April 20, 2008
“The Two Witnesses”
Revelation 11:3-14
I. They are known as God’s, they are empowered by God –
1. I believe it is Christ Who is speaking here to John, “I will give power” – John 15:5
2. “to MY two witnesses”
3. Olive trees / lampstands - :4; Zechariah 4 They are those, not dependent upon worldly wealth or power, but God’s Spirit – Zechariah 4:6 / They are those who are anointed to serve the Lord – Zechariah 4:14
II. They are TWO witnesses –
1. This number could be literal or symbolic, the number 2 is the number of witness / also a small number
2. It could be symbolic of the word of God – Law and Prophets, more about that later
3. The number “two” is repeated - :3; 4(2); 10
4. They are called “witnesses” :3 they are known for “prophesy” :3 & :6; and called “prophets” :10 and as witnesses have a testimony - :7
III. They are protected by God and their lives are attended by the miraculous –
1. Do not try to hurt them - :5
2. Power to stop the rain, like Elijah – James 5:17-18
3. Power to turn water to blood and strike the world with plagues, like Moses – Exodus 7:17-18; Exodus 7-11
4. Possibly they are Moses and Elijah – Matthew 17:3-8
5. Or future prophets with the Spirit and Power of Moses and Elijah
6. They are resurrected before they ascend to Heaven - :11-12
IV. They are wearing sackcloth, symbolic of prayer, repentance, coming judgment, mourning over great sin - :3
1. Consider some of the Biblical occasions for wearing sackcloth:
a. Jacob’s mourning when he though Joseph had been killed by a beast – Genesis 37:34;
b. Upon David’s order after the murder of Abner – 2 Samuel 3:31;
c. Evil king Ahab’s seeking and gaining mercy from God – 1 Kings 21:27-29
d. King Hezekiah upon hearing the threats from Assyria – 2 Kings 19:1-2; Isaiah 37:1-2
e. David’s asking God’s mercy about a plague – 1 Chronicles 21:16
f. When an edict was written ordering the extermination of the Jews – Esther 4:1-4
g. Job’s suffering – Job 16:15
h. David while praying for his enemies – Psalm 35:13
i. David ridiculed for wearing it – Psalm 69:11
j. In the day of judgment fashionable women will wear it – Isaiah 3:24
k. Ruin of Moab – Isaiah 15:3
l. The Lord commands it during a time of judgment – Isaiah 22:12-13
m. God clothes the sky with sackcloth / dark clouds before a storm – Isaiah 50:3
n. Destruction of Jerusalem – Lamentations 2:8-10
o. Doom, Disaster and Terror – Ezekiel 7:18
p. Prayer – Daniel 9:3
q. Mourning – Joel 1:8-13
r. Repentance – Jonah 3:5-10
2. These are great, sinful times, pre-judgment
V. Their opposition is a sin-filled world-
1. The beast from the abyss - :7
2. The sinners who celebrate their death - :9-10
3. Bodies in Jerusalem - :8
4. This world is judged - :13-14
