THE TWO WITNESSES (5)
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, [2] “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. [3] Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. [4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. [5] No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. [6] Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. [7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The Book of Joshua shows us that Moses’ successor leads and brings God’s people into the promised land. This speaks prophetically of two things. The first “land” the apocalyptic two witnesses take is their own, their glorified bodies. God created man of the dust of the earth. He made man out of the land. God cursed the land just after their sin of eating the forbidden fruit. He also judged the beings he had made from that land by stripping them of their glory and leaving them “naked.” Since then God has taught mankind to retake his personal land by teaching him to recognize and repent of sin. We recently learned that this process is called “practicing rightousness.” God uses this process to make man into His own image. This has always been God’s plan. This shows us that God planned and intended that Adam eat the forbidden fruit.
The overcomers, which include all God’s elect of the first resurrection, will become the first group of people to ever experience the glorification of their bodies, the taking of their land. The Bible calls them the firstfruits of God and the barley harvest. They ripen into God’s image before any others. Some call these the “manifested sons of God.” God gives these ones rods of iron by which they will rule the earth. The peaceful earth they rule becomes the second aspect of “taking the land.” The overcomers, the apocalyptic two witnesses, will lead God’s people into the promised land of God’s Kingdom on earth. Only those who submit to God’s rule as taught by the Law and the Prophet can remain in this kingdom. All others belong to the “dogs” who dwell in the outer darkness beyond the Kingdom walls.
Below are the first few verses of Joshua where we see God personally instruct him in his new mission:
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, [2] “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. [3] Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. [4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. [5] No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. [6] Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. [7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:1-9 (ESV)
The Jordan represents the river of death. All who pass over must have already died, either physically, or spiritually. When glorified we will rule every place upon which we tread. No man will be able to stand against us. We will have power to “cause this people (God’s people) to inherit the land.” We will be strong, courageous and do all according to God’s Law. The Book of the Law will not depart from our mouths. God will give us success in all things. Such is the promise, the power, and the calling of the two witnesses.
THE TWO WITNESSES (5)
The Book of Joshua shows us that Moses’ successor leads and brings God’s people into the promised land. This speaks prophetically of two things. The first “land” the apocalyptic two witnesses take is their own, their glorified bodies. God created man of the dust of the earth. He made man out of the land. God cursed the land just after their sin of eating the forbidden fruit. He also judged the beings he had made from that land by stripping them of their glory and leaving them “naked.” Since then God has taught mankind to retake his personal land by teaching him to recognize and repent of sin. We recently learned that this process is called “practicing rightousness.” God uses this process to make man into His own image. This has always been God’s plan. This shows us that God planned and intended that Adam eat the forbidden fruit.
The overcomers, which include all God’s elect of the first resurrection, will become the first group of people to ever experience the glorification of their bodies, the taking of their land. The Bible calls them the firstfruits of God and the barley harvest. They ripen into God’s image before any others. Some call these the “manifested sons of God.” God gives these ones rods of iron by which they will rule the earth. The peaceful earth they rule becomes the second aspect of “taking the land.” The overcomers, the apocalyptic two witnesses, will lead God’s people into the promised land of God’s Kingdom on earth. Only those who submit to God’s rule as taught by the Law and the Prophet can remain in this kingdom. All others belong to the “dogs” who dwell in the outer darkness beyond the Kingdom walls.
Below are the first few verses of Joshua where we see God personally instruct him in his new mission:
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, [2] “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. [3] Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. [4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. [5] No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. [6] Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. [7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:1-9 (ESV)
The Jordan represents the river of death. All who pass over must have already died, either physically, or spiritually. When glorified we will rule every place upon which we tread. No man will be able to stand against us. We will have power to “cause this people (God’s people) to inherit the land.” We will be strong, courageous and do all according to God’s Law. The Book of the Law will not depart from our mouths. God will give us success in all things. Such is the promise, the power, and the calling of the two witnesses.
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