Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses - The Two Witnesses - Continue

 The John class had to preach this message for a definitely stated time:1,260 days, or 42 months, the same length of time that the holy city was to be trampled underfoot. This period seems to be literal, since it expressed in two different ways, first in months and then in days. Additionally, at the beginning of the Lord's day, there was a marked period of three and a half years when the hard experiences of God's people matched the events prophesied here-starting from the outbreak of the first world war in the latter part of 1914 and continuing to the early part of 1918. (Revelation 1:10) They preached a "sackcloth" message concerning Jehovah's judgment of Christendom and the world. 

They fact that they were symbolized by two witnesses confirms to us that their message was accurate and well founded. (Compare Deuteronomy17:6; John 8:17, 18) John calls them "the two olive trees and the two lampstands," saying that they are standing before the Lord of the earth." This is an evident reference to the prophecy of Zechariah, who saw a seven-branched lampstand and two olive trees. The olive trees were said to picture "the two anointed ones," that is Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua, "standing alongside the Lord of the whole earth." - ZECHARIAH 4:1-3, 14. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses - The Two Witnesses - Continue

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