Clearly Revealed

Read Revelation 8:7-13:18
 
Revelation 10:6-7 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”
 
“AH HA!” you’ve exclaimed. “Now I understand!” Some concept or process was a mystery to you. You heard many times, “This is how it’s done.” But you couldn’t quite learn what you needed to know. Then suddenly in one moment, you knew.
   There will come that day when God will suddenly be completely clear to the world. Millions of lost souls have heard the truth of God’s great salvation through Jesus Christ. Sadly, millions of souls have said, “I don’t understand, and I don’t want to know.”
   But one day, all people on earth will fully know who God is. And the world will cower in fear. They will know it is too late to say, “What must I do to be saved?”
   In contrast, God’s full revelation will be of great joy to his own. In a moment, all who are saved in Jesus’ blood will bow in reverent worship and celebrate the joy of their salvation. The mystery will be gone. God’s people will fully know God. 
 
The Lord’s Kingdom
 
Revelation 11:4-7 These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish. 7 When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
 
TWO witnesses speak the power of God to an opposing world.  Who are they? Clues are in verse 6: They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.   
   Check out Elijah’s power in 1 Kings 17. He spoke a drought over Israel. Read again of Moses’ power in Exodus. He spoke water to blood. The law and the prophets do God’s will. These witnesses symbolize God’s Spirit power come upon certain men. And this power then comes upon the church.
   The church receives the power of the Spirit to witness. Although the vision is a temporary victory of evil over the witnesses who are the church, the vision concludes with the victorious church. One day will come for that final triumphant call, “And he will reign forever and ever.” This is the truth of the end of the age and the final triumph of Christ’s church over Satan’s opposition.
   You can apply this victory, also, to your life right now. If you feel persecuted and defeated, call on God to free you. Call on God’s power to redeem the circumstances. Live in the Lord’s victory now and forever.