The "Two Witnesses" of Revelation

In Christian eschatology, the book of Revelation speaks about "two witnesses" that will appear prior to the Second Coming of Jesus. They will prophesied for three and half years, during what the Christians refer to as the "The Great Tribulation".

 

Who Are They?                                                       

 



John of Patmos

The two witnesses are perceived to be  the  Creator's  prophets  as  seen  by  John of Patmos in a vision in the Book of Revelation (11:1-14). There has been some contention among the scholars and theologians as to the identity of the two witnesses.

 

They are classified as real individuals [reincarnated Biblical prophets or new arrivals on the earth], two groups of people [the Christian Church and Messianic Judaism; those Jews who believe in Jesus], or as two concepts [symbolically Old and New Testament; the Law and the Prophets].

 

Dispensationalist Christians contend it relates to the Second Coming of Jesus and historical, as well as current, prophetical events that have or will take place. 

 

Early Christian scholars, such as Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus of Rome concluded that the two witnesses would be  Enoch and Elijah, the only two prophets in the Bible that did not "die", but instead was "taken" by God. Others believe Moses will be at least one of the two witnesses, for his ability to turn water into blood and to cause plagues upon the earth at his command. In Zechariah 4, the identification of the two olive branches is in accordance to "two anointed ones" and reinforces the literal interpretation as two people, according to literalists such as William Barclay . However, modern theologians, such as John Walvoord, point out that no specific person(s) are mentioned in Revelation 11:3 and therefore not related to any previous historical figures.

 

The two witnesses have been suggested as representing the Church, as stated in the the  1599 Geneva Study Bible, which asserted that the witnesses are the exclusive purview of the [Christian] church. According to Matthew Henry's "Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible", his interpretation consisting of the believing Jews and Gentiles as a whole represent the concept of the witnesses, while John Wesley's commentary on Revelation 11 suggests a more spiritual application. There are many theologians that believe the "two olive trees and the two lampstands." clearly defines the Church as the witnesses, while other scholars continue to debate such a theory.

 

Some Christian Protestant congregations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist interpret the two witnesses as the Old and New Testaments. The founder of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, Ellen G. White, believed that the French Revolution was the time when the two witnesses were killed.

 

Why Do They Come?        

 

 

According to biblical text, the two witnesses symbolize "two olive trees and two lampstands" and they will have the power to destroy their enemies, control the weather and cause plagues. Some scholars believe the two olive trees represent the peace that the two witnesses try to bring to the sinful Earth and the two lampstands signify the light that they shine for Jesus Christ. John of Patmos was told that the court of God's Temple would be trampled on by many nations for 42 months (3.5 years). It will be during this time that the two witnesses will make an appearance and be granted the authority to prophesy and given the power over the land, water and sky to strike the Earth with major plagues (much worse than Moses' time). The Beast will eventually overcome the two witnesses and kills them. The Bible states, for three and a half days the people of the earth celebrate the death of these two prophets God had sent to warn mankind to repent of their evil ways. Merriment is quickly replaced with fear when the people 'witness' their revival and resurrection of the two witnesses and watch dumbfounded as they are ascended into Heaven. After the ascension, God brings his wrath upon the earth again.

¹³And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. ¹⁴ The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. - Revelation 11:13-14

 

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The Apocalypse of John is considered by Christian theologians, in some cases, to contain unfathomable information and find it impossible to fully comprehend the significance of John's message. Without the comprehensive knowledge of the original "Testament", scholars remain baffled while trying to decipher the true meaning of the ancient prophet's words.

 

While the description of the two witnesses may be symbolistic, allegory, or literal, the "purpose" of the two witnesses is to 'Denounce' the reign of the Antichrist. The "destiny" of the two witnesses is to 'Reveal' the power of God.