The Two Witnesses’ Finale

Transcript

GR 1538
07/12/09
The Two Witnesses' Finale
Revelation 11:7-14
Gil Rugh

Revelation 11. Strangely the book of Revelation is one of those books that people think can be overlooked because it seems difficult and strange in many of its parts and so we think however it comes out in the end God knows, and I can leave that in His hands and get on with my life. But we need to remind ourselves, as you turn back to Revelation 1:3, blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it. For the time is near. And just a reminder, at the very beginning of this great prophetic book there is blessing pronounced on those who spend time in this prophetic book and heed it. We are expected to understand it and it is expected to have an influence on our lives and the way that we live.

Come to the end of the book of Revelation, chapter 22 verse 7. Behold I am coming quickly, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. Wouldn't be possible for us to heed them or keep them if we didn't understand them. And we understand them so that they will shape our lives. We say, we are studying things that are yet future. Believers have studied these down through the centuries and have died and gone into eternity and they haven't come to pass. Yet our lives are to be shaped and molded by what God has unfolded about coming events, and we are to be living in light of them.

So as you come back to chapter 11, I just want to keep before us that this is not only a prophetic book, but a prophetic book that is practical in the sense that it is to have an impact on the way we live our lives, the decisions we make, the behavior that characterizes us.

In chapter 11 we are in the midst of a section talking about events that will unfold in the middle of this seven-year tribulation, and will really then be carried out through that last half of the tribulation. That is the most severe time. Remember in Daniel 9:27 this seven-year period is divided into two equal sections and in the middle of the seven-year period there is a serious change. More of that will come out in chapters 12 -13, but we are talking about those events. So the movement of the book has pause, the movement is characterized by the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, one after another after another. But here after the sixth trumpet and before the seventh trumpet we stop and consider matters that we need to understand for an appreciation of what is taking place during the last 3½ years of the seven-year tribulation.

Chapter 11 to a large extent is about the two witnesses, really the first 13 verses comprise the bulk of the chapter as we have it and are about the two witnesses that God raises up in Jerusalem and they will carry on their ministry, we noted, in all probability during the last half of the tribulation. I say in all probability because there are many good interpreters who are dispensational and interpret scripture basically like we do who think it is better to put them in the first half of the tribulation. I've given you some of the reasons why I think they are in the last half of the tribulation. In the context of the events that are unfolded in these chapters, chapters 11-13 in particular, we have these time notes—42 months, 1260 days, a time, times and a half time. And they seem to consistently refer to the last 3½ years of the tribulation. The end of verse 2, the treading underfoot of the holy city for 42 months. We know that's the last half of the tribulation. Well the next verse says the two witnesses will prophesy for 1260 days. I would take it in the context we are talking about that same period of time.

We looked a little bit at the identity of these two witnesses and their ministry. They have a prophetic ministry. We are told in verse 3 they will prophesy. They have a ministry characterized by striking, awesome miracles. They are connected to some Old Testament saints. In verse 4, the two olive trees and two lampstands connect them to Joshua and Zerubbabel who are identified that way in Zechariah 4. In verses 5-6, the miracles that they carry out connects them to Elijah and Moses because they do similar miracles that Elijah did and Moses did. We noted that although some would identify these two witnesses as specific Old Testament individuals come back to life, usually Elijah and then either Moses or Enoch (Enoch because Enoch never died and Moses because of the miracles done here and the fact he is on the mount of transfiguration at the end of Matthew 16 in a preview of the coming kingdom). But we gave some reasons why it is better to just assume and take that these are two men who have ministries like some previous great Old Testament saints, but they are individuals raised up during this period of time by God for special ministry. I take it if that's the case they would be individuals saved after the rapture of the church, sometime during the first 3½ years, and supernaturally enabled and empowered by God to carry out this ministry that we have seen somewhat described for us down through the first six verses.

The first six verses gave us some insight into the ministry they have, proclaiming the word of God and doing mighty miracles to demonstrate the supernatural character of the message they are preaching. Verses 7-13 now are occupied with the death of these two men and the details of their death and subsequent resurrection which will be visible events for all the world in those days.

Verse 7 begins, when they had finished their testimony. Key statement, when they had finished their testimony. These men have been untouchable for 3½ years, no one could harm them. Verse 5, remember, if anyone wants to harm them fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them he must be killed in this way. We noted that connection with Elijah's ministry for the soldiers who came to arrest him. He simply said, if I be a man of God may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty, fifty soldiers with the commander. And it did. These men have that same kind of power, they are invincible because God has ordained and appointed them for a work. But when that work is done the protective hand of God is lifted, it is removed. And important that we understand from the scriptural standpoint what happens. Looks like all of a sudden everything has collapsed, they weren't able to hold on and continue. But it's not failure, it's completion. When they have finished their testimony, they've completed the work God has ordained for them to do, the work is finished. Now they can be removed from the earth's scene. Now their enemies overpower them and kill them. It's not that there has been a weakening, it's a work done.

Same thing said by Paul. Back up to II Timothy 4. Paul at the end of his life, he is going to die a martyr's death, he's going to be murdered at the hands of the enemies of God. And yet as he anticipates this coming event in II Timothy 4:6, for I am already being poured out a s a drink offering, he time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. You see my work is done. You'll note verse 7, I have finished the course. That word finished is the same word we have in Revelation 11:7, when they have finished their testimony, when it's completed, telio, it's completed, it's done. When Paul's work is done, I have finished the course. Here it's not I can't hold out against my enemies any longer, they've finally been able to overpower me and will bring about my death. Not at all. Paul says, I have finished the course. The fact that I'm going to die at the hands of pagan executioners doesn't change anything. It's not different than if I had died of old age. Death comes to me because I've finished the work God has for me on earth, it is completed, it is done. Now I am transported to heaven. In that sense there are no premature deaths for the children of God. He'll call me into His presence when my work is done. We say, their life was cut short, their work was cut short, what a tragedy. What do you mean? Their work was finished. We didn't realize they would complete it that soon, but it was done. That was true for Paul and yet future.

Back to Revelation 11. When they had finished their testimony the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, overcome them and kill them. But we understand from God's perspective, they have finished their work. So now he is able to overcome them and kill them. Until then they were protected. We may not be able to call down fire from heaven but we remember I am in the hands of the sovereign God and I will finish the work He has for me to do. And then He'll call me into His presence.

The beast. This is the first of 36 references to the beast in the book of Revelation. You can see here this individual who has played a role during the first 3½ years becomes dominant, prominent figure from here on out. And again chapter 13 will unfold details of his course and so on. But the beast. The word denotes something of his fierce, violent character as the enemy of God. We call him the Antichrist, he has many names that you could look in a good book, Things to Come by Dwight Pentecost. He lists all the names. Other books on prophecy would as well. We call him the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, the little horn. Different names. Same individual. There are many antichrists, but this is the Antichrist as John noted in I John. So he is the beast.

When you come over to chapter 13 which will focus on him, you'll note in verse 1, then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. There he is. Having ten horns and seven heads and on his horns were ten diadems, on his heads were blasphemous names. Down in verse 5 we're told he will have authority to act for 42 months. So again you'll see the prominent role he has in the world, as world sovereign, if you will, for these last 3½ years. And they will be frightful times. The world will worship him as chapter 13 will elaborate, and how that worship is brought about and so on.
Back in chapter 11, when they had finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with him. This reveals his demonic character. Doesn't mean he is a demonic being, but his power is demonic. He is a satanically empowered individual. Come back to chapter 13 verse 4, they worship the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worship the beast. Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him and so on. So you see here you have a man who is the counterfeit Christ and he is supernaturally empowered in a way that no other man has been, apart from Christ Himself, to delude the world. And Christ being the genuine, of course. But this man now directly, satanically empowered as we're coming to the climactic conflict and Satan's attempt to usurp the role that God has reserved for Himself and His Son. And to establish His own kingdom with His own counterfeit messiah. So he is the beast that comes out of the abyss because that's the source of his power and enablement. And I take it the miracles and power he demonstrates will overwhelm the world, and that will become a key part of why the world will worship him.

It's interesting the two witnesses that God provides that represent God, do mighty miracles. And when the opportunity comes they are killed by the beast and his followers, and they all rejoice. But when Satan puts his christ, the Antichrist, on the throne and does mighty miracles, the world falls and worships. Amazing. It's not miracles that make the difference, it's the heart of man and his rebellion against the living God.

Over in chapter 17 this individual is further characterized in the same way. Verse 8, the beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come out of the abyss. There is that description again, and go to destruction. I take it this will be a human being on the earth but his power comes from the demonic world and so he is so identified. And he is identified repeatedly in chapter 17 by that title—the beast, the beast, the beast.

Come back to chapter 11. The beast that comes out of the abyss will make war with them, the two witnesses, and overcome them and kill them. So you see here the opposition of this individual as Satan's representative on earth. If you will, the visible presence of Satan on earth. He is to oppose the work of God and here he has the power to overcome and kill the two witnesses. From God's perspective it's because their testimony is complete, it's done.

Not only are they killed, we are told in verse 8, their dead bodies will like in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. The center of the ministry of these two witnesses will be Jerusalem, the place of their death will be Jerusalem, literal and physical Jerusalem. There is no excuse for the confusion that is permeated and spread on these matters. I read you an example in previous time of commentators who find all kinds of reasons to say we're really not talking about Jerusalem, not physical Jerusalem here. This refers to any great city of the world. That kind of generalizing. It couldn't be any clearer. Jerusalem is identified three ways here. It's called the great city, it's mystically or spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, and it's the city where the Lord was crucified. You say, how do people get around that? You know what they say? Well every great city is a center of opposition against the Lord and so we've joined in the crucifixion of Christ. This is the city where the Lord was crucified, that literal earthly city. So we're talking about Jerusalem. Interesting here in verse 8, their dead bodies will lie in the street of the city and they'll be there for 3½ days, which is 1 day for each of their year of ministry as we will see.

It's called the great city, let's look at these identifications. It's the great city. How do we identify that? Well the Old Testament calls Jerusalem the great city. There may be other places called a great city but this is only one of the identifications given us and it ties with what the Old Testament says. Come to Nehemiah 7, and we'll pick up with verse 3. Nehemiah is giving instructions here. Then I said to them, do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot and while they are standing guard let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his point, each in the front of his own house. Now the city was large, or great, and spacious. What city are we talking about that was large or great? It's Jerusalem.

Even more clearly come over to Jeremiah 22, pick up with verse 5. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself, declares the Lord, that this house will become a desolation. Jump down to verse 7, for I will set apart destroyers against you, each with his weapons. They will cut down your choicest cedars, throw them on the fire. Many nations will pass by this city and they will say to one another, why has the Lord done this to this great city? We're talking about Jerusalem. They will answer, because they forsook the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed down to other gods and served them. So we talk about the great city, we're talking about the great city Jerusalem, great in the days of Nehemiah and in the prophecies of Jeremiah and its coming destruction that was talked about earlier in Revelation 11. The great city Jerusalem, what had happened to the great city? It came under the judgment of God.

Further identified, it's also called mystically Sodom and Egypt. It's the great city which mystically or spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt. Now here an indication, we're not talking about the literal Sodom and Egypt, but we're talking about Jerusalem that can be spiritually identified with Sodom and with Egypt. And that happens with the Old Testament prophets as well.

Come back to Isaiah 1. And the chapter begins, the vision of Isaiah the son of Amos concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And then the devastating outpouring of the judgment that God will bring upon the nation here and their sin. Verse 3, an ox knows its owner, a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly. They have abandoned the Lord, they've despised the holy One of Israel, they've turned away from Him. Come on down to verse 10, he'll continue this message of judgment. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. He's not speaking to the specific literal, historical city of Sodom which has been destroyed long ago, but showing how God looks at Jerusalem and Israel at this time. In my sight you are spiritually like Sodom, you are like Gomorrah. Give ear to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah. I mean, what a devastating indictment. It's not enough as he unfolds their sin, those cities which are infamous as the examples of ungodly, despicable behavior, so terrible in their sin that God had to reign down destruction on them. Now He says to Israel, I see you spiritually just like Sodom and Gomorrah. So He calls them Sodom and Gomorrah. The point is so clear.

Turn back to Ezekiel 16, the longest chapter in the book of Ezekiel and it is not good news for Israel. Verse 26, and again we're talking about Jerusalem, Judah, the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom has already been carried into captivity. But they're brought in because Judah is just like the northern kingdom was. You'd think they would have learned something from the devastating judgment that those tribes experienced. Verse 26, you played the harlot with the Egyptians. So see it is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. Well here he connects them with the Egyptians, you're like the Egyptians, you played the harlot with the Egyptians your lustful neighbors. You multiplied your harlotry to make me angry. And it's a spiritual harlotry here, graphically portrayed, if you read the surrounding verses—the prostitute indiscriminately making herself available to anyone and everyone. That's how God sees them spiritually. And so you committed harlotry with the Egyptians and so you are spiritually like them. You got in bed with them, as we would talk about today. Oh they're in bed with them, they're like them, they're with them. So that's what God says to Ezekiel.

Now come to verse 46, now your older sister is Samaria. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. Who lives north of you with her daughters and your younger sister who lives south of you is Sodom with her daughters. So you see in the same context of Ezekiel he refers to them as in bed with the Egyptians. Or you are Sodom. You are like these cities that would be noted as despicable in their sin. Verse 48, as I live, declares the Lord, Sodom your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. He goes on referring to them as Sodom, the Jews and the nations Israel. Verse 49, behold this was the guilt of your sister Sodom. She and her daughters had arrogance and the sins that they committed. All part of that identification.

Come over to Ezekiel 23:3, they played the harlot in Egypt. You see you start out, verse 1, there were two women, the daughters of one mother and they come out of Canaan. And they played the harlot in Egypt. And then the description of their harlotry unfolded. Verse 8, she did not forsake her harlotries from the time in Egypt. And then the picture of her spiritual harlotry carried out. Down in verse 19, she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. Just goes on. Sodom, Egypt. So you can spiritually refer to them as Sodom and Egypt. That's how He sees them spiritually. They are no different than Sodom was, they are no different than Egypt. They have become like them.

So you come back to Revelation 11, the great city mystically of spiritually called Sodom and Egypt and any background in the Old Testament makes clear from Isaiah and Ezekiel where they call it Sodom, Egypt. It's characteristic of the spiritual condition of the nation. This is how God sees them in the future days. Israel is God's chosen nation, but you understand Israel is a nation under the judgment of God. They have been scattered for centuries throughout the world, now large numbers have been gathered back into the land but you understand they are still under the judgment of God. Even their gathering back into the land is for the greatest judgment yet to be brought upon them in preparation for the greatest blessing. It is a refining fire, if you will.

Thirdly this city is identified as the place, verse 8, where their Lord also was crucified. So he wants to make clear where the center of events is and will be. We never lose our geographical center, if you will. It is Jerusalem, it is Israel. Everything going on in the world has to be seen in that context, from that perspective. This is the center of the world in God's dealings and it's the center of the world for the coming eternal kingdom where Jerusalem will be the capital.

All right, these men have been killed there, their dead bodies are lying there. Verse 9, those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for 3½ days and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations will look on their dead bodies. I was interested, Wilbur Smith in his commentary, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, which is a very, very fine one-volume Bible commentary that you profit from many of the writers. But he quotes from a man who wrote back in the 1800s, shortly after the telegraph had been developed. And he was commenting on this very passage and how are peoples and tongues and nations going to behold them. And amazing, this man said, the amazing development of the telegraph may be as it is further developed, this will become the possibility. Back there, there wasn't a doubt that this could happen, maybe that's how it will happen. Now we say, somebody gets killed in a street someplace, it can be on the news almost instantaneously and people all over the world can look. I mean, you can pull out your cell phone and look and be picking this stuff up. I mean, we get pictures from parts of the world, Iran, being done with cell phone and transmitted. People all over the world behold this? That doesn't amaze us. Some of us will have to get to a television set to do it, some will be able to do it on their phones or things they carry around. Whatever you have in your pocket will work.

So amazing here, how does John write this and have any concept of how this could be. Well, there would be people from different countries, perhaps visiting Jerusalem and there can be a small number there. You understand, this will be a worldwide event. The impact of these men's ministry has extended far beyond Jerusalem. Of course it won't be on the news all the time. They call down fire from heaven and people are consumed on the spot. Do you think that won't make the news and shown on U-tube or whatever? Do you think their death, after 3½ years of this kind of ministry, now they're dead and their bodies are lying in the street. And the refusal to bury a body was a sign of humiliation and scorn. And it is today. What do they do if they want to disgrace an enemy? They abuse the body. Dictators have a fear of that. Hitler didn't want his body to fall into the hands of his enemies because of what happened to Mussolini. It was a terrible disgrace in biblical times to be unburied. We have a sense of that today, but in that context it is showing the scorn for them.

For 3½ days they will be exposed here. Really the Lord leaves them there for 1 day for each year of their ministry. They ministered for 3½ years, now their bodies will lie there for 3½ days. But that's not the last chapter for them. Verse 10, 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. We talked about this expression, those who dwell on the earth. The recent edition of Bibliotheca Sacra, Tommy Ice has an article in it on this expression, those who dwell on the earth. It's a reference to unbelievers, not just a general reference to all the people living on earth. This is a reference that identifies unregenerate, ungodly, unbelieving people. Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate.

Go back to Revelation 3:10, a reminder when this expression was first used here. Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. Chapter 6 verse 10, they cried out with a loud voice saying, how long oh Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth. Chapter 8 verse 13, then I looked and heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven saying with a loud voice, woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound. Chapter 13 verse 8, interesting verse here that clearly distinguishes them from regenerate people, even in the tribulation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose name is not in the book of life. It hasn't been there from the foundation of the world. We'll talk about the verse when we get there. But you'll note the distinction here, those who dwell on the earth are distinguished from the saved or even those who will be saved. These are those who are unregenerate and never will be saved. That's their identification. Down in chapter 13 verse 12, he exercises all the authority of the first beast. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the beast. Verse 14, he deceives those who dwell on the earth. So that consistent identification.

Over in chapter 17 verse 1, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. Verse 2, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality. And then verse 8, very similar to what we read in chapter 13 verse 8. The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come out of the abyss and go to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will wonder when they see the beast that he was, is not and will come. See those who dwell on the earth distinguished again from those who have not been in the book of life from the foundation of the world. And we'll see when we get to the end of chapter 20, anyone who is not in the book of life is going to hell. So these are committed unbelievers who will never partake of life.

So when we come back to Revelation 11:10, those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, their death. It just thrills their heart to see their bodies lying in the street, not buried. They thought they were so powerful, they thought they had the word of God. Look at them now. They were their enemies, they delight to see their enemies now dead in the street. And people all over the world are going to be rejoicing. There is a holiday atmosphere, celebration. The pressure is off, our enemies are dead. You know you read verse 10, they will rejoice over them and celebrate. This is the only time in the book of Revelation that there is a record of rejoicing going on on the earth during the seven-year tribulation. Tells you something. The only time there is a record of rejoicing in the book of Revelation during the seven years on earth, and it's when the greatest spokesmen of God at this time are on the earth preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah to establish His kingdom, preparing the nation Israel to receive their Messiah. And the world is rejoicing.

It is sheer torture to have to have heard them proclaim prophetic truth day after day after day, supported with mighty powerful miracles. It's been driving the world crazy, the hatred. And yet they can't do anything because they are powerless against them. But now they are dead and we want them to lie there and let all the world look at them, those that seem so powerful, cause such fear. They are dead, they are nothing, they are just dead bodies now.

You know that is always the case, there is always an underlying, it's not always on the surface observable, but there is always an underlying, seething hatred of God's people. That accounts for the anti-Semitism in the world. We think we're making progress, it is superficial. There is almost an eternal hatred, it's an eternal hatred on the part of the devil and his followers and his people. That will come out in chapter 12. When Satan loses his access to heaven the first thing he wants to do is devote all of his energy and attention to try to destroy the Jewish people. I mean, they became the permanent enemies of the devil and all the children of the devil when God chose them to be His people. That cannot change, it will not change. And when God calls you to Himself that meant you were the permanent enemy of the devil and all the children of the devil.

Turn back to I Kings 18. And this is Elijah's ministry again. Remember there has been a drought as a result of the word of the Lord and the prayers through Elijah and the prayer of Elijah. Israel has suffered a drought for 3½ years. Ahab the king looking for Elijah, finally Elijah is found, verse 17, when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, is this you, you troubler of Israel? You see the animosity that is there? You are the cause of all our problems, all our trouble. That will be the attitude in the tribulation. These men that have ministry like Elijah had, you're the cause of all the problem, you're the cause of all the trouble. Elijah said, I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals. That's not how Ahab saw it, that's not how Ahab's wife Jezebel saw it. When Elijah has the 400 prophets of Baal killed, what does Jezebel say? God do to me and more so if I don't have your head tomorrow at this time. That hatred and opposition is ingrained in unregenerate people against the people of God.

Turn over to John 16. In John 16 we are on the brink of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You know what Jesus said the attitude of the world would be at His death? Rejoicing. Verse 20, truly, truly I say to you that you will weep and lament. You, my followers, believers. But the world will rejoice. That's their true attitude of heart. At the death of Christ the world rejoiced, were glad. His followers were weeping and lamenting, the world rejoiced over the death of the Son of God.

Back up to John 15, familiar section to us. Verse 18, if the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world I chose you out of the world. Because of this, the world hates you. You'll note the reason the world hates us. It's not because we are too narrow, it's not because we are perceived as judgmental. It's because we belong to the living God. That's not self-righteousness, that's what Christ says. If you are of the world, the world would love its own. Because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world. You cannot do anything to change the animosity of the world against you as a follower of Christ. Nothing. I don't know why there is confusion on this. People think if we do these nice things and if we ............. We should do nice things, we should do good things but not with any misunderstanding that it will make the world like us any more. There is a hatred in the heart against the believer because Christ chose us for Himself. That's it. I'm not saying we shouldn't do acts of kindness and be gracious and so on, but not doing it with the idea that the world is going to like us better and appreciate us. This idea, the world has a misunderstanding and an improper view of Christians. And if we were this way they would ............. You can't change it. It's because He chose us out of the world. Do we believe the Word of God? All these things I read that say what Christians ought to be doing so that the world will have a better picture of us. None of them ever talk about John 15:19, that the root problem can't be changed, anymore than a Jew can make the world like them as Jews because they are God's chosen people. Even in their unredeemed state they are hated because God has chosen them as a nation and the followers of Satan always do the will. Verse 20, the slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me they will persecute you, if they kept My word they will keep yours. You know it's the issue of the Word of God and who responds to the Word of God? Those that the Spirit of God works in the heart. So that's not going to change.

Come back to Jeremiah 20. Jeremiah saw it as a prophet, a man with a great prophetic ministry that lasted over forty years. Look at what he says in verse 7, oh Lord, you have deceived me and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long. Everyone mocks me. Each time I speak I cry aloud, I proclaim violence and destruction, because for me the word of the Lord has resulted in reproach and derision all day long. Was it his methods? Was it, he came across wrong? Jeremiah knew what it was, it's the Word of God and I gave them the Word of God and it resulted in derision, reproach. If I say I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name, then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire, shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, I cannot endure. He knew what the cause of his trouble was, he was giving them the Word of God. So he knew what he had to do to stop having all that trouble. Stop talking about the Word of God. But he says, I shut my mouth and it's like a fire burning. Now I can't keep it in and out it comes. I heard the whispering of many, terror on every side. Denounce him. Yes, let us denounce him. All my trusted friends watching for my fall say, perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him. You see nothing is happening. Future day, two men raised up to have a prophetic ministry and the unbelieving world looking for an opportunity to overcome them. Maybe they will fail, maybe we'll be able to prevail against them. The Lord is with me like a dread champion. Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. That's the word of God.

Come to Matthew 5:10, blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Nothing changes in this way. It's not that we are viewed as narrow minded, bigoted, fundamentalists. It's because we believe and proclaim the Word of God. We understand what the true cause of the problem is. I don't want to do things to just antagonize people, but the Word of God does that and it's no other reason. You belong to the living God, that can't be hidden. You may try to say as little as you can, but the devil knows who you are, the demons know who you are. You are a child of God. You can't go around in disguise because they know who you are. Now they'd like you to keep quiet, to be afraid and embarrassed and ashamed. The animosity is there. Many other passages that we could go to.

That's why Jesus said in Matthew 10, I came to divide families. Don't misunderstand, I didn't come to bring peace, I came to bring a sword. Family members divided against one another. Why? Because someone in the family gets saved, is called out by God for Himself. That divides a family, now animosity sets in against that believer.

Come back to Revelation 11 and we'll just summarize the subsequent events which are striking but clear. These two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth, both by the message they preached and the miracles they did. After 3½ days the breath of life from God came into them. They stood on their feet and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. Imagine everybody turning on the TV or the computer or whatever else to watch and say, the bodies are still there. Here you have people watching, and I'm sure for the whole world to watch this will be just at prime time and we'll see. All of sudden they are watching, there are their bodies, wait a minute, they are moving, they're getting up. Not only did they get up, look at verse 12, they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, come up here. And they went up into heaven in the cloud and their enemies watched them. Can you imagine how many times that will get replayed? Did you see it? No. Here, look. What happened? I don't know. I mean, they've been lying there for three days, they're dead for sure. Nobody had doubted they were dead. You know the beast, he wouldn't let any doubt. They had to be sure they were dead. They just got up and you know what happened? Clouds came down and they went up, they were gone into the heavens.

You know God does it here as dramatically as possible because we've moved here. We get an overview of how their ministries are carried out and they come to a climax. We're near the end of things. Remember we're just talking about what happened here the last 3½ years, we'll have to go back then and move the time sequence along. But down here I take it, these events, you'll note the impact. Verse 13, and in that hour there was a great earthquake and a tenth of the city fell. One-tenth of Jerusalem is destroyed in the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The rest were terrified and give glory to the God of heaven. This tremendous earthquake, you see what God is doing through the ministry of these two witnesses and then through this final devastating earthquake? Preparing the nation Israel. Now we see the beginning of a turning of the Jews to Jesus as their Messiah and salvation taking place.

Now we're reminded that things have to move along, we have to go back and pick up with the seventh trumpet. So we'll have the seventh trumpet sound but we're going to have a delay again because then we're going to talk more about events in the middle of the week and cover this last 3½ years, and then we'll go back and pick up the sequence of events that come out of the seventh trumpet with the seven bowls. But we have a better understanding of what is going on in the world and how God is bringing about His plan and program to bring about the salvation of His people Israel.

These are truths to shape our lives, we live in light of them. We know where the world is going and people don't like our eschatology. You're pessimistic, you think it's only going to get worse. I don't think it's only going to get worse, it is going to get worse. The worst is yet to come. But after the worst which is yet to come, then the best that could ever be will come about. For us as believers, that is not discouraging, and we have a blessed hope—the coming of the Lord to gather us into His presence before the 70th week of Daniel.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for the truth of your word. It is awesome to be given the privilege to look into the future as you have unfolded it, to know what is going to take place. May we be those who read and hear and heed the words of this prophecy. Lord, thank you for faithful servants who have declared your word. May we be in the line of those faithful servants, even in our service for you in the days before us. We pray in Christ's name, amen.