HOW very attractive to us all is the thought of power! And every true-hearted Christian longs, and longs rightly, for power. I mean for power to be a positive blessing to others: to bring into the hearts and lives of those around the peace and joy he himself possesses.
In the portion from which our title is taken (Rev. 11), the Spirit of God shows us two who have power in a very remarkable way. The period, I need hardly say, when these two exercise their wonderful gift, is not the present period, nor is the manner of their using it that which obtains in the gospel dispensation, but that for our present inquiry is of no consequence. What I wish to point out is—
What these two are;
Whence they derived their power;
Why it was given; and
How long it lasted.
Firstly, what they are. The Word tells us they are God’s witnesses. They had a testimony committed to their trust, and their sole business was to take their stand among those to whom God had sent them, and declare this testimony. Like Jonah who was to go to Nineveh “and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.”
Beloved Christian reader, is not that our business? Are we not set, as they, among those who need a testimony, and have we not that testimony put into our hands? But how often the question arises, How can I? We look at the difficulties of the position (nay, may I not say its impossibilities!) and, like the disciples, wonder how we can satisfy the demands of the case.
Then let us see secondly, whence our two witnesses derived their power. verse 3 says, “And I will give power unto My two witnesses.” Ah! here is the grand secret. God gives power, and in no other way at all is power obtainable. A man may be eloquent and have all other possible natural gifts as well, but if he is to be a real source of blessing to others, it will not be by natural might and power, “but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:66Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)). Oh! that one could impress upon every believer the immense importance of this fact. It cannot be exaggerated, but, alas, it can be overlooked. Now, it is very plain from the Word that these two witnesses had power. They were not longing for it or hoping for it. It had already been bestowed, and its effect was being felt. Does not this suggest, dear reader, what every one of us ought to know, that all God’s witnesses have already had conferred upon them the power to render their testimony effective? The Holy Ghost is the source of that power for us, and the Holy Ghost has been bestowed upon all true believers (see Acts 5:3232And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32)). Then what is lacking when we have to cry out about our weakness? Simply that we are not using what we have. “What hast thou in the house?” says the prophet Elisha to the impoverished widow (2 Kings 4:22And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. (2 Kings 4:2)). Only a pot of oil, was the despairing reply. And yet this despised “only” was the very thing that filled her house with blessing. Do not our hearts, too, often mourn our weakness when our “oil” is lying there unnoticed, and in some cases, even unknown? I ask, is not the Holy Ghost often neglected by us? He always is when we cry out about our lack of resources, for, like our two witnesses, we have the power we want.
The reason why this power was given is very simply stated. “I will give power... and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” They had a work to perform, and full provision was made for the fulfilling of it. “Who goeth a warfare at his own charges?” Never yet has a witness been sent out by God without the most complete equipment being furnished. We are not weak, beloved friends. We are not lacking in resources. Everything is amply provided. Faith only is needed to use it. May we be stirred up to our privileges.
And this power remains until the end. Never until the last message is delivered, or the last errand run, is that power withdrawn. Up to the very last day of their testimony these two witnesses had power. And to us? “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:2020Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)). Praise the Lord!
Then, dear fellow-servants, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. It is only an additional effort of the enemy to deceive when it is suggested that it is impossible to stand against the rising tide. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)).
Before closing I would call attention briefly to two additional points in connection with these two witnesses, which one feels are of much importance.
The first is their own personal deportment. They were clothed in sackcloth. The testimony of their ways was thus in keeping with the testimony of their words. Would a gay garb suit solemn declarations of judgment? May we be watchful in this respect, dear friends, lest our conduct mar our message.
Again we are told, “These have power... to smite the earth with plagues as often as they will.” Mark, it does not say as often as. God will, but the will to do or not to do is left with them. Why is this? Ah! this is a very beautiful point. So close is the intimacy between the Lord and His true and faithful witnesses that He can say to such, “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)); and again, “He shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:2323For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:23)). “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.” What an encouraging light this sheds upon the path of these two lonely witnesses. Beset before and behind by their enemies, but in living communion with their unseen Master.
May we, beloved, learn our lesson from these two witnesses, and, like the apostle Paul, in spite of all the opposition, persecution, and even neglect, be led about in triumph (2 Cor. 2:1414Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)) by the mighty energy of the Holy Ghost working through us.
L. W. R.