Max's Weekly Musings
Vol. 9, No. 42, for the week of December 10-16, 2006
Revelation 11
It seems that almost daily I see and hear of another event that causes me to realize that we are living in the closing days of this age. I found it fascinating that the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejab, held a conference that declared that the Holocaust never occurred, yet, at the same time, he was planning a Holocaust of his own - the eradication of Israel and the Jews from the face of the earth. The world just yawned over this conference. I feel rather confident that should a conference denying the history of slavery be held, the world would have responded differently. Then there was the release of a new book by former President Carter that declared the attitude of Israel toward the Palestinians has been worse than the apartheid in South Africa. His conclusion: Israel is the reason for the the problems in the Middle East. The attitude of our former President seems to represent the attitudes of most people. If only Israel would just go away. Friends, the Bible foretells a time when the world will oppose Israel, even to bringing armies against Jerusalem. As we celebrate the first Advent of Christ, let's keep focused for His second Advent.
Our study this week takes us into the very interesting 11th chapter of Revelation. It contains the account of two very unusual individuals who are given a key responsibility by God. Well, let's let the text tell the story.
I. The mercy of God - Revelation 11:3
A. God is never without a witness
B. God never strikes judgment until He has given fair warning. The two witnesses show how God is able to provide a witness even during times when it is practically impossible for a Christian to stay alive.
C. God always sees His witnesses as those who are special and He shares of Himself with them
II. What is the time of these two witnesses?
It is during the first half of the Tribulation for the following reasons: 1) They are the ones who witness to the 144,000 who are sealed; and 2) Those who are martyred during the opening of the 5th seal would need a witness to know how to be saved.
III. What is their message?
A. It is a message of repentance: they are clothed in sackcloth
B. It is a message of judgment: because of the miraculous things that they do
IV. What are these two witnesses?
A. Enoch
1. Based upon the teachings of Hebrews 9:27 - "It is appointed unto man once to die"
2. Enoch never died
3. Enoch's day, in which he prophesied, was an evil one like the time of the Tribulation.
4. Problems: Enoch was a Gentile and these two witnesses are definitely Israelites; if all men have to die, what about those of us who will be raptured without seeing death?
B. Moses
1. Similarities in his ministry and that of the two witnesses
2. His presence on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah sets him apart as an important witness
3. Problems: Based on Hebrews 9:27, Moses has already died so it is unscriptural for him to die again; But, what about all those who were raised from the dead who then had to die a second time?
C. Elijah
1. Similarities in his ministry and that of the two witnesses
2. His presence on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses sets him apart as an important witness
3. Fact that Elijah must come before the day of the Lord
V. What are the traits of the two witnesses? - Revelation 11:4-6
A. They are described as two olive trees
B. They are described as two candlesticks
C. They have the following fourfold powers:
1. To kill their enemies with fire
2. To keep it from raining
3. To turn the waters to blood
4. To bring plagues upon the earth
VI. What is the fate of the two witnesses? - Revelation 11:7-10
A. They will be invincible until their work is done, and only then will God permit them to be killed
B. They will be killed by the beast or the Antichrist. Martyrdom of the witnesses will be his first great act and will doubtless win him the support of many people.
C. These verses show the utter depravity of man in sin:
1. Satan did not allow the bodies to be buried. The bodies laid on the streets and decomposed there, violating the Jewish law
2. The whole world will be able to view these bodies
3. The result of this viewing was a worldwide celebration, the only celebration during the Tribulation, with gifts being exchanged during this time
VII. What occurs at the translation of the two witnesses? - Revelation 11:11-14
A. After three and a half days, the two witnesses will be raised from the dead and will ascend into heaven in the shekinah glory of God.
1. The whole world will hear the voice and see the resurrection and the ascension
2. This purpose is of God to get the people to repent and turn to Him for salvation
B. After the ascension, a great earthquake will shake the city of Jerusalem
1. This is God's retribution on the city where the Antichrist has set up his government
2. Seven thousand men are killed
3. The rest finally acknowledge the divine power of God, but it does not necessarily mean that they are converted
4. Earthquakes are sobering reminders that man must face judgment.
Thoughts to Ponder: The power of God often brings terror into the hearts of those who have rejected God. Whenever God does something that the natural man cannot grasp, it can bring him into a state of terror. Such was the condition of the hearts of men at the time of the resurrection of the two prophets. Nothing like this had ever happened before. These two men who had been a scourge upon the earth during their lifetime, and whose death had been the cause for worldwide celebration, now lived again. The hearts of the unregenerate filled with terror. And although they gave glory to God, it was not an act of worship that led to repentance, but, I believe, one that came from panic. When men are bent on serving evil, even the power of an awesome God does not move them to tears. Oh the tragedies of a hardened heart.
As this chapter draws to a close the voices in heaven literally trumpet the news that the world was now in readiness to receive its King (verse 15). Just as Jesus Christ came the first time when the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4), so also His second coming will occur when the fullness of time is reached once again. As I sit and ponder this great truth, I am reminded that everything that has happened and is happening and is yet to happen on this earth has as its purpose the preparation for the way of the King. How wonderful is the sovereignty of God!
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Christ companied with sinners without becoming complicated with their sins. (Howard Hendricks)
