Could you please turn in your Bibles to the book of the Revelation today? We are going to continue today with another message in our study on the book of the Revelation, and we are going to begin today in chapter 11, Revelation chapter 11, and I'm going to read the first 14 verses of Revelation chapter 11. If you turn today in your Bible, I begin to read in verse 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.' "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. "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. "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." "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.

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them and kill them. "And their dead bodies shall lay in the street of the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. "And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. "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 dwell on the earth.

"And after three days and a 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. "And they heard great voice from heaven saying unto them, come up hither. "And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. "And the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell. "And in the earthquakes were slain of men seven thousand, and the remnant were affrightened, and gave glory to the God of heaven. "The second war is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly." I'm going to stop here with the reading of this chapter.

There is a little more to read in chapter 11 of the Revelation. I'm not going to read it because the next passage belongs really to the next chapter, which we're going to read later on and take it in the future day. But today we are dealing with Revelation chapter 11. By the time we arrive to chapter 11 of the Revelation, we find ourselves at some point of the middle of the Tribulation. The Tribulation is seven years, which is called in Hebrew, "Tsarat Yaakov", "Jacob's Trouble". And it is specifically connected with our nation Israel, where God is going to allow our nation Israel to experience tsarot, or sorrows, or tribulation.

And seven years what is called the Tribulation, or the Great Tribulation, and at the end of the Great Tribulation, God is going to restore our nation Israel, to bring them into blessing, where Israel is going to be established here on earth under the kingship of Yeshua, the Messiah. When we are in chapter 11, finding ourselves here in these verses, verses 1 to 14, And all of a sudden, John, his Hebrew name Yohanan, received a revelation from God concerning two witnesses that God will raise during the Tribulation for the purpose of being a witness to this world around, to the people of Israel, as well as to the rest of the nations of the world.

Now it is interesting, beloved brothers and sisters, that when we have already studied in chapter 7, you remember we had the 144,000 Hebrews, whom God is going to seal in their forehead, in the beginning of the Tribulation, that they will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. There will be those 144, like Shaul, Paul, like the Apostle, who will preach the message of the Gospel here in this world. And they will lead many to the knowledge of the Messiahship of Yeshua during the Tribulation, a time of sorrow, a time of trial, a time of difficulties that will happen here in this world. But here, brothers and sisters, John received an additional revelation concerning additional two individuals, which are called here in this chapter, my two witnesses.

God called them, my two witnesses. We know from Isaiah chapter 43 and 44 that Israel, as a nation, were called the Jehovah Witnesses, the true Jehovah Witnesses, those that will witness for God. But Israel, during the Tribulation, is still as a nation in a process of restoration. So, God will raise the 144,000 Hebrews, Revelation chapter 7. But in addition to these 144,000, there will be two specific witnesses that are called here prophets, who will speak forth the Word of God to the world during the Tribulation period. Well, notice, first of all, brothers and sisters, that in verses 1 to 6 here of chapter 11, we have the two witnesses and their ministry that they were called to do in the Tribulation period.

Now, notice it began here in verse 1 of chapter 11 with the mention of a temple. Notice that it says here, "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod. And the angel stood, saying, 'Rise, measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 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 for forty-two months.'" Now, notice, brothers and sisters, that all of a sudden we discover that there is a temple in the middle of the Tribulation that is still here on earth.

Now, remember, let me remind you that actually the Bible teaches us about four temples. We have what is known as the Solomonic Temple, which Melech Shlomo, the King Solomon, had built in the earlier chapters of the history of Israel, after Israel walked through the wilderness journey. When Israel entered into the Promised Land, after that God, through David, had given instruction to David about building a temple, but David could not build the temple, and God gave the responsibility to Shlomo, Solomon, to build this magnificent temple. That was an amazing temple. It had been said, whoever, having seen Solomon's temple, having seen such a beautiful temple in the time when Solomon built the temple for God in the midst of the nation of Israel.

That's the first temple. But you remember what happened to this first temple. Our people Israel, in disobedience to God, God had to discipline our nation, to discipline the nation of Israel. And you remember that it was Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who came to the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the city, and destroyed the temple, and took our Jewish people to Babylon, where they were singing their song by the rivers of Babylon. There we wept as we remembered Zion, Zion. That was the temple that had been destroyed. So the nation of Israel, the southern kingdom of Israel, Judah and Benjamin, find themselves in Babylon for 70 years.

And then after 70 years, Daniel was anticipating the restoration of Israel. And he was praying to God. And God has said to Daniel that Israel will be restored. And I want you for a moment to turn to Daniel and look what Daniel was told by Gavriel in chapter 9. He says there in verse 27, speaking about the Antichrist or the counterfeit Messiah, who will make an agreement with the many of our people Israel for seven years, meaning the tribulation period in Daniel chapter 9. And he said here in verse 27, he said, and he shall confirm a covenant with the many. This is he. This is the counterfeit Messiah, the Antichrist, the false Messiah.

He will make a covenant with many of our people Israel for one week, meaning seven years. In other words, he will make an agreement with the nation of Israel for seven years. And then in the middle of these seven years, this one week, he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Now, interesting. The sacrifices to be stopped, the oblation to be stopped. Well, sacrifices are only offered in the temple. And therefore, Daniel was promised that there will be a restoration of the Jewish people and a rebuilding of the temple back in the land. Well, you know very well that Ezra and Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem.

Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra rebuilt the temple. Nehemiah have rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. And the second temple was established in the city of Jerusalem. Well, what happened to this temple? This temple had been enlarged by Herod the Great. It was a very beautiful temple. Very much enlarged. And we know it from New Testament reading. But also, Yeshua, the Messiah, when he came and he ministered in this temple, he also said to the disciple that this temple also will be destroyed. And as you know, dear brothers and sisters, in 70 A.D., Titus came, the Roman commander, and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and burned the temple completely and not leaving one stone upon another.

This is exactly to fulfill the prophecy of Yeshua, the Messiah, that there will be a total destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the people of the prince that shall come, the Romans, who came and destroyed the second temple of the city of Jerusalem. Well, that temple had been destroyed. So now we find ourselves in the middle of the tribulation, in Revelation chapter 11, and apparently, John was told by the one that was instructed to give him instruction from God to come to take a reed and to a rod, and the angels that stood said to him, "Rise and measure the temple of God." This is the third temple that is known to us, what is called the Tribulation Temple.

This is the third temple. There is another temple, by the way, that Ezekiel chapter 40 and on to the end of the book gives us the final temple that is the millennial messianic temple where the Messiah will be situated in the coming day. So, we have four temples, two are gone already, one is going to come that is known to be the Tribulation period temple, and there is the final one at the end of the book of Ezekiel, where the Messiah will be situated, Israel restored, and finally, the temple of God will be properly established. But this, beloved brothers and sisters, this temple is the temple that is, what we can call it, the Tribulation period temple.

Now, with this temple, God is not going to be happy with. Why will he not be happy with? Because all the sacrifices that will be offered during the Tribulation period were sacrifices that God will not sanction. He will not be pleased with. Why he will not be pleased with? Because the Messiah have come. The sacrifices have been completely finished. God had been satisfied with the work of Yeshua, the Messiah. And therefore, God is not going to be pleased at all with this temple. And that's why, and I'm reading one more verse, I got to read it in Isaiah chapter 66, and the first few verses, it says, "Thus says the Lord, the heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool, but where is the house," this is the temple, "that you build unto me, and where is the place of my rest?" He's saying to Israel, "Where is that house?" And then he says in verse 2 and 3 of chapter 66 of Isaiah, he said, "For all those things has my hand made, and all those things have been," saith the Lord, "but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and is trembling at my word." And then God's saying to them what he thinks about the sacrifices that Israel will offer during the tribulation.

He says in verse 3, He that kill an ox is as if he slew a man. He that sacrifice a lamb is as if he that cut off dog's neck. He that offereth an oblation as if he offered swine's blood. He that burneth incense as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abomination." You see prophetically Isaiah, about 700 years before the coming of the Messiah, was saying, speaking about this tribulation, Tempelini is saying, "God is not satisfied with the offerings and the sacrifices of the tribulation period because they are offering it after the Messiah have come, rejecting the sacrifice of Yeshua HaMashiach." And so in this temple right now, in chapter 11 of the Revelation, John is called to measure the temple.

And so you notice that he gave him a rod, and the angel stood and he says, "Rise," he says in verse 1, "measure the temple of God and the altar." Well, apparently the altar is there. There are sacrifices on the altar. And them that worshiped there. And apparently there were those who worshiped there. So you see what happened. If you remember the setting, the counterfeit Messiah will make an agreement with our nation, the religious leaders of the coming days. And he will tell them, "Listen, I'm going to let you have your temple. I'm going to let you offer sacrifices so you can get what you want." And you ask any Jewish person today in Israel, any religious Jewish person, he will tell you we are waiting for the temple.

We are waiting for the temple. And if you will ever have an opportunity to visit with us the land of Israel, many times we go to the temple institute in Jerusalem where there is already a preparation, beloved brothers and sisters, with all sorts of articles and garments for the priests for the upcoming temple that is going to be established at the tribulation period. And so Israel is ready for that. The setting, the stage is being set even these days for the preparation for this temple to be built. But God will not be pleased with the temple or the sacrifices because they are being offered as they are rejecting the only one sacrifice.

And it is the sacrifice of Yeshua, the Messiah. So, John was told by this angel to take this rod to measure the temple. And you know, when you measure something, you often think of ownership. When you measure, you know, when you, those of you who buy or sell houses and those of us who are working in buying, selling houses usually tape, measure, this is how many rooms and how many steps and how many floors and basement and so on, in the yard outside and so on, measuring stick. And it seems to be like ownership. You see, God is the owner of the whole universe and his temple ought to be his, but it was done in a way that is not pleasing to him.

And therefore, notice what he says now in verse 2 of our chapter. He says, the outer court was given to the Gentiles. Look, it says, but the court, which is without the temple, he says, "Leave out and measure it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot for forty and two months." You see, he says, "Listen, don't measure the outer courts, because even though the religious Jewish people will offer sacrifices in the temple, but actually the outer courts is given to the Gentiles." And he says, "You know, you don't need to measure that. It is given to the Gentiles, and the holy city, this is the city of Jerusalem, shall be tread under foot for forty-two months." Now, these forty-two months, if you will calculate very clearly, you take forty-two months, thirty days every month, forty-two months make it three and a half years.

God, through the angel, telling Yohanan, John, the apostle, he says, "Listen, the outer court, the city of Jerusalem, this holy city, shall be tread under foot by the Gentiles for the second half of the tribulation, for three and a half years." Why? Because in the middle of the tribulation, as we have read Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist is going to stop the sacrifices. He will take control of the city of Jerusalem. He will sit himself in the temple, claiming himself to be God, and he will seek the worship of mankind in this world, that men will worship him, and will adore him. He would claim to be God, sitting in the temple, like 2 Thessalonians 2, claiming to be God, situating himself in the temple, and this will be done specifically in the second half of the tribulation.

And so we find out that John was called to measure the temple. And as he measured the temple, he measured the inside, not the outside. Why? Because it was given unto the Gentiles. And for three and a half years of the second half of the tribulation period, the city will be treaded under foot by the Antichrist and his armies against the nation of Israel. And so now in the next verses, verses 3 to 4, John is told concerning two witnesses who will prophesy during, and I'm emphasizing now, the first half of the tribulation. Look at this now. Go back to now verse 3 and 4. Look at that, what we are introduced here in verse 3.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses. And they shall prophesy, notice now, interesting, they will prophesy 1,260 days they will be clothed in sackcloth. Now these are the two witnesses that all of a sudden being introduced to us out of nowhere. God, through the angel, telling John that there will be two specific witnesses who are going to prophesy, apparently they are prophets that will speak forth the word of God, for three and a half years. Again, 1,260 days. Biblical month, or biblical month have only 30 days, not 31, not 29, not 28. 30 days. Lunar calendar. And therefore, for three and a half years, they will be God's witnesses who will speak forth the word of God during the first half of the tribulation.

Actually, in verse 2 and in verse 3, what you really have a combination of the first three and a half years of tribulation, and the second three and a half of the tribulation, you have seven years right before us in verses 2 and verse 3 of Revelation chapter 11. Now those two witnesses, you know, it is amazing. Many, I read books, I mean, I read commentaries, listened to Bible teachers about these two witnesses, and there are many, many opinions about these two witnesses. We are going to talk about it in a moment, in the next couple of verses. But apparently, God never leaves himself without a witness. In every generation.

In every generation. Historically, in the time of Adam and Eve and so on. The time of our father Abraham. The time of the history of our nation Israel. In every generation, when the birth of the body of Messiah has started about 2,000 years ago. In every generation, God has witnesses here in this world. We have the 144,000 which we have read about in Revelation chapter 7. And now in Revelation chapter 11, we have those specific two witnesses who are going to prophesy. They are going to speak for God here in this world. They are going to speak the word of God. They are going to be preaching to the world around in the first half of the tribulation period for 1,260 days.

And they are going to be clothed in sackcloth. They are going to be like John the Baptizer. Like all the prophets of Israel who were mourning over the condition of this world. They will be crying for the nations of the world to repent and turn to God. They have already been experiencing this judgment of God during the first half of the tribulation. They are going to be crying to this world. Repent! Turn to God! And the world will not like it. But God will use them in one way or another. God will use them. And here, beloved brothers and sisters, it says here in verse 4, all of a sudden this statement, these are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing before the God of this earth.

You remember in our reading in Zechariah, Zechariah chapter 4, where Zechariah received visions from God about future restoration of the nation of Israel. And if you remember, we have read in the prophet Zechariah there about the two olive trees. And there was a vessel above the lamp stand and the olive trees gave, if you will, olive to this bowl above the lamp stand and the bowl gave oil all the way to the lamp stand for a testimony of God in a future day. Well, what we really see, that what Zechariah saw in his visions in chapter 4 of his book, it is really connected with these two witnesses that we have here in Revelation chapter 11.

These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing before the God of all the earth. They are the two witnesses for God. They are involved in that which will lead our nation Israel to be restored in a future day. Remember, they are preaching during the first half of the tribulation period. They are only seven years of the tribulation. Israel is going to be restored at the end of the tribulation. So here they are, presenting the word of God in the world during the first half of the tribulation period. Now here it is, verses 5 and 6. In verse 5 and 6, John is told of not only of what they will prophesy, but of what they will do.

Of the works that the two witnesses will do. Verses 5 and 6. First of all in verse 5, it says here, And if any man will hurt them, fire will proceed out of their mouth and devour their enemies. Now can you imagine the power that these people have? They are walking in the streets and somebody is just bothering them. They will have power from God that will be unusual. Dear brothers and sisters, it says here, fire will proceed out of their mouth and they will devour their enemies. If any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. Then notice in verse 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.

It is amazing. You know, look at the history, for example, of the apostle Paul, Shaul. He did not maybe have this authority and power from God to have fire coming out of his mouth, but you know very well that he had certain gifts that God had given to him. Gifts to heal. Gifts, you know, certain things that he had done that people have been amazed. You remember Peter. Peter walked. When Peter walked, people walked under the shadow of Peter, and they were healed. Now this was, not every one of us can do that. That was specific gifts that were given by God to specific individuals in this world.

And these two individuals will have this power. Number one, to kill with fire. Number two, to shut heaven, not to give rain. And number three, in verse 6b, to turn the water into blood. Amazing. Now, that's where a lot of people ask the question, well, who are those two witnesses? You notice there are a few things that are here that are very special because he's talking about killing with fire. He's talking about to shut heaven, not allowing heaven to bring rain, and also to turn water into blood. Now, that's why many came to various conclusions. Some believe that the very fact that they are able to ask for fire, to come down and to kill someone, it reminds them of 2 Kings 1, where Elijah, or Eliyahu Hanavi, the prophet of Israel, where he asked for fire, to come down and destroy someone.

So, something, maybe one of those two witnesses is Eliyahu. Secondly, others say that the fact that to shut the heavens down, would also speak of Elijah, in 1 Kings, chapter 17, you remember, he prayed, and for over three years, there was no rain. in the time of this wicked king Ahab, and Jezebel, the time when Israel had been in a very low state, low condition, spiritual condition. So again, this indicates, perhaps, that one of these two witnesses may be Elijah. Thirdly, as it says in verse 6, that these witnesses are able to turn water into blood, and he takes us back to the history of the people of Israel, where Moses, in Exodus chapter 7, asked Aaron to put the rod there, and you remember, all the water of Egypt turned into blood.

And that's why, beloved brothers and sisters, some suggest, that these two witnesses may very well be, Moshe and Eliyahu, Moses and Elijah. This is just one view. Others suggest, another thing. Because, and they read the verse, and I want to read that verse, in Hebrews chapter 9. It says in verse 27, of Hebrews chapter 9, as it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment, so the Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many. So some suggest, because the Bible, speaking to our Hebrew believers, say that it is appointed unto man once to die, and therefore every man, it is essential for every man to die, that perhaps these two witnesses, are towards two individuals that never died.

The first one is Chanuk, Enoch. In the book of Genesis, in chapter 5, you remember Enoch walked with God, and he was not, because God took him. He was raptured before death. He never knew death. Enoch. And secondly, Elijah himself, who was translated into heaven, through the chariots of fire. We read it, as well, in the scripture, in the book of Kings. Elijah, if you remember, was taken up to heaven. So some suggest, that it may be, Elijah and Chanuk, Eliyahu and Chanuk, these two individuals, who never died. Well, this is also a possibility, though I personally must say, that I don't see that to be, because, and I tell you why.

Because, it's true, that Hebrews 9, in verse 27, says that it is appointed, and the man wants to die, but, it's a principle, it's a teaching in the Bible, but it is not, a rule, that there cannot be, an exception. I'll give you an example. When the church, gonna be raptured, let's assume, Yeshua is coming today. Do you know, none of us will die? We're gonna be taken out to heaven, without death, to meet the Lord, in the air. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. In other words, it is a principle, taught in the Bible, that normally speaking, it is an appointed unto man, once to die, but there is also an exception, to that rule.

I'll give you another thought, on the other side. If it is appointed unto man, once to die, there are some people, who died twice, in the Bible. I'll give you an example. Eliezer, Lazarus, Lazarus, if you remember, he died, John chapter 11, and when Yeshua came, he raised him, he says, "Lazarus, come forth." Lazarus was resurrected, he lived his life, for a little longer, but he died again. He went back, and he died, again, later on. What about, the widow's son, in Luke chapter 7, where Yeshua, raised her son, who died. And then, he presented him, but then, he died again. Some people, died twice. Look at another person, a Jairus daughter, you remember, when Yeshua, as well, had lifted up, and raised her, and then, she died again.

And you know, what I'm thinking about, I'm thinking about, in Matthew chapter 27, that after Yeshua, died, on the cross, when he says, Eli, Eli, why have thou forsaken me? And he died, and if you remember, the veil of the temple, was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and then it says, many, that were in the grave, arose. But they went back, and they died. So, they died twice. So, some people, never die, Enoch and Elijah, some people die twice. While it is true, that the Bible teaches us, it is appointed unto man, once to die. And after this, the judgment, it is true, yet there is, what you call, an exception.

Enoch was an exception. Elijah, Eliyahu was an exception. The assembly, the believers, at the rapture, will be an exception. The rule is, it is appointed unto man, once to die. But there is an exception, to the rule. And therefore, when the question comes, who are those witnesses, personally, I am speaking for myself, I honestly understand, and at least see, that they, will be, an additional prophets, that God will raise, during the tribulation period, to use them, as the witnesses, of the Lord, promised, through the prophet, Zechariah, in chapter 4. There will be witnesses, for God. The 144,000 Hebrews, there will be witnesses, for God, during the tribulation period.

That's my thought, and you can consider that, but just, look over that, in your mind, and think about it, and pray about it, and see what the Lord, will reveal this to you, what the Lord, will show it to you. But beloved brothers, and sisters, here we see the two witnesses, and how their ministry, have been. Their teaching, verses 3 and 4, their works, verses 5 and 6. Now quickly, let's go to, verses 7, 8, 9, and 10. In verses 7, 8, 9, and 10, look what happened, to those witnesses. First of all, in verse 7, we find out, that the beast, this is the counterfeit Messiah, he makes war, against those two witnesses. it says here, in Revelation, chapter 11, and verse 7, it says, and when they shall have, finished their testimony, the beast, that ascended, out of the bottomless pit, shall make war, against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Well you see, that beast, is mentioned, more than once, in the book, of the Revelation. He is mentioned, in chapter 13. He is mentioned, later on, also in chapter 17. He is the one, that ultimately, going to be cast, into the lake of fire. This is the one, that is rising up, in the middle, of the tribulation. He wants to get rid, of these two witnesses, so he makes war, against them. Because he wants, to situate himself, in the middle, of the tribulation, in the temple, to claim, to be God, and to be worshipped. So what does he do? It says, he, when, notice that it says, when they finish their testimony, in other words, as long, they were testifying, for God, and God wants, that they will be kept, here on earth, nothing could harm them.

But when they finish, their ministry, it's so beautiful, to see that, is that when God says, listen, it's time for you, to go home. Your ministry, is over. Your testimony, is finished here. Then he allowed, the beast, that they ascended, out of the bottomless pit. You find this expression, mentioned, a few times, in the scripture, here in the book of Revelation. He makes war, against them. He fights, against them. And then ultimately, he overcome them, meaning, God allowed, him to overcome them, and he killed, those two witnesses. And, if you will notice, that it's mentioned, a few times, in the scripture, that no one is able, to fight, against the beast.

He was a wicked man. If you just turn, for a moment, to Revelation chapter 13, and verse 4, it says, who is like, unto the beast, at the end of verse 4, who is able, to make war, with him. He's warring, against those two witnesses, seeking to destroy them, and ultimately, was allowed, by God, to kill them. And so, here in verse 7, he, has succeeded, to kill them. Then notice, in verse 8, what happened. In verse 8, it says, their bodies, shall lie, in the street, of the great city, which is spiritually, called, Sodom, and Egypt, where, also, our Lord, was crucified. So, in other words, when he killed them, he left, their bodies, really, on the streets, of the city, of Jerusalem.

He left their bodies there. And it's, the Bible tells us, look at the condition, of Jerusalem, during those days. It says here, it says, the great city, which is spiritually, called Sodom. You know, when the time, that the Antichrist, Christ, is going to be there. And he's going to seek, to lead the world, after him. This world, including the city, of Jerusalem, during the tribulation, will be called, like Sodom. And you know, what happened, in the city of Sodom. There was an abomination, before the Lord, in the city of Sodom, that God, had to judge, this city. Then it says, it called Egypt. In scripture, Egypt, always speaks, of the world, of the world system, headed up, by the God, of this world.

You see, the city of Jerusalem, at that time, during the tribulation period, will be called, Sodom, in the mind of God. Will be called, Egypt, in the mind of God. And it says here, where our Lord, was crucified. Where the Messiah, Yeshua, who loved men, so much, was hanging there, on the tree, and was crucified, on a Roman cross. Can you imagine? They left, their bodies, on the street. In other words, to display, look at me, the beast will say, I have succeeded, to kill, those two witnesses, of God, those two prophets, of God, and I left them, here on the street, for everyone, to see.

And it says, in verse 9, that the whole world, will see, their dead bodies, and they, of the peoples, and the kinders, and tongues, and nations, shall see, their dead bodies, for three days, and a half, and shall not suffer, their dead bodies, to be put, in graves. Now, I was amazed, you know, when you read such a verse, it says, how can anybody, will see that? Notice it said, that nations, and peoples, and kinders, and tongues, gonna see. Well, you know, I just watched television, in the last couple of days, watching about the situation, in the world. You hear about, Libya. You hear about, Egypt.

You hear about, Nigeria. You hear about, the United States. You hear about Canada. And you watch it, it's like playing before you, on television, you can see, you don't have to even look, with recording, the present display, of what's happened, this moment, as you are sitting before, before, of the television, to watch the news. Can you imagine? You know, if you read these texts, 100 years ago, you would ask the question, well, how is it possible, even 50 years ago, how is it possible, that the whole universe, will see their dead bodies? Well, here you can see, brothers and sisters, the development, over the years, with communication, enables today, that you can be here, in Canada, and you watch, what's going on, in the Middle East, at the same time, as events, are moving along.

And that's what's going to happen. The whole world, is going to observe, what's happened, to those individuals, that will be killed. And you notice, they will not let them, to be buried. So wicked, it will be, that they will display, the servants of God. Those who preach, the message of the love, and the grace of God. Those who told mankind, about the Messiah, and about judgment, if one refused, to accept the Messiah, Yeshua. They will leave them, on the streets. For all to display. Oh, look at me, I am this, counterfeit Messiah. I am this beast. Now he will not say, I am the counterfeit Messiah.

But obviously, I am the taking, the place, of God. I was able, to destroy, those who were preaching, for God. And so, they will be there, displayed for the whole world. And finally, it says in verse 10, when it comes to the witness, of those, that were killed, it says here in verse 10, the day that dwell, upon the earth, shall rejoice, over them, that make merry, and shall send gifts, one to another, because, these, two, prophets, tormented them, that dwell, upon, the earth. You know, that's the only time, that we read, of joy, during the tribulation period. period. And the only time, of rejoicing, and joyfulness, is in connection, with the killing, of the servants, of God.

You know, people, it is amazing, how hard, the hearts of men, the heart of men, is so deceitful, so wicked, that we can rejoice, over, the death, of others, who are only, speaking for God, who is, praising God, and telling the world, about the true, and living God. They would be, happy, to see, those two men, laying down there, on the streets, of Jerusalem. And notice, they will give gifts, to one another, because of those two prophets, because they, tormented them, that dwell, upon, the earth. Those, preachers, by their message, have, convicted people, have, tormented them, in a sense, that they, realized, they knew, they were wrong, but they were more, happy, to destroy them, than to turn to God, confessing their sin.

Well, just quickly, in conclusion, of this message today, verses 11 to 14, in the last verses, that we have read today, we see, the two witnesses, are being raised, by God. Look, it says, verse 11, it says, and after three and a half days, the spirit of life, from God, entered into them, and, that they stood, upon their feet, and great fear, fell upon all them, which saw them. Here is the power, of the resurrection. God, in his authority, over everything, over life. He, what does he do? Is the spirit of life, from God, from God, entered into those two witnesses, and now, he raised them. And the ones, that were dead, for three and a half days, displayed, to the world.

Now, they're standing, the feet, are standing, here in the city, of Jerusalem. And, can you imagine, when you watch, those two, dead on the street, and all of a sudden, they're standing, alive, speaking for God again. heaven, can you imagine, the fear, that come into the hearts, of man? Can you imagine, what effect, would that be? There was fear, upon them, that saw, this occasion, like this. But God, not only raised them, he also took them, back to heaven, alive. Now, you remember, we talked about, some who died, twice, and some, who were taken, to heaven, without to die. Now, notice that, they died, they were raised, and now, it says in verse 12, it says, and they heard, a great voice, from heaven, saying unto them, come up hither.

And they ascended, up to heaven, in a cloud, and the enemies, beheld them. Just the same, like he raised them, the power of God, was also, to snatch them, out of this earth, out of this world. He took them, up to his presence, in heaven. And they no longer, needed to suffer, persecution, by the world, who rejected, the testimony, of these two witnesses. So God, took them to heaven, they ascended, up to heaven, and then, all, everyone, could see that. You know, everyone could see, their dead bodies. Now, everybody could see, the ascension, of these two individuals, in verse 12. And the conclusion here, in these verses 13, and 14, what was the result then?

Look at this, verse 13, it says that, there was earthquake, in Jerusalem. And the same hour, there was a great earthquake, and a tenth part, of the city. Remember, the city here, is what we just read earlier, in verse 8, it's spiritually called Sodom, and Egypt, where our Lord, was crucified. crucified. This is the city, of Jerusalem. The city, had earthquake, and one tenth, of the city, had been destroyed, fell. And then it says, seven thousand, of the city, men, have been slain, and killed. And the leftover remnant, were frightened, and gave glory, to God, to the God, of heaven. In other words, left over. And you see, in a sense, it's gonna take us, to the future day, where there will be a restoration, of the nation of Israel.

Those two witnesses, will be used by God, ultimately, to restore, at the end, the nation of Israel. There will be another stone, in the building blocks, where God is going, ultimately, restore, the nation of Israel, back to himself. And here, brothers and sisters, I'm going to conclude, in verse 14. Look, this is the second war. It says here, the second war is past. And behold, the third war is, war is quickly going, to come. There are three wars, that were mentioned, in chapter 8, and verse 13. Already, this is the second war, that had been ended, now. And there is one, more, war, that is going to come.

And that war, is the seventh, sound, of the trumpet, of the angel, that when he gonna sound, the trumpet, that is the final war, which will introduce, the seven bowls, of God's righteous judgment, that are going to fall, upon this earth, during the second half, of the tribulation period. Well, that's what I have for you today, dear brothers and sisters. May the Lord bless these thoughts, to your hearts, and encourage you, because you and I, belong to the Lord. We are saved, here, during the tribulation time. We are going to be, in the presence of God, we are going to enjoy, the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, but ultimately, those verses, lead us, into the restoration, of the nation, of Israel.