THE TWO MARTYRS
Text: Revelation 11:1-13
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.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
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.
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.
13 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.
1. The Martyrs’ Ministry (vv. 1-6)
1) Preaching ministry (v. 3)
- The word prophesy means to
- v. 4 – The two olive trees and lampstands are symbols that point back to the book of Zechariah. The two witnesses are not Joshua and Zerubbabel but they have a similar ministry.
- Just as Joshua and Zerubbabel preached a message and led in a national restoration even so will these two witnesses of Revelation 11 preach a message of restoration and return. They will help prepare a nation for temple worship not in the tribulation but in the millennium.
2) Team ministry (v. 3)
- God sent the Jews two witnesses, two olive trees, two lampstands, that they might
3) Powerful ministry (vv. 3, 5-6)
- They have the authority to preach for 1260 days (3 ½ years). For 3 ½ years they and their message is
- So, who are these guys? These two witnesses?
-It’s best to simply say that we don’t know who they are or will be. But, they will have power to perform miracles that are characteristic of Elijah and Moses.
2. The Morbid Death (v. 7-10)
- v. 7 – And when they have finished their testimony, witness, message, the Beast (Antichrist) will kill them and then leave their bodies in the streets.
- This is an act of disdain and disrespect. Within days their bodies will be decomposing, bloating, etc.
- vv. 9-10 – The people of the world will rejoice at their deaths.
- It will be like
3. The Miraculous Intervention (vv. 11-13)
- The two dead bodies, decomposing, rotting, have the breath of Life breathed into them and they stand up.
- People are fearing what they see and freaking out, and all of the sudden they hear the voice God, “Come up hither.” (cf. 4:1)
They ascend in the sight of all peoples in cloud of glory. This rapture is visible.
The remnant that is left following the earthquake were affrighted. They were terrified and gave glory to God from a