Who are these two witnesses that have power to down power from heaven? And why would God allow satan to destroy them?
Once again, the overall theme is hope. God appoints two witnesses to prophecy against the evil deeds that the human race is participating in, and instead of repenting they become worse. Their very presence testifies that God still cares for his creation and doesn’t want to punish or destroy unless it’s absolutely necessary. What great lengths our Lord is willing to go to in order to bring us to repentance!
3 1/2 years is a key time period here. Popular thought is that this is the tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation the witnesses will be killed (meaning that there is a witness on the earth during the tribulation). Afterwards they will be raised to life after 3 1/2 days of death. Beyond the symbolism, it’s one more way for God to demonstrate His power. I find myself wondering if the people who praise God after seeing it are forgiven of their sins…or is it too late.
John is told to measure the temple…and it must be the temple on earth because the temple in heaven is never “given to the Gentiles”. Therefore, there must be a temple in existence at the time of the tribulation. Since there isn’t a temple of God on the temple mount now, this has yet to come true.
We have two beautiful hymns of praise recorded in this chapter. Both are suitable for us to pray back to God to bring glory and honor to Him. Instead of saying “the time has come” we can say “Lord, bring quickly the days when…”
There are “three woes” that have to pass, and as terrible as this one is, it’s only the second woe. If the tribulation is the second woe, how much worse can it get? This chapter also marks the end of the trumpets. There are only 7 bowls left, and the world comes to an end.
Anticipating,
PR