THE TWO WITNESSES & THEIR TESTIMONY

The Jewish Witnesses and Their Testimony  vs. 3-6

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. " "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed." "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."

This is not Seen by John but Told by Christ

The Interval of Their Testimony vs. 3

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."

The Power That is Granted to These Witnesses

This consists largely of the right or authority to proclaim the message which is given to them.

The Prophecy of These Two Witnesses

This spoken of in Mal. 4:4-6. It harks back to the law of Moses and the basis for the kingdom. This includes the gospel of grace as it relates to the millennial kingdom (Rev. 14:6). This leads men to Christ and the experience of the new birth as conditions for entrance into the kingdom (John 3:3, 5).

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,"

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

 

The Period of Their Prophecy is 1260 Days

This period is 3¹/₂ years or 42 months. It should be noted that this is the first half of the 70th week. They are allowed to finish this testimony, and then they are killed by Antichrist (7).

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."

The last half of the week is referred to in vs. 2, During this period the great perse­cution takes place. Cf. 12:6, 13; 13:5-7.

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."

"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

The Importance of Their Testimony vs. 4

The Two Olive Trees (Zech. 4)

This is symbolic of testimony. They represent the Lord in royal and priestly rights here among men. Oil comes from olive trees and oil is the symbol of the Spirit.

The Two Lamps (RV) Zech. 4

They are the light of the Spirit shining amidst the darkness of this time. There is nothing uncertain about them.

They Stand Before the Lord  (RV)

This probably refers to the Lord Jesus in His sovereign and Messianic office.

The Instrument of Their Testimony vs. 5-6

 "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. " "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."

The Instrument for Protection vs. 5

This is power to perform miracles so that enemies who would hurt them personally are devoured and killed. The fire is probably the word that proceeds out of their mouths.

The Instrument for Evidence vs. 6

This consists of authority to shut up heaven that it rain not. This will confirm their message. This is most characteristic of Elijah (Jas. 5:17-18 with 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:42). This more than confirms the identity of this one (Mal. 4:4-6). (John the Baptist, Matt. 11:13-15; John 1:21; Luke 1:14-17).

"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." "And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

"So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,"

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No."

"And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." "And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God." "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

This also consists of power to turn water to blood and smite the earth with plagues (cf. Mal. 4:4 cf. Matt. 17:4 with 2 Pet. 1:16). cf. also Exodus 7:20; 9:14.

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."

"Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

"And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood."

"And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood."

"For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth."

Others suggest that Enoch may be the other witness (Jude 14-15). Be that as it may, these are two witnesses and not representatives of two companies of witnesses. Jews seemed to expect another prophet (John 1:21-23). Just two who did not die. Moses' body was preserved for transfiguration.

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints," "To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No." "Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?" "He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."