The Judgments on Earth
The second of three studies of The Revelation of Jesus Christ
by Paige Ramsey
“The Angel, the Book, and Two Witnesses” – Lesson 6
We are now looking at the last half of the Great Tribulation.
During the Great Tribulation, there are twenty-one judgments inflicted on the earth: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. The seven seals on the scroll that contains the title deed to the earth are opened, and with each seal’s opening, a judgment commences. The seventh seal reveals seven angels, each with a trumpet, and with each trumpet blast, a judgment commences. The seventh trumpet blast reveals seven more angels, each with a bowl, and as each bowl is poured out, a judgment commences.
During these judgments, there are three interludes – or parenthetical events – one after the sixth seal, one after the sixth trumpet, and one after the sixth bowl. During the first interlude, God put a seal on 144,000 Jewish missionaries to protect them from the devastating judgments to come. During this interlude, two events are described. First, an angel with a little book appears.
Revelation 10:1-10 – The Mighty Angel with the Little Book
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write
them.”
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who
created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel,
when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
John Eats the Little Book
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Who is the Mighty Angel?
There are two thoughts about who the angel in chapter 10 really is.
1. This “angel” is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are ten very plausible reasons
given to support this viewpoint:
a. Like “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament, this angel is a
theophanic[1] appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. Like the angel in chapter nine, this angel comes down from heaven.
However, Satan fell, while this angel descends.
c. This angel is clothed with a cloud. Almighty God and Jesus have
always been depicted with clouds: the pillar of cloud by day, God called
to Moses from a cloud on Mt. Sinai, the shekinah cloud of God’s glory
filled the tabernacle & the temple, Jesus was received by a cloud when
He ascended, Jesus will come with clouds at His Second Coming. See
Ex. 13:21; 24:16; 40:34; Acts 1:9, Rev. 1:7
d. He has a rainbow upon His head. See Rev. 4:3; Gen. 9:13, 14, 15; Eze.
1:28
e. His face is as the sun. See Rev. 1:12
f. His feet are like pillars of fire. See Rev. 1:15
g. He holds in His hand an open book. Supporters of this viewpoint say
this is the same book as the book with seven seals, which Jesus has
opened and is still holding.
h. His feet are on the earth and the sea. This is a picture of possession.
See Ps. 22:1-4
i. His voice is like a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
All creation trembles when the lion roars.
j. He is a swearing angel – angels do not swear, yet this angel swears “by
Him who lives forever and ever.”
2. This is simply another special mighty angel. There are three convincing
reasons for this viewpoint:
a. The word “allos” means “another of the same kind,” indicating this
angel is one of the same kind of angels who are blowing the seven
trumpets.
b. This angel comes down out of heaven, but Christ only comes at the
incarnation, the rapture, and the revelation (or Second Coming).
c. The word “little” describing the book differentiates it from the previous
book with seven seals.
The Mystery of the Seven Thunders
There isn’t much to say concerning the Seven Thunders. Why? You may ask. Who are the seven thunders? What did the seven thunders say? We do not know. This is one of the things we will not know until we sit and learn at the feet of Jesus. There are many such mysteries in God’s Word. Such as, “If God knew man was going to sin, why did He create man in the first place?” The same question could be asked about Lucifer, who was the most glorious angel God created. These questions are meant to be mysteries, and we are meant to trust God by faith – not to have to know and understand everything as we live on this earth.
An infidel asked Oliver Green one time: “If God is so powerful and
the devil is so evil, why didn’t God just kill the devil?” To which Oliver
Green responded, “It ain’t none o’ your business. Your business is to
obey the Lord and to keep His commandments. Ecc. 12:13.”[i]
The Little Book
What is the little book? I personally believe this book is the Word of God. As the Word of God, this book would also fulfill the requirements for the angel to be the Lord Himself, because the Word of God contains the title deed to this earth. Jesus is named the creator and owns this world by right of creation (John 1:1-3). The earth was given to Adam to care for it, but Adam lost his right of ownership when he chose to serve Satan, and made Satan the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). Then, Jesus defeated Satan when He rose again (Heb. 2:14). Jesus has the keys of
Sheol and death (Revelation 1:18). So, it contains the title deed to the earth.
Also, God’s Word contains both sweet and bitter. While it contains the promises of God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which will bring salvation and life eternal, it also contains the judgments of God upon this earth and upon all humankind in sin.
God’s Word is the only book I know that is said to be eaten. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Hebrews 6:5 says, “…and have tasted the good word of God…” Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” According to John 1, Jesus is the Word, and according to John 6, Jesus is the Bread of Life. By the logic rule if a=b and b=c, then a=c, the Word is the Bread of Life.
God’s Word is difficult to live by in this world. It is difficult to stand upon God’s Word as your authority because people in this world do not recognize it as the Word of God Almighty. God’s Word is sweet to those of us who have put our trust in the Lord Jesus, and yet it can be bitter to live by the Word in this world. We are strangers here, because we are not of this world – we have been born again into the Spiritual world, the kingdom of God, and we are looking to that place as our
home.
[1] Theophany – Manifestation of God that is tangible to the human senses. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament period often, but not always, in human form. … The Lord appears in theophanies both to bless and to judge. A frequent introduction for theophanies may be seen in the words, "The Lord came down." Examples may be found in Genesis 11:5, Exodus 34:5, Number 11:25, and Numbers 12:5. (Elwell, Walter A. "Entry for 'Theophany'". Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 1997.)
[i] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., D.D.S., Sermon: “The Angel and the Book,” 11 October 2009.
During the Great Tribulation, there are twenty-one judgments inflicted on the earth: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. The seven seals on the scroll that contains the title deed to the earth are opened, and with each seal’s opening, a judgment commences. The seventh seal reveals seven angels, each with a trumpet, and with each trumpet blast, a judgment commences. The seventh trumpet blast reveals seven more angels, each with a bowl, and as each bowl is poured out, a judgment commences.
During these judgments, there are three interludes – or parenthetical events – one after the sixth seal, one after the sixth trumpet, and one after the sixth bowl. During the first interlude, God put a seal on 144,000 Jewish missionaries to protect them from the devastating judgments to come. During this interlude, two events are described. First, an angel with a little book appears.
Revelation 10:1-10 – The Mighty Angel with the Little Book
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write
them.”
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who
created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel,
when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
John Eats the Little Book
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Who is the Mighty Angel?
There are two thoughts about who the angel in chapter 10 really is.
1. This “angel” is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are ten very plausible reasons
given to support this viewpoint:
a. Like “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament, this angel is a
theophanic[1] appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. Like the angel in chapter nine, this angel comes down from heaven.
However, Satan fell, while this angel descends.
c. This angel is clothed with a cloud. Almighty God and Jesus have
always been depicted with clouds: the pillar of cloud by day, God called
to Moses from a cloud on Mt. Sinai, the shekinah cloud of God’s glory
filled the tabernacle & the temple, Jesus was received by a cloud when
He ascended, Jesus will come with clouds at His Second Coming. See
Ex. 13:21; 24:16; 40:34; Acts 1:9, Rev. 1:7
d. He has a rainbow upon His head. See Rev. 4:3; Gen. 9:13, 14, 15; Eze.
1:28
e. His face is as the sun. See Rev. 1:12
f. His feet are like pillars of fire. See Rev. 1:15
g. He holds in His hand an open book. Supporters of this viewpoint say
this is the same book as the book with seven seals, which Jesus has
opened and is still holding.
h. His feet are on the earth and the sea. This is a picture of possession.
See Ps. 22:1-4
i. His voice is like a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
All creation trembles when the lion roars.
j. He is a swearing angel – angels do not swear, yet this angel swears “by
Him who lives forever and ever.”
2. This is simply another special mighty angel. There are three convincing
reasons for this viewpoint:
a. The word “allos” means “another of the same kind,” indicating this
angel is one of the same kind of angels who are blowing the seven
trumpets.
b. This angel comes down out of heaven, but Christ only comes at the
incarnation, the rapture, and the revelation (or Second Coming).
c. The word “little” describing the book differentiates it from the previous
book with seven seals.
The Mystery of the Seven Thunders
There isn’t much to say concerning the Seven Thunders. Why? You may ask. Who are the seven thunders? What did the seven thunders say? We do not know. This is one of the things we will not know until we sit and learn at the feet of Jesus. There are many such mysteries in God’s Word. Such as, “If God knew man was going to sin, why did He create man in the first place?” The same question could be asked about Lucifer, who was the most glorious angel God created. These questions are meant to be mysteries, and we are meant to trust God by faith – not to have to know and understand everything as we live on this earth.
An infidel asked Oliver Green one time: “If God is so powerful and
the devil is so evil, why didn’t God just kill the devil?” To which Oliver
Green responded, “It ain’t none o’ your business. Your business is to
obey the Lord and to keep His commandments. Ecc. 12:13.”[i]
The Little Book
What is the little book? I personally believe this book is the Word of God. As the Word of God, this book would also fulfill the requirements for the angel to be the Lord Himself, because the Word of God contains the title deed to this earth. Jesus is named the creator and owns this world by right of creation (John 1:1-3). The earth was given to Adam to care for it, but Adam lost his right of ownership when he chose to serve Satan, and made Satan the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). Then, Jesus defeated Satan when He rose again (Heb. 2:14). Jesus has the keys of
Sheol and death (Revelation 1:18). So, it contains the title deed to the earth.
Also, God’s Word contains both sweet and bitter. While it contains the promises of God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which will bring salvation and life eternal, it also contains the judgments of God upon this earth and upon all humankind in sin.
God’s Word is the only book I know that is said to be eaten. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Hebrews 6:5 says, “…and have tasted the good word of God…” Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” According to John 1, Jesus is the Word, and according to John 6, Jesus is the Bread of Life. By the logic rule if a=b and b=c, then a=c, the Word is the Bread of Life.
God’s Word is difficult to live by in this world. It is difficult to stand upon God’s Word as your authority because people in this world do not recognize it as the Word of God Almighty. God’s Word is sweet to those of us who have put our trust in the Lord Jesus, and yet it can be bitter to live by the Word in this world. We are strangers here, because we are not of this world – we have been born again into the Spiritual world, the kingdom of God, and we are looking to that place as our
home.
[1] Theophany – Manifestation of God that is tangible to the human senses. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament period often, but not always, in human form. … The Lord appears in theophanies both to bless and to judge. A frequent introduction for theophanies may be seen in the words, "The Lord came down." Examples may be found in Genesis 11:5, Exodus 34:5, Number 11:25, and Numbers 12:5. (Elwell, Walter A. "Entry for 'Theophany'". Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 1997.)
[i] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., D.D.S., Sermon: “The Angel and the Book,” 11 October 2009.
The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:1-14
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of
heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The Rebuilding of the Temple of God – Revelation 11:1-2
There are six Temples of God:
1. The Heavenly Temple (the pattern that Moses used to build the Tabernacle)
Revelation 15:5; Hebrews 8:1-5
2. Solomon’s Temple (built in 445 B.C. – destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587
B.C.)
3. Zerubbabel’s Temple (rebuilt in 536 B.C. – destroyed in 168 B.C.)
4. Herod’s Temple (Zerubbabel’s Temple refurbished – destroyed by Titus in 70
A.D.)
5. The Great Tribulation Temple (Revelation 11:1-2) 2 Thess 2:1-4 – The
Antichrist will sit in this Temple.
6. The Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40 – 43; Acts 15:16)
The only reason the Jews do not sacrifice animals today is because they do not have a temple. When the Anti-christ comes, he will deceive the Jews into thinking he is their Messiah, build a temple in Jerusalem, and begin the sacrificing rituals once again. This is referred to as the abomination of desolation. By beginning the sacrifices, the Jews, led by the Anti-christ will blaspheme God because they will be finally and completely rejecting the Lord’s death as payment for their sins.
Daniel 9:24-27 – Seventy weeks of years = 490 years; 483 years until Christ (one week of 7 years is left, and will be accomplished in the Great Tribulation)
Rev. 11:2 – 42 months = 3½ years; Rev. 11:3 – 1,260 days = 3½ years; Rev. 12:14 – Time, times, and half a time = 3½ years; Dan. 7:25 – Time and times and the dividing of times = 3 ½ years.
Remember, a Solar Year = 365 days; Lunar Year = 360 days. The two witnesses will be put into place during the first 3½ years of the tribulation. The length of their ministry is 3½ years using the Jewish calculation of Lunar years.
Who are these Two Witnesses? – Zechariah 4:1-14
Some people believe Enoch & Elijah will be the two witnesses because neither of them died. Enoch walked with God and was taken – no death, no body (Gen. 5:24). Elijah was taken in a chariot – no death, no body (2 Kings 2:11). Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” However, we do not need to take this to mean that every person must die, nor that no one will ever die more than once. Besides Enoch and Elijah, according to 1 Thes. 4:17, there will be living Believers who will never taste of death when Christ
returns. Also, the widow’s son died and Elijah prayed for God to restore his life. As his life progressed, this boy became a man, but eventually he died again. Other accounts of those who died more than once would include Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, and Tabitha.
I personally believe the two witnesses are Moses & Elijah. I believe this for several
reasons:
1. Moses and Elijah met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
What was that meeting all about? Why was it Moses and Elijah?
2. Notice the clue in Rev. 11:6 – they have power to stop the rain and to turn
water into blood. According to 1 Kings 17 and James 5:17-18, Elijah prayed for
no rain and it did not rain for three and a half years (could this 3½ year
reference also be a clue?). – In Exodus 7:10, Moses turned water into blood.
3. We know that Elijah did not see death for he was taken up in a chariot. Moses
did die (Deut. 34:4-5), and according to Jude 9, Moses’ burial is in question as
Michael the archangel and Satan had an argument over the body of Moses.
What happened to the body of Moses and why was it a controversy?
Other verses to study out: Matt. 17:10-13; John 1:10-23; Luke 1:17; Malachi 3:1;
4:1-5
These two witnesses will not be popular with the unregenerate people of the earth during this time. The witnesses will be proclaiming God’s Word, God’s impending wrath, and God’s judgments, and these testimonies will torment the people for they will refuse to repent, building anger and resentment against God and God’s agenda.
People will try to kill these witnesses and will be killed instead by the fire that comes from their mouths, creating an ominous fear. I envision the fire-breathing dragons that the movie industry depicts; only these are fire-breathing men! Bullets will not harm them, but the fire proceeding from their mouths will find the sharp shooters and snipers on the S.W.A.T. team who are a long way from their target.
The Death of the Two Witnesses
It is comforting to know that death cannot occur until God is finished with a life. If God has a purpose for you to accomplish, you are protected until that purpose is fulfilled! Only when their testimony has been given sufficiently, so that no one is without opportunity to hear their message, will God allow them to be killed. The Beast (anti-christ) will now pounce upon the opportunity to show off his power and kill them, earning great credit and followship from the people.
This event will make international news and will be carried over all the major networks of the world. The celebrations will be grand! Street dances and booze parties will break out everywhere. “Christmas will be replaced with this event! People who no longer celebrate the birth of Christ, will give gifts to one another in honor of the death of the two terrifying witnesses!”[ii]
The Resurrection and Ascension of the Two Witnesses
Of course, this isn’t the end of Moses and Elijah (or whoever the witnesses might be). After lying in the street for three and a half days, God will resuscitate them. Can you imagine the fear and dread of seeing these powerful witnesses rise once more after all the celebrating that has taken place over their dead bodies? Then, when their restored life has become known, God Almighty speaks from the third heaven and calls them home while sending a great earthquake to commemorate the occasion. The voice of God – what an awesome sound that will be! The Word of God says that now, even these degenerate people will glorify God! They will recognize God’s power and might, which is far superior to that of their chosen leader, the Beast.
Prepare
The seventh trumpet is about to sound and the judgments will continue during this last half of the Great Tribulation.
[ii] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., D.D.S., Sermon: “The Two Witnesses,” 18 October 2009.
Revelation 11:1-14
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of
heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The Rebuilding of the Temple of God – Revelation 11:1-2
There are six Temples of God:
1. The Heavenly Temple (the pattern that Moses used to build the Tabernacle)
Revelation 15:5; Hebrews 8:1-5
2. Solomon’s Temple (built in 445 B.C. – destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587
B.C.)
3. Zerubbabel’s Temple (rebuilt in 536 B.C. – destroyed in 168 B.C.)
4. Herod’s Temple (Zerubbabel’s Temple refurbished – destroyed by Titus in 70
A.D.)
5. The Great Tribulation Temple (Revelation 11:1-2) 2 Thess 2:1-4 – The
Antichrist will sit in this Temple.
6. The Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40 – 43; Acts 15:16)
The only reason the Jews do not sacrifice animals today is because they do not have a temple. When the Anti-christ comes, he will deceive the Jews into thinking he is their Messiah, build a temple in Jerusalem, and begin the sacrificing rituals once again. This is referred to as the abomination of desolation. By beginning the sacrifices, the Jews, led by the Anti-christ will blaspheme God because they will be finally and completely rejecting the Lord’s death as payment for their sins.
Daniel 9:24-27 – Seventy weeks of years = 490 years; 483 years until Christ (one week of 7 years is left, and will be accomplished in the Great Tribulation)
Rev. 11:2 – 42 months = 3½ years; Rev. 11:3 – 1,260 days = 3½ years; Rev. 12:14 – Time, times, and half a time = 3½ years; Dan. 7:25 – Time and times and the dividing of times = 3 ½ years.
Remember, a Solar Year = 365 days; Lunar Year = 360 days. The two witnesses will be put into place during the first 3½ years of the tribulation. The length of their ministry is 3½ years using the Jewish calculation of Lunar years.
Who are these Two Witnesses? – Zechariah 4:1-14
Some people believe Enoch & Elijah will be the two witnesses because neither of them died. Enoch walked with God and was taken – no death, no body (Gen. 5:24). Elijah was taken in a chariot – no death, no body (2 Kings 2:11). Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” However, we do not need to take this to mean that every person must die, nor that no one will ever die more than once. Besides Enoch and Elijah, according to 1 Thes. 4:17, there will be living Believers who will never taste of death when Christ
returns. Also, the widow’s son died and Elijah prayed for God to restore his life. As his life progressed, this boy became a man, but eventually he died again. Other accounts of those who died more than once would include Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, and Tabitha.
I personally believe the two witnesses are Moses & Elijah. I believe this for several
reasons:
1. Moses and Elijah met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
What was that meeting all about? Why was it Moses and Elijah?
2. Notice the clue in Rev. 11:6 – they have power to stop the rain and to turn
water into blood. According to 1 Kings 17 and James 5:17-18, Elijah prayed for
no rain and it did not rain for three and a half years (could this 3½ year
reference also be a clue?). – In Exodus 7:10, Moses turned water into blood.
3. We know that Elijah did not see death for he was taken up in a chariot. Moses
did die (Deut. 34:4-5), and according to Jude 9, Moses’ burial is in question as
Michael the archangel and Satan had an argument over the body of Moses.
What happened to the body of Moses and why was it a controversy?
Other verses to study out: Matt. 17:10-13; John 1:10-23; Luke 1:17; Malachi 3:1;
4:1-5
These two witnesses will not be popular with the unregenerate people of the earth during this time. The witnesses will be proclaiming God’s Word, God’s impending wrath, and God’s judgments, and these testimonies will torment the people for they will refuse to repent, building anger and resentment against God and God’s agenda.
People will try to kill these witnesses and will be killed instead by the fire that comes from their mouths, creating an ominous fear. I envision the fire-breathing dragons that the movie industry depicts; only these are fire-breathing men! Bullets will not harm them, but the fire proceeding from their mouths will find the sharp shooters and snipers on the S.W.A.T. team who are a long way from their target.
The Death of the Two Witnesses
It is comforting to know that death cannot occur until God is finished with a life. If God has a purpose for you to accomplish, you are protected until that purpose is fulfilled! Only when their testimony has been given sufficiently, so that no one is without opportunity to hear their message, will God allow them to be killed. The Beast (anti-christ) will now pounce upon the opportunity to show off his power and kill them, earning great credit and followship from the people.
This event will make international news and will be carried over all the major networks of the world. The celebrations will be grand! Street dances and booze parties will break out everywhere. “Christmas will be replaced with this event! People who no longer celebrate the birth of Christ, will give gifts to one another in honor of the death of the two terrifying witnesses!”[ii]
The Resurrection and Ascension of the Two Witnesses
Of course, this isn’t the end of Moses and Elijah (or whoever the witnesses might be). After lying in the street for three and a half days, God will resuscitate them. Can you imagine the fear and dread of seeing these powerful witnesses rise once more after all the celebrating that has taken place over their dead bodies? Then, when their restored life has become known, God Almighty speaks from the third heaven and calls them home while sending a great earthquake to commemorate the occasion. The voice of God – what an awesome sound that will be! The Word of God says that now, even these degenerate people will glorify God! They will recognize God’s power and might, which is far superior to that of their chosen leader, the Beast.
Prepare
The seventh trumpet is about to sound and the judgments will continue during this last half of the Great Tribulation.
[ii] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., D.D.S., Sermon: “The Two Witnesses,” 18 October 2009.