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 Sermon > Official Service |
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Title |
Revelation Lectures(56) |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Revelation11:7-13 |
Date |
2008-03-07 |
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Revelation 11:7-13
[7] 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.
[8] 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.
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
[12] And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
[13] And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In the Old Testament, when King Ahab and the people committed sin through extreme idolatry, God brought a plague down upon them.
As Elijah the man of God prophesied, the sky was shut up for the three and a half years and it didn't rain.
Since such a terrible plague was brought upon the whole nation, do you think the king repented?
No, he didn't.
Instead, the king rather hated Elijah, who had prophesied the plague, and tried to kill him.
Piling up evil upon evil, he faced a miserable death on the battle field just as Elijah prophesied.
Ahaziah, the son of King Ahab, similarly suffered and died.
Ahaziah remembered well what happened between his father and Elijah the prophet.
But still, Ahaziah didn't fear God, but piled up evil upon evil; he fell through the lattice rail in his chamber. He became ill and died.
Elijah prophesied that Ahaziah wouldn't be healed but would die of the illness.
Upon hearing it, he didn't repent. He rather gave a command to arrest Elijah.
Even though he didn't get sick because of Elijah, he wreaked his anger on Elijah.
The Captain of Fifty who was given the command of the king went up to the top of the mountain where Elijah stayed.
2 Kings 1:10 says, "Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty."
Just as Elijah said, the captain of fifty and all of his soldiers died.
However, even at this shocking incident, the king yet didn't repent.
He sent fifty soldiers again to arrest Elijah, but the same thing happened again this time.
Then, the king sent another fifty.
Likewise, the evil people tend to do more evil even involving the huge works of God.
And they also blame others for the plague that comes upon them because of their evil.
The two witnesses in tonight's scripture also experience the same situation due to evil people.
Just as Elijah did, the two witnesses shut up the sky so that it doesn't rain, and they make the judgment of fire come upon.
They do what ordinary people cannot do, and preach the people 'to repent.'
Those who have even a little bit of goodness left in their hearts repent and accept the Lord at this time.
But, the antichrist and the evil people rather do even more evil things.
The greater the power of the two witnesses becomes, the more greatly they feel fear and the more they hate the two witnesses.
They think of the two witnesses as an impure element disturbing the world which is under their control.
And they look for a chance to kill the two witnesses.
However, no matter how hard they try to kill them, during the 3 and half years when God is protecting them, they cannot harm them.
And during this period, through the two witnesses, God gives one more chance to repent to the people of Israel and the people left in the world.
Finally, the time comes when the two witnesses stop their ministry.
As the number of the saved fills through the two witnesses, their ministry ends.
Tonight's scripture verse 7 says, "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."
3 and half years later, after the two witnesses started their ministry, they die as martyrs in the providence of God.
It was the same in the days of the Lord's ministry.
Those who stood against the Lord tried every means to kill Jesus, but they couldn't even touch Him.
However, when the time came God permitted it, the Jews were able to arrest Jesus and crucify Him on the cross.
Likewise, the two witnesses can be handed over to the antichrist only when the time comes that God has set.
The situation is so harsh that terrible persecutions are brought upon them. Tonight's scripture even describes it as 'war.'
The antichrist searches and seeks to annihilate anyone who helps or supports the two witnesses.
Since the two witnesses are a serious threat to the society, the antichrist tries to get rid of the influence of the two witnesses.
They believe that their system can become stabilized again only when they remove every trace of the two.
Now, how will the two witnesses die as martyrs?
Since the antichrist hates the two witnesses so much, the antichrist doesn't make death of the two quick and easy.
Even though it is not clearly written in the Bible, under God's inspiration He let me know the conditions.
God said we can realize the upright heart of the two if we know the pain that they suffer when they die as martyrs.
The antichrist tie the two together, torture them using a poisonous gas, and kills them.
This poisonous gas is one of the weapons they develop for warfare.
This weapon is so extremely effective that it can destroy countless people just in a minute.
However, its density can be adjusted. During torture, it can make the victim suffer terrible pain without killing them.
Let me tell you something as an example so that you can imagine the pain.
When demonstrations were all over in Korea, some of you experienced the effect of 'tear gas.'
Even though it doesn't permanently hurt or kill people, it can bring significant pain instantly.
When smelling even a little, people start to cough seriously with tears and runny nose; some even vomit.
In the army, there is training that exposes you to the gas, but only for a short period of time.
Those who have experienced it say the pain is so terrible that they feel like dying; they even shudder at the thought of it.
However, the gas which is used for the torture is far more terrible.
When the density of the gas becomes higher, it feels like your bones and muscles are wrenched. It brings terrible pain, which is beyond imagination.
While torturing and watching the two witnesses suffering from the most terrifying pain, the antichrist takes joy.
There are various poisonous gases. One gas causes blisters to develop on the skin and leaves terrible wounds to those affected
It can even make people go blind or cough up blood from their lungs.
The gas which is used for two witnesses is the gas that affects the innermost functions of the body's system such as nerves and muscles.
It leaves no external wound.
The reason is that the antichrist wants to hide their cruelty when the dead bodies are openly displayed to the public as an example.
Dear brothers and sisters.
When the two are arrested, tortured, and even when they die a martyr, they don't resist.
Just as Jesus kept silent when He was arrested in Gethsemane, they also know it's time and keep silent.
Just as Jesus kept silent while being flogged and carrying the cross, they also receive death in silence.
Even when they were brutally tortured, they accept it without saying a word.
After the antichrist kills the two witnesses like this, the antichrist doesn't bury the dead bodies.
The antichrist openly displays the bodies to the public saying, "The two who lied to people, deceived people, and disturbed the society are killed like this."
Long time ago, after a traitor or a serious criminal was executed, the dead body was not buried, but it was hung high or just discarded.
It was a warning to many people.
Also, during war when a general of the enemy is killed, the dead body was often hung high.
It was both to celebrate the victory and to threaten the enemy.
Likewise, the antichrist openly displays the dead bodies of the two witnesses to threaten the people who believe and follow the two.
Verse 8 says, "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."
It says, "their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city." It means the dead bodies will be openly shown to the public so that the people of Israel can see.
Now, it says that the city is called Sodom and Egypt. What does it mean?
What was the city of Sodom?
It was the city of debauchery and sensual pleasures, and it was destroyed by the judgment of fire.
Egypt was the country which stood against God till the end without repenting even after watching the ten plagues.
Therefore, it means that the evil people, like Egypt, don't repent even after they watch the power of the two witnesses. The scripture also says that sin is rampant like Sodom and only the judgment awaits them.
Furthermore, it says that it is the city where the Lord was crucified.
Just as Jesus was ignored and killed in Israel, the two witnesses are also killed in that place.
Now, verses 9 & 10 say, "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."
After killing the two witnesses, the antichrist thinks Israel is completely under the control.
The antichrist feels safe because the Social elements that were so hazardous have been removed and their power is secured.
When it says, "Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations," it means they proclaim their victory to the whole world.
They tell the world how hazardous the two witnesses were to the society. They say the social unrest is gone.
"Those who dwell on the earth" refer to the antichrist and the forces that take side with the antichrist.
When it says that they rejoice over them and celebrate and that they will send gifts to one another, it indicates how influential the two witnesses were.
It also indicates how much the evil people were threatened and worried because of the two witnesses.
Now, when they celebrate and rejoice over the death of the two witnesses, an amazing thing takes place.
Verse 11 says, "But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them."
The antichrist brutally tortured the two witnesses and killed them. They even showed the dead bodies to the public.
But after 3 and a half days, the dead bodies come back to life.
And verse 12 says, "And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them."
Just as the Lord resurrected and ascended into heaven, they, too, resurrect and ascend into heaven before the eyes of the people.
Here, the fact that they come back to life after the three and a half days is, once again, the proof that all is in the providence of God.
In other words, it indicates that the arrest of the two witnesses after the three and a half years of their ministry is the providence of God.
The two witnesses are killed not because the antichrist has that kind of power, but because it was permitted by God at the precise time.
In addition, the fact that the dead bodies are not buried but left on the street is also under the control of God.
The antichrist lets the dead bodies lie in the street so that the whole world can see the display of their victory.
However, as a result, the whole world comes to see the resurrection of the two witnesses.
You can see, it seems that the antichrist does all things for its own glory as it pleases. However, everything is under the sovereign power of God.
The glory of God is eventually revealed in the end.
After the resurrection, the two witnesses ascend into heaven before the eyes of people.
This will be seen not only the people with spiritual eyes that have been opened, but it will be seen by all physical eyes as well.
Just as the tonight's scripture says, "their enemies watched them," the antichrist who kill the two witnesses and the followers can also watch them rise.
On seeing all these things, people are surprised and they realize what the two witnesses said is true.
However, the forces of the antichrist don't repent even after watching all this.
Instead they try to hide the fact, and they even persecute others in order to prevent the news from spreading.
The people of goodness fear God and acknowledge God after they watch this kind of work.
But the evil people never try to acknowledge God till the end no matter how many times they see the power of God and His miracles.
It is because Satan moves their hearts to completely shut their ears and eyes.
However, no matter what the antichrist does to hide the news, it spreads from person to person in untold numbers.
Even in the days of Jesus, those who were tremble watching the death of Jesus became courageous after witnessing the resurrection of the Lord.
Likewise, through the resurrection of the two witnesses, many people become confident of the Gospel.
Now, verse 13 says, "And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven."
The place where the two witnesses were killed acts as an epicenter and a great earthquake takes places.
This incident is also similar to the incident at the time of the Jesus' crucifixion.
When Jesus was nailed on the cross, the earth shook and the rocks were split.
Matthew 27:54 says, "Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!""
The earthquake, which takes place when the two witnesses go up into heaven, is also an incident that shows the power of God.
The antichrist tries all means to prevent the news of this earthquake from spreading by controlling the media.
But, there are people on location who see the resurrection and the ascension of the two witnesses and they witness the earthquake.
Some people with good hearts among them make a confession that it is the work of God, and they give glory to God.
Of course many people don't believe even after they see this happen. There are also many people who deny the Lord out of fear of persecution.
However, among those of Israel, there still remain the people who fear God and don't ally themselves with the antichrist till the end.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
It is not because the two witnesses don't have faith that they are not caught up into the air when the Lord comes back.
They have far greater faith than anyone else. But, they willingly accept the duty of martyrdom.
What makes it possible for them to do it?
They are Orthodox Jews, yet they have longed for the truth for a long time.
One day, while distressed over questions which they could not solve by themselves, at the mercy of God they see the power of God, and they finally find the answer to their dilemma.
They become confident of the fact that Jesus Christ is really the true Messiah that they have been waiting for.
And then, they come to have hope.
They desire to spread the gospel to their brethren who are glued to the Old Testament as they had been.
That's why they are able to stay in the hellish chaos of the 7 Year Great Tribulation with a volunteering hearts.
It is possible because they love their people so much, and because they wish to lead just one more soul to salvation.
As if they entered the den of hungry lions, they proclaim the gospel risking their lives in the territory of the forces of the antichrist.
After accomplishing their duty, they are caught up into heaven.
Now, they have no more regrets.
They finished all they could do, and they accomplished the duty given by God.
All they have to do is join the saints who were caught up before and enter the 7 Year Wedding Banquet.
Just how much will they be welcomed by the Lord who has witnessed their ministry?
They will then receive the welcome of every one of heavenly host and angels and the saints, and they will enjoy the glory forever.
However, their hearts still are not filled only with happiness and joy. . .
Since they think of their people, those who aren't yet saved, in their hearts they still feel sorry for them.
They are caught up into heaven harboring the souls in their hearts.
They leave entreats of passionate pleading so that just one more soul will reach salvation.
Here are just a couple entreaties I will tell you about from the two witnesses.
"My dear brothers and sisters.
Do not afraid of the things that will soon come. But, remember the way we glorify God today.
All we have done till now is true, and all we have shown to you is from God the Father.
In this way, we proved with many things what you, brothers and sisters used to believe was not true.
Thanks to Jesus Christ, we receive salvation.
Even though you know that you are in the midst of the 7 Year Great Tribulation, do not change your heart; confess that the Lord is our Savior, and He saved us, and believe what we have done and preached is true.
I desire for you to follow the will of God and accomplish His will in the things that will take place soon.
There are people who heard and understood the word. I wish you will overcome by faith along with them, look for the things that will be given to you, and run the race perfectly.
My dear brothers and sisters.
In the will of God, now we leave here and go to a beautiful place. But, don't you forget the providence of God while remaining and breathing here.
Don't you forget the word that God the Father gave through Israel, and through its people.
Don't forget the promise.
And never forget the grace of Christ.
Even if all the persecution comes upon you in the future, keep your heart and keep the word of promise of God. Obey the will of God and reach salvation. This is my sincere desire.
I wish for you to understand our hearts.
Please remember all the words that have been accomplished. I wish that you will win victory in this Tribulation, and that we will welcome you in joy."
The heart wishing that his people that will remain will reach salvation is well described.
Here is another.
"My dear brothers and sisters.
All we have done is truly right and true.
Since we love you, brothers and sisters, we preached the word and we manifested such great power.
All we have done is against the antichrist. I wish for my brothers and sisters to realize the truth through what you now are witnessing.
Remember all the things we've done. Remember all the things we've done.
Remember the fact that we were dead,but came back to life again.
It seemed that we were persecuted, tortured, and dead. But you are witness that we have now gone to the Father. Don't forget this, but remember.
All who witnessed this, go and preach what you've seen.
I hope all of you will make an effort to help just one more man of God stand in the will of God.
Though we depart, don't distort the truth. Open your lips and testify to what you see.
I wish many of you will realize how God has remembered the people of Israel in His will and providence and how great His love is so that you will join the way of salvation."
The two witnesses earnestly request their people to remember what they have done and to win victory by faith.
After finishing these words, they go up into heaven in the cloud.
And they join the 7 Year Wedding Banquet which takes place in the air.
In the meanwhile, however, the calamity becomes even more terrible, and the spiritual warfare more fierce.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In history, all the prophecies of the Bible have been perfectly accomplished.
The prophecies in the Book of Revelation are related with the things of the end time.
These prophecies will also be accomplished precisely.
And you must realize it watching the Israel Mission of today.
You must earnestly feel it through the news of the two witnesses in the near future.
You must not just feel and realize it, but also prepare yourself well for the end time.
Which way will you choose?
Will you enter the 7 Year Wedding Banquet in advance and welcome the two witnesses?
Or will you remain in the earth and watch them going up into heaven in the cloud?
The choice is yours.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
The day is around the corner when it shall be accomplished just as written.
I hope you will no longer seek and accept the desires of the world, but struggle against sin and cast it off, and be faithful in all God's house.
By doing so, may you stand up courageously and go into the arms of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!
Amen |
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