The Two Witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 15: Revelation 11
“”. . And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut up the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages ad nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.” (Revelation 11:3-12)
I recorded a larger portion of this because it was so interesting. Considering the two witnesses, the church fathers likened them to Moses and Elijah, the lawgiver and the prophet. These witnesses are also tied to Christ’s Church, which was given the calling to be His witnesses on earth. They were anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, being empowered by God like the ‘two olive trees’. They were likened to lampstands, shining in the darkness revealing the light of Christ Jesus. These two witnesses, when finished with their called ministry, were killed for their faith. Their bodies were let lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days while people rejoiced. Then God raised them up and called them to heaven. A cloud of glory received them as the mockers watched.
How does the prophesy of these two witnesses help you to understand the spiritual war going on today? Why would people rejoice over godly people dying? What other event of Scripture comes to mind?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the example of these two witnesses and the courage that they demonstrate because of faith in Jesus Christ. I wait in hope to hear “Come up here!” Amen.
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