The Two Witnesses

III. The Two Witnesses

Review

Chapter 10

John ate the small scroll given to him by the Great Angel.

The scroll was sweet to the mouth but bitter to the stomach.

This message John is to proclaim is one of ultimate vindication for the Christians, as they would be protected from His wrath. However. it is also one of bitterness because of the persecution that will come upon them. And it is a message of warning to all those who are not in Christ.

Chapter 11:1-3

John was given a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple, the altar, and those who worship there.

Explain the Temple (overlapping of Heaven and Earth)

The new temple, as explained throughout the NT, represents the church (the foundation is the Word of God, Christ is the Cornerstone, and we are the stones)

The measuring of the temple likely represents God’s protection from His wrath that will be poured out in the last days.

Furthermore, it is His promise to be present amongst His people

However, the fact that the outer courts are not measured and that they will be trampled, means we are vulnerable to persecution, as was Jesus.

Today

We see the purpose/mission of the church in the last days. We are to join John, in his prophetic task, bearing faithful witness to Jesus.

In Chapters 2 and 3, Jesus promises special rewards to the those who “conquer,” which means they would rather face martydom rather than compromise.

Revelation 11:3–14 (ESV)

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

Two witnesses are a hotly debated topic

Why TWO Witnesses?

1) Two witnesses echo the two OT stories that serve as a backdrop for this text

A) The story of Moses and the Exodus

Moses demonstrated God’s power to the hard-hearted Pharoah through the plagues, which we have seen echoed already in the trumpet judgement recorded in chapters 8 and 9.

B) The story of Elijah

Stood up against Ahab, the ungodly King of the northern kingdom of Israel

He demonstrated God’s power by successfully praying for a drought and then calling fire down from heaven

2) OT Law Required the requirement of two witnesses in order to validate any claim

Deuteronomy 17:6 (ESV)

On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Matthew 18:15-16(ESV)

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

The Identity of the Two Witnesses

1) Two Literal Men Who Return to Earth to Carry Out Chapter 11

A) Moses and Elijah

Revelation 11:6 (ESV)

They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

Because of the two stories echoed in the text

B) Elijah and Enoch

Because they did not die during their earthly lives. Some think that they will die in the future.

This view is not impossible. Tertullian and Jerome, amongst other early church fathers believed that Enoch and Elijah would return as witnesses.

2) The Two Witnesses Symbolize the Church

A) The Genre of Revelation

Apocalyptic literature that often uses symbols

John doesn’t mean, though some have thought this, that Moses and Elijah would literally return to earth and carry out what chapter 11 says. That is to mistake the sort of writing this is. What John is saying is that the prophetic witness of the church, in the great tradition of Moses and Elijah, will perform powerful signs and thereby torment the surrounding unbelievers, but that the climax of their work will be their martyr-death at the hands of ‘the monster that comes up from the Abyss’. - NT Wright

B) Direct Evidence from the Text (v. 4)

John refers to the two witnesses as “Olive Trees” and “Lampstands”

i. Olive Trees (Zech 4; Joshua and Zerubbabel)

John picks up on Zechariah 4, where Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the King are described as two olive trees.

Zechariah 4:14 (ESV)

Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Zerubbabel & Joshua were the two anointed ones, King and Priest, respectively, and were seeking the restoration of their Holy City

a) In the NT, we are called a Kingdom of Priests and Kings

Revelation 1:5–6 (ESV)

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 (ESV)

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

It is compelling to believe that when John refers to the two witnesses as lampstands, that He has in mind the whole of the church, who serves as a Kingdom of Priests and Kings.

This view is reinforced by referring to the witnesses as “lampstands.”

ii. Lampstands

John has already explicitly identified the church with lampstands

Revelation 1:20 (ESV)

As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Note on the Oil and the lampstands

The oil of the olives fills the lampstands, that they may burn. Oil in the Bible often represents God’s Spirit

1 Samuel 16:12–13 (ESV)

And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

The Church is God’s Lampstand, shining brightly in this dark world in word and deed, by the power of the Spirit.

iii. 1,260 Day Time Period

The 1260 days are likely symbolic, representing the church age;

Hence, the witnesses would need to be symbolic for something of equally long duration!

The Work of the Two Witnesses

A) The Church Will Prophesy

Revelation 11:3 (ESV)

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

That is, we will preach the Gospel (lampstands), and impending judgement (the sackcloth) on those who reject it.

B) Judgement Comes Upon Those Who Reject the Church and Her Message

i. Fire

Revelation 11:5 (ESV)

And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed.

It is almost certain that “fire coming from their mouths” is symbolic.

Fire represents judgement

The church is to proclaim the Gospel and warn of impending judgement. As we do—as Revelation clearly states—we will be persecuted—some will even be killed.

But the Words coming from our mouths bring judgement upon those who reject our message.

i. Christ’s judgement is pictured as proceeding out of His mouth.

Revelation 1:16 (ESV)

In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 19:15 (ESV)

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

ii. Jeremiah’s Words Were Like Fire Coming from His Mouth

Jeremiah 5:14 (ESV)

Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:

“Because you have spoken this word,

behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire,

and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.

ii. Drought and Turning Water into Blood

Revelation 11:6 (ESV)

They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

These events obviously echoes Elijah, who prophesied that their would be no rain except by his word.

Turning water into blood echoes the Egyptian plagues.

It seems to me that this is a retelling of the trumpet judgements, which shows what happens to the church during the age of these judgements.

Instead of repenting during times of judgement, the world will still reject the church and its message.

The plagues and judgements anticipate the final judgement to come.

The Beast Wars Against the Witnesses

Revelation 11:7 (ESV)

And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,

The first introduction of the beast

We will see in coming weeks that in John’s context, the beast is the pagan, Roman empire

It is the world system of totalitarian government that stands opposed to God.

It rises from the bottomless pit (i.e. the abyss) which is where the demons come from (Rev. 9:1-2)

This shows that these totalitarian systems that that stand against the church are of demonic origin!

A) The Beasts Conquers the Witnesses

i. ) The Measuring of the Temple (v. 1 & 2)

Remember in verses 1 and 2 of this chapter, John is instructed to measure the temple, but NOT the outer courts.

Meaning on one hand, the Lord will not abandon His church; His presence will be with us and we will be secure in Him.

However, we are vulnerable to the persecution of those in the outer courts (i.e. the world).

ii. The Beast Kills Christians, Physically, But Not Spiritually

This has been the warning throughout Revelation. The church will be horrifically persecuted throughout the Last Days.

Hebrews to Revelation: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 4 (The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet (11:1–19))

THE MARTYRDOM DESCRIBED IN REVELATION IS being repeated around the world today at an alarming rate. In fact, the 100 million martyrs who have died for their faith in the twentieth century are more than those martyred in the previous nineteen centuries of the church combined. This number is greater than the total of all those killed in war during the twentieth century. Researcher David C. Barrett estimates that 160,000 believers were martyred in 1996 alone. Persecution is common particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. However, shootings in schools and churches have recently produced young martyrs in the United States. Western Christians have a responsibility to be intercessors and public advocates on behalf of their brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and killed. Current information on the persecuted church can be found on the Internet at www.persecution.com.

Revelation 12:11 (ESV)

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

It is in dying, that Christians conquer, by not loving their lives even unto death.

* John is not saying that all Christians will be put to death, but the church will be marked by martyrdom

Rev 11:8

Revelation 11:8 (ESV)

and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

This image is likely NOT to be taken literal.

In the ancient world, to NOT bury a corpse was a matter of great indignity

The point is, that the church will be maligned and dishonored in malevolent ways.

Sodom and Egypt here would refer to world opposition.

What happened in Jerusalem (the Lord was crucified) will take place all over the world to faithful believers.

The Unfounded Celebration

A) The Celebration

Revelation 11:9–10 (ESV)

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

i. Three and a Half Days

Again, symbolic.

The celebration of the wicked is but for a limited time.

The time of the wicked is short: compare the 3 and a half years of the church’s prophetic voice to the three and a half days where the wicked seem to have the upper hand.

ii. Those Who Dwell on the Earth

Earth Dwellers = Unbelievers.

They have been tormented by the church:

The church’s message brings judgement upon the wicked

B) The Vindication

Revelation 11:11 (ESV)

But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

It seems that the texts suggests that God will protect His church throughout history, but at the end, perhaps there is a crushing blow of extreme martyrdom. But, those who give lose their life for the sake of the Gospel, have the hope of the resurrection.

This text echos the vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37, where God’s breath enters the dry bones and they lived and stood to their feet.

Viewpoints

A) The end of the age, where believers are raised.

Some scholars believe this, however, verse 14 says that the “final woe” is still to come, which would be the final judgement.

This could still be the case, as Revelation is NOT written chronologically

B) Figurative resurrection/strengthening of the church

In one way or another, the church is vindicated in a very public way in which the world cannot deny.

A church that seemed to be crushed by the world system, will ultimately show that the gates of hell have not prevailed against it.

This seems to fit with the ability for those who have rejected the Gospel to turn to Jesus.

The Saints are Caught Up

Revelation 11:12 (ESV)

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.

This could be a “rapture,” but it comes at the end of the age, not at the beginning of a tribulation. The church has clearly gone through horrendous tribulation.

It is more likely that this is John’s way of saying that the church will be publicly vindicated by God.

This would be an act that could be repeatable throughout history.

Those Who Gave Glory to God

Revelation 11:13 (ESV)

And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

As we have seen in weeks past, earthquakes are symbolic of God’s judgment.

It seems that many who opposed the church will experience extreme judgement

Others, seeing that judgement and the public vindication of the church, will turn to God and glorify Him.

Viewpoints of those who glorified God

References Unbelievers

Some make the argument that glorifying God does not necessarily equate to salvation.

In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar gives glory to God, but is not necessarily saved.

Those who believe that this resurrection of the saints is the final judgement, would argue that there is no more opportunity for people to be saved.

2. References Believers

If this resurrection of the church is symbolic, and the end of the age has NOT come, then it is certainly possible that many could come to true repentance through the suffering of the church AND by witnessing the wrath of God.

3. References Jews

Others would argue that this is the fulfillment of the prophecies about the resurgence of the Jewish people who turn to the Messiah.

Agreed Point: The church will suffer greatly, but one day will be publicly vindicated by God.

Application

The Witnesses Provide a Model for the Church Today

As Christians, we can expect persecution

We must be empowered by the Spirit, and boldly witness to the world, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom and warnings of impending judgement.

2. The True Signs that Point the World to Christ

As we’ve seen throughout Revelation, many will reject the Christ, in spite of signs, wonders, and even plagues (such as in Egypt).

But, people will be pointed to Christ in our willingness to suffer.

Revelation for Everyone (Revelation 11:1–14: Two Witnesses)

The martyr-witness of the church, in other words, will succeed where the plagues have failed. This is how the nations will come to glorify their creator. This is how ‘the kingdom of the world’ will become the kingdom of ‘our Lord and his Messiah’—which is precisely the point that follows immediately in verse 15.

3. The Testimony of Our Suffering

A. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.

This is not our “how I came to Jesus” or our “how God healed me story.

The word of our testimony is the proclamation of Jesus Christ

B. Leave the Vindication to Jesus

Don’t worry so much about our nation being “Christianized.”

What is happening now, is EXACTLY what should be happening.

We are to live as exiles and aliens.