Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Tupac Amaru Shakur left a distinct impression on the culture of young America. In his twenty five years, before being killed in a hail of gunfire, many youth looked up to the fact that this fatherless child had reached the top of his profession and had “bling bling”.
In much the same way Elvis Aaron Presley touched the hearts of a generation of youth who were disenfranchised because of finances or culture. His untimely death at the hands of his own drug addiction left many without a hero.
Hillbilly or gang banger, white or black both of these men were idolized, by a legion of loyal fans, for their music, their movies, and their lifestyle. In many ways they were bigger than life, but neither proved to be bigger than death.
Yet, even in death these two men are joined by more that the obvious. Both are enshrined by stories of their generosity to those who, like them, came up with little or nothing. They were born into a world where superman had committed suicide and one in three African American men were caught up in the criminal justice system, and they did fill a void.
Tupac and Elvis were so gifted and needed that many of their fans still refuse to let them go. Stories, that both men still live, swirl around their deaths like bees around a honey comb. On every hip hop corner there is someone to explain “Tupac alive man, he ain’t dead”, and in every country bar room someone will proudly proclaim “Elvis is alive, I seen him and they showed it on TV”. Yes, for many the void of their absence is too much to bear.
The bible speaks of two other men who will fill a void. Men who will be killed but who won’t stay dead. Lazarus, who Jesus resurrected may come to mind or even the son of the widow who Elijah raised. But, neither of those men filled the massive void that would draw the attention of the entire world.
I am talking about the two witnesses of Revelation. These are men who will enter the void of a departing Church. Our Bible teaches that this will be a time of great trouble on the earth and their voices will only last a short time, 1260 days. These men will take the place of every Christian you have ever known and their voices will carry a power that Elvis and Tupac could never have imagined.
Their ability to stop the rain will cause the ungodly to rejoice at the death of these witnesses. Many people thought that Elvis and Tupac “got what they deserved”. But these prophets of God will not deserve what happens to them, anymore than Jesus did. Standing before the murderous anti-christ they will not be silent. Their voices will represent the last call to salvation; the last call to an eternity of peace. These two solitary men are the LAST prophets of God.
Don’t look to the world of pop to fill a void in your life. Perhaps God has sent a forerunner of these witnesses into your life? Do you rejoice when your witness leaves or do you laugh at their holiness? .Or, as you read this, are you drawn by the reality that you will not defeat death and the knowledge that there is something waiting after death? Are you reminded that there is only one way to peace? If so, God is calling You! Calling YOU, to let Him fill your void.
For the record, Tupac or Elvis will never get the job done.
Jesus did!
Article by Bishop James Brown
Bishop James Brown aka “I Feel God” is the founding pastor of Victory Intl Church in Fort Worth, Texas., he is called “The Internet’s Favorite Pastor”. In addition, Bishop is a prolific writer and speaker who is in demand for his insights on cutting edge ministry and technology. He is also founder of http://www.1000churches.org, a global Internet community for ministers.
©Copyright 2008. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
