I've just had an interesting thought, perhaps even a revelation. The Bible's Book of Revelation (the Revelation of Jesus Christ) speaks of two witnesses in the end times, and there is alot of speculation who they may be. Now my belief is that they are Enoch and Elijah, because neither of them died ... they were both *taken* (translated, snatched up to heaven by God without dying). Elijah's body could not be found, no trace of him whatsoever, although there were eyewitnesses of his translation. With this in mind, and the knowledge that it is appointed man once to die and then the judgement, let's continue. Did you notice ... I said they have NOT died *yet*, they are simply with the Lord now in the bodies they were here with. They are witnesses in heaven to all that goes on in the world and what the Lord is doing and has been doing since they went to be with Him. Who better to send back when the time is right, to preach to the world of our Lord and that the end is near. Who better?
Further on my theory, Revelation speaks of our being *caught up in the air* to meet our Lord, and there shall we ever be. This is known as the first resurrection. There is much debate on when this resurrection will occur and what will lead up to it. We know that there will be a trumpet sound that we are all to listen for. We know that we'll be changed in the twinkling (blink) of an eye. We know that the dead in Christ will rise from the ground first, in newly created actual, physical bodies. And then, those who are alive and remain (on the earth) will be caught up. We know that all Christians (both Gentiles & Jews) are the Lamb's bride (the bride of Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior, our Messiah) and that we eagerly away the return of our bridegroom!
It just occured to me today to consider more closely the events of the two witnesses. For instance, why would God send them to preach for 3 & 1/2 years, then allow them to be killed, and then resurrect them after they've been dead in the street(s) for three days and three nights. Not that God can't or wouldn't but this just doesn't make sense in the terms of resurrection ... does it? Consider that the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and then we who are alive and remain is called the first resurrection. Here is the confusion ... when is that resurrection as compared to the then following tribulation (7 years total), and then the millenium (thousand years) where Jesus and the *saints* (those of us caught up to Him) rule on the earth, and then finally the second resurrection of all those not saved to judgement. At least that is how most think it will happen but most are not sure exactly what order/time these things will occur. No one seems to be sure.
What if, and I'm simply documenting this speculation, I'm not professing this is the way it will go down, but what if, those two witnesses are resurrected when the rest of the dead in Christ are resurrected? Perhaps the first two of many on that day ... or maybe, as it is with God, the last two on that day ... before those who are alive and remain are also captured up to be with the Lord. In case you are not aware of this, we will be physically resurrected in a NEW body, as Christ's body *disappeared* from the tomb, and Enoch was *taken up* and Elijah went up body and all, so will our body's disappear as we are *transformed* into new beings in Jesus. No longer physical as we know it, or perhaps we'll have added dimensions we are currently not able to comprehend. But we will have shape and be able to manifest as matter just as Jesus did, you could touch Him, and so it will be for us as well, but we will be new, eternal, uncorrupted and incorruptible!
Let's take it step by step, as best we can directly from the Bible, shall we? KJV quoted below:
- Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
- Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.
- Hbr 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Man's mortality: because of sin, we die
- 2Ki 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind
- 2Ki 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.
- 2Ki 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
- 2Ki 2:12 And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
- 2Ki 2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
- 2Ki 2:17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
- Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Resurrection of the dead in Christ
- Rom 5:12-17 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
- 1Cr 15:56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.
- Jam 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
- 1Jo 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Resurrection of those of us that are alive & remain
- 1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
- 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Revelation of Jesus Christ, the two witnesses
- 1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
What's next? Earthquake! The seventh angel sounds!
- Rev 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
- Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
- Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
- Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
- Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
- Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
- Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
- Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
- Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
- Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
- Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
- Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
The biggest clue to us that the resurrection is *near* is when we see the two witnesses lying dead in the street(s) for three days and nights ... when this happens church, be ready for your bridegroom cometh!
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© Deb (Sandberg) Murtagh 2006
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