TWO
WITNESSES REVISITED
A SYMBOLIC look at the end times;
God dispatches 144,000 evangelist plus Two Witnesses
First Word
- The Seven Year Tribulation period has already
begun. – 144,000 Jewish Evangelist have already been commissioned
by God for the last time to evangelize the world with the Gospel
Message of Jesus Christ.
- Then Two Witnesses in addition to the
144,000 appear during the LAST 3 ½ years of the tribulation period which
Revelation referrers to as the last 1,260 days.
- The purpose of the two witnesses, is to display the
power of God, and foretell the great events of wrath to come. – They are the Watchman on the Wall - Jew and Gentile alike will come to the
Lord because of their testimony.
- Systematic Theology argues for various reasons that
that the two witnesses will come from ancient times perhaps raised from
the dead, back to life, someone like Moses, or it may be two that never
died that will come down from heaven; which could be Enoch and Elijah, or maybe
even a prophet from the New Testament like John the Baptist. Some scholars present Peter and Paul;
others say James and John and even others perhaps Paul and Elijah; BUT
this Word Study will not go anywhere near this concept.
- Nowhere in the Old or New Testament does scripture state
that “Two Prophets” will return to earth to bear witness; this is just
well meaning conjecture.
- This study will look SYMBOLICALLY at the book of
Revelation. – What do the Two Witness symbolically represent? – After God
has just commissioned 144,000 evangelist, why would He need just two more?
– This will surely mess with your
theology; I will not press you to embrace this, JUST THINK ABOUT IT. - NYOBS 43.19 – TWO WITNESSES -- NYOBS 01.23 - RAPTURE
Why Two Witnesses
- The
Law
of Moses requires Two Witnesses for a thing to be established as true.
- Jesus
sent the disciple’s out Two by Two. – Two Angels witnessed
Jesus death – Two Angels witnessed the translation of Jesus.
- There
were Two Bears (Two Witnesses) that brought
judgement on a mob of 42 teenagers. NOTE: Forty two months (teenagers) is 1,260 days or the
last 3 ½ years of the tribulations when the Two Witnesses will testify. ( A Biblical year was 360 days, not 365 )
- There
were “Two Witnesses” parallel in the OT, when God’s servants Zerubbabel
and Joshua, were chosen to reclaim and rebuild the Jewish temple after
the Babylon captivity. – The Lord God Almighty said; “Not by might, nor by
power, but BY MY SPIRIT”. - It was
God‘s Spirit that accomplished His work; HOLD
THAT THOUGHT…
- God
has spoken ONCE; then TWICE, His word is Two Witnesses of His power.
- Jesus
is one witness and the Father is the second witness.
- The Messiah is the first Witnesses and the Gospel
is the second witness.
- The
Old Covenant Church is one witness and the New Testament
Church is the second witness.
Deut 19:15 – Two Witnesses establish truth
15 One witness shall not
rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins:
at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall
the matter be established. KJV
John 8:17-18 – Why Two Witnesses? – The Law
requires it.
17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of TWO WITNESSES is true. KJV
17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of TWO WITNESSES is true. KJV
2 Kings 2:24 – Two Witness bears – Judgment 42 boys/months
24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And TWO SHE-BEARS came out of the woods and tore FORTY-TWO of the boys. (ESV)
24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And TWO SHE-BEARS came out of the woods and tore FORTY-TWO of the boys. (ESV)
John 20:12 – Two Angels witnessed the slain body of Jesus
12 And seeing two
angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet,
where the body of Jesus had lain.
KJV
Acts 1:10 – Two Angels witnessed Jesus translation
10 And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in
white apparel; KJV
Luke 10:1 – Jesus sent out the witnesses TWO by TWO
1 After these things the
Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his
face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. KJV
John 10:30 – Jesus and God – The TWO are one
30 I and the Father are one.” (ESV)
30 I and the Father are one.” (ESV)
Psalm 62:11 – God has spoken once, then twice – It
is His power
11 ONCE God has spoken; TWICE have I heard this: that power belongs to God, (ESV)
11 ONCE God has spoken; TWICE have I heard this: that power belongs to God, (ESV)
Zech 4:6 - Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit
6 This is the word of the
LORD to Zerubbabel: `Not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. NIV
Let’s
begin
·
We first encounter the mention of the Two
Witnesses in the book of Revelation where they are IDENTIFIED symbolically as Two Olive Trees and again as Two Lampstands. – I didn’t say
this; God did, so the first order of business is to unpack the symbolism of the
Two Olive Trees and Two Lampstands.
Rev 11:3-4 -
Two Witnesses – Two Olive Trees – Two Lampstands
3 And I will give power to my TWO WITNESSES, and
they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."
4 These are the TWO OLIVE
TREES and
the TWO LAMPSTANDS that stand before the Lord of the
earth.
Two
Olive Trees
·
Symbolically the Two Olive
Trees
represent the WORD OF GOD and are
the two anointed ones who STAND before the Lord’s throne. Only Elijah and Elisha used the words; “the
Lord God before whom I stand”.
·
Interestingly some
translation of the Bible render the words “Two anointed Ones” as “Two
sons of Fresh Oil” – The oil from the Olive trees passes to the Lampstands – The Menorah lampstand was
used in the tabernacle to give LIGHT to the priest as they carried out their priestly
duties.
·
The Olive Oil is the
messengers of God
such as Enoch & Moses, Elijah & Elisha, Peter & Paul, James &
John and by the grace of God; you and me.
Zechariah 4:13-14 – Two anointed ones stand before
the Lord
13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these (olive trees) are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
14 Then he said, “These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES who STAND by the Lord of the whole earth.” (ESV)
13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these (olive trees) are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
14 Then he said, “These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES who STAND by the Lord of the whole earth.” (ESV)
1 Kings 17:1 – ELIJAH said The Lord God before
whom I stand
1 Now ELIJAH the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I STAND, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (ESV)
1 Now ELIJAH the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I STAND, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (ESV)
2 Kings 3:14) – ELISHA said The Lord God before
whom I stand
14 And ELISHA said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I STAND, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. (ESV
14 And ELISHA said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I STAND, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. (ESV
Two Lamp Stands
·
Jesus is identified as the
Light of the World.
·
God identifies the
Lampstands as the Church - The Lampstands converts the Olive Oil into
LIGHT to guide the footsteps of the church congregation; the believers. (Seven in scripture is the number for completeness) -
Revelation 1:20 – The Lampstands are the Churches
20 As for THE MYSTERY of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven (ESV) churches, and the seven LAMPSTANDS ARE the seven CHURCHES.
20 As for THE MYSTERY of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven (ESV) churches, and the seven LAMPSTANDS ARE the seven CHURCHES.
John 8:12 – Jesus is the light of the world
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV)
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV)
Dual Nature
·
Since the Two Witness are identified
as the Word of God and the Church, we can pick up on the
symbolism that the Two Witnesses have a DUAL NATURE. – This can be noted by;
·
The Dual Nature of the Olive Tree; Jesus is the VINE and the Believer is the BRANCH...
·
Elijah represented the “Former Rain”
the planting of the Spirit of God and Elisha
represented the “Latter Rain”; the harvesting of the Spirit of
God. – The Dual Nature -
·
Moses represented the “LAW”; he turned water in to blood and Elijah representing the “PROPHETS” who shut up heaven and stopped
the rain.
·
Here’s where we are; in the beginning the
Torah was divided by its “dual nature” into two parts. - We have the LAW with its messengers to the Old Covenant church and later
a new dimension was added with the PROPHETS
and its messengers to the New Testament Church.
Deuteronomy 11:14 – The Former Rain and the Latter
Rain
14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the FORMER RAIN and the LATTER RAIN, that you may GATHER in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil. (ASV)
14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the FORMER RAIN and the LATTER RAIN, that you may GATHER in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil. (ASV)
Joel 2:28 – Latter Rain – God pours out the Holy
Spirit
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (ESV)
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (ESV)
James 5:7 – Latter Rain – The coming of the Lord
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and THE LATE RAINS. (ESV)
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and THE LATE RAINS. (ESV)
Revelation 11:6 – Dual Nature – Law and the
Prophets
6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (ESV)
6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (ESV)
John 15:1-2 – Jesus is the Vine – The Believer is
the branch
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (ESV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (ESV)
Sidebar
·
Interestingly the Two Witnesses will be
dressed in Sackcloth portraying the nature of humility; the LEAST shall
be first in the kingdom. - This probably
rules out the preachers of the Mega Churches; just sayin’.
·
The Two Witnesses; the Message as
well as the messengers will DIE
for a period of time; they are the Christian schools, the institutions and
churches that are presenting the message and darkness will cover the earth, a
dark time of ignorance of God’s Word. – But then the LIGHT of God resurrects His
inspired Word, the Gospel message and folks began to read it again and share
it, but then the two witnesses are taken up and hidden in a cloud just like
when Jesus was taken up. – Sadly the Two Witnesses will remain dead to most of
the world - It’s almost over folks, the Holy Spirit begins to move -
·
This will be what is
called
the LATTER RAIN, where the harvest is
GATHERED in.
Deuteronomy 11:14 – The Latter Rain gathers in the
harvest
14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the FORMER RAIN and the LATTER RAIN, that you may GATHER in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil. (ASV)
14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the FORMER RAIN and the LATTER RAIN, that you may GATHER in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil. (ASV)
Revelation 11:12 – The Message is resurrected
12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. (ESV)
12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. (ESV)
Isaiah 60:1-2 - The LORD will
arise upon you – Glory seen
1 Arise, shine, for your LIGHT has come, and the GLORY of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For behold, DARKNESS shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (ESV)
1 Arise, shine, for your LIGHT has come, and the GLORY of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For behold, DARKNESS shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (ESV)
Acts 1:9 – Jesus was lifted up in a cloud
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (ESV)
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (ESV)
Luke 13:30 – Some who are last shall be first
30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)
30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)
Last
Thoughts
·
In the first act of our
World play;
we find that God is center stage; then in the second act of the play, we
see the Son is center stage and in the last act of the play, the Holy
Spirit is center stage; that would be where we are right now - The building
of the Kingdom of God began with “God the Son” and will be finished by “God
the Spirit”.
·
An Angel told Zachariah concerning the rebuilding
of the temple that symbolically the lampstand and the two olive trees
represented the SPIRIT OF GOD. –
He did NOT say the trees represented any persons living or dead. – The
rebuilding of the Temple (God’s Church) would not be built by might, nor by
power, but by God’s Spirit.
·
We can see by example that God placed the
spirit of Elijah on John the Baptist; it might just be that in the end
times, the Spirit of Elijah and Elisha might be placed on His Two Witness; the
message and the messengers.
·
Elisha Ask Elijah, “Please let there be a DOUBLE
portion of your spirit upon me. – What if in the last days we get a DOUBLE
PORTION of the Spirit of God. – We will have graduated
with a BA – BORN AGAIN and a DDHG; A DOUBLE DOSE OF THE HOLY GHOST –
·
What if in the last days; the Believers are ONE witness, presenting the same message as
the disciples of the early church, and the SECOND witness is the Signs following them confirming
their testimony of Jesus Christ.
·
I’m not asking that you embrace
this; JUST THINK ABOUT IT – The last days witnesses
will not be the rich and well-known, but the common everyday man and woman of
God endowed with a double dose of the Holy Ghost who care about those that are
perishing - Life is choice driven – You can be a witness if you want to.
JUST THINK
ABOUT IT
‘Luke
1:17 – God placed the spirit of Elijah on John the Baptist
17 and he will go before (John the Baptist) him in the SPIRIT and power of ELIJAH, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
17 and he will go before (John the Baptist) him in the SPIRIT and power of ELIJAH, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
(ESV)
2 Kings 2:9 - Double
portion of God’s Spirit
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a DOUBLE portion of your spirit on me.”
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a DOUBLE portion of your spirit on me.”
(ESV)
Mark 16:20 – They preached with signs confirming
20 And they went forth, and PREACHED everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with SIGNS following. Amen.
20 And they went forth, and PREACHED everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with SIGNS following. Amen.
(KJV)
Zechariah 4:5-6 – The Two represent the Spirit of
God
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT THESE ARE?” I said, “No, my lord.”
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, says the LORD of hosts. (ESV)
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT THESE ARE?” I said, “No, my lord.”
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, says the LORD of hosts. (ESV)
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I am grateful to those that went before me
providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their
shoulders
and see further that I otherwise ever could
have.
A Commentary; Critical,
Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius
Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the
Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Haven’t you Heard? There’s A War going on! – Eldred Echols
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament - Baker
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible (2011) – NIV
NOTE: The “new” NIV has
been corrupted and made gender neutral. AVOID IT.
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon
McGee
Vincent’s Word Studies of
the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary;
The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
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