REVELATION 11:1-12 - "MY TWO WITNESSES"

REVELATION 11:1-12

[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.
[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.

[Note:  Jews are still worshipping in the Tribulation Temple; the Gentiles control Jerusalem; therefore, this forty-two months is the first half of the seven-year Tribulation.  See Dan. 9:27.]

[3] And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
[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.
[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.

[Note:  I believe the "two witnesses" are Enoch and Elijah, as neither died - Heb. 9:27 states "...it is appointed unto men once to die...." - Gen. 5:24; 2 Kgs. 2:11 - "two olive trees" - Zech. 4:1-14.  "God of the earth" - 2 Cor. 4:4. - 1260 days is equal to first forty-two months of the Tribulation.] 

[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.

[Note:  "the beast that ascendeth"; in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue, his name Apollyon - Rev. 9:11 - is also named Satan - Rev. 20:2-3.  Until the use of satellites, it was not possible for the world to watch their bodies.]

Because the Church will have already been caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Th. 4:17; Rev. 4:1), God will use His two witnesses to proclaim His desire that none should perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).  While we, the Church, are still here, we are to call upon people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved; time is short so don't put it off.  Jesus died and rose again for you, so trust Him and live for Him today!