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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 45

TITLE: TWO FAITHFUL FINISHERS

TEXT: REVELATION 11:7-10

INTRODUCTION: (1) I LIKE THE WORDS FINISH, FINISHED AND FINISHER.

* THE REASON BEING THESE WORDS COMMUNICATE COMPLETING SOMETHING, COMING TO AN END, COMING TO A CONCLUSION, SOMETHING IS DONE, SOMETHING IS ACCOMPLISHED, FULFILLING A TASK – ALL GOOD THINGS.

** NOW WE USE THESE GOOD WORDS IN MANY WAYS WITH OTHER WORDS.

*** WE TALK ABOUT A FINISH LINE, THE LINE MARKING AN END OF A RACE.

**** WE TALK ABOUT A FINISHING SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT HELPS EMPHASIZE CULTURAL STUDIES AND PREPARES STUDENTS ESPECIALLY FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

(2) WE USE THE WORD FINISH COAT TO TALK ABOUT THE FINAL COAT OF PLASTER OR PAINT.

* THERE IS A FINISHING NAIL, A SLENDER NAIL WITH A SMALL HEAD THAT CAN EASILY BE COUNTERSUNK.

** WE TALK ABOUT A FINISHER IN BASKETBALL AS A PLAYER WHO CAN FINISH OFF A PLAY OR SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE BALL WELL TO THE HOOP WITH SUCCESS.

*** THERE ARE LONG DISTANCES RUNNERS WHO ARE FINISHERS, THEY HAVE A FINAL KICK, THEY GO BEYOND THE WALL AND FINISH WITH A FURY.

**** WE HAVE FINISHERS IN BASEBALL, THEY ARE CALLED CLOSERS, RELIEF PITCHERS, WHO COME OUT IN THE NINTH INNING.

(3) AND THEN WE USE THE EXPRESSION FINISHING WELL TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO COMPLETES THEIR TASK OR WHO FINISHES THEIR LIFE IN HONORING GOD TO THE END.

* AND I CAN TELL YOU, I WANT TO FINISH WELL.

** BEYOND THAT THE WORDS FINISH AND FINISHED ARE USED IN THE BIBLE.

*** IN JOHN 17:4 JESUS SAID: (READ IT).

**** LATER IN JOHN BEFORE JESUS DIED IT SAYS IN JOHN 19:30 (READ IT).

(4) IN COLOSSIANS 4:17, PAUL SAID THIS TO A MAN NAMED ARCHIPPUS (READ IT).

* IN II TIMOTHY 4:6&7 PAUL TALKED ABOUT FINISHING WELL, HE SAID: (READ THEM).

** AND THEN IN OUR TEXT TODAY, GOD’S TWO SPECIAL WITNESSES WHO WILL PROPHESY FOR 3 ½ YEAR IN THE TRIBULATION, TWO SPECIAL LIGHTS FOR THE LORD, WILL FINISH THEIR TESTIMONY IN V. 7.

*** AND THE WORD FINISHED HERE IS THE GREEK WORD TA-LEH-O WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

(5) AND AS YOU CAN SEE THIS WORD LIT. MEANS TO BRING TO A CLOSE, TO FINISH, TO END, TO COMPLETE, TO FULFILL.

* AND THESE TWO FAITHFUL WITNESSES ARE FAITHFUL FINISHERS, FOR THEY FULFILL THEIR WORK, THEIR PREACHING THAT GOD CALLED THEM TO DO.

** THEY ARE CLOSERS AND DO THE WILL OF GOD, FINISHING THEIR TESTIMONY, THEY FINISHED THEIR PREACHING, THEIR WITNESSING, FOR THE WORD TESTIMONY IS A FORM OF THE WORD MARTUS, THE WORD FOR WITNESS THAT I TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK.

*** AND THESE MEN FINISHED WELL!

**** AND THEY ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE UNTIL THEIR JOB IS DONE, AND WHEN THEIR JOB WAS DONE, THEY WERE KILLED, MARTYRED FOR THEIR WITNESS, THEIR PREACHING.

(6) AND THESE BROTHERS OF A FUTURE TIME ARE MODELS FOR US TO FINISH WELL, TO BE CLOSERS, TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE FOR THE LORD.

* AND BECAUSE OF THAT I’VE TITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, “TWO FAITHFUL FINISHERS” IN TALKING ABOUT THESE TWO SPECIAL SUPERNATURAL WITNESSES.

** NOW UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 3 MAIN POINTS.

*** NO. 1 THE COMPLETERS IN TALKING ABOUT THESE WITNESSES FULFILLING THEIR MISSION, V. 7; NO. 2 THE CRIME AGAINST THESE MEN IN NOT EVEN BURYING THEIR BODIES, TO ALLOW THEIR DEAD BODIES TO LIE IN THE STREETS IN VV. 8&9; AND NO. 3 THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR DEATHS BY THE UNSAVED EARTH DWELLERS OF THIS TIME AS THEY THROW A BIG PARTY AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEATHS, V. 10.

**** SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE COMPLETERS, THE CRIME, AND THE CELEBRATION UNDER THE TITLE OF TWO FAITHFUL FINISHERS.

(7) AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR GUIDE, LOOK AT V. 7 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST THOUGHT TODAY, THE COMPLETERS. LOOK AT REVELATION 11:7 PLEASE.

I. THE COMPLETERS, (READ V. 7)

A. NOW THE FIRST PART OF V. 1, THE PHRASE “WHEN THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR TESTIMONY” DECLARES GOD’S DIVINE DECREE, THAT HE HAS FIXED THE DURATION OF THE PREACHING OF THESE TWO WITNESSES.

* THEY WILL COMPLETE THEIR TASK THAT IS DIVINELY APPOINTED BY THE ALL-MIGHTY.

** AND TO ME THIS IS SUCH A JOY TO THINK ABOUT.

*** THAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DETERMINES THEIR MINISTRY AND PROVIDENTIALLY PROTECT THEM UNTIL THEIR WORK IS DONE.

**** BELOVED, THEY ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE, THEY ARE INVULNERABLE, FOR THE LORD NUMBERED THEIR DAYS OF PROPHECY AT 3 ½ YEARS, 1260 DAYS, AND SATAN CANNOT SHORTEN THIS PERIOD BY EVEN ONE DAY.

1. IN FACT, LET ME SAY, SATAN AND THE BEAST CANNOT SHORTEN THEIR LIFESPAN AND THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR MINISTRY BY ONE HOUR, ONE MINUTE, OR ONE SECOND.

* FOR AT THE EXACT SECOND THAT GOD ORDAINED FOR THEM TO DIE, THEIR APPOINTMENT, WHEN THEIR WORK IS DONE, IS WHEN THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD WILL BE LIFTED, THE HEDGE WILL BE REMOVED AND THEY WILL DIE, NOT A SECOND EARLY, NOT A SECOND LATE.

** AND THIS IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND A CHALLENGE TO ME.

*** TO KNOW THAT NO ONE, AND NO THING OR DISEASE CAN TAKE MY LIFE UNTIL THE LORD IS THROUGH WITH ME AND MY DIVINE APPOINTMENT COMES THAT HE HAS SOVEREIGNLY SET OR DECREED.

**** AND IT’S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE END FULFILLING THE WORD THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.

2. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN HAPPEN IS TO BE FAITHFUL EACH DAY, FOR ONE DAY WILL BE MY LAST DAY, IT COULD BE TODAY, TOMORROW OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

* BUT ALL OF US SHOULD HAVE A DESIRE TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE END AS THESE TWO FAITHFUL FINISHERS DID, AS THESE TWO COMPLETERS LIVED.

** AND WE SHOULD WANT TO FINISH WELL, TO LIVE FOR CHRIST UNTIL WE DIE, WHICH IS GAIN, READ PHILIPPIANS 1:21.

*** NOW AS WE GO BACK TO V. 7, THESE TWO COMPLETERS WILL FINISH THEIR JOB, AND THEN THE BEAST IS INTRODUCED TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

**** AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF 37 REFERENCES TO THE WORD BEAST IN MY BIBLE, SOME REFERENCES SAY 36 BUT I HAVE 37 IN THE NAU.

3. NOW THE QUESTION COMES UP AT THIS POINT, WHO IS THIS BEAST. WELL, SOME WOULD SAY NERO, AND OTHERS WOULD SAY NIMROD OF THE O.T. OR JUDAS ISCARIOT OF THE N.T. OTHERS WOULD SAY SATAN HIMSELF.

* BUT IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE THE ANTI-CHRIST, THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA IN REVELATION 13:1-10, ONE TALKED ABOUT ALSO IN REVELATION 17.

** NOW SOME DETAILS HERE WILL BE HELPFUL IN IDENTIFYING THIS PERSON. THE GREEK WORD FOR BEAST LIT. MEANS “AN ANIMAL, A WILD ANIMAL, A WILD BEAST” METAPHORICALLY OF A BRUTAL, BESTIAL MAN WHO IS SAVAGE OR FEROCIOUS.

*** THAYER IN HIS LEXICON OF THE N.T. POINTS OUT WHEN THE WORD IS USED METAPHORICALLY, AS HERE, THEN WHAT IS STRESSED IS NOT LOW INTELLIGENCE OR STUPIDITY, BUT ALWAYS FEROCITY AND SAVAGERY OF THE UNTAMED ANIMAL NATURE.

**** NOW THIS WORD IS USED FOR A FOUR BEASTS OF DANIEL SEVEN IN THE SEPTUAGINT, THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE O.T.

4. AND J. ALLEN IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION POINTS OUT “BY THE NORMAL RULES OF GRAMMAR THE ARTICLE USED WITH BEAST (THE BEAST HERE IN REV. 11:7) WOULD REFER BACK TO A BEAST ALREADY MENTIONED, BUT SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST MENTION OF THE BEAST THE EMPHASIS IS MORE GENERAL AND POINTS TO “THAT WELL KNOWN BEAST” – AS IF NO FURTHER EXPLANATION IS REQUIRED.”

* HE GOES ON TO SAY AND I QUOTE, “THE ABSENCE OF ANY EXPLANATORY REMARKS IS IN KEEPING WITH JOHN’S PRACTICE OF INTRODUCING A MATTER ABRUPTLY AND LEAVING FURTHER DETAIL UNTIL LATER.”

** “HE (JOHN) DOES THIS WITH THE SECOND DEATH IN REVELATION 2:11 AND WITH THE BOOK OF LIFE IN 3:5. THIS BEAST REAPPEARS IN 13:1 AS “A BEAST OUT OF THE SEA” AND IN 17:8 AS “THE BEAST THAT SHALL ASCEND OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT.”

*** LASTLY ALLEN SAYS: “IT WILL BE SHOWN THAT IN BOTH OF THESE PASSAGES THE WORD “BEAST” IS USED METAPHORICALLY OF A PERSONAGE OF WORLD STATURE WHO WILL APPEAR IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.”

**** NOW WITH THAT LONG QUOTE IN MIND, ALLEN IS POINTING OUT THAT THIS BEAST IS NOT A WILD ANIMAL BUT A PERSON USED THAT WAY IN REVELATION 13&17 AND DANIEL 7 WHERE THE 4 BEASTS ARE 4 KINGDOMS, 4 EMPIRES, IN WHICH EACH EMPIRE WILL HAVE A RULER.

5. BUT ALSO I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS CONTEXT ALSO COMMUNICATES THAT THIS BEAST IS NOT A WILD ANIMAL FOR THIS BEAST COMES OUT OF THE ABYSS OR THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, THE SHAFT OF THE ABYSS.

* AND NO WILD ANIMAL COMES OUT OF THIS PLACE BUT DEMONS IN REVELATION 9:11, THE PRISON-HOUSE OF DEMONS.

** SO BOTH THE CONTEXT AND THE WORD AND CROSS-REFERENCES TELL US THAT THIS BEAST IS A PERSON AND THE PHRASE “OUT OF THE ABYSS” TELLS US THAT HE IS ENERGIZED, EMPOWERED BY SATAN.

*** AND THIS BEAST IS A MAN AS WE WILL SEE LATER IN REVELATION 13, SPECIFICALLY ANTI-CHRIST. THIS BEAST WILL BE EMPOWERED, CONTROLLED, LED AND ENERGIZED BY THE DEMONIC PRESENCE AND POWER COMING FROM THE ABYSS.

**** AND THIS BEAST NO DOUBT HATES THE TWO WITNESSES, FOR THEY HAVE BEEN PROPHESYING FOR GOD WITH THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH FOR 3 ½ YEARS.

6. BUT THIS BEAST CANNOT TOUCH THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR TESTIMONY, AND WHEN GOD LIFTS THE HEDGE, THE SPIRITUAL FORCE FIELD, THE BEAST WHO HAS WANTED TO SILENCE THESE WITNESSES FOR 3 ½ YEARS WILL BE ALLOWED TO.

* FOR YOU SEE THE BEAST IS A PUPPET OF GOD ULTIMATELY, AND GOD WILL USE THE BEAST TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS ALREADY ORDAINED.

** THE BEAST WILL MAKE WAR WITH THEM, OVERCOME THEM – THE TWO WITNESSES AND WILL KILL THEM.

*** AND THE BEAST WHO COMES INTO MORE POWER IN THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION MAKES WAR WITH THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST, HE HAS AN UNRELENTING CAMPAIGN TO WIPE OUT HIS ENEMIES, ALL WHO BELONG TO GOD.

**** IN FACT IT SAYS OF HIM IN REVELATION 13:4&5 –

V. 4 – THEY WORSHIPED THE DRAGON BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS AUTHORITY TO THE BEAST; AND THEY WORSHIPED THE BEAST, SAYING, “WHO IS LIKE THE BEAST, AND WHO IS ABLE TO WAGE WAR WITH HIM?”

V. 5 – THERE WAS GIVEN TO HIM A MOUTH SPEAKING ARROGANT WORDS AND BLASPHEMIES, AND AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS WAS GIVEN TO HIM.

7. AND BELOVED IN THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION, THE GREAT TRIBULATION, LOST PEOPLE WILL FEEL LIKE THE BEAST HAS NO RIVAL, HE DESTROYS THE POWERFUL SUPERNATURAL WITNESSES, AND WHO CAN MAKE WAR WITH HIM?

* WELL, THE LORD WILL, AND ULTIMATELY HE BEAST WILL END UP IN THE LAKE OF FIRE AND LOSE THE WAR FOR REVELATION 19:19&20 SAYS:

V. 19 – AND I SAW THE BEAST AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH AND THEIR ARMIES ASSEMBLED TO MAKE WAR AGAINST HIM WHO SAT ON THE HORSE AND AGAINST HIS ARMY.

V. 20 – AND THE BEAST WAS SEIZED, AND WITH HIM THE FALSE PROPHET WHO PERFORMED THE SIGNS IN HIS PRESENCE, BY WHICH HE DECEIVED THOSE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THOSE WHO WORSHIPED HIS IMAGE; THESE TWO WERE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE WHICH BURNS WITH BRIMSTONE.”

** AND THEN IN REVELATION 20:10 IT SAYS: (READ IT).

*** AND BELOVED THE ABSOLUTE VICTORY WILL COME TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. AND SATAN AND THE BEAST CAN ONLY GO SO FAR, HE IS LIMITED AND ULTIMATELY WILL BE DEFEATED, WE ARE ON THE WINNING TEAM.

**** AND THE COMPLETERS, THE TWO WITNESSES WILL DIE, BUT ONLY WHEN GOD SAYS SO. AND IN THEIR DEATH THEY WILL BE DISGRACED BY THE WORLD IN WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR BODIES.

8. LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE CRIME.

II. THE CRIME, (READ V. 8)

A. NOW ONE OF THE WORST INDIGNITIES PERPETRATED ON A PERSON IN ANCIENT CULTURE AND EVEN IN CIVILIZED CULTURES TODAY IS TO LEAVE A BODY UNBURIED AFTER DEATH.

* AND HERE THESE TWO WITNESSES’ BODIES ARE ALLOWED TO LIE IN THE OPEN STREET OF THE CITY IN CONTEMPTUOUS DEFIANCE OF EVERY RULE OF DECENCY AND MORALITY.

** THE CRIME IS, THEIR BODIES ARE LEFT TO ROT IN THE STREETS. AND NO DOUBT IN CONTEMPT TO DISHONOR AND DESECRATE THEM.

*** FOR THE BEAST IS SENDING A MESSAGE, I’VE WON! I’VE DESTROYED THESE TWO WITNESSES, I’M ALL POWERFUL, DON’T MAKE WAR WITH ME.

**** AND THEIR BODIES LIE IN THE STREET OF THE GREAT CITY. NOW IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THE GREAT CITY IS NORMALLY THE GREAT CITY OF BABYLON, THE GREAT CITY THAT RULES OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.

1. BUT HERE IN REVELATION 11:8 IT IS NOT BABYLON FOR THE MEANING IS CLEAR IN THIS VERSE.

* THE GREAT CITY IS MYSTICALLY, SYMBOLICALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND FIGURATIVELY CALLED SODOM AND EGYPT.

** MEANING NEITHER SODOM NOR EGYPT IS THE CITY’S REAL NAME, AND OF COURSE EGYPT IS NOT A CITY, BUT A NATION.

*** SO WHAT IS JOHN DOING HERE? WELL, HE IS CLEARLY USING THE WORDS SODOM AND EGYPT TO TALK ABOUT THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL STATE OF THIS CITY. MORAL DEGRADATION AND IDOLATRY ARE COMMUNICATED.

**** THIS IS THIS GREAT CITY’S SPIRITUAL IDENTIFICATION, BUT THEN CLEARLY AT THE END OF V. 8 WE HAVE IT’S HISTORICAL IDENTIFICATION, “WHERE ALSO THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.”

2. AND THIS HISTORICAL FACT MAKES THE IDENTIFICATION OF JERUSALEM UNMISTAKINGLY CLEAR, CRYSTAL CLEAR.

* FOR OUR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED IN JERUSALEM OUTSIDE THE GATE OF THE CITY. AND THEN TO ADD TO THAT, JERUSALEM WAS THE LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE IN 11:1&2, THE CITY THAT WILL BE TRODDEN DOWN FOR 42 MONTHS, THE HOLY CITY OF THE JEWS.

** SO THE TWO WITNESSES WILL BE CONTEMPTUOUSLY LEFT TO LIE AS ROTTING CORPSES IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM. AND THIS CRIME CONTINUES IN V. 9. LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 9. NOW WE LIVE IN THE ONLY GENERATION IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND THAT V. 9 COULD BE FULFILLED.

* FOR ONLY IN OUR GENERATION THROUGH SATELLITE TV AND LIVE VIDEO STREAMS CAN THE WHOLE WORLD SEE WHAT’S GOING ON IN JERUSALEM – LIVE.

** AND THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN, WE HARDLY EVER THINK ABOUT IT, IT’S EVERYDAY NEWS, NO BIG DEAL.

*** BUT IN OTHER GENERATIONS THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AS FAR AS A LIVE FEED, FOR WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE WHOLE WORLD WILL LOOK AT THEIR BODIES FOR 3 ½ DAYS.

**** FOR THE PHRASES, “THE PEOPLES AND TRIBES AND TONGUES AND NATIONS” INDICATES THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING, REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL MANKIND WILL BE WATCHING, PEOPLE FROM ALL NATIONS.

1. AND THE CRIME CONTINUES, FOR OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BURY THEM IN A TOMB, A GRAVE, A SEPULCHER.

* THE WORLD WILL HATE THESE WITNESSES AND WILL NOT PERMIT THEIR BURIAL.

** AT THIS POINT IN THE MACARTHUR COMMENTARY ON REV. 1-11, JOHN SAYS AND I QUOTE: “IN A MORBID, GHOULISH DISPLAY OF CONTEMPT AND HATRED, FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS THE WORLD WILL NOT PERMIT THEIR DEAD BODIES TO BE LAID IN A TOMB. THE UNREPENTANT, SIN-HARDENED MASSES WILL WANT TO GLOAT ALONG WITH THEIR LEADER, THE ANTI-CHRIST, AND GLORIFY HIM FOR HIS VICTORY OVER THE TWO IRRITATING PREACHERS, WHO BROUGHT THE DROUGHT AND PROCLAIMED THE HATED GOSPEL.” (END QUOTE)

*** AND BELOVED IN THE WORLD’S OPINION IN THAT DAY, THE ONLY GOOD PROPHET WILL BE A DEAD PROPHET. THE ONLY GOOD PREACHER WILL BE A DEAD PREACHER.

2. FOR A PREACHER OF GOD’S WORD IS ALWAYS A TORMENT TO A WICKED GENERATION. AND THEIR HATRED HERE IN REVELATION 11:9 IS DECLARED BY LETTING THEM LIE AND DETERIORATE IN THE STREET. THEY WON’T EVEN ALLOW THEIR BODIES TO BE BURIED.

* AND CHRISTIAN I’M REMINDED OF WHAT JOHN SAID IN I JOHN 3:13 (READ IT). ALSO READ II TIMOTHY 3:12.

** ALSO JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THE UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE IN JOHN 15:18-21 –

V. 18 – IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, YOU KNOW THAT IT HAS HATED ME BEFORE IT HATED YOU.

V. 19 – IF YOU WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD WOULD LOVE ITS OWN’ BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, BUT I CHOSE YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF THIS THE WORLD HATES YOU.

V. 20 – REMEMBER THE WORD THAT I SAID TO YOU, ‘A SLAVE IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER.’ IF THEY PERSECUTED ME, THEY WILL ALSO PERSECUTE YOU; IF THEY KEPT MY WORD, THEY WILL KEEP YOURS ALSO.

V. 21 – BUT ALL THESE THINGS THEY WILL DO TO YOU FOR MY NAME’S SAKE, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ONE WHO SENT ME.

**** AND I ASK A QUESTION TO EVERY BELIEVER HERE, DO YOU EVER GET A REACTION FOR PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH? IF NEVER, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL THAT CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES PROCLAIMED?

***** FOR AS WE GO BACK TO V. 9, IT IS OBVIOUS, THERE IS GREAT HATRED FOR THESE TWO WITNESSES, WHICH WILL BE AMPLIFIED BY THE CELEBRATION THEY HAVE OVER THEIR DEATHS IN V. 10. LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD AND LAST POINT, THE CELEBRATION.

III. THE CELEBRATION, (READ V. 10)

A. NOW IN V. 10 WE HAVE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY AS THEY HAVE A CHRISTMAS-LIKE CELEBRATION.

* I MEAN, IT’S NOT JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME, IT’S JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS DEAD, AT LEAST HIS PROPHETS!

** AND WHAT WE SEE HERE IS INCREDIBLE, THERE IS A WORLD-WIDE PARTY, A WORLDWIDE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE.

*** AND IN THE MIDST OF 3 ½ YEARS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT IN THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION, TELESCOPING TO THAT FUTURE TIME FROM HERE, “THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH” A PHRASE TO DESCRIBE THOSE OF THE WORLD, UNSAVED PEOPLE, A TECHNICAL TERM FOR UNBELIEVERS IN REVELATION, THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A MOMENT OF RELIEF BEFORE ARMAGEDDON.

**** I MEAN, SOMETHING FINALLY GOES THEIR WAY SO IT GIVES WAY TO A PARTY, AND SALES BOOM FOR A SHORT TIME AND THE WORLD HAS SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY FOR, BUT AGAIN IT WILL BE SHORT LIVED.

1. BUT FOR A MOMENT MARDI GRAS IS ALIVE WORLDWIDE, THERE IS A WORLD HOLIDAY AND PEOPLE WILL EVEN SEND GIFTS TO ONE ANOTHER. NOW WHY?

* THEIR TORMENTORS ARE DEAD, LIKE CELEBRATING THE DEATH OF THE WICKED WITCH IN THE WIZARD OF OZ, DING THE WICKED PROPHETS ARE DEAD WHO TORMENTED US. THE WORD TORMENTED IS ACTUALLY USED IN V. 10.

** SO FOR A MOMENT UNSAVED PEOPLE ARE FREE FROM THEIR TORMENTORS; FOR THE DEATHS OF THE TWO WITNESSES TELLS UNSAVED PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE POWER OF GOD AND HIS JUDGMENTS.

*** AND HERE THE BEAST, THE CHOSEN FALSE GOD OF MANKIND APPEARS TO BE IN CONTROL AND THE EARTH DWELLERS ANTICIPATE PEACE TO PURSE THEIR PLANS AND PLEASURES UNHINDERED BY ANY VOICE FOR GOD.

**** IT’S PARTY TIME!

IN WRAP UP AND IN APPLICATION: (1) I GO BACK TO TWO APPLICATIONS I MADE TODAY.

* NO. 1 WE AS CHRISTIAN NEED TO BE THE MOST LOVING GRACIOUS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, BUT WE NEED TO BE BOLD IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AS HIS WITNESSES.

** AND IF YOU ARE LOVED BY EVERYONE, IT MAY BE YOU ARE NOT WITNESSING OR NOT PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL THAT JESUS AND THE APOSTLES PREACHED.

*** AND YOU MAY BE KNOWN AS A WITNESS OF GOD’S LOVE AND YOU SHOULD, BUT ALSO YOU MUST BE KNOWN AS A WITNESS OF GOD’S WRATH, A TORMENTOR IN THAT SENSE.

**** THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE YOU PROCLAIMING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD? WE NEED TO BE.

(2) NO. 2 ARE YOU BEING A FAITHFUL FINISHER? ARE YOU FULFILLING THE WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO?

* IS IT YOUR BURDEN TO FINISH WELL WHICH MEANS BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD’S PURPOSES EACH DAY, FOR OUR END IS COMING, WE ARE MORTALS.

** BUT ISN’T IT A COMFORT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE UNTIL THE LORD IS THROUGH WITH US AND OUR APPOINTED TIMES COMES?

*** BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MAY WE BE COMPLETERS, CLOSERS, FAITHFUL FINISHERS. AND MAY OUR EPITAPH READ, MAY OUR OBITUARY SAY, HE OR SHE FINISHED THEIR COURSE AND KEPT THE FAITH.

**** AND WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIME WHEN THE LORD TAKES US WHEN OUR JOB IS DONE TO HEAR, “WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.” MAY WE FINISH OUR TESTIMONIES.