God’s Final Warning

Daniel 11 tells us that the Antichrist will seize control of the global government half way through the Tribulation.  Even during that period, God will still be working in people’s hearts, as described in Revelation 11:1-3.  “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” 

When he comes to power, the Antichrist will break the treaty with Israel, taking over Jerusalem and defiling the Temple for forty two months or three and a half years.  During that same forty two months, God’s two witnesses will prophesy in Jerusalem, but their message will be heard around the world.  Revelation 11:4 describes their ministry.  “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”

During the first three and half years of the Tribulation, the hundred forty four thousand will build the temple and teach the Jews to worship God.  When the Antichrist takes over, they will be forced to flee, as Jesus described in Matthew 24.  Much like Elijah prophesying to Ahab and Jezebel, these two witnesses will stand against the Antichrist and the false prophet.  Like Elijah, they will do miraculous things to show that they are in fact from God.  Some have speculated that they may in fact be Elijah and John, based on the fact that Elijah was still alive when he was caught up into heaven, and Jesus’ statement in Matthew 16:28.  “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”  This could be what Revelation 10:11refers to since there is no actual record of John’s death.  “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” 

Like Elijah, the two witnesses will be hated by the powers of his day, and will eventually be killed, as described in Revelation 11:7-10.  “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”

The death of the two witnesses will be taken as proof they have eliminated God’s power by Satan and his followers.  They will leave the bodies lying in the street as proof of their success, broadcasting pictures around the world.  Three and a half days later, the dead bodies will come back to life, terrifying the people in Jerusalem, according to Revelation 11:11.  “And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”  The fear will intensify when God calls them into heaven, in Revelation 11:12.  “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Immediately, there will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem, killing seven thousand people, and the survivors will recognize it is God’s power, as Revelation 11:13 states.  “And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”  The death and resurrection of the two witnesses seems to occur about the end of the time described in the Revelation 9:14-21, when a third of the earth’s population will be killed, as Revelation 11:14 tells us.  “Re 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.”

Revelation 10:7 told us, “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”  With the killing of the two witnesses, mankind has made it very clear they will not seek the Lord despite his efforts to warn them.  Now he will move to end their rebellion forever, setting up his own kingdom.  Those who are in heaven will be pleased that he has finally stopped Satanic power, as Revelation 11:15-19 describes.  “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

While those in heaven are rejoicing, natural disasters continue on the earth.  Revelation 11:19 states, “…and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”