The Two Witnesses

 

R evelation 11:1-13  

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut the 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. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth 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. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that swell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour there was 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. 

Zechariah 4:1-14 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? And the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 

Definition of Witness

The Greek word, martus or martur, means a witness, a martyr. A person who confirms something. 

The English word denotes the connotation, one who bares witness by his death; one who can and does aver to what he has seen, or heard or knows. It is derived from the Anglo Saxon, gewita, a witness, from witan, to perceive to know. Old High German, gewiznesse, experience. Icelandic, vitneskja, intelligence, notice. Testimony; knowledge or matter adduced in proof; a person who sees or knows anything; one present; one who gives evidence; one who sees the execution of a will or deed, or suchlike, and adhibits his name to it to confirm its authenticity. To see or know by personal presence; to attest; to give testimony to; to give evidence. 

Martyr: Derived from the Greek, martur, a witness. Italian, martire; Spanish, martir; French and Anglo Saxon, martyr, a martyr. One who bares witness to his belief by suffering persecution or death for it, especially applied to religious belief. One who suffers persecution or death in defence of any cause: one suffering from some severe bodily disease beyond ordinary. 

A witness therefore, by definition, is a person who knows by personal presence. 

These men, must of necessity, have witnessed the birth, growth, baptism, ministry, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

There are a minimum of two. 

Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 

1 John 5:7,8 For there are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 

The confirmation of the earthly covenant (Abrahamic) was attended by three heavenly witnesses, (men, angels, the Lord). 

The confirmation of the heavenly, spiritual (everlasting, new) covenant was also attended by three earthly witnesses, (men). 

Two is the number of witness: Three, the number of perfect testimony. 

 

W itnesses During the Life of Jesus

 

Birth: 

Matthew 2:1,2,11 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

Temptation:

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 

Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 

Without all contradiction, you can only minister to someone when you have personally experienced what they are confronting: you can only give them what you have got: you can only identify with them in this manner. 

They could minister to Jesus for they had been exposed to similar circumstances. This is to be repeated in a greater aspect in the Garden of Gethsemane, where they minister to Him and strengthen Him concerning His death. For they have previously confronted death. 

Mount of Transfiguration:

Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; her ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 

The Garden of Gethsemane:

Luke 22:40-43 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 

The Resurrection:

Matthew 28:2-4  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel from heaven descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 

Mark 16:5  And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 

John 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 

Ascension:

Acts 1:10 And while they looked steadfastly to heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 

The Third Witness

Revelation 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

Revelation 22:8, 9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 

 

L ength of Ministry 

 

1,260 days: Time, times and half a time; 42 months. Three and a half years, the duration of the Great Tribulation Period. This is the same period of time that the antichrist rules the earth. Every indifferent Christian is given into his hands. The bride is concealed in the wilderness. The only witness of Christ will be these two men. 

Location

Jerusalem: (Spiritual Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified). 

Two Olive Trees and Two Candlesticks

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 

The two candlesticks witness to the one seven-branched candlestick. There is only one church. The witnesses stand either side of it. 

The two olive branches pour oil through the golden pipes; they empty the oil out of themselves. Their purpose is to witness, support, confirm and establish and pour their ministry and lives into the seven lamps of the golden candlestick. 

These are the two anointed ones: margin, Hebrew, sons of oil, or, sons of the Holy Ghost.

Ministry of Judgment

Enemies confronted and slain by fire that proceeds from their mouths. 

 

W itnesses Identified

 

1. Shut the heaven, that it will not rain during the days of their prophecy. 

James 5:17, 18 Elias  was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 

2. Power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with plagues. 

Exodus 7:17-21 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 

The Ten Plagues of Egypt: 1. Waters Turned to Blood 2. The Plague of Frogs 3. The Plague of Lice 4. The Swarm of Flies 5. The Animals Die 6. The Plague of Boils 7. The Plague of Hail 8. The Plague of Locusts 9. The Three Days of Darkness 10. All Firstborn Die (Both Man and Beast)

Fate

At the conclusion of their three and a half year prophecy, the antichrist will make war against them, will over come them, and will kill them. 

Burial

Their bodies will not be put in graves, but shall lie on the streets of Jerusalem, and will be seen by every person on the earth! This, of course, is only possible by television. 

Response

Great rejoicing. Making merry. Festive atmosphere of triumph over God's Two Witnesses. Sending gifts. The instruments of grief and torment were forever silenced; or so they thought! 

Resurrection

At the conclusion of three and a half days, the Spirit of God raised them from the dead. The effect was great fear on all. In response to the voice, Come up hither, they ascended to heaven in a cloud. This event coincides with the ascension of the Bride of Jesus Christ who has been resident in the wilderness for the same period of time (three and a half years). 

 

Z erubbabel Shall Finish It!

Zechariah 4:6-10 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 

Zerubbabel means, born in Babylon; melted by Babylon; born, sown or scattered in Babylon; a stranger at Babylon; descended from Babylon, ie., born there; dispersion of confusion. 

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. 

Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner. 

1 Peter 2:4-8 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 

The Disperser of confusion will eliminate every trace of this soul-crippling disease from His church. 

He began to build a church. He will finish it! 

Ephesians 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. 

 

T he Three Witnesses

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 

The man who heads up the law is Moses. 

John 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 

The man who heads up the prophets is Elijah. 

The third witness? 

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 

He is the prophet who reveals the Book of Revelation to John! He is referred to as an angel. 

Two is the number of witness. Three, the number of perfect witness, or complete witness. 

The two are named on the Mount of Transfiguration: Moses representing the law; Elijah representing the prophets; the Lord Jesus Christ, who is transfigured, representing the Christian Church. 

These are the only three men translated to heaven in Old Testament times!