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Our Mission: Revelation 14:6-12
If I Were Told the Future - Lesson 57
The
Two Witnesses
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Welcome to this lesson! Let's pray together:
Lord,
We wish to continue to identify the characters which play a part in the last moments of
history, and today, we will study the two witnesses.
Who are these two witnesses? We humbly ask You to answer this question, through Your
inspired Word.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 11:1-3
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.
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 under foot for forty-two
months.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred
and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.»
----------------------------------------------------
The two witnesses appear only once in the Bible, in the book of Revelation chapter 11, in the context of the period of 42 months, or 1260 days.
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Revelation 11:2
The Gentiles (...) will tread the holy city under foot for 42 months.
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Revelation 13:5,7
[The beast] was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
(...)
And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.
----------------------------------------------------
The period of 42 months, or 1260 days (42 x 30), during which the
two witnesses work, corresponds to the period of 1260 years, from A.D. 538 to 1798, which
we studied several times in our previous lessons.
These 1260 years were a time of persecution for the believers faithful to God.
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Revelation 11:3
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
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Genesis 37:33,34
And [Jabob] recognized it and said, «It is my son's tunic. A
wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.»
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many
days.
----------------------------------------------------
The darkness of this period of 1260 years is emphasized by the fact that the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, a sign of sadness and mourning.
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Revelation 11:3,4
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one
thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
----------------------------------------------------
Many clues help us to discover the identity of these two
witnesses.
First, we are told that the two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
standing before God.
What does that mean?
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Zechariah 4:2-4
He said to me, «What do you see?»
So I said, «I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of
it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are
by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.»
So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, «What are these, my
lord?»
----------------------------------------------------
The two olive trees and the two lampstands refer to this prophecy
given to Zechariah.
So the answer given to Zechariah is of great interest for us...
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Zechariah 4:5,6
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, «Do
you not know what these are?»
And I said, «No, my lord.»
So he answered and said to me: «This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: "Not by
might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord of hosts.»
----------------------------------------------------
God's answer indicates that the two olive trees, which bear oil, and the lampstands, which bear light, symbolize something resulting from the work of the Spirit of God, and not from the power of men.
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2 Peter 1:20,21
(...) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
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There is, indeed, something which bears light (as lampstands do),
and which results not from the power of men, but rather from the work of the Holy Spirit
(the oil taken from the two olive trees): it is the Word of God.
The two witnesses thus symbolize the two parts of the Word of God: the Old Testament and
the New Testament.
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Similar to a lampstand, the Word of God is a source of light:
«Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.» (PSALM
119:105)
«We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light
that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your
hearts.» (2 PETER 1:19)
«For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light.» (PROVERBS 6:23)
«For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.» (2 CORINTHIANS 4:6)
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John 5:39
[Jesus said:] «You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.»
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Deuteronomy 19:15
By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
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Both the Old and the New Testament bear witness to Jesus and His
work, one announcing His coming, and the other confirming that He truly came.
These two witnesses agree to establish this fact: Jesus is the Messiah promised by God,
and His sacrifice gives us access to eternal life.
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Revelation 11:5
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.
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Jeremiah 5:14
Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
----------------------------------------------------
Symbolized by the two witnesses, the Word of God is a fire
devouring its enemies.
But this action also calls to mind two famous Bible characters.
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Numbers 16:28,35
Then Moses said: «By this you shall know that the Lord has sent
me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.» (...)
And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men.
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2 Kings 1:12
So Elijah answered and said to them, «If I am a man of God, let
fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.»
And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
----------------------------------------------------
The deeds of the two witnesses remind us of Moses' and Elijah's.
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Revelation 11:6
These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.
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Luke 4:25
But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months.
----------------------------------------------------
Similar to Elijah, the two witnesses have power to shut heaven
for a prophetic period of «three years and six months», that is, for 1260 years (3½
years x 360 days).
But what do the words «to shut heaven» mean?
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Leviticus 26:18,19
And after all this, if you do not obey Me, (...) I will make your heavens like iron.
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Deuteronomy 28:15,23
If you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments, (...) your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze.
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Proverbs 28:9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.
----------------------------------------------------
During the 1260 years, from 538 to 1798, the two witnesses «shut heaven» to men's prayers, because of their great apostasy.
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Revelation 11:6
And they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
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Psalm 105:26,29-32,34,36
He sent Moses His servant. (...)
He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish. Their land abounded with frogs
(...). He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and lice in all their territory.
He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. (...) He spoke, and locusts
came (...). He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land.
----------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, the two witnesses, like Moses, have power to strike
the earth with all kinds of plagues.
What does that mean?
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Revelation 2:22,23
Indeed I will cast [that woman Jezebel] into a sickbed, and those
who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
And I will kill her children with death.
----------------------------------------------------
The lesson «Letter to the
Church of Thyatira» showed us that, during these 1260 years, Europe, plunged into
apostasy, went through a dreadful famine, followed by an epidemic of bubonic plague,
killing 40% of its population.
The Hundred Years War added to these scourges.
Interestingly, Jezebel, a symbol of the apostate Church, was the sworn enemy of Elijah, a
symbol of the two witnesses.
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Deuteronomy 33:4
Moses commanded a law for us, a heritage of the congregation of Jacob.
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1 Kings 18:22
Then Elijah said to the people,
«I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty
men.»
----------------------------------------------------
The choice of Moses and Elijah to symbolize the Bible is not only
due to the nature of their deeds.
Moses is closely associated with the law, and Elijah with the prophets. So, by combining
«Moses and Elijah», we get «the Law and the Prophets», an expression which designates
the Word of God.
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«The Law and the Prophets» is an expression designating the Word of God:
«Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill.» (MATTHEW 5:17)
«I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and
in the Prophets.» (ACTS 24:14)
«We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of
Nazareth.» (JOHN 1:45)
«[Paul] solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from
both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.» (ACTS 28:23)
«"All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the
Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they
might comprehend the Scriptures.» (LUKE 24:44,45)
«And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets (...).» (ACTS 13:15)
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2 Corinthians 3:14,15
For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading
of the Old Testament (...).
But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
----------------------------------------------------
Finally, the Word of God associates the name of Moses with the
Old Testament.
In fact, Moses symbolizes the people of God under the Old Covenant, that is, the people of
Israel; and Elijah symbolizes the people of God under the New Covenant, that is, the
Church.
Let's look at the following verses...
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Malachi 4:4,5
Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in
Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day
of the Lord.
----------------------------------------------------
The very last chapter of the Old Testament speaks of Moses and
Elijah.
God uses this strategic place to invite us to remember Moses (the Law), that is, to look
at our spiritual roots, in the Old Testament.
Then He announces the coming of Elijah (the prophet), inviting us to look at the hope of
salvation, in the New Testament.
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Revelation 11:7
Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
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Daniel 7:23
The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom.
----------------------------------------------------
Shortly before the end of the 1260 years, the Word of God
suffered the attack of a beast, symbolizing a kingdom, a political power.
This beast comes out of the bottomless pit.
Now, in our lesson about the fifth trumpet, «The
Locusts from the Bottomless Pit», we also saw a power which came out of the
bottomless pit...
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Revelation 9:2,3,11
[The star] opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the
pit like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened because of
the smoke of the pit.
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. (...) And they had as king over them
the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the
name Apollyon.
----------------------------------------------------
Led by the angel of the bottomless pit, that is, Satan, the
locusts of the fifth trumpet also came out of the bottomless pit.
So the beast coming out of the bottomless pit is a political power led by Satan.
In fact, the locusts of the fifth trumpet and the beast of Revelation chapter 11, which
kills the two witnesses, both symbolize the same power: France in the 1790s.
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Revelation 11:7
Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
----------------------------------------------------
Just as we have seen in the fifth trumpet, the French people,
deeply disgusted by centuries of abuse and corruption from the Church of Rome, rebelled in
the 1790s.
Unfortunately, out of their blind rage, they also attacked the Word of God. So, on
November 10, 1793, the French National Assembly decreed in Paris that Christian religion
should be abolished, and the Bible suppressed.
Thus were killed the two witnesses.
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Revelation 11:8
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt.
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Revelation 18:10
That great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.
----------------------------------------------------
In the years following this decree which killed the two
witnesses, blasphemous acts took place.
This sad spectacle is illustrated by the recalling, «spiritually», of the names of
Babylon (the «great city»), Sodom, and Egypt.
Let's see the meaning of these names.
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The years 1793 to 1797 are symbolized by Babylon, Sodom, and Egypt:
BABYLON |
SODOM
|
EGYPT
------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------
«Against the king of | «Look, this was the | «Pharaoh
said, "Who is
Babylon (...). You said | iniquity of your sis- | the Lord, that I should
in your heart: "I will | ter Sodom: she and | obey His
voice to let
ascend into heaven, I | her daughter (...) | Israel
go? I do not
will exalt my throne | committed abomination | know the Lord."»
above God's stars."» | before Me.»
|
(ISAIAH 14:4,13) | (EZEKIEL 16:49,50) |
(EXODUS 5:2)
========================|=======================|========================
Babylon indicates USUR- | Sodom indicates IGNO- | Egypt indicates NEGA-
PATION of God's throne. | RANCE of God, and de- | TION of God. Out of fu-
French people institut- | pravity of morals. | ry against the apostate
ed the Goddess Reason | The French Revolution | Church, the French peo-
in place of God, as a | gave rise to vile | ple
decreed that the
sign of absolute con- | scenes of debauchery | whole
of Christianity
tempt for religion. | among the people. |
was abolished.
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Revelation 11:8
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.
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Matthew 25:40
Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
----------------------------------------------------
Jesus identifies with His people and His mission.
By indicating that the two witnesses were killed «where also our Lord was crucified»,
this prophecy testifies to the abominations committed against His name and His cause.
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Revelation 11:9
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.
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Psalm 79:1,2
O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy
temple they have defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
The dead bodies of Your servants they have given as food for the birds of the heavens, the
flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.
----------------------------------------------------
From 1793 to 1797, all the Bibles found were burned in public, to demonstrate the complete rejection of God and His will.
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Revelation 11:10
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.
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John 7:7
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
----------------------------------------------------
Since the Word of God testified that their behavior was disgusting, men rejoiced at having destroyed it between 1793 and 1797.
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Revelation 11:11
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.
----------------------------------------------------
Just as foretold, three and a half years after the decree of
November 10, 1793, which had abolished Christianity and the Bible, the French government
realized its error.
On June 17, 1797, it removed all restrictions regarding religion and the Word of God.
This is how the two witnesses came back to life, after the three and a half prophetic
days.
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Revelation 11:12
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.
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Daniel 4:22
It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
----------------------------------------------------
After that, God raised the two witnesses to heaven, thus indicating that His Word would now be respected and honored, as the second verse shows us.
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Revelation 11:12
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.
----------------------------------------------------
As foretold, shortly after the return of religious liberty in
1797, Bible societies appeared, spreading the Word of God in many languages throughout the
world.
In 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society initiated the trend, followed by the
American Bible Society in 1816, and many others afterwards.
Thanks to all these efforts, the Bible has become, and still is, the greatest bestseller
of all times.
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Revelation 11:13
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell.
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Revelation 17:12,16
The ten horns which you saw are ten kings (...).
And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her
desolate.
----------------------------------------------------
«In the same hour», that is, at the end of the 1260 years, «a
tenth of the city» (Babylon) fell.
In fact, France, one of the «ten kings» supporting the apostate Church, decided in 1798
to put an end to the political reign of the pope.
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Revelation 11:13
In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed.
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1 Kings 19:18
[God said to Elijah]: «I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal.»
----------------------------------------------------
With the number 7000, the prophecy once again refers to Elijah's
life.
The 7000 faithful having not bowed to Baal counterbalance the 7000 unfaithful, which
personify the political institution of the apostate Church.
The fall of this Church, in 1798, is symbolized by the death of these 7000 men.
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Revelation 11:13
In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
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Revelation 9:20
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands.
----------------------------------------------------
The prophecy of the two witnesses ends with the repentance of
men, after the fall of the apostate Church in 1798.
This attitude contrasts with the stubborn unrepentance of sinners, shortly before the
return of Jesus.
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Let's end this lesson with a prayer to God:
Heavenly Father,
It is written: «Give glory to the Lord your God before He causes darkness, and before
your feet stumble on the dark mountains.» (Jeremiah 13:16)
The two witnesses, which symbolize Your Word, call men to repent, and urge them to respond
to Your invitation to salvation.
May we all hear the message of Your two witnesses, and put it into practice, while it's
still time to do so. In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
The test of Lesson 57 is waiting for you!