REVELATION LESSON 19

REVELATION

LESSON 19

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 11:4    ⁴ These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

The reference to the two witnesses as being symbolized by the two olive trees and the two lampstands probably has reference of being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Because the last seven years leading up to the second coming of Christ will be divided into two periods of 1,260 days each. There is some debate which of these two periods is in view here. The situation as described, however clearly corresponds to the great tribulation, when the holy place in the temple will be desecrated and the Jews will be under persecution.

In that time in the great tribulation where thousands have died as martyrs the two witnesses will emerge. They will not be able to kill the two witnesses, that will cause a new problem to immerge for those who are operating the world new government.

These two witnesses, obviously have unusual power, it will be comparable to the power of Elijah and some of the other prophets. They will be able to inflict plagues much as Moses did in Egypt. Because of the unusual character of these two witnesses a lot of speculation will arise as to just who they are.

The time will come when God is going to permit the witnesses to be overcome, but not before they have finished their testimony. They will be invincible. They will have supernatural powers from the word of God in their mouths. When their enemies try to harm them, their words will consume their enemies.

Their power will have unlimited power. They will be able to stop the rain from falling, turn water into blood, and smite the Earth with many different kinds of plagues. When the water turns to blood it will be unfit to drink and uninhabitable for the fish. There is no way of knowing what the other plagues they will do, but one thing is for sure this will not be the same Earth as we know it today.

Even though they will be supernaturally protected and nothing will harm them, they will be killed, the anti-Christ will hate these two witnesses. He will fail to cope with their condemnation of the world government, religion, social principles and the economic system. He will be infuriated when he hears them preaching about Jesus.

The Anti-Christ will be jealous of their number of converts. He will throw all his satanic governmental power at them. The witnesses will be overpowered and killed, but only because God allows it.

For three and one-half days their bodies will lay in the street, people from every tribe, language and nation will gaze on their dead bodies, these two prophets who had tormented them. They will refuse to bury them. The evil inhabitants of Earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts.

Because of the medium of television people all over the earth will be able to see their dead bodies. Many can see things all over the world because of the satellites the media uses in real time.

This is one more indication that we are coming closes to the end of the age.  Without the satellites it would not have been possible for the entire world to witness what happens. The word tells us that all wi8ll witness it.

According to verse 10, people throughout the world will enjoy a Christmas like celebration giving and receiving gifts because these preachers of righteousness and holiness are now dead.

After three and a half days, God will put the spirit of life into them and they will stand up on their feet. Just as our Lord was crucified, died, and in three days rose from the dead so will these witnesses. The world saw these men slain, knew they laid in the street decaying for three days, they will see them resurrected hear the voice of God then a cloud will receive them out of sight.

It is no wonder that great fear fell upon them that saw the resurrection. It will be the final confirmation that they were men of God. This is yet another illustration that God does not forget his own.

Until our next lesson,

Stay ready, stay in the word,

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 18

REVELATION

LESSON 18

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Some people say that we all worship the same God. These people need to get their heads out of the sand. Let me give a little insight on this subject.

Muslims worship the moon god of Mecca, called Allah.

Muslims say Allah is not love, but Christians say Jehovah is love.

Muslims say Allah is not a father, Christians call Jehovah their father.

Muslims say Allah cannot be known in a personal way, but Christians say that Jehovah can be known personally.

Muslims say Allah made a covenant with Abraham to give the promise land to Ishmael’s descendants, Christians and the Jewish people say Jehovah made a covenant with Abraham to give the promise land to Isaac and his descendants.

Muslims say Jesus was created from the dust like Adam, but Christians say Jesus was born of a virgin.

Muslims say Jesus was a messenger of God, Christians say Jesus is the son of God.

Muslims say Judas Iscariot died on the cross, Christians say Jesus died on the cross.

Muslims say their sins can be forgiven but they have to kill an infidel, (non-Muslim). Christians say Jesus’ blood washed away all of our sins.

Muslims believe in a messiah called the Mahdi, Christians the messiah is Jesus.

Muslims say the messiah will be a descendant of Mohammed, Christians and the Jewish people say the messiah will be a descendant of King David.

Muslims say the messiah will reign on earth for seven years and die, Christians say the real messiah will reign on earth for one thousand years and never die.

Muslims say their messiah will conquer Israel, Christians and Jewish believe he will rescue Israel.

Muslims believe in a great war at the end of the age called the mother of all battles, Christians call it the battle of Armageddon, the Jewish people call it the battle of all battles.

Jerusalem is considered the Holy City by Christians and Jews and Muslims alike. Jews consider it Holy because their temple was located there. Muslims consider it Holy because they believe Mohammed ascended into heaven from there.

Muslims worship on Friday, Jews worship on Saturday, and Christians worship on Sunday.

The militant Muslims chant that once they get rid of the Saturday people (Jews), we will get rid of the Sunday people (Christians).

This is just a few differences of what the Muslims believe, and what the Christians, and Jews believe.

Revelation 11:2 ½    ² 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.

Revelation 11:3   ³ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

In the old testament the mosaic Law required two witnesses to validate matters pertaining to Jewish religion. In that same way God will send two witnesses to prophesy and validate the worlds sin and blasphemy during the first half of the tribulation period.

The identities of these witnesses are unknown. The only two that I can think of that God raptured to heaven alive were Enoch and Elijah. Some think it will be Moses, but Moses died and God buried him.

Malachi 4:4   ⁴ Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Elijah is in heaven, but he will return to earth as one of the two witnesses. He and the second witness will stay and prophesy for the first three and a half years of the tribulation period.

Each witness is represented by one olive tree and one lampstand. It takes these two symbols to represent one person.

To understand this passage, we need to know what these symbols mean the answer to the olive trees is found in Zechariah 4:11-14.

Zechariah 4:11-14    ¹¹ Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

¹² And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

¹³ And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

¹⁴ Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The lampstands hold pots of burning oil that provide light. The two witnesses will be lampstands because they will provide light to a dark world. If you combine these two symbols each witness will be one olive tree filled with the Holy Spirit, and one lampstand giving off the light of God.

They will be two witnesses filled with the Holy spirit. Counteracting the forces of darkness in the world. This continue to show the grace of God during the tribulation period. God will go to great length to reach out to the Lost. To offer them blessings and to be their God.

Until our next lesson, 

Stay ready and stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESS0N 17

REVELATION

LESS0N 17

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 11:1-2   11 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.

² 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.

At the close of Chapter 10, john was commissioned to prophesy about many people, nations, tongues and kings; About the events, about the gentiles and about two particular people, called the two witnesses. More is given about the king who rules nations and the residents of heaven.

The bible speaks of four temples in Jerusalem. The first two temples, Solomon’s and Herod’s, have already been built and destroyed. The final two temples, the tribulation temple and the millennial temple are yet to be built. They are spoken of in great detail in biblical prophecy.

When God begins to close out the age, he will focus his attention on Israel and the temple. As we go over this it is good to recall the old testament prophecies, there are several passages of scripture referring to the temple in the end time.

Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation that Daniel the prophet spoke of. Indicating that at the end of time in the middle of the tribulation period a temple would be desecrated by the anti-Christ. In order for this to be fulfilled it must first be rebuilt. Paul predicted that the anti-Christ in the middle of the tribulation would defy God by sitting in the temple of God and presenting himself to the world as God.

In order for him to do this the temple has to be rebuilt. From this we learn that Israel will become the storm center of the world during the tribulation period. The nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem. She will be captured and half of the Jewish people will flee to exile.

This struggle over Jerusalem and the temple will trigger the second coming of Jesus Christ and the battle of Armageddon. Israel is Gods weapon of battle and he will use her to break the nations in pieces.

The struggle over Jerusalem is already underway. The Palestinian authority says Jerusalem will be the capital of their new Palestinian state. However, Israel is moving to make Jerusalem their capital.

The Jews want to build their new temple on the same site two old testament temples were built. Solomon’s and Herod’s. The preparation plans and building plans, the garments, musical instruments, the menorah and more are all prepared and ready to go.

The problem is the Palestinians want to keep this same site for their existing Al-Aqsa mosque and dome of the Rock Mosque. They indicate that moving or tearing one or both of these religious buildings down will trigger world war three.

The anti-Christ will work out a temporary peace plan. The tribulation temple will be rebuilt, but Jerusalem and the tribulation temple will be in the line of fire until the second coming of Christ Jesus.

This temple must be rebuilt before the tribulation period midpoint, because that is when the anti-Christ will defile it. So it seems somewhat clear that the temple will be rebuilt during the first half of the tribulation period.

If the Muslims could stop the Jews from rebuilding the temple on the temple mount they would. The world leaders at this time will designate it as an international site to be shared by everyone.

John was given a reed and told to measure the tribulation temple. Measure the alter and count the worshipers. This is significant because in the last days the temple and one of its two original alters will be rebuilt. The rebuilt alter was called the alter of Gold or the alter of incense.

The alter was located inside the temple. The alter that will not be rebuilt was called the bronze alter. It will not be rebuilt because it was located outside in the outer court. The gentiles will rule the outer court.

Well until the next lesson, stay in the word, be ready for what God has planned for our lives.

Brother Andy.