Two Witnesses’ Ministry

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. (Revelation 11:3-6, NIV 1984).

My Musings – These two may have been well known to John.  They are described by symbols: “the two olive trees” and “the two lampstands…that stand before the Lord of the earth.”  This may be reference to Joshua and Zerubbabel, two witnesses that God raised up in the Old Testament. “I [Zechariah] asked the angel, ‘What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?’ He said, ‘these are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.’ (Zechariah 4:3, 14, NIV 1984). Once again, in the final apostasy, God will raise up two inspired witnesses to minister encouragement to the afflicted, yet sealed, remnant.

Some take the witnesses figuratively as symbols of authority (the Law) and power (the Gospel).  Other interpretations include law and prophets; Old and New Testaments; two faithful churches in Revelation (Smyrna and Philadelphia); Israel and the Church.  However, since they are said to die and are resurrected, they seem to be actual people.  Also, the words witness, and prophesy are usually applied to individuals, not to abstractions.

Many in the early Church considered the two witnesses to be Enoch and Elijah, the only people to have never experienced death.  Others believe the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah, because of the similarities of their judgments.    Moses, as a witness for God before Pharaoh (considered by some as a type of the anti-Christ), turned water into blood and smote the Egyptians with various other plagues.  Elijah was a witness for God during a period of near universal apostasy in Israel.  However, God reserved for Himself a remnant of seven thousand. Earlier in Revelation we see a remnant of 144,000 that are sealed (reserved).  Elijah also caused fire to devour the enemy and shut off heaven, so it did not rain.  Interestingly, it did not rain for three years and six months, the same period (1260 days) during which the two witnesses in Revelation will prophesy.

Additional reasons for believing that the two witnesses will be Elijah and Moses are drawn from Malachi 4:5, 6 (that Elijah will appear “before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”). In addition, both Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ at the Transfiguration to foreshadow His coming Millennial Kingdom.

While there is room for considerable discussion of these various views, the fact is that the passage does not specifically identify the two witnesses.  They may not have any historic identification whatsoever, but rather two previously unknown witnesses.

These two witnesses minister during the first half (1,260 days) of the tribulation. Jerusalem is then overrun by the Gentiles for the last half (forty-two months) of the tribulation.  Their witness is related to Israel and the temple.  However, the power of God and the Word of God will be outside the temple (“I stand at the door and knock”) and not within as in former ages. Like the temple that Jesus left, this new house will also be left desolate. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37–39, NIV 1984).

These two men are called both prophets and witnesses. This could mean a prophetic ministry in the Old Testament sense of calling the nations to repent and return to the true God of Israel.  Not only do these witnesses declare God’s words but they also do God’s works and perform miracles of judgment. Throughout Israel’s history, God sent special messengers to call His people to repentance.  They will display God’s power to unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, and many will be saved through their witness. They will announce to the world the great events to come and will incur the wrath of the Beast and the indignation of his followers. 

Sinful men have never wanted to hear or obey God’s Word, resulting in much persecution and numerous martyrs through the ages.  These two witnesses, however, will be divinely protected until their work is finished.  Only then will God allow the Beast to oppose them and slay them, making way for the anti-Christ to take full possession of the temple. Something that was not likely to happen as long as the two witnesses were in the picture.

My Advice – It seems that the remnant of the true Church, or at least its influence, is growing smaller with each passing year. And the multitude of those who “[are] not willing” grows larger and more belligerent. Yet those of His followers that remain true are still called to be witnesses in an increasingly hostile world. But take heart, He has overcome the world. So, stand firm. Many who are now unwilling, a great multitude in fact, will find themselves willing in the coming days of God’s wrath. It could very well be the seeds you planted in this age, will be the ones taking root in the age to come.

Sources:

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 575 & 576). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Moore, E., Craven, E. R., & Woods, J. H. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Revelation (p. 230). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 956). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[v] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 576). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 598–599). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 827). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.