Who are the two witnesses?
The book of Revelation speaks of two witnesses who perform mighty signs at the closing of the end of time. Just who are these two witnesses? We have been taught by many in Christendom that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah; the speculations go on and on.
(Note: Many have taught that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah because of 2 of the 4 signs these two witnesses are able to perform. Many have also taught that one of the witnesses is Enoch because the book of Genesis reveals that he was taken while alive. Many have taught that one of the witnesses is Elijah because he was taken alive in chariots from heaven. Some also teach that it will be Moses and Elijah because of their appearance on the mount of transfiguration. (See Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, & Matthew 17:1-4)
Excessive amounts of money has been made in “Christian” book stores off of mere speculation being fed to God's people as absolute truth. Many swallow it up without studying for themselves and they become so indoctrinated that they will not even search the scriptures to see if what these so called teachers have taught is actually true. The Grant Jeffreys, Jack Van Impes, and the Hal Lyndseys of our day have gotten filthy rich off twisted interpretations of end time prophecy. It is gullible and foolish to just accept the words of man without looking to see if these things are actually taught in scripture. This writer does not believe these two witnesses are merely two men who stand in Israel; no not at all. Many so called prophecy teachers have sought to interpret a spiritual text with the natural mind. The Bible itself is only understood by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Many shy away from the book of Revelation, feeling perplexed by the often seemingly hard to interpret symbolism. Of course, the book of Revelation is the mind of God and no man knows it all. But God has promised that he would lead his people into all truth. God is the revealer of mysteries and he certainly reveals his secrets to his holy apostles and prophets. Often what he gives to the prophets, he gives to his people at his divine time.
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. -Amos 3:7
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; -Ephesians 3:3-5
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. -Revelation 10:7
The book of Revelation is cryptic, in a sense, but God does not withhold his revelation from his people at his appointed time. In fact, the book of Revelation states that the one who reads, hears, and keeps the things written therein will be blessed. (See Revelation 1:3)
Let me say again, I strongly believe that these two witnesses are not two singular end time prophets but are in fact many who are chosen by God to do his bidding. They may very well may be two groups of believers chosen out of two of the seven churches described in the 2nd and 3rd chapter of the book of Revelation. I believe the word of God reveals what I have said thus far.
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. -Revelation 1:20
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. -Revelation 11:3-4
* (Note: These two candlesticks were first mentioned in the book of Zechariah chapter 4 )*
When reading of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11, we discover that these two witnesses:
- Breathe fire upon their enemies
- Stop the heavens from releasing rain
- Turn the waters to blood
- Smite the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they will
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. -Revelation 11:5-6
This writer believes that these witnesses are NOT Moses and Elijah but many prophets of God who operate in the spirit of Elijah and Moses. Please do not misunderstand me when I say spirit that I would mean that they are reincarnations of Moses and Elijah. No! That is not what I am saying at all. What I am saying is that they will move in the POWER (anointing) that Moses and Elijah moved in. This power will be given by God at his sovereign decree as he has already foretold in scripture. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come again before the day of the Lord:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: -Malachi 3:4
We find Jesus words when the disciples asked him regarding Elijah:
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias (Elijah) must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. -Matthew 17:10-13
John the Baptist was not literally Elijah. He came in the calling and the spirit (power) of Elijah the Prophet. Although John's ministry accompanied no signs and wonders, the end time prophets ministry will. John's calling was to preach repentance and to believe on the one to come of whose shoe strings he was not worthy to unloose. John the Baptist was the forerunner to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. These end time prophets will also be forerunners preparing the way for the glorious second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What else could Jesus have meant seeing that we know that John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah? We should already know that reincarnation is not Biblical. But to state that theses witnesses will move in the power (anointing) of Moses and Elijah is not far fetched when taking into account the events of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of the spirit (power or anointing) of Elijah. Some of the meanings of the Hebrew word for spirit are wind, breath, and life. (See 2 Kings 2:9-12)
Again from the book of Matthew we see Jesus confirming that John the Baptist was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Malachi:
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. -Matthew 11:7-15
Not only was the prophecy fulfilled from Malachi, it will be fulfilled again in greater measure! I believe this prophecy was either partially fulfilled or a continual prophecy to be fulfilled. Often times prophecy in scripture can be speaking of a time that was, a time that is now, and a time that is to come. It can be what I would now like to call a near/far prophecy or a now/near/future prophecy.
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; -Revelation 1:19
*(Note: Prophecy can often be 2-fold, 3-fold, and even 4-fold or more. Prophecy is the mind of God! As we see in Revelation 1:19, Jesus is telling John to write what he has seen, the things that were then -ARE-, and the things which will be in the future. Keeping this in mind will help you to not isolate Biblical prophecy into just one view, be it historical alone or futuristic alone. Prophecy can have a literal application and a spiritual application at the same time. In scripture God can be addressing a king through the word of the prophet and also the prince, (angelic stronghold of satan or satan himself), set over that particular king. There are several examples of this. One example is in Ezekiel 28:1-19 where we find the prophet addressing the Prince of Tyrus and it is evident that this is addressing satan with its references to him being the anointed cherubim that covered the throne of God and him being in the garden of Eden. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, we can see references to a literal King of Tyrus. God can be speaking to the loftiness of the pride of that king and also the devil who is behind that pride. Consider Jesus words when he rebuked Peter saying,"Get thee behind me satan." Surely we know that Peter was not satan himself. (See Matthew 16:22-23) We also have prophecies in the Old Testament of literal Israel at that time and spiritual Israel known as Zion, the Daughter of Zion- the kingdom of God which makes up all the true people of God.)*
Continue reading in part two where this writer will explore the possibility that these two witnesses are a large company of end time prophets who will nourish the woman, (the body of Christ), in the wilderness with the words of their prophecy before being killed by the beast kingdom. The Two Witnesses | Part 2
*Written by the administrator of the Facebook page Biblical Truth for Apostate Days
*All scripture quotations taken from the KJV of the Bible.
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