There is no scriptural basis whatever in the Old Testament or the New for the current concept that two Old Testament patriarchs will be introduced into the Church age to perform the task of bearing witness of the soon coming of the Kingdom of God. If two such men were to be raised from the dead or descend from Heaven it would certainly say so at least once in the Old Testament or the New Testament.

All of the cardinal doctrines of Evangelicalism are found both in the Old Testament and the New. We Evangelicals have added fables and notions that are destructive of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

It is to bear such a witness to the ends of the earth that the Christian churches have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Remember too that he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.

We know from the four references in the Scriptures, three in the Old Testament and one in the New, that God is waiting for the earth to receive the spring (latter) rain. The spring (harvest) rain of the Spirit is described in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. The fall (planting) rain of the Spirit is described in the Book of Acts.

The two Lampstands represent Jesus Christ and His Body. The two olive trees speak of the double portion of the Holy Spirit by which the saints of the last days will be empowered to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to every nation as a witness. When the witness has been concluded, the end of the Church Age will be upon us.

The reason the witnesses will cause such destruction is that they will be portraying what the world can expect when the Lord Jesus descends from Heaven with His saints and holy angels. Remember, they will be bearing witness of the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth. The rule of the Kingdom of God will be with a rule of iron, smashing to pieces all resistance.

The world of our day has been told many times of the love of God. The nations need to realize also that God does not permit disobedience to His will. He is very good but also very severe. The God of the Old Testament is the same God as He who is announced in the New Testament. Even the righteous are saved with difficulty!

The outpouring of the Spirit will be for the purpose of bearing witness. This is so hard for us to understand because we are accustomed to the idea of preaching being for the purpose of inviting people to accept Christ and be saved. The concept of preaching being for the purpose of bearing witness of the coming of a kingdom that will bring justice to the meek and destruction to the wicked may be new to us.

But this is exactly what is at hand!

To be continued.