Shepherds Bible Revelation Chapter 11

Shepherds Bible Revelation Chapter 11

Chapter 11 1. And there was given to 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. # I want to call your attention to the word “rod” as it is used in this parti-cular verse. In Greek it is a scepter which is used for destruction. Notice that he is told to measure only the temple, the altar and the people that worship therein, meaning Israel; and further, those who have been called out of Israel. And yet, it is a de-structive scepter or a chastising rod. This causes us to remember God’s warn- ing that He would cleanse the house of Israel first. 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. #Here is further proof that He is dealing with Israel first. 3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. # As we ha ve seen, forty and two months is the same as three and o ne half years and a lso o ne thousand, two hundred and sixty days. I believe this wit-ness, in a sense, has already started. I believe it commenced in the year 1978 and will continue until the end. This can be seen inasmuch as we see a vitalization and an increase in in-terest in this work and the fact that more ears hear what we have to say throughout all this nation. We will examine these two witnesses further in following verses. 4. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing be- fore the God of the earth. #Turn now and read Zechariah 4 to get a better view as to whom the two witnesses are. The following comments will have to do with Zechariah as it complements Revelation 11:4: (1) In Zechariah 4:2 the seven lamps are symbo lic of the 7000 men-tioned in the 11t h chapter of Romans that will witness in the last hour. In other words, this is talking directly to you. (2) The name “Ze-rub’-ba-bel” means “to flow smoothly out of Babel”. It means “to come out of Babel”, or out of babylon (confusion) in this present day to learn the full truth. The 7000 will bring the 144,000 and in time the whole world, out of babel. The beauty of this whole thing (and it’s impossible to translate the full meaning into English) is the fact that the oil from these lamps flows not with the help of man, but with the Spirit of God. The truth is fed into your mind, not by the help of man, but by the Spirit of God. We know this is the reason He called you and is the reason we cannot impose this message upon someone who does not want to accept it. (3) The 7th verse says, Who art thou 0 great Mountain? before Ze-rub’-ba-bel thou shalt become a plain: In other words, nothing will stand in the way of this witness or message. There is no mountain, or it could be said, nation or government that can stand in the way of it. The head-stone, of course, is Christ. (4) A “plummet” is a tin stone. It’s a plumb bob weighing heavily on the end of a string. The weight will keep the string straight with no vary- ing from the right to the left. You see in this 10th verse the 7000 that pick up the plummet and bring the peo-ple out of confusion. They, the 7000, are the eyes of

Yahveh. Likewise, they shall neither turn right or left but go straight, following the truth of Yahveh’s plan. (5) What is the answer to the question in verse 11? Who are the two people standing on the right side of the candlestick and the left side thereof? After much research, I can assure you, they are not Elijah or Moses. They are two people, who are born of woman, carrying birth certifi-cates and walking this earth today. It is possible that they could be read- ing this book right now. No one knows. I would hope that any one of you would feel blessed to be one of these two. (6) In verse 14 we see that these two are very special. They do stand by Him. And God shall certainly use them. 5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and de voureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. #This is potent language and thinking, that there are two peop le walking the earth toda y who have the ability to do something of this manner. But then, remember what we read in Zechari-ah 4:10, “Who cares to think small”. If you were to turn to Jeremiah 5:14, you would see that it speaks about the prophets speaking a word and God making their words fire. The people they are speaking to will be wood and the fire shall devour them. God is a consuming fire. The two witnesses will speak as God speaks through them; His sword is His tongue, and is a two-edged sword. There shall nothing prevail here as far as the truth going out is concerned. Remember these two were to witness 42 - months, o r 31/2 years. # I would call to your mind Luke 4, where Christ spoke concerning Elijah and the widow woman he visited with during the 3—1/2 year drought. The widow could he likened to Israel of today. Her husband, Christ, was cruci- fied. However, He is alive and the marriage feast will take place. In Christ’s story there was only one wido w saved o ut of all Israel. Notice how they in the synagogue reacted to the story. The Kenites today have the same reaction to the truth. 6. T hese have po wer to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, a nd to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. # We will liken the waters, in a spir- itual sense, to Satan’s attempt to obliterate the truth, which is symbo li-cally fire. The two witnesses have the power to shut off the water so that the truth can go forth. 7. A nd when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascend- eth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall over-come them, and kill them. 8. And their dead bod ies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodo m and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. # The Greek word for “Street” here is “plateia” (4113), meaning a wide place or square. They will be killed in this square with plenty of room along the sides for people to observe. Do not think we are talking of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is Jerusalem where Christ was crucified. The two wit- nesses will be killed in the same place because they will not accent the false Christ. They will say, this false one is not our Christ. But the Ke-nites will use the same old story that Christ did not rise from the dead, b ut was stolen from the tomb. Then we can readily see that the Kenites will tell the two witnesses that they can take His place. At that time they will kill the witnesses. The Kenites will make sure that the bod ies of the two witnesses will not be stolen away. I

imagine that there will be television cameras, electric eyes, and everything else that will sound an alarm if anyone even gets close to the bod ies. 9. And they of the people and kindreds -and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10. A nd they that dwell upo n the earth shall rejoice over them, a nd make merry, a nd s hall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. #Remember back in the ninth chapter where the loc usts tor mented those that had not the mark o f God in their fore-head? These two witnesses will torment the world in a different way. The world will not be able to completely and utterly satisfy itself that this false one they are worshiping is the true Messiah as long as these two speak with such great wisdo m aga inst him. 11. And after three days and a 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. # In the Greek this word “fear” is “phobos” (5401). It will be a paralyz- ing fear beyond anything that can be described by man, when these two bodies gloriously, with the Shekinah glory covering them, rise up from the dust to meet Jesus. 12. A nd 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 be held them. # Now you better note here, because this is the only rapture there is ever going to be as far as we’re concerned in the last days; the two witnesses. The so-called rapture that the church is waiting for will not come to pass. (See App. 111) We all know what Paul said about this in II Thessalonians 2, when he said that Jesus Christ would not return until after the false christ appears. The word rapture is not even mentioned in the Word o f God. 13. A nd the same hour was there a great earthquake, a nd the tenth pa rt of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remna nt were affrighted, and gave glory to the God o f heaven. # We know “the remnant” is that 7000 that God told Elijah He had reserved to Himself who shall not bow the knee to Baal. Isn’t it strange that the false christ’s side has the equivalent number of our 7000 brought out here? 14. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15. A nd the seve nth angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saving, The kingdo ms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. # The seventh angel that sounds the seventh trumpet in this verse, contin- ues to sound through Revelation 20:15. Now we see what God does with time. We have covered a great deal of time in this 11th chapter, even to the end. We will back up now and break it down in segments whereby we can understand each incidental part that shall happe n in those last days. Let it not be a stumbling b lock here that Christ has already returned and His kingdom has come in forever and ever, because there is still one more woe to come. He is assuring us here that He shall reign supreme.

16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17. 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. 18. A nd the nations were angry, a nd Thy wrath is come, a nd the time of the dead, t hat they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and the m that fear Thy name, small and great: and s houlde st de stroy them which destroy the earth. # The Greek word for “destroy” used here is “diaph”, meaning “to corrupt”. 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lighthings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.