The two and the 144,000 witnesses

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Temple of God

Rev 11:1 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.

This is a rebuilt temple, that will be in place when the antichrist rules. There are plans now to rebuild the temple and to once again have animal sacrifices. The sacrifices are not God's will, for Jesus was the last accepted sacrifice; His blood shed for our sins. The angel said rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. Measuring represents God's knowledge of every detail, including the hearts of those within. He is both creator, designer and judge of a perfect justice and measure.

Rev 11:2 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.

The dome of the rock may actually be located on the court of the Gentiles. The outer courts will be under non Jewish rule for forty-two months, the final three and a half years of the last week of years. And then the Lord shall come, destroying the destroyers and gathering his people to himself. Other things will occur before this happens. Two witnesses of God will arrive in Jerusalem.

The Two witnesses

Following the building of the Temple two witnesses come.

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

The angel speaks the message of Jesus about two witnesses. Who are these witnesses? Their ministry is prophetic, they are to speak the words given to them by God for 1260 days or three and a half years, the same time that Jerusalem will be inhabited by Gentiles. They will be dressed in sackcloth, which is the clothing of repentance, so their message must be of warning of judgement, the kingdom to come and repentance.

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

These are two olive tees, Holy Spirit filled Jewish men, and two candlesticks, they will speak truth and light before God. God sent them to bring truth to all who would hear, knowing that soon truth would no longer be heard.

Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

At the time of the false man of peace, there would not be much faith left; not much Bible preaching, because of the political change. We are seeing this today, that the world is trying to put God out of public life. In some lands churches are burned and the preaching of the gospel is forbidden. Children will be trained by those in power to reject the old ways and to chant to their ruler as if he were all powerful.

Rev 11:5 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.

Perhaps they spoke the fiery judgment of God; the power of God's word spoken by the Spirit of God. Jesus said these words could not be resisted..

Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Rev 11:6 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.

The grace of God was available to anyone who repented and came to Jesus, they would receive God's protection, but those who opposed the two men sent from God, by the word of these two witnesses plagues would come on the earth as in the time of Moses. Plagues should make the people cry out to God. Perhaps these were the trumpet judgments spoken of earlier.

Rev 11:7 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.

Rev 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Satan would kill them, probably through the antichrist, so these were not immortal glorified beings, as the real Moses and Elijah; these were not yet glorified. Remember the witnesses had power given to them for protection and for judgment, so apparently God allowed them to be slain, as Jesus allowed himself to be slain for a purpose.

Rev 11:8 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.

On the streets of Israel, in or near Jerusalem, where our Lord was crucified. The Holy City had become worldly and evil, with sexual perversion, because of the people who worshipped the antichrist. There would be open homosexuality. Already they are converging on Jerusalem. That spirit is unleashed in all nations, it is the opposite of holiness and obedience to God.

Rev 11:9 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.

The unburied bodies, is a show of disrespect and a seeming victory for the evil people. They thought that Satan had overcome the people of God.

Rev 11:10 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.

Sending gifts and greeting cards with lewd messages, rejoicing that good had been destroyed. Even now people rejoice with crude humor, especially on late night television, mocking those of good morals and making cruel remarks about them.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isa 5:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

Rev 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.

As Christ was risen on the third day, the life giving spirit of God entered into them, they were revived and great fear fell upon them which saw him. It may have been seen around the world in newscasts, but they would explain it away, as they do today.

2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Rev 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.

A great voice from heaven bidding them to come up. Perhaps this also was the rapture? They went up in a cloud as the church will be raptured; and their enemies left behind. Were these two ministers symbolic of the witness of the church? Perhaps, but these appear to be actual servants of God who had great power, as Jesus, they died and were resurrected. Never was the church commanded to curse the earth, as these men were given power to do. The old testament men of God were given such powers, Moses and Elijah, these were types of the old testament saints, people that those of the old covenant would recognize and obey.

Rev 11:13 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.

A remnant was giving glory to God through this. God always has his remant.

God had other witnesses at this time

144,000 with the Lamb

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Here, is where the Jehovah's Witness group claim to be the 144,000. They have Jehovah God on their minds, but who is standing with this group? The Lamb of God who is the Son of God. They do not see Jesus as God the Son and the way to the Father. Why am I mentioning this group? Because they claim to be the 144, 000, or shall it be said that the 144,000 were Jehovah's Witnesses, but now the multitude that follows this teaching, cannot enter heaven. They claim only 144,000 can, and that number was reached early in the twentieth century. They look forward to the Millennial reign of Christ on the earth. After this, what then if no heaven? Jesus himself stands with the chosen. They are chosen in Christ to serve him, anointed of the Holy Spirit. These will be chosen holy servants of God, to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The King is coming, make yourselves ready. They were sent by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. They carried the name of their Father, they were witnesses of Almighty God. They were adopted sons of God.

Let us not be taken in by error. There is much confusion from those who see Revelation without God's Spirit of truth. Who will be the 144,000? Go to chapter seven.

Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

The tribes are listed, following these verses. These shall be Jewish men, chosen of God and sealed on their foreheads with the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit of truth that brings us to Jesus and his blood shed for our sins. The blood keeps on saving even unto the end. They were protected witnesses of God, for here they stand on Mt. Zion with Jesus. Did they survive the tribulation, or were they martyred and returned with Jesus? I don't know. The important thing is they were the called and faithful Jewish witnesses during the time of trouble.

Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

A voice from heaven and thunder; God the Father

Psa 93:4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

... I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

There was praise and worship.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

The angels sing too.

Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

The faithful were in heavenly places, enjoying the music and praise of heaven.

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

These were holy, separated men, not like the world's evil people. The first fruits of Israel, witnessing to this people.

God always will have a witness or witnesses. We are to be the light and truth in our time. The time will come when their will be few faithful left.

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Tim 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The times will become dark as the antichrist comes to the temple in Jerusalem. The secular, worldly people, controlled by satan will rule the religion of the world. We are to speak the truth of God, by His Spirit. Stay close to God and keep going. You have been warned of what is coming, stay strong in Him.