WHEN HUMAN REASONING SUPERSEDES BIBLICAL TEACHINGS
When might human reasoning, norms, or traditions supersede biblical teachings?
“Welcome back to what promises to be an epic journey through the unseen. We are looking at a saga, not of this world.
This is the 6th part of a 13-part series unlike any other.
We’re diving into the cosmic war beyond what we cannot see, hear, or imagine.
It is a war between the forces of good and evil. It is a war for our souls. It is designed to strip us of our knowledge of God and his Word.
We’re digging deep into the heart of this cosmic battle, exploring the origins of sin, the nature of evil, the history, and what will lead to the ultimate showdown between Christ and Satan.
This series is about understanding the forces at play and our place within this universal struggle.
Every episode, every moment of this journey matters because, like it or not, this is a war that touches us all.
It is about a God who loves us so much that He is willing to fight for us.
Your view of the universe and our place within it is about to change forever.
If you have not viewed the previous videos, view them at SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
Before diving into this conflict, let’s take a moment to invite God’s presence.
Inviting God’s Presence
Heavenly Father, help us to see the relevance of your divine word, the Bible, and its value in guiding us in our daily living. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 6)
The Two Witnesses
Part 1 Introduction
The enduring words of the Bible have been challenged but never defeated.
Isaiah 40:8 captures the stability of God’s word, contrasting it with the temporal existence of earthly things.
“ “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV).
Many have questioned Isaiah’s point. The Word of God has been taken apart, doubted, and cast aside throughout the ages.
Some have even questioned its relevance in today’s society.
The Word of God, especially during the Middle Ages, was chained in monasteries, burned in public squares, and torn to shreds.
And for those who dared to share its truths, they were laughed at, made fun of, imprisoned, and even killed. But sure, to its words, the Bible has prevailed.
The church during the Middle Ages persecuted the faithful, Bible-believing Christians. But oppression and persecution did not stop them from proclaiming the word of God.
Among those defenders was William Tyndale. He was a key figure in translating the Bible into English, making the scriptures accessible to the common man.
Despite severe opposition from the church, Tyndale was determined to spread the message of the Bible to the masses.
As an English Bible translator, Tyndale was tried for his faith. During his trial, the judge asked him who had aided him the most in sharing the word of God; Tyndale’s response was unexpected yet profound.
He pondered the question and then responded, “the Bishop of Durham.”
Thinking he was stopping Tyndale’s efforts, this bishop had purchased many Bibles for the purpose of burning them publicly.
The funny thing is that his buying the Bibles financed printing even more Bibles.
Tyndale used the funds from these sales to further his cause of sharing the Bible in the people’s common language.
In fact, little did he know that he was purchasing the Bibles at a much higher price.
With his large purchases, Tyndale was able to print many more Bibles than were burned.
Again and again, the words of Isaiah 40:8 reverberate: “The word of God stands forever.”
In this lesson, we look at one of the most vicious attacks on the Scriptures and Christian Faith.
We turn our focus to the French Revolution. It was a period marked by chaos and bloodshed, where the guillotine’s blade repeatedly fell in the heart of Paris, and thousands perished.
The French Revolution was so brutal, it is said that blood flowed in the streets of France.
History tells us that the guillotine was set up in Paris’s public square, and thousands were slaughtered.
Thus, atheism became the state religion.
Amid this turmoil, the French government proclaimed the death of God, yet they could not extinguish the spirit of the Bible or its message.
Throughout history, governments and church authorities have tried to suppress the Bible, altering its teachings and persecuting its followers.
But despite these efforts, brave individuals continued to risk everything to keep the Bible’s truths alive, often paying with their lives.
This history is a reminder of the power and resilience of God’s word.
Revelation 11:3- 6 speaks of the power and authority that God gave to two witnesses; who were those two witnesses, and what kind of power and authority did they have?
Continue to Part 2: Two Witnesses
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 6)
Two Witnesses
Part 2: Two Witnesses
There is power lying between the pages of Genesis and Revelation.
Revelation 11:3- 6 introduces two amazing figures referred to as “two witnesses.”
It says:
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:3-6)
Zechariah 4 talks of having a vision of two olive trees on opposite sides adjoining a golden lampstand.
The same image is also found in Revelation 11.
This vision provides a basis for determining who the two witnesses are.
In Zechariah 4:14, we find that Zechariah is told that the two olive trees represent “‘the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth’ ” (NKJV).
The two olive trees continuously fuel the lampstand with oil, ensuring the light never dims.
This imagery aligns with Psalm 119:105, which likens God’s word to a lamp that guides our steps.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalms 119:105)
Zechariah 4:2 and 6 help us understand that the oil in the lamp represents the Holy Spirit.
2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.
6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:2, 6)
When we look back at John’s vision in Revelation 11, we see these two witnesses represented as the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
These lampstands represent the Holy Spirit, illustrating God’s Word being proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit to lighten the world.
These two witnesses can prophesy and keep rain from falling for as long as they predict.
They can turn water into blood and strike the earth with plagues.
Historical biblical accounts of this are seen in the hands of Elijah and Moses.
According to James 5:17, by the word of God, Elijah prayed no rain would fall in Israel. In answer to his prayer, there was no rain for three and a half years.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (James 5:17)
Furthermore, after the false prophets of Baal failed at their attempt to end the drought in 1 Kings 17 and 18, Elijah prayed to God, and rain returned (1 Kings 17, 18).
In Exodus 7, because Pharaoh refused to free God’s people, Moses, by the word of God, pronounced all kinds of plagues on the Egyptians, including turning water into blood.
These accounts underscore the consequences of those who seek to harm the scriptures or the people’s faith in God.
They will be consumed by the fire that comes from their mouth.
This truth is clearly portrayed through the prophecy given to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 5:14.
“ ‘Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them’ ” (Jeremiah 5:14).
Here, God’s words are compared to fire that consumes wood, highlighting the fatal consequences of rejecting God’s word.
Most do not realize that there is a profound interconnectedness between the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
It is important to note that [Many] set aside the Old Testament Scriptures, which Christ declared, referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, “They are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39.
In rejecting the Old, we virtually reject the New; for both are parts of an inseparable whole. (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 127)
Thus, Jesus reveals in John 5:39 that the Old Testament scriptures testify (that is, bear witness) of Him.
In Matthew 24:14, he further emphasizes this, saying the gospel will be proclaimed “as a witness” to all nations.
This same theme of witnessing is echoed in Revelation 11:3 through the Greek word martyrs, which is the root word for ‘witness.’
Consequently, based on the Biblical points made previously and the characteristics provided in Revelation 11, the two witnesses are believed to be the Old and New Testaments communicating God’s light and truth to the world.
God’s Word, the two witnesses, endures forever.
So, what happens when the authority of the Old and the New Testament scriptures is cast aside?
View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Prophetic Time Period
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 6)
The Two Witnesses
Part 3: Prophetic Time Periods
The influence of historical events affects our world today. What was done in the past affects the present and the future.
Moreover, the events of the past show how God has given nations and individuals specific roles within His divine plan throughout Earth’s history.
While our choices shape our destiny, He ultimately directs global events to achieve His purposes.
The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, filled with their symbolic imagery, help us see God moving in the affairs of nations and people. (Split)
Interestingly, these prophesies point us to specific historical periods.
When we carefully examine Daniel and Revelation, we discover that they highlight the same critical era, each using unique numerical terms to describe this time.
In Revelation 11:3, we are introduced to God’s two witnesses, symbolizing the Old and New Testaments.
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)
Cloth in sackcloth, which is the attire for expressing grief, they prophesy for “1,260 days,” or “42 months, ” of which Revelation 11:2 indicates is the time in which the “Gentiles” (those who oppose God’s truth) will tread the Holy City underfoot.
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)
In other words, this period spoken of in Revelation 11:3 is the same as that spoken of in Revelation 11:2, where it’s said that Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by nations for 42 months.
We need to understand that 42 months is the same as 1260 years. Using the prophetic day-for-a-year principle, 42 months x 30 = 1,260 literal years.
During these 1,260 years or 42 months, God’s Truth was to face severe opposition.
This is the same period in which God’s two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments, prophesy against the Gentiles.
Daniel 7:25 reveals another piece of this same puzzle: the rise of the little horn power after the fall of Civil Rome.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
Daniel indicates that the Little Horn power would arise out of the breakup of the Roman Empire.
It would persecute God’s people “ ‘for a time = 1 time and times = 2 times and half a time, thus 3 1/2 years.
A “time” is one year (360 days). So, 3 and 1/2 years x 360 days = 1,260 days, which is 1260 literal years.
Adding more pieces to the puzzle, Revelations 12:6 and 13 provide additional details on the persecution of God’s people during the “1,260 days.”
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. (Revelation 12:6, 13)
As with Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:14 talks of a time, times, and half a time.
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14) (Split)
Reinforcing Revelation 11:2,
Revelation 13 again mentions the “42 months,” which is time, times, and half times or 1,260 days, which equals 1260 literal years.
The point here is that these varied expressions of days, months, and times all point to different aspects of the same historical time period.
This addresses a time when the authority of the scriptures is cast aside.
It ranges from 538 AD to 1798 AD. This era is known as the power of the papacy.
It was the time when the Roman Catholic Church exerted considerable power and control, often opposing biblical doctrines and promoting its own.
During this time, the authority of Scripture was replaced by man’s authority.
This often led to the persecution of those who upheld the Word of God as the final authority.
This was a time when the decrees of men were substituted for the commandments of God.
Human traditions overshadowed the simplicity of the gospel. (Split)
The Roman Church united with the secular power to extend its authority over all of Europe.
Throughout the 1,260 years, the two witnesses, clothed in sackcloth, symbolic of mourning, and representing the Old and New Testament, reflected the terrible suffering and persecution endured by those who upheld the truth of the Bible.
Bible truths were hidden under stacks of tradition and ritual. Yet, these two witnesses prophesied, and thus, the Bible continued to speak.
In fact, even amid this spiritual darkness, God’s Word was preserved.
Although a few in number, they cherished the Bible and lived by its teachings.
Among these small few were the Waldenses, John Huss, Jerome, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley, and a host of other Reformers.
These were faithful to God’s Word as they understood it. (Split)
This is a reminder of God’s power and the Bible’s ability to transcend time, guiding and protecting His people in every age.
Revelation 11:7-9 however, talks of the bodies of the two witnesses lying in the streets.
What does this mean? While keeping in mind that the language is symbolic, read Revelation 11:7-9 then continue to the next Segment of this video, Part 4: Two Witnesses Are Killed
We now explore the dramatic prophecies of Revelation 11:7–9, keeping in mind that the language is symbolic; we learn the outcome of God’s two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments, during a pivotal moment in history.
It began in 538 A.D. when the Roman Empire collapsed. Justinian, the Emperor of Rome, surrendered civil, political, and religious authority to Pope Vigillis.
This marked the start of the medieval church’s control and its long reign over both religious and political affairs.
This era of ecclesiastical or church dominance lasted until February 10, 1798, when the French general Berthier, under the order of Napoleon, entered Rome and captured Pope Pius VI.
He was taken captive and brought back to France, where he died.
This event ended the Roman church’s political authority, fulfilling the prophecy in Daniel and Revelation that predicted the church’s control would last 1,260 years.
This period mirrored real-time history, affirming the reliability of biblical prophecy.
The books of Daniel and Revelation foretell that the church’s control would end after 1,260 days or 1,260 literal years.
History shows us that this is exactly what happened.
For sure, we can trust the Bible!
The downfall of one power gave rise to another enemy. This was the beast spoken of in Revelation 11:7 that ascends out of the bottomless pit.
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
Satan warred against the two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments. He then initiated a new assault on the authority of the Bible during the tumultuous French Revolution, which began in 1789.
Orchestrated by Him, the French Revolution saw a radical shift.
It shifted from Christian ideologies to atheistic ideologies.
The French government attempted to replace Christianity with a secular religion centered on human reasoning.
On November 10, 1793, France celebrated the Festival of Reason.
They converted churches into Temples of Reason, and a living woman was enthroned as the Goddess of Reason.
During this era, Bibles were publicly burned.
The existence of God was outright denied, and death was declared to be an endless sleep.
Thus, Satan, symbolized by the beast from the bottomless pit, worked with godless men to kill God’s two witnesses, as foretold in Revelation 11:8.
This scripture movingly notes, “Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” (Revelation 11:8)
The references to “Sodom and Egypt” are symbolic:
As indicated in Exodus 5:2, Egypt was a culture known for its many gods and denial of the true God.
Meanwhile, Sodom represents the depths of moral corruption and gross immorality.
Through their anti-religious laws, the French Revolution’s leaders mirrored these ancient societies, attempting to eliminate the influence of the Old and New Testaments.
Revelation 11:9 reveals that the bodies of God’s two witnesses would lie unburied for “three-and-a-half days. ”
The three and a half days symbolically represent three and a half years.
Atheism was at its height during the French Revolution, which lasted for about three and a half years from November 26, 1793, when a decree issued in Paris abolished religion, until June 17, 1797, when the French government finally repealed these laws.
Can you see the road on which society is traveling today with the discard of the Bible?
This historical episode is a powerful testament to the enduring truth of the Scriptures and their prophecies.
Despite attempts to suppress God’s word, it remains a guiding light for believers.
“…the same Spirit that has guided the Lord’s work all the way through will guide it today. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”—Ellen G. White Comments, in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1179.
Though it may have appeared the end of God’s two witnesses during the French Revolution, the word of God stands forever through every challenge and change.
See the two Witnesses Resurrected.
View the next segment of this video: Part 5: Two Witnesses Resurrected
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 6)
The Two Witnesses
Part 5: The Two Witnesses Resurrected
Although it seemed like the end of God’s two witnesses, Revelation 11:11 captures the spirit and power of God’s Word reborn.
It foretells the resurgence of the two witnesses, saying:
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. (Revelation 11:11)
WOW! After three and a half prophetic days, or rather, three and a half literal years, God’s word, the Old and New Testament, was raised back to life again.
At the close of the turbulent French Revolution, the Bible experienced a remarkable revival.
It was figuratively brought back to life—resurrected from the dead. (Split)
This resurgence marked a new era in which the Bible regained its influence and became a source of spiritual rejuvenation worldwide.
Great fear fell on those who saw God’s Word once more become the living power to save.
Therefore, people from all walks of life rekindled their regard for the Bible.
This renewed energy was not limited to just personal studies; it sparked a global movement.
At the end of the eighteenth century, God raised up men and women who were committed to taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Trailblazers like William Carey journeyed to distant lands such as India, translating the Bible into dozens of local dialects and spreading the scriptures far and wide.
This period witnessed a massive increase in Bible distribution worldwide.
This was a testament not to chance but to the divine nature of the Scriptures and the power of God.
Demonstrating that God’s Word is alive and well, the Study Guides expresses:
God’s Word is the living Word, and although to some it may seem “dead,” it was still living in the hearts of believers and rose again to full life, as Revelation’s prophecies had predicted. (Sabbath School Adult Study Guide – Wednesday the Two Witnesses Resurrected)
In fact, Critics had declared the Bible “dead” during the French Revolution. But, it continued to thrive in the hearts of God’s faithful believers.
Post-revolution, it “came back to life,” fulfilling the promise of Revelation 11:11.
God is faithful and always keeps his promises.
Consider the words of Voltaire, a noted skeptic, who once claimed he would single-handedly dismantle Christianity. (Split)
Despite his efforts and those of many others, the Bible has survived and multiplied exponentially.
Psalm 119:89 and Psalm 111:7, 8, underscore the enduring truth and reliability of the Bible:
Psalms 119:89 says
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. (Psalms 119:89)
And Psalms 111:7-8 says:
7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness. (Psalms 111:7-8)
Despite ongoing challenges, attacks, and skepticism, the Bible’s divine commandments and teachings remain steadfast and trustworthy.
The story of the two witnesses and the French Revolution is not just history but a call to recognize the Bible’s everlasting power and relevance to every generation.
Let us not be swayed by skepticism or disappointment. The Bible stands strong. It is a beacon light of hope and a source of renewal for all who embrace its words.
Embrace this living Word as your guide and let it direct you to a fuller, more purposeful life.
The story of the two witnesses was only the introduction to their comeback.
Continue to the next segment of this video to see the outcome: Part 6: Truth Triumphant
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 6)
The Two Witnesses
Part 6: Truth Triumphant
Despite Satan’s assaults on God’s two witnesses. His words assure us that His mission on earth prevails. The gospel, as expressed in Revelation 14:6, will reach “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
Moreover, the war between Christ and Satan will end with Christ completely defeating and annihilating the powers of evil.
Sin will be eradicated from the universe, and God’s kingdom will stand forever.
Yes, Revelation 11 begins with a gloomy scene of total chaos. It shows Satan attempting, through the French Revolution, destroy the Christian faith and eradicate their belief in God.
Nevertheless, Revelation ends on a good note, with God’s kingdom overcoming Satan and all the principalities and powers of evil destroyed.
Knowing this is reassuring, especially during times of hardships and difficulties faced because of our faith in Jesus and our steadfastness in walking in the light of His word.
Revelation 11:15–18 holds the key: In the grand finale of the cosmic conflict, Jesus emerges victorious, Satan is defeated, evil is eradicated, righteousness triumphs, and truth reigns victorious.
Showing the value of being grounded in God’s two witnesses, the book The Great Controversy points out that: “Whatever is built upon the authority of man will be overthrown; but that which is founded upon the rock of God’s immutable word shall stand forever.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 288.
Revelation 11:19 gives us more assurance. In it, John shares what he witnesses in a prophetic vision. He observes the opening of the temple of God in heaven.
There, he gets a glimpse of the Most Holy Place and sees the ark of the covenant. Why is this significant? (Split)
The ark, just like the one in the Old Testament, which was a pattern of the original one in heaven, signifies God’s glorious presence.
God’s presence radiated between two angelic figures. His presence was represented by a divine light emanating between two golden cherubim above the ark.
Contained within the ark was God’s law, a testament to the principle that although we are saved by grace alone through faith, obedience to God’s law reveals whether our faith is genuine.
In other words, the law is the marker of our true faith and will be the standard in the final judgment, as James 2:12 states.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12)
John also indicates its relevance at the end of time in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)
The French Revolution sought to demolish Christian belief and faith in God, but the closing scenes of Revelation affirm the restoration and supremacy of God’s law.
As we face challenges for our faith, Revelation 11 provides a blueprint for hope and comfort. It reassures us that no matter how bad it gets, Christ will ultimately win this battle.
In His everlasting kingdom, we will have eternal peace—void of Satan, sin, and evil.
Therefore, let us embrace his two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments.
Let us not be just sayers but doers.
Let His Enduring Word be your guide today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
————————————————
Thank you for watching this video to be notified when my next video comes out, Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Sabbath School Daily, by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis.
You may also obtain the free study guide during the Sabbath.School or ssnet.org
If you enjoyed this video and want to make it available for your friends and family to watch, click Like…..then…..Share.
Thank you for Liking, Sharing, and Subscribing.
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
Watch Past and Present Lessons at SabbathSchoolDaily.com
