Witnesses • Devotion 4: People are Drowning

Gary Wright

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” Revelation 11:3-4

When my daughter Kayla was in the fifth grade, her class took a trip to Mackinac Island. My wife Kim and I decided to go along. The hotel we stayed at had a pool and the kids went swimming the first night we were there. The parents were sitting around the pool area talking while the kids swam. All of a sudden, one of the parents started yelling, “Hey, my son is drowning!” I got up, ran to the edge of the pool and I could see a kid on the bottom, so I jumped in and pulled him out. Thankfully, he was fine.

Similarly, the Bible teaches us that without faith in Jesus we are all drowning in sin. Without Jesus, we have no hope for the forgiveness of sin and we have no hope for a relationship with God.

Throughout history, God has always provided witnesses to point sinful people back to Himself. The book of Revelation tells us that the future is no different. During the tribulation, God is going to call up two witnesses. The message of the two witnesses will warn of the coming judgment from God and a call for people to repent and turn to Christ. Even during the tribulation, our merciful God will offer salvation. The witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth, which shows that they are in mourning. They are mourning and heartbroken over the wickedness of the world and God’s judgment upon it. The two witnesses are described as lampstands because they will reflect the light of Jesus into the world and point people to the truth, the Gospel of Jesus. Olive oil was commonly used in lamps. The olive oil represents the Holy Spirit that leads and powers the two witnesses. The olive tree depicts an unending supply of oil flowing into the lampstands. God will use the two witnesses to speak the truth, but salvation will come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In our present time, God has called those of us that have put our faith in Jesus to be His witnesses. Because we have put our faith in Jesus, the Bible tells us that we have the same Holy Spirit living in us that will lead and power the two witnesses. We are the lampstands that shine the light of Jesus to our generation.

The two witnesses will be heartbroken for those who do not know Jesus. Are we heartbroken over our family and friends that do not know Jesus? Do we love them enough to jump in and do whatever it takes to save them from drowning?