The Two Witnesses, Part 2 - Revelation 11:1-14
INTRODUCTION:
Last Sunday we began looking at the second part of the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. In this second part we first saw the apostle John marking off a remnant of Jews for God. In doing this God shows us that there is still a future for the nation of Israel, God is going to fulfill all the promises made to Israel, so as the judgment of God intensifies God will protect, preserve and show favor to this faithful remnant of Jews in the midst of the fury of His wrath poured out on the earth.
Last Sunday we were also introduced to God’s two witnesses who are prophesying to the world, warning them of the intense judgment that is coming and offering them the grace and mercy of God found through forgiveness by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We learned that these two witnesses were supernaturally protected by God until they had prophesied for 1260 days or 3½ years. Last Sunday I gave three reasons that I believe that the witnesses were in the first 3½ years of the Tribulation and not the second half of the Tribulation, this morning I will share another reason why I believe this. We also learned that these two witnesses also could perform signs that authenticated that their message was from God.
This morning we will pick up where we left off last Sunday, at the end of the 1260 days of prophesying by these two witnesses. Let’s pray and then get into God’s Word.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 11:1-14, we are going to read the whole passage again to pick up the context. Please stand if you are able for the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
Revelation 11:1-14,
“Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, ‘Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Revelation 11:1–14, NASB95)[1]
THE BEAST OUT OF THE ABYSS (Revelation 11:7-8)
We left off at the end of verse 6 last Sunday, this morning we will begin with verse 7. John informs us what will happen when the two witnesses of God will have finished their testimony, this is at the end of 1260 days, the end of what I believe is the first half of the Tribulation, the end of the first 3½ years. This will be the turning point in the Tribulation, the Antichrist will increase in power for a time and God’s wrath on sinful man will intensify. William R. Newell writes concerning verse 7, “Let us note first of all that these witnesses will finish their testimony. Every one of God’s witnesses, every believer is ‘immortal until his work is done.’ No servants of God ever encountered such fearful opposition and utter odds as they [the two witnesses], yet they finished their testimony. Satan can do nothing without divine permission.”[2]
When these two witnesses, these two prophets finished their testimony, finished all that God had given them to speak, we read, “…the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7b, NASB95)[3] Immediately we ask ourselves who is this beast that comes up out of the abyss? The abyss we already know about, it was opened in chapter nine at the sounding of the fifth trumpet. Out of it came the demonic locust that had the sting of a scorpion in their tails. Remember the abyss was a prison for certain demons until it is opened, and they are released. The abyss represents demonic or satanic power since those in the abyss are demons of Satan.
This is the first of thirty-five references to “the beast” in Revelation and this reference looks forward to the more detailed information that we have about the beast in chapters 13 and 17. His introduction here in chapter 11 emphasizes his origin. The fact that he comes up out of the abyss indicates that he is empowered by Satan. Satan, we will see is depicted as a dragon in chapters 12 and 13, so this beast cannot be Satan. When we get into chapter 13 we will find that this beast is a world leader called the Antichrist who imitates the true Christ and demands to be worshiped. Though the Antichrist is a man he is energized by the demonic presence and power coming from the abyss, if this truly is the mid-point of the Tribulation, not only is he energized by this demonic presence and power, but he is also indwelt by Satan, chapter 13 reveals that the dragon, Satan, gave to the Antichrist, the beast, his power, his throne, and great authority.
This act of making war with the two witnesses and overcoming them and killing them may be the first act of the Satan indwelt Antichrist that begins his rise to power over all the earth. This act of removing these two prophets of God and ending the tormenting plagues causes those who dwell on the earth to turn to the Antichrist as their savior.
John goes on to tell us that the dead bodies of God’s witnesses will lie in the street of the great city. John says that this city from a spiritual point of view is called Sodom and Egypt. The NASB says this great city is mystically called Sodom and Egypt. This word translated “mystically” literally is “spiritually.” The apostle John wants us to understand that Jerusalem is not the holy city it was known to be. John MacArthur writes, “Tragically, the city of Jerusalem that was once God’s city will be so overrun with evil that it will be like the wicked city of Sodom and the evil nation of Egypt. The description was to show that the once holy city had become no better than places which were known for their hatred of the true God.”[4] The apostle John goes on to make it unmistakably clear that he is referring to Jerusalem by noting that the two witnesses were killed and laid in the street of the same city where also their Lord was crucified. That fact that they will die in the same city where their Lord was crucified suggests that Jerusalem will be the focal point of their preaching and prophesying.
THE CELEBRATION OF THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH (Revelation 11:9-10)
In verses nine and ten John describes for us the response of those who dwell on the earth. Remember this phrase, “those who dwell on the earth” refers to those who are unrepentant sinners, citizens of the earth, not of heaven. John tells us that those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will look at the dead bodies of the two witnesses lying in the street in Jerusalem for three and a half days. The pictures of them and video footage will be beamed around the world, so all can see that they are dead, that they have been overcome and killed by the beast, the Antichrist. In a morbid display of contempt and hatred the bodies of these two prophets will not be permitted to be buried or laid in a tomb. The wicked, unrepentant, sinful masses from around the world will gloat along with the Antichrist and glorify him for his victory over these two preachers who were tormenting those who dwell of the earth.
The death of these two prophets of God will cause worldwide celebration, the world will delight in their death. These two who had sounded the warning of judgment and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ for 1260 days are celebrated because they are dead, their message has been silenced, their signs have been stopped. They that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, make merry and exchange gifts with one another. A regular Christmastime-of-Hell because the torment of these two is no longer felt by those who dwell on the earth. Notice how the world rushes to Satan’s man, the Antichrist, the moment he is allowed to kill God’s witnesses. There is no moral or spiritual restraint left—no shame of conscience.
THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF THE WITNESSES (Revelation 11:11-12)
This celebration which John MacArthur calls, “Dead Witnesses Day” is cut short on day three and a half. John records in verse 11, “But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.” (Revelation 11:11, NASB95)[5] Great fear and panic will seize the world as these hated and reviled tormentors from God suddenly come to life and stand on their feet. If this is being televised the world will see this happen and we can understand the great fear, their celebration of the death of these two now turns to dread. These two witnesses so much like their Lord in suffering and shame, are now made like Him in resurrection and exaltation. Reminiscent of John’s call to heaven in chapter 4, and the shout we will hear when Christ comes for the church they hear a voice, the loud voice of their Lord inviting them into their heavenly home, the Lord shouted, “Come up here!” We are told that like our Lord ascended into heaven in the cloud, so these two men ascended into heaven in the cloud. We are told that their enemies watched them as they ascended. We do not read of hearts changing at the sight of these resurrected and ascending prophets, but that should not surprise us because Jesus said in Luke 16:31, “If they [the unbelievers] do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31, NASB95)[6] After hearing the teaching and seeing the miracles of Jesus’ ministry, unbelievers rejected and killed Him and continued in their unbelief even after His resurrection, and the preaching and signs of these two prophets of God did not change the hearts of those who dwell on the earth. They still gave their allegiance to the beast who came up out of the abyss.
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE (Revelation 11:13-14)
As if to emphasize the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses, we read, “And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (Revelation 11:13, NASB95)[7] This earthquake seems to be localized to the area of Jerusalem where the witnesses had been killed, had been resurrected, and had ascended into heaven. This great earthquake caused a tenth of the city of Jerusalem to fall and 7000 people were killed in this earthquake. The term “people” in the Greek text is literally “names of men.” This is an unusual phrase that has caused many to believe that this indicates that the 7000 killed in the earthquake were prominent people, possibly leaders in the Antichrist’s world government.
The result is that the rest, referring to those in Jerusalem that survived the earthquake, they were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. This phrase “the God of heaven” is only used two times in the New Testament, the second occurrence is in Revelation 16:11. In the Old Testament this is a familiar phrase that is used to distinguish the true God from pagan deities. The significance of this phrase being used here is to show that the rest recognize the true God in contrast to their worship of the beast. Even though they recognize the power of the God of heaven, this does not indicate that they have come to the point of true faith in Christ. This is not repentance, but a recognizing of the God of heaven because of the terror that the display of His power brings on them. William Newell describes it this way, “Fear acted on them externally to honor God formally, but only as One in heaven. … When men have sinned their day of gracious visitation away; fighting, killing, and glorying in the destruction of God’s prophets, they are not likely to be suddenly transformed into saints by the constraints and terrors of the day of doom, although obliged to confess that it is the invincible God of heaven that is dealing with them.”[8]
Almost as a postscript to this interlude, John writes, “The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Revelation 11:14, NASB95)[9] The second woe has come to an end, and a horrible time it was, now the third woe is coming quickly. This third woe is when all men will be handed over to Satan, according to our Scripture reading in 2 Thessalonians 2, they will be handed over “… because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10–12, NASB95)[10] This is the awful message of Revelation 13 which we will be looking into in the weeks ahead.
CONCLUSION:
I promised at the beginning of this message that I would give you another reason that I believe the two witnesses of God prophesied during the first half of the Tribulation, during the first 3½ years of the 7-year Tribulation or 70th week of Daniel. Last week I gave you three reasons, let me recap those and then give you my fourth reason:
(1) In this passage John uses two different numbers to describe 3½ years. First, he speaks of 42 months in which the nations will tread under foot the holy city, but he uses 1260 days as the time that the two witnesses will prophesy. Why use two different numbers unless making a distinction between the two periods of the 7-year period.
(2) If the two witnesses were during the second 3½ year period, or what is called the Great Tribulation, then as soon as their task was fulfilled the Lord Jesus Christ would return and destroy His enemies and set up His 1000-year kingdom. The problem with this is that there is a lot that must happen after this passage, where does that fit? Unless the witnesses are in the first 3½ year period and the days of the sounding of the seventh trumpet heralds the midpoint and the beginning of the last 3½ years of the Tribulation, called the Great Tribulation.
(3) In the middle of the 7-year covenant that the Antichrist has with Israel, Daniel 9 says he (the Antichrist) breaks the covenant, he puts an end to sacrifice and grain offerings, he sets an idol of himself up in the temple and proclaims himself to be god. This would be opposition to the witnesses’ message, he would have to kill them to get into the temple and do this and they would devour him with fire from their mouths.
(4) Matthew 24:29-30 says, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:29–30, NASB95)[11] But here in Revelation 11 instead of the awesome advent of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven immediately after the killing of the two witnesses, we read instead of the hideous celebration of their death by those who dwell on the earth, there is no hint that the Lord’s second advent takes place immediately as Matthew 24 calls for, if this is the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week. The witnesses had to be during the first 3½ years of the Tribulation and Revelation 11:7 gives the strong sense that it is at the beginning of the beast’s successful blasphemous career, that he kills the two witnesses. His career then goes on for another 42 months during which God’s judgment intensifies and the remnant of Israel is protected, preserved and shown favor by God.
What can you take home with you this week? First, that the Lord has left us on the earth at this time to be a witness for Him. He will not need to send the two witnesses until He has taken us home to be with Him in heaven before the Tribulation begins, once we are gone the two witnesses will be needed. Take comfort in knowing that you as a believer are immortal until the work God has for you to do on this earth is done. As I said before, God is the one who decides when it is time for you to go home to be with Him, until that time nothing and no one can harm or hurt you. You cannot shoot fire out of your mouth to destroy your enemies, but you are supernaturally protected from death until you have completed the task God has for you to do. Always remember it is God, no one and nothing else, that decides the length of your days.
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]Newell, William R., The Book of the Revelation. Chicago, IL : Moody Press, © 1935, Reprinted 1978
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]MacArthur, John, Because the Time is Near : John MacArthur Explains the Book of Revelation. Chicago, IL : Moody Publishers, 2007
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[8]Newell, William R., The Book of the Revelation. Chicago, IL : Moody Press, © 1935, Reprinted 1978
[9]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[10]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[11]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995