Who are the two witness?
3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lamp stands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 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. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens 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
Jewish tradition states that Elijah will return during Passover and introduce them to the Messiah before God pours out His wrath on the nations. This belief is based in part upon the following verses in Malachi 4:4-5. God reminds us of the law delivered to Moses and promises to send Elijah. Does this mean that Elijah will come in the flesh? That is certainly possible. When the disciples asked Jesus if John the Baptist was Elijah he answered, "If you are willing to receive it." Matthew 11:13-14; John 1:19-21 John the Baptist was not Elijah in the flesh, but he delivered the Elijah message to repent from your sins and return to God. This message was to herald the coming of the Son of God. Those of the last days that have the Elijah message of repentance will also herald the coming of the Son of God.
The church has received this message and has the privilege and the calling to deliver this message with power to the last group of people that will be alive on this planet before Jesus comes. The power that will be bestowed upon the church is the same power that was poured on Moses and Elijah. However, it will be common men and women like you and me that will receive this power and deliver the gospel in a mighty way. The result will be the repentance of many in the world and the return of the Jew.
Moses was given the law on the mountain and represents the law or the Word of God. Elijah was taken to Heaven in a whirlwind by the Spirit of God. Elisha witnessed this grand event and received a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It is hard for us to imagine anyone having more spirit than Elijah, but Elisha did and so can we if God wills it. Elijah and Moses were powerful witnesses during their generation, and if God wants to raise them up during the final generation, that is His business to do so. However, it will not excuse us from partaking of the Word and Spirit of God to do our part in delivering the final generation.
I propose to you the following consideration. The two witnesses are represented by Moses and Elijah, but are not Moses and Elijah. Elijah did not call fire down from heaven by his own power, and Moses did not turn the Nile to blood by his own power. Instead, their was a power that was coursing through these men enabling them to do the mighty work of God for their own generation. He will do the same for us. The same power that coursed through them will flow through us if we receive it changing us into vessels that will perform mighty acts because of the two witnesses we contain. So who are the two witnesses?
John the Revelator faithfully delivered two things. He had the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:2 In fact, it is because he had these two things within him, that he was even on the island of Patmos. Revelation 1:9. The term Word of God is self-explanatory to most people; however, the testimony of Jesus needs biblical interpretation found in Revelation 19:10 . . . for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. When the Word of God is written on your heart, you will testify regarding the Truth--Jesus Christ is the truth. When you do this, you have been given the spirit of prophecy. Therefore, those that embrace the word and the spirit are prophets. They are the 144,000 prophets.
These two witnesses, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus have been leading believers into tribulation since Cain slew Able. The souls under the altar as described in the fifth seal were slain because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 6:9 These two witnesses are despised by the world and all those clay vessels that contain them will also be despised by the world. However, Jesus said, "Woe unto you if the whole world speaks well of you." If you do not receive these two witnesses, the world may still despise you and you will forsake your place in God's kingdom. If you do receive these two witness, you will be saved and because of your testimony regarding the mercy of God many others you and I love will also be saved.
you are still in doubt, we have the sure word of God. The bible interprets itself, always! The phrase They are, the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth." is a very important clue to identifying these two witnesses. We will find understanding regarding this phrase in Zechariah 4.
Two Olive Trees and Two Lamp Stands
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”
Zechariah saw a vision similar to the one John described in Revelation 11. He saw two olive trees pouring oil into the golden lamp stand. In the holy place of the Jewish temple there was a seven tiered candle that must be full of oil at all times. The light from this lamp was constantly refueled by the priests. It was Samuel's job to keep oil in this lamp when he was a small child serving in the temple as directed by Eli. This experience is a beautiful object lesson for us regarding Samuel's duties toward Israel as an adult. He was to be a vessel that oil could flow through and be disseminated throughout Israel so this nation could be a light unto the world. The menorah was to constantly remind Israel of their place in the world. The Arch of Titus in Rome displays an image of what appears to be the menorah being taken into Rome after they ransacked the Jewish temple.
This menorah is no longer in Israel. Since the church has had the invitation to enter boldly into the throne room of God, she has been the menorah. Matthew 5:14-16 Also, the description of Jesus walking in the midst of the seven candlesticks clearly identifies the church as the menorah. I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. Revelation 1:12-13 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20 John saw Christ dressed in priestly garments because He is serving in the holy place with the church. The angels are in His right hand because they will join us in the harvest of the world.
When the final generation of believers has been anointed with oil, they will become filled with the Word and Spirit of God and it will pour forth from them upon those in the world that desire to partake of this glorious gift. The five wise virgins represent those within the church that will receive this anointing so they can prophesy. Christ is the base of the menorah because He is the vine; we are the candlesticks because we are the branches connected to the vine. As long as we continue to stay connected to the vine, we will bring forth light to the world.
olive trees represent the believer and the olive oil it produces represents the Holy Spirit flowing through the believer. God plants us like trees right in His house making us the cultivated olive tree that grows where the caregiver puts it and is nourished by God; therefore, it does not perish. Psalm 2:8; 92:12-15; 1:1-3; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Psalm 128 re are two olive trees because God sends us out in pairs. Mark 6:7 Since the two are in agreement, one will always support the other in their time of need. bible is filled with examples when God sent His own in pairs. Moses and Aaron were prime examples. The two witnesses sent to earth from Heaven are the Word of God and the Spirit of God sent as a couple. How can they be separated since one does not operate without the other. As long as these two flow through us we will give light. Light requires a vessel containing fuel. David said, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
The two that God sends out in the last days will be witness of the church and the Jew once they are grafted back in. We are the olive trees, and the two pipes flowing with oil represent our double portion of the blessing received by Elijah and Moses. The last days will be unlike any we have ever seen. The tribulation of the believer in the last days will be more troubling than any generation has ever experienced. The tribulation of the last days will even be troubling to the whole world. The saints will be blamed for the catastrophic events occurring on the face of the earth. We will need a double portion of God's Spirit. Matthew 24:9-21 He will not fail us. Matthew 28:18-20
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 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 11:7-12
When the prophets have delivered their witness to the nations, the beast (angel king) that comes from the pit in Revelation 9:1-12 (5th trumpet and first woe) will attack and kill them. The nations celebrate and have a party because they want to believe in the antichrist, but the saints keep warning people that he is not the Messiah. This creates great anxiety in the people because they desperately want to believe they have found their savior willing and able to spare them and the planet. Therefore, they celebrate because they have killed the ones that deny the antichrist.
This is the shedding of righteous, innocent blood. The first martyr was Abel. His blood and that of all the martyrs of all the ages cry unto God anxious for the avenging of their blood. These are the souls under the altar of sacrifice described in the fifth seal. Revelation 9:6-11 God's wrath and His vengeance is poured out on the final generation of unbelievers because they shed the innocent blood of the prophets. Revelation 16:5-7; 18:20, 24; 19:2
There is nothing like the blood of the innocent to feed the minds of the saints and fertilize their faith. These innocents serve as the Passover lambs for the final generation. Just like in Egypt, the blood of the Passover lamb on the door post caused the death angel to pass over the houses of the Israelites. This blood is representative of the blood of Christ and will also protect the final generation during the seven last plagues.
So why do we need another passover? At the death decree the faith of many is wavering. There are many that are almost persuaded by the preaching and the teaching of the prophets. The willingness of the prophets to lay down their lives demonstrates their full commitment to Jesus. Their death, resurrection and ascension will settle the matter in the minds of many. There will be a small window of time between the ascension of the prophets and the falling of the plagues. All that will can heed this final altar call. Most are too hard hearted. However, the faith of many will swell up in their soul and they will settle this matter in their minds making them unmovable in their faith.
When Elijah went to Heaven in the whirlwind, Elisha wanted to witness this event. Elijah tried to discourage him, but Elisha insisted that he be there and that he wanted a double portion of Elijah's prophetic gift. He was told that if he witnessed his ascension, he would receive the double portion. 2 Kings 2:1-13 The saints that were born again during the duress of the tribulation will receive this double portion when they see the prophets ascend into Heaven. This anointing prepares them to behold but not partake of the plagues of God expressing His wrath.
This resurrection and ascension of the prophets is the first fruits of the final harvest. After the plagues fall, Jesus will come and split the eastern sky opening the heavens. This is the final act of the Day of Atonement. It is also Pentecost. It is here that the fall and spring Jewish festivals culminate at the coming of the Messiah. He will at this time reap the full harvest of the world. The dead in Christ will rise first and then those that are alive and remain will ascend. We will now take a fuller look at the seventh trumpet (third woe) where there will be no more delay and the mystery of God is accomplished during the seventh trumpet. Revelation 10:7 Learn more. . .
