Moses and Elijah Mojo

“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”  They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Revelations 11: 1-6

The temple being described is a pre millennial temple that is rebuilt in Jerusalem.  Two of the most obvious signs that we are in the last days are the establishment of Israel as a nation and the great outpouring of knowledge we have seen in regards to technology.  Both will be evident in the scriptures that we are reading today.  Daniel 12:4 says “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

John is told to measure the temple.  The idea of measurement is related to the idea of ownership. Habakkuk 3:6 describes God standing and measuring the earth.  The Lord is taking ownership of this end time temple.  It is a Jewish temple where I am sure the 144,000 worship and serve God.  The Gentiles have their place in the kingdom of God, but it is not in the inner sanctuary of the temple.  The group of Gentiles present detests what is holy. They trample the temple for three and a half years, or half of the tribulation period.  Two witnesses are stationed at the temple to prophecy.  They have Mosses like and Elijah like power.  Moses turned the water into blood and Elijah shut up the rain in the time of King Ahab.

Some believe that the witnesses are actually these Moses and Elijah.  Enoch is the other person that is mentioned.  Neither Enoch nor Elijah died. Based on Hebrews 9:27 that says; it is appointed for a man to die once.  The scriptures do not tell us.  If God wants to spare these men from death he has the prerogative to do so.  The witnesses could simple be end time prophets.  No matter who they are they are powerful and they have authority over the power that God has given them. 

We should pay attention to this principle! God has given us authority in a number of realms.  We should be wise in exercising it based on this concept. “I always do what pleases the Father.”  

^“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.” Revelations 11: 7-10

Men can make what is Holy profane quickly. Jerusalem, the place of temple is described as Sodom and like Egypt.  Sodom is a place of self indulgence, sexual immorality that is devoid of charity.  Egypt is a place of idolatry, oppression, and cruelty.  Yet we are reminded it is the place where to Lord was crucified.  The Cross is not just in Jerusalem! No, it is in the greed of Wall Street, the pornography district of Los Angeles, the headquarters of the Taliban, wherever there are sinners, there is the Cross calling out!  Men dance around the dead bodies of God’s witnesses for three and half days.  They give each other gifts and declare a Holiday at their destruction.  There is not equivalent to a Roman soldier saying; “truly this was a righteous man” Until they spring to their feet and are called to heaven.

“Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:12-13

The “glory they gave to heaven” does not appear to be repentance but acknowledgement that God is real.  Indeed the day is drawing near when every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of the Father.