The Daily Word of Righteousness

Who Are the Two Witnesses?, #10

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half [3-1/2 years]; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter [crush] the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

The end of the age will not come until Antichrist has succeeded in removing from the earth the holy influence of the Lord's saints.

The elect Jews and Gentiles, who are hidden away in the wilderness, will be protected and nourished by the Lord. Some of the smaller nations and villages will give help to the saints They will receive their reward in the Day of Christ. A multitude of believers in Christ will be slain as Antichrist consolidates his reign. These faithful ones will be brought immediately into the Presence of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-17). God will exalt many of them to preeminence in His Kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

However, those who succumb to Antichrist, either through the love of money or from fear of persecution and deprivation, will "drink of the wine of the wrath of God" (Revelation 14:9-12).

When the spiritual darkness and oppression reach their climax and the "tares" have come to maturity, the Spirit of God will come upon those who have stood true to God just as the same Spirit came upon Christ when He was in Sheol, having borne away the sins of the world.

The "two witnesses" will stand on their feet.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (Revelation 11:11)

We think this is a symbolic portrayal of the first resurrection from the dead and that it will include God's witnesses of all ages. It is the same resurrection and ascension described by the Apostle Paul in the fourth chapter of I Thessalonians. It will take place at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet, and that is the time of the resurrection of the saints, according to Paul.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:52)

"At the last (seventh) trumpet."

To be continued.