This end times deception study will teach you about the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11.
Most Pastors teach that the Revelation timeline of the two witnesses is during 3.5 years of Great Tribulation, the latter half of a 7-year tribulation, where two Old Testament characters, such as Moses and Elijah, return to Earth to prophesy, be killed by the Antichrist, and then come back to life.
That’s the literal interpretation, but throughout Jesus’ Revelation He relates prophecy symbolically.
Most of the symbols are from the Old Testament, so if you don’t know the Word of God, you can’t understand the symbolism and the meaning of the book of Revelation, and you’re left to take it literally.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Chapter 11 continues the story of how God used the Bible, which is called the Little Book of Revelation 10, to have His witnesses delineate who was the true church of Christ, and who was the false church of the Antichrist.
What is the context of the Two Witnesses of Jesus Revelation?
Satan learned that when he had the Romans persecute the Christians, the church only grew faster, so he created a new strategy.
He created a false Christian Church to seek to destroy Christianity from the inside.
He created the Roman Catholic Church, which pretends to be Christian, but is really the old religion of Babylon, of Sun worship and Satan worship.
The word ‘catholic‘ means ‘universal‘, which is appropriate as they claim to be the Universal Church that leads to God.
The Satan-empowered Catholic Church reigned for 1,260 years, from 538-1798 A.D., which matches the time that the Two Witnesses prophesied.
It is not 3 1/2 years during the end times, like many Pastors teach.
And it obviously is not two people who prophesied for 1,260 years.
Who are the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11?
In this image is Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits of Rome, who were empowered by the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century, to counter the Reformation, when millions of people were coming out of the Catholic Church.
The book that Loyola is holding is the ‘Constitutions’ of the Jesuits, which laid out their plans to bring the Protestants back to the Catholic Church and to capture the world for the Pope. It includes the motto “For the greater glory of God.”
He is stepping on a Protestant, who is holding a Bible. This tells you who are the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11, who witnessed against the Roman Catholic Church during their 1,260 reign, from 538-1798 A.D.
They are the Word of God and the Church of Christ, both which testified about the pure Gospel of salvation through Jesus’ atoning blood, not by works through the Catholic Church; and they testified that the Papal Church was a false church, the Harlot of Revelation 17.
They preached a message of salvation and of judgment, just like John the Baptist and God’s other prophets.
Jesus’ Church testified during two church eras that existed during the 1,260 years of Catholic Church reign.
From 538-1514 A.D, the Thyratira Church era had people groups (the Waldenses, Albigenses, Bohemian Brethren, Vaudois and Wycliffites) who witnessed about the pure gospel of Christ, and testified against the Catholic Church.
During this time period called the Dark Ages, the Catholic Church systematically destroyed most copies of God’s Word, and killed millions of Christians who possessed them.
Jesus Church was trampled on by the Papal Church so much, that their ability to read the Word of God was eliminated, therefore they didn’t understand the pure Gospel of Christ, only what the Catholic Church taught. And they didn’t understand that the Catholic Church was the Antichrist Beast. They had become spiritually dead.
From 1514-1798 A.D, the Sardis Church era was the time that the Protestant Reformation was birthed, where millions of people came out of the Catholic Church and formed the Protestant Churches. It led to the Great Awakening where worldwide missions when millions of people being saved.
The Little Book of Revelation 10 study revealed that the Little Book is the printed Bible, which combined with the advent of the printing press, became available to millions of people, much to the dismay of the Catholic Church.
So the context of the Two Witnesses is at the end of the Church era of Thyatira and the beginning of the Church era of Sardis.
The Seven Churches of Revelations study revealed that Jesus promise to the overcomers of the Church era of Thyatira was “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Revelation 2:27
The rod of iron is the Word of God, which the Church was just given, so let’s see how the Church uses it to break the power of the Antichrist Catholic Church.
NOTE: Even though the Two Witnesses of Revelation has a specific context in time, it applies to every Church era, especially our Laodecian Church era, where we have been greatly deceived by the Catholic Church. Our mandate is to preach the pure Gospel of Jesus, and to identify the false Catholic Church as Antichrist.
Here are some short videos that explain the fulfillment of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:
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Here is the verse by verse explanation:
The first part of Revelation 11 defines the assignment of the Two Witnesses.
“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple (naos) of God, the altar, and those who worship there.” Revelation 11:1
The ‘reed like a measuring rod’ is the Word of God, the Little Book of Revelation 10.
The Greek for reed or rod is “kanon” = canon of holy scriptures. Kanon is also translated as rule, or measuring rod.
“But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule (kanon) which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.” 2 cor. 10:13
They were to measure the spiritual temple of God, not a physical temple.
The Greek word for the physical temple is hieron. The Greek word for the spiritual temple is naos.
Ephesians 2:19-22 ”Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple (naos) in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
God was telling His people to use the Word of God to determine who was the true church, the Temple of God; and who was the false church.
At the time there was the true Church of Christ, and the false Catholic Church of Antichrist.
When Martin Luther and others measured the teachings of the Catholic Church against the Word of God, they were able to see that it is the false church.
They found no justification for a Pope or hierarchy of Archbishops and Bishops, just the five-fold ministry of the early church.
They found no place of purgatory, where people could be refined, so that they could go to heaven.
They learned that good works don’t earn salvation, they only testify to one’s faith in the Lord.
That they did not have to go to a confession box with a priest, but had direct access to Jesus the High Priest.
That bowing down to statues was forbidden.
That they didn’t have to count rosary beads, or pray to anyone like Mary, but only to the Father in Jesus name.
They found the simplicity of the Holy Communion, but no mass ceremony, and no wafer that supposedly becomes the body of Christ.
They discovered salvation by faith in Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection, not in works, and not through the Catholic Church.
They found that all of these things were strange and alien to the Word of God, and they testified that the Catholic Church was not Christ’ true church.
The only way to discern false prophets is to study and know the Word of God.
Revelation 11:2, “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.”
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not.
The Catholic Church claims to be Christian, and many are misled by their message of salvation by works that is through them.
But that’s not the pure Gospel of Christ, where people are saved by faith in Christ’s atoning work.
Jesus was instructing Martin Luther and others, to prophecy against the Catholic Church, so that people could understand they can only be saved through Christ. And millions of people read the Word of God and were saved through Christ, and they went on to form the Protestant Churches.
The Catholic Church was delegated to the court outside the temple, as they are not the true Church of Jesus.
for it is given unto the Gentiles.
This is not talking about physical gentiles, but spiritual.
Spiritual Israel consists of those who believe in Jesus as Messiah and are saved by His atoning work.
Spiritual Gentiles consists of those who are not saved, but condemned, because they don’t believe in Christ alone for salvation.
That includes the Catholic Church, who teaches salvation by works through the Catholic Church, and all the Catholics who follow their teachings instead of Christ’s.
This also includes Protestant Churches, who are merging with the Catholic Church, who teach a different Gospel, who are trusting their works, not the work of Jesus.
and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months;
The Holy City is not Jerusalem and it is not Rome. Remember, Jesus is speaking symbolically.
The Holy City is the bride of Christ.
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2
Jesus bride is the called the Holy temple, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
”Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
The Roman Catholic Church tread underfoot the Church of Christ, for 1,260 years (42 prophetic months), from 538-1798 A.D.
Revelation 11:3, “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
And I will give power unto my two witnesses,
According to the Scriptures, there must be two witnesses to an act in order for the sentence of the Law to be carried out.
Since those who “worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Rev. 14:10), at least two witnesses to their sins will be necessary to convict and punish them.
“Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” Deuteronomy 17:6
The power that Christ gave them (and us) is the Word of God, which they used to testify about the pure Gospel of Christ, and to identify and testify against the Catholic Church.
Without the studying of the Word of God, we are powerless against the forces of evil, as it’s our sword and our shield.
Today’s Church has the Word of God in abundance, but because they don’t diligently study it, they are unable to discern truth, and unable to identify false prophets.
Satan empowered the Catholic Church to execute his plans to eliminate the Word of God, and the witnesses of salvation through Christ.
Christ empowered His Church to overcome them:
He gave them the authority to preach the Gospel, the strength to profess it, and to continue to bear a testimony to it, even when it meant many of them would be killed by the Papal Church.
He used them to preach the Word of God, which is oil and light to others.
clothed in sackcloth;
The word sackcloth symbolically represents mourning. It reflects their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the abominations against which they protested.
“O daughter of my people, dress in sackcloth and roll about in ashes! Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.” Jeremiah 6:26
During the 1,260 year reign of the Antichrist Catholic Church, over 50 million Christians were killed, and the Word of God almost eliminated. Read Killing The Two Witnesses Of Revelation 11
It was a time of mourning for the sad estate of the church of Christ, groaning under the tyranny and persecutions of antichrist.
The word “witnesses” is the same word that John used when he spoke of martyrs.
“I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs (witnesses) of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” Revelation 17:6
“And they (the church) overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (the Bible), and they did not love their lives to the death.”
Revelation 12:11
Revelation 11:4, “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”
The two olive trees are the Word of God, which provide oil for the church.
It’s making reference to the passage in Zecheriah 4, and it represents two Olive trees feeding oil to the Church, as the Spirit speaks to them and empowers them with the Word of God. A church cannot exist without being fed by the Word of God.
Testament is a word that signifies to ‘bear witness.’ It is derived from the Latin word, testor, which means, ‘I testify.’
Jesus told us, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39
So the two olive trees represent the law and the prophets.
Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets, both of which testify to salvation by faith in the sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus our Savior.
The Word of God testifies that salvation is by faith in the atoning work of Jesus, not through works or the Catholic Church.
The Word of God describes the Beast of Revelation, the Little Horn of Daniel, Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, and the Son of Perdition, in such detail that history clearly testifies that it is the Roman Catholic Church and the Popes.
God preserved His Word during the Catholic Church reign, even though they tried to eliminate it.
The two lampstands are the two church eras that prophesied against the Catholic Church.
When interpreting prophecy, you always look to see how the Bible defines the terms.
In Revelation 1:20, Jesus told us, “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
The two lampstands represent the two church eras that testified during the 1,260 years of the Catholic Church reign, from 538 – 1798 A.D.
The church era of Thyatira, which existed from 538 A.D., when the Roman Catholic Church was empowered; until 1514 A.D., when the Catholic Church pronounced Christ’s Church as dead.
The church era of Sardis, which existed from 1514 A.D., when Jesus pronounced them as dead; until 1798 A.D., when the Pope was imprisoned, causing the deadly head wound of the beast.
Both of these church eras testified about the pure gospel of Jesus, and they testified that the Catholic Church is the Antichrist beast.
Olive oil was used in lamps, so the olive trees and lamps symbolize the light of spiritual life and revival.
Revelation 11:5, “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.”
fire proceedeth out of their mouth;
It’s not speaking of literal fire, but symbolically talking about the power of the Word of God, which has been the context of the Little Book of Revelation 10 and the measuring of the Temple earlier in Revelation 11.
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29
“Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts: “Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.” Jeremiah 5:14
And devoureth their enemies:
Christ Church prophesied judgment against the Catholic Church, which confounded and distressed them, and caused them to be full of fiery indignation.
Why is today’s church struggling against the Antichrist Catholic Church?
Why are they not defeating the enemy?
Because they don’t have the power of the Word of God, as they don’t diligently study it. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Note: Satan and the Catholic Church cannot bear the light of the Word of God, and if today’s church would rise up and preach the truth, then the Antichrist would be overcome.
And if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed;
Christ’ Church will never overcome the Antichrist Roman Catholic Church by the physical sword, but only by the Sword of God, His Holy Word, and through the prayers of the saints, and by standing against them to proclaim God’s judgments on them.
The Lord will destroy them as He destroys the Babylonian system when He returns on a white horse, and they will be condemned to eternal damnation.
Revelation 11:6, “These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. “
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy;
Obviously it didn’t literally stop raining for 1,260 years. Again it is speaking symbolically of spiritual matters.
Christ’s Church has the keys of the kingdom of heaven given them, and whatever they bind or loose on earth is bound or loosed in heaven;
Rain causes the ground to soften, to be able to receive seeds; thus softening hearts so that they can receive the Gospel. It refreshes, revives and makes it fruitful.
Withholding of rain by Christ Church was a judgment of the Roman Catholic Church, as they shut up heaven by not raining on them the truth of the Gospel, so they are left to their blindness, darkness and hardness of heart.
And have power over waters to turn them to blood;
The word ‘water’ symbolically means people, and in this instance, the Catholic Church and the nations that support them.
“Then he said to me, ‘The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.‘” Rev 17:15
During God’s Vial Judgments, supporters of the Catholic Church were killed, turning the literal water to blood.
Vial 1 poured out God’s wrath on France, who had embraced atheism and killed many Christians. The French Revolution killed 250,000 from 1793-1794 A.D.
Vial 2 poured out God’s wrath through the Napoleonic wars which were very bloody, as the Spanish and French navies were destroyed from 1793-1805 A.D.
And to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will
Referring to the rest of the vials being poured out by these witnesses, is to be understood of these plagues being inflicted on the Catholic Church and supporting countries. The 7th vial will destroy the Papal Church.
Revelation 11:7, “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”
And when they shall have finished their testimony
During the Thyatira Church era, from 538-1514 A.D., people groups like the Waldenses, Vaudois, etc. preserved God’s words, preached the pure Gospel of Jesus, and testified that the Roman Catholic Church was the Antichrist Beast.
The Word of God and Jesus Church were systematically eliminated by the Catholic Church, so that at the end, they were at the point of being nearly eliminated, their testimony finished.
the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit;
Satan, who rose out of the bottomless pit, out of hell, empowered the Catholic Church to execute his plan.
shall make war against them;
Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17
and shall overcome them;
By the end of the Church era of Thyatira, the Church had been overcome, and the Catholic Church controlled the nations.
The saints were worn out.
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time(1,260 years).” Daniel 7:25
And kill them;
Jesus church had been persecuted so much, and so many Bibles had been burned, that in 1514, at the ninth session of the Fifth Lateran Council, the council orator exultingly declared: “Now, no one contradicts, no one opposes.” To the Pope he said: “The whole body of Christendom is now seen to be subjected to its head, that is to thee.”
The Catholic Church declared the witnesses against them had been silenced, they were as good as dead.
In Jesus words to the Sardis Church era, which began in 1514 A.D, He declared that they were dead, but then commanded them to take action.
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” Revelation 3:1
Paul used the same language in Ephesians 5:14,
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
So being called dead was referring to the spiritual state.
They had been silenced, banished to the corners of the world, unable to stand against the Catholic Church.
Without the Word of God, the remnant was unprotected and they had no power.
Revelation 11:8, “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city,…
Jerusalem was never called the great city, but in Revelation 18:9-10, Jesus called Babylon the great city.
“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.” Revelation 18:9-10
The Roman Catholic Church is Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.
The dead bodies of those witnesses being said to lie, refers to their silence.
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt;
The Roman Catholic Church (which is Mystery Babylon) is empowered by Satan. They pretend to be Christian, but it is really the old religion of Babylon, of Sun worship and Satan worship.
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies… for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. ” Revelation 18:2-3, 23
Note: If you’re in the Catholic Church, Jesus commands you to “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
where also our Lord was crucified;
Jesus was crucified in Judea, which was then a Roman province, and under Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor, and by his order, Jesus suffered a Roman kind of death, crucifixion, for a crime he was charged with, though a false one, against Caesar the Roman emperor. So in essence, He was killed in Rome.
But let’s apply this to the symbolic context of the great city of Babylon, the Roman Catholic Church.
Messiah has been crucified in Babylon itself in his members, who have suffered persecution and death.
In Acts 22:8, when Messiah shown as a great light and confronted Saul about persecuting the saints, He said “And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.“
He clearly was saying that persecuting the saints was the same as persecuting Him.
The treatment of his friends–his church–was such that it might be said that he was ‘crucified afresh’ there; for what is done to his church may be said to be done to him.
“And in her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Revelation 18:24
With an overwhelming voice, the Protestant Reformers referred to the Roman Catholic Church of that time as “spiritual” Sodom and Egypt. Sodom for her impurity, and Egypt for her idolatry. Many times the martyrs condemned this institution for crucifying the Lord with her persecutions of the true Church and her daily Masses.
The Lord’s Supper represents the remembrance of Jesus sacrifice for our sins, His body and blood.
The Catholic Church has manipulated the Lord’s Supper and claims that the communion wafer represents the actual body of Christ, which is crucified at every Mass.
Satan uses symbols too, and the wafer which is placed in a Monstrance (which is a Sun symbol representing worship of the Sun God, Satan) represents Jesus being crucifying Jesus over and over.
Revelation 11:9, “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.”
Many countries supported the Catholic Church and they sought to it that nobody testified against them.
The 1823 Encyclopedia Britannica records the time of the 3 1/2 years, “Everything was quiet; every heretic exterminated; and the whole Christian world supinely acquiescing in the enormous absurdities inculpated on them (by the Roman Church).”
Jesus Church had been silenced and deprived of power and opportunity of prophesying:, and was quite dispirited, cast down, and trodden under foot.
Revelation 11:10, “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”
And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry..
This caused Catholic Rome and the countries that supported them to rejoice, and they held great feasts to celebrate the end of the Protest-ants.
The splendor of the dinners and celebrations given by Pope Leo X and the Roman Cardinals on the triumphant close of the Fifth Lateran Council – a splendor unequaled since the days of Pagan Rome’s greatness – is the subject of a special record by the historian of Pope Leo X, E.B. Elliott.
because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
The truth of God gives evil men pain, and fills them with vexation and wrath.
The people groups of the Waldenses, Albigenses, Bohemian Brethren, Vaudois and Wycliffites; all testified against the Catholic Church, which tormented them.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
They celebrated that they didn’t have to hear the testimony against them; about their false doctrine, their impure lives, their idol worship and their coming judgment at the hand of God.
Revelation 11:11, “Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.”
And after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them
Just as the 1,260 days prophetically represents 1,260 prophetic years, the three-and-a-half days represents three-and-a-half prophetic years.
During this 3.5 year time period, Jesus was having Martin Luther study the Word of God to be able to measure the true temple of God.
And exactly three and a half years after the 9th session of the Lateran Council opened on May 5, 1514, Martin Luther nailed his ’95 Theses’ on the door of the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517.
The 1823 Encyclopedia Britannica records what happened after the 3.5 years of silence, “in 1517, the empire of superstition received its first attack (its death blow almost) from Martin Luther.”
and they stood upon their feet;
Luther’s act was the defining moment that the Church of Christ came alive again, as it ignited the Protestant Reformation, where many came forward to testify against the Roman Catholic Church.
With the Word of God, the Church re-assumed their former station, to be in a position and a state of readiness to serve the Lord, to defend his truths, and discharge their duty with boldness and courage, fearing the face of none.
“..be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18
In Luther and the Reformers, the slaughtered witnesses to the truth of the gospel, risen from the dead, stood once more upon their feed before Rome and the world.
“The voice of an obscure monk rang through Europe, like the mighty thunder peal; awakening men from the slumber of ages, and shaking to its foundation the usurped dominion of Romanism.” Pennington, “Epoch’s of the Papacy,” p. 276
This was what the martyr Huss, a hundred years before had foretold.
“I am no vain dreamer,” he said, “but hold for certain that the image of Christ shall never be effaced. They wish to destroy it: but it shall be painted afresh in the hearts of gospel-preachers better than myself. And I, awakening as it were from the dead, and rising from the grave, shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.”
Jerome of Prague, his fellow martyr, named the interval one hundred years, “after which their memory would be vindicated, their cause triumphant.”
Pope Adrian, Leo X’s successor, in a brief addressed to the diet of Nuremberg in 1523, wrote thus: “The heretics Huss and Jerome seem not to be alive again in the person of Luther.”
“Not in the compass of the whole ecclesiastical history of Christendom, save and except in the death and resurrection of Christ Himself, is there such as example of the sudden, mighty, and triumphant resuscitation of His cause and Church from a state of deep depression.” Elliott, II, p. 457,460
In 1525 A.D. William Tyndale published the first preserved English New Testament.
Interestingly enough, in 1536 A.D. when Tyndale was being burned at the stake by the Papal Church, he cried out “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”
God answered Tyndale’s prayer, as King Henry VIII of England authorized the Great Bible in 1540, and it was read aloud in church services of the Church of England. Then in 1611 A.D. the King James Bible was published.
With the advent of the printing press and the Word of God translated into English, millions of people were finally able to read the Bible.
The Two Witnesses, the Word of God and the Church of Christ, were alive again and stronger than ever, testifying against the Catholic Church, preaching the pure Gospel of Christ.
In Jesus message to the Sardis Church era, which started in 1514 A.D., Jesus said “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” Revelation 3:4
John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley and many other revered scholars, would seem to be among the few names who were not defiled.
and great fear fell upon them which saw them;
They thought that they had killed Christ’s Church by eliminating the witness of the Word of God.
But now the Bible was being printed in English, and much to their dismay, millions of copies were being spread worldwide.
Millions of people heeded the call of the Reformers and they came of the Catholic Church to be saved by the pure Gospel of Jesus.
Christ’s saints were stronger than ever, and they proclaimed salvation through Jesus only, and they testified that the Roman Catholic Church is the Antichrist beast of Revelation, the Little Horn of Daniel, Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, who is drunk with the blood of the saints, and the Pope, the Son of Perdition.
Worldwide missions caused millions to be saved.
The Catholic Church had taken control of the nations, but the light of the Word of God overcame them and the Church took back control of the nations.
The Churches doctrine and conduct tormented them.
The revival of God’s work and His witnesses stuck terror into the souls of the Catholic Church.
Where there is guilt, there is fear; and a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is a cowardly spirit.
Whenever God’s works and witnesses revive, Satan’s work and witnesses fall before Him.
Revelation 11:12, “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”
It is clear that these witnesses of the 1,260 years didn’t literally ascend to heaven, but symbolically they had been raised up into heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
“(Christ) raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6
In 1528, Martin Luther wrote, “We are not the first ones who applied the anti-Christian kingdom of the papacy; this, many great men have dared to do many years before us and that, frankly and openly, under the greatest persecution. The old divinely-ordained witnesses confirm our doctrine, and the bodies of the saints arise as it were among us with the newly vivified Gospel, and awaken much confidence.”
and their enemies beheld them;
The Catholic Church saw them enter into a purer, and more glorious spiritual state than before.
Revelation 11:13, “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
And the same hour was there a great earthquake
An earthquake symbolically represents a very great commotion in the civil affairs of kingdoms and nations, in this case of the Roman Catholic Church.
And the tenth part of the city fell.
England was the first nation to break away from the Roman Catholic Church, called Babylon the great city.
In 1534, King Henry VIII separated the English Church from the Roman Catholic Church, which was 1/10th of their influence.
And in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand
The word ‘thousand’ is properly translated as chiliads, meaning provinces or countries.
The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic churches that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church.
These seven provinces fell away from the Catholic Church as a result of the Reformation: Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Freiseland, Groningen, Overyssel and Guiderland.
And the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rest is translated as “remnant” in the KJ, which means the remnant of Christ’s Church, which witnessed the great commotion in the Catholic Church and gave glory to God.
Revelation 11:14, “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”
Six vials in Revelation 16 have been poured out on the Roman Catholic Church in judgment of her shedding the blood of the saints.
The third woe will include the Harlot being burned in Revelation 17, Babylon being destroyed in Revelation 18.
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 Conclusion.
Now look back to Jesus promise to the Thyatira Church era, to see that Jesus kept His promise to them.
“But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations– ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’– as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘Revelation 2:25-28
Satan had taken power over the nations, but Jesus promised the overcomers, that He would give power to the church over the nations.
In other words, they would take back spiritual power and the Gospel of Christ Jesus would spread through the nations, which is exactly what happened during the next church era, as the Protestant Reformation was born.
The next church eras of Sardis and Philadelphia indeed ruled with the rod of iron, the Word of God, as they took back control of the nations, and dashed the power of the Catholic Church.
The Bible was translated into English, German, French, etc.
Millions of Bibles were printed and spread worldwide.
Millions of people came out of the Catholic Church and were saved by the pure Gospel.
This formed the Protestant Churches; which led to worldwide missions where millions were saved
The Catholic Church feared and beheld the hand of God, but then they convened at the Council of Trent to map out a strategy to bring the Protestant Churches back under them, and in fact, to bring the whole world under their control.
To read more about their covert strategies, read End Times Big Picture
Now we are in the era of the Church of Laodecia, when Jesus called us wretched, miserable, blind, poor and naked, and we don’t understand the deceptions of the Jesuits of the Roman Catholic Church.
We should be preaching the Gospel to the world and identifying the false Church, but instead we’re playing Church.
The previous church eras prophesied against the Catholic Church.
The pure Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus atoning sacrifice; exposing the false doctrine of salvation through the Roman Catholic Church by works.
1.2 Billion Catholics worldwide are believing in salvation by works, through the Catholic Church. And Christ’s Church dismisses the need to call them out into the pure salvation through Jesus alone.
The previous church eras testified that the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation clearly point to the Roman Catholic Church as the Satan-empowered ‘Beast‘ of Revelation, the ‘Little Horn of Daniel‘, the ‘Great Whore‘, ‘Mystery Babylon‘ and the Pope as the ‘Son of Perdition‘.
The majority of today’s Christians don’t understand the fulfillment of these clear prophecies, so they speculate about an end-times Antichrist.
In fact they aren’t concerned about these things, because they (mistakenly) believe that they will be raptured out before the supposed 7 year tribulation period.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
The Lord is raising up a remnant to preach the pure Gospel of Jesus, and to testify against the Antichrist Roman Catholic Church.
Do you want to be a part of God’s remnant that helps redeem the captives from the Papal Church?
If you answered yes, then you need to read all of the studies on this website, to know the truth, because the enemy has greatly deceived the Church.
Just know that when God’s saints testify the truth and oppose the enemy, there will tribulation, there will be persecution, you will be rejected by Christians who think they know the truth.
When Pastors teach that the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 is an end-times prophecy, they are removing blame from the Roman Catholic Church. They are False Prophets who have misled their flock, and they will be held accountable before the Lord.
If your Pastor is teachable, share this study with them, so that they and their flock can know the truth, so that we can overcome the Harlot of Babylon, the Antichrist Universal Christ.
To see the role that Christ’s Church has played in overcoming evil, click on The Seven Churches of Revelation
To see how God empowered the church with printed Bibles, click on The Little Book of Revelation 10
Here’s a link to a one-page summary of the Seven Church eras, the Little Book and the Two Witnesses of Revelation. Summary PDF
Clearly, the Protestants were Augustinians. The only biblical confession of faith I have found as Protestantism was in hits heyday, was the First London Baptist Confession of faith. Truth is the Protestants followed Augustine, who was Catholic through and through. Covenant Theology is as legalistic as Dispensationalism. Both are evil and from the pit of hell. Only New Covenant perspective is right.
And clearly, the Protestants, who understood predestination, were likely not predestined, having rejected the New Covenant as being the eternal covenant.
Thank you for your comment Gary. The Protestant Reformers certainly weren’t perfect, but they did fulfill Revelation prophecy.
Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, was used to measure the temple in Revelation 11:1-2. He was told to compare what the Popes taught against the Scriptures, the reed, the rule. He found out that the Roman church was an apostate church, that it was not part of the true temple (which is made up of Messiah as the cornerstone, the disciples as the foundation, and the saints as the little stones which make up the walls), and that they were delegated to the outer court of gentiles. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/measuring-the-temple-of-revelation-11/
The Protestant Reformation was sparked when Luther posted His 95 Thesis, which brought the Saints and the Scriptures, the Two Witnesses, back to life; as they had been rendered as dead during the Dark Ages, when the antichrist Popes banned and burned the Scriptures, and persecuted the Saints. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/the-two-witnesses-of-revelation-11/
They translated the Scriptures into English and with the advent of the printing press, the Little Book of Revelation 10 was spread around the world through Bible societies. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/the-little-book-of-revelation-10/
And they witnessed against the antichrist Popes, many of them paying for their testimony with their blood. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/historic-witnesses-against-the-antichrist-beast-the-popes-of-rome/
David, I wanted to thank you. I have been saved just under two years and had stayed out of the churches. I was raised a Catholic and the Lord showed me the truth. So I have been listening to different preachers on you tube and reading the Bible. I was shown that it didn’t fit. Either pre tribulation or post tribulation when I would read what Jesus said. And I was told to chop up the Bible and follow dispensational teaching. It doesn’t fit and I cried to Jesus to help me please. I told Him I don’t care if I’m the only one that teaches His truth but show me it and I will stand on it. I have been here for about a week reading your site since that cry out for help. I don’t even know how I ended up here. It may have been about the Sabbath but I am so thankful. I am crying now because Jesus finished the 70 week and no one had ever given Him glory for it until you here. No one had even mentioned how horrid that time was. It’s just a quick mention of 70 Ad. God is working through you here and I am praying to learn as much as I can here and this is a blessing. It truly is. I am the only one I know where I live that is seeking the truth to share it. Most here are lost and it’s so important I don’t teach false messages. It pains me even more now though because some of those preachers I truly love. It hurts. I probably listened longer than I should have but at least I know what others are teaching. Please continue here. Your hard work is waking others up and it does glorify the Lord.
Lori, thank you for your comment! It’s makes my heart smile, for I write for people like you, who are praying and searching for truth. Sadly, most people that think they already know truth, and so they don’t learn true prophecy fulfillment.
Praise our Father that He has led you to His glorious fulfillment of prophecy. Yes, Messiah’s first advent happened during the 70th week of Daniel; and in it He died for our sins as the Passover Lamb! Yet, the enemy has caused people to assign the 70th week to the antichrist. It’s is grievous indeed!
The enemy’s end times deception is based on the concept of a future 7-year tribulation period; so when you understand that the 70th week of Daniel has already been fulfilled, you see that the whole narrative of the enemy falls apart.
The topic of the 70th week of Daniel is so important that I created a separate website for it, which gives more information. http://70thweekofdaniel.com
And the significance about what happened to the Jews because they rejected Messiah and delivered Him up to be killed, has been glossed over by Pastors. Here is a study series about the Olivet Discourse and the desolation of the temple, city and Jews. http://theolivetdiscourse.com
Most of Revelation has been fulfilled during the last 1,900 years, and we are in the 6th bowl, waiting on WW III, on the One World Government of the 7th bowl, and for Messiah to return. Here is a Revelation Fulfillment Summary study that shows you were we are at on the fulfillment timeline, and what will happen next. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/revelation-fulfillment-timeline-summary/
I wanted to give you all of those links, but don’t get overwhelmed, just take one study at a time.
No, I will never stop teach what I’ve been shown. The great theologians of the 16th-20th centuries taught the same things, but the enemy has caused their witness to be pushed aside.
Contact me anytime with questions or insight about the studies.
May the Father bless you!
David
In your whole article there is not one word about Faith in the Only True Son of God Our Almighty Father.If you do not have this Faith you are doomed as per the Holy Gospel.It is this Faith that comes first then repentance and God by His Free Gift of Grace will do the rest provided you remain Faithful.You do not need a Church or anybody else for you will be baptised by and with the Holy Spirit,salvation is this simple.The problem with the World is that it has rejected the Only True Son of God and it has turned this belief into an alien one,punishable by rejection,scorn, imprisonment and death.This is what the Holy Roman Empire committed thus eliminating the True Believers in the Only True Son of God Himself.The Protesters and the Reformers were only that,they were not True Believers and all of them are now the Daughters of the Mother Church,one could even say that they only made an Image to the Beast.When the recovered Beast receives its power from Satan by man you will see the same thing happening again but this time the Protesters and the Reformers will be with the Mother Church.Revelation clearly states that the Whole World will follow and will Worship the recovered Beast This is because the whole World is Already Deceived by Satan.This was done by turning the One and Only God into a Triune God and by rejecting that God Himself Sent His Only True Son to us for our Salvation.If any man can tell you why God Himself can not have a True Son if He so desires,DO NOT BELIEF HIM for it is the CREATED telling the Creator what He can do or not do.Yes there are Scriptures,so called,you can quote that say the Son was God but they do not outnumber the Scriptures that say Jesus is the Only Son of God,in these true Scriptures you have the Testimonies of God Himself,Jesus His Son,the Holy Spirit,the Apostles etc that God Himself had and has an Only True Son whom God Himself Sent from Heaven and the Only True Son of God became a Man by the virgin birth.Now work out Your Salvation with real Fear and Trembling but do not call God Himself,Jesus His Son or the Holy Spirit liars and deceivers for this is what you do when you do not believe in the Truth.Did Jesus the Son of God come to us in the Flesh or was it a God the Son as God,look up how to know an Evil Spirit.
Did you read the whole article Aidan? When Martin Luther posted his 95 Thesis, which sparked the Protestant Reformation, millions of Catholics “discovered salvation by faith in Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection, not in works, and not through the Catholic Church.”
And again it is mentioned: “The Catholic Church claims to be Christian, and many are misled by their message of salvation by works that is through them. But that’s not the pure Gospel of Christ, where people are saved by faith in Christ’s atoning work.”
And again “Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets, both of which testify to salvation by faith in the sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus our Savior.”
And again “The previous church eras prophesied against the Catholic Church. The pure Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus atoning sacrifice; exposing the false doctrine of salvation through the Roman Catholic Church by works.”
God is awesome! I’m overjoyed that the Lord has directed me to your website. So many pastors and Christian churches are not rightfully dividing the Book of Revelations. Glory to God for leading those that seek and thirst after truth! I’ve known about the Catholic church in such that it’s the false church. However, I’ve been taught that the book of Revelations are future events. I can’t wait to continue reading. I’m also curious to learn the timeline of the end time as we know it i.e, the coming NWO and how it aligns with the last trumpet. So grateful God is opening our ears and eyes! God bless you beyond measure!
Thank you for your comment Teresa! I’m blessed to know that the studies are helping you see the truth about the fulfillment of Revelation. I have more detailed explanation on this website. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com
Here is a link to a Revelation Fulfillment summary, which shows what has been fulfilled, where we are at on the fulfillment timeline, and what will happen next as we await our Messiah’s glorious return. http://revelationtimelinedecoded.com/revelation-fulfillment-timeline-summary/
Contact me anytime with questions or insight about the studies.
Blessings to you,
David
Adventist teach the two witnesses are the old and new testament. Thank you.
Thank John. I’m not sure how SDA Pastors don’t see that the church of Messiah was one of the witnesses, who paid for their testimony with their blood. Here is a study called “Witnesses Against The Papal Antichrist” that emphasized the point. http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/historic-witnesses-against-the-antichrist-roman-beast-the-popes-of-rome/ Keep learning and growing in the faith! David
Interesting, I always thought the Two witnesses was the USA and UK (True Israel)
As I read your articles I feel the Holy Spirit telling me that this is the Truth. However, I don’t understand why God calls us “lukewarm,” when you would have to be a history genius to figure this all out! I’m just a disabled grandmother and I don’t know what to do. What should I repent of? I’ve prayed for eye salve to anoint my eyes so that I may see but how do I not be lukewarm and have God spew me out of his mouth? I could have never figured all of this out. But, I’ve been seeking for years and God said, “Seek and ye shall find.” Please help me out!
Hello Leese 🙂 Your comment makes my heart smile! I think that because you have humbly prayed for eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see truth, you were led to this website. That means that you don’t have to know all of the history to figure it out, as I’ve provided that information into concise studies which explain the fulfillment of prophecy.
I’m not here to say that I know everything, but I have been shown much, as I’ve read the commentaries of the great theologians of history, to find out the truth. All you have to do is read the studies on this website, to see what they wrote.
Here is a study that provides the explanation of the prophecies in Daniel, 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation; in a summary format, to help give you the big picture. http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/bible-prophecy-made-easy-all-roads-lead-to-rome-summary/
Here is the PDF file of that study in an easy to read format. http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/christianitybeliefs.org-Bible-Prophecy-Made-Easy-All-Roads-Lead-To-Rome.pdf
Contact me anytime with questions or insight about the studies.
Grace, peace and love to you! David
Hi Leese….
You have found a great place to just dig in and read. Little by little…. the Holy Spirit knows your looking for truth. He led you to a great place here!
Blessings!!
Leese I felt the same way when I read David’s studies. When I came across his website I couldn’t stop reading them because I felt the same Spirit of Truth like you did. The studies was the opposite of everything I was ever taught by religious leaders. I/we are totally deceived by them. They are the ones that are lukewarm….not us!! They do not have teachable hearts and they think they already know the truth so the Spirit leaves them blind. When you humbly ask the Father for truth and wisdom with a pure heart he will give it to you. My spiritual life has changed tremendously since I came to this site. My hope is the same for you. So glad you made it here with us. You should join our End Times Deception group on facebook. There is great fellowship there with like minded believers that have come out of the apostate religions. Much luck with your studies.
Hi David, I am greatly blessed by your website thus far, great stuff, indeed. I was wondering if you have heard of this movement within the RCC that claims that all the popes since Vatican 2 are antichrist and not genuine. My wife’s cousin in Alabama believes this stuff. She follows a very weird website called “Maria Divine Mercy” It is a very weird website with a lot of idolatry. They believe that the mass should have remained Latin. In fact she even attends an old fashioned catholic church that still uses Latin. Just wondering if you have seen or heard of it. Thanks Dennis
Hi Dennis, that’s interesting. I had not heard of it. I’m sure a lot of Catholics are dismayed as the Popes have moved away from their stringent doctrine since Vatican 2, to draw other people into the Church. The Popes taught in Latin to hide/control the message. I’ve seen that some of the things they say during the mass in Latin are really worship of Satan. You can search YouTube for videos that prove it.
David
From what I read the RCC had most of the copies of the bible in the dark ages. Their wasn’t many copies in that time period.
Steve
What’s fascinating Steve, is that if you read the fulfillment of the 6th Trumpet, when the Turks attacked the Eastern Roman Empire, just before they conquered Constantinople, some priests fled to Europe and took the Scripture manuscripts with them. Those Scriptures then ended up in the hands of Wycliffe, Luther, Tyndale, etc., for them to translate. Then with the advent of the printing press, many Bibles were printed and spread around the world.
Here is a study page on the 5th and 6th Trumpets http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/the-historical-fulfillment-of-the-5th-and-6th-trumpets-of-revelation/
It’s just amazing to see how all of those things were orchestrated, to empower the saints to overcome the enemy!
David
David, how do the 144.000 fit in to your theory that the book of revelation is historically fullfilled? God bless.
Thank you for your comment Rick 🙂 I cover that in a new studies series called Revelation Timeline Decoded. Here is the link to that study http://christianitybeliefs.org/revelation-timeline-decoded/revelation-7-sealing-of-the-144000-of-revelation-7/
I have read a lot of end-times versions and so far “the mystery of iniquity” by Michael John Rood answers many of my questions mostly about the time chronology and the logic. If the Catholic church empowerment for 1260 years from 538-1798 what about the current year?
Thank you for your comment Ernest. 🙂 The Jesuits of Rome took control of the Vatican in the late 18th century. The Jesuits of Rome are the earth beast of Revelation 13. The Jesuit General is the Black Pope, the hidden pope, which controls the White Pope Francis, who is also a Jesuit.
The Jesuits control the city-state corporations of Vatican City, which controls the worlds leaders and religions; The City of London, which controls the worlds financial and trade markets; and Washington, D.C., which controls the worlds intelligence agencies and militaries.
The Jesuits are using the Vatican to draw the world under their power. 1.2 Billion Catholics now revere the Pope. And Jesuit Pope Francis is drawing Muslims, Protestants, and other people groups, to the Roman Catholic Church.
You can read how the Jesuits of Rome fulfill Revelation on the home page http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/