A Revelation Invitation

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:3-6 ESV)

Before my wife and I married, her little brother asked her to take him to see this new movie called Star Wars. Seeing that she wasn’t much interested, he told her that one of the characters “looks like Stan.” Now, having her interest piqued, she agreed to take him and did in fact pick out the actor who resembled me. Over the years any resemblance I have to Harrison Ford faded with my hair loss. But I’ll admit that the comparison was flattering. In the passage above John highlights how his first-century readers resemble famous Old Testament characters. His purpose was not to flatter but to inspire faithful courage in witness of Jesus Christ.

First John compared the two witnesses, that is, the church in its gospel mission, to two olive trees and two lampstands. A look at Zechariah 4 will identify the two olive trees as Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. The anointing oil of the olive trees showed the Christians that the anointing power of the Holy Spirit was upon them in their mission. On that occasion the Lord had a message for Zerubbabel: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6b ESV). What encouraging words for a people who were oppressed by a mighty empire like Rome. Our victory over oppressive and persecuting governments in our day will not take the form of military or political conquest. Though we don’t have the strength within us to achieve such a victory, the Lord will assuredly empower his people to fulfill their mission.

Secondly, John compares the two witnesses, the church, to Elijah. He reminds us of 2 Kings 1 when Elijah called down fire from heaven upon the soldiers whom the wicked king Ahaziah had sent to arrest him. The church will be victorious like this one man against an army. John also reminds us of 1 Kings 17 when Elijah declared to another wicked king, Ahaz, that no rain would fall from the sky for three years. As did Elijah, the church will powerfully oppose the wicked, oppressive rulers of this world by the miraculous power of our great God.

Finally, John compares the two witnesses, the church, to Moses who in Exodus 7 in full view of Pharaoh turned the waters of the Nile river into blood, the first of ten devastating plagues against Egypt. The most powerful nation on earth was impotent before Moses who liberated the children of Israel from years of slavery. In the same way God upholds the church in her mission to liberate people from slavery to sin even in the shadow of hostile, worldly empires.

What a sobering perspective on who we are as God’s people. Resolutely fulfilling our mission of the gospel does not protect us from suffering or even from death. We may be harmed by our enemies. But woe to those who hurt us. God assures us that he will work powerfully through us in ways that the world cannot deny. In the end he will vindicate our suffering and death. When our enemies have suffered destruction at God’s hand, we will be the ones who will be standing with Christ.

God of heaven, thank you for your assurances. I am unworthy to be counted in the company of Elijah, Moses or Zerubbabel, men of such great faith. Still you promise to be with me as I serve you in the face of trials. Help me live as a light to the world, as a servant of Jesus Christ and as a liberator of the oppressed. Help me stand up for you in the face of opposition just as Jesus Christ stood in my place at the cost of his life. Amen.