ANTICHRIST KILLS GOD’S TWO WITNESS
“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. 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. 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. 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. 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.” (Revelation 11:8-12).
Dakes Bible note says; Jerusalem is called Sodom and Egypt because of becoming the headquarters of sodomites (homosexuals-Isaiah 1:9-10; Ezekiel 16:46,53) and whoredoms (sex and religious perversions-Ezekiel 23:3,8,19,27) during the last 3 1/2 years the Gentiles control the city (Revelation 11:1-2). This indicates that sexual and religious perversions will be predominant sins ending this age (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30).
It is interesting that Jerusalem is called “The Holy City” in verse 2, Egypt, and Sodom in verse 8. Verse 2 speaks of God’s estimation of Jerusalem once He begins grafting the nation back into its favored status. (This is the meaning of Romans 11:12-24) Verse 8 declares their spiritual condition during this church dispensation, and at that time in Revelation.
It is possible that Gentiles participate in the rejoicing at the death of these two witnesses because it is the (v.9). Some will have seen the use of television to publicize this event. There is little doubt that those who “dwell” on the earth speak, primarily, of unbelieving Hebrews in the land of Israel. Their reaction reveals the national hatred for Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and moral decency. God will give them blood to drink, for they are worthy!
As always, God is in control. When these two witnesses serve their purpose, the beast (Antichrist) is permitted to kill them. What the beast intended to be a show of power and defiance, God turned into a public display of His greater power over life and death. Verse 11 and 12 says, “…after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet… 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.”
The restoration to life, the call from heaven to come up, the ascension, and the great earthquake were all public confirmations of God’s power, and His approval of these two prophets. These two witnesses are raptured to heaven at the end of the Tribulation period just prior to the Second Advent of Christ.
It is important to remember that this is not the resurrection or rapture of the church age saints. That event happened prior to Revelation 1:1. The context of this event is Revelation 11:15 where Christ returns to establish His Kingdom. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
There are at least seven raptures which can be identified in Scripture. We give the seven here:
1. Enoch was taken and could not be found.
2. Elijah was caught away in a whirlwind.
3. Jesus ascended to heaven.
4. Paul was caught up to paradise.
5. Believers await the rapture of the church.
6. The two witnesses of Revelation are caught up to
heaven.
7. The 144,000 Jews.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.