Sending of the two prophets This chapter brings forth God's concern with sending two witnesses to resist the Antichrist. 1. Measuring the believers 1 - 2. 2. Sending forth the two prophets 3 - 14. 3. The seventh trumpet 15- 19. 1. MEASURING THE BELIEVERS "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise, and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months’" [1-2]. The Antichrist shall call himself god, "so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4). And he will take the city of Jerusalem, "the holy city," as a center to spread his satanic ideology. St. Cyril of Jerusalem1 suggests that the wicked Jews will accept him as their Christ, and worship him, thinking that he can build them Solomon’s temple, and restore for them their ancient glory. They will follow him, misled by the signs and miracles he will perform. Some Christians too will follow him, those who are looking forward to an earthly kingdom. They will think that he is the Christ who will reign over the material world. That is why God warns us saying, "Then if anyone says to you 'Look, here is the Christ! or there,’ do not believe it" (Matt. 24:23). Here, our Lord Jesus assures that the true children of God, whose souls cling to the Lord, hoping for an eternal heavenly kingdom, are kept and known to Him. He had given to Ezekiel a measuring rod (Ezek. 40:5). Then the prophet took a stick-like rod, that is a firm strong rod, to measure the children of God, "the temple of God," those who worship in spirit and truth, not in desire of material worldly glory, but looking forward to an eternal life with the Lord Jesus. But he will not measure those who are out of the temple, or the unbelievers, because they refuse dwelling with God. God does not consider them as His own children. Bishop Victorianus thinks that the temple refers to the believers who are abiding in the Church. The outer court is those who are alien to the Church... The period of the forty-two months is the period during which the deceiver, the "Antichrist," will lead astray. 2) SENDING FORTH THE TWO WITNESSES "And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth" [3]. During the time when the world gets dark, because of the coming of the deceiver, and the spread of his deceptions, God will send His two witnesses, Elijah and Enoch, 1 Lect., 15:5. 6 clothed in sackcloth. They are apathetic to worldly matters, in order to resist that who sets himself up as a king, while he pampers himself in luxury with his followers. The early Fathers proclaimed that the two witnesses were Elijah and Enoch, ahead of them were Justin the Martyr, Hippolytus, Ignatius, Tertullian, Augustine, St. Ephram the Syrian and John of Damascus.1 Bishop Hippolytus2 says, [It is natural that they appear first (before the day of the judgment), as it was proclaimed by Malachi, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Mal. 4 : 5,6).] Tertullian3 says, [Enoch was taken up (Gen. 5: 24, Heb. 11:5), and Elijah also (2 Kings 2:11), without dying. Their death was delayed, as they are kept to bear death, that by their blood they crush the Antichrist (Rev. 11:3).] That is how the Lord bestowed the spirit of prophecy on them "and they will prophesy," and have the power to make miracles, preach, and debate with the Antichrist, and his followers. As for the period of their witnessing, which is 1260 days, it will last until their martyrdom. The period of the Antichrist is 42 months, or three and a half years, i.e. 1278 or 1279 days. The difference is 18 or 19 days between their martyrdom, and the death of the Antichrist, and the end of his kingdom. The two prophets are described by the inspiration as follows: 1. Peace-makers: "These are the two olive trees"4. The olive tree symbolizes peace and edification, not ruination and destruction. As Noah's dove came proclaiming the end of the deluge with an olive branch, the Holy Spirit proclaims through the two witnesses, His protection to the Church, her inner joy, and unshaken peace. And as the people carried olive tree branches, to show their joy, at the coming of the Lord to Jerusalem, to be sacrificed on behalf of His bride, Elijah and Enoch will come forward in the same manner, as two olive branches, with which the victorious Church slaughtered for the sake of her Bridegroom, will rejoice. 2. Two witnesses for the true Light: "The two lampstands standing before the God of the earth" [4]. In their witnessing to Him, the Lord never forsakes them, but they are always standing before the Lord. This gives them courage and wisdom in their ministry. They are like two lampstands, and we know that the lampstand was in the temple, lit by oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. In the same manner Elijah and Enoch do not witness of themselves, but the Holy Spirit shines in them, the Spirit of their Father, who speaks in them (Matt. 10:20). With the Spirit of God they help the Church in her divine 1 Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 26. 2 "Christ and the Antichrist" 46, 47. Also see the article about "The End of the World, the Coming of the Antichrist, and the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ." 3 A Treatise on the Soul, 50. 4 We read about the two olive trees standing by the Lord in Zech. 4:11-14, which are Zerbabel and Joshua the high priest, appointed to rebuilding the temple and bringing back the worship of God to Jerusalem. This is a symbol of the two olive trees: “Elijah and Enoch,” who were appointed to help the children of God, His temple, and recovering the souls led astray by the Antichrist. 7 work, that is, witnessing to God. Thus she will be sure of God's promise, that it is not by ability, or strength, but by His Spirit (Zech 4: 6), she will witness to Him. 3. They are zealous, "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" [5]. This reminds us of what Elijah did with the two leaders of the fifty and their soldiers, when he asked for fire from heaven that consumes them (2 Kings 1:10-12). The two witnesses shall speak the fiery words of God, which burns the straw of innovations and heresies, spread out by the Antichrist and his followers. This will happen according to God's promise to the prophet Jeremiah, "‘Is not my word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks the rack in pieces?’" (Jer. 23:29). "Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire. And this people wood, and it shall devour them" (Jer. 5:14). That is how the Church is always armored by the fiery word of God, which burns the straw of sin inside us, also destroys all the powers of Satan, and disperses darkness. 4. They make miracles: "These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophesy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire" [6]. God gives them wide powers, not to show power, or authority, but for the sake of restoring the souls, and saving those who went astray behind the Antichrist. They do as Elijah had done previously with the people who fell back to worship the idols (1 Kings 17:18), and what Moses did because of the cruelty of Pharaoh. Their Testimony "Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them” [7]. The war is on, all along the period of their testimony. God is their protector. In the assigned time when He sees that they have accomplished their message, and what remains is only to prove it, by their martyrdom, He will permit the Antichrist coming up out of the abyss, dwelled by Satan, to overcome them, and kill them. By their death, their testimony will not die, but it is more and more confirmed, because they have given testimony to the truth until death. By their death, the souls of the blasphemous will rest, thinking that those who made their conscience and hearts suffer for the word of truth they proclaimed, had died. "And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" [8]. The Antichrist uses satanic tricks to disgrace them, leaving their dead bodies in the streets, for three and a half days. The Greek text mentions "their dead bodies," in the singular form with reference to what happens to their dead bodies, not due to personal enmity, but enmity towards the one Church. As they have been working in one spirit, they get one share, which is a share of an honest witness to the truth, by being disgraced, and despised by the wicked. Yet God turns evil to good, making of this peculiar behavior a chance to proclaim their testimony, that His name may be glorified later on. The amazing thing is that their testimony will be in Jerusalem, which was favored by the presence of the incarnate Lord, therein. 8 1. It is called great, not because of its holiness, but because of the evil propagated there by the Antichrist. 2. Spiritually, it is called Sodom, because of its decline, and corruption (Isa. 1:10); and Egypt, because of the cruelty shown by Pharaoh. 3. It is there, where our Lord was crucified. As it had despised the Lord, now it despises His children. "Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations, will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” [9-10]. They disdained their dead bodies by disposing of them this way, as a scene to gloat over. As there is going to be delegates of the Antichrist from all the people, tribes, tongues and nations, in the city of Jerusalem, the center of his evil thoughts, they will rush and look at, and gloat over them. The wicked will rejoice, and avenge themselves, because they had suffered the prophets reprimand. Their hearts will rest, and they will exchange gifts and congratulations, yet temporarily. Their Rise and Ascension "Now after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them" [11]. They did not rise by their own personal powers, because they were ordinary creatures, not like the incarnate God, who has the authority to lay down His life, and the power to take it again. He who permitted their martyrdom, and allowed people to gloat over them, turned it to emphasize their message when He gave them "the spirit of life." This action brought hope back to the souls which fainted and deviated, because the cheering hope of the Church focuses on the resurrection (1 Thess. 4:16-18). It ends its creed, by saying, "We wait for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” By this action the Church sings saying, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). In order that nobody dares think that they perform a satanic deed, those who saw them, "heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them" [12]. This was confirmed, "In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven" [13]. This earthquake confirms the divinity of the message. This was testified by the rest of the people who were not killed by the earthquake, yet unfortunately they do not repent. They still dread the "God of Heaven," and give Him glory, but they do not accept Him as ‘their God.’ They witness to Him, but they refuse to be related to Him. They know His power, but they do not try it, fear Him, but they do not love Him. By this, the two witnesses terminate their message, and it remains for us to know about them that: a. They are two, because “by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall 9 be established. b. They came in the spirit of their Lord and Savior Jesus, following His example in many matters: 1- The period of their ministry is about three and a half years, which is the period of manifest ministry of Jesus Christ. 2- The Lord was crucified for the sake of the truth, and they as well. 3- He granted them martyrdom in the same city, Jerusalem. 4- Through His resurrection, the Lord gave them a "spirit of life," to confirm their message. 5- The Lord rose in front of the Church to attach her heart to heaven, because where the Head is, the members also are. As for the two messengers, the Lord brought them up, while the Church is dispersed in the wilderness. But He rose them up in front of the Antichrist's followers, to rebuke them. 6- At the crucifixion of the Lord, an earthquake took place, and saints rose from death, rejoicing for the salvation. And at the rising of the two witnesses an earthquake will happen killing one tenth of the people, known for being obstinate, giving the chance to the rest to repent. "The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly" [14]. 3) THE SEVENTH TRUMPET: THE COMING OF THE LORD FOR THE JUDGMENT The last trumpet proclaims the final events of the advent of Jesus Christ on the clouds, right after the period of the Antichrist. "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’ And the twenty-four presbyters, who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is, and who was, and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come. And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great. And should destroy those who destroy the earth’" [15-18]. No sooner did Elijah and Enoch ascend, than the songs of victory reigned the sky, songs of praise that the twenty-four presbyters, and all the heavenly, never cease chanting. The purposes of God have reached their destination. Everything was accomplished, and the Lord appears victorious. The material sky, and earth disappear. Then the twenty-four presbyters chant the songs of praise, and the four Living Creatures as give songs of thanksgiving. (Rev. 4:9). Therefore, the Church never ceases teaching us "the praise of thanksgiving," all the time, and on every occasion. We offer our thanksgiving in our private prayers, in our family, and church prayers; in the liturgies, and in celebrating joyful and sad occasions. By that we get trained, for “praise and thanksgiving," the language of heaven. What is wonderful about this praise is, that it relates God to what He grants us. When we are granted the great power, and reign with Him in eternity, the angels praise 10 Him, "because You have taken Your great power, and reigned." What is beautiful too, is that God rewards those who fear Him, the "small and great," beginning with the small (Ps. 115:13), as He never forgets anybody. Yet His anger at the wicked and their destruction, is nothing, but a natural result of their actions, which turns against them, as "they were destroying the earth." God bears no hatred, or desire to revenge us by the human rage, but in His justice He leaves the wicked to their choice. It is the evil they chose, loved and were bound to, that destroys them. Another Scene "Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple” [19]. In Greek the word "temple," means here "Holy of Holies," which is the place, where no one can enter, except the high priest once a year. It is the first time the wedding house opens, and man enters, to see God, face to face, in the perfection of His glory and greatness. There, man sees the ark of God's covenant, or sees the presence of God in its sublimity. There, he will stay contemplating, and fascinated every moment, if we can say, as if he sees Him for the first time, and stays thus forever. Pens should stop, and tongues be silenced and expressions come to an end, that we may meditate on the faithful promise of God, to enter into the joy of our Master. That God be our God, and we His children. This is the cheerful side of judgment, yet about the judgment of the wicked he says, "And there were lightenings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail" [19]. It is an unbearable violent disturbance which the wicked shall see and touch, because of their lust and sin.
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