21. Placing Revelation 11

We are placing together two critical Bible questions, two questions that must be answered in full through us now in this age and on this planet.

Those two questions are – When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith in the earth? And – How will they hear?

Revelation 11 is the very heart of those two questions being answered together.

Now, things are changing very rapidly for us right now. You see, I have every intention in moving together with you into the execution of this mighty deliverance service right now. You likely noticed a slight difference in the prayer I wrote out at the end of the last chapter. I made it a prayer you and I are praying together with our Father in accomplishing this deliverance.

We have learned of Christ; now it is time for us to be the revelation of Christ together.

I intend to write further prayers in the same manner through these next several letters, so that we can join together with Father right now for the sake of our brethren. As you read through each of these prayers, pray them in faith as together with me and with all those who are also reading these letters, even though you don’t outwardly know most of them. I can assure you of this, if and when you meet one another, you will find a whole lot in common.

The time is now; the darkness is breaking at its darkest, just before the dawn. Jesus was the evening sacrifice – by this we know love; we are the morning sacrifice – and we also, at the breaking of the day.

Until the day breaks and the shadows [all accusation and every serpent definition] flee away, turn [inside the Holy of Holies], my beloved [millions of Spirit-filled believers in Jesus], and be like a gazelle or a young stag [Hind’s Feet on High Places] upon the mountains of Bether [meaning separation, that is, a world of life arising untouched by the world of death] (Song of Solomon 2:17).

 “But to you who fear My name [that is, you and me right now] the Sun of Righteousness shall arise [the revelation of Jesus Christ] with healing in His wings, [not for us, but through us for the Church of Christ]; and you shall go out [with God as the Ark of the Covenant] and grow fat like stall-fed calves [with the abundance of victory in the winning of many]. You shall trample the wicked [all accusation against God and against our brethren], for they [all blocking demons] shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day [Today, right now, in the year of our Lord 2019] that I do this,” says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 4:2-3).

And a measuring rod was given to me [the measurement of the fulness of Christ, that is, the Church], like a scepter or staff of authority [all authority in heaven and upon earth], saying “Rise and measure the sanctuary [the place of Father’s dwelling, through which He is made visible], and measure the altar, and those worshipping inside of it [our Spirit-filled brethren caught in unbelief]. But the court outside do not measure it [those who will not be filled with God’s Spirit], because it has been given to the ethnic peoples and they will tread upon it forty-two months [42 – the number of slander against God, accusing Him of falseness]. And I will give to My two witnesses [you and me as the second witness of Christ] and they will prophesy [speak Christ and call forth His knowledge] one thousand two hundred and sixty days [the number of completion], clothed all around with sackcloth [clothed with the humility of Father in intercession for His people] (Revelation 11:1-3).

I now know exactly why the word “power” does not belong in this passage, for God does not give power to anyone. The gift, rather, is God Himself, synergeoing all things with us. The power of God is “upon” us and “towards” us and “out from” us, but it is of God and not of us.

Yet clearly, what we are given is authority, the authority to speak, to call forth Christ into the knowledge of all. In every instance and in every direction, we have the authority to speak Christ.

The purpose of this authority and this speaking, and this power out from God is for the deliverance of the Church of Jesus Christ that she might know what she is.

Now, let’s back off from all this excited exuberance inside the words of the Scripture, for we must first carefully place Revelation 11 into its place in the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement in the experience of the Church.

John’s vision is his confirmation of Paul’s gospel in a third form. These things are NOT speaking of something foreign to us or something “far above” us, but rather they are simply a visual expression of the simple truths of the gospel.

There is no difference in meaning between “I will give to my two witnesses and they will prophesy” and “the Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” More than that, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Christ written upon our hearts, stands far higher than anything John expresses in recounting his vision.

Indeed, Christ written upon our hearts is the same line as – a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. These two words are the same thing, although Paul’s expression of our present reality is always greater than the manner in which these same things are shown to us in John’s vision.

God reveals Himself [this treasure] through human weakness [in earthen vessels], and if anyone on this earth is a candidate for human weakness, it’s us.

The purpose of “deifying Jesus” is ONLY to drive Him far away from us. The purpose of “deifying” the book of Revelation is ONLY to drive the simple truths of the gospel far away from us.

We are the ones who cast all that nonsense down.

So – placing Revelation 11. What does it mean?

Revelation 11 and “the two witnesses” is pretty much a litmus test regarding the fundamental beliefs of any Christian.

I am not aware of anyone who does not see in these two characters in the plot a return to the Old Testament dispensation. Most claim these are Elijah and Moses sent back to earth. On the other hand, those who claim this “title” for themselves cast themselves as similar Old Testament “prophets.”

There is a deep and fundamental reason for all Christians seeing this scene in John’s vision as a return to the “glory and power” of the Old Testament. It’s because of the almost-universal contempt for Christianity and for other Christians held by almost all.

Christians despise Christianity in this world and consider it to be little more than a joke. That’s why they put all their hopes on escaping by death into something else.

Let’s look at that a bit further. You see, the attitude of Christians towards Christians in general is the same as the attitude of the false spies in Numbers 13 and 14. They do not see God, but only humans. And the humans they see are weak and contemptible in their eyes.

It is because they “see” vacillating and hypocritical humans that most Christians are convinced that God cannot do what He says in our lives on this earth, but only after we are dead. In their minds it is IMPOSSIBLE for any Christian to be like Jesus or to walk as He walked in the present time. Therefore, in their minds, it is IMPOSSIBLE for there to be a fully victorious Church living their lives together in the world today.

But can you find anyone who claims to be “God’s prophet for today,” who lifts up the local church loving one another with a pure heart fervently as the revelation of God in the earth?

The problem is that Christians hold the Church to be nothing more than a temporary and fairly meaningless blip on the road to “glory.” And they do so because they envision a “Jesus” who is far away. Here is the definition of a “faraway” Jesus from Set My People Free.

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Defining “Far Away.” Every born-again Christian knows the Jesus who carries them in grace in their hearts. But the serpent, in order to turn Christian away from such a Jesus, “anoints” a mental image in Christian’s mind that he imagines Christ to be. If Jesus were to appear visibly in the room where you are and sit in a chair next to you, that “Jesus” would be far, far away from you, incapable of saving you. We do not know Him in that way now (2 Corinthians 5:16).

By whispering “you should be like Jesus,” the serpent is always turning Christian away from the real Jesus alive inside his heart to follow after an unreachable mental image. That unreachable mental image is not Christ, but rather the serpent presenting heavenly appearance as the “image” of God.

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A reader of these letters shared with me some comments written against his sharing of Christ our life on a social forum. He was accused of having “usurped Christ” because of his testimony. And he had. You see, he had replaced the mental religious image of Christ with the real Jesus alive inside his heart, and that is an overthrow. The primary argument of the commenters, however, was that God does NOT do what He says in our lives so long as we are living on this earth.

Such an idea is almost loathed and despised by our fellow Christians. And thus they are convinced that anyone who believes they are walking as the revelation of Jesus Christ must be up to no good whatsoever, people to be avoided and shut down.

They believe that such a people could reveal the devil only, never Christ, because the devil is here, and Christ is far away.

The “Christ” of the Christian mental imagery is seeing through the devil, even though the Jesus of their hearts is true.

In complete contrast, I see the Church across this earth – let’s say 100 million believers in Jesus – living in the full knowledge of Christ our only life, of being filled with all the fulness of God in human weakness, of loving one another with a pure heart fervently, of rivers of living water flowing out, of setting creation free. And I see these millions of Christians recognizing one another fully and giving honor to one another all across the earth.

What impact would such a reality have upon the rest of humanity?

I tell you what, the dragon and the beast would do everything they could to eliminate such a total threat against their rule. And sadly, millions of other Christians would set themselves against such a Church as well.

Nonetheless, the impact of a woman clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ in all confidence and joy would be significant and would grow at the same rate as human political government and organization would be exposed as incapable and false.

And yes, this is exactly what I see happening. That’s why I am ready to get on with it.
So – the two witnesses. What are they? Who are they?

Are they symbolic of a larger company of people or do they represent two actual individuals? My answer to the first is, “Most certainly.” My answer to the second is, “I think so.”

Let’s take the track that they are two real humans alive now upon this earth first, before looking at how they also must be symbolic or representative of a larger company of people.

What if Jesus did, in fact, release to two individuals alive today all the flow of anointing and authority as we read of in the Bible, and in particular, in His ministry, and, as He said, an even greater flow of anointing and demonstration.

What if Jesus gave to two individuals a direct connection to God so that everything coming through them was coming straight out of God?

Of course, I have taught you that this is the normal Christian life, and that any Christian not living this way is so very sad. – And this is why two who are given a specific ministry can be only representative of many living inside the same knowledge of God.

But John gives these two a seemingly “Old Testament” task.

These are possessing the authority to the heavens [the sky], that no rain should fall in the days of their prophecy. And they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every wound or blow as often as they might desire (Revelation 11:5-6).

Let’s set against this task John’s description of them, however.

I will give to My two witnesses and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed all around with sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands, standing in the face and presence of the Lord of the earth (Revelation 11:3-4).

So we have to ask ourselves the question. – Are these two just like Moses and Elijah or are they just like the Lord Jesus Christ? Our answer is fully settled.

In Through Eyes of Fire I set out the idea that, just as the Lord had the authority to call on ten thousand angels to strike down those we were attempting to crucify Him – BUT DID NOT, so also, these have that same authority, yes, but an authority they do not use except sparingly and with great purpose.

But what is their purpose?

I would contend that, if the Lord does give such a ministry to two individuals, their primary purpose is found in the seven repetitions of “If any one has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” And that is why I have placed this chapter next after “How Will They Hear?”

Before the Lord Jesus can show Himself in and through His Church, He must first get the attention of millions of Christians away from their pursuit of death and their “hope” of someday seeing a faraway Jesus.

So – two individuals. I see one of these as anointed in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power and the other anointed in Word. Spirit and Word are always together, yet God gives the differing gifts so that we might need one another.

Yet this must be the full expression of Paul’s gospel. They can’t be preaching anything else. There is no not-Christ proclamation and there never really was. My insertion of Christ and the Church into Old Testament passages is the true expression of what those men were really seeing and reaching towards.

And so I would assert that these two will preach a gospel very similar to what you find in Knowing Jesus As He Is out from the ten most important verses of the Bible. And they will preach it into a Church able to hear their testimony.

Here’s the thing. John presented two different “prophets” in his visions, these two who are true and then the one who is false. This is great because so many will call the true the false and will call the false the true. That is, everyone is looking for a re-insertion of the law into the affairs of men and a rebuilding of the temple and sacrifice in Jerusalem.

Yet the very act of a Jewish “priest” in today’s world sacrificing a lamb or a heifer in a newly built temple in Jerusalem, Israel, will be the greatest expression of Jewish rebellion and rejection of the Lord Jesus ever in human history, even worse than rejecting Moses, sending Elijah packing, or putting Jesus to death.

There can be no greater expression of hating God than turning back to the blood of animals in a man-made building of stone.

The truth is, as this ministry of Christ through His witnesses progresses, there will be no end of individuals running around proclaiming themselves to be “God’s prophets for today” through mighty demonstrations of power, even while preaching some version of the serpent’s gospel on steroids.

No one will notice these two guys on their knees before little congregations of people weeping in the joy of being privileged to honor and lift up the Lord Jesus Christ inside this heavenly woman clothed entirely with Him. Nor will they notice the thousands upon thousands of Christians being catapulted in power into loving one another with a pure heart fervently, at least, not at first.

And this is as it should be, for no one notices that which arises from beneath of them until that moment when they also are caught in the joy and life of Father.

And in this way this Kingdom of Life swallows up the Kingdom of Death.

If these two have a direct connection with God, they will be preaching Paul’s gospel way beyond anything Paul himself knew was to be found in his words, and they will be preaching that gospel into a Church ready to enter the Feast of Tabernacles.

Yet if that is so, then they will be preaching Paul’s Jesus and Paul’s Church as the body of Jesus, the fullness of Christ who fills all inside of all.

They will be teaching all believers in Jesus that you ARE just like the Lord Jesus, for He IS the only life you are. They will be teaching John 14:20. If they are of God, they cannot be teaching anything else.

However, even if the Lord Jesus does give a specific ministry to two individuals out of many, those two are ONLY representative of the many. They cannot be anything other than an expression of the normal Christian life.

Thus, you and I are perfectly free to live in and as this same flow of the anointing out from God Himself, the revelation of Jesus Christ. You and I are perfectly free to call ourselves by this same second witness of Christ.

Look at these lines.

He who believes into Me, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water (John 7). - You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me (Acts 1). – He who indeed spared not His own Son, but gave Him for us all, for our sakes, HOW shall He not also together with Him grace us freely with all things? (Romans 8).

Then compare them to these lines.

I will give to My two witnesses and they will prophesy… These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands, standing in the face and presence of the Lord of the earth (Revelation 11). – “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” … “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4).

Which is greater? The gospel of Jesus Christ inside of which we live in all reality? Or the image of Old Testament declarations far away from us? The second set of lines is ONLY a visionary representation of the far greater expression in John 7 and Romans 8. It is impossible for these two witnesses to be given more than what you and I possess, for we possess all of God.

And “golden oil dripping in the face of the Lord of the earth” cannot be anything other than “The water that I will give him will become inside of him a spring of water bubbling up into age-unfolding life” (John 4). If we have one, we have the other, for they are the same thing, for both are descriptions of Father arising inside of and through us every moment.

So, in a very real sense, you and I, by the clear expression of the gospel, are more these two witnesses than these two witnesses could ever be in themselves, for no witnesses of Christ would ever place themselves above, but only beneath.

Yet this is the Elijah ministry, to get the attention of millions of believers in Jesus all across the earth, that they might be filled with the Holy Spirit and might enter into all that living inside of Jesus and Jesus inside of us, all that living together as the visible expression, the Body of Christ upon this earth, might mean.

And in whatever little part the Lord blesses us to be in this great turning of the hearts of millions to a Jesus HERE, a Jesus NOW, a JESUS personal inside of and as all that they are, then we ARE this Elijah and these two witnesses.

Let’s be this Elijah together. Pray this prayer out loud as together with all who are also reading this letter.

“Father, You have placed all authority into our hands, yet You have reserved all power entirely to Yourself and to Your Spirit. For that reason, Father, we are confident that You synergeo with us and we with you in all things. You rely, Father, on our authority to prophecy Christ in full confidence, to call His knowledge forth in all who belong to you, and we rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit to accomplish all that You and we desire.

“Father, we recognize that You have placed upon mankind all authority in heaven and on earth, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, our Head, revealing Himself through us His Body. We recognize, therefore, Father, that You have given to us Your throne, that we might know with all confidence that Your Love rules out from our fleshy human hearts. We have no need to rely on human sight or on human judgment, we have no doubts concerning our human foolishness, for we know that You share all things with us as part of us, through Christ Jesus our only life.

“Father, we pray this prayer together in full acknowledgment of one another. We know that we are one inside of Your Spirit and that we need not consider time or distance between us, nor the fact that we may not know one another’s names, for we know that we share the same love and confidence of the Lord Jesus together. Therefore, Father, we stand as one together in full agreement regarding the determination of Your Heart, Father, to see Jesus proven faithful and true through Your people upon this earth.

“Father, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks “Love one another as I love you” inside of us and inside of all who belong to You. We know that Your Word cannot leave this earth unfulfilled. Therefore, we know, Father, that Your intention is a Church, a glorious Church upon this earth, walking in all the revelation of Jesus Christ, loving one another with a pure heart fervently, a Church without blemish or spot. We see this Church together through the eyes of the Lord Jesus, through eyes of fire. We call forth this Church, millions of Spirit-filled believers in Jesus all across the earth, into her place, this heavenly woman clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Father, we stand together in all confidence that Your love shed abroad in our hearts calls forth that same love inside of and out from our brothers and sisters, that they also might be set free with us into the glorious liberty of Your Salvation. Father, we thank You that this authority we possess as the revelation of Jesus Christ continues every moment, that, regardless of our temporary ups and downs or ins and outs, this authority of Your throne, of Your Mercy Seat, continues as the only place we live, the only reality we know.

“Father, we possess together all authority to love one another and to lay down our lives for Your Church. We stand absolutely together inside of that love, and we call forth the weak, the despised, the outcasts, the little ones of this earth, to know and to be the revelation of Your dear Son. And we declare this together in the name of our life and our hearts, the Lord Jesus, knowing that our precious Holy Spirit is accomplishing in power right now all that we speak.”

It was my intention in this letter to set forth the authority we hold as the ministry of deliverance for the sake of our brethren as we call forth the Day of Atonement into the lives of millions. Of truth, I believe I have done exactly that.

The point is this, that we seize hold of the confidence of that authority that God has so clearly given to us, and that we not be intimidated by any shadow of doubt or wailing of opposition. The power of Christ comes through simple, single-eyed clarity and determination, the knowledge of authority without reservation.

And against such clarity of authority, no demon can stand, not even the greatest of them, not even the savage and screaming angels of darkness being released out of the abyss into our present world.

They flee because they must.

You and I have all authority from God to love one another. We have the authority from God to win the hearts of our brethren to the fullness of Christ now revealed through them.