Search The Scriptures (Lesson: 985) - Ministry Of The Two Witnesses

 

Lesson: 985  

TOPIC: MINISTRY OF THE TWO WITNESSES     

Text: Revelation 11:1-19

Memory Verse: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3).

The ministry of the two witnesses in our text fall within the period of the second half of the great tribulation during which the whole world will be under the tyrannical rule of the Antichrist. It will be a time of great suffering for careless believers who miss the rapture and the Jews in particular for rejecting Christ. It is also a period God will pour His wrath upon the ungodly. Though the period of grace would be over with the rapture of the Church, God will still give sinners and the unbelieving Jews opportunity to be saved. He will send these two witnesses to the earth to preach the gospel and prophesy about the future. This is the major focus of the text.

PERSONALITY, MINISTRY AND DEATH OF THE TWO WITNESSES  (Revelation 11:1-10; Zechariah 4:2,3,11-14; 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 1:9-12; Numbers 16:28-35; Exodus 7:20; Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Revelation 13:1-7; Psalm 79:2,3; Judges 16:23,24)

Prior to the emergence and ministry of the two witnesses, the chapter records the measuring of the temple, which would be built after the Antichrist makes a covenant with the Jewish people at the beginning of the seven-year great tribulation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). General Titus had destroyed their temple in 70 A.D., about 26 years before John received this revelation. In the Scripture, a place is measured either for the purpose of destruction or possession (2 Samuel 8:2; Habakkuk 3:5,6; Jeremiah 31:38-40; Zechariah 2:1-5; Revelation 21:15). Here, it is for the purpose of protection, possession and preservation. It depicts God’s intention to possess the temple fully in the future and those who worship therein. The scope of measurement includes the temple, the altar and the worshippers. Thus, believers should ensure the sanctity of God’s house and altar as they worship Him in spirit and truth. Christ must be the centre of our worship, God’s glory our end and His word our rule. Note, however, that the court that is without the temple was not to be measured as it will yet be dominated by the Gentiles for forty-two months (3½ years) during the tribulation.

It is after the measurement, to determine the perimeters of what belongs to God, signifying the place and people marked for divine ownership, that God’s two witnesses, prophets and evangelists, will emerge to proclaim His truth with signs and wonders. These witnesses, symbolised by two olive trees and two candlesticks (Zechariah 4:11-14), will possess and carry out their ministry in the power of the Spirit. They will be threats to the Antichrist and its system of deception, and will counter his deceptive signs and wonders. They will not need to call down fire from heaven like Elijah; it will naturally come on those who seek to hurt them; “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” (verse 5). God has promised to make His words in the mouth of His faithful servants fire to melt hearts and bring them into submission to Christ (Jeremiah 5:14; Acts 7:52-54). Besides, the Lord always preserves his servants (Psalms 104:4; 105:15; Zechariah 2:8).

These two witnesses are people, not the Old and New Testaments, the law and grace, Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah as some Bible scholars have posited. Though their ministry of miracles will be as powerful as those of Moses and Elijah as “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”  (Revelation 11:6), these future prophets are not identified or named here. “And they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days”; that is, forty-two months or three and half years (Revelation 11:3; 12:6; 13:5; Daniel 7:25; 12:7).

The two witnesses will preach God’s salvation and judgment, denounce the wickedness of the time, expose the deceit of the Antichrist and attest to the truth of Christ’s word and worship. God decidedly chose two witnesses because “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”. Christ also paired His disciples and sent them to preach the gospel (Matthew 18:16; Luke 10:1). These serve as precedent for soul-winners. God uses the few who are committed and faithful to achieve His purpose, not necessarily a crowd of faithless and uncommitted people.

Throughout the period of their ministry, the two witnesses will be “clothed in sackcloth” – garments for mourning, indicating a time of lamentation, grief and woe on earth. They will enjoy divine support, presence and preservation in their ministry. “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.” Though hated by the entire world, these witnesses cannot be killed until their ministry is fulfilled. True ministers of God are invincible until their work on earth is accomplished. Thus, believers should be courageous and bold in serving God “without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74,75). God always grants the witnesses He sends power and anointing to fulfil their ministry. Believers must seek to obtain His promised power to be fruitful soul-winners.

The ministry of the witnesses will end with the emergence of the beast, the Antichrist, out of the bottomless pit to make war with them and kill them. Not satisfied with their gruesome murder and shed blood, the bodies of these witnesses will not be buried but cast into the open street of Jerusalem to be viewed by all the inhabitants of the earth via satellite for three and half days. The city where their bodies are laid is spiritually referred to as Sodom because of its monstrous wickedness and Egypt for its idolatry and tyranny. The Antichrist and entire world will rejoice greatly for getting rid of their perceived enemies who, by their doctrine had taunted, terrified and tormented their conscience. This joy will, however, be shortlived as the two witnesses resurrect (Job 20:5).

POWERFUL RESURRECTION OF THE TWO WITNESSES AND PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED

(Revelation 11:11-14; Romans 8:11; 2 Kings 2:11; Acts 1:9; Jeremiah 50:10,11; Revelation 6:12,15-17; 16:18,19; 14:7; 15:4; Isaiah 13:6-8; Joshua 2:11; Luke 21:26)

While the focus of world attention is on their dead bodies, “the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 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” (Revelation 11:11,12). The resurrection of the two witnesses affirms the truth of resurrection of all men who have ever lived on earth, some to life with God in heaven and others to damnation in hell (John 5:28,29). The truth about resurrection is pivotal to our Christian faith; for “if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:17,19). To partake of the resurrection of the just requires repentance and faith in Christ’s sacrifice for salvation and holy living till the end.

As soon as the two witnesses ascend triumphantly to heaven, an earthquake will occur leading to the destruction of a tenth part of the city and death of seven thousand men. These calamities will terrify the inhabitants of the earth as they will recognise these as judgment from God. It will dawn on them that they have been deceived by the Antichrist. With fear and trembling, they will give glory to God. However, their fear is not real as it does not result in repentance and conversion. These same men worship the beast who blasphemes the God of heaven afterwards (Revelation 13:4-6). After the terror passes, they will return to their old life of rebellion against God.

PREVIEW OF THE FINAL ESTABLISHMENT OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM (Revelation 11:15-19; Isaiah 9:6,7; Daniel 7:13,14,27; Luke 1:28-33; Revelation 12:10; John 4:22-24; Psalm 2:1-9; Revelation 20:11-15)

“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” (Revelation 11:15). This is the last of the trumpets through which the divine acts that end the reign of Satan and bring in the reign of Christ unfold. The period so long anticipated that the Lord will reign on the earth has arrived and “great voices” of exaltation and praise break forth with joy and thanksgiving “in heaven”. The kingdoms of this world have been under the authority of Satan (Luke 4:5-8; John 12:31; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 16:11). God has the ultimate authority and sovereignty over the world and the time has now come to take control. The word “Lord” in our text implies ‘possessor, owner, sovereign or supreme ruler.’ The true and living God will take the kingdom from Satan, “the god of this world” and give it to His Son whom He has anointed and appointed to rule and reign forever. This will happen in fulfilment of many prophecies about Christ’s universal earthly kingdom and dominion (Isaiah 9:6,7; Micah 4:1,2; Daniel 2:44,45; 7:13,14,27; Zechariah 14:9; Luke 1:28-33).

Here, the twenty-four elders, representing the raptured church in heaven, praise God for the final defeat of Satan, the full and final redemption of the earth, triumph of righteousness, establishment of God’s kingdom and Christ’s reign. God’s people always rejoice when He manifests His omnipotence and Satan is brought down. With Satan’s reign on the earth, disorder, anarchy, sin, rebellion and wickedness had prevailed. But he will be dethroned by the Almighty. By the demonstration of divine power, He will set up His kingdom over the whole world and make His laws to be obeyed by everyone. He will reign and act as King with final authority and power!

“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” (Revelation 11:18). Four different end-time events that span more than one thousand years apart are mentioned here. The first is the outpouring of God’s wrath on people and nations who were enraged against God and His Anointed. They showed their anger by their opposition to His laws, rejection of Christ, the Saviour, persecution of His people, murder of His witnesses and all other attempts to destroy His authority on earth. The second is the final judgment of the dead when all the dead, both small and great, will be raised to appear before God at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:15). The third is the bestowal of the long-promised rewards on His righteous servants and saints. And the fourth is the final punishment of those who destroy or corrupt the earth. Satan is the great destroyer or corrupter. So are his demons and all men who reject salvation and righteousness. They will be punished in “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Thus, Revelation 11:15-19 presents a preview of events unravelled in chapters 12 to 22 of the book.

God is unchanging; His promises to saints and threats to sinners will be fulfilled. Thus, sinners should repent and be saved while believers should abide in Christ through daily self-examination, intake of God’s word, watchfulness and prayer to partake of the rapture of the saints. As present-day witnesses of Christ, all believers must get involved in winning souls into God’s kingdom.

Question 1: Identify the temple measured in the text and what believers can learn from its measurement.

Question 2: Who are the two witnesses and why will they be sent at that time?

Question 3: What can believers learn from the successful completion of the ministry of the two witnesses and the temporal triumph of the beast?

Question 4: Why is the truth about the resurrection of the dead pivotal to our Christian faith?

Question 5: State the reasons for the rapturous joy and praise of God in heaven in the text.

Question 6: Highlight the events preceding the final establishment of Christ’s kingdom and reign in the text and what believers can learn from it.