 TICK-TOCK; TICK-TOCK 

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

March 19, 2023

PART IV – THE TWO WITNESSES

The visions of Revelation are very repetitious. Each and every one of them, show us the consequences of violating God’s law. Today our Christian countries are languishing under the yoke of sin as witnessed by our collapse.

We have seen how the sixth trump speaks of the book of the law covenant written by Moses. ¹This is verified by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel². This was covered in part 3 where we explored the ‘little book’ and how it refers to this principle of law and the consequences of disobedience.

TIME PERIODS AS APPLIED TO THE WITNESSES

Within the war cycle of the sixth trump; the subject of the two witnesses is introduced. In Revelation 11 there are two references to time as it relates to these witnesses. One is the macrocosm and the other the microcosm. (1260 days & 42 months.)

 THE 1260 DAYS

The 1260 days is mentioned only these two times in scripture. Its application to the two witnesses can be understood by looking at the Rev. 12 passage referring to the woman who fled into the wilderness.

1. Revelation 11 refers to the time the two witnesses testify in sackcloth; and

2. Revelation 12 refers to the woman who fled into the wilderness.

The woman in the twelfth chapter is a metaphor for Israel.³ There can be no other logical explanation. The passage in Revelation 12 is talking about the period of time the woman, (Israel) spends in the wilderness⁴. Specifically, the time from the Exodus until the end of the calendar. There she is sustained for a period of 1260 days.

Rev. 12:6 says the woman fled into the wilderness where she would be fed for 1260 days. Rev. 12:14 says the woman is nourished for a time, times and a half time.

One can readily see both of these passages are talking about the same woman and both are talking about her time in the wilderness. The are both talking about her being sustained in that time (fed and nourished). We can then safely conclude that the ‘1260 days’ and the ‘time, times and a half time’ are one in the same.

The ‘time, times and a half time’ is referring to 1000-year days. They are the great 1000-year days of God’s calendar. They can be understood as a ‘day, two days and a half day’ or three- and one-half days. Converting that to a day for a year, we have 3500 years. This begins when the woman fled into the wilderness and ends with the return of Jesus the Christ.

Now, back to Rev. 11. The two witnesses ‘prophesy’ for 1260 days. Now that we have an understanding of what time period that is talking about, we can better understand the testimony of the witnesses. It must also refer to 3500 years in this passage.

Sackcloth denotes a period of mourning and sadness. It is obscurity and vagueness muffled by despair. The period of their mourning lasts for 3500 years, while they sit sobbing by the side of the road with no passer by caring to hear their dirge. Very few have stopped and knelt down to hear the reason for their anguish. “My friend, why are you mourning?” Very few cares.

 THE 42 MONTHS

The other period of time relating to the two witnesses, is 42 months. Most Bible scholars believe this period of time to be one in the same as the 1260 days. It is not. The 1260 days refer to the macrocosm. It is the period of Israel’s existence from Egypt until the end of days. The 42 months refer to the days of Jacob’s trouble alluded to in Jeremiah 30. It is the actual 42 months at the end of the 1260 days. It too ends at the end of days.

How do we know this? Because the witnesses exist for that length of time prophesying in obscurity (sackcloth) from Egypt until the end of time. During the last 42 month their existence they are silent (dead)and lying in the street of the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified. (The same city in spirit; but not the same physically. Remember Revelation is written in symbols. If the witnesses are allegorical, which they are, the city must also be allegorical.)

The account of the two witnesses is introduced in the midst of the sixth trump (the war cycle) telling us it is they who will be trodden down, slain (spiritually speaking) and lie dead in the street (silenced). Still, their very presence continues to testify to the fact there is but one God and that God is the God of Israel. It also shows us when they are slain (silenced)⁵. It is in the midst of the final battle. We can already see this happening, here in America under the administration of Satanists and not without the complicity of our preachers! To speak evil even of evil we don’t even dare!

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

So far there has been but a hint of who the two witnesses truly are. One more thing must be understood to fully understand their identity. This cannot possibly be understood unless one understands how to discern the difference between the physical and the spiritual. Titus refers to this as rightly dividing the word of truth. We know this because that is exactly how the writers of the New Testament understood the Old Scriptures. They would read the scriptures and then discern what they meant in the spiritual realm.

Unfortunately, too many of our people stubbornly refuse to learn division. Half of them see everything as spiritual and ignore the physical, and the other half do just the opposite. They see everything only in a purely physical or material way.

THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WORD

This takes us on a side trip back to Genesis 1:1-5. Take the time to contemplate the first five verses of Genesis in a way you have never understood. Give your full attention and consideration.

The Christian Bible opens with the key to understanding exactly how God meant for man to understand scripture. Every expositor this author has ever read, believes the first five verses of Genesis, give a physical description of the creation of heaven and earth. Whether or not that is so, it in no way diminishes or negates another and even more important understanding. That is the spiritual understanding. Those five verses (Gen 1:1-5) are God’s key to understanding the scriptures.

Fact: On the first day, God did three things:

• He created the heaven and earth.
• He created light and divided the light from the darkness.
• He called the light day and the darkness night.

  Now ask yourself the following questions:

• Why does the Word tell us God created the heaven on Day 1 and then again on Day 2?
• Why does the Word tell us God created the earth on Day 1 and then again on

  Day 3?

• Why does the Word tell us God created light on Day 1 and yet in the physical world the bodies which give light were created on Day 4?

God has a reason for that which he does. A very good reason. He is giving us more than the physical. He is giving us a spiritual understanding. He is giving us a concept he wishes us to understand. He is giving us keys to rightly dividing his word of truth.

He established a principle necessary for understanding his plan and his word. God spoke to his prophets, it is true. He also instructed them to do certain things such as build a tabernacle, establish the priesthood, build an ark, march around Jericho…etc. Listening to his voice; observing his handiwork in the world about them; and contemplating what he meant by the things he taught them to make, all became the inspiration (light) bringing understanding to mankind (earth). This light (inspiration) came from heaven (God). It turned night into day and allowed man to see his plan.

Understanding God’s written word in our day, at minimum, requires some understanding of figures of speech. God speaks to mankind in allegory, parable, metaphors, simile and many other figures of speech. Numerous books have been written on the figures of speech used in Scripture.

Matthew 13:34-35 reads “All these things spake Jesus unto the

multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto

them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,

saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which

have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

That which he says was spoken by the prophet was a quote from Psalms 78:2. Mark 4:34 also says Jesus spoke not except by parable.

In the first chapter of Genesis, the earth spoken of, was made to be inhabited by man. It was in fact created for man. God made mankind to be his friend and companion. He told them to build him a sanctuary “…that I may dwell among them.”⁶ That was the Old Covenant way of bringing heaven to earth. In the auspices of the New Covenant, Jesus the light of the world, came to earth to dwell walk among us and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us!

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth

hath he given to the children of men.” – Ps 115:16

“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself

that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created

it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there

is none else.” – Isa 45:18

This concept is also the great clue to how we should view the scriptures. It helps us understand why Isaiah so often seems to go back and forth from talking about the laborious existence of mankind in the physical realm; and the glorious existence God envisioned for mankind. His writings alone should tell us exactly why Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Heaven, light, and day all represent the realm of God Almighty. It is the spiritual realm and exemplifies the attributes of God; love, joy, peace, holiness, perfection, goodness, purity, longsuffering, and mercy, …etc.

Earth, on the other hand, the abode of man, represents the flesh with its carnal appetites. It is there where the works of the flesh adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, and hatred, …etc. abound. It exemplifies the nature of man.

Man seeks God’s will and His will is shown to us. Light comes from heaven and night becomes day. John said “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” Jesus said “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus also said if a man walks in the night, he stumbles because there is no light in him.

The New Testament has numerous passages showing us light is a spiritual concept. When men come to Jesus and he is in them, they become the children of light. (Eph 5:8) John said “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another AND the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

God’s intent was for us to seek his will (light), walk in that light and become that light unto others in a world where it is too dark to see. The first five verses in scripture teach us to study the physical things of the Old Covenant and contemplate what they represent in the spiritual world, rightly dividing the two.

Is it such a stretch, or illogical to think God used allegory as a method of teaching within the opening verses of the Bible?

The scripture constantly teaches us God uses parable to teach mankind. It is his way of shedding light. It is how the earth was meant to be as in heaven. Is it then such a stretch, or illogical to think God used the same method of teaching within the opening verses of the Bible? Of course not! That is exactly what he was doing! Those five verses are the keys to understanding his word!

EXAMPLES OF ALLEGORY IN THE SCRIPTURES

Paul refers to the two sons of Abraham, one of a free woman and one of a bond woman. In Galatians 4, Paul tells us they represent the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. He also says “…which things are allegory…” This is but one of many examples where Paul interprets scripture from the viewpoint of allegory or parable.

The passing of our fathers with Moses through the sea is a ‘type’ or allegory for baptism. In turn baptism is allegorical for death of the ‘old man’ who is resurrected in newness of life when he is regenerated. (1 Cor 10:1-2)

Adam is referred to as an allegory of Christ who is the ‘last’ Adam. (1 Cor 15:44-45)

The temple, the sacrifices, the priest and the kings are all types or allegories. The real fulfillment of these symbols, is Jesus the Christ.

Hebrews 10:1 reads “For the law having a shadow of good things to come,

and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

A shadow is an area where light is blocked. It is vague and obscure. Yet if we study it, we can get a glimpse of what the reality looks like. Look at the picture of the boy looking at his shadow. It resembles him and yet is not an exact representation. He cannot see his image as well as he could if the fence were a mirror; yet his image is a general outline of his appearance. The principle given in God’s word is simply this: The physical things are the shadow. Their substance is the spiritual counterpart!

EXAMPLES OF ALLEGORIES, PARABLES & TYPES, IN THE SCRIPTURES
THE PHYSICAL	THE SPIRITUAL
Man (mankind in Gen 1:26-27)	Adam of Genesis 2
Adam 2 (of Genenis 2)	Jesus the second Adam
Abraham test of sacrificing Isaac	The sacrifice of Jesus, God’s only begotten son.
Hagar & Sarah	The two covenants of law and grace
Israel’s captivity in Egypt for their own protection until strong enough to go forth	Jesus’ flight to Egypt to protect from Herod
The passing through the Red Sea	Baptism
The kingdom	Our destiny; heaven on earth
Sheep, Jewels, Stars, Sand, Earth, Spouse, Firstborn	Israel
Sleep	Death
Mount Calvary	Old Covenant
Mount of Olives	New Covenant
Old Jerusalem	Old Covenant
New Jerusalem	New Covenant
The Whore	Works
The Clean Chaste Virgin	Grace
The Bad Thief	Works
The Good Thief	Salvation – Grace
The Fig tree	The law
The Olive tree	Christ; the redeemed & God’s witnesses
Egypt	Old Covenant
Leven	Sin
The holy of holies	Access to God through Christ
The Sacrificial lamb	The Lamb of God; Jesus
The Passover	Jesus
The high priest	Jesus
Tabernacle, temple	Jesus
The shewbread	Jesus (The bread of life)
The Olive tree	Jesus
The king	Jesus
The water	Jesus
The vine	Jesus

EVEN ISRAEL IS A TYPE OF JESUS
Joseph has dreams which precipitated his going to Egypt. Joseph acknowledges this to be for the preservation of his family. – Gen 45:5	Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to preserve the family. Mt 2:13
God calls Israel “my son” when telling Pharoah to let his people leave Egypt. Exodus 4:22-23	“Out of Egypt have I called my son.” (Speaking of Jesus) Mt 2:15 At his baptism – Jesus called – “…my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”
Israel passes through the Red Sea	Paul recognizes this as being a metaphor for baptism. 1 Cor 10:2 Jesus’ baptism was “…to fulfil all righteousness:”
The Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness (a year for a day for lack of faith)	Jesus is led into the wilderness after his baptism for 40 days. He succeeded where Israel failed. Much like he succeeded in the office of Adam where the first one failed.
Israel called a ‘vine’ in Ps 80:8	Jesus said “I am the true vine” – Jn 15:1

Many more examples exist within the scriptures and one who watches for it will see it over and over; literally constantly. The physical things are backward shadows! The spiritual is the substance! Is it not logical to believe God used this same principle in the first five verses of scripture?

NEXT: TICK-TOCK; TICK-TOCK PART V – HOW JACOB BECAME ISRAEL BUT IS NOT ISRAEL – Until then: May the Lord God of Israel make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. May He lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace.

 Questions and comments may be addressed to danelinmo@proton.me

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