Sunday, July 24, 2011

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

REFERENCE:  The Bible Knowledge Commentary:

Revelation 11:3-6It 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 11:7-10With 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 11:11-12After 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.

No comments:

Post a Comment