Tag: two witnesses
Honor and discipline of elders!
Scripture reading for July 1st: 1st Kings 9, 2nd Chronicles 8, 1st Timothy 5
1st Timothy 5: 17-19 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”
The ‘elders’ in a church family are not necessarily old people. They are those set apart by God for spiritual leadership and specifically preaching and teaching the Word of God. This is a high calling and requires dedication and time spent with the Word of God and our Lord. These who work in this calling should have the double honor of compensation and respect for God’s calling and placing them in leadership as HIs servants. However, when there is flagrant sin in the life of an ‘elder’, the sin must be verified by two or three witnesses and an attempt made to confront and bring repentance. If sin persists, the church must be told and the elder publicly rebuked. God is not partial and neither should His church be.
1st Timothy 5:20 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for calling elders to serve the Church, Your Body on earth. May I always honor the leadership You provide in giving respect and in giving to support them. As an elder, may I always be worthy of ‘double honor’ because I live humbly before You and do all things to Your glory, without partiality or prejudging.
1st Kings 9:6-7 “But if you turn aside from following Me, you or your children, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for My Name I will cast out of My sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”
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.”
Two witnesses and the seventh Trumpet!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Revelation 11
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:1-3)
John was put to work in his vision. He was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple in Jerusalem, the city where “our Lord was crucified.” Measuring in the prophetic literature has to do with spiritual evaluation for judgment or for reward. God would evaluate those in His house for true worship and exclude those who would trample His holy city. A set time was given for their trampling: forty-two months. This is in line with the prophesy of Daniel 7:25 where the “little horn” will oppress the saints for “a time, times and half a time.”
During this time, two witnesses chosen by God will prophesy, clothed in sackcloth. They are clothed in sackcloth as a sign of mourning for the judgments that they are bringing. They are given power by the Holy Spirit to strike their enemies and bring drought and plagues on the earth. When they are finished with their testimony, they will be killed by the beast. Their bodies will lie in the street for three and a half days while people of the earth celebrate their deaths. Then, suddenly, they will be resurrected and caught up to heaven in the clouds! A great earthquake will strike the city and 7000 people die and others terrified.
The seventh angel then sounds his trumpet and announces: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15) The climax all heaven has waited for has come!
The two witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 20th: Revelation 11:1-19
God’s love for mankind always goes the extra mile. He sent His Son into the world to seek and save lost people. He sent the Church into all the world to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. During the great tribulation, God will send two witnesses to the world with supernatural power to declare His power one final time to those still living in rebellion on the earth.
“”And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lamp-stands that stand before the Lord of the earth.. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have the power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” (Revelation 11:3-6)
The identity of these two witnesses has been debated by many over the years. Some think that Enoch and Elijah would be good candidates since neither one died, but were taken to heaven by miraculous means. Others think the description of their powers make Elijah and Moses better possibilities. These witnesses will have supernatural power similar to those exercised by these Old Testament prophets. They will bring judgments on the earth to demonstrate God’s absolute power over nature and people’s futility to resist Him.
“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.” These powerful witnesses will be killed at the end of the 1,260 days set by God. The peoples of the earth will think they won for three and a half days. Then, miraculously, the breath of Life enters them and they hear a voice from heaven, “Come up here!” God demonstrates again His power over death for His saints!
Dealing with offense!
Scripture reading for January 26th: Matthew 18, Psalm 18:20-29, Proverbs 4:24-27
One of the major disruptions in our relationship with others and with God comes from human conflict. We get offended when someone says or does something that violates us or one we love. Instead of dealing with it in the biblical way outlined in Matthew 18, we often take matters into our own hands and either ignore that person, speak evil of them to others, or get revenge in some way. Today we want to remind ourselves of God’s way of resolving offenses.
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ But if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuse to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17)
Jesus taught His followers the proper way to resolve sin issues with another person. The first step anyone should take is to pray and examine one’s own heart. Jesus had just gotten through dealing with the disciples on who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Pride and lording it over others often causes conflict and offense. He told them that to offend one of the little children by our actions was a very dangerous thing for us and them! (Matthew 18:5-9) The next step was to go to the brother who had sinned against you and show him his fault. This matter was to be settled with as few people involved as possible. Going in a humble attitude and appealing to the person should bring a resolution.
If this did not work, then we should enlist the help of two or three others of mature character. Another discrete meeting with these witnesses and the offenders was to establish the facts and appeal for resolution. If this did not work, the church should be brought together and the offender again appealed to. Refusal here would result in expulsion from membership. God’s desire in all this was forgiveness and restoration. The ultimate goal of expulsion would be restoration and healing! Let’s follow the Bible!
The scroll and two witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 27th: Revelation 10-11
“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.” (Revelation 10:1-3 ) John was about to write, but a voice told him not to. This angel told him there would be no more delay. The seventh trumpet would sound and accomplish the mystery of God.
The voice again spoke to John and instructed him to take the scroll from the mighty angel and eat it. It would be sweet initially, but turn sour. This scroll was the final judgments of God to be prophesied by John about many nations and peoples. God spoke similar words to Ezekiel when he sent him to speak to the rebellious house of Israel. (Ezekiel 2:8-3:7) Being a prophet, God’s word is always sweet to those who love it. When no one responds, it turns sour in the stomach and becomes ground for God’s judgment!
God then told John to measure the temple, but exclude the court of Gentiles. He explained that it would be trampled for 42 months. During this time, God would send two special witnesses to preach for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They would be supernaturally protected until their time was over and then they would die. After three and a half days, God would raise them up and take them to heaven in a cloud in front of their enemies. A great earthquake would destroy a tenth of the city and kill 7000 people! (Revelation 11:1-13)
These two witnesses have caused much discussion among Christians. Some feel that Enoch and Elijah will come back as these witnesses since they did not die. Enoch was snatched up in the time before the flood and was a prophet of the second coming. (Jude 14-15) Elijah called fire from heaven. Moses also is mentioned as a possibility since he was used in the judgments on Egypt. God does give all men time and opportunity to repent and also supernatural signs. Men are without excuse!
The two witnesses!
Scripture reading for December 20th: Revelation 11:1-19
God’s love for mankind always goes the extra mile. He sent His Son into the world to seek and save lost people. He sent the Church into all the world to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. During the great tribulation, God will send two witnesses to the world with supernatural power to declare His power one final time to those still living in rebellion on the earth.
“”And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lamp-stands that stand before the Lord of the earth.. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have the power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” (Revelation 11:3-6)
The identity of these two witnesses has been debated by many over the years. Some think that Enoch and Elijah would be good candidates since neither one died, but were taken to heaven by miraculous means. Others think the description of their powers make Elijah and Moses better possibilities. These witnesses will have supernatural power similar to those exercised by these Old Testament prophets. They will bring judgments on the earth to demonstrate God’s absolute power over nature and people’s futility to resist Him.
“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.” These powerful witnesses will be killed at the end of the 1,260 days set by God. The peoples of the earth will think they won for three and a half days. Then, miraculously, the breath of life enters them and they hear a voice from heaven, “Come up here!” God demonstrates again His power over death for His saints!
Just judgments: Jesus and the Father!
Scripture reading for May 14th: John 8:1-20
When we think of going before a judge to face charges, our hearts race knowing that our future and fate is bound up in the decision of one in authority. We have no control over how they will rule and often we doubt that they will be fair. We all will have to face judgment as believers and a different judgment if we are not a believer. Jesus Christ will be the judge, but we do not have to fear any injustice!
As Jesus was again teaching in the Temple, the Pharisees brought a woman to Him who had been caught in the very act of adultery. “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him.” (John 8:4-5) These men were intent on tripping up Jesus, but Jesus took his finger and began to write in the dust of the ground. After being pressed for an answer, Jesus replied, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
As Jesus continued to write in the dust, all the accusers left and the woman was there with Jesus. Finally, Jesus stood up and addressed the woman. “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Sir,” she replied. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10-11)
Jesus skillfully turned the tables on these religious Jews who were trying to trap Him. Jesus is a capable judge and knows everything about each person. His judgments are just and true because they come from the Father who also knows everything. These two witnesses, Jesus and the Father, are always trustworthy and perfect. (John 8:14-18) Jesus would rather show mercy on one who was humble and repentant than to judge. He came to pay the penalty for sin and open the door to mercy for everyone who believes.
As believers, we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive reward for the deeds done in our body. (2nd Corinthians 5:10) Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne and be justly judged. (Revelation 20:11-14) Each judgment will be just and true!