Unveiling Jesus Christ

Unveiling Jesus Christ

por John Cassinat

[§180] Rev 11:15: Worldly Kingdoms Yield at Christ’s Second Coming

This podcast explains the meaning and content of Revelation 11:16-17, which is part of John's introduction to the Third Woe. In these verses, 24 elders representing exaltation-worthy saints, who are translated, transfigured or resurrected saints as of the end of the Second Woe. They fall on their faces or prostrate themselves to worship Jesus Christ as a victorious conqueror at the Second Coming. They identify Christ as the Lord God Almighty, a title expressing his powerful reign on earth at the Second Coming. They also declare the eternal nature of Christ as one "which art, and wast, and art to come." This doxology of praise is expressed by the 24 Elders because Christ will take great power to himself when his reign on earth begins in the future, but the 24 Elders in John's vision described the scene in the prophetic past tense confirming the certainty of Christ's reign on earth with great power commencing with the Second Coming.

[§179] Rev 11:15-19: John Introduces the Third Woe [Seventh Trumpet Angel]

This podcast provides an overview of John's introduction to the Third Woe found in Revelation 11:15-19. These verses come after an angel announces in Revelation 11:14 that the Second Woe is past and the Third Woe comes quickly with the sounding of the seventh trumpet angel. Instead of describing the final plagues of the Third Woe, John's introduction focuses on the establishment of Christ's earthly kingdom during the Third Woe and his reign as the Lord God Almighty. The visionary introduction to the Third Woe also describes the praise and worship of exaltation-worthy saints on the one hand, and the wicked people and nations angered by the establishment of Christ's millennial kingdom. This introduction comes just before the flashback chapters in Revelation 12 to 14 that describe events going back to the premortal existence and a chronological account of Satan's wars against Christ from premortality through the Second Coming.

[§178] Rev 11:13-14: The Second Woe Ends with an Earthquake in Jerusalem

This podcast explains the symbolism associated with the great earthquake that will literally occur in Jerusalem when the Two Witnesses are resurrected as predicted by John in Revelation 11:13. This earthquake is one of three earthquakes that John describes in the book of Revelation. The first earthquake will occur at the end of the sixth seal as recorded in Revelation 6:12-14. The greatest earthquake in the history of the world will occur in Revelation 16:18, when the continents of the earth will be reunited. In between the first and third earthquakes there will be a second earthquake of intermittent intensity described by John in Revelation 11:13. In the second earthquake, John states that one tenth of the city will be destroyed and that 7000 people will die. Both symbols describe a large number of wicked people who will die. The tenth part of the city refers to part of the whole kingdom of Satan. This means that by the end of the second woe the destruction of the kingdom of Satan will begin with all mortal sons of perdition. THey will die as a class by the time of the great earthquake in Revelation 11:13. The 7000 people represent a perfect and complete destruction of the wicked sons of perdition. A remnant of wicked people will be spared from destruction during the second woe. Revelation 11:13 states that they will fearfully glorify God. This does not mean they will repent. Revelation 9:20-21 identifies the survivors of the second woe (physical Armageddon) as telestial-worthy people who refuse to repent. This is the same remnant of survivors that John describes in Revelation 11:13. Revelation 11:14 confirms that the second woe will end after the great earthquake in Jerusalem and he tells us that the third woe will come quickly thereafter.

[§177] The Two Witnesses Fulfill the Sign of Jonas [Jonah]

This podcast talks about the sign of Jonah (Greek. Jonas). Jesus Christ, mentioned the sign of Jonah when he was asked by the Pharisees and the Sadducees for a sign. He said that a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign and none would be given except the sign of Jonas (Matt 12:40). The sign of Jonas was that as Jonah was literally in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights, Christ would be in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights after his death and until his resurrection. The sign of Jonas was given as a source of condemnation for the unbelieving Jews rather than a source of blessing. The unbelieving Jews would be cursed for their refusal to believe in Christ, because the Ninevites, who were not Israelites, repented when Jonah preached to them in the same Ninevites would rise up in judgment against the unbelieving Jews who failed to repent when one greater than Jonah was in their midst. The same sign applies to the death and resurrection of the Two Witnesses who will minister in Jerusalem for 3-1/2 years during the Great Tribulation. They too will die and be resurrected after 3-1/2 days. When the sign of Jonah is given at the time of their resurrection it will be too late for wicked people to repent and come unto Christ. There is a third aspect of the sign of Jonah in that he prophesied that within three days the nation of Israel would be restored to its ancient boundaries. This sign will also be fulfilled at the second coming when Israel will be restored to its ancient boundaries at the start of the millennium.

[§175] Rev 11:8-10: The Bodies of the Two Witnesses Lie Unburied

This podcast explains the context and meaning of John's vision in Revelation 11:8-10, where he saw the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses lie in the streets of Jerusalem unburied for 3 ½ days. In these verses the modern city of Jerusalem is "spiritually" (metaphorically) called Sodom for its wickedness and Egypt for it oppressive conditions. The city is called by these symbolic names, but there can be no mistake that Jerusalem is the city where the Two Witnesses die because it is also identified as the place where Jesus Christ was crucified. The Two Witnesses were left unburied as a sign of dishonor, disrespect, and impiety. The testimony of the Two Witnesses will continue after they seal their testimony with their blood for all people, kindred, tongues, and nations shall see their unburied bodies through modern means of communication. Their bodies shall be exposed to world view for a literal period of 3½ days. Revelation 11:10 states that there will be worldwide rejoicing and gift-giving when the Two Witnesses die because they will no longer be a source of protection to the Jews and Jerusalem.

Rev 11 [§174] Rev 11:7: The Death of the Two Witnesses at Jerusalem

This podcast explains the events and symbolism found in Revelation 11:7 associated with the death and martyrdom of the Two Witnesses who will minister in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation or last 3 ½ years before the Second Coming. Even though they possess the sealing power to control the physical elements, the Lord will give the gentile armies power to kill the Two Witnesses when their testimony is complete as the physical battle of Armageddon comes to an end. In symbolic terms, John states that "when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7) The testimony of the Two Witnesses will be finished only when the 3½ years of their ministry is complete, when they have accomplished their mission of warning the Jews and a wicked world of their destruction if they fail to repent, when the Two Witnesses seal their testimony with their blood. The beast referred to in this verse is frequently referred to as the antichrist. The beast is a symbol to Satan's power exercised through persons of spirit, as well as mortal people that act as his earthly agents though any number of false churches, political institutions, evil governments and wicked rulers, whom Paul described when he said that there is spiritual wickedness in high places. This podcast explains the ancient origin of the beast in Revelation 11:7. The prophet Danial provides this history in his vision of the four beasts in Daniel 7. John also gives the history of the beast in Revelation 13, where he describes a First Beast that had Satan's power from 70 AD to 1830 and a Second Beast that evolved from the First Beast after the restoration of the gospel in 1830 until the Second Coming. John describes the Second Beast ascending out of the bottomless pit. This refers to the First Woe in Revelation 9:1-3, when unembodied and disembodied spirits are loosed from the abyss with great power on earth to influence wicked people to engage in the battle of Armageddon and to ultimately kill the Two Witnesses as that battle nears its end at the Second Coming. The Two Witnesses will die in a very public display and then their unburied bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for 3½ days.

Rev 11 [§173] Rev 11:5-6: The Two Witnesses Will Exercise the Sealing Power

This podcast explains the sealing power possessed by the Two Witnesses during the period of their 3½ year ministry just before the Second Coming. Their power is symbolically described by John in Revelation 11:5-6. The period of their ministry during the Great Tribulation coincides in time with the second half of the battle of Armageddon when there will be desolations, destruction, death and violence. The evil power of gentile nations and unrepentant Jews shall combine against the Two Witnesses in their efforts to kill the Two Witnesses. However, they will possess the Sealing Power in an unlimited measure to protect themselves and Jerusalem until the period of their ministry is complete. Anyone who attempts to harm the Two Witnesses will be hurt by them in the same manner. Fire will metaphorically proceed from their mouth to literally devour their enemies. When the enemies of the Two Witnesses succeed in killing them, these foes will die in like manner. The sealing power possessed by the two Witnesses will be akin to the same power possessed by Moses and Elijah, except the Two Witnesses will have all power to perform similar plagues as often as they will. The will have power to call down fire from heaven as Elijah did, and to turn water into blood as Moses did. The Two Witnesses will also have power to shut heaven so that it does not rain during the time of their ministry in Jerusalem.

Rev 11 [§172] Rev 11:4: Two Witnesses Are Both Olive Trees and Candlesticks

This podcast explains the symbolism used by John in Revelation 11:4 to describe the identities of the Two Witnesses who will prophesy in Jerusalem during the last 42 months (3½ years) before Christ's Second Coming appearance on the Mount of Olives. In this verse, the Two Witnesses are called the two olive trees and two candlesticks. This imagery comes directly from the Book of Zechariah 4:3, 11-14, where Zerubbabel and Joshua (Jeshua) were likewise described in their role as the builders of the Second Temple of Zerubbabel after the Jews returned from their 70-year captivity in Babylon. Joshua was the high priest and religious leader of the Jews during the temple construction, while Zerubbabel was the governor or the political and secular leader. Their respective roles may typify the role of the Two Witnesses in the future. One may come from a religious background, while the other may come from a political background. Zerubbabel and Jeshua faced a mountain of opposition in the reconstruction of the Second Temple as the Two Witnesses will similarly face a mountain of opposition during their ministry. The power and spirit of God alone made it possible, and will make it possible, for the candlesticks and olives trees to accomplish their works. Both will stand before the God of the whole earth in the accomplishment of their ministries. (Zech 4:6) The Two Witnesses are the two anointed ones who are referred to as candlesticks because they hold up the light of Christ and they are olive trees because they provide the olive oil that keeps the light of Christ symbolically burning in the lamps upheld by the candlesticks.

Rev 11 [§171] Rev 11:2-3: Two Witnesses Minister 42 Months [3½ Years]

This podcast explains the imagery used by John in Revelation 11:2, where he is told by a mighty angel (Jesus Christ) to not measure the outer court of the Third Temple for it is given to the Gentiles who will tread down the Holy City of Jerusalem for 42 months (3½ years) known as the Great Tribulation. Jesus Christ predicted that Jerusalem would be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) This podcast explains how the Holy City has been trodden down since the time the Romans destroyed the city and temple in 70 AD, how it was reclaimed in part by the British after the First World War, and the effects of the Six Day War in 1967. The times of the Gentiles began after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and we now live in the fullness of the times of the Gentiles. This is a time when the Gentiles have great power in the earth and the gospel is taken to them on a priority basis over the Jews. The time of the Gentiles will end, and the Time of the Jews will begin, at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when the gospel will be taken to the Jews on a priority basis. During the gathering of saints at Adam-ondi-Ahman at the start of the Great Tribulation, the Two Witnesses will be called and anointed to prophesy in Jerusalem for 1260 days (42 months) until the Second Coming. This corresponds in time with the last 3 ½ years of the Second Woe known as Armageddon. They will call upon the Jews to have faith in Jesus Christ, to repent or face the judgments of God at the Second Coming. The Two Witnesses will be symbolically clothed in Sackcloth, which represents humility, sorrow, mourning, grief, and hardship. Their role as prophets to the Jews will continue until their death as martyrs just 3½ -days before the Second Coming. The Two Witnesses are not Jews. They are not Enoch, Moses, or Elijah. They shall be mortal men who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Some believe they could be apostles, but that may not be the case. They are two in number to fulfill the Law of Witnesses. They will be raised up to the Jewish nation after the restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem and reconstruction of the City and Third Temple. They shall be forerunners for Christ's Second Coming as John the Baptist was a forerunner for Christ's First Coming.

Rev 11 [§170] Rev 11:2: The Court Given to the Gentiles Is Not Measured

This podcast explains the symbols and message found in Revelation 11:2, where Jesus Christ told John the Revelator not to measure the courtyard without the temple "for it is given unto the Gentiles." This scene is set in the Third Temple to be constructed in Jerusalem. The measuring occurs at the start of the last 3 1/2 years (42 months) before the Second Coming called the Great Tribulation. The vision in Revelation 11:2 is focused on worthy Jews living terrestrial law that are measured as God's people in Revelation 11:1, whereas those who are unworthy of at least terrestrial glory--including the wicked Gentiles that will besiege Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation—remain unmeasured as a sign of God's rejection of them. The unmeasured people are telestial worthy people or sons of perdition that will be destroyed at the Second Coming. This podcast also explains the various courtyards found in the temple of Herod before its destruction in 70 AD, including the Court of the Priests, the Court of the Men of Israel, the Court of the Women, and the court of the Gentiles. During Christ's mortal ministry he twice cleansed the Court of the Gentiles where the moneychangers and merchants transacted business. Christ accused them of making his Father's house a den of robbers. In the strictest sense, the Gentiles are non-Israelites or non-Jews, but in the context of John's vision the term is used to describe any wicked persons who fail to live at least terrestrial law. They are enemies of the Jews and seek to destroy Jerusalem and the Third Temple. They are the nations that will tread down the Holy City during the last 42 months of Armageddon when the Two Witnesses will minister with their protective powers in Jerusalem. These enemies and wicked nations remain unmeasured as a sign that the Lord rejects them and they will be destroyed at the Second Coming.

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