What do you think about how this man looks at it?
The Two Witnesses, Who Are They?
The Two Witnesses, Who Are They?
This question has been dealt with by many, religious associations, generally with "their" own self-interpretation, so as to promote doctrinal thinking to suit "their" beliefs. Their conclusions can only be tested one way, and that is through the Written Word in Scripture.
We must first understand, Scripture does not contradict itself; Yahweh is not the author of confusion. The Word will not deceive, or trick those who obediently believe, But, be warned! The Word will become a "stumbling block" to those who intend to deceive, even those who are deceived by false teachings.
Almighty Father has given us all we need to know for our salvation through His Word, we must be truly grateful to Him for all the extra information He has revealed through His Son, and the prophetic Writings in the Sacred Scriptures with instructions, signs, and warnings of what is to come, which all adds to the proof of His very Existence.
Let us read in Scripture about these two witnesses:
Revelation 11
: 1 John was given a measuring rod, and told by the angel to measure the Temple, the Altar, and those that worship therein. (Here we see as in other passages of Scripture, Judgment will begin at the Temple, read Ezekiel chapters 8 & 9, and note 9:4-6. Also note: 1st Peter 4:17)
2. But the court, and everything outside the Temple is not to be measured, for it is given to the Gentiles to tread under foot forty, and two months. (Three and a half years)
3. I will give power to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy 1260 days in sackcloth. (This is the same period the witnesses will be preaching. Rev. 12:6.)
4. These are the two olive trees, and the two lamp stands which stand before the mighty one of the earth. (Here John gives meaning to the prophecy in Zechariah 4. John tells us who this mighty one is, Revelation 9:11, 13:4-15, who will be worshipped as the Almighty as explained again later)
5. If anyone attempts to kill these witnesses, they shall devour their attackers by fire which will come out of their mouths, and if any tries a particular way to kill them, in that manner they shall be killed.
6. They will have power to stop the rain all the days of their preaching, also turn water into blood, and smite the earth with all types of plagues, as often as they will. (a type of Moses and Aaron)
7. When they are finished preaching, (completed their job), the beast which came out of the pit, shall war with them, overpower them, and kill them.
8. Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, spiritually called Sodom, and Egypt, where our Messiah was slain. (Jerusalem!)
9. And some people on the earth will see their dead bodies lying there for three, and a half days, and will not place them in graves.
10. All people on earth, shall rejoice, and make merry, and give one another gifts, because of their death.
11. After three and a half days, the Spirit of life from Yahweh entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.
12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying; Come up hither, and they ascended in a cloud; in front of their enemies' eyes.
13. At that same moment, there was a great earthquake, and a tenth part of the city fell, seven thousand men were slain, and those left, were afraid and gave homage to the Almighty of heaven.
14. The second woe is past; look the third comes quickly.
Messiah's Words John recorded in the Book of Revelation, contains many symbols, and duel prophecies, mixed with direct literal warnings, and information for His people, which the rest of the world cannot, and will never understand until their spiritual blindness is healed. We read that even in the highest heavens there was no being who could open, or unlock this Book, except Messiah, the Lamb of Yahweh.
In dealing with prophecy there are specific factors which must be considered. #1 The time setting of the particular prophecy. #2 The place where it will happen. #3 Who or what is involved.
The time setting is very clear that these two witnesses do their Work during a sequence of events in the last days of man's rule on earth, and only after the opening of the Sixth Seal in Revelation. They appear on the scene three and a half years before the beginning of the Third and final Woe, which introduces the Second Coming of Messiah, when Yahshua Himself will perform Judgment on the earth. There is no way anyone living at this time could identify these two witnesses, who will be worthily qualified for this assignment. But when they appear believers will certainly know, and understand; yet the rest of the world will hate everything they stand for. That is why such rejoicing takes place when they are eventually killed. Their joy will be short lived, for we are told that three and half days later these witnesses are to be resurrected, this being at Messiah's Return.
The Word gives us a very clear clue as to where the witnesses will be completing their work, and finally be killed by the beast himself, Satan. Verse 8 tells us it will be where our Saviour Himself died, which was in Jerusalem. Being more specific, it was in a street (singular) in that great city (singular). Spiritually called Sodom (a symbol of immoral living) and Egypt (a symbol of total sin). Yet there is a Temple there. It is also prophesied that Jerusalem is to be trodden by the Gentiles at this period. We see most people in Jerusalem today do not recognize Yahshua as the Messiah; even mainstream Christian religions do not recognize the True Messiah.
Again the Word tells us that there are TWO witnesses, (Not two groups of witnesses) which speak out a warning to the religious leader who has assumed High priest of this worldly system. Note particularly verse 4 of the following:
2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we implore you, concerning the coming of our Master Yahshua the Messiah, and the gathering of His saints unto Him.
2. That you do not allow your minds to suddenly become unsettled, and thrown into confusion, neither by any revelation, or by a rumor you heard, or by a letter as coming from us, to the affect that the day of Yahweh is already here.
3. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day will not come except there comes falling away (apostasy: rebellion against Yahweh: definite rejection of Yahweh) first, and the object of lawlessness is uncovered, the one who is doomed to destruction. (Daniel Chapter 11 )
4. Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly, and insolently against, and over all that is called by Yahweh, or that is worshipped, even to seat himself in the temple of Yahweh, and openly declaring himself as Yahweh.
5. Do you not remember, when I was yet with you, I told you of these things?
An important part of this prophecy to notice, is that of its duality, the witnesses being a type of Moses and Aaron, where they themselves stood before Pharaoh, the head of the system ruling at that period, and with the help of Yahweh they also called on plagues to befall Egypt.
Bringing all this into consideration, we are able to understand that the conclusions of sects who take on the responsibility of naming these witnesses do not in any way correspond with Scripture.
Looking at a few of their examples of what, or who they say the witnesses are, this becomes an interesting example of human reasoning:
Reincarnated Moses & Elijah: If they are resurrected as Spirits, how do they die?
The Old & New Testament: Have you heard of Writings being killed?
The Jews & the Christians: Neither follow Yahshua the Messiah!
The Catholics & World Council of Churches: Neither keep Yahweh's Laws!
A Reborn Jew, and a Christian: In Messiah there is only One Body!
Jehovah Witnesses named two men in the early years: But they are Dead!
World Wide Church of God named their leader & his son: The father has died!
And so they go on trying to satisfy themselves, according to human ingenuity. The world has not seen the end of this sort of speculation.
Let us look again into what we have been told though Scripture.
These particular witnesses will do Yahweh's bidding in the very last days, immediately before Messiah's Coming.
These Two Witnesses will have the gift of the Separated (Holy) Spirit, hence the symbol of the olive trees, and the two oil lamps standing before the deity of the earth. Olive trees supply the oil representing the Separated Spirit, and the lamps represent the two messengers being alive with the Spirit.
They will both be preaching using the True Names of the Eternal, and His Son, and applying all the laws of Yahweh, concerning the Sabbath, and the Sacred Days, according to the Word, and will confirm all their preaching in the authority of Yahshua the Messiah.
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]In conclusion:[/font]
True believers who hold Scripture as their absolute authority to guide them into the only "way of life", would not attempt to name, or guess who these witnesses are going to be. As we have seen in the past with those who do such things only lead to self esteem on the part of the sect, or persons involved. True believers know that these witnesses, who ever they are, will be revealed by our Almighty Father in His Time, as the last days approach.
Almighty Father's people are to stay alert at all times, keeping close to the Word of Yahweh in obedience, and prayer, and to Watch out on the developments happening on the earth at all times, especially now as the final day of man's rule is fast approaching. I repeat, Yahweh will reveal these two Witnesses in His time.
Just pray, should you be preserved at this time, that you will be backing, and encouraging these servants of Yahweh, and not belong to those of the world who will not be able to tolerate or comprehend their preaching, and wish them dead.
Yahweh be with you in your studies of His Word, in Yahshua the Messiah's Great Name.
Compiled by: Lionel C. Gets
