 |
| Earl Gillespie |
GOD’S TWO WITNESSES
Continued from Part #37
When we took a break from our
verse by verse study of the Bible we were studying chapter 11 of the book of Revelation.
Today we will begin where we left off
discussing the Two witnesses, then we will begin with Revelation 11:13-14. If you have been studying along with me you
will have found that the Book of Revelation is an interesting book, it is not a hard or complicated book
as many purported it to be. The keys to
understanding the book can be found in the writings of the prophets and in Revelation
1:20 The mystery of the seven stars
which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Jesus message to the churches should serve as a model for the Gospel
that is preached or taught in the church.
If the Gospel does not agree with the specifications and guidelines set forth
in the book of Revelation, then it is a polluted Gospel.
Revelation 11:9-10 And they of the people and kindreds and
tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and
shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell
upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts
one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the
earth.
The Devil’s disciples will be so insane with lust and so blind to God’s
judgment that they think since these two witnesses are dead, things will level
off, settle down - and they will enjoy peace again in the city that is
spiritually demented as Sodom was. They are so ignorant of God’s program they do
not know that much worse judgment is just ahead. The same holds true for those
of us today who pervert Gods gospel and glory in the moment. How pitiful
is the man who is so easily blinded by Satan.
Cain killed Abel - and probably buried him in a shallow grave, thinking
he had covered up his crime. But nothing is hidden from the eyes of God. The
Blood of Abel cried out from the ground, revealing Cain’s sin. God
will allow the beast (the Devil’s disciples) to kill His two witnesses when
they have completed their ministry of prophecy, and for three-and-a-half
days their bodies will lie in the public street. What this should tell us is
that God does not place the same value that we do on natural death. Paul said to die is gain. But God is not yet
through with earth’s dwellers.
The Jews believe that the spirit of a dead man hovers near
the body for three days. That is the reason when Jesus came to the tomb of
Lazarus He waited until the fourth day. Had He raised Lazarus on the third
day, the Jews would not have acclaimed it a miracle because the
spirit would still be near the body for three full days; but Lazarus came
forth on the fourth day. This should
tell us that when God perform a miracle it is done in such a manner that he and
only he can receive the glory. These two
witnesses will lie in the street for three days plus a half day - and therefore
the Jews will know that according to Jewish belief the spirit has departed
from the body. When three and one half days are over, something
extraordinary and extremely unusual, happens:
- The two witnesses are dead.
- Parties are in progress.
- Gifts are being exchanged.
- The whole country is
jubilant.
But the scene changes: “And after three days and an half the spirit
of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet; and
great fear fell upon them which saw them.” The party came to an
abrupt end. Gift-passing abruptly ceased. There has never been anything happen on earth that could stir people like two
dead bodies which instantaneously stand up and begin living, after having
deteriorated in the sun for several days. “The triumph of the wicked is short”, so saith the Word of God. I
wonder what the people thought when they met these two witnesses coming
down the street, very much alive? I wonder what some people who may read
these lines are going to think when death
comes to their bedside and demands their departure? Will their prevertwd Gospel, Gospel of Prosperity substain them. Will they prostrate themself
and beg God to grant them more time? Think it over! It is appointed unto man
once to die - and after death there is a judgment - and you will be there. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Verse 12: “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.”
When Jesus ascended as
recorded in Acts 1:9-11 He was taken up in a cloud out of the sight of the disciples, who stood amazed, gazing into the heavens in
the direction of His disappearance. While the disciples gazed steadfastly
toward Heaven, two men appeared - two messengers from Heaven, dressed in
white - and gave to these disciples the assurance that “this same Jesus
will so
come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven.”
The two witnesses had appeared before on the mountain of
transfiguration in Mark 9:3-4 “And his raiment became shining, exceeding
white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto
them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.”
You can't help but wonder if they were making
plans to put these two fellows to death a second time, when they began to slowly rise toward the sky? Perhaps they were
having a meeting of the council to determine just what to do . . . Whether
to lock them up, or chop them up. The Devil never give up They never reached a decision, because the Lord of Heaven took them up. The mob stood on the ground,
horrified. One day soon, every born again blood-washed believer will be caught
out of this earth instantaneously - in a split second, in the twinkling of
an eye - to meet the Lord in the clouds just above the earth. That will be
a day of amazement for unbelievers when they discover that all believers
have been taken out of the earth and they have been left behind.
THE
SECOND WOE
Revelation 11:13-14:
13. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the
city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the
remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14. The second woe is past; and, behold the third woe cometh quickly.
As the two witnesses begin
their ascension the earth begins to tremble, groan, and goes into a mighty convulsive earthquake. One-tenth of Jerusalem is
leveled. Seven thousand die! This happens the same hour the two witnesses
are taken up to be with the Lord in the air. “The second woe is past .
. . “
“ . . . Behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” Things are gaining in
momentum. God is bringing a quick
conclusion to man’s wicked control of earth. Notice the Scripture says, “A GREAT EARTHQUAKE.” God deals in earthquakes.
Many times in Scripture it is recorded that
God sent an earthquake: - When Jesus died on the Cross there was a great
earthquake (Matthew 27: 51). - When Paul and Silas prayed in the Philippi
a jail, God answered their prayer with an earthquake (Acts 16:26). -
At the opening of the sixth seal there was an earthquake so great that the
mountains and islands were shaken loose (Revelation 6:12). - In
Revelation 16:18 we are told there will be a great earthquake like no
earthquake that has ever been. Man spends millions to build bombs to
blow up cities. God needs no bombs! He speaks a word - and His word
surpasses any bomb man ever had or ever will have.
THE
SEVENTH TRUMPET
Revelation 11:15-19:
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.
16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell
upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast,
and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast
reigned.
18. 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.
19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his
temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices,
and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
In verse 15 we have the
resumption of the trumpet judgments. The Church is safe with Jesus in the air, and at this time will have a grandstand seat in
the heavens. (The Bride is seen in Heaven from chapter four through
19:10.) In Revelation 19:11-16 we see the Bride coming in the air on white
horses. At this time, Jesus has removed the seals from the seven-sealed
book that contains the redemption terms of the earth. All creation is now
to be delivered from the curse. The angel announced in Revelation 10:6
that God’s dealings with earth’s dwellers are almost over, and righteousness
is about to take over the earth. When the seventh angel sounds, there will
be no little stir in Heaven. John heard “great voices.”
The announcement was that the
kingdoms of this world had become the kingdoms of our God. Man and the devil have been in power for six thousand
years, but praises be to our God, the Lord is taking over what rightfully
belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). He is about to take His seat on His throne
(Isaiah 9:6,7; Luke 1:32). He will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem, and
the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the
sea. The curse will be lifted and we will have “peace on earth, good will toward men,” as announced the night Jesus was
born. We will have the peace the politicians have talked about but have done very little to bring about.
In verse 16 the four and
twenty elders fall upon their faces and worship God. They cry out, “We give thee thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to
thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” Jesus came the first time as
a babe in a manger - a tender Lamb. He is
coming the second time in the Revelation in great power, taking vengeance
on them that know not God. He will roar out of Zion, “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.”
Here we approach the grand
climax of the affairs of the ungodly on earth. “The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives
away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners
in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the
righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:4-6). “For evildoers
shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently
consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the
earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Remember there is no here and now entitlement expressed in any of these these scriptures.
“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his
teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down
the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their
sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. A
little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For
the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the
righteous” (Psalm 37:9-17). The
judgments that follow after the sounding of the seventh trumpet are the most
intense, the most ghastly, the most remarkable and the most numerous -
both in Heaven and on earth -anywhere outlined in the Word of God. The God of love is now a God of Judgement.
Continued in Part 39
No comments:
Post a Comment