pentecost in history and prophecy
pentecost in history and prophecy, part two
pentecost in history and prophecy, part three
pentecost in history and prophecy, part four
pentecost in history and prophecy, part five
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one 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 anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. Rev 11:3-6
The two witnesses appear in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. We will confirm their identity first. These are the two olive trees and two lampstands which stand before the God of the whole earth. The two olive trees are defined in Zec 4:11-14, as the two sons of new oil who stand before the God of the whole earth. The language of the prophecy is exact because we are meant to connect these two passages thematically. Paul further clarifies that the two olive trees are the wild and cultivated olive trees, the wild olive tree being Gentile (Christian) believers, and the cultivated olive tree being Jewish believers (Rom 11).
(Please see Rev 11, the two witnesses, part one, part two, part three, and part four, for an in depth study on the identity and connection of the two witnesses throughout Scripture).
The two witnesses are called two lampstands, which Jesus says means, two ekklesia. An ekklesia means literally, in Greek, a gathering of called out citizens. Called out of what? Called out of the world, to be a people holy to God, with citizenship in heaven rather than with the “kingdoms of this world,” to bear witness to the God of the whole earth to the fallen world. The called out are the chosen, the predestined, the elect. Now there are two groups of people who have testified and witnessed to the LORD God, that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and Him only we should worship and serve, through the ages: Jews, and Christians (Gentiles). The two witnesses, the two olive trees, and the two lampstands.
And finally, two witnesses appear with Jesus when He is transfigured, as He shone with the glory that all will one day see upon Him. They are Moses, and Elijah. Moses represents the Law of God, His teaching, His ways, His paths of righteousness — the letter of the law, the circumcision of the flesh. Elijah represents the Spirit of God, the power of God, the life which infuses the letter with true holiness, the circumcision of the heart. Moses represents the Jews and the Word or Torah, and Elijah represents the Christians and Spirit.
{The description of the two witnesses here in Revelation confirms their identity as the two who were transfigured with Jesus. Their power is to shut heaven so that no rain falls during the days of their prophecy. This is the power that was given to Elijah. And also, they have power to turn the waters into blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues. This is the power that was given to Moses.}
As the Holy Day of Pentecost proclaims, the Law and the Spirit are not at odds in Messiah Yeshua’s kingdom. They are not opposites. Pentecost proclaims the unity of the Word and the Spirit, the unity of obedience and faith, the unity of works and grace, the unity of Jew and Gentile in Messiah Yeshua, for such unity has been prophesied for the new birth and the establishment of the kingdom of God (Eze 37), for those who are His, obey His Law by His Spirit, as both the prophets and the apostles attest:
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. Eze 11:19-20
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Eze 36:25-27
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev 14:12
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev 19:7-8
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Rev 22:14-15
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