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6 These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood
We are aware of the plagues of Egypt when Moses used the power of God to change both the Nile River as well as other sources of water all into blood. But this was not the first time this is mentioned. Because of this I believe this symbol is specifically referring to Moses as one of these two metaphoric witnesses.
"It will happen, if they will neither believe you nor listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land." (Exodus 4:8-9)
We find not only the power to turn water into blood in these words from God to Moses, but we also see here words that resonate with the two witness metaphor we are studying in Revelation. Yet what is the main emphasis here? Is it merely about power to dazzle people with abilities to do things that look like magic? Or is the core issue something different entirely?
You shall tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:" and behold, until now you haven't listened. Thus says Yahweh, "In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river."'" [See Micah 6:9]
Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt. The magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart. (Exodus 7:16-23)
How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Yahweh's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it. (Micah 6:6-9)
He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages." (Revelation 17:15)
The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:8-11)
The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died.
The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (Revelation 16:3-4)
What is the consensus of these passages? What is condensing out of these stories full of symbolism and metaphor? What are the key words and phrases, and more importantly, what are the elements and attitudes that we sense in our spirit from these that might alert us relating to the methods and motives of these two witnesses? What are the most important clues to assist us discern what this prophecy may be trying to reveal to us?
Believing or refusing to believe
Listen or not listen to the voice sent by God
Coming to know who is really Yahweh
Striking with the rod ordained of God
Refusal to listen or believe results in death to living creatures living in the waters
Condition of the heart
The symbolism extends even further in the outpouring of the bowls of wrath in chapter 16 of Revelation. There we find connected with the rivers and springs of water – sources that feed the sea – the element of bitterness. The origin of this bitterness is the fallen star from heaven and it causes people to die. Note too in reference from the trumpets that this involves the 'one third' syndrome that has strong indications these could be professed Christians whose hearts are turned away from the genuine truth of the Lamb, thus setting themselves up to be especially susceptible to seductive deceptions and distortions by the enemy of truth. The key here is the condition of their spirit.
Might it be that the testimony of these two witnesses and the methods and motives displayed by them, while truly used by God to prepare people to listen, are in fact not the full truth as is revealed by the Lamb of God? The mindset displayed in the actions and attitudes of these two witnesses is clearly not the same as what we see in the person of Jesus Christ, the authentic Lamb of God. Like the forerunners Moses, Elijah and John the Baptist, their testimony, while useful, is not enough to bring out the truth of the full law of freedom. Rather it remains stuck in the incomplete mindset that Paul refers to as the service of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9).
We are invited to embrace the truth about God's methods revealed by the Lamb who is the hero of the book we are studying. We should expect to find in the stories of the Lamb the answers to unlock the mysteries of these symbols and that will also unlock our own hearts so we may receive the truth that alone will set us free from the roots of bitterness that is so toxic when allowed in the soul.
What do we find in the life and death of Jesus related to water and blood? He is the Reality of the symbols, the Original that the enemy counterfeits, the only truly authentic Reflection above every other inferior representation of God by anyone speaking for Him in the past. In Christ is the truth that alone can liberate us from roots of bitterness, save us from soul death and deliver us from the duplicity of the one thirds we have glimpsed in Revelation. Jesus is the Remedy that heals our hearts to realign them to reflect God's heart. Jesus is the the only Witness that God repeatedly testifies to and affirms directly from heaven as the One we are to listen to as His only truly authentic Son.
John, the scribe of this book, was the disciple who appears to have the deepest appreciation of the real issues at stake and understood better than possibly anyone else the true nature of salvation. In both his gospel and in his letters, John's outlines these symbols intentionally. Here is his synopses.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three who testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God's testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:5-11)
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers who have accepted the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is what inspires prophecy." (Revelation 19:10 GSNT)
The question that begs attention here is: How do the actions and disposition we find in these two prophetic witnesses align with that of the True Witness this book is all about? John reveals there are three witnesses who testify, and that all three need to agree as one, and God's witness is greater.
John's gospel is actually formatted in harmony with this passage about the testimony of these three witnesses as recounted in the story of Jesus. Consider the significance of how water, blood and spirit interplay in the first few chapters of his gospel.
In chapter 1 we find all three mentioned as working in agreement with each other to validate that Jesus is in truth the revelation of God through human flesh and blood.
The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." (John 1:9-14, 17, 32-34)
Chapter 2 involves Jesus interacting with water to transform it into wine which is representative of His blood resulting in gladness and joy being released exponentially.
Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." They filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:7-11) (The best revelation of God's heart comes now!)
Then at the end of the story of Jesus cleansing the temple the first time, we catch a glimpse of the spirit of Jesus as witnessed through the observation of His disciples.
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will eat me up." (John 2:17)
John chapter 3 is the story of the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus who came to attempt to sort out in his head this unusual prophet so different from any in the past. Again we find John's three witnesses woven together throughout this narrative.
Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Later in this chapter we see an unusual spirit in the prophet John, even though he had his weaknesses and blind spots as did all prophets. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10) This is a most important principle as we consider the spirit displayed by our two witnesses in Revelation.
After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.
John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease."
He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. (John 3:22-23, 27-34)
In chapter 4 John again emphasizes water and spirit with inferences to bloodline.
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
...whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers [bloodline] worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews [bloodline] say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, "He told me everything that I did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:10, 14, 19-20, 23-24, 39-42)
Consider this in the context of what we are learning about the use of power by these witnesses in Revelation. They have power to turn water into blood. But how do they believe this power should be used? To make water disgusting and repulsive, or to transform peoples, represented as waters in Revelation, into blood full of new life as what we see happening in the story in John 4?
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make at-one-ment for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. (Leviticus 17:11)
Consider how these stories of Jesus' interactions with people demonstrates the true desires of God's heart to reunite us in love and trust with heaven and with each other. In the testimony brought into view by the light of the One called the Word, the Truth, the Life and the Way, we see God working through the one true Witness, One whose testimony outstrips every other testimony and begs for us to respond to the entreaties of our spurned Father who longs for us to return to the joy for which we are created. This, I believe, was the intent of the original commission to these two witnesses, yet they fall short because of their shallow and immature perspectives of God's heart.
He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:15-21)
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28)
Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven--not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-58)
In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me." (1 Corinthians 11:25)
Now we come to the real clincher in my view. What is the true meaning of the blood of Jesus, despite the distortions and perversions that religion and culture have infused into our thinking?
However one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. (John 19:34-35)
This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three who testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. (1 John 5:6-8)
These are the only two references anywhere to the literal, physical blood of Jesus. Both of them clearly refer to the cause of His death – internal emotional anguish so monumental that it forced blood out through His pores spontaneously (before anyone laid a hand on Him), and at last ruptured His literal heart causing His death. It was not God doing this, but identification with our sin so we would identity with His life to be restored to reflect His likeness to live in joy for all eternity.
In conclusion regarding these two witnesses, I see them as representing efforts of sincere Christians today who work enthusiastically to spread what they believe is the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world so that Jesus can come again to take them to heaven. Yet they are loath to relinquish belief in fear or force to compel others to adopt their views. They want supernatural power to deliver them or to punish their enemies, not unlike the Jews. Their testimony reflects the kind of God witnessed to by people such as Moses and Elijah, so they refuse to move beyond those old ways of perceiving God to embrace fully the Lamb's version of God. They insist that God uses both good and evil to overcome.
There is no shortage of people today who are quick to focus on Old Testament stories to justify their beliefs that God runs out of patience at times and is compelled to resort to use of force to defeat evil. They see no other way to win this war. Sadly this betrays their unbelief in the true power of love, despite the fact that they often talk about God's love. Yet their testimony remains confused because the love they claim that saves them also includes forceful punishing of their enemies. This is the model of this world's system called justice and has infected our perceptions, desires and beliefs ever since our first parents indulged in eating from the forbidden Tree. Thus they view the great war in terms of who will exert the most power to defeat their enemy in the end rather than being a war over what methods and motives will be most effective to establish an eternal kingdom that can endure, free of all fear, shame, condemnation or death. They cannot see how love alone can ever conquer the power of evil.
These wish to turn water into blood as a plague to intimidate enemies. This is in stark contrast to transforming the hearts of rebels into loving, obedient children who desire to serve God and others out of genuine appreciation for how their loving heavenly Father relates to them. These two witnesses, I believe, represent religions that all of us are familiar with. Yet I am convinced that this version of the gospel does not give the clear trumpet sound needed to induce a positive response from the most people, calling them out of Babylon, the false ways of viewing God. What is needed more than anything today is a godly revolution, a revival of true godliness, the kind of God reflections that was clearly witnessed in the life and teachings of Jesus who allowed our sins to crush out His life on the cross. Rather than desire revenge or punishment, He clung tenaciously to the truth of His Father's everlasting love and mercy despite all confusing evidence and feelings to the contrary.
It was at the cross of Christ where the most vivid demonstration of true love has ever been witnessed explicitly. This had nothing to do with changing the mind of God in the slightest, but was designed to expose the lies of the accuser as fraudulent, baseless and rendered them all impotent. Jesus did this by demonstrating without hesitation a perfect reflection of the unconditional love and unconditional forgiveness of the Father, who was in Christ reconciling His sin-blinded children to Himself. There was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is forever loving, true and free of any feelings of offense against anyone. It is this demonstration of the truth about the nature of God's love that is desperately needed today as we enter into final battles between light and darkness, truth and lies in the days of the last few trumpets that are meant to wake us up to what the real issues are facing all of us.
The kind of testimony seen in these two witnesses of Revelation 11 is an immature testimony, filled with mixed signals about God. This immature witness will be killed. It will be superseded by witnesses who follow the Lamb wherever He goes, who reflect Him in spirit and truth like the Lamb. They love not their lives to the death. They do not seek to use God's power to defend themselves but rather are filled with the far superseding glory of the graciousness of the Godhead that eclipses the outdated testimony of the law and the prophets. As a result they are found in chapter 15 as being dressed identical to the True Witness of chapter 1. This is where the plot line in Revelation is moving us. This is the true gospel that must displace inferior versions of the gospel tangled in behavior modification to earn God's favor, or legal fiction theologies about placating God's anger by trusting in the most expensive sacrifice possible to pay for our sins. God wants a relationship of trust, not payoff or bribes.
Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise. For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalms 51:15-17)
"What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says Yahweh. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies. My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:11-15)
Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there. Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. (Hosea 6:4-8)
How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)
For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Or else wouldn't they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is yearly reminder of sins. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, "Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire, but you prepared a body for me; You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.'" Previously saying, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn't desire, neither had pleasure in them" (those which are offered according to the law), then he has said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:1-10)
Which kind of witness will we choose to become? Blood appeasement and force, or praise of love?
