The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11: Who Do You Suppose They Are?

REFERENCE:  The Bible Knowledge Commentary:

Revelation 11:3-6:  It was revealed to John that the two witnesses would be empowered by God to serve as prophets for 1,260 days or 42 months. They would be clothed in sackcloth and would be called two olive trees and two lampstands. 

Numerous and varied interpretations have been given concerning the two witnesses. Some have suggested that they are not literal individuals. However, in view of the fact that they die and are resurrected, the implication is that they are actual people. 

[Supposition #1:  Nothing suggests a staff member of God could not take physical/human form here on earth.  Melchizedek, priest of God and King of Salem of Genesis 14, was of human form as well; but he had no human lineage and no human ancestry.  The resurrection of the two witnesses serves God's purpose.  Then a loud voice from heaven calls out to the two witnesses "Come up here".  And "they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies looked on"]

Another problem is their identification. A common interpretation is that they are Moses and Elijah because the judgments inflicted by Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament are similar to those of these two witnesses (11:5-6). Further support is given the identification of Elijah because of the prediction (Mal. 4:5) that he will appear "before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes." Christ said this prophecy of Elijah was partially fulfilled in His lifetime (Matt. 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; cf. Luke 1:17). And both Moses and Elijah were involved in the transfiguration (Matt. 17:3), which anticipated the Second Coming. But a problem with this suggested identity is that Moses had already died once. Some have identified the two witnesses as Enoch and Elijah inasmuch as they did not die but were translated (cf. Heb. 9:27).

While there is room for considerable discussion of these various views, the fact is that the passage does not identify the two witnesses, and they probably do not have historic identification.

[Supposition #2:  Elijah, Moses, Enoch were old Testament figures; with long familial lineages.  The 2 witnesses were introduced in the Old Testament in Zechariah 4:14.  There's no mention of their familial lineage in the Bible.  According to the Bible, they will appear at a future time from John's reference.  The only similarity that I can compare this with is Melchizedek, an OT character.  This OT character was not an ordinary person whose records could be sketchy or get lost.  Melchizedek was a priest of God and a king.  And usually, someone of this pedigree would have an ancestral lineage.  But according to the Christian Bible, Melchizedek appeared on the scene and just simply was.]

The description of the two witnesses as olive trees and lampstands has an Old Testament background (Zech. 4:2-14). The two witnesses in this passage were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. Their connection to the lampstands was that they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the olive oil. In a similar way the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Like prophets of old the two witnesses will be able to do supernatural miracles, and fire will destroy those who will try to harm them (Rev. 11:5). Like Elijah they will have power to stop rain, and will have power like Moses to turn water into blood and to bring on plagues (v. 6). In the midst of the unbelief, apostasy, and satanic power of the Great Tribulation these two witnesses will be a threat to the entire wicked world for a literal period of 1,260 days.

Revelation 11:7-10:  With the ministry of the two witnesses ended, God permitted the beast that comes up from the Abyss (cf. 9:1-2, 11; 17:8; 20:1, 3) to overcome them. The beast, that is, the Antichrist, is mentioned nine other times in Revelation (13:1; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 17:3, 13; 19:20; 20:10). After the witnesses were killed, their bodies were left unburied in Jerusalem, figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, because of the people’s apostasy and rejection of God.

For three and one-half days

the whole world gloated over their dead bodies. This implies some worldwide display, now made possible by television. Their deaths were considered a great victory for the world ruler and Satan, and were celebrated by people sending each other gifts.

Revelation 11:11-12:  After three and one-half days in the street, however, suddenly the two witnesses were resurrected and stood on their feet. They responded to the invitation, Come up here, and went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on with great fear.

Daniel 11:29

Keeping in mind...

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

"for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38

"Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority." 1 Peter 3:22

The verses in Daniel 11 troubled me.  I first began a more in-depth study of Daniel through one of Beth Moore's Bible study classes.  It was my understanding that the first part of Daniel 11 is about a historical figure by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies IV.  The second part is suppose to describe future events that will be fulfilled by the anti-Christ.  But for days, something was bothering me.  And I needed to find it out.

What I struggled with in Daniel 11 is this:  where in the text does the unfulfilled portion of end-time prophesy begin?

As I was mulling over Revelation 9:16, this verse led me to the biblical verses on spiritual warfare or principalities of the unseen world.  According to the angelic messenger sent to the prophet Daniel by God, these principalities rule in parallel with an earthly ruler; who could be just as evil and Godless as the demonic spirit that oversees him/her. 

Daniel 11:29 intrigues me.

At times, when I'm stuck about something written in the Holy Bible, I ask the Lord to help me understand it.  He always supply abundant amount of wisdom.  So, in my prayer, I asked Him for wisdom.  "I need  wisdom," I said. 

Not really knowing if my prayer was answered, but BELIEVING that in scripture, He gives wisdom to those who ask it, I believe He has heard me.  In His own timing, He will put that wisdom to use in order to glorify Him. 

Therefore, these few days, I've been fixated on Daniel 11 beginning with verse 29:  "Then at the appointed time he will once again ...."

I am thinking, hypothesizing,... that the person in question found in verse 29 is the anti-Christ. 

Is it possible that Daniel 11:29 is the boundary line that separates the past that was already fulfilled from the future, that has yet to be fulfilled through the anti-Christ?

Here is where I am.  For now, in my study, I will presume, the past ends at Daniel 11:28 and the future begins with Daniel 11:29.  The two "anti-Christ" figures are very similar.  I believe it was Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministry who said God is teaching us about future events using past events.

My [and your] God is the almighty God, and He is my one and only God. 

I study on....