Pastor Riley's Response

December 15, 20

Dear brother in Christ,

      I intended to get right back to answering your letter, but have had too many other matters pressing in on me.  Anyway, thank you for writing.  
     I will attempt to answer your letter as kindly and politely as I am able to do so, and still remain true to God's inspired Word.  
     Your very first topic was "The Two Witnesses."  So what follows is my response to your letter......

     Your statement was;  "Certainly John was able to measure, see and observe the Tribulation temple during his visions in the 1st century, so I don't think Johns measuring the temple proves he would be one of the two witnesses...
     Note Jesus comment about John that "What if John remains until I come?"
     once again, not conclusive...
Moses and Elijah
Remember they appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.
Enoch and Elijah
both removed by God  
Anyway, imho none of these are conclusive:)

    Dear brother, I copied your statement word for word verbatim right from the letter you sent to me..  
     And I could not disagree with you more!   What you have told me is that you hardly paid attention to anything I wrote about the two witnesses.   
    That would be okay if that is your choice.  Neither you nor any other reader of my studies is obligated to read them, or seriously study what I have written.  Every true believer is "free in Christ" to decide for themselves whose writings they will read, and whether or not  they will take what they are reading seriously.  So that is your privilege.     
     However, I hardly think it right nor fair for anyone to set in judgment and criticize what someone has written, unless the critic has seriously studied what has been written.  
     Dear brother, I  am not writing to draw attention to myself, but to set forth the great truths of God's Word for God's people, and for lost seeking souls.  My studies, by the grace of God, do go all over this nation, and even into several foreign countries.   Therefore, what I write must be Scripturally correct, before I send it out.    
     Brother, I pray earnestly about the studies I write, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, just as the Lord pointed out in John 16:13.  Anyone can repeat the popular opinions held by others, but today fewer and fewer people are staying with what the Word of God actually and literally says.  And even fewer are seriously "studying" the Word as explicitly commanded in 2 Timothy 2:15.  
Scriptural Proof
     I was not dealing with what John may or may not have been " able to measure, see and observe" in my study. Rather, I was dealing with what the Scriptures; Rev. 11:1-2, actually and literally say.  Anyone can set forth the possibilities, ideas, opinions, and theories of men [and of women].   I was dealing with what John was actually commanded to do by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Go back to Revelation 11:1-2 and read it again.  
     The Lord Jesus who gave John this vision [Rev. 1:1-3] explicitly told John to, "Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein," Rev. 11:1.  
     Now this is why I know you didn't pay much attention to anything I wrote in my study on God's Two Witnesses........
     The Greek word translated as "Rise" in this Scripture, is the word, "egeiro."  See Strong's Concordance, No. 1453.  This Greek word literally means,  "to arise; to stand up from a prone or sleeping position; to awake from sleep; to restore from a dead or damaged state; to heal; to raise to life; to cause something to raise up; to lift up; to give birth to a child." In every place the word is used in the New Testament,  it means "to get up" from whatever  is called for in the Scripture.  
     The Greek word occurs 140 times in the New Testament.  It is used 92 times directly or indirectly referring to rising from the dead.  The other 48 times the word is used telling someone to arise, stand up, or get up.   How can I be so sure of all this?  Because I have "studied" every single 140 places this word occurs in the New Testament.
     It was then not just my personal opinion or theory, to conclude that the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 11:1 was giving  John a command to rise from the dead.   Now since John was not dead when he was given this command, it is then glaringly obvious that John was to fulfill this command of Christ, to rise from the dead,  at some point in the future.    At what point?  Study the context of Rev. 11.  
More Scriptural Proof
     The remainder of the command given to John was to ".....measure the temple of God....."  
     First, there was no temple of God for John to measure when he was given the command by Christ.  The Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Roman army in 70 A.D., and John did not receive his vision until 96 A.D.  So, if John was to obey the command of Christ, then the Temple John was to measure had to be a future Temple.  This calls for the  rebuilding of the Temple at some time in the future.  It doesn't require a great deal of intelligence to understand this!  Just careful "study."
     Second, the Greek word translated as "measure" in Rev. 11:1, is the word, "metreo," Strong's No. 3354.  
      Significantly, this Greek word DOES NOT mean to measure, as one would take a tape and measure the neck size or the waist size of another person; or to measure the size of a room in your home, or even to measure the size of your whole yard.  
     What this particular Greek word DOES MEAN is to lay out the design measurements, as an architect does when preparing to build a new building.   Now considering the context and command being given to John by the Lord Jesus, what new building could possibly be under consideration in this inspired Scripture?   Well...??  
     It should be glaringly obvious to those readers willing to receive God's inspired Word at face value for what it actually and literally says and teaches, that John was being given a command from Christ Jesus to lay out the architectural measurements for the Temple which will exist during the future Tribulation .  
     This is then absolute Scriptural PROOF that John will be raised from the dead at the time of the resurrection and rapture, and will serve as one of God's Two Witnesses to the nation and people of Israel.  
     And just as 11:10 says, the preaching of  John and Elijah [the other witness] will be a "torment"  to all the atheists, infidels, evolutionists, witches, wizards, sorcerers, mediums, and other wicked,  unbelieving, God hating,  Gentiles on the earth during the first  half of the Tribulation period.  God's Word, preached by Elijah and John, will be living proof of the reality of God and His Word, and will sting such evil people like the lash of a whip falling  upon their backs, and pricking their evil hearts.  .  
  The Reference to John Tarrying
     This reference is found in John 21:22-24.  
     Here is a classic example in the inspired Word of true believers not paying careful attention to what the Lord said, mis-interpreting what the Lord said, and mis-applying what the Lord said.  If it could happen to the Lord's disciples on that occasion, then it can happen to true believers today.  Take heed!   Now read on.......
     What the Lord Jesus said to Peter in John 21,  about John, was, "If I will that he tarry [remain behind] till I come [erchomai], what is that to thee?  follow thou Me." 21:22.    
     Peter and the other disciples, not paying careful attention to what the Lord had said, jumped to the conclusion that the Lord had said that John would not die.  Peter misunderstood what the Lord had told him. As a result all of the Lord's disciples mis-understood and mis-applied the Lord's statement,   just like some believers do today.  The next Scripture clearly states that what the Lord had said went forth among "the brethren," as claiming that John was not going to die.  Sadly, some believers are still repeating that fiction today.  But the inspired Word itself clearly states that this was not what the Lord had said, 21:23.  
     The "key word" here in the Lord's statement is the use of the Greek word, "erchomai," rather than using the word, "parousia," which also refers to a coming of Christ.  This particular Greek word, "erchomai,"  is always connected with the visible, bodily, return of the Lord Jesus Christ, back to the earth at His Second Coming.   This particular Greek word  never refers to the Lord's coming at the rapture.  
      History records that John did die, and has been deceased now for some 2,000 years.  John will be resurrected at the time appointed for the resurrection of all New Covenant believers.  But, instead of being "caught up" in the rapture, John will remain on the earth to serve as one of God''s Two Witnesses during the first half of the Tribulation period.  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!     Our God is so good and merciful to His people in revealing the great truths of His Word, when His people get serious about "studying" the Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible, and the Greek word translated as "study" still means we are to "STUDY!"
Moses and Elijah and Enoch and Elijah
     You did mention these men also, apparently as possible candidates for being the two witnesses.  So let's examine these two theories in the light of God's Word.  
     Enoch is sometimes suggested as possibly being one of the two witnesses, because he was raptured to glory never having died.  I would point out that Enoch lived and was raptured before the flood, and has nothing to do with this present dispensation, or with the Tribulation period to come.   
     Moses is also sometimes suggested as being one of the two witnesses because he appeared with Elijah at the Transfiguration.  The two accounts of the Transfiguration are recorded in Matthew 16:27-28 - 17:1-8,  and Mark 9:1-8.  
     I groan within my soul every time I hear this theory about Moses being one of the two witnesses, as proposed by some of God's people.  Some believers need to begin paying serious attention to what they read in God's Word.  Seriously!
     The context of the Transfiguration goes back into Matthew 16.  The Lord Himself explicitly stated in 16:28,
    "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till [until] they SEE the Son of man coming IN HIS KINGDOM."
     Then the very next Scripture, 17:1, begins telling us about the Transfiguration.  
     Notice that it occurred "...after six days..."  Why am I emphasizing this?   Because it is after six thousand years that the Lord Jesus will set up His glorious Kingdom upon the earth.  Type and fulfillment!  
     Those three disciples, Peter, James, and John, were shown a vision of Christ Jesus in His Kingdom, literally fulfilling the Lord's prophecy set forth in 16:28.  Certainly both Moses and Elijah will be in the Kingdom of Christ when it is established on the earth.  Any true believer ought to
be able to understand this truth about the Kingdom!  
     The vision of the Transfiguration of Christ,  has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection, the rapture, the Tribulation period, or the two witnesses during the Tribulation.  The Lord God Himself told us twice in His Word that the Transfiguration was a vision of the Kingdom.  See Mark 9:1-8. Our readers might also read the principle of repetition set forth in Genesis 41:32.        
Update and Warning
     It is much later than even most Christian believers think it is!  
      The recent Hanukkah observance in Israel, December 3rd-10th, is the most important Hanakkuh observance the Jewish people have had since 70 A.D.  Why?  I'm so glad you ask!  
      The Jewish Sanhedrin and the Torah observing Jews, on the final day of the observance of Hanukkah; December 10th, held a dedication ceremony, in view of building Israel's Third Temple.  They are planning to begin the rebuilding of the Temple in 2019.  Dear readers, this will be the Tribulation Temple spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 11:1.  
     Now in view of the truth I have  pointed out in this study, the Temple cannot be built until the resurrection and rapture has occurred,  for John himself will be the chief architect who lays out the design  and measurements for the building of the Temple.  Oh glory to God!  
     Dear readers, I am in bad physical health, and in danger of losing my eyesight.  But I asked the Lord in fervent prayer many years ago to please let me live until the rapture occurs.  Now it sure looks like my gracious Lord is going to answer my prayer.   Praise His Holy Name!
More Breaking News   
     The son-in-law of America's President Trump, has publicly stated that a World Peace Plan,  will be ready to be brought before the United Nations  in February of this coming year; 2019.    
     Now turn and read Daniel 9:27 again. This Sc.ripture is a prophecy of the future anti-christ "strengthening"  [Hebrew text] a "covenant" [peace plan] "with many" [the United Nations...??] "for one week"  [a week of years; seven years]. It is obvious that since he is  "strengthening" a covenant,  that covenant has to already be in existence.  Could the covenant of Daniel 9:27 be the World Peace Plan that is to be brought before the U.N. for approval this coming February?  I don't know!  But all of us living today will soon know!    Read this Scripture for yourselves in light of this public announcement.  America, for the present time, still being the nation leading the free world, wasn't blessed with a President named "Trump" [derived from trumpet] for no reason at all.  Read Daniel 2:20-22 and believe what it says!  The "Trump" has sounded for America!  Take heed!  
Conclusion
     I think I have made myself quite clear in this study.  Therefore, I stand by everything I have written about John the Revelator being one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11.  I make no apology to any reader for what I teach on this subject.  When the time arrives, John the Revelator will be one of God's two witnesses, whether some want to  believe it or not, and whether it fits some readers "theology" or not.   I am not trying to be proudhearted and arrogant, or offensive, in making this dogmatic statement.  Rather, I am trying to stay with what the inspired Word of God actually says and teaches.   Clear enough?  
      Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,  enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones, friends, and neighbors, and witness to and pray for them,  for this will be your last Christmas on this earth.  Therefore, it will also be your last opportunity to win those you love to Christ.  Our Lord is coming to take us home to glory REAL SOON!   
     This next week on the 21st we are entering the three months of the Winter season, but don't let yourself  become depressed by the dark days of winter.   Look beyond!  In view of Songs 2:8-13, I am personally looking foward to  the bursting forth of the first lovely yellow easter flowers in the Spring, and the cooing of the beautiful doves announcing that Spring is here.  This coming Spring I truly look for our Lord to come for us, and for us  to receive our new bodies, Philippians 3:30-31.
     Any reader of this study who is not saved, or who doesn't have the assurance of salvation in Christ,  had better get in a  rush to receive Christ for salvation and deliverance.  When that Trumpet sounds, it will be too late!  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  
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     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401
EMAIL..........    francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE........573-202-6493  
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