Lastday
Winman,
I have been slow to answer your post of Saturday because I needed to reflect
on the attitudes of those who have contributed to this thread. You are the only
one that has been willing to consider the merits of my opposing viewpoint!
It seems the central question in your mind is summed up in your quote:
Jesus did not say to his disciples standing there...
(correct; "there" is not the same as "here" because the time in question is 3 days when "time is no longer" and the second coming is "about" to occur)...
that they (correct; "they" being the few who survive almost to the End)...
would be alive when he comes in his kingdom, he says that some of them would not die until they see it. That is a very big difference (That is my
point...the difference of 1977 years between AD 33 and 2010...and with 23 more years to complete the "two days" for His return per Hos.5:14 to 6:2)...
And John did see Jesus coming in his kingdom in Revelations 12 before he died on the isle of Patmos.
My response has been that Jesus used the 2nd P.Sing. in reference to what John saw; but changed to the 3rd P. Plural in reference to "those few who must still taste death" after surviving the 1260 days of God's Kingdom Power.
That, I believe, is the context in which John "saw" the role of the Two
Witnesses. The most convincing reason for putting the future fulfillment of
"prophesying again" into the Endtime of 1260 days is the Parallel in Dan.12.
There, as well in Rev.10, the one who "swore in the name of the eternal
Creator that time was no longer" had selective reference to the 1290 days
(cut short) by Revelation to 1260 days. Daniel was mainly concerned with what happens at the "End of Time".
Tom Riggis and Logos1 have both voluntarily "weeded" themselves out of
discussion with you by refusing to "waste time with anyone not worth talking to"; although Logos1 keeps winging it when he sees opportunity to deny the
literalness of the truth...such as claiming "no one will be caught up from the earth" and that there is no such a thing as a future "end of time". Logos1
has agreed with me that we hold nothing in common relative to eschatology.
Now, back to the "End of Time" which cannot occur until the Two Prophets "finish demonstrating God's Kingdom Power for 1260 days...when the Mystery of God also is finished" and the Last One is killed who "must be killed before God avenges their blood". Rev.10:6-7; Rev.6:9-11.
The Mighty Angel and Voice from heaven told John he must prophesy again, immediately after the Voice had forbidden John to write the messages of the 7 thunders because they were "sealed" AND immediately after the Angel
told him to eat these messages which was sweet to the taste but bitter in
his stomach.
The personal message could be that John knew he must personally reveal
those 7 messages as one of the Two Witnesses. That is why the ensuing
context describes their task and its importance in preparing God's FORMER
people to receive their Messiah as King. But before He comes as King, He
must fulfill the role of Bridegroom and "gather" His chosen ones to meet
Him in the sky...for only then can He fulfill Rev.17:14 and "come with all
the called, elect and faithful"...including those who survive to the END.
Mel Miller
