The Two Witnesses Lesson 15:

(Revelation 11) Time: 60 minutes

Print: 12 pages
Teachinghearts "Explore the Word. Change the World"

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Lessons
Symbols
Glossary
Revelation is written in the order of the feasts. These are the significant Daniel
actions of God in our salvation. This section of Revelation introduces God as Revelation
the Judge on the day of atonement. The symbols used involve the legal
evidence that God has been gathering over the last 6000 years. Study Help
French Revolution
King of the North
Background The Feasts of Israel
In our last lesson we learned that God would unseal the prophecies of Daniel The Judgment
and launch a Remnant who would spread the gospel throughout the world at
the time when He began the judgment. In this lesson we see the basis of the Texts
case for the Judgment and Satan's attempt to stop this knowledge from Revelation 11
entering the earth. This chapter is divided into several sections. Ezekiel 40-48

• The Legal Case. God judges for His church and gathers evidence against the wicked.
• The Beast from the Abyss. The church is attacked by a force that originates in hell.
• The Gospel Sent. The judgment begins and results in the sending of the last message of warning
and invitation to the world.

The Symbols
After the judgment begins in Revelation 10, God submits His legal case in Revelation 11. This chapter is
written in the terms of a legal document because God is revealing his legal case for the judgment.

• Judgment of the Righteous. The righteous are being measured.

• Two Witnesses. God has two witnesses against the wicked.
• Crime (Witness Intimidation). The rejection of the testimony from God and the murder of the
witnesses.
• Covenant Agreement. God behaves according to the legal agreement in the covenant curses. He
sends plague, famine and drought.
• Final Warning. God sends prophets to the world after the judgment has begun.

The Legal Case Against the Wicked

One aspect of Jewish law was the requirement that there would be two witnesses in a trial. Here we see
that God is combining the legal and the religious worlds. On the great global day of atonement, God is
calling on His two witnesses to testify. He has satisfied the legal requirements.

The Autumn Feasts

Since this prophecy centers on the judgment, let us review the feasts that symbolize this time. A more
detailed study is in this lesson. All the autumn feasts occurred in the month of Tishri.

Day 1 1844 Day 10 Day 11-14 Second Feast of Tabernacles (Day 15-21) Hell Day 22
Feast of Trumpets Yom Kippur Preparation Day 15-20 Hosana Raba (Day 21) Shemini Atzeret
Coming Fire
Persecution Judgment Gospel Millennium Wicked Judged New Earth

 Feast of Trumpets (Day 1). Judgment is rendered. This is the official call to judgment. The day
all living things are judged. It begins a period of ten days when people should prepare to have
their sins removed.
 Yom Kippur (Day 10). Judgment is sealed. This is the last day in which the righteous are judged
and their sins are finally removed. It is the day that the sanctuary was cleansed. It is the last
opportunity to be sealed and make sure that your name is still written in the Book. At the end of
this process, God removes the names of the wicked from the Book of Life.
 Feast of Tabernacles (Day 15). The righteous celebrate by living with God.
 Hosana Raba (Day 21). Judgment is delivered. Jewish tradition says that the world is judged on
this day.
 Shemini Atzeret (Day 22). The reading of the Torah and a new cycle begins.

Notice that Jewish tradition says that the righteous and the wicked are judged at separate times. The
wicked are judged after the righteous go to live with God.

In considering the judgment it is important to consider the distinction between the individual people and
the authorities or principalities and powers. The principalities and powers were judged at the cross and
the earthly powers through whom they transferred authority were also judged. This is why Christ received
His throne at the judgment. But the judgment of individuals began with the righteous dead in 1844. It will
proceed to the righteous living during a period called the sealing. The wicked people are judged at a later
time.
With this sequence of events, let us look at the prophecy.

The Day of Atonement: Measurement and Judgment

The Judgment of the Righteous
There was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of
God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do
not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the Holy City for forty
two months." (Revelation 11: 1-2)

The word "measure" or the concept of measurement or weighing means to judge against a standard.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with
what measure you give, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7: 1-2)

Here we see a judgment of those in the temple. However, those in the outer court are not judged. The
temple on earth was only a copy of the temple in
heaven. In this true temple, Christ serves as our North
High Priest who represents us. Most Holy The Outer
Holy Place
Place Court
West East
 Outer Court. This is the earth. The Heaven Church Earth
place where the sacrifice was killed. It The Righteous The Wicked
represents all the people, especially the
wicked. South
 Holy Place. This represents the
righteous, who by faith are waiting to enter the Most Holy Place. In this room, or this period of
time they have access to heaven through prayer.
 Most Holy Place. This represents Heaven. It was the room behind the veil which only the High
Priest could enter once each year on Yom Kippur. It is the righteous place in which no wicked can
enter.

At the time of the judgment, three righteous things are considered.

  The Temple. This is the system that God has in place to teach the world about Himself. God
Himself has been judged. Paul acknowledges this when he sees a future time when God is
vindicated.
... Rather let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "That You
may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged". (Romans 3: 4)
 The Altar. This is the sacrifice of Christ. It is also the response of the righteous recorded in their
prayers.
 The Worshippers. These are the righteous who declare faith in God and His Plan of Salvation.

The Judgment of the Wicked

The outer court where the wicked are located is not measured. The wicked are not judged at this time.
They will be judged at the Third Coming.

Parallels Leviticus 16 (Yom Kippur) Revelation 11 Ezekiel 40-48

1 Sanctuary 16 The Sanctuary is cleansed 1 The Temple is measured 40 Temple measured
2 Altar 18, 33 The Altar was cleansed 1 The Altar is measured 41 Altar is measured
3 People 7, 33 The People were cleansed 1 The Worshipers are measured 44 Priests
Israel 16, 21, The judgment occurs on behalf The measuring only involves Temple shows them their
4 1,2 43
Judged 23 of the assembly of Israel God's people iniquities

The Two Witnesses During the 1260 Years

"And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days,
clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of
the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so
if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (Revelation 11: 3-5)

On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. He shall not
be put to death on the evidence of one witness. (Deuteronomy 17: 6)
The testimony of one witness was not sufficient. God provided for two, He followed His own rules!

Other Trumpets Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe) Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe)
1260 Years of Testimony Witnesses Judgment
Resurrected Second
538 2 Witnesses Beast from Witnesses Killed 1798 1844 Righteous Wicked
Coming
Persecution the Abyss 3½ Years French Revolution Daniel Unsealed Sealing Wrath

We now learn that two things happened over a period of 1260 years that are a part of the testimony of
God. The wicked are disobedient murderers, and they have been told about the righteous requirements of
God by the two witnesses.

 Clothed in Sackcloth. The witnesses testified while they were mourning. They mourned for two
reasons. First, they must work under persecution. Second, they recognize that the curse is in
effect.
 The Wicked. They get to trample on the Holy City for forty two months. They are allowed to
persecute. According to this prophecy, the wicked are not judged at the same time. In fact they
are given time to act more wickedly. It is as if God is still collecting evidence against them. It is
also a time in which they can repent and choose to join the people of God because Yom Kippur in
not over.
 The Righteous. During hardship and mourning, they continue to prophecy and warn the world.
They have certain authority and power. The two lamp stands or olive trees represent God's word,
the Old and New Testaments and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I see a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven
spouts ... also two olive trees by it. One on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left
side.
This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit",
 says the Lord of Hosts". (Zechariah 4: 1-6)

What are these olive trees which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil
from themselves? ... These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole
earth. (Zechariah 4: 11-14. )

Zechariah gives this picture of the olive trees by the lamp as a picture of the Most Holy Place.
There were two cherubs standing on either side of God. We see that this picture is equivalent to
the word of God sent to the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Olive Trees. They have the Holy Spirit. Oil represented the Spirit and trees represent
the righteous people.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. (Psalm 52: 8)
• Lampstands. They spread the light of God to the world. Light represents the word of
God.
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Psalm 119: 105)
• Power over The Curses. They have the ability to unleash the curses. Because of their
treatment, God can legally send the curses on the wicked for their disobedience. Fire,
blood, drought and plagues. The plagues killed one third of Europe. And the people
were constantly at war. What this prophecy teaches is that the problems of the Middle
Ages came to the people as a result of sin and the application of the curse.
• Drought. The power over rain reminds us of Elijah's prayer that caused a drought for 42
months in Israel. During that time he was pursued by Jezebel. Since the Bible was
banned, there was literally a famine for the word of God.
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the
heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all
the land. (Luke 4: 25)
• Fire. The power over fire also reminds us of the battle between Elijah and the priests of
Baal.

Identifying the Two Witnesses

There are many theories about the identity of the two witnesses.

 Humans. Some people are looking for two superior human beings. This is not valid. It is too
narrow.
 Scriptures. The most popular interpretation is the old and the new testament. But this answer is
incomplete.
 Law and the Prophets. This is a better answer since this is the legacy that God has left with
humans to learn His will. This comes to us primarily in the form of the law which are a direct link
to the covenant and the prophets who point us back to the terms of the covenant.

The Covenant (The Law). This is God's written testimony or witness in the old and new
testaments. The purpose of the law is to teach the will of God and to remind us of the covenant
promise. It is the fundamental legal document that is the basis of the judgment and the basis of
judging the prophets.
To the law and to the testimony, If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they
have no light. (Isaiah 8: 20)

The Prophets. The prophets give the testimony about God. They are His oral witnesses. The
purpose of the prophet is to bring us back from the edge of apostasy to the law and the
covenant. The prophet does not simply predict the future to show off the knowledge of God.
They predict the future based on our response to the covenant. The prophet reminds us that we
have an obligation to obey the covenant or we will be subject to the wrath of God. Eventually,
their testimony becomes a part of the written testimony. Moses had his testimony become law.

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The ultimate two witnesses are Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit. These two act to fulfill the covenant. Jesus Christ established the covenant. The Holy
Spirit is sent to teach us the covenant and to fulfill its promise that God would write the law in
our hearts. They are the witnesses for God. Their testimony is the basis for the judgment. Christ
will testify about the great salvation that God has offered freely as a gift. The Holy Spirit will
 testify about how we rejected His appeals to us to accept this gift from God.
You search the scriptures for you think that in them you have eternal life. It is these that testify
about Me. (John 5: 39)

Authority of the Two Witnesses

Sending the Curses. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of
their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth
with every plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11: 6)
These witnesses have great power and authority derived from the law. The are the powers used by Moses
and Elijah.

 The Authority of the Covenant. The authority of the witnesses leads us back to the covenant.
They testify about the covenant and use its legal power to punish those who reject their
testimony. We see this in the evidence from Revelation 11. When the covenant is opened, the
witnesses can send the curses that are allowed in the covenant. They can send fire, drought,
blood and plague. This legal authority comes from the covenant.
 A Warning Message. While two humans will not appear physically, the message of two prophets
will become important at the end of time. This message leads the world back to the covenant
and out of the strongholds of sin.
• Moses (The Word of God). Moses led the first exodus out of Egypt. He was the one who
received the laws of God. The message of Moses prepares them for the last exodus. It
tells them to leave Babylon before it falls. He had the power to turn water to blood and
make plagues fall as often as he wanted so that the people could leave Egypt.
• Elijah (The Voice of God). The Elijah message brings them back to God. He was the
"voice of one crying in the wilderness" (Isaiah 40: 3). He had the power to shut up the
sky to stop the rain for three and a half years. He had the power to make fire come
from heaven to make the fathers turn back to their children.

The Authority of the Two Witnesses

1 Jesus Christ Law (Covenant) Scriptures Lamps Word of God Moses
Inspiration Authority
2 Holy Spirit Prophets (Testimony) Church Olive Trees Voice of God Elijah

So, the testimony of the church from the scriptures are the two witnesses. But they receive their
authority from the law and the prophets who are inspired by God. The covenant gives them the authority
to send curses. These witnesses taught the will of God for 1260 years under severe persecution. They
prophesied in a state of mourning, death and sorrow.
So we have three sets of witnesses who get their authority from the previous. First is Christ and the Holy
Spirit. The second is the law and the prophets. Finally, in our age the witness has been given to the
church and the scriptures. The church is the modern prophet of God to the world, and the scriptures are
really the same laws and covenants and testimony that have been passed to us. One does not contradict
the other.

The Great Commission. This authority has been given to the church in the Great Commission.
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and
then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 14)

The Crime of the Beast from the Abyss

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with
them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city
which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples
and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not
permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them
and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who
dwell on the earth. (Revelation 11: 7-10)
In response to the testimony of the martyrs and the efforts of the Reformation, Satan tries to stamp out
all Christianity. The church rejected the idea of "Sola Scriptura", or "The Bible and the Bible only." Satan
responded with a system that was antagonistic towards all Christians. But their continued disobedience to
God and reliance on the state could not save them.

The French Revolution

From history, we know that the only kingdom that matches all the following characteristics is the
atheistic secular state that arose in the French Revolution around the year 1798 and the Great City is
Paris.

1. A Beast is Symbolic of a Kingdom (Daniel 7: 23). So the Bible warns of a kingdom that would arise
near the end of the 1260 years around the year 1798. And this kingdom would attack the two
witness of the Old and New Testaments.
2. This kingdom is called Sodom and Egypt.
3. The attack against God's Word would start in a Great City. (Revelation 11: 8)
4. The Bible would suffer an attack for 3½ symbolic days or 3½ literal years. (Revelation 11: 9)
5. Celebrations would occur in the streets of the great city around the year 1798.

Sodom and Egypt

... great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt ... (Revelation 11: 8)
This describes a great City, around 1798, that is both morally and spiritually bankrupt.
France spiritually took the characteristics of Sodom and Egypt, but did France physically become Sodom
and Egypt?

Egypt
Egypt represents slavery, disobedience, godlessness and atheism.
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord,
and besides, I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5: 2)
Atheism. During this period the French tried to outlaw Christianity, burn Bibles, stop worship and they
began a new religion based on the worship of the "Goddess of Reason". The same year that the pope was
captured, Napoleon had the inexplicable urge to conquer
Egypt. In one day, on July 21, 1798 they defeated the ruling The King of the South
class of the Mamelukes in the Battle of the Pyramids and ruled
A parallel prophecy in Daniel 11: 40-
Egypt.
45 documents this conflict between
Slavery. France was involved in the slave trade like many
France and Egypt. France became
colonial European nations. France actually abolished some
the King of the South in that
slavery in 1794, but Napoleon reinstituted it in 1802.
symbolic reference. Egypt is south of
Israel, giving it that title.
Sodom
Sodom represents immorality. The one who controls Egypt assumes
Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, this title. So in two prophecies
surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from France both became Egypt and the
every quarter. and they called to Lot and said to him, "Where King of the South when Napoleon
are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us conquered and removed the ruling
that we may have relations with them." (Genesis 19: 4, 5) class in 1798.
During this period, French culture was on the decline.
Homosexuality became a common practice among the nobility.
It had become so common place that when the French invaded
Egypt, they raped the Mameluke men after their ship full of prostitutes was captured by the British. The
infamous Marquis de Sade lived during this time and he wrote the horrible book "120 Days of Sodom". In
this book he describes every inconceivable sexual evil unknown to man. His exploits were so depraved
that the practice of sadism was named after him.

Lord was Crucified

Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. But He would be crucified again in Paris. One slogan during the
Revolution was "Kill the Wretch". This referred to Christ. The people did all that they could to ridicule
Christ and to disgrace the objects of the church.
Three and a Half Days
The Revolution lasted for over ten years, but for about 3½ of those years, Catholicism and Christianity
were outlawed.

History of the French Revolution

At the time of the French Revolution, the people of France revolted against the "Roman Church". The French people had
been repressed and tortured by the "Church" for so long, that when they revolted, they rejected all "Christianity", and the
"Word". At this time, there was a tremendous rise in Secular Humanism. This is a viewpoint that placed Human Reason,
and not faith in God or in His Word, as supreme.

The Beginning of the 3½ Years (November 24, 1793).

The Churches of Paris were Closed and the Public Reading of the Bible Forbidden.

"The Commune of Paris was thus emboldened to kick over the traces, if one may say so, and on the third Frimaire of the
Year II. (24 November, 1793), on the request of Chaumette, it decreed "that all the churches and chapels of every religion
and sect which exist in Paris shall be closed forthwith now," and anyone who asked for their reopening should be arrested
as a suspicious person." A. Aulard, Christianity and the French Revolution, page 109.
"The movement of dechristianization quickly became general in Paris. Almost all parts of the town renounced religion,
closed the parish churches, and then reopened them as Temples of Reason." A. Aulard, Christianity and the French
Revolution, page 108.
"Taken as a whole, the tendency of the movement was to substitute what was called natural religion for Christianity in
any form. " A. Aulard, Christianity and the French Revolution, page 110.
The popular gatherings for worship in Paris were joyful, full of childish playfulness, in spite of the pedantry of a few
learned people. " A. Aulard, Christianity and the French Revolution, page 111.

A Prostitute Paraded as a God. Speaking of a Prostitute paraded through the streets of Paris and hailed as the
goddess of reason ...

The goddess, after being embraced by the president, was mounted on a magnificent car, and conducted, amid an
immense crowd, to the cathedral Notre Dame, to take the place of Deity. There she was elevated on the high altar, and
received the adoration of all present." Alison, Volume 1, Chapter 10

The End of the 3½ Years (April 1797).

The Churches in Paris are Reopened. And the public reading of the Bible is encouraged among Protestants. At the Easter
Festival of April 1797 (Germinal, Year V.). One of its ministers, the Abbe de Boulogne said.

services were held in fifty chapels or churches in Paris. ... the clergy had full liberty to celebrate their worship, with
large congregations ... Both Protestants and Jews submitted to the laws and silently enjoyed the liberty accorded them
after centuries of persecution." A. Aulard, Christianity and the French Revolution, pages 150 and 151.

In a letter written to Napoleon after the 3½ years of suppressed religion in Paris, the Directory of France appealed for the
destruction of the Papacy.

"The Roman religion would always be the irreconcilable enemy of the Republic." It must be struck in France. It must be
struck in Rome ... "that is to destroy, if possible, the center of the unity of the Roman Church; and it is for you, who unite
in your person the most distinguished qualities of the general ... to realize this aim ..." Christianity and the French
Revolution, page 151.

France Captures the Pope (February 15, 1798).

As part of their strategy to destroy Catholicism, General Berthier captured Pope Pius VI. He died in prison on August 29,
1799. This turbulent period and this action, brought the 1260 year papal domination of the old Roman empire to an end.
Many saw this incredible event as a fulfillment of prophecy and it began a great interest in the study of the book of
Daniel. This book would now become unsealed.

France Conquers Egypt (July 21, 1798).

Historians do not understand why Napoleon decided to start a war in Egypt. Some have speculated that he was probably
trying to cut off the trade route of the British to India or that he did it to copy the exploits of Alexander the great. In one
day (July 21, 1798) Napoleon defeated the Mamelukes at the Battle of the Pyramids and ended their reign forever.
According to his memoirs, Napoleon did it for the glory. His army took many of the treasures of Egypt back to France.

Militarily, this did not make sense. Prophetically, it does.

France was supposed to become the new King of the South according to Daniel 11: 40-43.

So, God miraculously helped the French to accomplish this goal by frustrating the attempts of the British Admiral Nelson
to find the French fleet. On June 22, 1798 the French fleet remained undetected in the thick fog even though they passed
very clos

God and the Weather

God has consistently used unusual weather to
accomplish His purposes, especially when He is
fulfilling prophecy
 Thick fog caused the French fleet to
remain undetected by the British as
Napoleon was fulfilling his destiny of
making the French the King of the South.
 Snow in July 1812 forced Napoleon to be
defeated by the Russians. This happened
so that the prophecy of Daniel 2 would
not fail. The nations of the old Roman
Empire were never to become one nation
again.

 Winter Weather caused Hitler to lose to

the Russians. Daniel 2 would not fail.