Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
January 18, 2004
The Two Witnesses of Revelation Eleven
Revelation 11:1-14
INTRO: Verses 1-2 tell us about the measuring, by John, of the tribulation temple yet to be built. And verses 3-14 tell us of the ministry of the two witnesses with supernatural power. Some have even named them the two super witnesses.
In chapter seven, we were introduced to the 144,000 witnesses called out from the twelve tribes of Israel; new in chapter eleven, we find two more preachers of God’s grace, two more witnesses of His mercy.
I. VSS 1-2, THE MEASURING OF THE TRIBULATION TEMPLE
A. Vs 1, The Jews have been busy for many years making ready for a new temple to be built in Jerusalem.
1. There are five temples of God found in the scriptures. Three have been built, and two are yet to be constructed:
a) Solomon’s, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC.
b) Temple of Zerubbabel, destroyed by Antiochus Ephiphanes in 168 BC.
c) Herod’s temple, destroyed by Titus in 70 AD.
d) Tribulation Temple, the temple under consideration in our text, not yet built.
e) The Millennial temple to be built during the 1000 year reign of Christ.
2. John, who is usually a spectator, is told to measure the tribulation temple.
a) It will be constructed by Jews so that they can worship by renewal of their ancient sacrifices.
b) It will be desecrated by the anti-Christ (II Thes 2:4; Rev 13:14-15; Dan 9:27; 12:11).
3. John is to measure, for judgment, the Temple, the altar, and the worshipers.
a) God will and does measure man’s worship and character. All must give account to God.
b) The rebuilding of the Temple is an act of unbelief for by building the Temple and reinstituting animal sacrifices, Christ will be rejected.
c) John is to measure the Temple in preparation for judgment and correction because of the people’s unbelief.
B. Vs 2, John is to measure everything except the court of the Gentiles.
1. In the time of tribulation especially, the Gentiles will have taken over Jerusalem.
a) The anti-Christ breaks his covenant with Israel (Dan 9:27).
b) He uses the Temple for ungodly purposes (II Thes 2:3-4).
c) The Bible says: “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Lk 21:24). The times of the Gentiles will end when Christ returns to earth (Rev 19) and redeems Israel.
II. VSS 3-6, THE TWO WITNESSES– THEIR MINISTRY
A. Vs 3, The two witnesses are empowered by God; they are God’s preachers, God’s messengers.
1. They preach for 3 ˝ years.
a) Their message is primarily a message of impending doom.
b) They will let folks know that what is happening around them is the judgment of God. They will preach that the worst is yet to come.
c) Be glad that we live in this time known as the age of grace when the message is primarily the Gospel of God’s abundant mercy.
2. “Clothed in sackcloth”-- this is symbolic of sorrow, of mourning. Their clothing says that evil abounds and sorrow will be the norm.
B. Vs 4, To get a grasp of this verse, we need to go back and read Zechariah 4:1-14. Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel are God’s elect; they stand by the Lord. They are God’s Old Testament olive trees, God’s Old Testament candlesticks. These men were used of God in the rebuilding of the Temple.
1. The two witnesses of Revelation will be God’s elect ones. They will be used of God in the restoration of national Israel.
2. Olive oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
a) Candlesticks are light bearers.
b) The two witnesses, chosen of God, are anointed by the Holy Ghost. They will proclaim a message of hope, of light in a sin blackened world.
3. Who are the two witnesses of Revelation eleven?
a) Some say they symbolize:
(1) Law and grace
(2) Old and New Testaments
(3) Israel and the church
(4) the Waldenses and the Albigenses
b) I taken them to be literal people. They may be:
(1) Moses and Elijah
(2) Elijah and Enoch
(3) Two special witnesses in the power of Moses and Elijah
4. There are two witnesses. This follows God’s pattern of confirming the truth by two witnesses. Note:
a) Moses and Aaron
b) Joshua and Caleb
c) Peter and John
d) Paul and Silas
e) Christ sent out the Apostles and the seventy two by two.
f) God confirms His message by these two witnesses.
C. Vs 5, These witnesses are invincible until their ministry is over, until God’s work for them is done.
1. Our lives, the lives of the elect, are kept in the secure hand of almighty God.
2. Some ministries are long; others short, but all of God’s true servants need not fear. Preach till God’s work for you is done.
3. “Is there not an appointed time to man upon the earth?” (Job 7:1). Note also James 4:15.
D. Vs 6, These witnesses have supernatural power; it is irresistible power.
1. “Power to shut heaven.” Elijah performed this miracle in Old Testament times (James 5:17-18).
2. “Power over the waters to turn them to blood....” Moses had power to do these miracles in years gone by (Exodus 7-10).
III. VS 7-14, THE TWO WITNESSES – THEIR MARTYRDOM
A. Vs 7, When their ministry is over, when God’s elective purpose is fulfilled, they are called home.
1. The bodies of the two witnesses are allowed to be not buried.
2. It is the beast who kills them. He is demonically empowered.
B. Vs 8, Jerusalem is here called Sodom and Egypt because of its wickedness: Sodom, a city of immorality; Egypt, a city of idolatry and materialism.
1. We know that the city is Jerusalem because it is identified as the city where our Lord was crucified.
2. Jerusalem will be the seat of the anti-Christ’s government (II Thes 2:3-4).
C. Vs 9, People from all around the word, by means of satellites will see their dead bodies on the news.
1. For three and a half days the bodies lie in the street.
2. These two witnesses were a thorn in the side of the worldly inhabitants of the earth.
D. Vs 10, Worldly sinners will be glad to see that God’s men are dead. They will rejoice because the mouths of these great men of God who preached impending doom are silent. They are so glad they even send gifts one to another. This is the only reference to rejoicing in the book of Revelation.
E. Vs 11, Think of it– the dead will rise. Millions will see this and fear will grip their hearts. It could be that they fear a renewal of the preaching of these two olive trees.
F. Vs 12, Here we have a two man rapture with the world watching on. Surely, this will be played over and over. They are ushered into God’s presence. There is no need for them to continue their preaching for: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Lk 16:31).
G. Vs 13, A terrible earthquake takes out a tenth of the city, “seven thousand” onomata antropon, “men of name, of distinction” die.
1. While the world watches, this takes place.
2. Fear grips men’s hearts.
3. The praise in this verse is not for salvation. They are not gloriously saved. They are awed as the scribes and Pharisees of Luke 5:26 were.
H. Vs 14, The seventh trumpet is about to sound.
CONCLUSION: Judgment is coming to this world. Are you ready?
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com