DEAD IN THE STREET
Revelation 11:7 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.
1. How can it be said that the bottomless pit beast kills the two witnesses?
Since the two witnesses are the Holy Spirit and the true church (Acts 5:32; 1 John 5:10), how can you kill them?
You can only kill their influence and effect in the world! Listen to Isaiah 59:14. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. It is the truth that the church, by the Holy Spirit presents to the public that is fallen!
None seem to believe that those who have heard the gospel without an effectual hearing, have once been enlightened by, and have had a “taste” of the Holy Spirit! Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
And how could it be said that they could be killed since Christ has given power to them, and the Holy Spirit has provided them an endless supply of anointing? (Rev. 11:3,4). We must understand that their power and anointing were for a specific job, to last for a specific time! These gifts were only to last for the 1,260 days, or for the time of world wide evangelism! When these tasks are complete, there is no farther need of these enablements. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Gospel Rule
We must notice that it is not the beast that has authority here, but it is the gospel in control! The beast cannot ascend out of the bottomless pit until Christ allows such by the gospel’s finished testimony! (Rev. 10:7, 11:7, 20:7).
2 Thess. 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
It is the Holy Spirit’s use of the gospel, as the power of God (Rom. 1:16), that holds Satan bound! Mr. Luther spoke of this in his great hymn as he wrote, “One little word shall fell him!”
And we have the word of our dear Lord as recorded in John 14:30, Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. He knew that he must become as a silent, dumb lamb led to the slaughter, bound by cords to the horns of the altar (Psa. 118:27), in order that the powers of darkness may have their hour! (Read Luke 22:53.)
Their Dead Bodies
2. Then how are these said to be dead? – Rev. 11:8.
The Lord always bring light forth out of darkness. That is ever his way! He did so in the Creation. The darkness was already on the face of the deep before he spoke forth the light! And to begin the spiritual realm of the New Testament (Covenant), there were 400 years of darkness that prevailed before those that sat in darkness saw the great light of the Incarnate One! And prior to the quickened believer seeing the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, he dwelt under the power of darkness. (Col. 1:13). So, before the church shall proceed from the realm of the spiritual into that of the glorious, this darkness shall precede!
It shall be the darkness and death of their finished mortification. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. The operation of the Holy Spirit.
Every Christian is the product of a spiritual resurrection. And it was their previous condition to have been dead in trespasses and sins. Just reading Romans 6:3-11 makes us see that this spiritual death is necessary in order to have our spiritual resurrection. This spiritual necessitated the words, “Come up hither” in Revelation 4:1. And this final “gospel death” of the church for the public is also necessary for there to be again the effectual words, “Come up hither” here in Revelation 11:12
And it is the darkness that shall eternally remain in the hearts of those who have refused to believe the gospel. For these who have loved inner darkness (Jn 3:19), shall be cast into outer darkness.
The Rejoicing World
3. How do we understand the term, “they shall rejoice over them?” – Rev. 11:10
Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
The church did sit in darkness and in death due to her sin, along with all the sons of Adam. But her sin was given so that grace might much more abound! (Rom. 5:20). But her sorrow shall be turned into eternal joy. Whereas the world’s joy shall be turned into eternal horror!
John 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Thank you, dear Lord Jesus for saying that you shall see us again! For THAT is our blessed hope! And, as now, our joy is in being with you! 1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Rev. 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Pastor Gene Breed 01-08-06
