The Biblical principle of having two or three witnesses to testify before an accusation is validated dates back to the Law given through Moses. The Apostle Paul affirmed the principle when warning the unrepentant in Corinth (2 Corinthians 13:1-2). Even in the act of the creation of the world, Moses recorded God as saying “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) which is a reference to the Trinity comprised of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father created all things through Jesus the Son (Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2). The Holy Spirit was present when the earth was formless and empty (Genesis 1:2) and is pictured as the breath of Christ and thereby participated in creation by bringing the spoken word of Christ to fruition (Psalm 33:6). So even in the sovereign act of creation, there were two witnesses to the work performed. For students of the Bible, the concept of establishing two or three witnesses should be very familiar. It should be no surprise that Jesus would appoint two witnesses prior to the judgment of mankind. (Revelation 11:3-12).
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”
Deuteronomy 19:15
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Matthew 18:15-17
“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.”
1 Timothy 5:19
“‘And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.’ They are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they 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. 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
Emphasis on the Holy Spirit
The Book of Revelation is understood by all that it foretells God’s final judgment of mankind. The manner in which he executes the final judgment is preordained by God the Father who gives a scroll to Christ the Son with the order of the judgments (Revelation 5). However, the scroll and its judgments do not begin until the two witnesses are appointed. The two witnesses are human beings but their actions and ministry are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
The identity of the two witnesses is not stated but a comparison is made to a passage in Zechariah 4 which presented the Holy Spirit as the power through which the Temple was rebuilt following Israel’s exile. The rebuilding of the Temple in that hostile environment was a monumental task which would not have been possible apart from the power of the Holy Spirit.
“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Zechariah 4:6
Zerubbabel had awakened and witnessed a miraculous site. A pure gold lampstand with two olive trees next to it, one on each side. Olive oil, representative of the Holy Spirit, was miraculously flowing from the trees branches into a reservoir on a lampstand. The lamps remained burning without any human action or maintenance as would normally be necessary. The point was made that the Holy Spirit would accomplish the completion of the Temple, not human effort. (Zechariah 4:1-14). The two olive trees were said to be “the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:14). The two men associated with that Old Testament reference were Joshua and Zerubbabel who represented the office of High Priest and King respectively. (This Joshua was a descendant of Aaron, not the Joshua who led the Israelites into the Promised Land). So in Zechariah’s vision, there were human beings associated with the vision, but the emphasis was on the Holy Spirit, not his human counterparts. It foresaw the day when Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, will serve as High Priest and King.
When the two witnesses are mentioned in Revelation, they are compared to the two olive trees and the lampstand witnessed by Zechariah. The single lampstand vision is expanded to two lampstands. The obvious connection is made that the Holy Spirit will be the force in completing the final judgments regarding the judgment of mankind and the destruction of the world in the same way he participated in the creation of the world. Following the ministry of the two witnesses is the sounding of the 7th trumpet. The 7th trumpet contains the seven bowls of final judgments for the unrepentant inhabitants of the world (Revelation 15-16).
Survival of believers during the tribulation period would be impossible apart from enablement and protection of the Holy Spirit. It would be impossible to survive based on human willpower, cleverness or strength. The ministry of the two witnesses will be twofold. First of all, to proclaim God’s truth and encourage the persecuted believers in the second half of the tribulation period when the antichrist is revealed and demanding worship. Secondly, to preach repentance and warn the unbelievers of the impending judgments. In fact, their warnings are so intense that they are described as fire which comes from their mouths (Revelation 11:5). The miracles and power the two witnesses possess are incredible. So much so that the emphasis is on the Holy Spirit who indwells them, not the humans through which he is manifested.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Zechariah 4:6
The Tenure of Their Ministry
The two witnesses will be filled with the Holy Spirit and perform miraculous feats, proclaim the truth that Jesus is Lord, and warn the inhabitants of the earth to repent from their sinful ways. The miraculous signs will validate their message and warnings. The majority of the people of the earth will not listen and will hate their prophetic ministry. After they have fulfilled their purpose and are killed by the beast, they will be resurrected to heaven. Then the final bowl judgments will commence and all who rejected Christ as Lord will be punished by death. The point is clear that the final judgment of death to the entire unrepentant race will not be executed without the required presence of at least two witnesses.
“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 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. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 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.
“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. 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.
“At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
“The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“’The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.’“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
“’We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.’“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.”
Revelation 11:7-19
Speculation of Their Identity
Because the two witnesses are unnamed in Revelation, many have sought to speculate as to their identity. Some Christians think they may be represented by entities rather than individuals such as Israel and the Church. Since they are said to live, die and be resurrected, it seems likely that they were actual individuals. We would do well to leave this subject alone as John did as he was led by the Holy Spirit to record his revelation. But for the sake of those who are compelled to speculate, let’s review some of the more popular candidates. Moses and Elijah, Elijah and Enoch or two previously unknown believers of the tribulation period chosen by God for this task.
Moses is suggested because he was a famous prophet of God and was Israel’s redeemer. God’s redemption of Israel through Moses included the 10 plagues in Egypt. One of the plagues was turning the water to blood (Exodus 7:14-21) which is mentioned as an ability of the two witnesses. They are also said to be able to inflict any type of plague warranted which is similar to Moses and the other 9 plagues of Egypt.
Additionally, the Jewish teachers of the Law expected a prophet like Moses to return and the people were always on the watch for the “prophet who is to come” (John 6:14).
Elijah was another famous and powerful prophet of the Lord. He was able to call down fire to consume the sacrifice in the challenge against the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22-39). Later Elijah called down fire from heaven and consumed a captain and his 50 men. Then he did the same thing to the next captain who came with his 50 men. (2 Kings 1:7-15). Since the two witnesses in Revelation are said to have fire that comes from their mouths to consume their enemies, these events recorded about Elijah cause some to speculate that he is one of the witnesses. Elijah was also able to prevent rain for 3 1/2 years and then when he prayed, it began to rain again (James 5:17-18; Luke 4:24-26). Additionally, Elijah was also prophesied to return (Malachi 4:5). But Jesus told his listeners that John the Baptist was the Elijah who is to come (Matthew 11:11-14).
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”
Malachi 4:5
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”
Matthew 11:11-14
Elijah remains a contender along with Enoch because those are the only two Old Testament saints who were said to have never died. Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11) and Enoch was also taken without dying (Genesis 5:24). If you factor in the passage in Hebrews that establishes the premise that everyone is to die once, and these two men never died, then they seem viable as candidates since we know the two witnesses in Revelation die and are resurrected. This would then fulfill the truth of Hebrews 9:27. Additionally, Enoch is quoted by Jude which sounds very much like something one of the two witnesses would say.
“See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Jude 1:14
The more emphasis we put on the human counterparts of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, the less we recognize the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned previously, the main point in the passage in Revelation 11 which keeps the identity of the two witnesses anonymous, was on the Holy Spirit who empowered them. It makes sense that the Holy Spirit would choose two men who were destined for this ministry in much the same way the 144,000 from the 12 tribes were destined and chosen for their ministry. He would then empower them to do the things mentioned in the same way he empowered Moses, Elijah and Enoch to say and do the things they did. The common thread is the Holy Spirit, not the human counterparts. Then when the ministry of these two is completed, they will be killed, left for 3 ½ days and resurrected to glory. I would not wish to take anything away from the life and testimony of Moses, Elijah, or Enoch but they have all gone to glory and to insist that they become human again doesn’t fit into any precedent of Scripture. Moses already died once (Deuteronomy 34:5-8) and the bodies of Elijah and Enoch have been translated into their heavenly bodies already. That is in essence the same as dying since human flesh is not fit for presence in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). Regarding the premise that all must die, we must remember that all believers who are alive at the Rapture will be translated in the same way and never die (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Also, John the Baptist was “the Elijah to come” (Matthew 17:11-13) and Christ was “the Prophet like Moses” (c.f. Numbers 12:6-8; John 17). There is no reason to insist on the return of these men to fulfill a prediction of Scripture because the fulfillment was already accomplished by John the Baptist and Christ. It seems best to leave the emphasis on the Holy Spirit who will most certainly choose two men of the tribulation period to perform this miraculous ministry and serve as the two witnesses who “are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:14).
The Timeline of Their Ministry
As to the timing of their ministry, it begins at the halfway mark of the 7-year tribulation period and lasts for 1,260 days which is the remaining 3 ½ years. This is the same period of time that the Antichrist is revealed to the world and demanding worship and enforcing the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:5).
To put it all in a timeline perspective, the Rapture will occur first (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Note that in the present church age, the Holy Spirit indwells believers and his presence is manifested in the individual and collective body of believers on earth. Since all believers will be removed from the earth via the Rapture, the presence of the Holy Spirit will be removed as well. He is said to be the restrainer of evil and since he is removed via the Rapture, evil will begin to flourish in a greater way than the world has previously known (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Satan will gain new uninhibited access to political leaders and all the unsaved left behind. Sometime after that, the world political state will be divided into 10 segments (Daniel 7:20-24).
The second major event on earth will be a peace covenant made between all the countries on earth including Israel (Daniel 9:26-27). This will allow Israelites to return to their homeland and re-establish their religious sacrifices and be at rest from their former enemies (Revelation 11:1-2). This peace agreement must include a disarmament clause for all nations since the prophecy recorded in Ezekiel 38-39 refers to rudimentary weapons made of wood and not modern armaments. Therefore, Israel is duped into thinking they are safe and will be living in unwalled, unprotected cities. And Israel seems to be part of a worldwide ecumenical church that must allow any doctrine to be accepted. They form a unified false church which is not based on true faith at all. It is depicted as a prostitute but not because of sexual immorality, but because of spiritual immorality. The church should be like a faithful wife of God, but instead is engaging with every false religion. It would be like the wife of a king sleeping with any and every common man in the kingdom. The world church will dominate the new world government and its leader as pictured by the prostitute of Revelation 17 riding on the beast. The rider controls and has dominance over the beast. That is, the worldwide false church has authority and dominance over the political leaders. This situation is maintained for the first 3 ½ years. Then, according to Ezekiel 38-39, several nations led by Russia will secretly attack the unsuspecting Jews in Israel. God will protect his covenant people and wipe out those attackers so decisively that it will take 7 months for the Israelites to bury their bodies. This attack probably happens just prior to the end of the first 3 ½ year period.
So the 7-year tribulation period is divided into two distinct halves. The first 3 ½ period will begin with a peace covenant and end with a surprise military attack. God will miraculously wipe out the attackers and reveal himself to the world (Ezekiel 38:23).
The second 3 ½ year period will begin with God revealing himself to the world. The world will recognize him and give him honor. Every being, living and dead, saved and unsaved, Jew or Gentile, no exceptions – what a miraculous event! This is recorded just prior to the opening of the scroll as seen in Revelation 5.
“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it… Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“’To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Revelation 5:2-3, 13
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!'”
It is at this time that the two witnesses are appointed to begin to prophesy for 1,260 days which correlates to the 2nd period of 3 ½ years.
The people of the world know what is happening as God unleashes his judgments written on the scroll. They know because they acknowledged him in answer to the angel’s call (Revelation 5:2) and because of the prophetic words of the two witnesses. The entire world is aware of their ministry as the entire world celebrated at their death (Revelation 11:10). Additionally, John recorded that “the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'” (Revelation 6:15-17). By their actions and words they clearly indicate that they know what is happening and who is behind it.
The antichrist takes advantage of the situation created by the sneak attack on Israel. We know that the Lord drew the attackers to Israel to execute an evil plan which they devised (Ezekiel 38:10-12). The army that was amassed was described as “advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Once that army is wiped out by the Lord through a great demonstration of his mighty power, the antichrist will easily gain control of the world without a fight because of the overwhelming devastation of that great army amassed from several nations. The victory without a fight is depicted as a conqueror bent on conquest, wearing a crown and having a bow but no arrows. This is revealed as the first seal is broken (Revelation 6:1-2).
Additional events related to the beginning of the 2nd half of the tribulation period include the sealing of the 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:1-8). Satan will be cast down from heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:7-9). Then indwelled by Satan, the antichrist will end the sacrifices at the Temple and establish himself as a god to be worshiped and institute the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:17). This is the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 9:27). The 10 kings who formed the world government will hate and destroy the worldwide ecumenical church. These entities were represented by the beast who supported the prostitute but the roles are now reversed. The beast turns and devours the rider. (Revelation 17:16-18). Some will heed the witness of the 144,000 and the warnings of the two witnesses and submit to God and refuse to worship the beast or receive his mark. Many of these will become martyrs for their testimony (Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-14). The remnant of Israel will be protected (Revelation 12:6, 13-17). The city of Jerusalem will be overrun by Gentiles (Revelation 11:2) and homes invaded and residents persecuted (Zechariah 14:1-2). Two of three Jews will be martyred (Zechariah 13:8). False prophets will deceive many (Matthew 24:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). But through all the awful events of the end, the Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed (Matthew 24:14). The Holy Spirit will be working through the two witnesses, the 144,000 specially sealed for the Lord and all believers.
Summary
The well established Biblical principle of two or three witnesses is upheld as the judgments of the scroll are manifested. The Bible doesn’t identify the two witnesses by name in Revelation. There is no conclusive prophecy from which we can identify them. The emphasis of the ministry of the two witnesses is on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We should note that this same Spirit indwells believers today who form the worldwide true church. Perhaps we should strive to be as powerful and effective in our respective ministries as the two witnesses will be in theirs.
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
