John
the apostle shared how God said,
“I
will give power
unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred
and
threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if
any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours
their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner
be killed. 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. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast
that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them,
and shall overcome them, and kill them. 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 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.”
In chapter eleven and verse ten of Revelation John shared how, “they
that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry and
shall send gifts one to another” where
we read:
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.
The
verse reads, “And
they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make
merry, and shall send gifts one to another;”
John
began with the words, “and
they”
which means “and the people” “that
dwell”
or “who live and abide”
“upon the earth”
which refers to “within the arable land, country, territory and
region” “shall
rejoice”
which means “will be glad, hail, salute and give one another
greeting” “over
them”
or “over the two witnesses”, “and
make merry”
which means “and rejoice, be delighted, glad and joyful”, “and
shall send gifts”
or “and will transmit, bestow and wield presents which are offered
in expression of honor” “one
to another”
which means “reciprocally and mutually”. John was told how the
people of “the
earth”
not only will be “joyful and glad” over the death of these “two
witnesses”,
but they will also party and send “gifts”
to one another to celebrate it.
The
verse goes on to say, “because
these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”
John
continued with the word, “because”
which means “since and by reason and account of” “these
two prophets
or “God's two foretelling ones who testified and declared what they
received by inspiration” “tormented
them”
which means “tortured, vexed with grievous pains, harassed and
distressed the people” “that
dwelt”
or “who lived and abide”
“on the earth”
which refers to “the arable land, country, territory and region.
The reason the people of the earth “rejoiced, partied and gave
gifts” over the death of the “two
witnesses”
was because their “testimony, Divine inspiration and miracles”
“tortured and vexed” those who opposed their declarations.
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we discover the reason the
people of the earth “rejoiced” over the “death” of God's “two
witnesses”. People were opposed to the teachings of these
“witnesses”, and they were “vexed” by the miracles such
as “fire” destroying them and waters turning to blood. People
shut their ears, minds and hearts toward the truth these
“witnesses” were declaring, and when they suffered because of
their testimony, people were glad they died. God knows all these
things and has declared them in advance for everyone who reads these
words to know that He is well aware of the rejection of His truth
even when it is backed up with miracles. God desires to have a
relationship with people through His Son Jesus today, and still some
reject His offer and would prefer that all those who espouse these
things be dead and gone. Let all who read these words take heed. God
knows those who “witness” on His behalf, and woe be to
those who rejoice and are glad over their demise.
Next
time John shares how, “after
three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them”
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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