plague – Praying Pint

48.q. “Wilderness” – 12.w. “Have you let all the women live?”

Num 31:14  And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.

Num 31:15  Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live?

Num 31:16  Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.

Num 31:17  Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

Num 31:18  But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.

The sword of war should spare women and children; but the sword of justice should know no distinction, but that of guilty or not guilty. This war was the execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the worst criminals. The female children were spared, who, being brought up among the Israelites, would not tempt them to idolatry. The whole history shows the hatefulness of sin, and the guilt of tempting others; it teaches us to avoid all occasions of evil, and to give no quarter to inward lusts. The women and children were not kept for sinful purposes, but for slaves, a custom every where practised in former times, as to captives. In the course of providence, when famine and plagues visit a nation for sin, children suffer in the common calamity. (Henry)

Treatment of the Prisoners. – When Moses went out to the front of the camp with Eleazar and the princes of the congregation to meet the returning warriors, he was angry with the commanders, because they had left all the women alive, since it was they who had been the cause, at Balaam’s instigation, of the falling away of the Israelites from Jehovah to worship Peor; and he commanded all the male children to be slain, and every woman who had lain with a man, and only the young girls who had hitherto had no connection with a man to be left alive. (Brown)

Moses was angry because the children of Israel failed to see the great danger of sexual immorality and idolatry posed by these women who before had led the men of Israel into these exact sins. God’s people may be deceived by things that were a threat, but do not seem to be a present danger. The Israelite officers of the army thought these women were safe, but they were more dangerous to Israel than an army of mighty warriors. Israel could overcome mighty warriors if they were spiritually strong; but if they were seduced into immorality and idolatry, they would certainly fall. We often think of many things as dangerous to us as the people of God – hostile government, secular humanism, academic attack, and so forth. But when God’s people accept things among them that open the door to immorality and idolatry, this can be a much greater danger than any of those other things.

God has the right to judge not only individuals but also communities of all different sizes. Such judgments go beyond punishing individuals for their personal guilt; judgment comes upon the society as a whole, including those who may not be personally and individually guilty (such as children; the little ones). Sometimes God sends these judgments directly (as in the Genesis flood or with Sodom and Gomorrah), and sometimes God sends nations as instruments of His judgment (as with the Assyrians against the northern kingdom of Israel and the Babylonians against the southern kingdom of Judah). In the broader conquest of Canaan, God uniquely used His people (Israel) as that instrument of judgment.

This harsh judgment often makes us uncomfortable but is rooted in both God’s fundamental right to judge (Psalm 9:8, 50:6), and in His merciful granting of much time for people to repent (Genesis 15:16). We can trust that God is a righteous judge (Genesis 18:25, Psalm 7:11). (Guzik)

“For this action I account simply on the principle that God, who is the author and supporter of life, has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper; and the Judge of all the earth can do nothing but what is right.” (Clarke)

“The nations today are at risk from the judgment of God. This is true whether they acknowledge it or not. One day that judgment will come. At that time there will be no weeping over women and boys who died in ancient Midian three and a half millennia ago; at that time the judgment of God will transcend anything ever written in the harshest Scripture.” (Allen)

48.h. “Wilderness” – 12.n. “Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor”

Num 25:1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.” And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meetingWhen Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against God’s people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures. Here is the sin of Israel, to which they are enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. Those are our worst enemies who draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. Israel’s sin did that which all Balaam’s enchantments could not do; it set God against them. Diseases are the fruits of God’s anger, and the just punishments of prevailing sins; one infection follows the other. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice. (Henry)

Moabites and Midianites found ways and means to become familiar with the Israelites, and to introduce their daughters into their company and conversation, and being ensnared and enamoured with them, they were drawn to commit lewdness with them, and hereby were led on to commit other abominations, which brought the divine displeasure upon them; so that what they dared not attempt by war, and could not effect by sorceries and divinations, they accomplished by those iniquitous arts, namely, bringing the wrath, the curse, and plague of God upon them. (Brown)

Neglect of God’s Word and complacency to Things of God will do harm to the soul. They will darken paths that honor and glorify God. They will deafen the ears to hear God’s leading. They will give sight and purpose to worldly things that dishonor God. They will harden the heart and things of God will become void in their heart. They will make what is clearly wrong seem right. They will allow you to be led astray by false words of hope. They will harm your soul, darken your mind, deafen your ears, and give you false beliefs.

Guard your hearts and minds. Stay in His Word and seek to honor and glorify Him in all thoughts, words, and actions.

47.m. “Wilderness” – 11.s. “He stood between the dead and the living”

Num 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

The gaping earth was scarcely closed, before the same sins are again committed, and all these warnings slighted. They called the rebels the people of the Lord; and find fault with Divine justice. The obstinacy of Israel notwithstanding the terrors of God’s law, as given on mount Sinai, and the terrors of his judgments, shows how necessary the grace of God is to change men’s hearts and lives. Observe especially, that Aaron was a type of Christ. There is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove. He enters the defiled and dying camp. He stands between the dead and the living; between the eternal Judge and the souls under condemnation. (Henry)

True is God’s Word that says; “The hearts of men are bent on continually doing evil”, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”, “There is none that do good, no not one”, They have all turned aside”.

Judgment in light of God’s Holiness condemns us all. And yet, God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. Why do we take this lightly and live as though His grace, mercy, and love are granted to us because we are worthy, we are not. The eyes to our hearts and minds should be open to His holiness and our sinfulness and there by know it is only by His great love, mercy, and grace are we saved from deserved judgment. In light of this great love our hearts and minds should be set on living in such a way that all we think, say, and do honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

There is fast approaching, a time when the grace, mercy, and love of God will be removed and replaced with His wrath and anger. The day is coming fast and is very near. Today is the day of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness of sins through belief, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ. Just as the flood in Noah’s time, Korah’s rebellion, or a host of other examples of God’s judgment this will surely come and come quickly. Waiting for another day or until you have more time is telling God, “I reject your offer of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness”. I want to live in my sinfulness right up to the moment just before Your judgment. How many people walk out of their houses without a thought of this being their last day, and they die in their sin and enter eternity straight to Hell? Thousands each day. Our understanding of God’s wrath, anger, eternity, and torment is veiled. If we see it clearly and understand it fully our lives would be set on living in honor and glory for Jesus Christ our redeemer.

41.t. “Let My People Go” 2. Frogs

Exodus 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

God threatened a plague of frogs for a specific reason. The Egyptian goddess Heqet (or, Heket) was always pictured with the head of a frog. Among the ancient Egyptians, frogs were considered sacred and could not be killed. Egyptians worshipped the frog as a female goddess because frogs were common around the Nile, because they reproduced rapidly, and because being amphibians they are part of two worlds, creatures of both land and water. The ability of the magicians to do the same with their enchantments points to a supernatural power present; this wasn’t the work of a skilled illusionist, this was occult power at work. For all their occult powers, all the magicians could do was make more frogs! They could only make the problem worse; yet their work gave Pharaoh an excuse to further harden his heart. Pharaoh increased his guilt, and hardness of heart until he was utterly beyond hope of remedy. (Guzik)

Pharaoh is plagued with frogs; their vast numbers made them sore plagues to the Egyptians. God could have plagued Egypt with lions, or bears, or wolves, or with birds of prey, but he chose to do it by these despicable creatures. God, when he pleases, can arm the smallest parts of the creation against us. He thereby humbled Pharaoh. They should neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep in quiet; but wherever they were, they should be troubled by the frogs. God’s curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie heavy upon him whatever he does. Pharaoh gave way under this plague. He promises that he will let the people go. Those who bid defiance to God and prayer, first or last, will be made to see their need of both. But when Pharaoh saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Till the heart is renewed by the grace of God, the thoughts made by affliction do not abide; the convictions wear off, and the promises that were given are forgotten. Till the state of the air is changed, what thaws in the sun will freeze again in the shade. (Henry)

After an interval which there are no means of estimating, the second plague followed the first. Again, while the main purpose of the plague was to punish the nation by which Israel had been so long oppressed, the secondary object of throwing contempt upon their religion. Frogs were among the Egyptian sacred animals. One of their deities, Heka, was a frog-headed goddess; and they seem to have regarded the frog as a sacred emblem of creative power. (Unknown)

The verse that shouts the most to me is; “But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.” How often do we promise God we will change something, stop doing, or start doing more to gain respite from a trial or trouble that is a heaven burden on us or our loved ones? We promise to read scripture more, and stop affairs, pornography, cursing, hating, gossiping, lying, and free running with our sinful nature leading the way. What causes us to think this way? – “Hardened Heart”. What blinds us to things of God? – “Hardened Heart”. What closes our ears to the quiet whispers of God into our lives? – “Hardened Heart”. What makes us think God cannot see our sins? – “Hardened Heart”. What makes us follow after things of this world? – “Hardened Heart”. What causes us to become neglectful and complacent to things of God? – “Hardened Heart”. What keeps us from growing and maturing in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding? – “Hardened Heart”. What keeps us from honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do? – “Hardened Heart”.

How hard is your Heart?

25.p. “Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place”

Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

God’s protection conquers any odds or probabilities. “It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honor, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good.” (Spurgeon)

It is safe and secure to be in the fortress and shelter of God. Does this mean we will not face trials and troubles. Absolutely not. It is in these trials and troubles that we find a peace that passes all understanding and willingly surrender to whatever the plans and purposes of God are. I think of Stephen and filled with the Holy Spirit spoke truth and was stoned at the hands of evil religious men. It is in the complete trusting surrender that we find peace, rest, and hope.

17.n. “I will pass over you”

John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Exodus 12:11-14 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

The great deliverance from Egypt ended in the Lord’s Passover. “I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord.” What is the purpose of Ceremonial Cleansing? For them, it was tied to the Law and purification. Remember the Law pointed out their sin and there were certain legal rites and sacrifices required. The greatness of the Passover, the act of God to free and redeem His chosen from the hands of the Egyptians, was worthy of ceremonial cleansing so that they might worship and glorify God during this special feast of the Passover. ”The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

The importance for us is in the blood, the blood of Jesus Christ, that cleanses us from our sin. When we believe in Him and the work He accomplished on the cross for our sin, we are forever forgiven. Ceremonial cleansing was a form of repentance. I know I have sinned. I know I want to honor and glorify God. I want to worship and celebrate my redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and promise of eternal life. I repent, turn away from my old self, and now live each day in remembrance of the great price that was paid for my redemption, the death of Jesus Christ. We should never forget this, for there is a judgment day coming and only those who have confessed their sin, repented, believed, trusted, and relied on Jesus Christ will be passed over. Eternal life awaits those who believed, and eternal torment awaits those who did not.

13.v. “Worship the King, the Lord of hosts”

Zechariah 14:16 Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths.

Revelation 11:15-17 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Romans 11:26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

The millennium time is a bit of a mystery. A thousand-year reign with Christ as King. A time of peace and no wars. A time of being in the physical presence of Jesus Christ. Do you ever wonder why there would be people who do not want to or see the need to worship Jesus during this time? Is it possible that we are no different? Do we come to Jesus when convenient and other times we just can’t find the time or make the time? What drives us to come to Him and worship Him? Is it forgiveness of sin? Is it His sacrifice for us? Is it His promise of eternity? Is it His blessings on the work of our hands? Is it the blessings of our family? Is it the blessings of the indwelling Holy Spirit? Is it a peace that passes all understanding? Is it comfort in the storm? Is it courage in the face of whatever we are battling? Is it the understanding of grace, mercy, and love He showered on us? Is it the promise that He will never leave or forsake us? Is it …..? The point is that when we seek and desire Him with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and strength, worship will flow from our heart and mind and soul for Him. When we give the world any place in our heart, mind, and soul it seems to take the worship of Jesus Christ captive and releases our self-centered, self-reliant, self-serving desires. Take a look at your worship of Jesus Christ and place it first above all else.

12.l. “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord”

Habakkuk 3:3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever.

Deuteronomy 5:24     And you said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

Psalms 114:3-7    The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.  What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?  O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?  Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

Revelation 5:13   And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Isaiah 6:3  And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

As Habakkuk prayed for a revival he began to praise the God who brings revival. Habakkuk glorified the power and majesty of God. It is good to praise God like this, and God’s people need to do more of it. It is good to praise God because it gives appropriate honor and glory to God, it declares God’s specific works, it teaches and reminds us of who God is and what He has done, it places man in proper perspective under God, and it builds confidence in the power and works of God.

Do you ever wonder what is proper praise and worship of God? How do you get to the place in your hearts and minds where praise and worship flow out. God revealed and Habakkuk saw the judgment, anger, and wrath of God coming because of the defiance and rebellion of His people. Habakkuk prayed for revival and in this prayer he called out to God with praise and worship, remembering who God is. Nothing else is worthy of the praise and worship of God. He alone is worthy. When our hearts, minds, and souls are intentionally committed to honor, serve, follow, obey, rely, and trust God our hearts will overflow with praise and worship of Him. When our eyes to our hearts and ears to our minds are clouded with things of this world, and the Word of God is neglected and void in our desires, what should be praise and worship are turned into worry and fear and defeat. Habakkuk remembered the power of God and how He has control over all things. It confirmed in his heart and mind that nothing is impossible for God. We certainly have a lot that could cloud our eyes and deafen our ears to things of God. A global pandemic, riots, confusion, fear, foolish thoughts on what is right and wrong, division, hatred, defiance of God, wars, plagues …… You have to wonder how much more chaos needs to happen before mankind and nations will recognize the hand of God in all of this and only in and through His power and glory will it stop. In all of this God is in control and His plans and purposes are perfect. Mankind attempts to deny God’s hand in these happenings and you don’t have to see and hear much news to know their hearts are full of pride and defiance and void of fear/reverence of God. Do you want to see and end to all that is happening? Turn to God. Do you want peace in chaos? Turn to God. Do you want wisdom to see God’s hand in what is happening? Dive deep into His Word. Do you want to hope for the future? Believe in Him alone who can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Keeping our hearts, minds, and souls pure through His Word and a deep desire to praise and worship Him will flow through us.

8. “It is done!”

Revelation 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

We end bowl judgments with the 7th with lightning, thunder, and the largest earthquake earth has ever had. Islands disappear and mountains are no more. A great rearrangement of earth will take place followed by 100 lb hailstones. We see through even this men still curse God and are not repentant. Chronologically, the next event will be the return of Christ (Revelation 19) but before continuing chronologically, chapters 17 and 18 will give added details about Babylon. The Seven bowls of God’s wrath should remind all of us that there is no escape from diving judgment except for those who avail themselves of the grace of God in the day of opportunity. Nothing seems to produce repentance in those who have hardened their hearts against the grace of God. Make sure that our hearts are right with God today, tomorrow, and forever.

7.i. These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Revelation 11:4 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.

Zechariah 4:11-14 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

The two witnesses for God have been given great power in their testimony to those who live in and have overtaken Jerusalem with abominations, (horror, disgrace, obscenity, evil, crime, hatred, hostility, and contempt) During this 3 1/2 years they will perform many signs and wonders as often as they desire to change the hearts of the Israelites and to cause judgment on those who would try to harm them. The Holy Spirit is gone, Christians are gone, and the world is in chaos. People have turned to their most basic sinful selfish desires. There is no want to serve God, know God, or repent from this evil. These two witnesses, like Moses when he performed signs and wonders before pharaoh are given the power to do that which can only be done at the hand of and authority of God. We know the outcome of this, hardening of the heart, retaliation, denial, and rejection of the message/witness of these two sent by God. Think of all that has transpired on earth already; the rapture of Christians, wars, death, earthquakes, sought, famine, disease, high costs of living, the mark of the beast, vegetation destroyed, etc…. In all of this people still will not acknowledge God’s judgment, wrath, and anger. In all of this, they still reject Him with all of their soul.

Jump back to our time now. We have it just the opposite. We live in the time of the presence of the Holy Spirit on earth and within those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ with all of their heart, mind, and soul. We live in a time of grace, peace, mercy, and love. We live in a time of God restraining His wrath and anger and judgment. And yet, there are fewer and fewer people seeing the need for forgiveness, salvation, redemption, and Jesus Christ. It seems as though He is rejected in both prosperity and hardship. We have been given these words of God so that by them our hearts might see our sinful nature, hope found in and through Jesus Christ, and what is in store for those who reject such a great salvation.