The Two Witnesses, Rev 11:3-6
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
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. 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. Revelation 11:3-6
The Two Witnesses
Scholars recognize Revelation 11 as one of the hardest chapters of the Bible to interpret. In studying for this particular passage, 11:3-6, I did a listing of what scholars position was on the time frame of this passage; men that I respect highly were divided on this issue. I mention this because it is important to remember that there will be some division of opinion on the timing, but in both cases there are good arguments. In this section of scripture, there are two main challenges in interpretation: first is, as mentioned the time frame (1st half or 2nd half of the Tribulation) and second is whom these two witnesses are.
Let's study verse three. The Greek term translated as witness is martus; it is also translated as martyr. This is interesting, because although the term witness is used here in translation (as they present their testimony, as we will see over the next few days) they will be killed for their faith (which we will see next week). It is important that there is not just one but two witnesses. Old Testament law required testimony in legal proceedings to be according the accounts of at least two witnesses (Deut 17:6; 19:15). MacArthur notes "Witnesses is the plural form of martus, from which the English word martyr derives, since so many witnesses of Jesus Christ in the early church paid with their lives."
We are told by Jesus Himself to "take up our cross daily" (Luke 9:23). This particular figure of speech has been wrongly interpreted by many well meaning Christians; some think that it may be dealing with a certain sin or perhaps even just the trials and tribulations of life. But if you look at the context, this is clearly not the case, and the term cross refers to a means of execution! To take up your cross means to endure persecution, even a persecution to the death if necessary. I hear many brethren that complain that they are "persecuted" for their beliefs but in truth, what we endure is nothing. We are called to be witnesses for Jesus, and that calling means that we will at times be unpopular. Our very belief says that those people are wrong, and are going to Hell.
Another key word is prophecy (pronounced prof ah si). When we hear that term, especially in prophetic books such as Daniel and Revelation we think it means to tell the future. Actually, while it can and does mean that here to a degree, the primary meaning means "to speak forth," "to proclaim," or "to preach." (John MacArthur). The message coming from these two witnesses will be two-fold; they will prophecy about the coming judgment, doom and gloom that is about to beset the earth, but they will also proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt 24) Both messages in tandem will bring persecution to these two men.
Time, Times and Half a Time; Mourning and Repentance
These two prophets or witnesses will preach for a total of 1,260 days; this is the same measure of time as mentioned in verse two (forty two months) and also mentioned as "time, times and half a time" (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14) Now if you do some quick math you might think this does not add up, but the Jewish reckoning of a lunar month is 30 days so then it is still accurate.
Lasseigne noted that the usage of 1,260 days is important. Why? Yes, it does add up to 42 months, but because here we see 1,260 days it means that these two witnesses will not just have a ministry time of that length but that they will preach each and every day. They will not have a vacation, they will not have a break, they will preach every single day.
In addition, they will be dressed in sackcloth. Sackcloth is "a rough, coarse cloth, or a baglike garment made of this cloth and worn as a symbol of mourning or repentance." (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary). It would be like wearing a burlap sack today, only one made of goat hair. It would be itchy, hot and uncomfortable. Noted men in the Bible that wore sackcloth were Jacob when notified at the supposed death of Joseph (Genesis 37:34), David, Joab and others (2 Sam 3:31) and Mordecai (Esther 4:1). Each of these men were mourning because of a deep hurt in the heart.
There are some people that mourn because they know that they have done wrong, that they are in some big, big trouble and judgment is coming. However the mourning that comes when the heart is hurt because the person feels how they have offended God is a different story. These witnesses will mourn over the incredibly perverse sins of the world; today's sinful world will seem moral in comparison.
Also, we have to make sure that we are on the right page with the topic of repentance. For instance, at different stages during the plagues visited on Egypt by God through Moses in the book of Exodus, a casual first read one might think that Pharaoh "repented". But after the nation of Israel was let go after the tenth plague--the death of the first born--Pharaoh then in anger pursued Israel. He was not repentant, but it only seemed as such.
Mourning and repentance go hand in hand when a person is genuinely saved. When a person sees their sin for what it really is in the sight of God, mourning comes. This mourning comes not just because of fear for punishment but because they know that they have offended God and it was the innocent Son, Jesus, who took the place of us in punishment. A person mourns, and then "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matt 5:4, KJV). When they come to repentance (meaning to turn from sin, to change the mind) then the comfort of knowing all is right with God and that God is then that person's Father is a great comfort.
Who Are These Witnesses?
Again, we must remember that there are many different interpretations of this section of God's Word. There are two main "bones of contention" in Chapter 11: who these witnesses are, and when will they appear, first half or last half of the tribulation? A person can indeed be a futurist in their belief (holding to dispensational theology, pre-tribulation rapture and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ) yet have a good deal of leeway when interpreting this passage of Scripture.
First and foremost, let's note that John does not reveal who these men really are. I view the dogmatism about the identity of these witnesses as akin to arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin; in other words, does it really matter whom these men are?
Most Christians think that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. "The two unnamed witnesses are striking similar to Elijah (vv. 5, 6; 1 Kin. 17; Mal. 4:5) and Moses (v. 6; Ex. 7—11), who appeared together with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:29–32)" (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary). I feel that while one may be Elijah the other cannot be Moses for one key reason: he died and was buried. Scripture tells us "it is appointed for men to die once and then to judgment" (Heb 9:27). Since Moses died, then this would seem to eliminate him, and it would also eliminate John the Baptist as well as both of these witnesses will be slain by "the beast from the bottomless pit" (verse 7). There are only two men that were taken to heaven without dying first: Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
Truth is, as mentioned above, the Scripture is silent as to the identities of these men, and they could very well be two contemporary men that God has set aside for this very purpose. They would be of Jewish descent, and that would be because their duties and their association with the Tribulation Temple as seen in the first two verses in Revelation 11.
Now both of these men are referred to as "olive trees" and "lampstands" (candlesticks, KJV). The olive trees symbolize the Holy Spirit and His ministry, as olive oil often was a metaphor for Him. In addition, the "lampstands" would refer to the light being given to a dark world.
In a lesser sense, we as Christians are "olive trees and lampstands". The Holy Spirit lives within us, which provides the fuel for us to be light to the world. I do believe that if it were not for the Christian witness of the church (even in the sad state it is in today), the support of missions across the world and American support of Israel keeps God from bringing greater judgment than He has.--JH
Literal Interpretation, Please
Sometimes I do think that some scholars either over think things, making mountains out of molehills, or they look at a scripture that seems pretty plain if you take it literally and discount it as being ludicrous. This passage, my friend, is one of those that I feel the latter attitude applies with most scholars.
In verse five, we see--twice for emphasis--that those that oppose these two witnesses will be devoured by fire from the mouths of the same. Does this sound bizarre? Yes, but then again so does a talking donkey, the virgin birth and also the resurrection of the dead but we all believe in those things! I see no reason whatsoever for a denial of the literal sense of this passage. "Like Noah before the Flood and Moses before the plagues on Egypt, the two witnesses will fearlessly proclaim God's judgment, wrath, vengeance, and the need for repentance. Because of that, they will be universally hated (cf. vv. 9-10) and many will desire to harm them during the days of their preaching. When that harm is attempted, they will react with miraculous power—fire will flow out of their mouth and devour their enemies. There is no reason to assume that this is not real, literal fire, since God has in the past used fire to incinerate His enemies (Lev. 10:2; Num. 11:1; 16:35; Ps. 106:17-18). Those who wish to harm the two preachers must be killed in this way because God does not want their preaching stopped until their ministry is complete and will judge with death those who try to halt it." (MacArthur)
In addition, it is not just action that will cause the flames to fire out of the mouths of the witnesses, it is simply the desire to even harm them. The word used here is thelo which means "to will, to wish," implying volition and purpose, frequently a determination, is most usually rendered "to will." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words). We must always remember that God deals with the thoughts and the intents of men; simply the desire to want to cause harm will yield the fire from God via the witnesses' mouths. So, for all of those times that your mom or dad told you "don't even think about it", perhaps this was a Biblical admonition!
These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy:
This is a throwback to the days of Elijah; "...the two witnesses have the authority to prevent rain during the days of their prophecy, identifying them with Elijah, whose prayer caused it not to rain for three and one-half years" (Nelson's IBC).
...And they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. These last two judgments reflect back to the Egyptian plagues of Moses (Exodus 7-11). With water being scarce due to the prior judgments in Revelation, the waters being turned to blood (this would be fresh waters), the people of earth will suffer greatly; yet, they will continue not only in their sin, but will become even more hard in their hating hearts toward God.
When Will These Witnesses Appear?
Earlier, it was mentioned that the two most difficult interpretive challenges in this passage of Scripture were the identity of the witnesses (which we discussed on Wednesday) and just when these two witnesses would appear. We know that their ministry will last for "one thousand two hundred and sixty days" as we see in verse three above. This equals forty two months (verse two) and we saw that in Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:14 this is stated as "time, times and a half a time", with a time being a year. Time, 1 year; times, 2 years; half a time, half a year; total 3 ½ years.
So, then, when do these witnesses appear, in the first half of the Tribulation period, or in the second half known as "The Great Tribulation"? Quite honestly, this is a hard call to make. There are people with minds much sharper and souls more godly than mine on both sides of the discussion. Nelson's Illustrated Bible Commentary (Radmacher, House, et al), J. Vernon McGee, Warren Wiersbe, Ed Hindson, Henry Morris, Chuck Smith and Jeff Lassigne all take the "first half" position, while the Believers' Bible Commentary (MacDonald/Farstad), John MacArthur, John Walvoord and Robert Thomas take the position of the witnesses Great Tribulation ministry time frame.
Here's my take on the discussion. I lean more toward the ministry of the witnesses being in the first half of the Tribulation period, but do have reservations. We know that at the midpoint of the Tribulation period the Tribulation Temple would have been rebuilt and that Antichrist will desecrate the temple with "the abomination of desolation":
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." Dan 9:27, NKJV
Matt 24:15 also mirrors this desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes IV in 165 BC. In short, Antichrist may well duplicate this desecration by sacrificing a sow and throwing the blood on the walls of the temple making it unusable by the Jews; he will also declare that He is God and set up an image of himself (Rev 13:14). It would seem to make sense that the event leading up to this would be the slaying of the witnesses in that it would spring forth belief that Antichrist is God; all others failed in their attempts at slaying them and died even just having the will and intent.
At the midpoint of the Tribulation, millions of Jews will be saved when they realize that Jesus was and is indeed the Messiah, and will flee toward protection at what many scholars speculate is the ancient stone city of Petra for the final 1,260 days (Rev 12:6 Matthew 24:15-21). Prior to this, however, in Matthew 24, Jesus states "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14, NKJV). It would appear that prior to saved Jews heading for their protected place (again, perhaps Petra) the witnesses will prophecy the gospel and it will be heard by the whole world; all the news networks will broadcast these witnesses throughout the world.
