The Two Witnesses: A Vision of Biblical Endurance and Persecution

1. Lesson 6 for May 11, 2024 Lesson 6 for May 11, 2024

3. After the death of the great reformers, the reform After the death of the great reformers, the reform suffered stagnation. The Reformed churches became suffered stagnation. The Reformed churches became cold, rigid and intolerant. cold, rigid and intolerant. Great changes were taking place in the political and Great changes were taking place in the political and philosophical world. The widespread instability led philosophical world. The widespread instability led some, like the Pilgrims, to flee their homes and seek some, like the Pilgrims, to flee their homes and seek help in the “land of the free,” North America. help in the “land of the free,” North America. In Europe, the crisis broke out in the form of a In Europe, the crisis broke out in the form of a revolution. France stood as the first atheist state in revolution. France stood as the first atheist state in modern Europe. modern Europe. Until that moment, God had preserved his “two Until that moment, God had preserved his “two witnesses.” What happened to them during these witnesses.” What happened to them during these critical moments in history? critical moments in history? Who are the two witnesses? Who are the two witnesses? How long did they give their testimony? How long did they give their testimony? How he died? How he died? When were they resurrected and ascended When were they resurrected and ascended to heaven? to heaven? What happened next? What happened next?

4. The mention of the two olive The mention of the two olive trees and the two lampstands trees and the two lampstands (Rev. 11:4) takes us to the (Rev. 11:4) takes us to the vision of Zechariah 4. In it, the vision of Zechariah 4. In it, the olive trees produce the oil that olive trees produce the oil that feeds a seven feeds a seven- -branched lampstand branched lampstand (Zech. 4:1 (Zech. 4:1- -3 , 12). 3 , 12). anointed ones” that, together anointed ones” that, together with the lampstand, represent with the lampstand, represent “the word of the Lord” (Zech. “the word of the Lord” (Zech. 4:6, 14). That is, the Old and 4:6, 14). That is, the Old and New Testaments. New Testaments. The olive trees are “the two The olive trees are “the two

5. Using Moses and Elijah as symbols, Using Moses and Elijah as symbols, Revelation 11 says of these two Revelation 11 says of these two witnesses: witnesses: They are They are dressed in dressed in sackcloth (3) sackcloth (3) If someone If someone wants to harm wants to harm them, fire them, fire comes out of comes out of them (5) them (5) They turn They turn water into water into blood and blood and cause plagues cause plagues (6b) (6b) They close They close the sky so it the sky so it doesn't rain doesn't rain (6a) (6a) They stand They stand before God before God (4) (4) Only those Only those who studied who studied the Bible the Bible were were delivered delivered from the from the plagues and plagues and spiritual spiritual darkness of darkness of the Middle the Middle Ages. Ages. He who He who rejects the rejects the Bible is Bible is deprived of deprived of the rain of the rain of the Holy the Holy Spirit (the Spirit (the oil). oil). The Bible The Bible was was preserved in preserved in troubling troubling times times The biblical The biblical message message “devours” “devours” its enemies its enemies (Jer. 5:14) (Jer. 5:14) God did not God did not allow his allow his word to word to disappear disappear As with Moses and Elijah, the Bible would suffer great persecutions; it would As with Moses and Elijah, the Bible would suffer great persecutions; it would fight with atheist governments; it would ignite burning passions... History fight with atheist governments; it would ignite burning passions... History

6. “And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Rev. 11:3) Revelation chapter 11 begins with a vision of Revelation chapter 11 begins with a vision of the Heavenly Sanctuary, and of those who the Heavenly Sanctuary, and of those who worship before the altar of incense (Rev. worship before the altar of incense (Rev. 11:1). 11:1). The Court of the Heavenly Sanctuary is the The Court of the Heavenly Sanctuary is the Earth, where the “Gentiles” Earth, where the “Gentiles” – – unbelievers unbelievers – – trample the “holy city” trample the “holy city” – – the people of God the people of God – – for 42 months (v. 2). for 42 months (v. 2). At that time, the Word of God would be At that time, the Word of God would be clothed in “sackcloth” clothed in “sackcloth” – – great hardships (v. 3) [42 months x 30 days = 1,260 days (in (v. 3) [42 months x 30 days = 1,260 days (in prophecy, 1,260 years)]. prophecy, 1,260 years)]. great hardships – – From the year 538, the Roman From the year 538, the Roman church began to gradually impose church began to gradually impose its tradition above the Word of its tradition above the Word of God, reaching the point of God, reaching the point of prohibiting the reading of the prohibiting the reading of the Bible and condemning to death Bible and condemning to death those who had it, read it, or those who had it, read it, or lived according to its beliefs lived according to its beliefs (doctrines). (doctrines). this persecution. this persecution. (Matt. 24:22). (Matt. 24:22). Near the end of this period, the Near the end of this period, the reformers gave momentary relief to reformers gave momentary relief to

7. “Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them” (Revelation 11:7) The abyss mentioned in Rev. 11:7 describes the place where The abyss mentioned in Rev. 11:7 describes the place where demons dwell (Rev. 9:11; 20:1 demons dwell (Rev. 9:11; 20:1- -3; describes a political or religious power (as with the other describes a political or religious power (as with the other beasts of Revelation and Daniel). beasts of Revelation and Daniel). 3; Luke Luke 8:30 8:30- -31). The beast 31). The beast What power arose at the end of the 1,260 years, that is, around What power arose at the end of the 1,260 years, that is, around the year 1798? the year 1798? The French Revolution, begun in 1789, gave rise to the so The French Revolution, begun in 1789, gave rise to the so- - called “government of terror” (1793 called “government of terror” (1793- -1794), making it very clear who was behind this government: Satan and his demons. This who was behind this government: Satan and his demons. This government is called three ways (Rev. 11:8): government is called three ways (Rev. 11:8): 1794), making it very clear Egypt Egypt : (Ex. 5:2), although they (Ex. 5:2), although they did not mind worshiping did not mind worshiping the the “goddess of reason” “goddess of reason” : Atheist government Atheist government Where Jesus was Where Jesus was crucified crucified : sacrifice will be sacrifice will be rejected rejected Sodom Sodom : began a period of great began a period of great immorality immorality : The Revolution The Revolution : Jesus' Jesus' During this period, religion was abolished, and the Bible banned and burned. During this period, religion was abolished, and the Bible banned and burned.

8. “The atheistical power that ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, did wage such a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed. The worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly. Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn. The law of God was trampled underfoot. The institutions of the Bible were abolished. The weekly rest day was set aside, and in its stead every tenth day was devoted to reveling and blasphemy. Baptism and the Communion were prohibited. And announcements posted conspicuously over the burial places declared death to be an eternal sleep.” EGW (The Great Controversy, p. 273.2) EGW (The Great Controversy, p. 273.2)

9. “But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them” (Revelation 11:11) On November 26, 1793, Paris issued a decree On November 26, 1793, Paris issued a decree abolishing religion. This decree was annulled abolishing religion. This decree was annulled on June 17, 1797. During this period of three on June 17, 1797. During this period of three and a half years, France rejoiced and was glad and a half years, France rejoiced and was glad to have “liberated” from the tyranny of to have “liberated” from the tyranny of religion, and to have silenced the voice of the religion, and to have silenced the voice of the Bible (Rev. 11:9 Bible (Rev. 11:9- -10). 10). Instead of being silenced or destroyed, the Instead of being silenced or destroyed, the Bible rose up stronger than before. Protestant Bible rose up stronger than before. Protestant missions carried the gospel message to the ends missions carried the gospel message to the ends of the Earth (Rev. 11:11). of the Earth (Rev. 11:11). William Wilberforce created the first Bible William Wilberforce created the first Bible Society in 1804 for the mass distribution of Society in 1804 for the mass distribution of the Bible. The existing copies of the Bible the Bible. The existing copies of the Bible multiplied by multiplied by thousands thousands, until it became the first best first best- -selling book in the world. selling book in the world. Currently, the distribution of the Word of Currently, the distribution of the Word of God is unstoppable. It has been placed by God is unstoppable. It has been placed by God in a situation where no one can destroy God in a situation where no one can destroy , until it became the

10. “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm” (Revelation 11:19) From the “resurrection” of the two From the “resurrection” of the two witnesses, the last chapter of the cosmic witnesses, the last chapter of the cosmic conflict begins: the time of the end. conflict begins: the time of the end. This time will culminate in the Second This time will culminate in the Second Coming, when all kingdoms will become the Coming, when all kingdoms will become the possession of Jesus, and He will reign possession of Jesus, and He will reign eternally (Rev. 11:15). eternally (Rev. 11:15). That time will be preceded by wrath among That time will be preceded by wrath among the nations, and will end with the the nations, and will end with the destruction of “those who destroy the destruction of “those who destroy the Earth” (Rev. 11:18). Earth” (Rev. 11:18). All of these events are framed in a All of these events are framed in a context of worship in Heaven (Rev. 11:16 context of worship in Heaven (Rev. 11:16- - 17), which culminates with the vision of 17), which culminates with the vision of the ark of the covenant in the Heavenly the ark of the covenant in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Rev. 11:19). Sanctuary (Rev. 11:19). Having arrived “the time of judgment” Having arrived “the time of judgment” (Rev. 11:18), the standard of the (Rev. 11:18), the standard of the Judgment is shown to the world: the ten Judgment is shown to the world: the ten commandments contained in the ark of the commandments contained in the ark of the

11. “The Holy Spirit is beside every true searcher of God's word, enabling him to discover the hidden gems of truth. Divine illumination comes to his mind, stamping the truth upon him with a new, fresh importance. He is filled with a joy never before felt. The peace of God rests upon him. The preciousness of truth is realized as never before. A heavenly light shines upon the Word, making it appear as though every letter were tinged with gold. God himself speaks to the heart, making His word spirit and life.” EGW (Reflecting Christ, April 14 EGW (Reflecting Christ, April 14) )