MARTINS PRESENTATION ON 2 WITNESSES.pptx

two witnesses

1. THE INTERPRETATION ( IDENTITY ) OF "TWO WITNESSES": AN EXEGETICAL STUDY OF REVELATION 11:3.

2. INTRODUCTION T he book o Revelation is about the revelation of C hrist Jesus. The book is a gospel It is an Apocalyptic book (symbolic) It gives hope to God’s people for his second coming The book of revelation contain messages of hope of God’s intervention in human history to end suffering. As those who have been purchased by the blood of the lamb, what should be our attitude towards the book since the book was written for believers ?

3. AUTHORSHIP External Evidence The patristic writers who accepted apostolic authorship are impressive and early: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Hippolytus. That Origen is on the list is especially significant since he, like Dionysius, was from the Alexandrian school. As Guthrie has pointed out, "there are few books in the New Testament with stronger early attestation. Dionysius of Alexandria rejected.

4. AUTHORSHIP INTERNAL EVIDENCE The author calls himself ‘John’ (Rev 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8). He only further identifies himself with the audience as “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev 1:9 NKJ).”

5. AUTHORSHIP INTERNAL EVIDENCE The Greek Grammar reflects a literal Semitic syntax, indicating a Palestinian Jewish hand. In short, John an apostle of Jesus Christ can still be regarded as the author/scribe of this book.

6. DATE John received Revelation of Jesus Christ when Christian believers were being persecuted . Some scholars think that the persecution of Christians by emperor Nero (54-68 C.E.). However, the Nero’s persecution was limited to Rome, not an empire-wide one The second option is Domitian’s persecution (81-96 C.E.) and is more reasonable than the first: a) Irenaeus the student of Polycarp (60-150 C.E.) said the book of Revelation was written during the reign of Domitian.

7. PURPOSE In view of the situation, John received Revelation primarily about the spiritual health of the churches in Asia , and the message contained in the Revelation served to: 1. Warn the compromisers of the faith, 2. Encourage the faithful to forge on , and assure the Church in history up-to-date that the Lamb remains the victor over the Serpent. 3. The Revelation was intended to encourage believers amid Roman persecution by revealing that their Messiah was in control and would be the ultimate victor

8. Occasion The churches in Asia faced both external and internal Threats. 1. The External Threat includes: a) Pagan opposition and accusation b) Persecution (Rev 2:10; 3:10) c) Jewish hostility (Rev 2:9; 3:9) Apostasy (Rev 3:4,8)

9. Destination and provenance The Apocalypse was written to seven churches on the mainland of Asia Minor. John directs the record of his visions to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, which incorporated approximately the western third of Asia John writes from Patmos , a rocky and rugged island about six miles wide and ten miles long, some forty miles southwest of Ephesus in the Aegean Sea

10. The theme of the book of Revelation The theme of this book is stated in the first verse: " The Revelation of Jesus Christ." It is a revelation from and about him, principally of him as the coming warrior and king. This book says: "Jesus is going to win!” Jesus wanted John to write letters to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia (Rev 1:4) that were literal churches at the time John wrote this.

11. The theme of the book of Revelation 1. To reveal Jesus Christ. 2. To correct the moral and doctrinal problems that existed in the seven churches of Asia. 3. To reveal that the climax of human history will involve a period of great suffering and to describe the nature of the tribulation period with particular emphasis upon the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.

12. The theme of the book of Revelation 4. To reveal the ultimate triumph of true believers and the final victory of our Lord Jesus Christ as He comes to earth in judgment and glory. 5. To reveal to all true Christians, especially those amid persecution, that they have a sure hope for the future.

13. THE INTERPRETATION (IDENTITY) OF "TWO WITNESSES": AN EXEGETICAL STUDY OF REVELATION 11:3.

14. Statement of the problem There is much interpretation given to the book of Revelation 11:3 that scholars have interpreted to come with the meaning of the two witnesses. Many argument scholars and other people contemplate the meaning of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3. What is the meaning of "two witness" in Revelation 3:11? How can we identify the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3? How does it contribute to the understanding of the Bible to believers?

15. Research Questions What is the meaning of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3? How can we identify the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3? How does the text contribute to the understanding of the Bible to believers?

16. Methods of the study In this study, we used lexical- synthetical analysis to discover the meaning of "two witnesses" and the identities of "two witnesses" in Revelation 11: 3. This study focused on text, test analysis, theological meaning, text context, text genre and interpretation, and Literal meaning. The survey used books, scholarly articles, other commentary, encyclopedias, and other articles to help review the survey. This study used a library, stationery, and a computer .

17. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study was to exegete the text to determine the meaning of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3 and how it contributes to the understanding of the text in the Scripture to believers today. Believers, Christians, scholars, and philosophers will come to know and understand the interpretation and identification of the "two witness" as used in Revelation 11:3.

18. Significance of the Study The study will provide a better reading of Revelation 11:3 and the study will contribute to the existing literature on the interpretations of Revelation 11:3. It will help future students understand the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3.

19. The Genre of Revelation 11:3 The general genre of Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy with symbols representing meanings. Nevertheless, in Revelation 11:3, the genre is apocalyptic prophecy because the author used symbols that are " two witnesses" to represent the people of God will be kept true during the persecution, apostasy or persecution, and suffering; these people will always protect God and declare good things news about Christ.

20. SCHOLARS VIEWS ON REVELATION 11:3 (TWO WITNESSES) THEMATIC Five arguments for the identity of two witnesses can be considered

21. Moses and Elijah They believe that the two witnesses in the book of Revelation 11:3 can be identify as Moses and Elijah. They believe that the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah because the judgments inflicted by Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament are similar to those of these two witnesses (Rev.11:5- 6). And both Moses and Elijah were involved in the transfiguration (Matt 17:3), which anticipated the Second Coming ( Malachi 4:5 KJV)". Behold, I will deliver you the prophet Elijah before the terrible first day of the Lord draws near:

22. Enoch and Elijah According to this view , other scholars appear to trust that the two Witnesses can be the embodiment of Elijah and Enoch. Inside the Bible, the translation can no longer see death and are no longer two obvious compounds of each other . This interpretation comes from an extra-biblical, specifically the Apocalypse of Elijah. A poorly edited medieval scholarly interpolation as a model supported by apocryphal Coptic paintings of Apocalypse of Elijah. ( Richard Bauckham , Beckwith)

23. Zerubbabel and Joshua This group of scholars believes that the “two witnesses” used in Revelation 11:3 are Zerubbabel and Joshua. They added that the two witnesses in this passage were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. Because Joshua was the high priest and Zerubbabel was a governor ( Henry M. Morris, Liddel and Scott )

24. Zerubbabel and Joshua 2. In reply to Zechariah 4: 3-12 ( Joshua and Zerubbabel, the servants of the synagogue , loved two olive trees) 3. Two Trees of Anims " Zechariah 4:11

25. THE INTERPRETATION (IDENTITY) OF "TWO WITNESSES": AN EXEGETICAL STUDY OF REVELATION 11:3.

26. The two lampstand’s view Revelation 11:3 as "two lampstands that go before God, Lord of heaven and earth." the two witnesses, also known as the candlesticks, constitute the Church or the Christian witness

27. Old Testaments and New Testaments Old Testament and the New Testament assert that the two witnesses represent the Old Testament message and the New Testament testimony of Jesus Christ The Old Testament and the New Testament are the two witness the two books of the bible

28. CONCLUSION The two witnesses in Revelation 11:3-6 are the faithful witnesses of God. The two witnesses in Revelation 11:3 are symbolically used to represent God’s people who will stand for the truth even in time of persecution, apostasy or difficulties, such people will still stand for God and spread the good news about Christ. The two witness are those who live their lives like Christ. Who do not indulge themselves into sinful things but they live their lives like Christ.

29. CONCLUSION CONT In Revelation 11:3, the two witnesses are Gospel bearers who will continue to call the earth dwellers to fear God and honor His name. The two witness are the saint of God who stand for God in all trials and tribulations regardless of what ever happened. The two witnesses in revelation 11:3 can be identified with people of God who will stand for the truth in the long period of apostasy.

30. CONCLUSION CONT However, according to the bible, Jesus was not talking about two individual persons but rather he was using the word “two witnesses” as a symbol to represent a whole. All those who spread the good news about Jesus Christ are part of the two witnesses. Is not an individual person or two people but rather those who bear witness of Christ can be identify as the two witnesses. The two witnesses in Revelation 11:3 was used symbolically to represent the Gospel bearer’s. anyone who preach the good news about Jesus Christ is among the Two witnesses.