The Two Witnesses of the Tribulation

Please take your Bibles this morning and find Revelation 11:1. Today, I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Two Tribulation Witnesses.”

 

We are studying the book of Revelation verse by verse and chapter by chapter.  As it relates to a time line of the end times and the book of Revelation, we are at the midpoint of the seven-year earthly tribulation.  

 

I believe the rapture of Church occurs between chapter 3 and 4.  I believe the seven-year earthly tribulation begins with Revelation 6 and the seven seal judgments.  It then continues with the 7 trumpet judgements and will end with the seven bowl judgments. 

 

In the recent Sundays, we have used this diagram from Dr. Charles Ryrie in helping us get our minds around all that is taking place on the pages of Scripture.

 

 

The seven trumpet judgements begin in Revelation 8.  Revelation 9 begins the fifth trumpet judgement that is also called the first woe.  Revelation 10 is a parenthesis or an interlude.  Revelation 11 is the sixth trumpet also called the second woe.  The end of Revelation 11 starts the seventh trumpet judgement also called the third woe, and the seven bowl judgement’s of God’s wrath on unbelief will quickly follow.

 

Many commentators have said that Revelation 11 is the most difficult to understand in the entire book.  Therefore, I am not going to tell you today that I have it all figured out.  However, I am going to share with you what I believe to be true and that I understand this chapter as speaking literally.  That is also how I interpret all of Revelation unless the text says otherwise of itself.

 

Therefore, in Revelation 11, I am going to show you what I believe to be a literal temple built in a literal Jerusalem and two literal witness who are literally resurrected and a literal 3.5-year period and a literal 7,000 individuals who die.  Consequently, I would suggest that you interpret this chapter in the same manner.

 

There is one last comment I want to make before we turn to the text.  This chapter is highly Jewish.  What I mean by that is that we will see Jewish Christians worshiping in Jewish Temple with multiple Jewish references from the Old Testament. 

 

 

1. The Ministry of the Two Witness, Revelation 11:1-10

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”  4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.  7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 

 

In verse one, John was given a reed or what we might call a cane pole.  He was to use it to measure the temple of God, the alter in the temple, and those Jews there worshipping. 

 

It seems that this literal temple will be built in Jerusalem during the first half of the tribulation and perhaps even with the influence and leadership of the Anti-Christ.  However, please understand that this measuring is not to determine dimensions but possession.  When John does this measuring, it will be to mark out those who are followers of Christ. 

 

In verse two, John was not to include the court of the Gentiles.  Gentiles here is not an ethnic term but describing unbelievers, and they will want to destroy this temple in the second half of the tribulation known as the Great Tribulation.  It will be worst persecution that Christians have ever known according to Matthew 24. 

 

Verse three introduces these two witnesses that have a prophecy ministry.  However, it is not telling or predicting the future.  It is boldly proclaiming God’s truth, and I believe these will be two literal individuals.

 

Tradition says this will be Moses and Elijah, and that is a good guess.  Moses’s body was hidden when buried, and Elijah was raptured and never died.  They behave like Moses and Elijah in verse 6.  However, at the end of the day, we just don’t know.

 

However, we do know they will preach during the second 3.5-year period. And they will be saddened or grieved when they preach because of the severity of God’s judgement on the depravity of humanity. 

 

According to verse 4, they will have the power of the Holy Spirit.  Two olive trees and two lampstands are Jewish references from Zechariah 4. 

 

They will also be protected by God’s providence in verse 5.  Anyone who wants to harm them will have their lives taken.

 

They will also be able to minister supernaturally according to verse 6.  Again, these signs remind us of Moses and Elijah.

 

Finally, God will use their ministry of preaching to convict hearts.  Verse 7 speaks of when their testimony is finished so we know they will be preaching about how Jesus worked in their lives.  That testimony and their preaching will be so powerful that according to verse 10 that is torments those who reject their message.

 

When their assignment is finished, and that is toward the end of the 7-year tribulation, their lives will be taken by the Anti-Christ.  That is the beast of verse 7.

 

Verses 8 and 9 are hard to imagine, but their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for all the world to see probably through satellite and large video screens like you might see in NYC and Times Square.  At this time, evidently, Jerusalem will be rampant in sexual immorality and Christian enslavement. 

 

This will be true for three and a half days, and the depravity of man will be so awful that unbelievers will celebrate their deaths like we celebrate Christmas, with the giving of gifts.  This picture is almost too much to imagine, but wait.

 

 

2. The Miracle of the Two Witnesses, Revelation 11:11-14

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.  14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

 

Can you even imagine?  Their bodies will be in the streets and dead for almost four days.  Then God intervenes and fills their lungs with breath.

 

All the world is watching and celebrating their death, and they stand to their feet.  Great fear is probably an understatement. 

 

Then God calls them to heaven.  Their ascension then triggers and earthquake in Jerusalem that kills 7,000 people.  However, praise the Lord, some will be saved, and rightfully so. 

 

This ends the second woe or the sixth trumpet judgement, but their third woe and the seventh trumpet judgement is coming quickly. 

 

3. The Message of the Two Witnesses, Revelation 11:15-19

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.  18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”  19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

 

Yes, the two witnesses are no longer on the scene, but their message while preaching during the tribulation is this message here in the seventh trumpet judgement.  The message is simple.  Christ is coming, and His kingdom will reign. 

 

Notice verse 15.  Christ’s kingdom will swallow up every other earthly kingdom.  This verse is looking forward to the second coming of Christ and His earthly reign. 

 

The two witness surely declared this message when they preached as the 24 elders in verse 16 will proclaim in heaven.  Jesus is coming.  That will be bad news for those who don’t believe, but it will be good news for those who are saved as they will be rewarded as saints of God. 

 

This chapter ends with a look into heaven where God is evidenced by the ark of His covenant.  And we see His power in the lightnings and noises and thunderings and another earthquake and hail.

 

 

Conclusion

So what does all this mean?  It means that Jesus came to give you the opportunity to be at peace with God through faith in Him.  If you haven’t made that personal decision, then you aren’t at peace with God and on your way to hell.  God’s judgements of wrath in the tribulation will be on and for you.

 

However, if you will call on the name of the Lord to save you, you will receive peace with God, a personal and saving relationship with Christ, forgiveness of sin, an eternal home in heaven, and deliverance from God’s wrath.

 

Will you call on Him today?  Are you not at peace with God today?  Answer that call and heed the message of the two witnesses.