אהיה's Two Witnesses: And The Theatrical Spectacle Of Prophetic Convergence

37 "As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

39 and they didn't know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

7 "By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship [the ark] for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."

5 "and didn't spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly"

1 "Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

2 In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity,

3 יהוה's word came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and יהוה's hand was there on him."

1 "You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before yourself, and portray on it a city, even Jerusalem.

2 Lay siege against it, build forts against it, cast up a mound against it, set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.

3 Take for yourself an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between you and the city. Then set your face toward it. It will be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.

4 Moreover lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.

5 For I have appointed the years of their iniquity to be to you a number of days, even three hundred ninety days. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

6 Again, when you have accomplished these, you shall lie on your right side, and shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. Forty days, each day for a year, have I appointed it to you.

7 You shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm uncovered; and you shall prophesy against it."

2 "Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.

3 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

15 "The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!'" 18 "The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

5-12 You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. (6) And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. (7) You will not be harmed, though thousands fall all around you. (8) And with your own eyes you will see the punishment of the wicked. (9) The LORD Most High [יהוה] is your fortress. Run to him for safety, (Mat 17:5) (10) and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. (11) God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. (12) They will carry you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.

4 And thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book, till the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro [in the scriptures], and knowledge shall be increased [become abundant in the earth].

5-9 O Jehovah (אהיה ), how great are Your works; Your purposes are very deep. (6) A beastly man does not know; nor does a fool understand this. (7) When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity blossom, it is that they shall be destroyed forever; (8) but You, Jehovah (אהיה ), are high forever. (9) For, lo, Your enemies, O Jehovah (אהיה ); for lo, Your enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. .

23-26 And thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book, till the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro [in the scriptures], and knowledge shall be increased [become abundant].

11 Light itself has flashed up for the righteous ones, And rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart.

10 and you will grant to the hungry one your own soulful desire, and you will satisfy the soul that is being afflicted, your light also will certainly flash up even in the darkness, and your gloom will be like midday.

5-12 You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. (6) And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. (7) You will not be harmed, though thousands fall all around you. (8) And with your own eyes you will see the punishment of the wicked. (9) The LORD Most High [יהוה] is your fortress. Run to him for safety, (Mat 17:5) (10) and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. (11) God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. (12) They will carry you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.

1. Jesus explicitly compares his coming with the days of Noah. (Matt 24:37-39)

2. Noah acted on advance warning, preached righteousness, and through his faith-built ark "condemned the world; and, saved himself and his household." (Heb 11:7; 2 Pet 2:5)

3. Ezekiel shows that God can make prophecy dramatic and visible through an acted sign. (Ezek 4:1-7)

4. Jonah and Jeremiah show direct proclamation of coming judgment. (Jonah 3:4-5; Jer 25:11)

5. Revelation assigns the two witnesses a definite 1,260-day period of prophecy while the nations trample the holy city for forty-two months. (Rev 11:2-3)

6. Revelation places their testimony inside the sequence leading to God's Kingdom, judgment, reward, and destruction of those destroying the earth. (Rev 11:15-18)

Our comparison rests on a broad Bible pattern: God reveals what is coming, his servants respond and testify, and judgment follows. Scripture gives an explicit connection - Jesus linked Noah - that connection carries great weight.

Jesus explained that belief in him and response to his light of truth are matters of judgment.

John 3:16-21

And, Jesus explained that what our faith is is what will befall us!

(2 Chron 20:17) Do you truly believe Jesus's words when he said your faith is your fate? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:40‑55; Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)

7-8 ...As I was watching, a fourth beast appeared. It was powerful, horrible, terrifying. With its huge iron teeth it crushed its victims, and then it trampled on them. Unlike the other beasts, it had ten horns. (8) While I was staring at the horns, I saw a little horn coming up among the others. It tore out three of the horns that were already there. This horn had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting proudly.

13-14 ... (13) During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. (14) He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end.

23-26 ... . . ."When the end of those kingdoms is near and they have become so wicked that they must be punished [destroyed], there will be a stubborn, vicious, and deceitful king. (24) He will grow strong---but not by his own power. *2 He will cause terrible destruction and be successful in everything he does [in a wonderful way he will cause ruin]. He will bring destruction on powerful men and on God's own people [those people loving truth and justice]. (25) Because he is cunning, he will succeed in his deceitful ways. He will be proud of himself and destroy many people without warning. He will even defy the greatest King of all, but he will be destroyed without the use of any human power. (26) This vision about the evening and morning sacrifices which has been explained to you will come true. But keep it secret now, because it will be a long time before it does come true."

7-15 ..."Why are you amazed?" the angel asked me. "I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with seven heads and ten horns. (8) That beast was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up from the abyss and will go off to be destroyed. The people living on earth whose names have not been written before the creation of the world in the book of the living, will all be amazed as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear. (9) "This calls for wisdom and understanding. The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings: (10) five of them have fallen, one still rules, and the other one has not yet come; when he comes, he must rule only a little while. (11) And the beast that was once alive, but lives no longer, is itself an eighth king who is one of the seven and is going off to be destroyed. (12) "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast. (13) These ten all have the same purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. (14) They will fight against the Lamb; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen, and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings." (15) The angel also said to me, "The waters you saw, on which the prostitute sits, are nations, peoples, races, and languages.

3-8 ... One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. (Rev 17:11 of 9-11) (4) And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (5) And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. (6) It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (7) Also it was allowed to make war on the saints [The saints being the followers of Christ and likely referring to Satan's success during the Dark Ages.] and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, (8) and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

9-17 After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, (10) as they shouted, "Our God, who sits upon the throne, has the power to save his people, and so does the Lamb." (11) The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God (12) and said, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!" (13) One of the elders asked me, "Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?" (14) 'sir," I answered, "you must know." Then he told me: "These are the ones who have gone through the great suffering [tribulation]. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white (washed white by their faith in Christ). (15) And so they stand before the throne of God and worship him in his temple day and night. (Rev 21:1-4) The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. (16) They will never hunger or thirst again, and they won't be troubled by the sun or any scorching heat. (17) The Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to streams of life-giving water, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes."

5-12 You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. (6) And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. (7) You will not be harmed, though thousands fall all around you. (8) And with your own eyes you will see the punishment of the wicked. (9) The LORD Most High [יהוה] is your fortress. Run to him for safety, (Mat 17:5) (10) and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. (11) God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. (12) They will carry you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.

7 'surely the Lord יהוה will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets."

13 "God said to Noah, "˜I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth."

4 "Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried out, and said, "˜Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

5 "The people of Nineveh believed God..."

11 "This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years."

37 "As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

39 and they didn"t know [chose not to know] until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth [in searching out the Bible], and knowledge will be increased."

9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand; but those who are wise will understand."

1 "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John."

13 "However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming." [The 'spirit of Truth" obviously aiding those running to and fro in the scriptures in these last days.]

14 "This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."

34 'so be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Noah was warned about "things not yet seen," acted in faith, preached righteousness, and built the ark through which he condemned the world. (Heb 11:7; 2 Pet 2:5)

Jesus explicitly points to Noah's days as a pattern for the coming of the Son of Man. (Matt 24:37-39)

Ezekiel acted out Jerusalem's siege among the exiles in Babylon. His sign proves that prophecy can become a prolonged visible spectacle, but Scripture does not say Jerusalem watched the performance. (Ezek 1:1-3; 4:1-7)

The two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days while the nations trample the holy city for forty-two months. (Rev 11:2-3)

Their testimony is placed within Revelation's movement toward Kingdom rule, judgment, reward, and destruction of those destroying the earth. (Rev 11:15-18)