Who are the two witnesses in the book of Revelation?

[angels4u]

The Two Witnesses :: By Scott Harris

by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles

The Two Witnesses really captivate my deep thoughts. I believe it’s because they are two men standing boldly amid a world filled with evil, delivering the final messages of truth to people who have not totally hardened their hearts and souls.

These men will proclaim the Gospel Truth to the world in a final struggle to affirm Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior – and declare His offer of glorious salvation to anyone who will accept their message.

Here are some of the unique attributes of the two witnesses as described in Revelation 11:3-6.

* Christ Jesus personally appoints them for this task.

* They will prophesy for 1,260 days (3 ½ years).

* They will wear sackcloth.

* They are “the two olive trees” and the “two lampstands.”

* If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.

* They have power to stop it from raining during the time they are prophesying.

* They have power to turn the waters into blood.

* They can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

These men will speak pure truth as bestowed on them by Christ Jesus. They will preach in Jerusalem, and their message will be aimed at the Jews. They will be broadcast internationally, no doubt, and people all over the world will be amazed at them and their message. Their presence and message will declare Almighty God’s impending judgment on this world.

Almighty God will continue to provide the opportunity for repentance to both Jew and Gentile. Remember what is written in 2 Peter 3:9; “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Additionally, John wrote in Revelation 7:9-10 that he saw a great multitude beyond human computation coming from “all nations,” “kindreds,” “people,” and “tongues” standing before the throne, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands, ascribing salvation to Almighty God and to the Lamb. This passage affirms that Gentiles and Jews will be saved during the Tribulation.

Have you ever been curious as to why there will be two witnesses instead of just one? The answer to that is found in scripture. For the Jews, two witnesses were mandatory to fulfill the legal requirement for judgment. The three verses below provide clarity.

On the testimony of two or three witnesses, a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness (Deuteronomy 17:6).

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness (Numbers 35:30).

One of the great conversations that Christians have about the two witnesses is “who are they,” and is there anything in scripture that gives us that answer? I personally believe that Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses as spoken of in the Holy Bible. Please let me explain in greater detail how and why I came to this conclusion.

Each of the scriptural references below points toward these two men as being ideal for the task ahead in the Tribulation.

“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:2-3). If you read Mark 9:4 and Luke 9:30, you will find that both confirm what you just read.

“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” (Revelation 11:5). You may recall reading about how Elijah (two different times) called down fire from heaven when soldiers came to arrest him (you can read about that in 2 Kings 1). Additionally, idolaters and the enemies of Moses were destroyed by fire in Numbers 16:35.

“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 11:6). Now consider the very same miracles performed by Moses long ago. “This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.” Moses also brought forth plagues upon the Egyptians (you can read about that in Exodus 7:14-11:10).

Also, in Revelation 11:6 (as above), Elijah performed the very same miracles – preventing the heavens from raining as told to us in 1 Kings 17:1; Luke 4:25; and James 5:17. One very noteworthy fact is that the length of the drought in Elijah’s time is “exactly” the same amount of time of drought in Tribulation.

Revelation 11:3 tells us that the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. The three key words from that verse are the basis for why Almighty God is sending these two men.

Prophecy is to reveal by divine inspiration and to speak about imminent events without error.

For 1,260 days (3-½ years), they will speak the gospel truth – that’s half of the 7-year Tribulation.

They will be clothed in sackcloth. Wearing of sackcloth expresses mourning, submission, grief, and shame. A few examples of this are in 2 Kings 19:1; Psalm 69:11; Isaiah 37:1-2; Daniel 9:3; Joel 1:13; Jonah 3:5-8).

The ministry of the two witnesses will include preaching, prophesying, and performing miracles that demonstrate the glory and power of Almighty God. The messages they preach are to call people to repentance and to announce that the Holy Kingdom is at hand.

When they have finished their testimony, Satan will come up from the Abyss. He will kill them and leave their bodies lying in the open in Jerusalem – not giving them a burial. People (unsaved and depraved) will celebrate by sending each other gifts because the two prophets pierced the spirits of those who reject Christ Jesus and those who detest Almighty God.

For three and a half days, some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will look at their bodies and believe that they were simply false prophets and had no real power.

All the evil and ignorant people who hated the two witnesses will see the truth and power of Almighty God.The Two Witnesses :: By Scott Harris - Rapture Ready

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, angels4u said:

The Two Witnesses :: By Scott Harris

by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles

The Two Witnesses really captivate my deep thoughts. I believe it’s because they are two men standing boldly amid a world filled with evil, delivering the final messages of truth to people who have not totally hardened their hearts and souls.

These men will proclaim the Gospel Truth to the world in a final struggle to affirm Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior – and declare His offer of glorious salvation to anyone who will accept their message.

Here are some of the unique attributes of the two witnesses as described in Revelation 11:3-6.

* Christ Jesus personally appoints them for this task.

* They will prophesy for 1,260 days (3 ½ years).

* They will wear sackcloth.

* They are “the two olive trees” and the “two lampstands.”

* If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.

* They have power to stop it from raining during the time they are prophesying.

* They have power to turn the waters into blood.

* They can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

These men will speak pure truth as bestowed on them by Christ Jesus. They will preach in Jerusalem, and their message will be aimed at the Jews. They will be broadcast internationally, no doubt, and people all over the world will be amazed at them and their message. Their presence and message will declare Almighty God’s impending judgment on this world.

Almighty God will continue to provide the opportunity for repentance to both Jew and Gentile. Remember what is written in 2 Peter 3:9; “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Additionally, John wrote in Revelation 7:9-10 that he saw a great multitude beyond human computation coming from “all nations,” “kindreds,” “people,” and “tongues” standing before the throne, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands, ascribing salvation to Almighty God and to the Lamb. This passage affirms that Gentiles and Jews will be saved during the Tribulation.

Have you ever been curious as to why there will be two witnesses instead of just one? The answer to that is found in scripture. For the Jews, two witnesses were mandatory to fulfill the legal requirement for judgment. The three verses below provide clarity.

On the testimony of two or three witnesses, a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness (Deuteronomy 17:6).

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness (Numbers 35:30).

One of the great conversations that Christians have about the two witnesses is “who are they,” and is there anything in scripture that gives us that answer? I personally believe that Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses as spoken of in the Holy Bible. Please let me explain in greater detail how and why I came to this conclusion.

Each of the scriptural references below points toward these two men as being ideal for the task ahead in the Tribulation.

“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:2-3). If you read Mark 9:4 and Luke 9:30, you will find that both confirm what you just read.

“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” (Revelation 11:5). You may recall reading about how Elijah (two different times) called down fire from heaven when soldiers came to arrest him (you can read about that in 2 Kings 1). Additionally, idolaters and the enemies of Moses were destroyed by fire in Numbers 16:35.

“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 11:6). Now consider the very same miracles performed by Moses long ago. “This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.” Moses also brought forth plagues upon the Egyptians (you can read about that in Exodus 7:14-11:10).

Also, in Revelation 11:6 (as above), Elijah performed the very same miracles – preventing the heavens from raining as told to us in 1 Kings 17:1; Luke 4:25; and James 5:17. One very noteworthy fact is that the length of the drought in Elijah’s time is “exactly” the same amount of time of drought in Tribulation.

Revelation 11:3 tells us that the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. The three key words from that verse are the basis for why Almighty God is sending these two men.

Prophecy is to reveal by divine inspiration and to speak about imminent events without error.

For 1,260 days (3-½ years), they will speak the gospel truth – that’s half of the 7-year Tribulation.

They will be clothed in sackcloth. Wearing of sackcloth expresses mourning, submission, grief, and shame. A few examples of this are in 2 Kings 19:1; Psalm 69:11; Isaiah 37:1-2; Daniel 9:3; Joel 1:13; Jonah 3:5-8).

The ministry of the two witnesses will include preaching, prophesying, and performing miracles that demonstrate the glory and power of Almighty God. The messages they preach are to call people to repentance and to announce that the Holy Kingdom is at hand.

When they have finished their testimony, Satan will come up from the Abyss. He will kill them and leave their bodies lying in the open in Jerusalem – not giving them a burial. People (unsaved and depraved) will celebrate by sending each other gifts because the two prophets pierced the spirits of those who reject Christ Jesus and those who detest Almighty God.

For three and a half days, some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will look at their bodies and believe that they were simply false prophets and had no real power.

All the evil and ignorant people who hated the two witnesses will see the truth and power of Almighty God.The Two Witnesses :: By Scott Harris - Rapture Ready

The Bible doesn't tell us who they are. Some guesses are:

Moses

Elijah

Enoch

[angels4u]

6 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

The Bible doesn't tell us who they are. Some guesses are:

Moses

Elijah

Enoch

scholars have narrowed down the candidates to three people: Moses, Elijah, and Enoch. 

[HAZARD]

For those interested, Enoch is mentioned a few times in Scripture, in the Old and New Testaments, and Scripture shows that God was pleased with him.



Gen 5:23, And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:



Gen 5:24, And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.



In fact God was so please with him he took him before he died so he would not see death.



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.



Enoch walked with God 300 years. He was translated that he should not see death in his generation. He could not be found because God translated him (Gen. 5:21-24).



Enoch has been living in heaven over 5,265 years (Gen 5:22; Zech. 4: 11-14; Rev. 11:4).



He will come back and die as one of the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-11)



There are only two men in the entire Bible who fit this plain revelation. They are Enoch and Elijah. That Elijah will be one of them is clear from Mal. 4:4-5. Some thing John the Baptist fulfilled this passage because of what is said of him in Matt. 11:14, but he was never Elijah in person, as John himself testified (John1:19-23).



Both John and Christ were truthful. When John said that he was not Elijah he meant that he was not Elijah in person, for he could not have been the natural son of Tishbit in the days of Ahab and also the natural son of Zachariah and Elizabeth as recorded in Luke 1. All Christ had in mind in Matt. 11:14 was that John was the one who was to come in the "SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIAS" as in Luke 1:17. Mal. 3:2-6, 13-17; 4:1-6 have reference to the second advent of Christ because they speak of judgment and tribulation and the days of the Lord, and not of grace as in John's day. Thus it is clear that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses who will withstand Antichrist as he did Jezebel and Ahab of old.



Enoch will be the other witness. It is clear that Enoch and Elijah are the only two who have not tasted death; that is, they have not died their appointed death on Earth. This they must undergo as have all others (Gen. 5:21-24; Heb.11:5; 2 kings 2).Both Enoch and Elijah were prophets of judgment (Jude 14, 15; 1 Kings 17-18)



We know that Elijah was translated to Heaven and is now one of the two olive trees and two candle sticks which stand before God. It is not very reasonable to believe that since Enoch is the only other man translated and thus did not see death during his lifetime on Earth, that such was for a definite purpose; that is to be the other witness. That both of these men will come back and die their appointed deaths at the hands of the Antichrist is not only incredible but is entirely logical. Some argue that since Enoch was translated he should not see death at all but these words are not found in the passage in Hebrews 11:5. What is said of Enoch in this verse could also be said of Elijah and yet we know that he is to come back and die according to Hebrews 9:27.



Enoch lived a natural life under the laws of degeneration and was subject to the law of death. He could not possibly escape such law unless he should live at the time of the rapture, when the mystery of men being translated without seeing death will be fulfilled (1 Cor. 15:51-58).

[angels4u]

1 minute ago, HAZARD said:

For those interested, Enoch is mentioned a few times in Scripture, in the Old and New Testaments, and Scripture shows that God was pleased with him.



Gen 5:23, And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:



Gen 5:24, And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.



In fact God was so please with him he took him before he died so he would not see death.



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.



Enoch walked with God 300 years. He was translated that he should not see death in his generation. He could not be found because God translated him (Gen. 5:21-24).



Enoch has been living in heaven over 5,265 years (Gen 5:22; Zech. 4: 11-14; Rev. 11:4).



He will come back and die as one of the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-11)



There are only two men in the entire Bible who fit this plain revelation. They are Enoch and Elijah. That Elijah will be one of them is clear from Mal. 4:4-5. Some thing John the Baptist fulfilled this passage because of what is said of him in Matt. 11:14, but he was never Elijah in person, as John himself testified (John1:19-23).



Both John and Christ were truthful. When John said that he was not Elijah he meant that he was not Elijah in person, for he could not have been the natural son of Tishbit in the days of Ahab and also the natural son of Zachariah and Elizabeth as recorded in Luke 1. All Christ had in mind in Matt. 11:14 was that John was the one who was to come in the "SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIAS" as in Luke 1:17. Mal. 3:2-6, 13-17; 4:1-6 have reference to the second advent of Christ because they speak of judgment and tribulation and the days of the Lord, and not of grace as in John's day. Thus it is clear that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses who will withstand Antichrist as he did Jezebel and Ahab of old.



Enoch will be the other witness. It is clear that Enoch and Elijah are the only two who have not tasted death; that is, they have not died their appointed death on Earth. This they must undergo as have all others (Gen. 5:21-24; Heb.11:5; 2 kings 2).Both Enoch and Elijah were prophets of judgment (Jude 14, 15; 1 Kings 17-18)



We know that Elijah was translated to Heaven and is now one of the two olive trees and two candle sticks which stand before God. It is not very reasonable to believe that since Enoch is the only other man translated and thus did not see death during his lifetime on Earth, that such was for a definite purpose; that is to be the other witness. That both of these men will come back and die their appointed deaths at the hands of the Antichrist is not only incredible but is entirely logical. Some argue that since Enoch was translated he should not see death at all but these words are not found in the passage in Hebrews 11:5. What is said of Enoch in this verse could also be said of Elijah and yet we know that he is to come back and die according to Hebrews 9:27.



Enoch lived a natural life under the laws of degeneration and was subject to the law of death. He could not possibly escape such law unless he should live at the time of the rapture, when the mystery of men being translated without seeing death will be fulfilled (1 Cor. 15:51-58).

Thanks Hazard ,

That's my take on it too,they both didn't see death , this could be the picture of Enoch and Elijah being the 2 witnesses.

[Buddy D. Mouse]

If you look at the MIRACLES that the 2 witnesses do - it looks more like Elijah and Moses.

But the 2 witnesses are KILLED by the beast - and Moses has already died, his death is recorded in the Bible. Many early church fathers said the 2 witnesses were Elijah and Enoch - because they are two who did not die

It is APPOINTED  a man once to die - and judgement after that - not necessarily THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT - but merely KRISIS - judgement

There will be a generation that DOES NOT DIE - regardless of being appointed to it -- we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

Moses and Elijah fit very well, and appeared together at Transfiguration

 

[missmuffet]

5 minutes ago, angels4u said:

Thanks Hazard ,

That's my take on it too,they both didn't see death , this could be the picture of Enoch and Elijah being the 2 witnesses.

It is only speculation but my guess is Elijah and Enoch. 

[angels4u]

7 minutes ago, Buddy D. Mouse said:

If you look at the MIRACLES that the 2 witnesses do - it looks more like Elijah and Moses.

But the 2 witnesses are KILLED by the beast - and Moses has already died, his death is recorded in the Bible. Many early church fathers said the 2 witnesses were Elijah and Enoch - because they are two who did not die

It is APPOINTED  a man once to die - and judgement after that - not necessarily THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT - but merely KRISIS - judgement

There will be a generation that DOES NOT DIE - regardless of being appointed to it -- we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

Moses and Elijah fit very well, and appeared together at Transfiguration

 

Its only speculation op this point ...

[Buddy D. Mouse]

Of course the 2 witnesses do not HAVE to be someone we already know - Enoch, Elijah are good guesses, and Moses is good too.

No use to be dogmatic about it.

[angels4u]

27 minutes ago, Buddy D. Mouse said:

Of course the 2 witnesses do not HAVE to be someone we already know - Enoch, Elijah are good guesses, and Moses is good too.

No use to be dogmatic about it.

nope,it's not a matter of Salvation