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The Abomination of Desolation & The Two Witnesses
Fred R. Coulter—December 25, 2021
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services!
The Protestants would say that today 'we're desecrating their 'holy' day. But pretty soon there will be no more Christmas!
Sometimes with everything we're faced with and the difficulties and problems that we're confronted with, and the things we need to work on and overcome—fighting our weaknesses and proclivities of human nature—we can get depressed to the point that we think that we're not important to God.
That's not the case! We are important to God and the overall picture is that Christ cannot save the world without us. We have been called the most important thing that's necessary for any leader. We will be kings and priest, administrators and teachers under Christ in the Millennium.
The most important thing is character! Character for us is deep conversion with God's Spirit in truth and sincerity!As I've covered, we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being! That's what we need to pray about every day! When you do, you will be surprised how much you will be able to grow and overcome and trust in God. Here's another promise in John 14.
- How important is it?
- How important is the Holy Spirit?
So important that there is no price on it! It's spiritual and comes from God the Father and Jesus Christ!
Note our DVD—truthofGod.org—and listen to True Fellowship with God! That is how we grow and overcome God's way in spite of all the troubles that are around us.
John 14:15: "If you love Me, keep the commandments—namely, My commandments. And I will ask the Father…" (vs 15-16).
The whole purpose of grace is direct connection to God the Father in heaven above! Even if we feel down and discouraged we still have that connection! He will help us, encourage us and bring us up.
"…and He shall give you another Comforter, that it may be with you throughout the age" ( v 16).
For those of us, as long as we live! Then the spirit goes back to God to await the resurrection! The whole army of God—all the spirits of the dead in the past—are stored awaiting the resurrection. Think about what an eye-opener that's going to be for the world.
Verse 17: "Even the Spirit of the Truth… [God's Truth, God's Word that is the most important] …which the world cannot receive…"
How important are you that you receive something that the world doesn't receive; doesn't know it!
Like Watter's World, get a microphone and go out on the streets and ask:
- Why are you here?
- What's the purpose of life?
It would be interesting!
"…the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it, but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you" (v 17).
Think about that, and how important that is! This is why we are told to stir up the Spirit that is within us! How do we do that? By being spiritually energized to keep coming to God all the time!
Verse 19: "Yet, a little while and the world shall see Me no longer; but you shall see Me. Because I live, you shall live, also."
There is life greater than any of the religions of this world can even conceive, because all of them have a counterfeit. We will be the sons and daughters of God! As Christ said, and Daniel said, we will shine as the sun in the firmament! Think about that!
Verse 20: "In that day, you shall know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. The one who has My commandments and is keeping them…" (vs 20-21).
That's very interesting, because we're going run against a lot of opposition in the future; I will be covering that soon.
"…that is the one who loves Me… [Do you love Jesus? the Father?] …and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him" (v 21).
How does God do that? Through His Word, and through His Spirit! This is the whole phenomenal purpose of life right here!
Verse 22: "Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, what has happened that You are about to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?'" There are two ways:
- to them personally when He was resurrected from the dead
- all of those afterward who receive the Spirit of God
The seal of the Spirit is:
Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
Think about how important you are to God, that you are a dwelling place of His Spirit so that He can build in you the character through His Word and His Spirit, and through experience, everything that we do. On the other hand, the world doesn't know and cannot know!
I don't know if you saw this, but the Lt. Governor of Texas, gave a read good pitch that we need God, we need His Word; then he rapped it all around Christmas. That's what they do, because Christmas is one of the greatest counterfeits and deceptions in the world! It takes what we want:
- our family
- our children
- our relatives
- our neighbors
- our employers
- our fellow employees
- our customers
They're all wrapped up in it!
Satan has twisted Christ around in it so that you can't recognize Him! But here it is:
Verse 24: "The one who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the Word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father's, Who sent Me."
That's an important thing for us to grasp and understand! We're going to see some things in the Psalms that should really encourage you in every way. Some of you have had some pretty difficult trials. Some of you have lost husbands and wives. One of these days I will go the way of all flesh, too.
Psalm 117:1: "O praise the LORD, all you nations; praise Him, all people… [that's what we're going to help institute in this world] …for His merciful kindness is great toward us; and the Truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" (vs 1-2).
How did Jesus describe that we are sanctified? Sanctify them with Your Word, Your Word is the Truth!
Psalm 118:1: "O, give thanks to the LORD… [that's a start to getting you out of your doldrums] …for He is good because His steadfast love endures forever. Let Israel now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let those who fear the LORD now say that His steadfast love endures forever" (vs 1-4).
What were these verses? Special verses to help fortify our mind and spirit so that we can trust in God!
Verse 5: "I called upon the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place." That's what you do if you're down with troubles and distress! You call on the LORD!
Verse 6: "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" You have more than any other people in the world!
Verse 7: "The LORD is for me as my Helper; therefore, I will look in triumph upon those who hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man… [you can see that today] …It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in princes" (vs 7-9)—or politicians, or ministers of a false gospel! Let's see what Jesus tells us.
- Is the Word of God true?
- Is the Word of God sure?
Everything that God has said takes place, has taken place, or will come to pass! We will see that!
Hebrews 13:5: "Do not allow the love of money to influence your behavior, but be satisfied with what you have; for He has said…"
I want you to understand this verse: there are five nos in the Greeks. They don't all come up in the English.
"…[#1 & #2]'In no way… [that's 2;Greek: 'ook me'] …will I ever leave you; [#3]no I will never forsake you in [#4 & #5]any way'… [Does that not make you important to God? Think about that!] …So then, let us boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" vs 5-6).
They can take your life, but as Jesus said, they can't kill what the Bible says is your spirit! That goes back to God!
*****
Flow of Prophecy
I want to reiterate to you again that Chrislam coming together is a big fulfillment of prophecy! Don't take it lightly. It's probably—as we discussed in #3 of this series—to two-horned beast in Rev. 13 that 'looks like lamb, but speaks like a dragon'! I wonder, as the imam and the pope kissed each other:
- What was on their minds?
- Was the pope thinking that at last they have calmed down the Muslims?
- Was the imam thinking that at last they have conquered the Catholics?
- Who knows?
That was the kiss of deceit!
We are going to cover the abomination that makes desolate. I got a scathing e-mail from a man who said that he has studied this, and 'there's no way that it talks about in the English that the daily sacrifice, that the Hebrew only means daily.' He said, 'I proved it with Strong's Concordance!'
Dear sir, you have revealed your total ignorance, because Strong's Concordance—though it can be helpful—you can never establish doctrine on it.
The Hebrew intimates within the 'daily' sacrifices automatically understood as part of the word, without it necessarily being written down.
Daniel 11:31: "And forces from him will stand up on his part, and they will profane the sanctuary… [Where is the sanctuary? What is that? The Holy of Holies!] …even the stronghold, and shall take away the daily sacrifice…"
It is daily in the Hebrew, and it means sacrifice. Antiochus Epiphanes did this in 167B.C. He stopped all the sacrificing. What did he sacrifice on the idol? A pig!
"…and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate" (v 31)—at that time!
When we come to Dan. 9:27 this is the Beast Power, confirming the covenant of peace. We will see how this fits in with the pope and imam.
Daniel 9:27: "And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week… [seven years in prophecy] …And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease…"
What's in the midst of the week? Three and a half years!
Note our In-Depth Study {truthofGod.org}: Daniel/Revelation with charts that layout all of this. You will see all these prophecies laid out and superimposed upon the Calculated Hebrew Calendar. That's how God tells time and determines the Holy Days.
"…and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate even until the consummation…." (v 27)—end of the age!
So, this person is going to live until the end of the age, which will be 3-1/2 years once he gets there!
"…And the fully determined end, which is decreed, shall be poured out upon the desolator" (v 27)—the seven last plagues!
The end cannot come until there is another temple built and they offer sacrifices again. This man told me in his e-mail that they aren't going to offer sacrifices because the word isn't there.
Do you think that the Jews are going to setup a temple not have sacrifices? Little does he know that today the Jews sacrifice their paschal lamb late in the afternoon on the 14th! Not many, but they do. So, if just a few are offering a few sacrifices now, think about what they're going to do when they have a temple.
All the plans have been drawn and many things have been done {templeinstitute.org}. You will see everything that they have ready. But they can't do it until there is a peace pact with all the Islamic nations that will allow them to build their temple. The prophecies show that it will happen!
Matthew 24:14: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations…"
Part of that will be by the two witnesses! But this also has to be by the Churches.
"…and then shall the end come" (v 14).
Remember that every word is true! When it says that it will be proclaimed in all the world… It's done already through:
- all the digital Bibles that are available, and the translations of them around the world
- all of the published Bibles that we have
- all of the preaching that is done
There has to be more of that that we need to do, in all the Churches of God!
My admonition to all the Churches of God is: Get busy! Do what God wants! He will bless you!
Verse 15: "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation…"—we just read of it in the middle of the week!
That has nothing to do with the sacrifice of Jesus (Dan. 9). We used to think that it did, but it doesn't!
In the last seven years, the middle of the week is after three and a half years. So, if you get the Daniel/Revelation study with CD and look at the chart and see all that is there, there is a whole lot—if you don't have it and study it—that you're missing!
"'…which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy place.' (The one who reads, let him understand.)" (v 15).
I explained that parenthetical phrase in part 3 of this series, because John wrote this there was no temple. When Paul wrote 2-Thess. brings 'the man of sin, the son of perdition' to the return of Christ and is destroyed by the 'brightness of His coming'! He sat in the Temple of God and said, 'I'm God!' So, it has to happen! There has to be sacrifices!
Let's see if we can piece this together, and get the timing of it correct. Rev. 2 & 3 is about the Churches down through history, and then it goes into the Throne of God (Rev. 4 & 5).
Know that nothing is going to happen in the end-time events unless it comes directly from God the Father and Jesus Christ. Let's see if we can figure out from what we have here, and other Scriptures, when the two witnesses come on the scene! We can come really, really close. We have it on the chart that you will get if you get the In-Depth Study: Daniel/Revelation!
Remember that the seals could not be opened by anyone other than Jesus. So, we have to look at events as they occur.
Revelation 6:1: "And I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures say, like the sound of thunder, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a white horse… [peace] …and the one who was sitting on it had a bow… [but no arrows] …and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer" (vs 1-2).
This latest thing with the pope and imam is the first conquest. If Islam and Christianity of this world can come together, that takes care of over 3-billion people. That's why this is big!
This takes place first. We don't know how quickly this is going to develop. There could be some snags that will set it back. We don't know how long this current pope is going to live, so there may be another one or maybe even a third one. But the world has got to be convinced on how great that this is. We will see that propaganda start this coming year—2022—when they open that Chrislam Center in Qatar.
With this first seal, I have wondered about this ever since Pope Paul XXIII. He's the one who started the ecumenism. Then all the other popes increased it a bit.
Now this one is a big deal! Will this lead to a temporary world peace? What they're going to do, after this is all dedicated—and it's not going to be done in a hurry—they're going to start out going after the Protestants.
So, the Protestants will come in. Then they will go after the Buddhists, then the Hindus, and they will be happy to come in because they believe in many gods.
When you do that, you have the whole world! Is this what's going to happen? Then in the middle of the seven years you have an event that takes place. We will see what that event is.
(break@33:40)
I want you to keep in mind some very important things that will help us to get a good determination on these events.
Revelation 6:3: "And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come and see.' And another horse went out that was red; and power was given to the one sitting on it to take peace from the earth…" (vs 3-4).
- How does that peace come?
- Do we have peace today? Here we do, but not in the world!
- How does that peace come about? Because of the white horse and the gathering together of all the religions!
This one in v 4 takes peace from the earth. Let's look at the last seven-year timeframe.
In order for it to look like the world is going to be a good place, there has to be peace on earth; temporary peace. That will be facilitated by the miracles that will be done by the beast with two horns (Rev. 13). In light of that, when do the two witnesses come on the scene?
Another interesting principle we need to remember—and we will have some Bible studies on how to understand some difficult Scriptures—is to understand the difficult Scriptures you have to have the Sabbath, Passover and Holy Days, in order to piece it all together.
This beast in Rev. 13 actually comes to the fore before the finality of the first beast is secured.
Revelation 13:11: "And I saw another beast rising out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon."
Two horns, which equals a leader, a king. And we have two of them. They're bringing a message of peace. That's what the message will be:
We can have peace on earth because we have peace between the Christians and the Muslims. All religions need to come together.
This will be working at the same time that things are developing for the beast to come on the scene. The beast will be coming out of Europe: the King of the North! Then there will be King of the South (Dan. 11). Those have to be because it says that at the time of the end.
Verse 12: "And he… [this beast with the two horns] …exercises all the authority of the first beast before him; and he causes the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." This tells us that the second beast is there before the deadly wound!
- When will the deadly wound come?
- When will it be healed?
- What will he do?
- How does that fit in with the two witnesses?
Remember that the stream of prophecy flows from a little trickle to a broader river, broader river, broader river to where in the end-time it's like the river comes out into a broad delta and goes everywhere! That's the whole world! The book of Revelation gives us the channel on which the stream flows, and how it affects everything.
Let's look at the first beast, which will be the second seal of Rev. 6. Let's look at how it develops.
Revelation 13:1: "And I stood on the sand of the sea; and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns…"
That's the sign of the Babylonian system! This first beast is personified:
- by the system
- by the world government that it will bring about
- by the person of the beast, the leader
So, you have all three of those here!
"…and on his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority" (vs 1-2).
This is going to be a tremendous thing that's going to happen on the earth! They're going to be the ones that come after all of the Christians. "…great authority…" means he has authority over all the earth!
Verse 3: "And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed… [here we get some very important information about timing] ….and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast."
This is going to be another big time, great event to take place.
Verse 4: "And they worshiped the dragon… [that's what we have in the world] …who gave his authority to the beast…."
Remember what Satan told Jesus, when he was tempting Jesus:
See all these kingdoms of the world and the glory of them? It's been delivered to me, and I give it to whomsoever I will! So, if you bow down and worship me, all shall be yours.
What do think these people do? They worship Satan! The beast worships him openly; that's why he is the beast!
"…And they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?'" (v 4)—because he starts out with peace! No one can make war against him. That ties in with Rev. 6 and the second seal.
Verse 5: "And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies was given to him; and authority was given to him to continue for forty-two months"—Half of seven years; 3-1/2 years!
Verse 6: "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven."
When that happens the deadly wound is healed! Here's what he does:
Verse 7: "And he was given power to make war…"
That's the next part of the second seal; takes peace from the earth. He makes war! There was peace up to that time, and who could make war against him? Because he has all the power to make war!
"…to make war against the saints…" (v 7).
Everyone wants to know when they're going to go to a place of safety, for those who are going to go. Remember that most won't go, just a few.
Revelation 12:13: "And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had brought forth the man-Child"—that's the Church
Persecution precedes the war. Same tactics Hitler used; same tactics Mussolini used, same tactics Hirohito used, because that's Satan's way!
Verse 14: "And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman… [see messages on the place of safety at truthofGod.org] …so that she might fly to her place in the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time… [another way of saying 3-1/2 years] …from the face of the serpent."
- When does this 3-1/2 years end? We don't know exactly when it's going to begin, but:
- When does it end?
- What does it involve? The Church!
- What's going to happen to the Church? The resurrection!
The resurrection on Pentecost! So, on the chart you will see that you count backward from Pentecost. Just before is when they're taken to the place of safety. But it ends at the resurrection, on Pentecost! That's important to understand!
Those who don't believe in a Pentecost resurrection are missing the point greatly! They can't figure out some of these prophecies, because they don't know the Truth about the Pentecost resurrection; the first resurrection!
Verse 15: "And the serpent cast water out of his mouth as a river…"
This is his way to try and get at the Church. Remember that this is at the point that the beast has the power to make war. Who can make war against the beast? This persecution is just before the war starts.
Verse 16: "But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed up the river that the dragon had cast out of his mouth. Then the dragon was furious with the woman … [because he couldn't get her] …and went to make war with the rest of her seed…" (vs 16-17)—the ones left that didn't go to a place of safety!
The King James Bible translates "rest" as remnant, which means a small number left over! But that's not true. A small number go to the place of safety.
- Why?
- Why are there a few to go to a place of safety?
- Why do all the rest suffer martyrdom?
- Why not have 'equal martyrdom opportunity' for all?
Because Jesus made a promise! If the breast goes back to:
"…make war against the remnant of her seed who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (v 17).
That makes up the remaining part of the Church. These are the ones who are going to be martyred in the fifth seal.
- Why are only a few going to a place of safety? Jesus gave the promise!
- Can you guess what that promise is? Matt. 16, I will build My Church and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it!
By the time this persecution comes, they will know where everyone of the Christians are. Why? Because they don't have the mark of the beast! They will be able to hunt them down, and they're going to be slaughtered. You've got to have faith to go through that, too. Now that we're talking about this, let's ask:
- When do the two witnesses come on the scene? We can be pretty accurate with this!
- Who are the two witnesses?
The reason that this becomes important is because there's a man who is a minister of a Church of God who says that he is the apostle for the 21st century—nothing like a little bit of humility—and that he will appoint the two witnesses!
That is not true! The two witnesses will not come from the Church!
Zechariah 3:1: "And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD…"
Joshua has to be one from the house of Aaron! With the new temple coming up, are they going to have a new high priest? Here's a type; Joshua was the first fulfillment, and the second fulfillment we will see who that will be. But there will be a coming high priest. We can all agree to that, and the Jews know how to determine who it will be, because they have been running genetics on this and they know who has Aaronic blood; that is genes and chromosomes.
"…and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said to Satan, 'May the LORD rebuke you, Satan! May even the LORD Who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?'" (vs 1-2).
In other words, his behavior up to this point was deserving of death by fire. Can God change and convert a person instantly? Yes, He can!
Verse 3: "Now, Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, 'Take the filthy garments from off him.' And to him He said, 'Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you…'" (vs 3-4).
This will be a high priest at the temple that is to be built. This will take place right when they dedicate the temple. How long is it going to take them to build it? They'll have 3-1/2 years! It will probably take them two, maybe a little more, because they already have a lot of the pieces of the temple prefabricated. They just have to move them into place and put them together.
"'…and I will clothe you with ceremonial robes.' And I said, 'Let them set a clean miter on his head.' And they set a clean miter on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. And the angel of the LORD charged Joshua, saying" (vs 4-6).
This will be the message that will come. How it will be, maybe an angel speaking right directly, 'This is the message of God.'
Verse 7: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My charge, then you shall also judge My house, and shall also keep My courts, and I will give you places to walk among these who stand by.'"
This happened with the building of the second temple. It was literally Joshua the high priest. That was a type of what is going to happen at the end-time.
Verse 8: "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men wondered at, for behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch!"
First coming of Christ, and the second coming of Christ. Isa. 11, the branch comes 'out of the stem of Jesse'—that's Christ!
Verse 9: "'For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: On one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its engraving upon it,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.'"
That happened with the building of the temple when they came back out of Babylon! After the temple was completed, they had 120 years:
- when they had peace
- when they had the great synagogue
- when they canonized the Old Testament and wrote it in the block-type letters that we have today
Ezra and Nehemiah sent these scrolls out to all the synagogues everywhere in the world. This established the synagogue worship. They had the temple there, and it stood after Herod re-built it until it was desecrated in 70A.D.
So, this carries forward. We have type, first fulfillment; antitype, second fulfillment.
Verse 9: "'For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: On one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its engraving upon it,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, "you shall call, each man to his neighbor, to sit under the vine and under the fig tree'" (vs 9-10). That lasted for 120 years!
Let's go forward and we will see that here's the Bible answer as to who the two witnesses are.
Zechariah 4:1: "And the angel that talked with me came again and awakened me, as a man that is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, 'What do you see?' And I said, 'I see, and behold, a lampstand, all of it gold, and a bowl on its top, and its seven lamps upon it, and seven pipes to the seven lamps on its top'" (vs 1-2).
This is not the lampstand in the temple! There was not golden bowl above it.
- What are the seven lamps?
- Who holds the seven lamps? Jesus! (Rev. 1)
- the seven stars are seven angels
- the seven lamps are the seven churches
So, this involves the seven churches, which have the Holy Spirit. That goes right back to where we started at the beginning.
Verse 3: "'And two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.' And I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?' Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, 'This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts'" (vs 3-6).
This actually happened with Zerubbabel who was the governor of Judea when they got out of Babylon.
Now it transfers very quickly to the end-time (Rev. 12 & 13).
Verse 7: "Who are you, O great mountain?… [the beast] …Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forth the head stone with shoutings, 'Grace! Grace unto it!'" That's Christ!
Verse 8: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it.' And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you" (vs 8-9).
This is going to happen. When they're ready to build that temple in Jerusalem again, it's going to come suddenly. It will be the governor of Judea: Zerubbabel; and the high priest that will be selected who will be Joshua. "…The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it…. [It will be done quickly!] …And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you" (vs 8-9).
Verse 10: "For who has despised the day of small things? … [compared to what God can do, this is a small thing] …For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth." Tie in Rev. 4 & 5!
There's a lot going on here. There's a lot going on in the world.
Verse 11: "And I answered and said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on its left side?' And I answered again and said to him, 'What are the two olive branches beside the two golden pipes, emptying the golden oil out of themselves?'" (vs 11-12).
In other words, out of this olive tree and out of these branches is pouring olive oil of itself. Olive oil is a type of power of the Holy Spirit of God!
Verse 13: "And he answered me and said, 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.'"
When we combine v 14 with Rev. 11, it tells us that this is the prophecy of the two witnesses. What do we find with both of them? They were both selected by God!They were not appointed by an 'apostle.'
Verse 14: "And he said, 'These are the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth.'"
This is pretty powerful! Let's see how this all ties together. You will see when the two witnesses come on the scene. We can come close to knowing what it is, if not to the very day.
Revelation 11:1: "Then the angel gave me a measuring rod like a staff, saying, 'Arise and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it.'"
This shows that the altar has to be built again; the temple has to be built again. That's why the Jews are behind the scenes doing all these things to prepare. This has to be done very quickly when it takes place.
Verse 2: "But leave out the court that is within the temple area, and do not measure it because it has been given up to the Gentiles; and they shall trample upon the Holy city for forty-two months. And I will give power to My two witnesses…" (vs 2-3). Notice that He gives power!
- What is that power? It's the Holy Spirit!
- How powerful is that? It's depicted in Zech. 4 as having olive oil coming out of the bowl, which is full of olive oil, coming right down to the two witnesses!
This establishes it exactly as I have said:
Verse 4: "These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands… [the anointed ones] …that stand before the God of the earth."
There it is! Almost identical language that we find in Zech. 4. These are going to be the most powerful men on earth. Think about this: Those few who are in a place of safety can't go out and do much in the way of preaching. The rest are being chased with persecution and martyrdom. Virtually, the two witnesses are the only ones who are going to be able to bring a message directly from God.
They're going to be powerful, and they're going to bring fits and conniptions to the whole world.
Verse 5: "And if anyone attempts to harm them, fire will go out of their mouths and devour their enemies…."
That's a pretty good weapon! How are they going to resist that? Here they have all their miracles, all the things that they have. Satan is behind the world and everything that is there. Two men standing in Jerusalem!
- they can't catch them
- they can't capture them
- they can't kill them.
If anybody tries to, they become ashes on the ground!
"…For if anyone attempts to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have authority to shut heaven so that no rain may fall in the days of their prophecy; and they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they will" (vs 5-6).
Whatever they decide to do! You want a plague of locust, a plague of flesh-eating flies, they can call it.
Verse 7: "And when they have completed their testimony…" It's limited! How is it limited?
Verse 3: "And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
They come on the scene before the 1,260 days, but then God gives them power at that point. First they come on as governor and high priest of the temple. Everything is nice and peaceful and wonderful.
Then when the King of the South pushes at the King of the North, the King of the North is going to come down and take over Egypt and he's going to go on over into the area of the Holy Land, come into Jerusalem. He's going to go into the temple and sit down and say that he is 'God'!
At that point, that's when the two witnesses are given the power for 1,260 days. We can't figure out exactly when they come on the scene, but we know when this power ministry begins. It's the two witnesses against Satan, the false prophet, the beast and the whole world!
This is going to be a tremendous and huge, and absolutely momentous thing that the earth has never ever seen.
Verse 7: "And when they have completed their testimony the beast who ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them."
Think of the great relief to the whole world. Think about what's going to happen. They're going to celebrate. Here are these two men and no one can touch them. Those that come after them are devoured by fire that comes out of their mouths.
Now we finally got them! Now we are ready! Now we can get back to what we need to do!
Not yet!
Verse 8: And their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.… [another name for Jerusalem] …Then those of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations shall see their bodies three and a half days… [lying in the street] …for they will not allow their bodies to be put into tombs. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and will make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the earth" (vs 8-10).
Then God sets His hand to really do some fantastic things!
Verse 11: "Then after the three and a half days…"
So, there are 1260 days and 3-1/2 days. That's when the two witnesses' lives ended. Then you can find out when they began by going back just a little before the Passover. Everything will seem natural at that point, then all of this.
You can see this on the chart and count back from Pentecost because these are the last two who are martyred, but the first two who are resurrected.
"…the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.… [the whole world is going to hear this]: …And they heard a great voice from heaven, say, 'Come up here!' And they ascended into heaven in a cloud; and their enemies saw them rise. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand men were killed in the earthquake. And the rest were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately" (vs 11-14).
That's the last trump, the seventh trump, the first resurrection begins!
The book of Revelation portrays all of these things, and we get the beginning of the prophecies of these in the Old Testament. Without the book of Revelation, without these Scriptures that we have read, there's no way that the world can understand what's going to happen!
Scriptural References:
- John 14:15-17, 19-24
- Psalm 117:1-2
- Psalm 118:1-9
- Hebrews 13:5-6
- Daniel 11:31
- Daniel 9:27
- Matthew 24:14-15
- Revelation 6:1-4
- Revelation 13:11-12, 1-7
- Revelation 12:13-17
- Zechariah 3:1-10
- Zechariah 4:1-14
- Revelation 11:1-7, 3, 7-14
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 2-5
- Matthew 16
- Isaiah 1
- Revelation 1
Also referenced:
- DVD: True Fellowship with God!
- In-Depth Study: Daniel/Revelation
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 12/29/21
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