Hi there,
So the Two Witnesses are told "come up here" in Revelation 11:12 (that is, "come to Heaven"). But what are the implications of this? Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised to return. If Jesus ascends and promises to return, how is it that the Two Witnesses - called by a voice in Heaven (who else could that be but God?) - do not return to Earth also. The Bible is clear "he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (gospels, from memory). In other words, we are given the part of the prophecy, with which we can make the simplest interpretation. What is interesting, is that this return, is - we may presume - also influenced by the fact that in Heaven there is no end to the number who witness to Christ (Revelation 7:9). We may expect then, that the Two Witnesses return in numbers.
This is the beginning of the story of the Witness of God, on Earth. If so great a cloud of witness is ours, how shall we say "this person does not see?" or "this person does not believe?" These things will become common place. Common place as will be the importance of restraint in the world, that they not lay hands on the believer. The power of this is incredible. The witness in the latter days is going to be everywhere! Elsewhere Revelation talks about many being sealed; we may understand this to overlap with the Revelation of the Witnesses. There is no aspect of the Gospel, that will not be revealed. The angle you hold, the angle you have now: it will be revealed to the world!
With witness, also comes distrust - this is the Devil's work. We must be on guard in prayer and supplication, not to let the Devil keep us from recouping what he takes. The confidence we have, is that God is on our side: God wants greater Witness, not less. Many of us will be responsible for the new generation of Witness that is coming; we too, will have a part in the reward that raising and defending them brings. The hope this brings will establish the Gospel in the hearts of men, for eternity. In everything we must pray.
I hope this has been an encouragement to you.
God bless.
So the Two Witnesses are told "come up here" in Revelation 11:12 (that is, "come to Heaven"). But what are the implications of this? Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised to return. If Jesus ascends and promises to return, how is it that the Two Witnesses - called by a voice in Heaven (who else could that be but God?) - do not return to Earth also. The Bible is clear "he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (gospels, from memory). In other words, we are given the part of the prophecy, with which we can make the simplest interpretation. What is interesting, is that this return, is - we may presume - also influenced by the fact that in Heaven there is no end to the number who witness to Christ (Revelation 7:9). We may expect then, that the Two Witnesses return in numbers.
This is the beginning of the story of the Witness of God, on Earth. If so great a cloud of witness is ours, how shall we say "this person does not see?" or "this person does not believe?" These things will become common place. Common place as will be the importance of restraint in the world, that they not lay hands on the believer. The power of this is incredible. The witness in the latter days is going to be everywhere! Elsewhere Revelation talks about many being sealed; we may understand this to overlap with the Revelation of the Witnesses. There is no aspect of the Gospel, that will not be revealed. The angle you hold, the angle you have now: it will be revealed to the world!
With witness, also comes distrust - this is the Devil's work. We must be on guard in prayer and supplication, not to let the Devil keep us from recouping what he takes. The confidence we have, is that God is on our side: God wants greater Witness, not less. Many of us will be responsible for the new generation of Witness that is coming; we too, will have a part in the reward that raising and defending them brings. The hope this brings will establish the Gospel in the hearts of men, for eternity. In everything we must pray.
I hope this has been an encouragement to you.
God bless.
