Who Are the Two Witnesses? -Part 1

Who are the Two witnesses of God? What do they look like?  Why do they need to prophesy? Where will they prophesy and when will they start to prophesy? How long will they prophesy for and what is the message that is to be prophesied?

We need to read all of Revelation chapter 11 to be able to start answering these questions.  Then we will do a verse-by-verse review of chapter 11 to pick up on the clues found in God’s word.  The first question we will take on is why do the two witnesses prophesy? 

As we pick up on our reading of Revelation chapter 11 we find that God is calling for a measurement or judgment upon his house.

Revelation 11:1-19… Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar and count those who worship there. ² But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 

The apostle John was told to measure God’s sanctuary of course this is not the physical sanctuary because by the time John was given this vision the temple in Jerusalem had already been destroyed. God was referring to his sanctuary in heaven and those who worship there. God was calling for a measurement or judgment to be done in his house. Everything outside of the courtyard was not to be measured but was to be given to the nations to trample on for 42 months.

Revelation 11:3-4... And I will cause (G1325 grant) my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.” These are [symbolized by] the two olive trees and the two lampstands and are standing before the Lord of the earth.

The Greek word rendered grant according to Strong’s Concordance #G1325 is didomi. and can be translated as allow, permit, grant, or even offer. So, according to this passage of Scripture God is allowing this limited time for the prophesying of what is yet to come. Ephesians 3:10

How long do they prophesy for?  Let us look quickly at the 1260 days.  We can divide it by 30 prophetic days, and it comes to be or equals 42 months, then we can divide that by 12 months that equals 3.5 years.  So, what is the significance of knowing the times and how will that help?  See the subheading Knowing the Times.

The next thing we notice is that the two witnesses are dressed in sackcloth. The use of the word sackcloth in this passage of Scripture would indicate that there was an event that has saddened them, as they lament and are showing a repenting attitude. What has happened that has caused the two witnesses to be dressed in sackcloth?  We will look into this more in the subheading Dressed in Sackcloth.

Third, we know that in Zechariah chapter 4 there is a vision given with two olive trees and one lampstand, as these stand before the Lord of the whole earth; and that vision has a direct tie in to the understanding of the two witnesses.  More on this will be discussed under the subheading The Lampstands.

Receiving Understanding

To this point we only stated a few facts but understanding prophecy will not happen through a man’s interpretation of Scripture.  Something more is required; it was God’s Holy Spirit that has caused men to speak the word of God in the past and it will only be by Holy Spirit that we understand the words of God heard by us today, Amen.

2 Peter 1:20-21… For YOU know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.

God wants us to try to understand his prophecy.  So, how can we receive the Holy Spirit today so as to understand prophecy?

First what is needed is a desire to want to know about truth.  We need to have a humble attitude.  And we have to be honest with ourselves and with others. 

John 4:23-24…Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit (G4151 Pneuma) and truth (G225 Aletheia), for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.  God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.

The Greek word used as truth according to Strongs Concordance #G225 Aletheia, it means the reality, like the way it is, not a perception or the illusion but the reality as seen by God. 

We all have a perception of what we think the reality is around us but that does not make it true.  Again, your perception is not necessarily the real reality.  To illustrate, it can be explained in this way: a person driving a car comes to an intersection and looking both ways.  He sees no threat, no danger, nor any other moving vehicle coming at them.  They pull out into the intersection.  Their perception says there is no threat there, but the reality is they did not see the car that was getting ready to hit them.  So, what we think, our perception may not necessarily be the reality that we are living in.

We need help living in truth and the reality as God sees it, and not in the perception of the world.  We need to pray for help so as to know what the truth is and then live in it.  Jesus Christ promised such help if we would just pray or ask for it.

John 14:13-17, 15:26… Also, whatever it is that YOU ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. 14 If YOU ask anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If YOU love me, YOU will observe my commandments; 16 and I will request the Father and he will give YOU another helper to be with YOU forever, 17 the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither beholds it nor knows it. YOU know it because it remains with YOU and is in YOU… 26 When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me.

First, we have to ask or pray for it in the name of Jesus Christ. Next, we have to identify Jesus as being the son of God.  We also have to love Jesus and obey God’s commandments. Philippians 2:9-11

Now, we may be given the spirit of truth, the helper, who will be with us forever.  This one will make known the reality or truth as seen by God because it speaks about the reality of Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:17

Dressed in Sackcloth!

What is behind the meaning of wearing sackcloth?

We have some good examples from the past, of people who were wearing sackcloth. The first being that of Jacob, who was in mourning for the loss of his son at Genesis 37:34.

Then we have King David who was mourning the death of Abner at 2 Samuel 3:31.

Next, we have King Ahab but take notice of what God said about the king putting on sackcloth.

1 Kings 21:17-26… And Jehovah’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 18 “Rise up, go down to meet Ahab the king of Israel, who is in Samaria. There he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 And you must speak to him, saying, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you must speak to him, saying, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.” 20 And Ahab proceeded to say to Elijah: “Have you found me, O enemy of mine?” to which he said: “I have found you. ‘For the reason that you have sold yourself to do what is bad in the eyes of Jehovah, 21 here I am bringing calamity upon you; and I shall certainly make a clean sweep after you and cut off from Ahab anyone urinating against a wall and the helpless and worthless one in Israel. 22 And I shall certainly constitute your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the offense with which you have offended and then caused Israel to sin.’ 23 And also as regards Jezebel Jehovah has spoken, saying, ‘The very dogs will eat up Jezebel in the plot of land of Jezreel. 24 Anyone of Ahab’s that is dying in the city the dogs will eat up; and anyone dying in the field the fowls of the heavens will eat up. 25 Without exception no one has proved to be like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, whom Jezebel his wife egged on. 26 And he went acting very detestably by going after the dungy idols, the same as all that the Amorites had done, whom Jehovah drove out from before the sons of Israel.’

1 Kings 21:27-29… And it came about that as soon as Ahab heard these words, he proceeded to rip his garments apart and to put sackcloth upon his flesh; and he went on a fast and kept lying down in sackcloth and walking despondently. 28 And Jehovah’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself on my account? For the reason that he has humbled himself because of me, I shall not bring the calamity in his own days. In the days of his son, I shall bring the calamity upon his house.”

Ahab was a wicked king, and he deserved death.  The proclamation against him was true and this putting on sackcloth and humbling himself before God did not save him from death. But God took note that he put on sackcloth and humbled himself.

The two witnesses are wearing sackcloth because they have found themselves in the day of God‘s wrath, so it would be appropriate for them to have a repenting and lamenting attitude.  This also would be the way of humility; they would become a living example for people to follow.  How will we act when we are brought to the judgment seat of God?  Will we continue to have the right attitude as God’s wrath is brought to bear upon the earth?  What attitude did Moses and Aaron have when being judged by God and so what will be our attitude?

Micah 7:8-10… Do not rejoice over me, O you woman enemy of mine. Although I have fallen, I shall certainly rise up; although I dwell in the darkness, Jehovah will be a light to me. 9 The raging of Jehovah I shall bear—for I have sinned against him—until he conducts my legal case and actually executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall look upon his righteousness. 10 And my enemy will see, and shame will cover her, who was saying to me: “Where is he, Jehovah your God?” My own eyes will look upon her. Now she will become a place of trampling, like the mire of streets.

This passage of Scripture reminds me of Revelation 11:3-5 and how the two witnesses must feel as they identified with the reality of what is going to happen to them. They will have to bear the time of God’s anger.   

Now before going on to Revelation 11:5 let us talk about the enemies of the two witnesses.

Oh, My Enemies

Who are the enemies of the two witnesses and why? What is the definition for the word enemy? 

The definition for the word enemy is someone who actively opposes you or is hostile to you.  How do you act when people are hostile toward you?  What was Jesus’ counsel on this matter? 

Matthew 5:38-48… “YOU heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 However, I say to YOU: Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him. 40 And if a person wants to go to court with you and get possession of your inner garment, let your outer garment also go to him; 41 and if someone under authority impresses you into service for a mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one asking you, and do not turn away from one that wants to borrow from you [without interest]. 43 “YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU; 45 that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. 46 For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nation’s doing the same thing? 48 YOU must accordingly be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect.

We are obligated as Disciples of Christ Jesus to resist personal assaults against us and treat all people as we want to be treated.  How do the two witnesses act in the face of this personal assault against them?  Why are they not following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Picking up on our reading of Revelation chapter 11:

Revelation 11:5-6… And if anyone wants to harm them, fire issues forth from their mouths and devours their enemies; and if anyone should want to harm them, in this manner he must be killed. These have the authority to shut up heaven that no rain should fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every sort of plague as often as they wish.

First if anyone wants to harm them, they devour their enemies with fire, this seems to be contrary to the counsel given by our Lord Jesus Christ, right?  These two witnesses are defending not themselves but the authority of God and of his Christ.  The two witnesses are under a commission from our Lord, and it is on a timetable, no one or nothing is going to stop that.

Why do the two witnesses have enemies?  First, they have enemies because they are on God’s side when it comes to the issue of universal sovereignty, and they speak with his authority. Then, the prophesying that they are doing makes enemies. Next, they have enemies because of the plagues that are brought against the earth. Lastly, the wild beast that ascends from the abyss is hostile toward the two witnesses and becomes their last enemy, as they are killed by it.

Revelation 11:7-13… And when they have finished their witnessing, the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them. 8 And their corpses will be on the broad way of the great city which is in a spiritual sense called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also impaled.

Who is this Wild Beast? We will answer that question found in Revelation chapter 13. Follow the hyperlink to see what happens when you Worship the Wild Beast.

What city are the two witnesses killed in? The answer is the same city as their Lord was impaled in the city of Jerusalem. Why is it called Sodom and Egypt?

Sodom was known for the immorality that was going on in it and it was judged for it.  Egypt was known for its many gods and viewed itself as prosperous and the provider for all its people. Now what happens next?

Back to our reading of Revelation 11:

Revelation 11:9-10… And those of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their corpses for three and a half days, and they do not let their corpses be laid in a tomb. 10 And those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them and enjoy themselves, and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those dwelling on the earth.

We cannot help but to notice that it is not just one group or one nation that is happy that the two witnesses are dead.  That means the prophecy that they were speaking was against the whole world.  People felt tormented by the words that these two witnesses spoke.  We will discuss more about this under the subheading What is to be Prophesied. 

What happens after the two witnesses are killed? Follow the hyperlink to find out: Who Are the Two Witnesses? – part 2

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