REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 11.3

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Eleven:

The Great Tribulation

(Parenthesis)

Two Witnesses

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

 

From Verse 3 to the end of Verse 13, the content is not given to John in a vision but described to him by the glorious mighty angel of Revelation 10:1.  

 

I will give power unto My two witnesses

Speaking on behalf of the Triune Godhead, the voice describes to John that power (not translated in many manuscripts, but is meant to empower, give authority, or commission) will enable My (possessive pronoun) two witnesses. Literally: "I will grant authority to two witnesses of Me."

 

Two witnesses

Witnesses (martus) permanently refer to persons (plural). By analogy the word means martyrs. Literally, throughout Scripture two witnesses were constantly needed to verify the truth, two signifying the number for testimony. For instance:

Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

 

2 Corinthians 13:1b – In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Witnesses always give evidence concerning matters regarding the Law, religion, judicial, or in truthful dealings with men.

As such:

1.  At Jesus' ordaining of the Twelve, He sent and empowered them two by two

Mark 6:7 - And He called unto Him the Twelve, and [He] began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.

 

2.  At Jesus' Resurrection, two angels gave testimony to Mary Magdalene of the empty tomb

John 20:12 - And [Mary] seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

 

3.  At Jesus' Ascension two angelic beings informed the men of Galilee that Jesus would return in the same manner He arose

Acts 1:10 - And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel.

 

So, in the context of verse 3, God will send out and embolden two witnesses with the power to prophesy. Primarily directed to Israel, their message is to give testimony of Christ, their true Messiah, by preaching:

1.  Wickedness

2.  Judgment

3.  The Gospel

4.  Repentance

5.  Deliverance

6.  Salvation

7.  The King is coming

 

They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days

To prophesy means to speak forth, proclaim, preach, or foretell divine events. Their prophetic message, namely preaching a call to repentance, will extend for the complete last half of Tribulation called the Great Tribulation – 1,260 days – No more, no less. Repentance continuously has been the communication of God's prophets upon the Jewish nation.

You recall:

1.  Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18:30 - O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

 

2.  John the Baptist

Matthew 3:2 - Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

 

3.  Jesus Christ

Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Significantly, as repentance was preached at the First Coming of Christ, so too, the witnesses will do likewise before the Second Coming.

 

Two witnesses…clothed in sackcloth

Their garb is one of sackcloth. It is a thick coarse rough cloth used for sacks made from brown or black goat's hair. A sackcloth is a symbolic garment of mourning, sorrow, and repentance, often worn by prophets to show their brokenness in the face of their terrible message of judgment and doom. [Nelson's Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986.] Truly repentant Jews would wear sackcloth and put ashes on their heads as an expression of humility.

 

Question:

Who are these guys?

Answer:

Over the centuries, one of the most queried topics in Revelation captivating the curiosity of its readers is the identities of God's two prophetic witnesses. They do have a profound global impact because Verse 9 tells us the whole earth rejoices when they are killed.

 

Even though the evidence is not 100 percent conclusive, three major theorems are proposed as to their identities:

1.  Zerubbabel and Joshua

2.  Enoch and Elijah

3.  Moses and Elijah

 

By examining each pair separately, a most probable answer may be better surmised:

1. Zerubbabel and Joshua

Both were important in rebuilding the Temple after 70 years of captivity. They are pictured in Zachariah Chapter 4 as two olive trees that supplied the oil (the Holy Spirit) to the two lampstands (Israel). That they will be instrumental in Israel's national conversion attributes them to the building of the future Millennial Temple. Therefore, it is purported they will also lead Israel's spiritual revival in the Tribulation.

a.  Zerubbabel

An heir to the throne of David and listed in the ancestral line of Jesus (cf. Matthew 1:12-13; Luke 3:27), Zerubbabel led the first wave of exiles and succeeded in rebuilding the Temple.

 

Cyrus appointed him to govern Judea, and he also acted as a priest. Some identified him as the coming Messiah (cf. Zechariah 3:1).

 

b.  Joshua

Joshua, the son of Josedech was the high priest during the rebuilding and dedication of the Temple after the captivity (cf. Zechariah 3; 6:11; Haggai 1:1; 2:4). He clothed himself in filthy garments, symbolizing the sinfulness of the people. When the clothing was removed, it meant the people's sins were forgiven. Joshua was viewed as the coming Branch in David's house. (cf. Zachariah 6:12; Haggai 2:23).

 

2.   Enoch and Elijah

A significant reason for the choice is both never tasted death and were the only ones translated by God; a prefigurement of the Rapture.

a.  Enoch

Six verses in the Bible encapsulate his entire 365-year lifespan. Translated (raptured) by God, Enoch predates the Jewish race and was found faithful in God's eyes during the pre-Noahic flood Era. And as a man of faith, his great-grandson Noah followed in his footsteps.

Genesis 5:24 - And Enoch walked with God: and he was not [there]; for God took him.

 

The Faith Hall of Fame clearly illustrates his biography:

Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

 

Living in earth's darkest hour before the flood, Enoch serves as a type of rapture before the first judgment. Besides, no prophecy demands the return of Enoch.

 

b.  Elijah

Notorious for winning the contest with 450 prophets of Baal (cf. 1 Kings 18), Elijah (the Prophet of Fire) delivered Israel from spiritual bondage during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. He was taken up in a whirlwind by God and typifies the saints that had been translated out of spiritual bondage.

2 Kings 2:11 - And it came to pass…behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire…and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

 

3. Moses and Elijah

Representing both, the Law and the prophets, Moses and Elijah were seen at the Mount of Transfiguration with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:4 - And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

 

a.  Moses

Wrought with signs and wonders from God, Israel's deliverance from physical bondage was led by Moses. God gave the Law to Moses. Interestingly, one of the most curious recorded burials in the Bible was that of Moses insofar as he was the only person buried by God.

Deuteronomy 34:5 - So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.

 

He also may likely be raised from the dead similar to the account of Lazarus (cf. John 11:43). Moses, therefore, represents the dead saints who shall rise up from the grave.

 

b.  Elijah (Elias)

Leaving no doubt as being one of the witnesses, Elijah was prophesied to return. Hence, Elijah would be representative of all saints who shall be found alive at His Second Advent.    

Malachi 4:5 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

 

To date, this prophecy has not been fulfilled except for John the Baptist who only came in the spirit of Elijah (cf. Luke 1:17).

 

God gave the Law to Moses, and Elijah was known as the chief of the prophets, so to identify them as being the two witnesses would be most suitable. Since they appeared in glory and spoke of Jesus' departure, i.e., His death, burial, and Resurrection – The ultimate end to which the Law and the Prophets pointed. And also be mindful, Jesus said:

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

 

While profane worship by Antichrist is taking place in the Temple, the Law, and the prophets are seated outside, as it were, proclaiming the truth of his identity. Hatred by Antichrist intensifies as the two witnesses have the ability and power to perform miraculous signs and wonders. However, they will be immortal until God has accomplished His purpose through them (discussed in the following studies).

 

 

(Verse 4)

 

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

 

Taken from the prophet Zechariah's vision:

Zechariah 4:14 - Then said he (the angel), These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

 

The voice then further identifies the two witnesses to John as being:

a.  The two olive trees

Olive trees exude olive oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit) necessary to fill the candlesticks or lampstands

 

b.  The two candlesticks

God's spirit-filled anointed witnesses for Israel

So, their purpose is to be light-bearers of God's truth before the powers of darkness.

 

Standing before the God of the earth

Being instrumental in Israel's national conversion, both are seen standing before the God of the earth; another title attributed to God.

Joshua 3:11 – Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

 

Zechariah 4:14 - These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Why are two witnesses always needed?

2.   What is the purpose of God's two witnesses?

3.   Make an argument for one of the three pairs of witnesses.

4.   Describe their appearance.

5.   What message will they deliver during the Great Tribulation?

6.   To whom will their message primarily be intended?

7.   Why are the witnesses referred to as olive trees?

 

 

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