Chapter 11: The Two Witnesses
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Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
The first 13 verses contain a description of God’s two final end-time servants known as the Two Witnesses. Ridiculous interpretations, and at least one Hollywood movie, have brought much confusion as to who these men are.
These two great “prophets” (Rev 11:10) witness for three and a half years before being killed by the beast, the last leader of the modern rebirth of the Roman Empire (Rev 11:7). Again, Revelation 13:1-18 and 17:1-18, and Daniel 2:1-49 and 7:1-28 describe this system. The identity of these two individuals is unknown. However, when they do come on the scene, it will be clear that Christ’s Return is imminent.
These men are given extraordinary power to perform miracles and are protected from harm—until God permits their death in order to resurrect them as a testimony against the powerlessness of those who killed them. If anyone tries to harm them and interfere with their ministry, “…fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies” (Rev 11:5).
This is comparable to the power that was given to Elijah, as demonstrated in II Kings 1:9-15. These prophets will be empowered to bring drought and famine upon the earth, just as Elijah did (I Kgs. 17:1-7; Luke 4:25). They will also be able to strike the earth with plagues (Rev 11:6).
Christ calls these prophets “MY two witnesses” (Rev 11:3). Combine this with Zechariah 4:1-14, which refers to the Two Witnesses several times, culminating with Rev 11:14: “These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (Revelation 11:4 confirms of whom Zechariah 4:14 is speaking). This verse reveals that they have a special, direct relationship with Christ. All three “stand together.” The Two Witnesses report directly to Christ.
God always worked directly with prophets throughout the Old Testament. Christ, the God of the Old Testament (I Cor. 10:4), always spoke face-to-face—communicated directly—with those He was using. With few exceptions, you will notice a pattern throughout the major and minor prophets. Each starts with phrases like “The Word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel…” or “The words of Jeremiah…To whom the Word of the LORD came…” or “The Word of The LORD that came to Micah…,” and so forth. Christ worked directly with all these prophets. Sometimes He also appeared as Melchizedek when He spoke to the Patriarchs, and others, face-to-face.
When considering the role these men play, it should be even clearer why they work so closely with Christ. Fire comes out of their mouths to devour their adversaries. The power that they have is so great that they cannot be killed by anything or anyone for three and a half years. This alone makes them unique from all previous prophets. Also, no other prophets lay unburied for three and a half days and then were resurrected—or were perceived by the world to “torment them.” These points alone demonstrate that these are far from ordinary prophets!
The Two Witnesses will deliver a final warning to the government leaders of the world—for which they will be martyred. The world will rejoice at the sight of their corpses, which will remain exposed in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days (Rev 11:9-10). But all will be struck with tremendous fear when they are raised to physical life and rise in a cloud (Rev 11:11-12).
These men have not yet appeared. When they do, so will the Tribulation! Neither will arrive in the way popular opinion suggests. Many professing Christians believe that they will embrace these two men with excitement and rejoicing. However, in reality, the Bible shows most will almost certainly assume them to be the final beast and miracle-working False Prophet—and the beast and False Prophet may be received as the Two Witnesses! Such will be the power of the devil’s final deceit—and “popular prophetic thinking” is now setting up the “Christian” world for MASS DELUSION (II Thes. 2:10-11)!
Another Earthquake
After the Two Witnesses are resurrected, another great earthquake occurs. The timing of this earthquake is prior to the time of the seventh trumpet, the Return of Christ and the first resurrection (I Cor. 15:51; I Thes. 4:16).
Notice Revelation 11:12-13: “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them [the Two Witnesses], Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city [Jerusalem] fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
This particular earthquake precedes and announces the most pivotal event in mankind’s history—Christ’s Return!
No doubt, this earthquake is God punctuating the world’s failure to permanently destroy these servants. It also appears to be cantered mainly in the area of Jerusalem, but could still be worldwide in scope. It cannot be the same one described in Zechariah 14:4, because all nations will not yet have gathered (the sixth vial) for the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty (the time of the last plague, or seventh vial—Rev. 16:17-21).