Where Will the Two Witnesses Come From?
'BY DAVID C. PACK
Table of Contents
Endless Theories
The Splinters Are Little Better
Where Will the Two Witnesses Come From?
Defining Prophet
No New Testament Prophets Without a Living Apostle
Only With Apostles
Responsibility Begins
Incredible Power!
Martyred
Next Part 2 Where Will the Two Witnesses Come From?
Global Event
Two Olive Trees
Two Men—Two Church Eras?
Why NOT from Laodicea!
To Whom Do the Final Two Prophets Report?
Old Testament Prophets Reported to Whom?
Are One or Both Witness(es) Also Apostle(s)?
Mystery Removed
When the Tribulation Begins?
Signal to the World
Revelation 11 describes Two Witnesses” who will appear at the end-time.
Where—from what organization—will these men—both “prophets”—come from? What else do we need to know about them? There are big questions about these final prophets, which demand plain answers. Here they are!
The Bible foretells the arrival of two special servants just before the outset of the Great Tribulation. They will wield tremendous—and unprecedented—POWER. And they will contend with the Beast, False Prophet and others in Jerusalem, while surrounded by hostile forces. In direct contact with Jesus Christ, these final prophets will issue GOD’S LAST WARNING to a deceived world.
The subject of the Two Witnesses is not as difficult as many think. This article reveals the truth about these two end-time servants of God, including where they will come from. You are about to learn what almost no oneunderstands! Ironically, much of it was understood by everyone in the Church when Mr. Armstrong was alive.
One-third of the Bible is prophecy—history written in advance. Four-fifths of this future history is yet to be fulfilled. Tragically, most Bible readers are completely unaware of awesome, impending world events, soon to involve all nations. They have no idea what the future holds—what is coming. Many have opinions, but few know how to find ANSWERS. This has come to include many of God’s people. Others think they already understand prophecy, but remain ignorant of vital knowledge.
Tragically, most former brethren of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) have fallen into near total ignorance of and terrible confusion about the Bible’s prophetic meaning. This includes being now largely unable to recognize the speed, sequence and seriousness—and the AWESOME MAGNITUDE!—of certain onrushing prophecies, even the basic ones—those referenced time and again by Mr. Armstrong. Again, this is on top of not truly comprehending what any of them actually MEANS! So many just cannot untangle the maze of what happenswhen, as well as where and to whom—and why!
The truth about the Two Witnesses has become no exception. The appearance in recent years of Ron Weinland and his wife claiming this role has only worsened the matter (including the most preposterous ideas and thinking that this man seems to have saved for recent days). This is in part because outrageous and false claims invariably have the effect of jading people to the truth.
Jesus and a number of New Testament writers spoke and warned often of false prophets corrupting true understanding. But there are two final true prophets described in the Bible. This article strips away the mystery and confusion about who and what they are—what they do—what is their COMMISSION—and what it is theywitness.
The Two Witnesses have grown to be a subject of great speculation. But ridiculous theories about them have only served to bring more questions, followed by all the wrong answers. Such unending commentary about these little-understood figures comes from people who don’t have a clue what they are talking about. With the passing of time, interest will only increase as their arrival becomes more imminent. Very few now seem to still understand exactly how they will appear, let alone how and where they will receive their office, what their commission involves—and where it is they COME FROM!
None of this should be. Let’s understand all of it—exactly!
First, recognize that the churches of the world have their own theories about the Two Witnesses. This ranges from the Catholic church to Grace Communion International (formerly the WCG), and many in between. Here is the briefest summary of human interpretations about the Two Witnesses. We will come to see why they are so silly.
The leader of one big denomination wrote perhaps the silliest: “The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy). Just knowing the Two Witnesses lie dead in Jerusalem before being resurrected makes this idea ridiculous! Books cannot do this. Yet it came from a supposed “prophetess” who is venerated by millions of people.
An 18th century theologian wrote, “No two individual persons can be meant, since these witnesses were to prophesy 1,260 days, that is, so many years, but [which is instead] a succession of ministers and churches…” (John Gill, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments). A modern theologian agreed, “They represent the churches fulfilling their vocation to bear witness to Christ in the final time of tribulation” (G.R. Beasley-Murray,The New Century Bible Commentary). So did one Bible commentary: “The two witnesses symbolize the entire worshiping community which bears collective witness to God and…Christ” (Robert W. Wall, New International Biblical Commentary).
Now this (emphasis mine): “The vision [of the Two Witnesses] seems to be an interruption in the sequence of [Revelation] trumpet blasts, and the reason for this never has been clear. Accordingly, this chapter [Revelation 11 ALL] has been difficult for Christian interpreters” (Thomas Tai-Seale, Thy Kingdom Come: A Biblical Introduction to the Baha’i Faith). One reason involves the greatest rule of Bible study—that this Book interprets itself! You will see this. Revelation 11 ALL should not be difficult to understand for anyone with God’s Spirit.
Continuing the same source, “Henry Alford, Dean of Canterbury, once wrote: ‘No solution has ever been given to this portion of prophecy.’ Another leading scholar writes: ‘This paragraph, 11:1-13 [in Revelation], the second part of the interlude (between the sixth and seventh trumpet blasts) contains a vision to which it is confessedly difficult to assign a meaning and place appropriate in our book’…The difficulties are both in interpreting symbols and in identifying the characters…”
The author continues, “Two prophet-witnesses are introduced…The witnesses are characteristic of Old-Testament prophets…as they are in the Book of Revelation, we know they appear after the ministry of Christ…Who are these two witnesses? They are Muhammad and ‘Ali, his son-in-law and legitimate successor…Muhammad and ‘Ali are both witnesses and olive trees who produce the sacred oil” (ibid.).
One wonders how even one person could swallow such breathtaking ignorance!
Others claim the Two Witnesses are Moses and Elijah—or Enoch and Elijah—Peter and Paul—the house of Israel and house of Judah—Jewish and Gentile believers—the Pope and Great Monarch—a Jewish ruler and a Jewish High Priest—or Zerubbabel and Jeshua. But there are many more theories.
Worse, hundreds or even thousands of people today claim to be the Two Witnesses. I have known many such people, in fact dozens of them. Simple math reveals somebody’s wrong! Invariably, these are misguided kooks who have nothing more than feelings for proof. At our Headquarters, we hear from them all the time. Any number have tried to get “messages” to me “from God.” It is easy for us to see through them—but sadly many cannot. (This certainly includes the Weinlands.)
No one knows the truth about them! This includes ALL of the WCG splinters and slivers.
We start with the United Church of God. Their broadcast about the Two Witnesses on the group’s Beyond Today program teaches this (emphasis mine):
“Now when you think of prophecies that lie ahead, especially about the two witnesses, how will they affect you? Our Beyond Today panel discussion is next. So joining me now [Steve Myers] are fellow hosts of the program, Darris McNeely and Gary Petty. Well we’ve been talking about who are the two witnesses?…And so, people may be wondering, can I know the identity of those two witnesses?
“Darris: So what’s important is that God knows who they are, when they will be revealed because they are His witnesses. He says they are my witnesses.
“Steve [Myers]: How do we know? If we are going to know at some point and we don’t know now, how will that work?
“Gary: When we look at the Bible, all it tells us is that these two witnesses come on the scene 3½ years before Jesus Christ returns. So, what they’re doing before that point we don’t know, but their worldwide ministry is 3½ years before Jesus Christ. So when we see two men that are doing the miracles that these men are doing, then we know who they are, but until that point...”
Nothing in UCG’s entire broadcast speaks to where the Two Witnesses will COME FROM. The reason is obvious. They don’t know!
Now the Living Church of God (LCG). Roderick C. Meredith, leader of LCG, said this about the Two Witnesses: “ Malachi 4 ALL teaches...Malachi 4:5, ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD’...Elijah may be one of the two witnesses...They (the two witnesses) have power to shut up heaven, like the original Elijah did...These two men are a definite type of Elijah and Moses. And one of them maybe the end-time Elijah” (“The Elijah Question,” sermon, May 19, 2001). However popular in the splinters today, Roderick Meredith’s position is utterly false and unbiblical, and contrary to what Mr. Armstrong taught. Mr. Armstrong emphatically declared that he fulfilled the role of the final Elijah. (My book to the splinters "http://rcg.org/sep/books/iwse.html">I Will Send Elijah to Restore All Things presents over 20 proofs that he was right.)
One blog writer for the Living Church of God—tacitly authorized by Mr. Meredith and fairly widely read by LCG members—introduces his article “Who Are the Two Witnesses” with the following. Note the ambiguous terms used throughout (emphasis mine): “The Book of Revelation describes two individuals who are called the ‘two witnesses.’ Who are the two witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God (COG) taught on this subject? Might Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
“This article will briefly attempt to answer those questions. Also, please note that the terms may, might, seem,possibly, etc. are used throughout portions of this article—those type of terms are used intentionally to distinguish that certain statements are still unclear. Hence, speculative comments are normally identified, as they may change. But they do attempt to explain information.”
The only thing the writer forgot to say is that “I am ignorant and you should not read one more word.” But he continues, “Interestingly, the Book of Revelation refers to the seven Churches as lampstands (Revelation 1:20) and the two witnesses as ‘two lampstands,’ hence the two witnesses are intended to represent the Church [we will later see this is wrong]…”
“Because the above scripture [Zechariah 4 ALL] is prophetic, I suspect that the ‘two olive trees...who stand besides the Lord of the whole earth’ are two men currently on earth who are supporting the work of God.”
Then quoting Haggai 2:3-5 about Zerubbabel, who Mr. Armstrong plainly stated he was a type of, the blog writer states (again, emphasis mine), “Of course, since Christ is the foundation, the chief cornerstone (Matthew 21:43) of the temple of Christians (1 Corinthians 3:16), ‘Zerubbabel’ may be a type of Christ—especially since Jesus is specifically prophesied to return (Revelation 17:14) and destroy the kingdom of the Gentiles (Revelation 11:15; Haggai 2:21-23).
“Yet, since ‘Zerubbabel’ saw the original temple and is not recorded as laying its foundation, then perhaps ‘Zerubbabel’ could be someone prophesied…If so, he would help finalize the work, and perhaps God would grant him the faith to flatten a mountain…”
“Because at least one is ‘chosen’ this may be that Zorobabel/Zerubbabel and ‘Jesus’/Joshua are a type of the two witnesses (Zechariah 3:8-10; 4:1-14; Haggai 2:3-5, 23). Other scholars seem to have tied also Zerubbabel and Joshua as types of the two witnesses (Jamieson, et al. Commentary on Zechariah 4:11-12. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary). Since the name Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel (Haggai 2:23, DRB; or Shalthiel 1 Chronicles 3:17, KJV), means descendant of, or born of, Babylon (OT:2216; Zerubbabel. Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary) or ‘stranger at Babylon,’ he may have been born into a family that was part of the religion that will support the final Mystery Babylon of >Revelation 17:5. Joshua, Yehowshu’a, seems to mean ‘Jehovah saves’ (Ibid, OT: 3091). This Joshua’s father’s name was Josedech (Haggai 1:12), meaning ‘Jehovah-righted’ (OT:3087). Perhaps the names Zerubbabel and Joshua indicate that one of the witnesses was born into a Roman Catholic family while the other was born into a Church of God family.”
This speculative carnal nonsense is so ludicrous to any with God’s Spirit that no comment here is necessary. The man goes on throughout the article to quote and reference Catholic sources! Later in this article you will see the complete and utter fiction of his statements.
Finally, Ron Weinland, leader of the Church of God – PKG, teaches that he is the chief one of the Two Witnesses (again his wife being the other). Incredibly, he also claims that Jesus Christ is returning on May 27, 2012 (The Day of Pentecost). (To learn why this is also complete unbiblical nonsense, you may read my thorough article “"http://rcg.org/sep/cogpkg_ronaldweinland.html">Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!”)
Here is Weinland’s most recent twisting of Bible prophecy: “ Revelation 11 ALL states that God’s two witnesses die in the streets of Jerusalem. This is not a literal physical death in a literal physical location as has been believed. It is about an attitude and spirit of God’s scattered Church toward His own two witnesses for the time of their work—3 ½ years. Jerusalem is about the scattered Church and streets concern the ‘ways’ of all the 600+ scattered groups that make up this ‘spiritual’ condition of Jerusalem at the end.
“‘After three and one-half days [prophetic 3 ½ years] the Spirit of life from God entered into them [not physical life, but spirit life as the two witnesses are changed from mortal to immortal at Christ’s return], and they stood upon their feet [were made to “stand” in God—in His truth—in the sight of others once God shows all the scattered body irrefutable proof of their “standing” with Him through this resurrection] and great fear fell upon them who saw them’ (Rev. 11:11). This is not talking about the world, but it is talking about the scattered Jerusalem who is struck with fear when they are brought face to face with this reality and truth of the resurrection of God’s two witnesses to immortal life as part of the 144,000.
“‘And they [God’s two witnesses] heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, “Come up here.” And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them’ (Rev. 11:12). These two witnesses are not received by the scattered body as being brothers spiritually, nor as sent from God, but spiritually they are received as enemies to their belief and understanding of God’s will” (“God’s Church Reunited,” May 23, 2012).
Such devil-inspired confusion!
This sampling reveals the unnecessary mystery surrounding a subject that should still be understood as when Mr. Armstrong was alive. But we will see that when just the few relevant Bible verses are combined, the picture becomes very clear. Before examining the unprecedented commission given to the Two Witnesses, questions about their ORIGIN must be answered. All other questions then fall into place.
Certain inescapable conclusions present themselves, and there can be no proper discussion of the Two Witnesses if we must dance around important issues and facts. Therefore, what follows in this article will be unambiguous. You will not wonder, “What does this mean?” The words may, might, seem, possibly, perhapsand attempt to explain will not be here. The reader must be presented with reality—and hard choices.
We will go step-by-step—and verse-by-verse—so the subject of the Two Witnesses becomes almost impossible to misunderstand.
Similar to the final watchman of Ezekiel, the Two Witnesses will not, and could never, arise to their task from any of the splinters. We will soon see why. You will recognize that all the organizations could never even becandidates from which these final two prophets could arise! This is because all of them have lost sight of howGOD’S GOVERNMENT works—the pattern of that government taught by Mr. Armstrong—including the biblically prescribed ROLES of different OFFICES within it, and the connection of these offices to the unified Body of Christ, which is a single organization.
Many have the idea that these prophets will suddenly appear “out of nowhere”—without warning—and that this will perhaps occur overnight. Or that they will have been hiding somewhere, waiting to be revealed! Of course, no one in the WCG splinters believes they will come from among the Protestants or today’s popular televangelists. Still, almost none seem able to unravel the puzzle of their origin. Of course, popular prophecy writers have been unable to do this.
The first clue of where these men will come from is in the office they hold. First notice Revelation 11:3: “I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore [1,260] days, clothed in sackcloth.” In Revelation 11:10, the Witnesses are referred to as “these two prophets.” Clearly then, these men hold the office of PROPHET. But “witness” comes from the Greek word martus, meaning “to witness, literally, judicially, or figuratively,” to be a “martyr.”
This is important. Everyone knows what a witness is in a courtroom. He is one who testifies to the truth about past events, generally involving a crime, civil offense or disputed contract. The Two Witnesses are no different, except they testify to future events, and martyrdom is tied to the meaning of witness. There is a reason.
First, some basic review. In Matthew 16 ALL, Jesus declared, “I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18), which the apostle Paul made clear is also called the Body of Christ. Notice: “[Jesus] is the Head of the Body, the Church” (Col. 1:18) and “[God] gave Him [Jesus] to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body” (Eph. 1:22-23). This much is clear.
Next, the form of government that Jesus installed into His Church consists of various offices. I Corinthians 12and Ephesians 4 ALL, among other places, describe this government and its offices. Obviously, the unified, organized Church that Jesus built is the only place HIS government can be found. This becomes the only place Jesus gives offices. Paul made plain that Christ’s Body is not divided (I Cor. 1:10, 13). He also recorded, “GOD has set somein the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers” (I Cor. 12:28), as well as “And He [Christ]gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). Why? “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).
In simple summary, Christ (God) will “give” two men to be prophets in the ONE CHURCH He directs—the sole Body of Christ. Nothing new here. This is exactly what Mr. Armstrong taught.
General background would be helpful regarding what IS a prophet. First, let’s understand the Greek word translated “prophet.” Similar to its English equivalent, it is prophetes—pronounced prof-ay’-tace—and means “a foreteller [prophet], by analogy an inspired preacher.” The Hebrew word for “prophet” is virtually identical—“a prophet or (generally) inspired man.”
The word evangelist is found only two times in the entire New Testament, and pastor just once. Yet the word “prophet” is found 160 times—in the New Testament! This is primarily because New Testament Scripture quotes Old Testament prophets so often. In fact, the apostles wrote in a way that could be described as intermingled with the office and writings of the early prophets. Later prophets of the first century received messages or prophecies from God and brought them to the apostles.
Let’s read how this always worked: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God [prophets] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet. 1:21). Prophecy comes from GOD. Heinspires His servants to record His words.
So a prophet is an inspired man—a tool of God, not acting on his own—but he is also one who foretells, meaning he reveals things yet to come. Prophets foretell events before they happen. This summarizes their two chief duties. The Old Testament declares plainly that if men claiming to be prophets speak prophecies that do not come to pass, God said such men are to be rejected and put to death. Obviously the actions of these kinds of imposters are serious to God.
Before continuing about the Two Witnesses, an inset is necessary. Almost none of God’s people ever took the time or had an interest in studying what God says about prophets—true and false. Similarly, few seemed to know whether Mr. Armstrong taught anything about them, including how to recognize true and false prophets, the function and purpose of God’s prophets, when there is and is not a need for a prophet or prophets to arise and how prophets always interface and work with apostles! In the New Testament, prophets never appear without a living apostle present to report to.
I Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11 reveal that Christ certainly does “give” some to be prophets. As with “gifts of the Spirit” (I Cor. 12:4-10), when one is given to be a prophet it is for a specific purpose. God’s prophets play a specific role within their appointment. As mentioned, some or most may feel that Mr. Armstrong never addressed or explained the role of prophets, but he did, including what prophets are given to DO! For those who value what Christ’s apostle taught, the following statements are sufficient to answer whether any man today is either a true prophet, a false prophet or “That Prophet” (as Gerald Flurry has long claimed to be).
Let’s read important general instruction, but words that also contain specific information for our purpose here:
“Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God—separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible. And I never have claimed to be.
“There is no such human prophet living today!
“The Bible is the written Word of God—and, for our time now, it is COMPLETE! Never have I believed or claimed that God reveals to me new truths not contained in the Bible—in addition to, or apart from the Bible…
“Let’s take a look at the Church of God of the first century, as we find it revealed in the Book of Acts, beginning from the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. The Bible was not fully written—only the Old Testament—in 31 A.D. God then was still communicating new truth, instruction and knowledge directly and personally to prophets. As the Church progressed, it was the function of a prophet to communicate TO THE APOSTLES special messages which God had personally revealed to them. Others were inspired in the writing of the books of the New Testament.
“So we read, in Acts 11:28 and 21:10-11, of the prophet Agabus. But today we have the COMPLETE Word of God, for our time, in the Bible. There are no such prophets—EXCEPT FALSE ONES.”
Personal, Tomorrow’s World, Feb. 1972
This powerful statement bears examination! First, Mr. Armstrong makes absolutely plain that there are no prophets alive today. He said this over 40 years ago—but how many remember or knew of it! Second, he states that the function of prophets in the New Testament is to inform apostles of new revelations from God. Put another way, without a living apostle, there can be no true prophets! This was also made clear. Do you believe Mr. Armstrong correctly understood this? Would one holding the highest office in the Church (apostle) beconfused about the role of those holding the next most important lower office with which apostles interact? Of course not!
Third, Mr. Armstrong is blunt about the fact that anyone claiming to be a prophet today must be FALSE! (We will understand later how the Two Witnesses fit with Mr. Armstrong’s instruction, including their interaction with an apostle.)
These three points are crystal clear to all who believe that God used Mr. Armstrong to “restore all things” to the Church. Remember that he knew he was an apostle. And he often quoted Ephesians 2:20 regarding the role of apostles and prophets working together with Christ to form the foundation of the Church. Would God leave His servant blind to the role of the only other office that Christ said formed the foundation of His Church, when that office was subordinate to the apostle?
Again, of course not!
Only now can one see why Mr. Armstrong gave the understanding that he did in this quote. Prophets work withapostles! God has always used this pattern to place truth into His Church (we will see this even applied in the Old Testament). Let’s restate this. You can have an apostle without a prophet, but you cannot have a true prophet without an apostle! Grasp this! We should not only understand this is true, but why. I would never have understood a prophet’s role (any more than any other truth) unless an apostle had taught it to me. That happened—and I determined to remember it! Have you?
Here is a statement from MYSTERY OF THE AGES, which Mr. Armstrong called his most important book. It strengthens the above statement, but also demonstrates that he never moved from his previous understanding:
“There was no such doctrinal committee in the Headquarters Church at Jerusalem. All teaching came from Christ through the apostles and a few times Christ communicated to apostles via the prophets (of which there are none in God’s Church today since the Bible for our time is complete). God’s Church today, as in the first century, receives its teachings from the living Christ, through an apostle, just as in A.D. 31.”
p. 350
This statement is consistent with what we read previously. Note at this point that anyone professing to be a prophet bringing “new truth” (purported to be understanding “on top of Mr. Armstrong’s foundation”) cannot possibly be bringing TRUTH. It may be new, but it cannot be TRUE—all squealing protestations by self-appointed prophets notwithstanding! Remember, Philadelphians are told, “Hold fast what you have” (Rev. 3:11), not “Hold most of it fast and let some of it go” or “Hold that fast which you have, but you can add ridiculous prophetic nonsense to it.” (I do not suggest that God’s Church cannot grow to see existing truths more clearly and, because truth only enters the Church through apostles, Christ has today in fact used THIS OFFICE to addmore to the existing framework of prophecy.) It is no accident that Christ ties “let no man take your crown” with “hold fast what you have.” Honestly examine this verse for what it says!
Mr. Armstrong long understood both his apostolic role and that of a prophet. Before continuing, realize that anyone who believes that there are true prophets alive today disagrees with Mr. Armstrong. (Of course, at a point, the final Two Witnesses/prophets change this.) Recognizing that your crown is at stake, ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO THIS? Should you not at least be open-minded to considering the remaining information in this article?
The book "http://rcg.org/sep/books/tgog.html">The Government of God – Understanding Offices and Duties has an entire chapter and parts of several others devoted to explaining the nature and function of prophets in the New Testament. What is written in that book helps form the reader’s foundation of understanding, and cannot be separated from the contents of this article. It also covers the role of apostles in detail, including how Christ teaches His Church true doctrinesolely through this office, and how it interacts with prophets.
We will later return in the article to more about how the Two Witnesses work in conjunction with an apostle.
Back to the Two Witnesses. The Bible reveals that at a point the final Work of God will end—“The night comes, when no man can work” (John 9:4). World conditions will become so bad that God “shuts the door” of His Work, ending it (Rev. 3:7-8). The Church will have come to be so persecuted and hindered by this time that miracles—perhaps many—may be needed just for God’s Work to be completed. The Church must at this point be taken to a place of safety for its survival.
This is just before the Two Witnesses begin to carry out their responsibility. Finishing God’s Work must also at this point be handed to them. They are imbued with SPECIAL, MIRACULOUS POWER not seen in any other servants of God except perhaps the prophet Elijah. Themselves under terrible persecution, this will be the only way they can carry out their task.
As they appear on the world scene, some few days or weeks before the Tribulation, they will deliver a final warning to government leaders, but also to all nations of the world—whose eyes will be riveted on them. Most are unaware that the Two Witnesses actually begin their “1,260-days” (Rev. 11:3) of testimony a few daysbefore the Tribulation since they are killed at least three and a half days before it ends.
Revelation 11:6 describes “the days of their prophecy,” while Rev 11:7 references “when they shall have finishedtheir testimony.” Again, witnesses testify to matters that are in doubt. Realize that everything having to do with end-time prophecy are ALL matters that the Two Witnesses must clarify with finality. (False prophets and prophecy teachers will have left the truth of prophecy a jumbled mess of confusion to the hundreds of millions hearing them.) Based in Jerusalem, the Witnesses will represent God—for three and a half years—by addressing and warning nations of the coming Day of the Lord. Numerous verses show that the Tribulation and Day of the Lord together also last 1,260 days, or three and a half years before Christ’s Return. Although elements of these time periods have become blurred throughout the splinters, this was once common knowledge—PROPHETICDOCTRINE!—in the WCG.
How great is the power of the Two Witnesses? Revelation 11:5-6 in Revelation 11 ALL make this clear: “If any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours 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.”
Grasp this! If anyone tries to harm these men and stop their commission, fire will destroy him! And, to get the attention of the world—to highlight the terrifying, then-soon-coming Day of the Lord—to bring punishment—and to hold enemies temporarily at bay—they will be able to stop the rain, turn rivers and lakes to blood and unleash horrific plagues—and all of these as often and for however long they choose! Does this sound like people you should understand—and recognize?
What about knowing which side you will be on when they appear?
The power that Jesus Christ gives them is so great they cannot be killed by anyone or anything for their three-and-a-half-year ministry. This makes them unique among all previous prophets, who not only could be killed but usually were, often after imprisonment and torture.
Again, this unique power compares to what Elijah received. Let’s see: “The king [Ahaziah] sent unto [Elijah] a captain of 50 with his 50…And he spoke unto him, You man of God, the king has said, Come down. And Elijah answered…If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your 50. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed [them]” (II Kings 1:9-12).
These prophets will also be empowered to bring drought and famine on Earth. Now more about Elijah: “Elijah…said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives…there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word…and it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land” (I Kings 17:1, 7).
Jesus confirms this account: “I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land” (Luke 4:25). This was spoken by the same Jesus Who you will see stands with the Two Witnesses.
Jerusalem, where the Two Witnesses carry out their commission, is the most fought over, and coveted, city on Earth—and all through history. This becomes a big reason the final Beast and False Prophet will want to rule from there. (They would know the Bible foretells Christ will rule from this city for 1,000 years.)
The False Prophet and Beast will want all competition eliminated—competing voices stopped. This will eventually lead to a supernatural showdown, one where God will evidence the greatness of His power over Satan and his servants once and for all. God will protect His witnesses until His Work is done.
After three and a half years, God will permit the Beast system to kill these men. Let’s see: “When they shall havefinished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (Rev. 11:7-8). Now notice: “They of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations [the whole world] shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves” ('Rev 11:9).