THE TWO WITNESSES
Revelation 11:1-14

Introduction:  God always has His witnesses!  Even in this time of great wickedness and absolute rebellion against God, He has His witnesses in this sin cursed world.  Ill. The goal of this chapter and the entire book of Revelation is to give glory to and to exalt the blessed Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is possibly the most difficult chapter in this book.  It is simply so deep that we could literally spend hours explaining all the twist and turns that are available here. However, we will try to get the gist of the passage and glean some truth from it.  Please notice that the events described here probably take place within the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. Anti-Christ has established world-wide peace, a world religion, world economy and a seven year contract with the nation of Israel .

I.          THE TEMPLE WORSHIP (VV.1-2)

Men will build a temple to worship and sacrifice to a God who has already accomplished all things. (Ill. 3 Temples in the Word of God – (1) Solomon’s Temple - Destroyed 583 BC by Nebuchadnezzar; (2) Zerubabbel’s Temple - Destroyed 168 BC by Antiochus Ephiphanes; (3) Herod’s Temple - Destroyed 70 Ad by Titus the Roman.) (Now, the Temple is the church of believers - Eph. 2:21; 1 Cor. 6:19) There are two temples in the future - The Millennial Temple - Eze. 40-44; and the Tribulation Temple .  The Jews will rebuild their temple!  They are already beginning the processes that will make this possible. 

            A.        The City Mentioned (v.2b)
Holy City - Jerusalem , (Ill. Moslem, Christian, Jew)

·        The Jews Must Return To Their Homeland - ( Ill. Ridiculed) Fulfilled in 1948!

·        The Temple Must Be Rebuilt - (Ill. Ridiculed) Ill. The difficulties involved.

            B.         The Chronology Mentioned (v.2c)
3 1/2 years. v.2, 3, 12:6, 12:14 (Ill. Daniels prophecy concerning Antichrist, Dan. 8:10 .  He will allow the temple to be rebuilt, but after 3 1/2 years, he will set himself up as God to be worshipped - 2 Thes. 2:4

            C.        The Chastisement Mentioned (v.1a-2a)
Ill. Rod is a type of judgment!  This temple is under judgment from God!  Why?  It rejects the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross and substitutes the sacrifices of men!

A part is given to the gentiles. They will be the instruments of judgment - Lk.21:24.

II.         THE TWO WITNESSES (VV.3-12)
The church is gone, but God still has His men!)

            A.        The Inauguration of Their Ministry (v.3-6)

·        They are real people (v.3)

·        No message of hope and comfort! (v.3) Sackcloth - Mourning - Preaching Misery. Probably preach Jesus as the fulfillment of Holy Scripture.

·        Olive trees, Candlesticks (v.4) - Spirit and Light.  They will minister in the power of God’s Spirit preaching His Light. ( Ill. Zech 4:3,14)

·        They are Unstoppable (v.5) - Power to devour enemies with fire, stop the rain, and send plagues, turn the water to blood.

·        Who are they?  Several guesses!

o       Elijah - Mal. 4:5, Ill. Elijah never died.  Ill. Elijah’s power.  ( Ill. A lone voice  in his generation)

o       Moses - Moses mentioned in Mal. 4:4 with Elijah. Moses seen with Elijah in Matthew 17 on Mt of Transfiguration.  The miracles and plagues were preformed by Moses. (A lone voice!)

o       Enoch - He too was alone a voice for God. He never died, and all must die - Heb. 9:27

It doesn’t really matter! What matters is that God has always got His man.  

            B.         The Completion Of their Ministry

·        v.7 Killed by the beast - Rev. 13:1.  If you are in God’s will, nothing can harm you.

·        v.8 Their bodies lie unburied in the street for 3 1/2 days in the city of Vice , Vanity and Violence.  Jerusalem !

·        V.9 Ill. Witnessed by the whole world. Ridiculed until the advent of TV. Ill. this will feed the drug induced, godless, wickedness of the day.

·        V.10 The earth Dwellers will throw a party. The Devils Christmas. Why? Their preaching troubled the sinners!  Ill. The preaching of the Word brings torment and conviction.  It bugs people!  People do not like to be faced with their sin!  People hate it now; they will definitely hate it then!

            C.        The Vindication Of Their Ministry (vv.11-12)

·        They are raised from the dead.

·        God then reenacts the rapture.  He shows a godless world what they missed! (Ill. God will vindicate His people - Ill. Death and Resurrection!)

III.       A TERRIBLE WOE (VV.13-14)

            A.        Calamity In Nature

Earthquake - tenth part of Jerusalem falls

            B.         Casualties Among Pagan
7,000 notable men die - Ill. Seven number of perfection, God shows who is still in control.

            C.        Conviction That Doesn’t Lead To Genuine Repentance

The remnant must admit that this is the work of God. ( Ill. This will stick in Antichrists craw!) (Ill. Jail house and death bed salvation!) The kind that will save you and take you to Heaven is the kind that comes from conviction and conversion. 

Conclusion:       The second woe is past, but a worse one is coming!