The Fall of the Antichrist

The Fall of Babylon

Book of Revelation Chapter 18 Verses 1-13

In Chapter 17 we saw the destruction of the false church. We should understand by the things that have happened to the nation of Israel that Jehovah hates false religion.

Obviously, Jehovah hates all sin and the Lord Jesus Christ died for all sin but one.

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

The only sin that cannot be forgiven is rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is only one way to get to God’s Heaven and it is by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

If this goes against your personal beliefs, then so be it. It is just the truth!

Any so-called religion that teaches something or anything different than this is truly a false religion!

Jehovah God hates all false religion.

In chapter 17 we see that Jehovah gave to the Antichrist, who is controlled by Satan the power to “judge” the “false church”, and it no longer exists during this portion of the Great Tribulation.

For Satan himself will now pushed to be recognized as God and he will be the new religion that God will not allow.

He will be the god of power in his own mind, when any power he has comes directly from our Heavenly Father!

If God hates anything the most, it is the false church!

The false church is certainly any religious group that ignores the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What God hates the most, is all those who claim to be Christian, yet they worship something or some other person in reality.

God has two rules that should occupy our minds above all else!

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

There is nothing written in all books that have more importance than these two commandments!

The Antichrist destroyed the false church and now, the Lord Jesus would destroy the false economical system to the Antichrist and chain Satan for 1000 years.

Once the people have left the church and have given their support of the government (the Antichrist), they will no longer need the false church.

We see the beginning of these things in our own nation today.

A great falling away from the Church, and a great clinging to the government, but never in all of history have these things work for the best interest of any people.

*Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

When we read “after these things” those things are, the “judgments” of Chapter 17.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee “the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters”:
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

This angel had great power that was delegated to him, so this could be just and angel with great power or in my case I believe this person described as an angel, could be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat_28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

He has the authority to deal with the destruction of the evil wicked system of the Antichrist!

I am not sure Christ Jesus would delegate this authority to someone besides Himself.

Notice the earth, (I believe this to mean all the earth) is lighted by His glory, which again to be the “Shekinah Glory of the Lord God”.

Eze 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

He also had a strong voice.

*Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

This fall was mentioned in an earlier lesson but now has taken place.

Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

It has not only fallen but lies in desolation.

What do we know? We know the Lord Jesus will use fire to destroy this evil world!

Isa 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, “shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah”.

Before the wrath of the Lord is completed the entire world will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah! (Fire and Brimstone)

This phrase is duplicated because Ecclesiastical Babylon fell in Chapter 17.

Political Babylon has now fallen, and we will see the means in the remaining chapters.

The strong hold of devils and demons because they have nowhere else to go and no one alive to infiltrate.

Babylon had become a cesspool of corruption and an abomination in the sight of God!

In this sense America could be a sister to Babylon today. Our government, not our president, is a cesspool of corruption today and voters are so confused that they will not allow the swamp to be drained.

*Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

What are the grounds for God’s Judgment?

1) All nations had drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

As in the time of Noah:

Gen_6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Gen_6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

As in the time of Lot:

Luk_17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk_17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

2) All the governments of the earth had joined the Antichrist had become corrupt. (Most all of them are corrupt today). The door is wide open for the Antichrist to step in today!

Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3) The merchants of the earth have waxed rich. Economic wealth had intoxicated the rich while the poor were ignored.

Over whelming pride.
Insolence, contempt of those who were not in their class of people.
Wantonness, lewdness, extreme immorality.

Our God just had enough of what was going on under the power of Satan.

And then, one more challenge issued to the Jews.

*Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

What was God’s command to the Church?

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

What is God’s command to the Jews who have now rejected the Antichrist:

Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

All of the wrath of the Lord was about to be unleashed upon the world of Satan, and it was time for those who had rejected the Antichrist to obey the commands of the Lord.

There would be no more opportunities.

There is no true church during these times but only the false Apostate Church, so we are never to keep attending any place of worship that does not preach and teach the truth.

The Church, those who have the Holy Spirit living within them, are to separate themselves from the world, never to compromise or to tolerate things that go against the Word of God. This is what we need to do today!

*Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

All those who follow the teachings of the Apostate Church will be destroyed and those who have received the truth now have an opportunity to see the wrath of God.

Psa 137:8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

Jer 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

We should understand that Satan will one day spend eternity in the Burning Lake of Fire, also called perdition the place of the lost soul.

We should also understand that the Apostate Church will be repaid double for the problems it has caused the true Church. After the Rapture of the Church, all those who have been corrupted by the teachings that go against the truth of God will go into perdition.

The Political world that follows Satan will also be paid double for the things done to God’s people!

Why will the Apostate church be destroyed? Because it has caused the human population to be against its Creator.

Why will political Babylon be destroyed because it has profited from the Apostate Church.

Because it has made laws that go against the Word of God.

This “judgment” has been determined from the very beginning!

Both will be destroyed because they persecuted God’s people.

The world has never learned that to go against our Creator is to cause your own destruction!

It is hard to understand a world that totally ignores the signs of our Creator and who believe we are all accidents.

*Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

You see the world has been deceived by corrupt politicians and the world just fell in line behind the Antichrist because he spoke their language!

Isa 47:7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
Isa 47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
Isa 47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Isa 47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

There is nothing that Satan can do to stop the destruction of his wicked world!

The political Babylon has persecuted God’s people since the beginning by Nimrod in his defiance.

She, as the whore on many waters, has felt that they are out of reach of the “judgment” of God!

*Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Though the wars that lead to Armageddon will be many, the destruction of this wicked and evil thing will take just “one” day as no evil can stand before our Righteous Lord Jesus!

We have seen how one plague can cripple most of this world, even our own nation. The things of the seventh seal will cripple this wicked political system in one day.

The seven last plagues, the earthquakes, famines, all the destruction of God’s “judgment” will happen at one time.

Remember Job lost everything he had in one day. It will be the same but only doubled for this system of the Antichrist.

I tell you, that if you boast against our God you are jeopardizing your personal safety!

There will be many weeping, but it will be those who have profited from this system.

You see, we must always follow the money because money is the root of all evil!

*Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Politicians will weep because this wicked system no longer exist.

Makes me want to tell the politicians of today “your day is coming”.

They have invested all their lives to politics and have become rich by taking advantage of the people they were elected to serve.

They have invested all their lives to government and have corrupted that system to their own advantages.

They will certainly weep and cry because it is destroyed, and it took the Lord only one hour to end this thing!

Businessmen will also weep because they too had taken advantage of a corrupt system.

Business will no longer exist.

Stores will close.

“Business as usual” will be a saying that will no longer be heard!

Go back and read how God punished Israel, and double these things and you will get an idea what God will do to this system of corruptness.

We know this system has given us corruptness and wickedness and base immorality, and in one hour it will not exist.

Extravagance will not be seen anymore.
Wealth will not be heard of anymore.
There will be no more “lifestyle of the rich and famous”!

The system that we have seen that just keeps becoming more sinful will no longer exist.

The Apostate system will no longer exist and now the Political system will no longer exist.

The immoral lifestyle of these people will finally come to an end.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

When the Lord comes, He will come quickly!

*Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Notice the mourning. Not because of some love one, but because of some merchandise.

Remember the silversmiths who came against Paul. Not because He was preaching the truth, but that no one would buy their false idols.

We see this same claim made by many a merchant who cannot sell their wares because the Lord has put an end to their market.

First look at the merchandise:

If we look closely, we will see that these are all things that are offered in sacrifice to the false religion that exists upon the world in that day.

These are the growing markets of today.

During certain times of the day, you cannot miss the ads for gold and silver.

Precious stones for things such as weddings and anniversaries but out of reach and debt makers for most of us.

We can actually see that most of these things are not purchased by the average person in any great quantity today.

Notice also that slaves are still there.

Slavery has continued to exist all these years and will continue right up until the return of Jesus Christ.

The world is not interested in stopping slavery, there is simply too much money involved. It is like drugs, too much money involved!

Notice also “the souls of men”. There is a market for the souls of men today!

We could say that every place of false religion deals in the souls of men, and the Lord Jesus Christ would reclaim every soul, but it is up to each individual.

Again these are all things that merchandise sold to individuals to offer in sacrifice to the false Church Babylon and since the Lord has destroyed Babylon the religious system of Satan and Babylon the political system of Satan, none of these things are needed anymore.

Anything offered to false gods is an abomination to the Lord!

God has always hated slavery that we hear so much of today!

Exo 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Deu 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

What will happen during the time of the Antichrist as he seizes control of the nations?

Neh 5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
Neh 5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

It does not seem that much is done about slavery and the traffic of human beings today, and it will expand during the Great Tribulation.

Again as we are in these last days the merchandise of the souls of men is the battle we face, and the true Church is neglecting the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The false Church has taken the lead through tolerance and compromise and these are the things the true Church cannot do!

We still in fact still have the work the Lord has given us to do because it is His job to save.

It is not time to quit on God!

*Rev 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

Those that have profited in the days of the Antichrist will see an end to their way of life.

As Oliver Green once wrote:

This is the age of big business, big politics, big religion, big, big, big ,big until soon there will be a world government and a world religion and we the church need to hang our head in shame because we have helped these things to take place because the Church has grown “lukewarm”!

Notice the merchants are still standing though from a distance as they see the world of the Antichrist come to an end.

It is this system that has existed since the failure of Adam and exploited during the Seven Years of tribulation that has cost the lives of so many of God’s people.

*Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

We will see all that blood come back to the surface as the world of the Great Tribulation who ignored the blood of Jesus will soon see nothing but blood.

The “judgment” of God is not yet complete!

Amen

The Two Witnesses

The Two Witnesses

Book of Revelation Chapter 11 Verses 1 through 14

We should understand that we are still in that interval between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpet and all these things are part of the seventh seal.

This is a very interesting chapter in the Book of Revelation!

Many people have questions about the Temple whether it will be rebuilt or not a third time and maybe even a fourth time. Part of those questions will be answered here in this chapter.

Much talk has been said about the two witnesses that appear in this chapter and we will learn some more about these things.

Many questions about Jerusalem whether it will be over run again, and we will seek these answers.

The truth remains by the time the Seven Years of Tribulation has reached this point, it will be that time of the Great Tribulation and circumstances will be even more terrible for all people, but the poor and the Jews will suffer the most during this time.

We should understand that the poor are that silent group of forgotten people in all tragedies that occur upon this earth.

The Lord said the poor would always be with us. Why? Because of covetousness of those who already have more than they will ever need!

Most all others will have sided with the Antichrist and they are completely deceived and headed quickly to their eternal destiny in the Burning Lake of Fire.

The Book of Revelation is a Book of Destiny, because it is a Book of Truth, the truth of the Living God who has said many times that “vengeance” belonged to Him.

Deu_32:41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

Isa_61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Eze_25:17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Nah_1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Luk_21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Rom_12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Jud_1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Is there anyone who does not believe that the Lord will repay His enemies for all the things they have done against Him?

Is there anyone else who wants to stand up and call Jehovah God a liar and get on this list?

Is there anyone else who wants to ignore the Blood that Jesus, shed on Mount Calvary, so that each believer could escape this terrible day.

As the Holy Spirit says: One woe has passed, and a second woe is revealed to us.

*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.

Will there be a third Temple? If there were not a third Temple, then John would not be given a rod to measure it!

The Temple of Solomon was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar.

The Temple of Herod was destroyed in 70 A. D. by Titus.

There has been no Jewish Temple since that time.

Again I ask, will there be a third Temple, that answer is yes!

We know from prophesy that in the beginning of the Seven Years of Tribulation, the Antichrist will present a peace deal that will allow a third Temple to be built upon the Temple Mount that exist today.

Will the Muslim Dome of the Rock be removed? It seems that would have to take place, but some believe that there is room for both to exist.

I personally do not believe there would be room for both.

What is another proof?

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The “man of sin”, the Antichrist, could not sit in a Temple that did not exist!

Still another.(The image of the Beast in the Holy Place)

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, “stand in the holy place”, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Still, I do not believe this is the Temple as described in the Book of Ezekiel, which I believe to be the Temple of the Millennial Kingdom.

We know that Jesus, John described as a Mighty Angel, who is not an angel, but God in the flesh has proclaimed His ownership of the earth and is about to return to take control of the things upon the earth.

It is believed that in this Chapter 11, we will see the beginning of the last three and a half years of the Tribulation known as the Great Tribulation.

We will see the Gentiles, the Heathen, will make their last attempt to end the plan of God and the purpose of God, and they will fail miserably!

The court, of the Gentiles will be overrun by these “heathen” of the Antichrist!

*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 Romans have trodden down this area.
The Persians have trodden down this area.
The Turks have trodden down this area.
The followers of the Antichrist will have also trodden down this area.

These are the “heathen” of the Scriptures. The Gentiles.

It is very possible that everything the Jews have rebuilt during this time will be destroyed again.

This time of the Gentiles will come to the true end when Jesus returns with His Heavenly Hosts and all the Saints that are in Heaven.

We will see these things when we get to Chapter 19.

We should understand that all the prophets of the Old Testament were also preachers of the Word of God that was revealed to them by God the Holy Spirit.

John was told he would prophesy again and we know that after he had written the Book of Revelation, he was released from the Isle of Patmos and went about preaching the Word of God and we know that his main message was about the God of Love.

The greatest message our Heavenly Father still has today, is His message of “Love” through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

God had set Israel aside for many reasons but especially for what they said to Pilate.

Mat_27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, “His blood be on us, and on our children”.

These words should never have been used and that generation perished, and the Hebrew children suffered through many, many years, and in reality, still suffer for this thing done by their elders.

The truth of our Heavenly Father is that He will never break a promise and it was time to fulfill that promise.

The Jews would be saved out of the Great Tribulation!

These things begin with the promise fulfilled of the two witnesses.

After all, it would take two witnesses of the truth before God would bring vengeance and death to so many.

Deu 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

Because of this, we should pretty much know what the message of these two men is about.

They will do what witnesses do!

God does not ever change the way He operates just because the world does. He will always follow His written Word He has given to us!

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

We should clearly understand that Jehovah will not ever forsake the Jews!

They will be given another opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ and this they must do.

God will never altar His salvation plan, no matter what liberal preachers preach and what other religions believe!

Remember they have been spiritually blinded, and those blinded eyes will be opened!

2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

These two witnesses will open the blinded eyes of Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation which will last for three and a half years. The last part of the seven-year Tribulation Period.

These are two men. They are not two systems. They are not two churches. They prophesy! They Preach!

The Prophet Zechariah has told us some things of these two witnesses.

Zec 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Just as Zerubbabel and Joshua held unique and vital positions in the history of the Jewish people, so will these two witnesses of Revelation.

Zerubbabel represented the royal line of Jesus Christ.

Joshua represented the priestly line of Jesus Christ.

These two witnesses will present the reasons for God’s wrath by presenting the evidence of murder and slaughter of God’s people.

So who are these two witnesses in the Book of Revelation?

In all probability one of these two will be Elijah.

Elijah had the power to stop rain for three years and six months as he demonstrated to King Ahab.

1Ki 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Notice just as James says, this also shows the awesome power of prayer and the relationship Elijah had with Jehovah.

We also know Elijah did not see death and being true to God’s Word then this must take place as a man.

Heb_9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

It did not matter that Elijah was translated and went up to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire, he had to face death as a man.

Elijah was prophesied to return.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

We see Elijah would return before the Great and Dreadful day of the Lord!

John the Baptist was a forerunner of the first coming of the Lord, but not the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord.

John the Baptist did not fulfill the prophesy of Malachi!

John the Baptist even professed that he was not this Elijah.

Joh_1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

I believe Elijah to be one of those two witnesses.

The second witness is a little tougher.

In reality this other man could be either Moses or Enoch.

We know that Enoch walk with the Lord right up into Heaven without seeing death and we have seen that it is appointed for each of us to see death.

Gen 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Heb_11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

So we see Enoch did not see death and Enoch was a great witness for faith!

Other than this we do not know much more about this great man of God.

Moses on the other hand did die and was buried by the Lord with no witnesses to his burial location.

Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deu 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

It should be obvious that the Lord took the life of Moses for he could have lived longer which proves the Lord holds the power of life and death and not Satan.

We know that Moses did have the power given to him by the Lord, to turn the waters of Egypt into blood.

Moses did have the power given to him by the Lord, to cause the many plagues of Egypt, which shows his close relationship with the Almighty Living God.

Another text we could look at is about that word witnesses.

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Luk 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Luk 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luk 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Mar 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mar 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Mar 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
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There was no doubt that it was Elijah and Moses that met with the Lord before His crucifixion.

The most evidence points toward Moses but there are also many reasons this other man could be Enoch.

The fact of the matter is it could be anyone sent down from Heaven, but in reality, it should be two people the Jews would recognize the most.

According to the Book of Malachi I believe I lean toward Elijah and Moses.

The Civil Ruler (Moses) and the Priest (Elijah).

For a period of time they cannot be hurt by the evil of the Great Tribulation.

*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.
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.

Obviously, this fire from their mouth could be real fire, but it can also be the truth of God.

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

In a world that has only heard watered down preaching and false teaching, the truth of God will burn!

All those who reject the Word of God, that will burn into your heart if you allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, but all those who reject the truth of God will die by fire, the Burning Lake of Fire.

Rev_19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

This is also a specialty of the Prophet Elijah.

2Ki 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

These two witnesses of the Lord may be challenged greatly, but for a set period of time they will just preach the Word of God into the ears of Jews who have been blind to the truth of God.

It will already be terrible upon the earth as we have been learning from the Scriptures, but no matter what good is promised by the Antichrist, these two witnesses can stop the rain.
They can turn the water to blood.
They can send plagues around the world and we have seen what a plague like this virus, Covid 19 can do to the world in a matter of days.

And for a period of time that only the Lord knows maybe three and a half years, they can do this as often as they wish to get the attention of the Jewish people and any others who are listening!

No one can go against the Lord and win, but the Lord’s plan must continue so the Antichrist will be allowed to claim a false victory for a few days.

*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.

Notice that very first phrase “and when they have finished their testimony”. Not before, not during, but after they had completed the work God had given them to do.

Do you know that this is the same for every child of God! As Christians, our life is in the hands of the Lord, and no virus, no war, and no Antichrist can change that fact until the Lord is ready for us to come home!

For these two, the “Beast”, the Antichrist has no power over them until God allows it and the Lord has a little surprise even for this occurrence.

These two men of God who had so much supernatural power from God will be overcome by some wicked, evil, man who will also show some supernatural power just as the wicked wise men, and the sorcerers, and magicians, of Pharaoh.

Exo 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exo 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exo 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

Notice these men of Pharaoh had a false power that was overcome by Jehovah and it will be the same for the Antichrist, The Beast.

These two witnesses preached “blood and water” as Jesus shed on Mount Calvary.

Notice they are described as the two Olive Trees. It is from the olive from which the oil for the lamps in the Temple were supplied. To the Church it is the “oil of Grace”.

God’s message never changes! The message of the “Cross” is the message of salvation throughout eternity!

They were dressed in humility, but they still showed the power of God.

To be humble is to have you physical and spiritual power under control, in fact given over to God’s use!

Even with all the bad things going on throughout the world, God’s message of “Grace” was still rejected by most, but that message as we will see later, had a profound message to the Jews.

We must always keep in mind that the Church is in Heaven at this time.

Some souls have been saved, but this is the time of Jacob’s Trouble and Jehovah is dealing with the Hebrew people, the Jews, in the process of fulfilling the promises He made to King David, yet they first had to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God’s provision for “Grace” and the cause of His great “Mercy”!

Until Satan is totally removed, and he will be totally and eternally removed, he will have what seem to be little victories, which are still fueled by deception.

Satan in reality knows he is a loser and he wants to take as many of God’s creation with him as he can, because of his great hatred for Jehovah the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord allowed these two “witnesses to be murdered” and the Beast claimed the victory and what happens next will show the mentality of the people that remained upon the earth.

It will also show that technology had to be progressed at least to the level we have today for all these things to take place.

You would have thought it was our commercialized, celebration for Christmas, happening for the murder of God’s people.

*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.
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.
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.

It is this Scripture that tells us exactly where these two “Witnesses of God” were witnessing.

They were in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified.

Look at some of the titles.

Spiritually called Sodom. Because of the wicked character of the people of the world at that time. A wicked and immoral people who worship themselves, and power, and riches, among other things.

All the things of Sodom and those surrounding cities were an abomination to Jehovah!

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
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,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

These are the people who are left upon the earth, after the “Rapture of the Church”

Spiritually called Egypt. Because of the way they remembered Egypt when the Lord had told them put all that behind them.

Eze 23:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 23:2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Eze 23:3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
Eze 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

Eze 23:8 Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.

Eze 23:19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

These are the types of people left upon the earth, after the “Rapture of the Church”.

The bodies of these two men were left lying in the street. No one cared enough to even bury them.

They were left in the middle of Jerusalem as carnage for the vultures and wild animals.

They remained in the street for three and a half days but during this time there were great celebrations.

There was great rejoicing over their death.

I do not know how many of you have noticed, but there are many today just begging for this virus to attack our President Trump and our Vice-president Pence and that they die from it.

They do not hesitate to print and say things when someone of the inner circle of advisors test positive for this virus. They wish for this man to die so that he cannot be president four more years.

This is the hatred that has taken over our nation and the hatred that carries over to the Church and the hatred during the Tribulation Period, when this hatred will be focused upon the Jewish people in the part called the Great Tribulation only it will be even greatly multiplied.

The made merry.
They sent gifts to one another.

They claimed that these two men tormented them, but they only came to send a message.

They only came armed with words until they were threatened. Then they showed supernatural power.

They offered one last opportunity to repent before the Lord Jesus would return in Judgment and “WRATH”.

It was only torment because they rejected the truth!

They had the power to protect themselves from those same people who would have caused them harm before they had finished their message from the Lord!

These things would last only three and a half days.

You see today we have that technology for the world to witness all these things as they take place. With phones and live streaming. With TV powered by satellite broadcast to see the things of the world as they happen.

This time of the Book of Revelation could not have happened earlier than in our day when things that happen around the world are seen live the same day it takes place and the death of these Two Witnesses of Jehovah would be big news.

CNN and their sister fake news sources would have a field day announcing these things live.

But the Lord never ceases to amaze me!

All the merry making, and the great parties, and the big news would all amount to a great awakening for all the world that remained.

Because they two humans who came with the message of God, the God of love who would become the God of “wrath” because He was through repenting!

*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.

You see life and death are in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Spirit of Life enters back into these two bodies that had laid where they were murdered for preaching the message of God.

Two men who had great power from God who only used that power when they were attacked, which means as Christians we can defend ourselves. We are not here to be floor mats for the world.

1Ti_5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

There was no reason for their death just like there is never a good reason to murder someone for telling others of God’s plan of salvation and judgment, but this was the Great Tribulation.

People do not want the truth when it differs from their own principles!

They were two witnesses because God would not allow judgment to fall on anyone who was innocent. He never will!

They gave the last warning before Jehovah’s judgment on all unbelievers.

And another promise was fulfilled.

Even these two men, sent of God would not be caught up in that “Judgment”!

*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.
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.

Again, the Lord never ceases to amaze me.

After these Two Witnesses have proclaimed their message for maybe all of those three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, they will be murdered but the Antichrist had to show his true self to the world before this happens.

Much of the world had been deceived by him and the rest of the world were already his worshipers.

Many things considered to be supernatural will have been witnessed on both sides and it will seem that the Antichrist will have come out on top and all that celebration began like it was the grandest thing to silence the messengers of God.

The Lord after three and a half days just calls His Two Witnesses to come back home.

This is where many believe that one of these men are Elijah and the other Enoch, two men that did not see death in the Bible times.

These things are not worth an argument as they have nothing to do with the Church nor the salvation plan of God.

When the Lord says “Come”, He has already made a way. He has already built the bridge.

All the world will hear this voice, but I believe the Lord will use their names, just as He did Lazarus!

The world comes to a complete standstill because cameras had been watching these two. It was the six oclock object of laughing and ridicule.

All of a sudden, they came alive to live ever more and the entire world watched as they returned to Heaven and all of a sudden, the parties ceased, and joy will become fear.

All of a sudden, the truth will begin to sink in, but it will be too late.

All of a sudden, certain followers of the Antichrist became non-followers.

This was the signal that the Lord was on His way for “Judgment”.

The Lord Jesus has said, when He returns, He would come quickly!

These two witnesses had given the entire world the last warning from a very patient God!

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Instantly the first signs of His return will begin to happen.

A great earthquake and a tenth part of the City of Jerusalem falls which included seven thousand men and most likely all their families and possessions.

The remainder of the city turned to Jehovah but only because of true fear!

For the Church we need to understand the Lord could return to get His church at any moment.

Only the Lord has the life and therefore the death of each person in His hands.

No one knows what tomorrow with bring. The proof is this virus that is raging today.

If the Holy Spirit has been working on you, now is the time to give in to Him. Remember what the Lord said:

Gen_6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

They gave glory to God this did not mean they gave their heart to Jesus!

What did all these things mean?

Everything on earth that was already terrible, was about to get much, much worse!

*Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Amen