The prophet Daniel was enlightened regarding God’s time table for Israel. Whoever understands the various times given here, will also be able to place the events which happen between the rapture and the commencement of the Millenial reign. In Daniel 9: 24-27 we read about seventy “weeks”, which are not weeks of days but weeks of years, as understood by every Bible reader. Prophetically speaking, these are seventy weeks of years, and as can be clearly seen from verse 24, this pertains only to Daniels people, Israel, and to the holy city Jerusalem.

Three time limits are given: firstly, seven weeks of years; secondly, sixty-two weeks of years; thirdly, one week of years. It is most essential to understand this correctly, because Christ, the Messiah, was to be cut off at the end of the sixty-two weeks subsequent to, or following the seven weeks already described (in verse 26). In verse 27 we read, “And he (the prince, the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

From the going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem (445 B. C.) until Messiah, the Prince, is cut off (i.e., crucified) were seven weeks and threescore and two weeks, which is exactly 69 x 7 = 483 years. As soon as the time for the gentile nations is over God starts the last week; the first three and half years for the ministry of the two witnesses and the second part for the great tribulation.

As soon as Satan, the old dragon, is cast out of heaven, the Bible has this to say: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Rev. 12: 12). Evidently this scripture refers to the short span of time between the taking away of the Bride and the ushering in of the Millenial reign. During this period Satan will pour out his indignation upon the earth through the antichrist. Then he will incarnate in his vicar, the wicked one (II Th. 2: 8). He did not succeed in devouring the elect, the Bride church, which has come “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4: 13). Because of this Rev. 12 speaks of a “man child”. The great Dragon (Satan) will be angry against the church — the woman who will remain behind but had given birth to the man child “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (Rev. 12: 5). This promise “to rule all nations” is not only given in reference to Christ but it is also one of the seven promises given to the overcomers. “And he that over-cometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 2: 26-27).

In Biblical prophecy the symbol of a wife is used in the Old Testament for Israel and also for the church in the New Testament. In the book of Revelation we see two totally different churches: the one of Christ and the other one of the antichrist. The true church is shown in Rev. 12 and the antichrist-church in Rev. 17.

John saw a woman clothed with the sun. This signifies that the New Testament church is clothed with Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness. The moon under the woman’s feet is the foundation upon which she stands: the prophetic word which went forth during the time span of the Old Testament. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so is the Old Testament illuminated by the Sun of righteousness to show us the fulfil-ment of its prophecies in the New Testament. The woman’s crown of twelve stars represents the doctrine of the twelve apostles with which the New Testament church is crowned.

In every age there have been the chosen and the called ones. The multitude of the overcomers are made up of the elect. The church which remains behind is composed of the called ones. They are also clean and holy as our Lord refers to them in the parable of Mt. 25 as virgins, but foolish ones (in comparison to the others, who were the wise virgins going in to the marriage).

The church which remains behind does not fall into the hands of Satan, but will be sustained and fed as Israel was in the wilderness, “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days … that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the ser-pent …” (Rev. 12: 6+14). Even the exact span of time she will be taken care of is given.

After this we see the third group “And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12: 17). It is the same seed, but of different categories. Those mentioned here can only be the 144,000 Israelites. In order that all might know that a woman in prophecy represents a church, we shall briefly discuss the 144,000, of whom it is written, “These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins” (Rev. 14: 4). This means that the 144,000 will never belong to a Christian denomination or church, but will actually be called out and sealed under the ministry of the two prophets, after the taking away of the bride-church but before the great tribulation and persecution (Rev. 7: 1-8).

According to Rev. 11 the two prophets will have their ministry for the space of three and a half years, through which the 144,000, out of all the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 7: 3-8) will be sealed. In verse 3 we read, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” This means that during the three and a half years no judgment of God can fall until the sealing of the 144,000 is completed. At that time the prophecy given by Zechariah will be fulfilled, that the Spirit of grace and of supplications will be poured out upon Israel, “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him …” (12: 10-11).

The Jews did not recognize their Messiah at His first coming and therefore did not receive Him (Jn. 1: 11). In the same way as Joseph of the Old Testament made himself known to his brethren on their second visit to Egypt, at which time they recognized him, so will it be with the Messiah, when He comes to Israel the second time: they will look upon Him whom they have pierced. Joseph left his bride whom he had taken from the Gen-tiles, in the palace, dismissing everyone while he made himself known to his brethren. “Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren” (Gen. 45: 1).

In the same way, Christ has chosen a Bride from the nations; He will take her to the Wedding Supper, leaving her in the heavenly palaces to return alone to reveal Himself to His brethren as soon as they are all sealed. This will be His first coming after His return and the rapture. John saw the Saviour as a lamb with the 144,000 on Mount Zion. Mount Zion at that time will be the central point from which God’s mighty works will be known throughout the world. “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isa. 25: 7).

At that time Israel will recognize the covenant which God made with them as still valid. When God came down to give the law on Mount Sinai, He appeared in the visible form and shape of an angel. Therefore He is being spoken of as the “angel of the covenant” (Mal. 3: 1). Stephen, speak-ing of Moses referred to the angel of the covenant in Acts 7: 38, “This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers.”

After the Lord has made Himself known to His brethren, the Jews, He will put His feet upon the earth and the sea as the original owner and claim it according to Rev. 10. This will be His second coming after the return and the taking away of the Bride to Glory. “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rain-bow was upon his head, and his face was as though it were the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire” (Rev. 10: 1). The rainbow in the Holy Scriptures signifies the token of the covenant (Gen. 9: 13-16). In fact, the word “covenant” appears 7 times in that chapter and the rainbow is spoken of 5 times as the token of the covenant.

The prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord on the throne and states, “I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about” (Ezek. 1: 27b-28). Almost the same description is found in Rev. 4: 2-3, “Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.” The rainbow above the head of the mighty Angel is to make plain, that the New covenant is valid for Israel. “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Rom. 11: 27; Heb. 8: 6-13).

“And he had in his hand a little scroll open” (Rev. 10: 2). This signifies very clearly that the book which was sealed on the backside with seven seals at the time of this coming was already opened (Rev. 5). He now puts His right foot on the sea and His left on the earth and cries, “with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth.” Here we see the change from Lamb, which speaks of redemption, to the Lion which signifies the King.

To the 144,000 who are sealed He comes as the Lamb-Redeemer. “These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev. 14: 4). In the same connection the prophet Hosea writes, “They shall walk after the Lord; he shall roar like a lion; when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west” (Hos. 11: 10). Similar words are found in the prophet Amos, “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem” (1: 2). “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3: 16).

In Rev. 5: 5 our Lord is also spoken of as a lion, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose its seven seals.” When Jacob blessed his son Judah, he spoke by the inspiration of the Spirit this prophetic utterance, “Judah is a lion’s whelp … The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen. 49: 9-10).

“And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices” (Rev. 10: 3), not before! Whenever God speaks, it is like a roar of a thunder. “Hear atten-tively the noise of his voice … God thundereth marvellously with his voice” (Job 37: 2-5). “Then came there a voice from heaven … The people, theref-ore, that stood by and heard it, said that it thundered” (Jn. 12: 28-29). What the seven thunders uttered was sealed and not written. Therefore it can never be preached, as it did not become a part of the written Word of God. It simply pertains to the final and secret doings of God at that time. At this occasion the mighty angel raises His right hand towards heaven, “and swears by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, and the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things which are in it, that there should be time (delay) no longer” (Rev. 10: 6).

The prophet Daniel in chapter 12 saw the same event in a preview. He asked, how long it would be until the end of these wonders. The reply was very clear, “… he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven and swore by him who liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half” (v. 7). Based on this Scripture it is clear that from the time of the oath of this mighty angel, there are exactly three and a half years to the consummation and the ushering in of the Millenial reign. Amen.

May we now briefly summarize: The two prophets will have their ministry for three and a half years. During this time no one can touch them because they have absolute divine authority, “… fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies …” (Rev. 11: 5-6). Their ministry reminds us very definitely about the two special prophets Moses and Elijah. The assertion that Enoch would be one of the two witnesses does not fit the picture here. Enoch was the seventh from Adam and there-fore a perfect type of those who will be transformed and taken up at the end of this age without tasting death. Moses and Elijah also came down on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17). Both are mentioned in the last three verses in the Old Testament.

As a result of the preaching and prophesying of the two witnesses, at the end of their ministry the 144,000 Jews are shown sealed on Mount Zion. To them the Lord comes and makes Himself known as the Messiah, the Lamb of God. At that time those Israelites (the 144,000) become fully aware of the New Testament covenant’s validity. They recognize the Anti-christ, who then breaks the covenant (Dan. 9: 27). At this moment in time the great tribulation and the persecution set in. “… and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months … And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them” (Rev. 13: 5-7). The prophet Daniel prophesied about those saints of the Most High, “… they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (7: 25).

After the two witnesses have come to the end of their testimony they will be killed (Rev. 11: 7). During this horrible time of persecution the 144,000 will be slain as martyrs, as foretold in the fifth seal. They will have to give their lives as their brothers did who went before them. In reference to this we must read Rev. 14: 12, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” This will take place and will be in force at that time, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them” (v. 13).

Our Lord has foretold the scattering of the people of Israel among all nations. He also informed us that He will bring them back from the ends of the earth to the promised land. In connection with this we may read, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Lk. 21: 24).

In the fifth seal (Rev. 6: 9-11) we read about the souls under the altar who were killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. Those martyrs did not have the testimony of Jesus Christ. They held to the Word of God, but they had no revelation that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They had not recognized Him. Therefore this group is composed of all the Jews who were murdered and slain just because they were Jews throughout the period following the first advent of the Messiah. Because they had not experienced salvation, they were crying for revenge. Those who are redeemed will pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” These under the fifth seal cry, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” God, the righteous Judge, let everyone have a white robe; “and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

The word “servants” in this connection has no association with the New Testament gentile church ages. We are the sons and daughters of God. That is our relationship to our Heavenly Father as His children. In Bible prophecy the Israelites are called servants and handmaids and not sons and daughters. Without any doubt the 144,000 spoken of in the Scripture (Rev. 6: 11) are the fruit of the ministry of the two witnesses and will have to go through the terrible three and a half years of tribulation and persecution by the Antichrist.

The prophet Daniel was enlightened regarding God’s time table for Israel. Whoever understands the various times given here, will also be able to place the events which happen between the rapture and the commencement of the Millenial reign. In Daniel 9: 24-27 we read about seventy “weeks”, which are not weeks of days but weeks of years, as understood by every Bible reader. Prophetically speaking, these are seventy weeks of years, and as can be clearly seen from verse 24, this pertains only to Daniels people, Israel, and to the holy city Jerusalem.

Three time limits are given: firstly, seven weeks of years; secondly, sixty-two weeks of years; thirdly, one week of years. It is most essential to understand this correctly, because Christ, the Messiah, was to be cut off at the end of the sixty-two weeks subsequent to, or following the seven weeks already described (in verse 26). In verse 27 we read, “And he (the prince, the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

From the going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem (445 B. C.) until Messiah, the Prince, is cut off (i.e., crucified) were seven weeks and threescore and two weeks, which is exactly 69 x 7 = 483 years. As soon as the time for the gentile nations is over God starts the last week; the first three and half years for the ministry of the two witnesses and the second part for the great tribulation.

As soon as Satan, the old dragon, is cast out of heaven, the Bible has this to say: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Rev. 12: 12). Evidently this scripture refers to the short span of time between the taking away of the Bride and the ushering in of the Millenial reign. During this period Satan will pour out his indignation upon the earth through the antichrist. Then he will incarnate in his vicar, the wicked one (II Th. 2: 8). He did not succeed in devouring the elect, the Bride church, which has come “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4: 13). Because of this Rev. 12 speaks of a “man child”. The great Dragon (Satan) will be angry against the church — the woman who will remain behind but had given birth to the man child “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (Rev. 12: 5). This promise “to rule all nations” is not only given in reference to Christ but it is also one of the seven promises given to the overcomers. “And he that over-cometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 2: 26-27).

In Biblical prophecy the symbol of a wife is used in the Old Testament for Israel and also for the church in the New Testament. In the book of Revelation we see two totally different churches: the one of Christ and the other one of the antichrist. The true church is shown in Rev. 12 and the antichrist-church in Rev. 17.

John saw a woman clothed with the sun. This signifies that the New Testament church is clothed with Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness. The moon under the woman’s feet is the foundation upon which she stands: the prophetic word which went forth during the time span of the Old Testament. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so is the Old Testament illuminated by the Sun of righteousness to show us the fulfil-ment of its prophecies in the New Testament. The woman’s crown of twelve stars represents the doctrine of the twelve apostles with which the New Testament church is crowned.

In every age there have been the chosen and the called ones. The multitude of the overcomers are made up of the elect. The church which remains behind is composed of the called ones. They are also clean and holy as our Lord refers to them in the parable of Mt. 25 as virgins, but foolish ones (in comparison to the others, who were the wise virgins going in to the marriage).

The church which remains behind does not fall into the hands of Satan, but will be sustained and fed as Israel was in the wilderness, “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days … that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the ser-pent …” (Rev. 12: 6+14). Even the exact span of time she will be taken care of is given.

After this we see the third group “And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12: 17). It is the same seed, but of different categories. Those mentioned here can only be the 144,000 Israelites. In order that all might know that a woman in prophecy represents a church, we shall briefly discuss the 144,000, of whom it is written, “These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins” (Rev. 14: 4). This means that the 144,000 will never belong to a Christian denomination or church, but will actually be called out and sealed under the ministry of the two prophets, after the taking away of the bride-church but before the great tribulation and persecution (Rev. 7: 1-8).

According to Rev. 11 the two prophets will have their ministry for the space of three and a half years, through which the 144,000, out of all the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 7: 3-8) will be sealed. In verse 3 we read, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” This means that during the three and a half years no judgment of God can fall until the sealing of the 144,000 is completed. At that time the prophecy given by Zechariah will be fulfilled, that the Spirit of grace and of supplications will be poured out upon Israel, “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him …” (12: 10-11).

The Jews did not recognize their Messiah at His first coming and therefore did not receive Him (Jn. 1: 11). In the same way as Joseph of the Old Testament made himself known to his brethren on their second visit to Egypt, at which time they recognized him, so will it be with the Messiah, when He comes to Israel the second time: they will look upon Him whom they have pierced. Joseph left his bride whom he had taken from the Gen-tiles, in the palace, dismissing everyone while he made himself known to his brethren. “Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren” (Gen. 45: 1).

In the same way, Christ has chosen a Bride from the nations; He will take her to the Wedding Supper, leaving her in the heavenly palaces to return alone to reveal Himself to His brethren as soon as they are all sealed. This will be His first coming after His return and the rapture. John saw the Saviour as a lamb with the 144,000 on Mount Zion. Mount Zion at that time will be the central point from which God’s mighty works will be known throughout the world. “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isa. 25: 7).

At that time Israel will recognize the covenant which God made with them as still valid. When God came down to give the law on Mount Sinai, He appeared in the visible form and shape of an angel. Therefore He is being spoken of as the “angel of the covenant” (Mal. 3: 1). Stephen, speak-ing of Moses referred to the angel of the covenant in Acts 7: 38, “This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers.”

After the Lord has made Himself known to His brethren, the Jews, He will put His feet upon the earth and the sea as the original owner and claim it according to Rev. 10. This will be His second coming after the return and the taking away of the Bride to Glory. “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rain-bow was upon his head, and his face was as though it were the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire” (Rev. 10: 1). The rainbow in the Holy Scriptures signifies the token of the covenant (Gen. 9: 13-16). In fact, the word “covenant” appears 7 times in that chapter and the rainbow is spoken of 5 times as the token of the covenant.

The prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord on the throne and states, “I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about” (Ezek. 1: 27b-28). Almost the same description is found in Rev. 4: 2-3, “Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.” The rainbow above the head of the mighty Angel is to make plain, that the New covenant is valid for Israel. “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Rom. 11: 27; Heb. 8: 6-13).

“And he had in his hand a little scroll open” (Rev. 10: 2). This signifies very clearly that the book which was sealed on the backside with seven seals at the time of this coming was already opened (Rev. 5). He now puts His right foot on the sea and His left on the earth and cries, “with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth.” Here we see the change from Lamb, which speaks of redemption, to the Lion which signifies the King.

To the 144,000 who are sealed He comes as the Lamb-Redeemer. “These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev. 14: 4). In the same connection the prophet Hosea writes, “They shall walk after the Lord; he shall roar like a lion; when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west” (Hos. 11: 10). Similar words are found in the prophet Amos, “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem” (1: 2). “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3: 16).

In Rev. 5: 5 our Lord is also spoken of as a lion, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose its seven seals.” When Jacob blessed his son Judah, he spoke by the inspiration of the Spirit this prophetic utterance, “Judah is a lion’s whelp … The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen. 49: 9-10).

“And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices” (Rev. 10: 3), not before! Whenever God speaks, it is like a roar of a thunder. “Hear atten-tively the noise of his voice … God thundereth marvellously with his voice” (Job 37: 2-5). “Then came there a voice from heaven … The people, theref-ore, that stood by and heard it, said that it thundered” (Jn. 12: 28-29). What the seven thunders uttered was sealed and not written. Therefore it can never be preached, as it did not become a part of the written Word of God. It simply pertains to the final and secret doings of God at that time. At this occasion the mighty angel raises His right hand towards heaven, “and swears by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, and the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things which are in it, that there should be time (delay) no longer” (Rev. 10: 6).

The prophet Daniel in chapter 12 saw the same event in a preview. He asked, how long it would be until the end of these wonders. The reply was very clear, “… he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven and swore by him who liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half” (v. 7). Based on this Scripture it is clear that from the time of the oath of this mighty angel, there are exactly three and a half years to the consummation and the ushering in of the Millenial reign. Amen.

May we now briefly summarize: The two prophets will have their ministry for three and a half years. During this time no one can touch them because they have absolute divine authority, “… fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies …” (Rev. 11: 5-6). Their ministry reminds us very definitely about the two special prophets Moses and Elijah. The assertion that Enoch would be one of the two witnesses does not fit the picture here. Enoch was the seventh from Adam and there-fore a perfect type of those who will be transformed and taken up at the end of this age without tasting death. Moses and Elijah also came down on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17). Both are mentioned in the last three verses in the Old Testament.

As a result of the preaching and prophesying of the two witnesses, at the end of their ministry the 144,000 Jews are shown sealed on Mount Zion. To them the Lord comes and makes Himself known as the Messiah, the Lamb of God. At that time those Israelites (the 144,000) become fully aware of the New Testament covenant’s validity. They recognize the Anti-christ, who then breaks the covenant (Dan. 9: 27). At this moment in time the great tribulation and the persecution set in. “… and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months … And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them” (Rev. 13: 5-7). The prophet Daniel prophesied about those saints of the Most High, “… they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (7: 25).

After the two witnesses have come to the end of their testimony they will be killed (Rev. 11: 7). During this horrible time of persecution the 144,000 will be slain as martyrs, as foretold in the fifth seal. They will have to give their lives as their brothers did who went before them. In reference to this we must read Rev. 14: 12, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” This will take place and will be in force at that time, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them” (v. 13).

Our Lord has foretold the scattering of the people of Israel among all nations. He also informed us that He will bring them back from the ends of the earth to the promised land. In connection with this we may read, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Lk. 21: 24).

In the fifth seal (Rev. 6: 9-11) we read about the souls under the altar who were killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. Those martyrs did not have the testimony of Jesus Christ. They held to the Word of God, but they had no revelation that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They had not recognized Him. Therefore this group is composed of all the Jews who were murdered and slain just because they were Jews throughout the period following the first advent of the Messiah. Because they had not experienced salvation, they were crying for revenge. Those who are redeemed will pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” These under the fifth seal cry, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” God, the righteous Judge, let everyone have a white robe; “and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

The word “servants” in this connection has no association with the New Testament gentile church ages. We are the sons and daughters of God. That is our relationship to our Heavenly Father as His children. In Bible prophecy the Israelites are called servants and handmaids and not sons and daughters. Without any doubt the 144,000 spoken of in the Scripture (Rev. 6: 11) are the fruit of the ministry of the two witnesses and will have to go through the terrible three and a half years of tribulation and persecution by the Antichrist.