The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

At the beginning of the tribulation God sends two mysterious people to the nation of Israel. God calls these his two witnesses. I call them mysterious, because the bible never reveals their identity. It does tell us that they will be here for 2,260 days or 3 1/2 years. They will be in Jerusalem that entire time prophesying and telling people about Jesus Christ.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

God reveals a bit about who they are in this verse. They are the 2 olive trees and the 2 candle sticks. These things refer to the word of God. The Old and New Testament. The bible speaks to our mind and the Holy Spirit to our heart. God sent them to Israel as a witness to him, for the salvation of men. This is God's last plea to his people to get right with him. Judgement has come upon the earth and God is giving Israel a final call.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

The Jews do not receive them kindly. They are so filled with evil and their hearts are so hardened toward God, that they try to hurt them. The two witnesses will pour fire out of their mouth and devour such people. Their enemies will be killed. The spirit of anti-christ will be strong at this time, and these men will be hated by the whole world.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The two witnesses, will have the power to stop the rain and can turn water into blood. Also, they can bring plagues upon the earth. These are going to be powerful men. They will be foreshadowing the judgement of God. All of these signs are to bring Israel into repentance, and back to God. This will further upset the people.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

After the 3 1/2 years is finished, the anti-christ will kill them. God will providentially allow this to happen. This is the turning point of the tribulation. This is the point where humanity becomes truly doomed. At this point Satan indwells the Anti-christ and he commits a great abomination. The mark of the beast is put into effect, dooming anyone to hell that receives it. God begins to take out his wrath on mankind and so does Satan. These men's death, represents one the most significant events in human history.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

After these two men are killed their bodies are left in the street. This is Jerusalem, but the bible says it is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. These are two places in the bible that represent evil and Godlessness. This is how God sees Jerusalem. This is why he sent these men, to save these people from the wrath to come. The whole world will see these men lying dead in the street. This was once considered preposterous. The idea of everyone on earth being able to see these two dead men was absurd only 60 or 70 years ago. Now with satellite technology and digital devices we can see anywhere in the world in real time. These men will be left rotting on the street, because people want them too. People will celebrate that they are dead. They will send gifts to one another out of sheer joy that these people are dead. These men tormented the earth with the word of God and people could not stand it, and you think the church has it bad today.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Then after 3 1/2 days God resurrects these two men. They stand on their feet and fear overcomes all who saw them. God calls them up to heaven and their enemies see them ascend to heaven. This will be shocking to theses people. The world will witness this miracle.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

In the same hour an earth quake will level one tenth of Jerusalem and 7,000 men will die. All who survive will give God glory. All of this is done to bring Israel back to God. As I stated earlier the 3 1/2 year point marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, where all you know what breaks lose. God knows this is coming and wants to warn people. He uses the two witnesses to bring as many people to him as possible. Once the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation (The Great Tribulation) starts, their is no more mercy from God.

Many people wonder who the two witnesses are. They are both Jewish, because they are ministering to the Jews. Many bible scholars believe that they are saints of old. Many believe that they are Moses and Elijah. Both of these men stood with Christ at the mount of transfiguration. Elijah could stop the rain from falling. Also, Elijah never died, he went up to heaven in a whirlwind. The identity of these two witnesses is merely speculation and really doesn't matter. A lot of people seem to be hung up on the idea, so I thought I would address it.

Time is running out and the tribulation is right around the corner. Now is the time to get saved, to avoid what is coming. If you are not saved I invite you to do so now. It is easy, just recognize that you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ died for your sins. The only way to take away sins is the shedding of innocent blood. Jesus exchanged his life for our sins. No amount of good works can ever take away sins. If you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the payment for all your sins, you are saved from hell. You can do nothing to lose it because you did nothing to earn it, except believe.

Romans 3

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.