Enoch. Back to Rev.11 and verse 5 reads.
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.
This fire sounds familiar, let’s go to 2Kings 1 and verse 9 reads.
2Kings 1:9] Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
[10] And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
This went on again with another 51 people being burnt to a crisp before the third one humbled himself before Elijah and the LORD told Elijah he could now go with him. But the fact that Elijah does have power given to him that is above all other men can be seen in verse 3 of this chapter. Back to Rev.11 and verse 6 reads.
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.
Now Moses was given this power in Egypt with pharaoh. He turned the Nile River to blood, and both Elijah and Moses were given powers that it not rain. See why I insist that these two are the witnesses.
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.
This is breaking God’s commandment from Rev.9:4. This is Satan that makes war and kills them, him and his angels. But, notice it is after they finish their testimony.
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.
This is Jerusalem and the word street should have been translated as arena. A big open place where people would gather. Let’s not overlook this place, it is specific to Jerusalem in Judea, Israel of today. God’s word will happen exactly as it is written.
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.
We have here a time given to all of us, just when will Jesus return, 3 ½ days after the two witnesses are killed and left in the street or arena. Why did they not bury them? Simple, Jesus died and rose again on the third day, they left them out in the open so that no one would take their bodies which certain of the Jews say happened with the body of Jesus.
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.
We see this in Israel today, the Palestinians give each other gifts and candy whenever something bad happens to the children of God, like when the towers fell in N.Y. city. Showing us that they are Kenites.
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.
This word fear is G5401 Phobos in Greek and means; a paralyzing fear, of great terror.
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.
Their jobs are done, now they go to the Father in heaven. Right before the eyes of those that slayed them and those that celebrated their deaths.
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.
In the same hour is in an instant. It is at this time the 7,000 fallen angels die, consumed by fire, that is our LORD. Heb.12:29. They were damned to the blackness of darkness forever, in Jude.1:13-14.
Rev.11:14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
It is over for the sixth trump and the seventh trump sounds immediately. So, we see that when the two witnesses are killed in the arena, that the end comes 3 ½ days later. the only time we know the time of his coming. And now, the seventh trump sounds.
Rev.11:15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
[16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
[17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Giving us the three earth and heaven ages. “Which art, and was, and is to come”.
Rev.11:18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
The judgement is not quite over yet, we have the millennium, but it is not for the wicked. And the prophets and set aside ones, his elect, receive their rewards because we feared (reverenced) his name.
Rev.11:19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Notice the Ark of the Covenant is in heaven. Pity the people who look for it on earth today, they should have read his word and saved a lot of money. Giving an educated guess, I would think this Ark went to heaven with Elijah. The whirlwind was there to pick up Elijah, easy to also pick up the Ark. And the ark is no longer spoken of in God’s word after that. Men couldn’t be trusted with it any longer, so God took it and it sits in his temple with him. Great study, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible