Tag: come up here
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.
The Glory of Heaven’s Throne!
Scripture reading for December 6th: Ezra 7-10, Psalm 97, Revelation 4
Revelation 4:1-4 “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne. And He Who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. . . “
John, after receiving personal messages from Jesus Christ for each of the seven churches, describes how he next saw an open door in heaven. As he beheld this door, a voice called to him (like a trumpet) commanding that he come up through the door. Immediately, John was in the Spirit and transported to the throne room of heaven. His attention was focused on the One seated there, clothed in radiant splendor like precious jewels. Around that throne were twenty-four other thrones occupied by twenty-four elders, clothed in white with crowns. This scene was marked by worship from these elders and four living creatures guarding and serving God’s throne. ,
Psalm 97:1-3 “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries all around.”
Prayer: Father God, I am in awe of Your glorious throne! Thank You for promising Your church an open door that no man can shut! Thank You for promising those who overcome the right to sit with You on Your throne and for the white robe of Your righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ and the crown of life eternal! Open doors here for sharing this Good News that more may be crowned and clothed!
Ezra 7:27-28 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, Who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and Who extended to me His steadfast love before the king and his counselors, before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”
The two witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Revelation 11
Key Scriptures: Revelation 11:9-12 “For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and 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 up 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. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake and were terrified and gave glory to God.”
Next John was given a measuring line and told to ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those that worship there, . . .” (Revelation 11:1-2) God told him that he was granting authority to two witnesses to prophesy on the earth for 1260 days. They would stand before the throne of God with power to call down fire on their foes and to shut up the heavens that it would not rain. At the end of this set time, the beast from the bottomless pit would be allowed to kill them. Their dead bodies would lie in the street and be a reason for those on earth to celebrate their deaths, since their ministry had tormented them. Then suddenly, God was going to resurrect them and call them to come to heaven! They would be caught up before the eyes of the earth dwellers! Their celebration would be quickly turned to fear and desperate worship. An earthquake would shake the holy city and 7000 people would be killed! Then the announcement of the Kingdom of Christ came, bringing down the kingdom of this world!
Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, Lord of heaven and earth, You alone are worthy of worship and praise and total obedience! Thank You for Your witnesses throughout history and here in the last of the last days. Use me to be Your witness to my generation in the power of Your Holy Spirit, that none would be lost or killed in Your judgments. Like the two witnesses that John saw, I look for Your call to “Come up here!”
Revelation 11:19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.”