August 12: THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY: THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD THAT PROPHESIES
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:3
There is supernatural power in the word of God. Anyone who has come from a dark place into the marvelous light of His word will testify to its life-changing power. God’s Holy Spirit attends the study of His word for everyone sincerely seeking Him. There is a dual nature associated with God’s word. After Malachi’s written testimony was complete, 400 years passed before Matthew’s written testimony took shape. Nevertheless, the New Testament is a perfect continuation of the Old. The two are completely harmonious, their testimonies corroborating each other without fail. Jesus stated that the Old Testament bears witness to Him (see Luke 24:25-27 and John 5:39). And, likewise, the New Testament bears witness to His life, teaching, healing, sacrificial death, and resurrection, and even His post-resurrection ministry that continues to this day.
Israel’s legal system required at least two witnesses in a court case (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Hebrews 10:28) to prevent a single accuser from ruining an individual. Jesus affirmed this in John 8:17: “It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
God Almighty has never left the world without witnesses to Himself. During the prophetic time of one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which we understand to be literal years**, God’s word and the people who preached it were suppressed, that is clothed in sackcloth. Even though the “established” church enshrouded the Bible and kept it hidden from the masses, the wilderness church* operated quietly and effectively under divine direction and nourishment upon the Bread of Life—preaching and sharing carefully hand-copied Scripture at every opportunity. The persecution was severe—and will be again. Nevertheless, her testimony was like that of Jeremiah: But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. (Jeremiah 20:9)
God’s word has a healing effect upon our souls. It is said to be sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). Why would we want to be pierced even to the division of soul and spirit? It could only be because we trust the Lord and His judgment far more than our own. Jesus had to rebuke His disciples during their time together, saying, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.” (Luke 9:55). Indeed, each of us needs supernatural, surgical removal of sinful thinking—evil spirits, if you will—in order to be healed of ungodly attitudes and actions that lead to death. What wonderful, life-saving witnesses we find in feeding upon God’s word!
*Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12:6
*But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. v.14
**see Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6, and Luke 13:32 for the day/year principle of prophetic time