Two Witnesses
Scripture Reading: Revelation 11:3-13
And 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 [a]God of the earth. 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. 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.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also [b]our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [c]will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 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.
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. And [d]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. 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.
Your understanding of this passage will depend on your eschatological presuppositions. Some believe these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. They would point to other texts like the Mount of Transfiguration as hints that lead them to this conclusion.
Whoever these two witnesses are, they are killed by the beast, and their bodies are left in the streets of a city and the whole world can look at them.
Without getting into a drawn-out discussion of the various eschatological positions and interpretations, let me make a broader observation about what this text says. The city where the two witnesses’ dead bodies are left is none other than Jerusalem. John never uses that name. Instead, he calls it a great city that is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt. It is the city where our Lord was crucified. Although he doesn’t say, “Jerusalem,” he leaves no doubt that is the city he is talking about.
My observation would be that in this we see this pattern of fallen humanity to take that which God creates and raises up for His glory and the good of man and turn it against God and human good. Jerusalem, the city where God put his temple, established a kingdom that was intended to be a light unto the world, and the center of divine activity for centuries became the place where man put the Son of Man to death.
Here, in this text, it is the city where God’s two witnesses are slain by the beast, and their bodies are left to rot and be rejoiced over by this wicked world. Isn’t this the way of this world? Men created in the image of God for His glory and their joy, pervert that image and mock the God who made them in doing so. We turn creatures into idols.
Thankfully, this is not the end of the story or the story that will continue forever. The two witnesses are raised to life. Sinners are judged. God is vindicated.
When you see what appears to be the world’s victory over the people of God, when you see God’s witnesses lying dead in the street, when you hear the world’s shout of triumph, don’t let yourself think this is the end of the story. God’s witnesses will be raised to life. The wicked world will be judged. Christ will reign for His glory and our good.
Excellent message! Encouraging to say the least!
Praise be to God!