Now in Revelation 11:3-12 we see the ministry of the two witnesses. Verse 3 tells us (along with the context of verses 1-2) that this takes place during the last half of the tribulation period. In verse 2 the Gentiles tread under foot the holy city for 42 months. Then in verse 3 the two witnesses prophesy for 1,270 days (or 42 months or 3 ½ years). So, we can safely conclude that these two things take place at the same time.
Then in verse 4 we see a clue as to the identity of the two witnesses. “These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks which stand before the Lord of the earth.” To this we can compare Zechariah 4:3, 11-14. You can read it yourself, but I’ll point out verse 14 that says, “These (two olive trees) are the two anointed ones who stand before the Lord of the earth”. It’s interesting to look at the language here. The normal word for anointed is mashach, and means, “set apart for God’s service or purpose” (see Isaiah 61:1). But this reference in Zechariah uses the word yitshar, which means, “oil for producing light”. This is why the more recent translations of Zechariah 4:14 read “sons of oil”. So we can reasonably conclude that the purpose of these two men who stand before the Lord is to produce light. We’ll talk about that later when we look at the results of the ministry of the two witnesses.
But for now let’s make an attempt to specifically identify the two witnesses. Both Zechariah and Revelation say these two “stand (present tense) before the Lord of the earth”. Nineteen hundred years ago when John wrote the Book of Revelation they were standing before the Lord. Five hundred years before that when Zechariah recorded his vision; they were standing before the Lord. Now, whoever these two are, we know what they’re yet to do in the future because of what John recorded. And one of the things they’re going to do is die (Revelation 11:7). Since it is “appointed man once to die” (Hebrews 9:27), we will assume that these two have not yet experienced death. That narrows the possibilities, as there are only two men in Scripture that did not experience death and would have already been in heaven with God at the time of Zechariah’s vision.
“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him”. (Genesis 5:24) “Because of his faith, Enoch was transferred to heaven, so he did not experience death. He could not be found, for God had taken him away. And before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5) Enoch is the first man in history we know went to be with God, but did not die.
“As they went on and were talking together, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire came and separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11) We also know this same Elijah is to return to the earth (Malachi 4:5-6) for a specific purpose and we’ll look at that later, as well. But for now we can add Elijah as the second man who went to be with God, but did not die. For more on this you can read my article “The Shape of God” on the website. Both Enoch and Elijah have lived with God for over 5,000 years, waiting for the time when they will return to the earth to do what God has appointed for them during the last half of the tribulation period.
So, now that we know who they are, let’s look at what they do. Back to John’s revelation, in 11:5-6 we see the extraordinary abilities God grants to these two for this time. If anyone tries to interfere with them or harm them in any way, fire will come out of their mouths to consume their adversaries. And all who oppose them are condemned to die in this way (verse 5). In addition, they’re given the ability to hold back the rain, to turn water to blood and cause any sort of calamity (plague) at their own discretion (verse 6).
As to their ministry we need to look at the words used by John. Verse 3 says, “they shall prophesy”. The word is propheteuo, and means, “to tell forth Divine counsel or God’s will, especially of His saving purpose.” In verse 7 we see, “when they have finished their testimony”. This is marturia, and means, to certify or bear witness” and in this case points to martyrdom, as also in Revelation 12:17. So, to this point we can conclude that Enoch and Elijah will have a 3 ½ year ministry telling people the truth concerning God’s plan of redemption, and this in the midst of utter destruction, chaos and resistance from the enemies of God and of God’s people, who are powerless to stop them or shut them up. Then they will be martyred.
“But when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the Abyss will wage war against them, will overcome them and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7) Now, I’ll try to keep this simple for the time being. We’ll see this “beast” again in chapter 17 and then I’ll get into a little more detail about him. This is not the Antichrist (he’s the “beast” that comes up out of the sea in 13:1). The beast that overcomes and kills the two witnesses is a satanic angel that has been kept in the abyss. He’s associated with the “great whore” of chapter 17. I’ll identify them both with some detail when we get to that point.
Then in verse 8 we see their dead bodies put on public display “in that great city that is (in a spiritual sense) called Sodom and Egypt and is also where our Lord was crucified”. During the last half of the tribulation period Jerusalem becomes the Antichrist’s capital city and is the center of both political and religious activity. In chapter 17 we’ll see that during this time Jerusalem will become the center of both sexual and religious perversions. Luke 17:26-30 describes conditions on the earth just before the second coming of Christ. Verse 29 talks about Sodom being destroyed (Genesis 18:20-21, 19:24) because of their great sin. Then verse 30 says it will be just like that on the day the Son of Man returns.
The next two verses (9-10) talk about how people celebrate the death of the two witnesses. They put their dead bodies on display, refusing to allow them to be buried. Then they congratulate each other, throw parties and send one another gifts. Why is this a big deal? Put it in context. Remember, this is a parenthetical passage describing events that go all the way to the end of the tribulation period. The two witnesses have been in Jerusalem preaching against everything that has been going on: politically, with the persecution and martyrdom of Jews and others who refuse to join the Antichrist in his campaign to destroy Israel; and religiously with the perversions promoted by the false prophet. Everyone who opposed the two witnesses died for their trouble (verse 5). And who knows what other problems the two witnesses caused during this time because of the abilities God gave them (verse 6).
This brings us to verses 11-12. “Then after three and a half days the breath of lives (that only comes from God) entered into them, and they stood up on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And they went up into heaven in a cloud, even as their enemies watched.” Probably the only difference you might notice in the verses above is that I have “breath of lives (that only comes from God)”, where the King James has “Spirit of life” and the NIV has “a breath of life from God”. The original text uses pneuma zoes, literally, “breath of lives” (plural). Neither of the above translations is correct. This is the Greek equivalent of neshamah chayim used to describe how God gave the first man life in his soul and spirit as explained in lesson 14.
We cannot end this lesson without looking at the result of the ministry of the two witnesses. Earlier in this lesson I said that Elijah is to return to the earth and referenced Malachi 4:5-6. Let me quote it for you here. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. And then he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” This is when the greatest spiritual awakening in the history of earth takes place as described in Joel 2:28-32 and quoted by Peter in Acts 2:16-21. In the time of the greatest destruction and display of supernatural phenomenon ever seen by man, Elijah and Enoch will daily preach truth in the capital city of God’s enemies, and those who oppose God will be powerless to stop their testimony. The rest of the world, fearing the same destruction might come upon them if they rebel, begins to seek God with true repentance.
Knowing the state of electronic media today, it is quite possible that both Elijah and Enoch will make the evening news around the world on a regular basis. With all the remarkable things happening during this time I’m pretty sure that fire coming out of their mouths to consume anyone that tries to stop them from speaking the truth will probably be newsworthy. And what truth will they be speaking. Basically it will be this: if you don’t want what these people are getting, then you’d better get on God’s side, and this is how you do that.
The result is found in the Joel and Acts passages. “And it will come to pass in these last days, declares God, I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind. And your sons and daughters will speak the truth of God openly (prophesy). And your young men will see visions (revelation through mental pictures) and your old men will dream dreams (again, revelation while sleeping). And on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit and they will tell the truth regarding the coming of My earthly kingdom. And all this in the midst of what I am doing, wonders in the sky above and supernatural signs on the earth below, blood and fire and smoking vapor. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes. And it will be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered.”