For those wondering about the last Bible verse, here it is broken down by the commentary that I read. I will give power - The passage reads literally, “I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy,” that is, I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy. My two witnesses - A variety of interpretations of this symbol have been proposed. The allusions of vs. 5, 6 have led some to identify these witnesses as Elijah and Moses (see notes on verses 5-6), but the significance of these “two witnesses” goes beyond this. In verse 4 they are identified as “two olive trees” and “two candlesticks,” symbols drawn from Zechariah 4:1-6, 11-14. There they are said to represent “the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (verse 14) As the olive branches are portrayed furnishing oil for the lamps of the sanctuary, (verse 12) so from these holy ones before the throne of God the Holy Spirit is imparted to men. (see Zechariah 4:6, 14) Inasmuch as the fullest expression of the Holy Spirit to men is contained in the Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New Testament, they may be considered to be the two witnesses. (cf. John 5:39) Concerning the Word of God the psalmist declares, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”; “the entrance of thy words giveth light.” (Psalms 119:105, 130; cf. Proverbs 6:23) They shall prophesy - In spite of the dominance of evil during the period of 1260 days, (see notes on verse 2) the Spirit of God, especially as manifested in the Scriptures, would nevertheless bear His witness to those men who would receive Him. Thousand two hundred and threescore days - Here we have a time period that is the same as the 42 months of the previous verse. As we mentioned in the last study, this time period is referred to in different ways 7 times in the books of Daniel and Revelation. (times, time, dividing of time; forty and two months; thousand two hundred threescore days; time, times and a half) Every place that it is mentioned we find it a reference to the 1260 year supremacy of the Papacy between the years 538 A.D. to 1798. Clothed in sackcloth - During the time of Papal supremacy, Revelations two witnesses were to prophesy in sackcloth. What does this mean? Sackcloth is closely associated to a time of great mourning and distress, Genesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 3:31, Esther 4:1-3, 2 Kings 19:1-2 and of penitence. (Jonah 3:6, 8) So Revelations two witnesses were to prophesy in great mourning and distress during the time of Papal supremacy. Even so, God will give them power to endure and maintain their testimony through this very trying period. Read also Revelations two witnesses for a different perspective.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 13:58:27 +0000
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