May 15: Witness To Truth
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
The time period between AD538 and AD1798, is critical for understanding the operations of the risen Savior on our fallen planet. The Lord’s divine protection of His followers during times of extreme darkness is proof of His identity as the light of the world as well as His followers’ identity as the light of the world (see John 8:12; 9:5; Matthew 5:14). In divine foresight, He would not allow the world to go 1260 years without a witness of His plan of salvation. No way! Even though suppressed, or clothed in sackcloth, they faithfully witnessed to the world.
The number two symbolically represents witness. Jesus, the second member of the “divine Us”, Elohim, is the faithful witness of Revelation 1:5 (see also Jeremiah 42:5). Christians are called to be faithful witnesses to the Savior regardless of circumstances. Believers who lived and died during these 1260 years are examples to us (see Revelation 12:6,14). The acute persecution under which they remained faithful to Jesus will be repeated just before His return (v.17).
Ironically, it is in good times—times of ease and plenty—that human nature is most vulnerable to the wiles of the devil. That is why Jesus introduced Himself as the Faithful and True Witness to the last-day church (Revelation 3:14). The relative ease still enjoyed in some parts of the world is soon to end. The importance of the written word can be understood in a ‘double sense’, because a believer’s testimony of its truth is accompanied by the Holy Spirit’s winsome grace:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 11:4
John the Revelator is paralleling terminology from Zechariah 4. Jesus referred to the written word as the law and the prophets (Luke 16:16) and Moses and the prophets (Luke 16:31). He even humbly referred to Himself as reliable in the eyes of others only in light of other witnesses (see John 5:31, 8:13-18). Brothers and sisters, we may rely fully on the Spirit of the faithful witness to accompany our testimony of Him. There is never a need to “convince” or “persuade”—but our walk and our talk are to be aligned with His word. Therein lies the secret of kingdom growth.
The Hebrew greeting, “Shalom!” is usually translated as “Peace!” in English. But a more accurate understanding of this greeting would be, “May there be harmony between your heart and God’s heart!” That is real peace, beloved!
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6