Let Them Speak… Truthfully

Prophets had a prestigious and famous role during the first decades of the Church, second only to the ministry of the apostles. You could see the prophetic ministry in action in Corinth, for example. At that church there were so many people anointed with the gift of prophecy that they had to take turns (two or three at a time) to speak!

That’s how common prophesy was in the meetings of the first Christians. Is that how it is in your congregation today? Probably not—but if it is, ask yourself whether you're receiving true prophecies or cheap imitations.

Are the prophets of your congregation speaking true revelations from God? Ask yourself: Are you sure that the prophecies you hear are inspired by the Holy Spirit? If you're not sure, then how can you be sure?

We can be sure of the truthfulness of the prophets by verifying their prophecies. The members of the Early Church did that--and Early Church practice is our model. They called their verification method passing judgment. We should do as they did and pass judgment on prophecies.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment (1 Corinthians 14:29; NASB).

Trust But Verify

You might be thinking: “I’m glad we don’t have prophecy in my church—since there are so many false prophets and imposters.” Ah, but if you think like that, then you have missed the point of the Corinthian example!

Did you notice the Scriptures say ‘… let the others pass judgment’? That means that prophecy is something you're supposed to let happen. Smart Christians are going to analyze and listen carefully to prophecies, and that's something you should do too.

You’re not supposed to reject the ministry of prophecy. Rather, you're supposed to be a part of it--yes, you should be a part of it even if you're not a prophet! That's because God has commanded everybody in the Church to scrutinize prophecies.

You don’t trust prophets? Amen. Didn't Jeremiah say 'cursed is he who trusts in man'? If you are untrusting, then you're the perfect candidate to judge the prophets.

Don’t say “amen” to a prophecy unless you know it is from God. We are to weigh prophecies we hear against the perfect prophecy of Scripture. We must listen with a critical ear to prophecies. It’s up to us, the Church, to judge whether the prophecies we hear are true or not.

Do you put the lettuce, carrots, radishes, or peppers you buy at the supermarket directly into your mouth? Of course not. You select them with care at the supermarket. Then, once they are in your kitchen, you inspect them. In fact, you may even wash your veggies in the sink--then, even when they're on your plate, before you bring your fork to your mouth, you give your vegetables one last look.

Nobody just puts food into their body without examining it well beforehand. So it is with prophecy.

To Scrutinize Prophecy

How did the believers in Paul’s churches weigh prophecies? They subjected prophecies to the standard of Scriptures. They compared prophetic proclamations to the Bible. They examined prophecies by comparing them with what they read in their Bibles.

Christians didn’t just blindly believe prophecies. They weighed the prophecies they heard against the perfect prophecy—the one that was already made more sure for them, the Bible! They put prophecy in the balance.

… we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19; NASB).

Going back to the idea of passing judgment—that phrase means that Christians would take into consideration the character of the person who was prophesying. The early Christians knew that some people called themselves prophets who weren’t really prophets at all.

They knew that many who shouted "thus sayeth the Lord" were not inspired by God. The first Christians knew, like Paul did, that many so-called "prophets" weren’t even spiritual people! And what was the primary fault of the false prophets? They ignored the Scriptures.

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment (1 Corinthians 14:37; NASB).

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth a message inspired by the Holy Spirit--we're talking about the epistles to the Corinthians. But some who called themselves "prophets" or "spiritual" would not heed his words. If they ignored what today are two Bible books, do you think that they were spiritual people? Were they (as they asserted), true prophets?

Prophets to Come

The gift of prophecy belongs to us. We are God’s Church, so it is ours—but we have to use it. “Use it or lose it” is a warning you've probably heard before. But now you've got to apply it to prophecy in the Church. Will you join those who will revive the tradition of prophecy in the Church?

Here's a strong reason to do it: If your church doesn’t revive the tradition of prophecy, it will not take to heart the words of the Two Witnesses.

The Two Witnesses, prophets to come, have something much greater than the gift of prophecy—they have the role of prophets. Although they won't be seminary graduates who have worked their way up through ecclesiastic leadership, they are officially prophets of the Church.

These two men have God-ordained authority to lead the Church. They're not authorized by men. They're authorized by God. The Scriptures call them prophets because they are just that: prophets and leaders of God's Church.

… these two prophets had tormented those who live on the Earth (Revelation 11:10).

Don't forget that there are four ministry roles in the Church: 1. apostle-missionary, 2. prophet, 3. evangelist, and 4. pastor-teacher. The Two Witnesses are God's gift to the Church, and their authority surpasses that of any pastor or teacher. Don't even compare the popular Evangelical preachers of today with them. And expect them to speak words no Billy Graham-style modern evangelist has ever spoken.

A Timeframe for the Prophecy

The Two Witnesses are great prophets God will send us to assist us in navigating a straight path through the Last Times. Geographically, they will preach from Jerusalem, Israel. Chronologically, they will preach during the Seal Judgments.

The Last Times is characterized by 21 distinct events: Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, and Seven Bowls of Wrath. The first four Seals are the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, or, as Jesus called them, the "birth pangs." They are not the End.

The Seven Trumpets are the Great Tribulation. The Seventh Trumpet is the Rapture. The Seven Bowls of Wrath are God's judgments on the Antichrist's kingdom. We are not destined to wrath. People who are believers now will not be here for the Bowls of Wrath because we'll be in Heaven.

The Last Times (from Seal #1 to Bowl #7) take seven years to complete. The Last Times' seven years end at Armageddon--a battle between the Antichrist and Jesus Christ. That's when Jesus returns to rule on the Earth.

In the midst of this seven-year period, the Sixth Seal is unique. It's the Midpoint. 

Halfway There

Why do we call the Sixth Seal the Midpoint? Because it takes three-and-a-half years for us to get to the Sixth Seal. Three-and-a-half is halfway to seven. Seven divided by two is 3.5.

Once the Sixth Seal is opened, there are major celestial disturbances: meteor showers occur, the sun turns black as soot, and the moon turns red. You're going to notice it when we're at the Midpoint! Even people with no access to the news will look up and see what the heavens are declaring.

Also, at the Sixth Seal, something very significant will happen: the Two Witnesses will complete their public ministry. Their prophecy ends at the Midpoint. So, we'll have to pay close attention to their words to be faithful to Jesus all the way to the end of the Tribulation period and to be counted worthy of being raptured.

I will appoint my Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days [3.5 years], clothed in sackcloth… (Revelation 11:3)

These things are going to happen whether you like it or not. The only question is: Who among us will be capable of heeding the words of the Two Witnesses? Only those Christians who can judge prophecy. Only the mature Christian who knows to discern truth from lies will heed the prophecies of these men.

Power to Punish

The Two Witnesses are prophets of God—and they are so bold that they punish entire nations. If a nation will not heed their call to repentance, the Two Witnesses will strike them with drought.

They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying, and they have power to turn the waters into blood, and to strike the Earth with every kind of plague as often as they want (Revelation 11:5-6).

God will empower the Two Witnesses to send droughts, turn rivers/lakes/seas into blood, consume their enemies with fire, and to ‘strike the Earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.’ Any time they want? Yes. Whenever they desire, the Two Witnesses can summon any plague and direct it against stubborn sinners.

Greater Plagues

Do you remember Moses and Aaron’s ten plagues? Well, they’re like a kid's game compared to the plagues the Two Witnesses will send to the Earth. Moses and Aaron’s plagues were limited to one country. The Two Witnesses will enforce plagues upon the whole Earth.

The Ten Plagues of Egypt were:

1. the Nile River turned to blood

2. an invasion of frogs

3. an infestation of lice/gnats

4. a swarming attack of flies

5. the death of livestock

6. boils on people’s skin

7. massive destruction from hail

8. the destruction of crops by locust

9. darkness over the land, and

10. the death of unbelievers’ firstborn sons.

Sound tragic? Those are patty cakes compared to what the Two Witnesses will do.

How much power will the Two Witnesses have? The Witnesses will have remarkable authority, and they’ll need it! Their task will be to confront the worst enemy the Church has ever had--a man hundreds of times more powerful than Pharaoh.

In its 2000-year history the Church has never had a nemesis like the Antichrist. Even the Jews, who have been under threat of annihilation by Pharaoh, Og, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Nero, and Hitler have never confronted a man as evil as the Antichrist. He will be the worst enemy of Jewish and Christian believers in history—and the history of the Jews spans back more than 4000 years!

Who Has a Heart to Hear?

These two prophets—likely the most anointed leaders of the Church since the apostle Paul—will proclaim the Gospel while the Antichrist rises to power. As he gains a global following, they’ll challenge him. But who will be able to bear their exhortations? Who will humble themselves enough to listen to their proclamations?

These two men—the lead prophets of the Last Times—will detain the rain, turn rivers into blood, and invoke countless other plagues on the Earth. Don’t forget: They will ‘strike the Earth with every kind of plague as often as they want’ (Revelation 11:6).

But only people with an ear to hear will understand their message.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 3:13).

He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23).

Do you have an ear to hear?

Church in Crisis

The problem is that people in churches today are not capable of listening to prophecies from God. Their hearts are dull from worries, the love of money, and the pursuit of material things.

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear… (Matthew 13:15)

… the ones [seeds] sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the Word, but the worries of the World, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:18-19; NASB).

Only people who are receptive to prophecy today will understand it in the future.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him… (Revelation 3:20)

Today more than ever we need to listen to the prophets. The best way for us to be ready for the ministry of the Two Witnesses is to listen to prophecies now. Their ministry will last three-and-a-half years, so there will be a lot to hear!

Let’s get used to prophecies stat.

Pressure from Society

Note this: The hard thing in the Last Times will not be audibly hearing the Two Witnesses. Their message will get out. They will be newsworthy and people will get the news about them. The hard thing will be to stand with the Two Witnesses.

There will be strong peer pressure coming from our neighbors and political rulers. Due to their strong unpopularity, it’ll be hard to give a public “amen” to their message. It will be very challenging to obey them.

Look, I am going to cause humankind to fall, each into the hand of his neighbor, and into the hand of his king; and they will devastate the land, and I will not deliver anyone from their hand (Zechariah 11:6; LEB).

These two men, God’s prophets, will be hated and despised internationally. How can we resist the trend to reject them? Will we have the strength to swim against the current?

Solution: Listen Now

Those of us who incline our hearts to prophecies now, who are sensitive to prophecies today, will be best prepared to hear the message of the Two Witnesses tomorrow.

Tune your ears to prophecies today. If you do, you’ll have ears to hear the testimony of the Two Witnesses. You won’t stop your ears like the rest of the World. You will have fomented a healthy love for the truth, and you’ll be saved!

… the Lawless One [Antichrist] will be revealed… with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie… (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; NKJV)

Don’t fall into the lies of the false prophets--king of whom will be the Antichrist. Avoid the delusion the World will fall under. Avoid the spell of the Antichrist by tuning in to the Church's prophets now.

Take heed that no one deceives you for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many... [at the Apostasy] many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5, 11-12).

Synchronize your heart to the Christian prophets as soon as you can. Refine your hearing and calibrate it to the truth. Judge the prophecies you hear.

Love truth and love the Church's prophets like you'd love a brother. If you do, you’ll have ears to hear the Two Witnesses when they come! The Last Times could start at any time, and they'll appear.

But then, they'll disappear!