“Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”
Revelation 11:12 (NIV)
Woe to the earth when the church and civil government both disappear.
Can you imagine what it would be like on earth when all the Christians and every form of civil government disappeared?
The vision of Revelation 11 of the lampstands and olive trees appears to be a continuation of the vison Zechariah recorded in chapter 2 thru 4. In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor are the olive trees that are annointed to serve God on this earth. The church (Joshua), and the civil government (Zerubbabel ) have a God ordained, Spirit fueled role in preserving human life on earth and bringing the gospel to the earth.
John saw them disappear- he saw the end of their role on this earth - what a terrible time this will be.
We get glimpses of it when disaster strikes and anarchy rules, but eventually order is restored, and help is brought to the situation. But this is the whole earth, with no one to restore order and no one to bring help.
It is the truth that those who think humans would be better off without civil government or without the church, have no idea what they wish for.
Woe to the earth when God calls the church and civil government to heaven.
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