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The Two Witnesses

Revelation Chapter Eleven

They give the final message as Trumpets Sound.


                                                                                                                  compiled by Rachel Cory-Kuehl, 2015

Last edit: March 1, 2023

Scripture is from the NKJV unless otherwise noted

 

Revelation 11:3-12 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees (or branches) and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves [a terrible sacrilege in the Middle East]. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.



Two Olive Branches - Two Lampstands

 

Revelation 11:4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”


     TWO OLIVE

 

First let me explain that the word “trees” is not in the Greek. “Two olive” could mean two trees, or it could mean two branches of one tree. The imagery and wording of the Revelation is taken from First Covenant Scriptures (The Old Testament). Consider the vision of Zechariah.

 

Zechariah 4:11-14 “‘Then I answered and said to him, ‘What are these two olive (branches)-- at the right of the lampstand and at its left?’ And I further answered and said to him, ‘What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?’ Then he answered me and said, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my lord.’ So he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.’”

 

The LORD named Israel “Green Olive Tree” (Jer. 11:16). Branches of that Olive Tree, were “broken off” “because of unbelief,” and non-Hebrew believers are “grafted in” as new “branches” (Rom Cpt 11). The Tree remains. There is only ONE TREE that receives life from Jesus Christ - the holy “root.” That Tree is Israel. See our study: Who are Israel?

 

Zechariah the Prophet would have understood the two olive branches to represent Joshua the High Priest, and Zerubbabel the King, over the returning captives from Babylon (two witnesses).



      THE HOLY ANOINTING

 

Priests and kings were anointed with oil. David described the anointing in Psalm 133:2. The oil dripped from the beard. In the vision of Zechariah, the two olive branches drip oil into 2 golden pipes that flow into a “golden bowl.” From the golden bowl, the oil flowed through “pipes” to the 7 lamps of the Menorah (the 7 branched golden lampstand).

 

Zechariah’s vision held meaning for his day. It also pointed forward to Christ, who is both King and High Priest, over the House of God. The anointing of priest, and the anointing of king, are combined in the man Yeshua Messiah. He is the “golden bowl” of the prophecy. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit. See our study: “The Change of the Priesthood.”


            The anointing flows from God the Father, to Christ,

                                                                            and from Christ to the 7 Churches.


 

Acts 10:38 “. . . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

 

From Messiah, the anointing oil flows to the 7 lampstands, who are the 7 Churches of John’s prophecy (Rev 1:20). John the Baptist prophesied concerning Messiah, “He will baptize you with the holy spirit and fire(Matt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16).

 

The true people of God will be “priests of God and of Christ” (Rev 20:6). They are called “a royal priesthood (1Peter 2:9). They will also be “kings” on the earth in the Kingdom of Messiah (Rev. 5:10). As priests and kings, they are anointed with the Spirit of God.

      See our study: “A Kingdom of Priests.”


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Anointing of Priest Anointing of King

Yeshua Messiah

The Priest King

The Golden Bowl





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                                      7 Churches

(5 failed to repent)


Smyrna and Philadelphia are left standing.

Two Witnesses

      










2Corinthians 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.”

 

Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;” (NAS)

 

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”


            NOTE: Prophets were also anointed (1Ki 19:16). The Two Witnesses are prophets.




      THE SEAL OF GOD

 

The future “priests and kings” of Messiah’s reign, will stand as “witnesses” in the last days, against the Beast, against his Harlot, and against his Little Horn.

 

In the vision of John, the messenger from the East calls out loudly to the four angels who are about to unleash destruction, “Hold!” “Til we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads(Rev 7:1-3). This is just before the first Trumpet of Revelation is sounded.


            The sealing of the last Two Witnesses, will be a powerful anointing, especially for those       who are to stand through the period of the Trumpet warning judgments.

 

The “seal of God” is the Spirit (Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30). Of Yeshua Himself, it was written, “Him has God the Father sealed(John 6:27).

 

Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.(Joel 2:28)


 

      TWO LAMPSTANDS 

  

A solid gold lampstand, with seven branches (like a tree) stood in the ancient Tabernacle of Yehovah. Each branch supported one lamp that burned olive oil, giving light within the House of God. We know that Heaven itself is “the true Tabernacle”(Heb. 8:2). The ancient Tabernacle on the earth, was modeled after the one shown to Moses.


            John the Revelator, in his vision of heaven, saw “seven golden lampstands(Rev. 1:12, 20).       He was told that “the seven lampstands are the seven churches(Rev. 1:20).

 

John is given a message for each church. Five of the churches are told “repent, or I will remove your candlestick from its place(Rev. 2:5, 2:16, 2:21-22, 3:3, 3:19). If you begin with seven lampstands, and you remove five, that leaves only two lampstands still standing before the Lord? Two Witnesses!

 

Yes. I believe the seven churches represent 7 literal ancient churches. I also believe they represent seven different types of people, within the greater “congregation of Israel.”

 

Only Two Witnesses will give the LORD’s “testimony” in the final days. Only two lampstands will remain - Smyrna, the church of the martyrs, and Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love.


 

The prophecy reveals the character of the “two witnesses.” They will love the brethren, and they will be faithful unto death. A “crown” is promised, in the message to each of those two churches.



TESTIMONY

 

The “two witnesses”of Revelation Chapter Eleven, give “testimony(Rev. 11:7). We still use those words in our legal system. The use of the word “testimony,” tells us this is a legal matter - not simply a message being delivered. “Witnesses” give testimony.


  Numbers 35:30 “But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”      (NIV)

 

Billions of human beings are about to be killed by the last plagues. This entire planet will be left lifeless. Two witnesses must give testimony before that destruction can be unleashed.



TWO WITNESSES REQUIRED - for an Execution

 

Numbers 35:30 “Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.”

 

Deuteronomy 17:6 “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”

 

Deuteronomy 19:15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”

 

Matthew 18:16 [Jesus quotes Moses] “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’”

 

1 Timothy 5:19 [Paul quotes the Torah] “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.”

 

The Revelation is written in the form of an ancient covenant lawsuit. Before the LORD can bring judgment upon those who have broken His Covenant, two witnesses must testify. Moses and Aaron testified before Egypt was all but destroyed. Caleb and Joshua gave their testimony, before Israel was turned back to wander forty years in the wilderness.



YOU WILL BE WITNESSES

 

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

1 John 5:10-11 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

 

Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman [Israel], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

 

The remnant of true Israel will give testimony for Jesus Christ, and they will keep the Ten Commandments.



THE TESTIMONY OF GOD

 

Exodus 31:18 “And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.”

 

We don’t usually think of The Ten Commandments as God’s “Testimony.” Interesting that God used two tablets. Two witnesses? He could have used just one.


Exodus 25:16 “And you shall put into the ark, the Testimony which I will give you.”

 

The Ten Commandments are “the Testimony” of God. The golden box into which the stones were placed, was called “the Ark of the Testimony(Exo. 25:22). The tent that covered the Ark, was called “the Tabernacle of the Testimony(Num. 1:50).

 

Nehemiah 9:34 “Neither our kings nor our princes, Our priests nor our fathers, Have kept Your law, Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, With which You testified against them.”

 

Just keeping the Law of the LORD in our daily life, can be a “testimony.” We need not always preach a sermon, or give a Bible study.






THE TWO WITNESSES - SHUT HEAVEN

 

Revelation 11:6 “These [two witnesses] have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.”

 

It appears that rain will cease on the earth for the final three and a half years of this age. It is also possible that the “rain” in this verse, refers to the Spirit. (See Zechariah 14:17-18.)

 

Elijah prophesied to King Ahab, that rain would cease over Israel, because of his idolatry and worship of Baal (1Kings 17:1). It did not rain for three and a half years. This was confirmed by Jesus (Luke 4:25). The story ends with a showdown. The prophets of Baal, versus the prophet of God. At the end of this age, Yeshua Messiah will defeat the Dragon, and the Beast with its Little Horn.

 

The message of Elijah was very clear. “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1Kings 18:21). In the final days, every person on this earth MUST choose. They will serve the LORD, or they will serve the Beast and his image (Rev 13:7-8).



WATER - TURNED TO BLOOD


Revelation 11:6 “They [the witnesses] have power over waters to turn them to blood.”

 

The LORD, through Moses and Aaron (two witnesses) turned the River Nile to “blood,” when Aaron struck the water with his rod. All the fish died, and the river stank (Exo 7:21).

 

When the second warning Trumpet of Revelation is sounded, one third of the sea is turned to blood, killing the sea creatures and destroying ships (Rev. 8:8).



MOSES AND ELIJAH

 

Malachi 4:4-6 Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

 

Here we have two prophets - two witnesses, mentioned in the same passage -

      Elijah and Moses. Two Witnesses.



      (1) Moses, who said, “Remember the Law of Yehovah” and

      (2) Elijah, who said, “Choose whom you will serve.”


      The message of the ancient witnesses, will be the message of the last “Two Witnesses.”

 

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 

Today’s “gods” are power, money and pleasure. Climate Change and Social Justice have become religions.

 

Do I believe that the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Elijah

               will show up on this earth,

                    to give their testimony for 42 months,

                         and then be literally killed? It’s possible.

 

Both Elijah and Moses are alive. They could appear on the earth in the last days, just as they appeared on the Mount where Yeshua was transfigured (Matt 17:2). It was against the Torah to communicate with spirits (Exo 22:18, Lev 19:31, Exo 22:18).

 

Elijah was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. Moses (I believe) was resurrected by the pre-incarnate Son of God. Paul said that “death reigned from Adam to Moses” (Rom 5:4). At Moses, death suffered its first defeat.

 

I believe it more likely that the Two Witnesses of the final days will be LIKE Moses and LIKE Elijah. The Two Witnesses are two churches. They are two branches. They are sealed and spirit filled. They will give the Moses message, and the Elijah message. They will also have “the testimony of Yeshua Messiah.”

 

1 John 5:10-11 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”




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POWER OVER PLAGUES

 

Revelation 11:6 “They have power” . . . “to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”

 

Moses predicted each plague, in Pharaoh’s presence. He testified during the time just before Egypt - as a world power, was severely diminished.

 

The two witnesses of Revelation will predict each Trumpet judgment, and will testify during the time when those plagues are unleashed. The Two Witnesses do not cause these plagues, just as Moses did not literally cause the plagues of Egypt. They will predict them, and perhaps call upon the LORD to bring them, just as Elijah called down fire from heaven.



FIRE FROM THEIR MOUTH

 

Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies.

 

This wording may allude to the “tongues of fire” seen in the “upper room” at the outpouring of the Spirit, following the resurrection of Yeshua. The final Two Witnesses are Spirit filled, and their enemies cannot answer them.

 

Jeremiah 5:14 “Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts: ‘Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.’”

 

Matthew 10:20 “. . . it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”


            God’s “words” have power. Jesus claimed that He spoke the words of His Father.

 

John 3:34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”

 

John 6:63 “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (NRS)

 






THEY PROPHESY IN MOURNING


Revelation 11:3-12 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one     thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

 

Sackcloth was the traditional sign of mourning - in Ancient Israel. The Two Witnesses, prophesy in sackcloth, because this will be a time of great persecution and suffering. Also because they know the earth is about to be destroyed.

 

The “Little Horn” on the Beast power, will set up the “image of the Beast.” He will demand that every person on the face of the earth, serve this “image.” Unless they take his “mark” they will not be able to “buy or sell”(Rev. 13:16-17). Finally, those who refuse to worship the Beast or his image, will be condemned to death (Rev. 13:15).


THREE AND A HALF YEARS

 

Smyrna and Philadelphia will prophesy for 1260 days (Rev. 11:3). The remnant people of God will be severely persecuted for three and a half years, leading up to the return of Christ (Rev. 13:5,7,8). Six trumpets sound, each one bringing another judgment. When the “last trump” (the seventh trumpet) sounds “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15). Those who are Christ’s will be “caught up to meet Him in the air” (1Thes 4:17). Then the seven wrath plagues will begin.


      The Trumpet warning judgments involve 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. They precede the return of Christ.

            (Except for #7 which is the glorious appearance of Christ.)


      The wrath plagues destroy all, and all, and all. They follow the appearance of Christ.

            Those who belong to Christ are rescued off the earth before the wrath plagues begin.

   

Daniel 7:25 “He [the Little Horn] shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, . . . Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. 26 `But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

 

Daniel 7:21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”


1260 days = 42 months = “time, times and a part” = three and a half years

      The time period is the same.

 

Obviously, the saints do NOT YET “possess the kingdom.” The prophecy given to Daniel, was for the last days (Rev 12:9). The prophecy of Revelation is also for the final days.

 

The time period described to Daniel, is THE SAME as that described to John. The Two Witnesses testify for 1260 days (42 months or 3.5 years). The Beast is allowed to persecute them for 1260 days.



THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

 

Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’

 

Revelation 11:15-18 [continued] The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.’”

 

“It’s time!”

 

It’s time to judge the dead.

                   The wicked will be “raised to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:1-3).

 

It’s time to “reward Your servants.”

                  The righteous dead will be “raised to everlasting life” at “the last trumpet.”

 

It’s time to “destroy those who destroy the earth.”

                  The seven wrath plagues begin on the day that the seventh Trumpet sounds.

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”


We know:

the identity of the witnesses, the power of the witnesses,

      the message of the witnesses, the time period of their witness, the enemy of the witnesses.


WHEN THEY FINISH THEIR TESTIMONY

 

Revelation 11:7-10When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified [Jerusalem].

 

Revelation 11:7-10 [continued] Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”

 

The wicked people of the world will blame the Two Witnesses for the plagues, just as King Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought (1Ki 18:17). They will celebrate the death of the Witnesses. They think the plagues will end, because they killed the Witnesses. Wrong! They will get a whole lot worse!!

 

Do I believe that every servant of God will be killed before Jesus returns? It may happen. But it is unlikely that every witness for the truth of God, will be brought to the City of Jerusalem for execution. It is much more likely that a death decree will be issued from Jerusalem. It is possible that these verses are speaking of a death decree, much like the one issued by the wicked Haman, in the days of Esther. The Jews thought they were as good as dead.

 

I do believe the truth of God will be silenced. When the last “witness” is silenced, either by death, or by imprisonment, or simply by censorship - that’s when it’s over. The wicked will have filled their cup of iniquity.

 

Daniel 12:7 [The “Man clothed in linen” speaking to Daniel] “. . . it will be for a time times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people is completely shattered, all these things will be finished.”

 

The “power of the holy people” is their power to witness. Jesus said, “You will receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth” (Acts 2:8).

 

The Two Witnesses are silenced at the end of 42 months. They are silenced by the Little Horn (the enforcer for the Beast Power). The wicked “people of earth” will celebrate.






THE RESURRECTION - of the Two Witnesses


Revelation 11:11-12 “Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered     them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”

 

The two witnesses are resurrected just (and I mean just) as the 7th Trumpet sounds.

 

They ascend into Heaven. This is the Glorious Return!! The “dead in Christ will rise.” The resurrected, and then those who are still living, are caught up to meet their Redeemer in the clouds (1Thess. 4:16-17).



THE CHARACTER - THE MESSAGE - AND THE TIME PERIOD

 

The character and the message of the last two witnesses is revealed. The time period during which they give their testimony is given in the prophecy. Their final destination is described as Heaven. Do I want to be one of those witnesses? Yes! Absolutely. Do I want to live through a period of terrible persecution? Not really. But if the Lord calls me to that work, He will supply the strength. He’s done it before. He will do it again.


              “You must not fear them,

                           for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”

                                                                                            Deuteronomy 2:22


  

We pray this study will prove a blessing.

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