Two Witnesses from Revelation 11

Identity of the Two Witnesses from Revelation 11

Based on the Lord's Law, we know that two witnesses are required to establish the truth. A person is not obligated to accept the testimony of just one, but if two people testify to the truth, then it is wrong to reject their testimony.

Regarding the two witnesses in Revelation 11, we consider them in the present time. The very first verse points to the time of investigative judgment that is carried out in favor of God's people, that is, all those who claim to be believers in the last message, the message of the three angels (Revelation 14:1-6). Therefore, the time of the two witnesses' activity is precisely this present time, which is the time of the end. Before we proceed to determine the identity of these witnesses, we will provide some more evidence that the prophecies in Revelation should be sought in the present time without questioning their historical interpretation. So, we present two testimonies from Scripture with the emphasis marked in italics:

1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the¹ ages have come. Matthew 24:34: Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Therefore, the last generation of believers on this earth cannot say about any of the events prophesied by Christ on the Mount of Olives that they do not apply to them. If something is written, it is written for them, and then we speak of full fulfillment. When we look at historically fulfilled prophecies, we then speak of partial fulfillment.

It is precisely for this reason that we want to be more than careful and not let a single word fall to the ground without spiritually considering it through faith, prayer, and devout study of the Scriptures. We are then saying that the role of the Holy Spirit through enlightenment takes first place in interpretation. Only then can the information received, which leaves a very deep impression, be further harmonized with the interpretation of biblical scholars. In our understanding, interpretation is the scientific methods of hermeneutics and exegesis of secondary importance. Primary is enlightenment and counsel with people who are on the path of sanctification.

We have received so many calls to study the prophecies that we cannot say about any of them that it was fully realized in the past, without the need to apply it to us today.

In the case of the two witnesses, we will not deal with all the details of the prophecy, but with their identity. The first thing we must note is that these are people. The entire prophecy clearly shows that these are living people who speak, act, prophesy, etc. The historical application of some parts of the prophecy to the books of the Old and New Testaments is not questioned. It is partial and quite appropriate for that time, as a confirmed word of prophecy for that time (the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century).

The application of the entire prophecy and the observation of full fulfillment cannot be reconciled with anything else that is not a living human being. As confirmation of this, we are invited to observe how God works and has always worked in the past: through His human instruments. So the work of the two witnesses on this earth cannot be completed by the Old and New Testaments alone.

The way in which the activity of the two witnesses is described points us to the Old Testament prophets. So God at the end of the history of this world acts in the Old Testament way. In this sense, in the second part of the prophecy about the two witnesses, they are called prophets. This means that the ministry of these people will have a prophetic character.

Although the work of these prophets cannot be compared to anything seen in history so far, a great similarity is striking, to a lesser extent with the work of Moses and to a much greater extent with the prophet Elijah. The striking similarity with Elijah is certainly not accidental. So the fact that their work is similar to that of Moses indicates that they are people of the Word, people of the Law, and also indicates the position of God's people in the time of the end, a kind of slavery and captivity like that in Egypt.

However, a much stronger continuity with Elijah indicates that this is about the circumstances of apostasy within the ranks of God's own people. So the truth is that the people are in slavery as far as the environment is concerned, but it is even more difficult than those circumstances the fact that those who call themselves believers are falling away from the God they claim to serve. So if the first picture of the prophecy from Revelation 11 is a picture of the investigative judgment over God's church, then the second picture of the prophets proclaiming the message clothed in sackcloth is a picture of mourning for apostasy within the Church.

We see that their first ministry of witnessing within the ranks of believers runs parallel to the one outside to unbelievers, which, like in the introductory picture, is left for a later time. Their ministry goes hand in hand with the judgment and is an integral part of the judgment.

They finish their testimony and are "killed by the beast that comes out of the abyss." They lie dead in the street of the city for three and a half days. By the names of the city where they lie, we see that it is about the world, false religion, but also about unbelievers from Jerusalem itself, which is a symbol for God's community. Unbelievers and false believers rejoice at their death. But they come to life again and are taken up into the clouds.

So we continue to follow the great similarities from the life of the prophet Elijah, but here details appear that point to John the Baptist and also to Christ.

The prophecy from Malachi indicates the appearance of Elijah immediately before Christ's coming. Christ confirms that Elijah must come, but also points to John as the fulfillment of that prophecy (Matthew 17:11,12). So we have one historical Elijah who is a type of the one before the first coming but also of the one who is yet to come. It is clear that Malachi is talking about the same thing as the prophecy of the two witnesses.

That Elijah is one person, not a people, not a movement, etc., but one single person, is also easy to show. If the first was one person, the second also, then the third Elijah is also one person. God always works through one person. So in this time we have a prophet, a witness through whom God will accomplish His great work. The third Elijah.

Who then is the second witness?

In answering this question, we go to the last day on this earth of the prophet Elijah. In the morning he sends his servant three times to go from him. However, Elisha does not listen. He had his own communion with God, and God Himself commanded him not to listen to Elijah. This was a great test for the man who was supposed to continue Elijah's work. And other prophets from the school had information that Elijah would be taken.

Just before the ascension to heaven, Elijah explains to Elisha that he will receive two parts of his spirit if he sees him during the ascension. Elisha's faith endured its greatest life test, and that is to not listen to his teacher but to God. So he received two parts of Elijah's spirit. Penetration and power were combined with meekness and patience. In a way, Elisha was even greater than Elijah.

So first comes Elijah, then greater than him Elisha because of the two parts of the spirit; and after that we have the greatest born of woman, the second Elijah, John the Baptist! So in a way even greater than Elisha!

We notice that God adds another, even greater one, to the ministry of one great one. There are always two witnesses.

After John the Baptist comes the second Witness, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Even greater!

That Lord Jesus says that His disciples will do even greater works than He (John 14:12)! Let us now look in the light of those words at how powerful the ministry of the Third Elijah is! In terms of works, the ministry of Elijah is greater than that of the Son of God Himself!

If we have another witness, he is even greater than the Third Elijah. Let us look at the following prophecy that is inevitably connected with that other witness, the prophet: Malachi speaks of the Third Elijah, and before him Zechariah speaks of the second witness.

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the weakest among them will be in that day like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.

So the second witness is a symbol for the whole movement and people. He will be as if God had come down to Earth! So powerful, the last of all the great witnesses.

The second witness is none other than the 144,000. Firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

As the first and second, so will the third Elijah fall in his battle. That means that he will be "dead" for some time. We should not expect a superman of that last-day prophet. According to prophecy, he will have his weaknesses and human sides. The typological picture through his predecessors is clear. The prophecy also speaks clearly.

The 144,000 are also sinners. They follow the Lamb, which means they are in need of forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Christ every day. However, if they see Elijah ascending to the clouds, they will also be endowed with double strength. This prophecy clearly indicates that the truth about the heavenly sanctuary that is between heaven and earth, heavenly science