Two Witnesses (Part 2)

This post is from my previous blog, Ear to the Heavens. Enjoy.

But authority must be backed by power or it is impotent.

Peter writes in 2 Peter, chapter 3, that the scoffers of this world have willfully put out of their minds the judgment that God brought on the world long ago: the flood. Nineveh, no doubt, knew of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When Jonah cried, “40 days and then destruction,” Nineveh’s king knew what to expect and he repented. Today, many have no regard for God. They neither believe in Him nor accredit anything to His glory. The thought of the return of Jesus Christ and the coming judgment is foolishness to many.

So perhaps, part of Moses and Elijah’s testimony is about the power of God and His judgment. Maybe, part of their testimony is as to the ability of Jesus to punish the wicked and destroy those who oppose Him. Jesus spoke of cosmic world-ending events and the Revelation prophesies coming judgments of fire and hail. What might Moses and Elijah have seen that would give them credibility as witnesses when it comes to God’s judgment?

Let’s take a moment to think about the eternal nature of God. It’s easier for us mere mortals to imagine time as a unidirectional dimension, or as a half dimension; in other words, we can go forward in time, but not backward. God, however, inhabits eternity and is not constrained by our dimensions – including time. He exists outside time. Therefore, where He exists, there is no passing of time as we imagine. Therefore, being unconstrained by time, it is possible for God to know the end from the beginning as He exists at both places on the time line at once. The great “I AM,” is eternally “present.” There is no beginning or end for He encompasses all of time. Imagine then, if it were His will, that God could open a door anywhere in the time line and interject Himself into it. If such a thing is true, then couldn’t the Lord interject Himself and any one inhabiting eternity with Him into any place along the timeline?

So back to the original question: What might Moses and Elijah have seen that would give them credibility as witnesses when it comes to God’s judgment?

Genesis 18:2 speaks of Abraham saying, “And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground…”

“And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” (Genesis 18:16)

“And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” (Genesis 18:22)

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even;” (Genesis 19:1)

“And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring [them] out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.” (Gen. 19:12-13)

“And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” (Gen 19:15-16)

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” (Gen. 19:24-25)

Perhaps, by some supernatural miracle beyond our comprehension, these 2 men are Moses and Elijah, now witnesses to the destructive power of God’s judgment? These two men are also eyewitness to the Justice of God. Lot, who was considered righteous because he was grieved by the decay all about him, was saved by God. God proved he would not destroy the righteous with the wicked.

Again, I would never teach this as doctrine, but is it a possibility? Of course it is. Is it important? That’s up to you. To me, it further magnifies my God and is further proof of the divine nature of God’s Word. I can’t and won’t believe that the details are insignificant. Why 2 men and not 1, 3, or 4? I believe God has given us all the information we need to put the puzzle together, we just need to find the pieces and recognize how they fit.

If one begins with Moses and Elijah dressed in white atop the mountain with the Lord, then how far a stretch is it to assume the two men in white at the ascension are also Moses and Elijah? And then, how far a reach is it to think that the two men at the tomb are also they? Soon, these things seem to be oh-so-connected.

End Part 2