The prophecy of the two witnesses
Each of us no matter our race, religion or background have come to understand a common human experience. We've seen much of the same things, we've done a lot of the same things, and hardly anything on the news at this point is a shock to us. We've heard it all before. We've come to accept the world we live in as just the way things will always be. But, this study will be an interruption to the modern human experience, because it covers something that will soon shape our world, because It's coming, it's coming soon…
God's Two Witnesses are about to be given power. We've all heard about Noah's Ark. We've heard about Moses parting the Red Sea. We've heard about Sampson fighting lions. We've all heard these great Bible stories, right? But one thing that many of us have not heard about, are the Two Witnesses, why is that?
Book of Revelation chapter 11. Right before Jesus returns, God will give power to His Two Witnesses and it describes this vision that God gives John about them. John writes how one day these powerful Witnesses will come, and they are not going to just preach the gospel… They will be given power that will give evidence to the world that Jesus is King and that He is coming back. The Book of Revelation says that these two prophets or witnesses will have fire that comes from their mouths, they will have the power to stop the rain, and will even be given the miraculous powers to cause plagues to fall upon those who refuse to listen. It says that for three-and-a-half years they will be doing miracles, to basically prove to the world who Jesus is, before he returns.
The miraculous stories that we've all read about in the Bible will one day be visible again, right before our very eyes! So, what the Bible says about the Two Witnesses is extremely powerful. It's exciting. It's so important. The power of God is going to be on the scene going viral.
So why on earth don't we hear many sermons and messages about the Two Witnesses. It's a powerful thing that's going to happen. Well, there are a few reasons. The main reason is because there's a lot of debate about who exactly the Two Witnesses are. We all have opinions about this. I'm sure many of you have seen so many different perspectives. Some believe that the Two Witnesses will be Enoch and Elijah, some believe that they might be Moses and Elijah and some even say that the whole thing is symbolic for the old and new Testament. The issue is, we all have opinions on who they might be. We all have these guesses, these theories. And because we haven't been able to pinpoint exactly who they are in the scripture, we don't hear many sermons about them. No one wants to say or create something that might not be right, so we just stay silent.
Well today that changes, my friend if you follow this story from beginning to end giving it your full attention, I tell you this… By the end of this story you will no longer wonder about who the Two Witnesses might be, but you will know without any doubt, exactly what and who they are.
Enoch and Elijah
The Bible does not explicitly name the two witnesses, but many have speculated that they could be Enoch and Elijah. This theory is based on a strong argument, primarily derived from Hebrews 9:27, which states, “everyone at some point is going to die.” The interesting point is that Enoch and Elijah are two individuals who never experienced death; they were taken directly by God. The argument posits that because all people must die, and since Enoch and Elijah did not, they might return to earth as the two witnesses to fulfill this requirement and eventually die, as scripture suggests all people will eventually die.
However, there is also the belief that when Jesus returns, there will be individuals who are alive at His coming and will not experience death. These individuals will be "caught up" to meet Him. The Bible suggests that those who are in Christ have already died with Him on the cross. This is understood in a spiritual sense, where believers in Christ are considered to have participated in His death. Since both Enoch and Elijah are believed to have faith in Christ, some propose that they might have already spiritually “died” with Him, in the same manner that all believers do. This could imply that they do not need to physically die, as they have already died in Christ.
Moses and Elijah
The most common perspective regarding the identity of the Two Witnesses is that they are Moses and Elijah. Why Elijah, you may ask? The argument for Elijah being one of the Two Witnesses is compelling. According to the Bible, when the Two Witnesses are granted power, they will perform miraculous signs to prove to the world that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be, and that His return is imminent. One of the miraculous powers they are said to possess is the ability to make fire fall from the sky. This is particularly interesting because Elijah himself performed this miracle during his time on earth. Elijah made fire fall from the sky as a demonstration of God’s power to reveal the truth to the people. Given that the Two Witnesses will have the power to do the same, it stands to reason that one of them could be Elijah.
Additionally, the prophet Malachi, in chapter 4, verse 5, offers another significant point:
"I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes."
In this passage, Malachi foretells the return of Elijah before the coming of the Lord. This prophecy is often cited as support for the belief that Elijah will return, aligning with the role of one of the Two Witnesses. This is certainly a persuasive argument.
Now, what about Moses? Why is he considered a candidate for one of the Two Witnesses? The Two Witnesses are said to have the ability to perform miracles and bring plagues upon the earth. In the Bible, no figure is more associated with miracles and plagues than Moses. During his mission to free the Israelites from Egypt, Moses, by God’s command, brought a series of plagues upon Egypt when Pharaoh refused to release God’s people. The parallels between the plagues in Moses’ time and the events the Two Witnesses will bring make a strong case for Moses being one of them.
However, the most convincing argument for Moses and Elijah as the Two Witnesses comes from a significant biblical event involving these two figures. We know that Elijah never experienced death. He was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, leaving the earth without seeing death. But Moses, although he did die, appears to be alive in some sense. This is evidenced in the New Testament when Jesus encounters Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration.
In Matthew 17, Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, ascended a mountain where they witnessed Jesus’ appearance change. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white. During this moment, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. This event is recorded in verse 3, confirming that the two figures were indeed Moses and Elijah. The disciples were astonished by this vision, and a voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5).
The appearance of Moses and Elijah alongside Jesus is significant because it is seen by many as a preview of their future return as the Two Witnesses, just before the Second Coming of Christ. The fact that Moses, who died, and Elijah, who was taken to heaven without dying, were both present in this moment suggests that they may, in some mysterious way, continue to exist beyond death and may return to earth in the role of the Two Witnesses.
In conclusion, the Bible provides us with concrete answers to these questions, and as we continue to explore Scripture, we gain deeper insight into the prophetic future that awaits.
John the Baptist
Let’s go back to Matthew chapter 17:
Matthew 17:10 - The disciples asked Him, “why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus Replied, to be sure Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I will tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.
Matthew 17:11-13 - Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
The disciples had a question regarding why Scripture states that Elijah will return before the coming of the Lord. Jesus provides clarification by explaining that Elijah has already come, but in the form of John the Baptist. Prior to Jesus beginning His ministry, John the Baptist was actively preaching about the coming Kingdom of God. His message was delivered with such fervor and intensity that it led to his eventual imprisonment and death for his faith. Jesus' point was that the prophecy of Elijah’s return was not to be taken literally, but rather symbolically: John the Baptist came "in the spirit and power of Elijah" to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.
This is confirmed in the Gospel of Luke, specifically:
Luke 1:13 – “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”
And later in Luke 1:17, where it says: “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
This passage echoes the prophecy from Malachi 4, where it is said that Elijah would come to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. Given these parallels, we can now understand why Jesus identified John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Elijah’s return. John came with the same mission to turn the hearts of the people towards righteousness and prepare them for the ministry of Jesus.
While this clears up part of the mystery, it leaves us with more questions—particularly regarding the larger implications of Elijah’s return. The prophecy in Malachi 4 about Elijah coming before the Lord is a key factor in the argument that Elijah may be one of the Two Witnesses in the book of Revelation.
So, how do we move forward in determining the identity of the Two Witnesses? This is where our deeper exploration begins.
The Two Witnesses revealed
“Pray for wisdom pray for insight and pray for revelation”
In Revelation Chapter 11, John is conversing with an angelic being as he receives yet another vision concerning the end times. The Book of Revelation is filled with these vivid, symbolic visions. For instance, John sees a vision of the Beast, which the angel interprets as representing a wicked king who will rise to power. He also witnesses a vision of a woman clothed with the sun, who gives birth to a son, and he sees other visions, including one of Babylon, the great prostitute.
Each time, the angel follows up with an interpretation of the symbols in John’s vision, helping to clarify their meaning. However, the vision of the Two Witnesses stands out because the angel doesn't provide an explicit interpretation. John sees two powerful figures, described as prophets or witnesses, boldly proclaiming God's Word to the world, but we are not given any specific explanation of what these two witnesses represent or symbolize.
This lack of detailed interpretation leaves us with only the imagery and actions of these two witnesses as a clue to their role and significance in the end times.
We see here that the angel is speaking to John, and he is conveying the message with the voice of God, saying...
Revelations 11:3 - I will appoint my two witnesses and they will prophecy for 1260 days. (Referring to the three-and-a-half-year point at the beginning before the Antichrist starts to enforce his evil hand) and it says that they would be clothed is sackcloth.
Revelation 11:4 -They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the lord of earth.”
‘They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, and they stand before the Lord of the earth if Anyone tries to harm them fire comes from their mouth and devours their enemies This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die They have the power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they're prophesying and
They have the power to turn waters and blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.”
When imagining John receiving this revelation, what comes to mind when you think about the Two Witnesses? Perhaps two individuals, maybe two prophets.
Since we weren't there and didn't personally witness what John saw, and since the angel doesn't elaborate much on the identity of these two witnesses, it’s easy to imagine them as just two individuals. The text tells us that once the two witnesses have completed their testimony, the Beast that emerges from the abyss will attack them, overpower them, and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, for three and a half days. People will gaze at their bodies, even refusing to bury them. But after three and a half days, they will stand on their feet, and then they will ascend to heaven, hearing a voice say, "Come up here!"
That is all we are given about the two witnesses. There's nothing in the text that definitively indicates that the two witnesses are just two individuals; that’s simply how we've often envisioned them. When we read this passage, some might suggest that perhaps the two witnesses represent two bodies of people, since it says their bodies will lie in the public square. Could it be two bodies, or could it refer to many bodies?
So, when it says "two witnesses," how do we find out who or what they are? How do we get to the bottom of it? The angel provided an interpretation for what the Beast represented. If the angel hadn't explained what the Beast or the dragon symbolized, many of us might still be imagining a giant multi-headed dragon emerging from the earth and a beast rising from the sea. Thankfully, the angel interpreted this and clarified that the Beast and the dragon represented a kingdom.
In the same way, to understand what the two witnesses represent, we have to do some detective work. We need to look closely at the keywords and symbols the angel has provided.
Let me put it this way: when the angel spoke to John about the coming beast, he was referring to the future Antichrist. If the angel hadn't given John the interpretation, how would we have been able to understand it? How would we have figured out that the beast represents a king or a kingdom? The key is in the keywords.
For example, the word "beast" is used in the vision, and we could search the scripture to see how the word "beast" was interpreted in the past. We see in the Book of Daniel that the prophet saw beasts, and those beasts represented kingdoms and kings. So, even if John hadn't been given a detailed interpretation in Revelation, we could have done some detective work and discovered that the beast represented a kingdom or a king—simply by looking at how the symbol of the beast was used in other parts of the Bible.
The same approach can be applied here. Even though we aren't given a detailed interpretation of the two witnesses, which has led to many speculations, we can still do some detective work. The key lies in verse 4. The angel says exactly what the two witnesses are:
“They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands.”
So, to discover who or what the two witnesses are, all we need to do is figure out what the two olive trees and the two lampstands represent. If we can understand the symbolism of the two olive trees, we'll know who the two witnesses are. Similarly, if we can understand the two lampstands, we'll understand what the two witnesses represent.
The two olive trees
Zechariah 4:2 - He asked me, “what do you see?” I answered. “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.
Zechariah 4:3 - also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of bowl and the other on its left.
Zechariah 4:11 - then I asked the angel, “what are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
Zechariah 4:14 - So he said, “these are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”
The olive trees represent two who are anointed, two individuals or two groups of people. The question is, has an olive tree in the Bible ever been used to refer to one person, or does an olive tree find its use throughout scripture to refer to multiple people?
Jeremiah 11:16 - The lord called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken.
((The people of God, where separated in to two kingdoms:
(Gentiles) = House of Israel, Northern Kingdom (Ephraim)
(Jews) = House of Juda, Southern Kingdom.))
Jeremiah 11:16 - The Lord called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form.
What about those who aren’t Israelites? What about those who are of a different race? Can they also be among the people of God? The apostle Paul was writing a letter to the Romans, to Gentiles, people who aren’t Jewish, and when he was writing his letter, he was explaining to them in chapter eleven that the moment they come to faith in Jesus, they become a part of the Jewish olive tree.
Romans 11:24 - You were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree!
When you read the context of the chapter, you will see that the cultivated olive tree represents the people of Israelite ancestry and Gentiles. Even those who aren’t from Israel can be grafted into it. Technically, Jesus is from the tribe of Judah. And so, through Christ, you actually become a part of the tribe of Judah, which makes you a part of the House of Judah olive tree. No matter your race, no matter your background, because in Christ we are all truly one. You are now a part of His olive tree, included in the House of Judah through Him, through His blood. The people of God are rising up, even right now, and the revival of power is upon us. Whenever God is about to use His people in a mighty way, Satan tries to creep in and create chaos and division.
look at what Zechariah says about all trees:
You see Zechariah was a prophet of the Old Testament. He is known of receiving many apocalyptic visions from God. Here he's about to get a vision of the end times as well.
What do you see: Zachariah answered…
I see a solid gold lamp stand with the bowline at the top seven lamps on it with seven channels - the lamps. Also, there are two olive trees. By it one on the right of the bowl and with the other on its left. Then I asked the angel. What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lamp stand? Again, I asked him what are these two olive branches beside the two pipes that pour out golden oil? And he said do you not know what these are to my lord? I don't know. So, he said these are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. And That's all he says. I'm like, come on King. Give us a little more than that. But that’s all the angel says. The angel says these two olive trees are the two who are Anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. Okay, so that helps us out a little. Now we know that the two olive trees represent Two who are anointed. So, there are either two people or two groups of people, who are anointed to Serve the Lord.
So, now we have to discover this. Has an olive tree in the Bible ever been used to refer to just one person? Or does an olive tree find its use throughout the scripture referring to multiple people?
Well, let's look at Jeremiah 11:16
Jeremiah is calling for the repentance of his people, Israel, the Jewish people. Many have turned away from God, and many have stopped hearing His voice. The prophets, including Jeremiah, tried to reach them to show how important they are in God's eyes. He wants them to understand their significance. They are His prized possession, and look what He says to the Jewish people!
the Lord called you a thriving Olive tree with fruit beautiful in form, but with the roar of a mighty storm. He will set it on fire and its branches will be broken. The Lord Almighty who planet you has decreed as a stir for you because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and Aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.
what did it say in verse 16? the Lord called you a thriving olive tree. Wow…
Who did God call a thriving olive tree? The Jewish people. This tree is not shown to reference one person; it is shown to reference a body of people, a nation made up of many. And this reference is referring to the Jewish people. Jeremiah says that because they are turning against God, if they don't repent, this is what will happen: "With the roar of a mighty storm, that olive tree will be set on fire, and your branches will be broken."\
So, this olive tree represents the Jewish people. Is there any reference in the New Testament about an olive tree representing a group of people? We're about to find out.
Romans 11:24 -
And Jeremiah, he says that the Jewish people, until they repent, are representing an olive tree that will have their branches broken off. And look at what Paul said. Paul was writing his letter to the Romans, and he was talking to Gentiles. I am talking to you, Gentiles. What is a Gentile? A Gentile is a person who’s just not Jewish. Whether you're Indian, Native American, of Asian descent, whatever it may be, if you're not Jewish, you're a Gentile. So, God sees humanity basically in two groups: the Jews and everybody else, who are the Gentiles.
Paul here is writing this letter to Gentiles, letting us know that because we have come to faith in Jesus, we are included in God’s people. We’re not Jews by ancestry, perhaps, but because of faith in Christ, we have become God’s people. So, Paul here is saying that, yes, the Jewish people are an olive tree. They are an olive tree, but certain branches have been broken off because they did not hear the voice of God and did not believe in the man who was sent. So, because of that, God has to build up this other olive tree that He’s also going to use to serve Him. And He says that you, as the Gentiles, are now also part of the olive tree.
So, I'm talking to you, Gentiles, and He says, if some of the branches have been broken off and you, though a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. I support the root, but the root supports you. This is too deep. Remember, Jesus said, “You believe in Me and remain in Me, you continue to bear fruit.” This is exactly the point he’s referring to here. He’s referring to how those who have faith in Christ basically become olive trees.
Just because God has now called you His people, doesn’t mean He’s just going to throw the Jewish people away. Just because you have faith in Christ and you have now become an olive tree, does not mean that the olive tree of the Jewish people will be thrown away. They are still an olive tree. He’s just still working on them. He’s not done yet. That’s why it says, if some of the branches have been broken off and you Gentiles, though a wild offshoot, have been grafted in among the others, don’t become arrogant. Do not consider yourself superior to those other branches. If you do, remember, it is the root that supports you. So, he’s playing back to what Jeremiah was saying, because here’s what Jeremiah said.
That with a mighty roar the original olive tree the Jewish people, He said. That there's gonna be these broken branches and here Paul is talking about what broken branches and again, He's writing to Gentiles and he says;
You will say that branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in and that's true that's granted, but they were broken off because of unbelief and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant but tremble and polish along the Gentiles, who aren't Jewish. Know that those who are broken off from the olive tree, are because of unbelief. Don't get arrogant. Just continue to have faith. Just continue have faith and be grateful. God is not done with his people of Israel. Look what it says.
And if they do not persist in unbelief They will be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again. Here Paul says that the Jewish people, the moment that one of his covenant people Descendants of Israel, once one of them comes to faith in Christ, they can be grafted back into the olive tree. They can once again become an olive tree. Gentiles through faith. We have been able to come in all three and he says that once they come to faith the, you’re coming back into your home. It rests upon not how many rules you can follow in the Old Testament But it's about if you can have faith in God's beloved son Jesus...
God is able to graft them in again, and then this is it. After all, if you Gentiles, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature and contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own? Get the picture. We have become an olive tree grafted into this great olive tree. He says the moment the people come to Christ, these natural people, they will be grafted into their own olive tree.
So,
Believers in faith, who aren’t Jewish by ancestry, we have become a part of this olive tree. The moment God’s Jewish people come to faith, they will become their own olive tree. How many olive trees is that?
Two olive trees…
This is why Zacharias says these two olive trees, these are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. Not just Jews, not just Gentiles, but Jews and Gentiles grafted into one olive tree, yet both still separate, serving God. This is why Paul said, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.”
My friends, Paul just prophesied. He says yes, there has been this falling away, this unbelief in Jesus, but once the full number of Gentiles has come to faith, those who aren’t Jewish, then something will happen and the Jewish people of Israel will somehow come to faith in Christ.
Now, of course, not everyone’s going to come to faith in Christ, but a large number will. And once that happens, like we just looked at, once that happens, they will be grafted into what? Their own olive tree. So, let's go back to Revelation.
Who are the two witnesses that will prophesy for three and a half years with the Holy Spirit's power? Who are they? Did it say that they were two people? Did it say there were just two individuals? No, it said that they are the two olive trees…
When the day comes for God to pour out His Holy Spirit, the Spirit is already here—it’s already within His people—but when the power comes, that will only be unveiled when both His olive trees are ready for service. And that can only happen when you have two olive trees. But we’re still waiting for the repentance of His people, Israel. Once they come to faith in the
understanding of the Messiah, Jesus, you have two olive trees ready for service, built up, ready to operate in Holy Spirit power. And they will be appointed, and the testimony of the two witnesses shall begin.
Now, I’ve said a lot, and I’ll say this: there’s a lot more we have to uncover here. It says the two witnesses are not only the two olive trees but also the two lampstands. So, where do the two lampstands fit in? We’ve got to break that down.
The Two Lampstands
Then it says about the two witnesses that there’s going to be fire coming out of their mouths. It says they have the power to shut down the heavens. Do we, as believers, want to have that kind of power? This is something we’re going to have to explore. We’re going to be turning the water into blood. This is going to get deep. And also, what about this language that says they will be there for three and a half days? How can multiple people be there for three and a half days? Well, we’ve got to break that down. There’s an answer for that too. It also says they will be wearing sackcloth. What does that refer to? What does it mean that their bodies will not be buried? We have to answer that. So this is going to be deep.
But what I’ve done so far is allowed you to basically see what the two witnesses were. It was a vision that John was given, and he saw not just two people, but two nations. Look at what Jesus says in Acts 1:8.
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth." Who did He say would be His witnesses? His people. And they will receive power.
You see, God released the power of His Spirit powerfully in the book of Acts. The Apostles, then the men and women of God, were able to do amazing things. The dead were being raised, the lame were being healed, limbs were being restored, and eyes were being opened. When it’s time for the witnesses of God to stand up like this again, His power is going to be so strong that it will have no choice but to go viral, and the world will see that God is God!
We have seen that the two witnesses are the two olive trees, and God has allowed us to see that the olive trees represent His people, both Jews and Gentiles. In Revelation 11, verse 4, it says that the two witnesses are not only the two olive trees, but also the two lampstands. So, we must remember that this entire thing is a vision that John received. To understand the vision, we have to investigate each symbol and how it is used throughout the Bible.
Now, we wouldn’t have to do that if the angel had interpreted this vision of the two witnesses the same way he interpreted the vision of the beast or Mystery Babylon. But, you know, God wants us to work for it, and that’s okay. He wants us to do some Bible study. So, how are we going to determine what the two lampstands are? Well, this time we actually don’t have to journey too far in the Bible because in the beginning of Revelation, John has a different vision that involves lampstands, and in that vision, the angel interprets exactly what the lampstands represent. That helps us out because if we look at how he interprets lampstands and what they represent in that vision, then we will come to understand what lampstands represent in biblical visions. In Revelation chapter 1, verse 12, John sees a vision of the glorified Christ.
And he also sees seven gold lampstands as it reads:
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me and when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands and in verse twenty John receives an interpretation of what the symbols mean. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this…
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. You see, the book of Revelation is all about symbols, and from this one passage, we learn that stars in visions are often a symbol for the angels, and we also clearly see here that lampstands are a symbol for what?
Churches. And what is a church? Is a church a single person? No. Is it a single entity? By no means. A church is a body. It's always been a group of believers, a body of believers, many people. So, in Revelation 11:4, when it says that the two witnesses are the two lampstands, it is saying that the two witnesses are what?
Two churches or the two bodies of believers. The two witnesses are the two olive trees. They are the Jewish and the Gentile believers, the two trees, and they are what? The two churches, the two bodies of believers. The same thing, just as we saw with the two olive trees—Jewish and Gentile believers. It's mind-blowing, and it's so clear. The two witnesses are God's people—the olive trees, the Jews and Gentiles—and in the same way, they are the lampstands, because they are His church, His body of believers, the body of Christ. And understanding that we are a lampstand, now you see why Jesus would always make statements like this:
“Let your light shine”
Matthew 5:16, or how about this Luke 12:35
“Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning”
You see, everything is just starting to come together. Jesus was referring to His people as lamps and lights from the very beginning, and He also referred to us as trees bearing fruit. It’s been there the entire time. And so, all this—it's a huge game-changer. Because, friends, you can now never look at yourself the same again. As one of God’s olive trees, as one of His lampstands, you, as a believer, are one of His witnesses.
Which means?
When it says that the two witnesses will be given power to testify about Christ for three and a half years in a supernatural way, we now see that God's power will not just fall upon two people; it will fall upon us all. So, this changes everything. Because yes, the Holy Spirit is here now and His power is active now, but for three and a half years, it is going to be present in a way that will silence all debates.
So, you may wonder: are we that generation who will receive this power? Well, it depends. It depends. Whatever generation of people are the last believers who will be here during the final years before Christ returns, that last generation is going to experience the power of God like we haven't seen since the book of Acts. For three and a half years, they will be testifying, proving to the world just how powerful God is!
Check this out in Revelation chapter 11 verse 3
if you look at their King James Version of it, look at how it reads and;
I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth, They will be given power and Also in the book of Acts it shows how the first Christians were given a taste of What will happen with the last Christians?
Look at what it says will happen in the end times acts 2:17
In the last days, God Says; I will pour out My spirit on all people, your sons and daughters Will prophesy on my servants both men and women I will pour out my spirit In those days and they will prophesy. Verse 19 and I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The Sun will be turned to darkness and the moon will turn to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
It describes exactly what revelation says the two witnesses will be doing It's clear before Jesus returns the world Will see his power through his people, and so it says in revelation 11 5, if anyone tries to harm them fire, comes from their mouths and devours their enemies This is why anyone who wants to harm them must die.
Okay, let's discuss this. It says that fire will be coming from their mouths. Given that this entire vision is filled with symbols, should we understand this literally, or is the fire coming from their mouths another symbolic representation?
Throughout Scripture, fire coming from someone's mouth is often used as a symbol for the proclamation of God's Word. A notable example of this symbolism is found in Jeremiah 5:14, where God says, “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire, and these people the wood it consumes.” In this context, no one was literally burned up by fire coming from someone's mouth. Rather, the people were consumed by the truth of God's Word. It is likely that the same symbolism applies in Revelation 11:5, where fire coming from the mouths of the two witnesses represents the powerful and consuming effect of God's truth as it is proclaimed.
It’s all coming together, and we thank the Lord for this revelation. Do you see it? This last generation of believers will proclaim God’s Word supernaturally and powerfully in a way that the world will not be able to ignore. It will be an exciting time. In verse 6, it says that they will have the power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time of their prophesying. They will also have the power to turn waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire.
Let's discuss this further. It’s truly captivating. In the future, believers will be granted extraordinary power to proclaim God’s Word, and their prayers will produce significant, even catastrophic, results. They will have the authority to bring plagues and perform mighty acts. This explains why the world will harbor such intense hatred for them.
Currently, Christians might be seen as a nuisance in the world—annoying yet not posing a significant threat. However, during this future time, believers will be operating with undeniable Holy Spirit power, performing supernatural deeds that leave no doubt about Jesus’ existence and His empowerment of His people. Despite this, the world will refuse to repent. Instead, they will grow angry, shaking their fists at God rather than acknowledging their need for repentance.
This context sets the stage for the rise of the Antichrist. When he appears, the world will swiftly align with him, supporting his efforts to eliminate Christians. This power struggle and the intense hatred for believers will lead to their persecution.
You can see everything coming together now. Imagine believers operating with such undeniable power—unstoppable people. As much as we might wish the world would love us, the reality is they will criticize us to the point where they will seek protection from these so-called believers. The only one who will be able to provide this protection is the one they will regard as their true Messiah: the Antichrist. This is why he will rise to power and persecute Christians. The world will join him in this persecution because they will have grown weary of these believers and their powerful deeds. We are nearing this moment, as mentioned in verse 7.
Now, when they have completed their testimony—remember, this testimony lasts for three and a half years—it says that the Beast, who emerges from the abyss, will attack, overpower, and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which is symbolically referred to as Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language, and nation will look upon their bodies and refuse to bury them.
It is clearly depicted here that the Beast, the Antichrist, will rise from the abyss. He will attack, overpower, and kill the people of God—the witnesses of God. In verse 9, it is stated that for three and a half days, the world will be so filled with hatred that they will refuse to bury their bodies.
This reveals the intense hatred that will be directed toward them. Understanding the events that will unfold leading up to this moment helps us see why such animosity will arise.
verses 9 through 11
We encounter more symbolism, including a significant piece of symbolism, which we have seen in other biblical visions—specifically, day-to-year prophecy. When studying prophecy, especially the prophecies of Daniel, we observe how days often represent years. This was evident in the seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel, where the number of days mentioned symbolized the years leading up to Jesus’ ministry. Similarly, in the prophecy of Jonah, the day-to-year symbolism predicted the exact year of Jerusalem’s fall. If you are not yet familiar with these prophecies, it would be beneficial to read them, as they are quite insightful.
There are numerous references in Scripture to how days in prophecy symbolize the number of years that a particular event will occur. We even find this concept referenced in Ezekiel 4:6, where it states, "I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year." Therefore, it is not uncommon in prophecy for days to represent years. Given that this passage is part of a prophetic vision full of symbolism, it is reasonable to interpret the "three and a half days" mentioned here as another example of day-to-year prophecy. This interpretation fits perfectly within the framework of the seven-year period before Christ's return, often referred to as the "seven-year tribulation." While the period is commonly thought to be seven years, the tribulation itself will last for three and a half years, aligning with this day-to-year principle. Let’s explore this further.
This all takes place during the final seven years before Christ returns.
Many of you may be wondering how the concept of the rapture fits into all of this. As we have observed, there are two main perspectives among believers regarding the timing of the rapture: pre-tribulation and post-tribulation. Those who adhere to the pre-tribulation view generally believe that the rapture will occur at the beginning of the seven-year period, before the tribulation begins. On the other hand, those who subscribe to the post-tribulation view maintain that the rapture will take place at the end of the tribulation, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ.
As you can see, there is significant division between these two perspectives, and this debate continues among believers today.
One point on which we can all agree is that there will indeed be believers present during the tribulation, and these Christians will experience persecution at the hands of the Antichrist, as we know. However, we also understand that during the beginning of the tribulation, the believers who remain will not operate in fear but in power. During the first half of the tribulation, God will empower His people to represent Him in a supernatural way. For three and a half years, they will perform miracles, wonders, and prophesy.
However, at the midpoint of the tribulation, the Antichrist will rise to power and begin persecuting God's people. The vision describes that their bodies will lie in the streets for three and a half days. Understanding this in the context of the day-to-year prophetic symbolism, it becomes clear that the persecution of God's people will not be limited to just three and a half days, but will last for the final three and a half years of the tribulation. This is why it is stated that during this time, their bodies will remain unburied, as the Antichrist and the world will despise them so intensely.
At the end of these three and a half years, the Second Coming of Christ will occur. When Christ returns, all of His people—those who have died, those who survived, and those who were persecuted for His name—will be raised and caught up to meet Him in the clouds. This is why, in verse 11, it says that after three and a half years, the breath of life from God entered the witnesses, and they stood on their feet, causing terror among those who witnessed it. Then, a loud voice from heaven called to them, saying, "Come up here," and they ascended to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched.
In verse 15, we see the seventh angel sounding his trumpet, and loud voices in heaven proclaiming, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever." This signifies that, after three and a half years of persecution, God's people will finally receive justice. They will be caught up to meet Christ, and the millennial reign of His kingdom on earth will commence.
There is still more to explore, especially in verse 8, which states that the bodies of the witnesses will lie in the public square of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified.
We know that this is a vision there are many symbols And it says here they will lie in a public square of the great city, which is figuratively call it Sodom and Egypt
We know that the vision presented in Revelation is filled with numerous symbols, and in this context, it mentions that the bodies of the witnesses will lie in the public square of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt. This prompts us to explore the symbolism behind the "great city."
Thankfully, the angel provides an interpretation of this in a separate vision in Revelation 17:18. The angel states, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." In Revelation 17, we learn that this woman symbolizes Babylon the Great. Therefore, when it says that the bodies of the witnesses will lie in the streets of the great city, it refers to how the people of God will be persecuted, and their bodies will lie in the streets of Babylon the Great—the city associated with the empire of the Antichrist.
From the Book of Daniel, specifically in reference to the fourth beast, we understand that the empire or kingdom of the Antichrist will possess global jurisdiction. Consequently, the streets of Babylon, the great city, will not be confined to one specific location, but will span across the entire world.
In Revelation chapter 17, John experiences another vision, this time of Babylon the Great. In verse 6, it is written, "She was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." For a long time, I read this passage without giving it much thought. However, a commentary I came across pointed out a significant detail: the word translated as "martyr" in this verse is actually derived from a different Greek word. The term "martyr" (Martys) is primarily translated as "witness," rather than "martyr." If we examine the Greek word Martys, we see that its primary definition and usage refer to a "witness" and not necessarily a "martyr." In the King James Version, this same word is used to refer to a "witness" 29 times, while it is only used as "martyr" three times.
Thus, a more accurate translation would be: "I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the witnesses of Jesus." This insight is powerful, as it reinforces the idea that the two witnesses who are persecuted by the Antichrist and Babylon the Great are not simply two individual people. Instead, they represent the collective people of God—the witnesses of Jesus, who are persecuted and martyred for their testimony.
Before we conclude, there is one final symbol we must explore: Revelation 11:3. The verse states, "I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." The question we must address is, what does "clothed in sackcloth" represent?
Before we understood that the two witnesses were a symbolic representation in this vision, we often envisioned them as two elderly men dressed in sackcloth. However, now that we understand the symbolic nature of the two witnesses, we can examine the symbolism of sackcloth. Modern Bible tools allow us to trace every instance where the word "sackcloth" appears in Scripture, and what we find is that sackcloth was used by God's people as a sign of mourning or repentance. Whenever God's people turned away from Him, they would don sackcloth as an outward symbol of their inward decision to repent. This act demonstrated that they were sorrowful and ready to return to serving God.
This theme of sackcloth appears throughout Scripture. A prominent example is found in the story of Jonah, when he was sent to the Ninevites with a message of impending destruction unless they repented. Upon hearing Jonah's message, the people of Nineveh responded by putting on sackcloth as a symbolic gesture of their willingness to turn from their evil ways and seek God's forgiveness.
Therefore, when Revelation 11:3 tells us that the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, it is a symbolic reference to a group of people who have truly repented. They are ready to serve the Lord, not in a superficial way, but with genuine, inward transformation. When God's power falls upon His people, not everyone will receive it. There are many who claim to be Christians, but only those who have experienced true repentance—those who have turned away from sin and are wholeheartedly seeking God—will be empowered.
This will include both Gentiles and Jews. Gentiles who live for Christ will be clothed in sackcloth, and Jews who live for Christ will also be clothed in sackcloth. When God sees that His Gentile believers have truly repented and are living for Him, He will empower them. Likewise, when He sees that His Jewish believers have put on sackcloth, He will empower them as well. This represents the two olive trees, one for the Gentiles and one for the Jews, standing before God and fit for service.
It is important to note that not every person who claims to be a Christian will experience this empowerment. Only those who are genuinely seeking God, those who have put aside their former ways and are wholeheartedly pursuing Him, will be rewarded with the power of the Holy Spirit in the last days.
If you have reached this point, it is likely that you are already seeking God with a deep hunger. If that is the case, you are putting on sackcloth, repenting, and seeking God. If you are part of the final generation before Christ's return, you will be empowered by His Spirit. So, the next time you look in the mirror, stand up, and remind yourself of who you truly are.
One of the two witnesses!