PROCLAMATION
“And I will appoint My two witnesses, and they will
prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth … If anyone tries to harm them,
fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies …” Revelation 11:3-5 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These
are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle
John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. In this eleventh
chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John
was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, 9:1, and 10:1) After he ate the little scroll, John was
given a measuring rod type of reed and told to go measure the temple of God and
the altar. (Revelation 11:1) Then the
voice of God told him that He would appoint two witnesses to prophesy to the people. The witnesses, names not specified, would
have the power to breathe fire out of their mouths and devour anyone who tried
to harm them. They would also have the
power to stop the rain, to turn water to blood, and to strike the earth with
plagues. (Revelation 11:3-6) When they
had finished their testimony the beast from the Abyss would attack them,
overpower them, and kill them. Their
bodies will lie in the public square for three and a half days. Then the breath of life would return to them
and they would rise to their feet, striking terror in all who saw them. They would ascend to heaven in a cloud while
their enemies watched. (Revelation 11:7-12)
After this there would be a severe earthquake which will destroy a tenth
of the city and kill seven thousand people.
The survivors would be terrified and give glory to God. This is the end of the second woe. Then the seventh angel would sound his
trumpet, and the Millennial reign of Christ begins. (Revelation 11:15-19)
APPLICATION
It is very reassuring to know that no matter what
happens, as the witnesses for The Lord God that we will be kept, preserved, and
protected until we have done all that He has assigned for us to do before we
are called home. The “great commission”
to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations …” (Matthew 28:19) was given to the
apostles. While all of us cannot preach,
teach, or baptize people, all of us can be witnesses and tell our personal
story. Here the witnesses are killed,
and then they are brought back to life.
It is not over until The Lord God says that it is over. If bad things happen to us while we are
witnessing for The Lord, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great will be our
reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)
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