The Faithful Wanderer

Identifying the Two Witnesses

During the Tribulation, God’s two witnesses suddenly appear. Who are they? The Bible tells us very little. We do know a few things; they’re men, not angels. They are clothed in sackcloth and have supernatural power to strike the people of earth with plagues and judgments.

Also, everyone who tries to harm them dies horribly.

During the darkest time in history, they are God’s chosen messengers to a rebellious world.

The Biblical Story of the Two Witnesses

1. Revelations also calls them the two olive trees and the two lampstands (Revelations 11:4).
2. Scripture doesn’t give us their names or physical descriptions; they are known only by their deeds.
3. These two godly men fearlessly prophesy in Jerusalem.
4. Both men display supernatural powers.
   1. The can turn water into blood.
   2. By their word seasonal rains cease to fall.
   3. Fire comes from their mouths to consume enemies who seek to harm them.
   4. They can unleash plagues on the earth as often as they wish.
5. Both wear sackcloth as clothing.
6. Made of black goat’s hair, it’s a coarse, rough uncomfortable fabric.
7. Wearing sackcloth symbolizes grief, repentance, and humility before God.
8. The two witness prophesy for 1,260 days; that’s 42 months or 3 1/2 years.
9. The whole world loathes them.
10. World-wide celebrations erupt after the Anti-Christ kills them. 
11. After these two men die, people refuse to bury or embalm their bodies.
12. Instead their corpses lay rotting on the Jerusalem street where they fall, for 3 1/2 days. 
13. Everyone gives each other gifts because the two witnesses are dead and can torment them no more.
14. People worldwide continue to celebrate and view their dead bodies over the internet.
15. Three days later, life re-enters their bodies and they rise to their feet.
16. Guess what? God’s resurrection of His servants is televised..
17. This terrifies the Almighty’s enemies around the globe.
18. A loud voice proclaims “Come up here” and the two men ascend to Heaven in a cloud while their enemies watch.

So who are the two witnesses? My friend Roger gave the best answer I’ve ever heard of.

Identifying the Two Witnesses

Roger pointed to a key verse in Hebrews 9.

It is in the plan that all men die once. After that, they will stand before God and be judged. (Hebrews 9:27 NLV)

No reincarnation. No endless chances to “do life right.” Nope. To quote a Schlitz beer commercial, “You only go around once in life.” Everyone dies, right? But there are two Biblical characters who skipped this step.

They went up to dwell in the Lord’s presence in Heaven while still alive.

Enoch

The first is Enoch in Genesis 5.

²¹ When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methu′selah. ²² Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methu′selah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24 RSV)

Hebrews 11 state Enoch’s fate even more clearly.

Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. This is why his body was never found. (Hebrews 11:5 CEV)

Why did I choose a younger man’s image? Because in Enoch’s time, men lived over 900 years. So when Enoch disappeared from the earth in his 365th year, his equivalent age would be early to mid-thirties.

The second man Is more well known.

Elijah

This Old Testament prophet is the second man in the Old Testament who didn’t die.

Elijah walked with his servant Elisha. Both knew Elijah’s departure would happen that day. But the old prophet’s exit? Spectacular.

¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

 

¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

(2 Kings 2:11-14 NIV)

Elijah will be the second witness.

My Spiritual Point:

God doesn’t violate His Holy Word when it says “All men die once.”  This Scripture is 100% true. But Enoch and Elijah didn’t exit this planet in the usual manner. Their Creator took them alive into Heaven. But they both will die when their work is done, at God’s appointed time.

Until then, no one can touch them.

Resources:

The Story of the Two Witnesses is recounted in Revelations 11:3-13

This insight about the two witnesses’ identities came from Roger, one of my Christian mentors. I have always found his argument compelling.