Chapter 11: The Two Witnesses

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” (vs. 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 (vs. 7). Again, Revelation 13 and 17, and Daniel 2 and 7 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” (vs. 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 Kings. 17:1-7; Luke 4:25). They will also be able to strike the earth with plagues (vs. 6).

Christ calls these prophets “MY two witnesses” (vs. 3). Combine this with Zechariah 4, which refers to the Two Witnesses several times, culminating with verse 14: “These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (Revelation 11:4 confirms of whom Zechariah 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 (vs. 9-10). But all will be struck with tremendous fear when they are raised to physical life and rise in a cloud (vs. 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 centered 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).

The Seventh Trumpet or Third Woe

Remember, the seventh trumpet equals the third woe. But these are also synonymous with the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES! Chapter 11, verses 15-19, describe them, and, coupled with 15:1, prove the last statement.

Now notice verse 15: “And the SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall REIGN for ever and ever.” Both I Corinthians 15:52 and I Thessalonians 4:16 speak of this moment. In these verses, Paul states that Christ comes at the “trump of God” and at the “last trump.” Matthew 24:31speaks of the same event using “a great sound of a trumpet.” These are all references to the seventh trumpet.

With this event, the greatest moment in all history has arrived. At His glorious Return, Christ replaces all human powers and laws with His own. All the governments of men—including that of every great and small country on earth today—are smashed and replaced by God’s government. Fairness, justice and peace finally come to a sick and broken planet! Of course, the seventh trumpet brings the forced establishment of Christ’s GOVERNMENT, based on God’s LAWS, over the nations. But they are not happy to see this Christ—they are “angry” (vs. 18)! They will have come to believe and trust in a counterfeit system and many will have expected to be “raptured away” to safety by a false christ, not of the Bible.

Even professing Christianity, while pretending that God governs “in the hearts of men,” has not truly wanted to be governed by Him. Neither has the world, which hates His Law (Rom. 8:7). Mankind has rejected the only way to peace, happiness, abundance and universal prosperity. In a final and terrible way, the seven last plagues get the world’s attention. They signal that Jesus Christ is KING of kings—and He is now in CHARGE! He wants the world to know that He is about to save humanity from itself.

Still Another Earthquake

This earthquake occurs after the seventh trumpet has sounded (Rev. 11:15). This is the time of Christ’s Second Coming: “…and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.”

Verse 19 states, “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightning's, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” This earthquake occurs immediately after Christ’s Return and the first resurrection, and punctuates the fulfilment of these events. Christ’s Return makes possible the fulfilment of all the wonderful prophecies of the Bible foretold to come to pass on earth. This pivotal event is the most crucial in all history! Earthquakes, before and after it, underscore its momentous importance in God’s Plan. No other event bears such distinction.

This earthquake also results from Christ’s actual presence, now ruling in glory. The earth literally quakes with gladness, along with the whole creation: “Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the LORD; for He comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psa. 98:7-8).

As with the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet is divided into seven parts. These are called the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, and they “fill up” (Rev. 15:1)—complete—the Wrath of God!

Chapter 14, verse 10, reveals that the last plagues are “poured out...in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the LAMB.” Of course, Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29,36).

Before we examine these plagues, beginning in chapter 15, several inset chapters appear.

Next Part Chapter 12: The Woman—Christ’s Church