3. The two witnesses

3. The two witnesses.pdf

The two witnesses prophecy;
Living in a world that does not give glory to the Creator

Introduction:

In the previous newsletter, attention is payed how the net is closing around the false prophet, the son of perdition. According to Scripture, the creation by God was very well, perfect. (Gen. 1:31)
The son of perdition however will exalt himself above God by implementing so called “improvements” to the creation, irreversible improvements, such as the genetic modification. (2 Thess. 2: 3, 4)
What about “giving glory” to the Creator by the present world?
The world does not give glory and honor and power to the Creator, who created all things. (Rev.4: 9-11)

ESV (Rev. 4: 10, 11) 10 … the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”


Only a few Christians, disciples of Jesus, are giving glory to the Creator and His Son.
That explains the wrath of God, but with the wrath also comes the escape as by the two witnesses prophecy.
We will begin with the wrath of God, and will go step by step to the two witnesses’ prophecy, the last chance.

The wrath of God

The Apostle John receives from Jesus (via an angel) a vision of things which must shortly take place. (Rev. 1: 1)
First follows the inspection of the seven churches by Jesus. (Revelation chapter 2, 3)
After the inspection of the seven churches John is asked to ascend to heaven so that the further heavenly vision can be shown to him. (Revelation 4: 1-2)
The further heavenly vision can be broadly divided into three sections, towards a staged climax:

Rev. 5: 1-5 in God’s right hand a scroll with seven seals, and only the Lamb can open the seals
– The opening of the seven seals (Rev. 6:1-17, 8:1-5)
Rev. 8: 6 opening the seal includes blowing of seven trumpets
– Blowing of the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:7-9:21, 11:15-19)
Rev.16: 1 blowing the trumpet includes the pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath
– Pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath (Rev. 16:2-21)
Rev.16:17 after pouring out of the bowl of wrath: “It is done!”

The opening of the seven seals

When the Lamb opens the 1st seal of the scroll, the person on the white horse is given a crown, and he is going off to complete his victory.
The person on the white horse is logically a picture of Jesus, Who had to wait long, before Him was given the crown as a sign of Kingdom-power:

KJV (Hebrews 10: 12-13) 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.


KJV (Revelation 19: 11-13) 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

With the opening of the 2nd seal (fiery colored horse) peace of earth is removed. (Rev.6: 3, 4)
Opening the 3rd seal (black horse) means famine. (Rev.6: 5, 6)
The 4th seal (pale horse) means death by wars, food shortages, diseases and wild beasts. (Rev.6: 7, 8)
At the 5th seal, there is the persecution of Christians to the death. (Rev.6: 9-11)
Rev. 7: 1-17 about the sealed heirs
As the 6th seal is opened, we see that the people – by the threatening situation – will be distraught with fear, they know that the great day of wrath or anger of God and the Lamb has come. (Rev.6: 12-17)

KJV (Rev. 8: 1) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

KJV (Rev. 8: 6) And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The blowing of the seven trumpets

Seven angels are going to blow their trumpet, resulting in plagues on the people who have not turned to their Creator:

Rev. 8: 7 1st trumpet 1/3 of the earth burns by hail and fire mingled with blood
Rev. 8: 8 2nd trumpet 1/3 of the sea dies, perishes and becomes blood by a great mountain of fire
Rev. 8:10 3rd trumpet 1/3 of the rivers and springs become bitter by a major burning star
Rev. 8:12 4th trumpet 1/3 of the sun moon and stars are darkened

KJV (Rev 8:13) 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Rev. 9: 1 5th trumpet 1st woe The abyss opens; locusts may torment men for 5 months
Rev. 9:13 6th trumpet 2nd woe A very large group of horsemen may kill the 3rd part of men
Rev. 10:1 – 11:13   <INTERSTATE SECTION> sacred secret + measurement of the temple + the two witnesses’ prophecy
Rev. 11:15 7th trumpet 3rd woe The heavenly kingdom begins, God has become King

The 5th, 6th and 7th trumpet are as three pangs of a woman giving birth.
The contractions are becoming faster and more intense.
Jesus also uses this example in his illustrations:

ESV (Matthew 24: 7-8) 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Were the previous plagues painful, with the contractions (the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpet) the actual severe pains begin for the unrepentant earthlings.

  • The 5th trumpet, the 1st woe

The locusts are the formerly imprisoned angels in Tartarus and get the power for five months to torment those, who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Rev. 9: 1-6)
(See for the supporting of the locusts: end time 4. Revelation; the 7 trumpets) https://www.dojc.nl/?p=2189&lang=en

KJV (1 Peter 3: 18-20) 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

  • The 6th trumpet, the 2nd woe

Four angels are ‘released’, that had been kept ready for this decisive moment.
(A similar situation is described in Rev. 7: 1, the four angels holding the four winds of the earth firmly, until the decisive moment.)
Now these four angels have permission to act and make it possible, that a very large group of horsemen can kill the 3rd part of men. (Rev. 9:15)
Does God want, that all sinners be slain?
Our Heavenly Father hopes that the people repent and be thereby saved, but unfortunately they do not repent, for the rest of men did not repent of their works:

KJV (Revelation 9: 20-21) 20And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  • The 7th trumpet, the 3rd woe

God’s kingdom has come.
The heavenly Father is going to reign as King, in direct cooperation with the Messiah. (Rev. 11:15-17)
The kingdoms of the world have become of God and his Messiah and the time to judge has arrived.

KJV (Daniel 2:44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The 24 elders give an enumeration to John about the rewards for those who will take a seat in the New Jerusalem; the reward of the prophets, saints and those (young and old) who reverence your name and to destroy those, who have proved to be unrepentant:

KJV (Revelation 11:18) 18…..And thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev. 10:1 – 11:13        <INTERSTATE SECTION>

After blowing the 5th trumpet – but before the blowing of the 6th trumpet – an interstate section is inserted on three themes: the sacred mystery; the measurement of the temple; the two witnesses’ prophecy

  • the sacred secret

A strong angel – Jesus – comes with a small open book, and urges that there will be no more delay.
(For the support that Jesus is the strong angel, see: https://www.dojc.nl/?p=6874&lang=en)

The “sacred secret” turns out to be the Kingdom of God and the key role of Jesus in the government of the New Jerusalem.

KJV (Luc.8: 10) And he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

KJV (Ephesians 1: 9-11) 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:

This sacred secret also concerns the intention of God, to have a government at the direct end, where people from all nations will be part of:

KJV (Ephesians 3: 5-6) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:


KJV (Revelation 22: 5) ….. And they shall reign (as kings) for ever and ever.

That “the mystery of God should be finished” (Rev.10: 7) means, that the New Jerusalem is ready for its task; Jesus, the apostles, the 144,000 saints and the great crowd are staying in the New Jerusalem.

  • the measurement of the temple

John is instructed to measure the temple and count those, who worship there. (Rev. 11: 1)

KJV (Revelation 11: 1-2) 1 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. 2 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.

This measuring is meant symbolic and represents an inventory of the disciples of Jesus.
Why must this happen? In Zechariah 2: 1-5 is written the solution, someone needs to measure also here:

KJV (Zechariah 2: 1-2, 5) 1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then said I, Where do you go? And he said unto me, to measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof….5 For I, said the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

Measuring symbolizes in Zechariah the divine protection of Jerusalem. In the case of John, measuring the temple means the ‘protection’ of the na’os, so the protection of the saints and of the great crowd. (Na’os is Greek for the central holy areas of the temple)
About the great crowd is said to reside in the na’os as servants. (Rev. 7: 13-17)

John it is not permitted to measure the court. (Meaning the single court as of the by God prescribed temple of Solomon) The altar of burnt offering stood in the court of the temple.
Burnt offerings – repentance on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice – could therefore still be possible, but the nations elected it to “trample” the court of the temple of God, i.e., to be unrepentant. (Rev. 11:2)

  • the two witnesses prophecy

Then it is announced that, during the great tribulation, there will be two witnesses of the Lord on earth.
The book of Revelation contains much symbolism.
One could thus argue, that the actions of the two witnesses should be seen only symbolic. But according to that reasoning, the parousia or second coming of Jesus in Revelation would also be symbolic and life goes on as it always was. (2 Pet. 3: 3, 4)
However, alone in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus parousia is 5 times confirmed: Matt. 24: 3, 27, 37, 39, and 46

Throughout human history, it has been usual to announce the coming visit of the King by a messenger.
Such a messenger did not only announce that the King was coming, but also had the task to bring everything in readiness, so that everything was well prepared.
John the Baptist had as ‘messenger’ the task to prepare the coming of the King Jesus as Messiah.
The two witnesses are the “messengers” for the coming of the King Jesus as savior of his disciples.
The legal testimony of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11 has a support value for the reliability of their testimony:

KJV (Deuteronomy 19:15) One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinned: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

In the following sections we will elaborate on the two witnesses’ prophecy (Revelation 11: 3-14)

Verse 3          clothed in sackcloth

ESV (Rev. 11: 3) 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

The two witnesses will for 1260 days, i.e. for the in Rev. 11: 2 previously mentioned 42 months (from 30 days each) be employed, clothed in sackcloth.
Clothed in sackcloth means that their testimony work implies a message that fits with repentance. The 1260 days also have a prophetic significance, as written by Daniel:

KJV (Daniel 12: 7-10) 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by him that lived for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

<< According to various Bible Students, in Daniel 12: 7 used words ‘time’ and ‘times’ are related to prophetic years, because they differ from the Hebrew calendar with its ‘real’ months and years.
A Hebrew month is (lunisolar) based on a lunar cycle and starts at the new moon and lasts about 29.5 days, so there are months of 29 days and months of 30-days.
12 months x 29.5 days = 354 days. However, a solar year is 365 days long.
For this reason was in the Hebrew calendar (according to schedule) sometimes added an extra month.
A “prophetic” year appears – according to the reasoning – to count only 360 days.
This can be derived by comparing Revelation 12 verse 6 with verse 14:

ESV (Revelation 12: 6, 14) 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days…….. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

Revelation 12: 6, 14 shows that ‘1 time + 2 times + 0.5 time = 3.5 times ‘and corresponds to ‘one thousand two hundred sixty days’ = 3.5 years of each 360 days. One month is 30 days by default, as is also evident by comparing Revelation 11: 2 with verse 3, in that case 42 months of 30 days.
Let us – to explain the Scriptures – the reasoning of prophetic months and years just tolerate. >>

According to Daniel 12: 7 ‘the end’ is coming when the power of the holy people will be beaten to pieces. So with the end of the preaching work of the two witnesses and their supporters, an end will come to all these things.
This is also reflected in Daniel 7:25

ESV (Daniel 7: 25,26) 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

Also in Daniel 7:25 is spoken about the ruin of the saints of the Most High, in particular the two witnesses or holy prophets of God.
Both in Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12: 7 and (the two witnesses’ prophecy) Revelation 11: 3 refer to the same situation as these Scriptures are all fulfilled “just before the end.”

Verse 4            the two olive trees and the two candlesticks

KJV (Rev. 11: 4) 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

The two witnesses are compared in Rev. 11: 4 with two candlesticks and two olive trees.
This imagery can also be seen in Zechariah 4: 11-14, where these lamp standards indicate the two anointed ones:

KJV (Zechariah 4: 11-14) 11 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? 12 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? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, these are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Who are the two anointed ones?
Moses and Elijah are among the anointed prophets and come first in this account:

KJV (Numbers 11:25) 25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spoke unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him (Moses), and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.


KJV (1 Kings 19:16) 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

They are also the two prophets in the transfiguration of Jesus:

ESV (Luke 9:30) 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,

John the Baptist is the image like Elijah:

ESV (Matthew 11: 12-14) 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

The disciples of Jesus had a different idea about the coming of Elijah:

KJV (Matthew 17: 10-12) 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”

Jesus gives a twofold answer concerning the coming of Elijah:
Matt.17: 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him
Jesus was referring here to Malachi 3: 1 with reference to John the Baptist:

KJV (Malachi 3: 1) 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:
and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.


KJV (Matthew 11:10) 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

And in the second part of the answer concerning the coming of Elijah:
Matt. 17: 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.
Jesus was referring here to a passage in Malachi about the coming of Elijah, which will be before God’s day:

KJV (Malachi 4: 5) 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

Mal. 4: 5 is therefore the link between Elijah and the two witnesses’ prophecy, as here is spoken about the great day of God and His Messiah.
When we look at the lives of Moses and Jesus, we see many similarities.
Jesus is described in Acts as the greater Moses:

ESV (Acts 3:22) 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

At the time of Moses, Israel suffered from foreign domination; it was a nation of slaves under the control of Egypt (Exodus 1:14). Moses saved Israel from the captivity and slavery of Egypt.
At the time of Christ, Israel was again burdened by foreign domination; it was a nation of slaves into the hands of the Romans. Jesus saved Israel from the captivity and slavery of sin. (Ephesians 2: 1-8)

Moses was given the authority to do great miracles. (Exodus 9-14), Jesus performed even greater miracles than Moses.

Elia also has much in common with Jesus.
The miracle of the bread multiplication in Matt. 14: 17-21 and Matt. 15: 34-38 is similar to the miracle of Elijah and the jar of flour of the widow:

ESV (1 Kings 17:14) 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth

The miracle of the resurrection of people Matt.8: 5-13, Luke 7: 11-15, Mark 5: 35-43, John 11: 1-46 is similar to the miracle of Elijah’s concerning the son of the widow:

ESV (1 Kings 17:22) 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

Jesus staying of 40 days and nights in the wilderness resembles the 40 days and nights of Elijah:

ESV (1 Kings 19: 8) 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

The inclusion into heaven of Jesus is like the inclusion into heaven of Elijah:

ESV (2 Kings 2:11) 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

It is therefore very likely that Moses and Elijah are meant to be the two witnesses.

Verse 5        they will protect themselves with their mouths of truth

KJV (Rev. 11: 5) And 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.

They do not have to worry of how or what to speak, the spirit of the heavenly Father is speaking through them:

KJV (Matt. 10: 19, 20) 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

Verse 6      there will be no rain, and they will strike the earth with plagues

KJV (Rev. 11: 6) 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.

As a prophet, Elijah had received the authority, to not make it rain:

ESV (1 Kings 17: 1) 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

As a prophet, Moses had received the authority to turn water into blood and to carry out the plagues in Egypt:

ESV (Exodus 7:20) 20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood.

Will Elijah and Moses than appear personally at the end time?
That is not to be expected, because in the earlier appearance of Elijah, it is written that John the Baptist would not be ‘literally’ Elijah, but that he would possess “the spirit and power” of Elijah:

ESV (Luke 1:17) 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

Just before the great day of God, there will appear a new Elijah, a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah, along with a prophet in the spirit and power of Moses.

Verse 7    The beast will make war with them and kill them

KJV (Rev. 11: 7) 7 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.

The scarlet red wild beast – that ascends from the abyss – will make war against them.
The article ‘world powers 9. The woman and the scarlet colored wild beast’ shows, that this ‘scarlet red’ beast from the bottomless pit (Revelation 17: 8) means a financial system, the 8th kingdom, the 10 uncrowned kings of the central banks .
(For support of the scarlet-colored wild beast, see: https://www.dojc.nl/?p=501&lang=en)

KJV (Revelation 17: 11, 12) 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

The preaching work of the two witnesses will have at least a two-fold message.
A message to repent with respect to the Creator and His Son, and a message against idolatry, against the love of money.

When the two witnesses have completed their testimony, this financial system will overcome them.
This financial power itself is precisely the uncrowned king of the money and will go to the extreme to silence these anointed ones, and – as Scripture says – even kill them.

Verse 8, 9 their dead bodies will lie in the street

ESV (Rev. 11: 8, 9) 8 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,

This great city is an image of “Jerusalem” in Jesus’ days, that claimed to worship God but had become sinful as Sodom to (spiritual) fornication and as well as Egypt became part of idolatry. It is an image of unrepentant people, who deny both the Father and the Messiah, the Son of man:

ESV (Isaiah 1: 8-10) 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. 9 If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!


ESV (Zechariah 13: 1-2) 1 On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. 2 “And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness.

It’s a disgrace and humiliation not to bury dead innocent people. Only despised criminals were not buried, but burnt on the garbage dump of Gehenna (Valley of Hinnom) with phosphorus.

Verse 10     people on earth will celebrate

KJV (Rev. 11:10) 10 And they that dwell upon 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.

The people on earth rejoice over their death and send each other gifts.
Finally, the plagues have ceased.

Verse 11-13   The two witnesses will be resurrected and taken to heaven

KJV (Rev. 11: 11-13) 11 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. 12 And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there 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.

But after 3.5 days the two witnesses are resurrected and people are very afraid because they see a great sign from God. After the ascending to heaven of the two witnesses, 7000 famous people will be slain, apparently because they deserve God’s wrath.
The fear from the people increases and they give glory to the God of heaven. (Rev.11: 13).
In great fear, they explain the destruction of these 7000 famous persons as the intervention by God.
That they thereafter give glory to the God of heaven does not mean, that they will be saved:

ESV (Isaiah 26: 10, 14, 16) 10 he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord………. 14 They are dead, they will not live; they are shades, they will not arise; to that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them………. 16 O Lord, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them.

To be saved, inseparable faith in Jesus is required:

ESV (John 3: 17-18) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.


ESV (Acts 16: 30-31). . . . 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

ESV (John 10: 9) 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

However, according to Jesus there will be no endless patience and there will be an end of the possibility of salvation:

ESV (Luke 13: 23-27) 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!

What will these two prophets accomplish?

God’s word will result:

ESV (Malachi 4: 6) 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Meek Christians from all parts of the world will recognize the voice of the two witnesses as of divinely inspired origin and support them, until Christ comes.

ESV (Matthew 24:14) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The two witnesses’ prophecy:   the Time line

The time line can be derived most easily on the basis of the Gospels together with the report in Revelation. Beginning of pangs of distress:

ESV (Matthew 24: 4-8) 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 5 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 6 See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Matt. 24:5+Luke 21:8                    False Christs
Matt. 24:6+Luke 21:9+Rev. 6:4     Wars
Matt. 24:7+Luke 21:11+Rev. 6:6,8 Famines, infectious diseases, earthquakes

Between Matt 24: 8 + 9 is a transition from [early contractions] to [violent contractions], the great tribulation:

ESV (Matthew 24: 9-14) 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matt. 24:9+Luke+21:17,21+Rev. 6:9 Persecution, be slain, be hated by all
Matt. 24:10+Luke 21:16 Many Christians will stumble, will betray and hate
Matthew 24:12 Lawlessness is increasing, love will grow cold
Matthew 24:14 Gospel preaching worldwide
Matthew 24:21 The great tribulation
Matthew 24:11 False Christs and false prophets who will do great signs

If we look at the signs in the Gospels (see end time 2. The Gospels), we are now in the transition from ‘beginning of pangs of distresses to ‘the great tribulation and persecution’, a period that in 2Timothy 3: 1- 2 is called “the last days”:

ESV (2 Timothy 3: 1-2) 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money…

The last preaching in Matt 24: 14 will thus be fulfilled during the great tribulation, exactly corresponding to the time line of the completion of the two witnesses’ prophecy. The latter, we can also know, because after the tribulation, the Son of Man is coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24: 29-31):

ESV (Matthew 24: 29-31) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This preaching work will be led by the two witnesses/prophets and will happen with great power. (Rev. 11: 6).
The preaching of Jesus was for three and a half years.
The preaching work of the two witnesses will also be for 1260 days or three and a half years.
After that, God’s Kingdom will begin, Satan will be thrown out of heaven and then shall the Son of man descend from heaven (1Tess 4:16) with a trumpet of God. (the second coming or parousia)
So the two witnesses prophecy can start very soon, but first the angel must swear (not visible to us) that there will be no longer a delay (Rev. 10: 6) and thus usher the last phase of salvation through the two witnesses prophecy.

Another time element which is called (in Rev. 17:11) is the 8th king, the financial system, which now reigns:

ESV (Rev. 17:12) 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

Finally:

What sort of men were Moses and Elijah?

ESV (Numbers 12: 3) 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.


ESV (Exodus 4:10) 10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

ESV (James 5: 17,18) 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Moses and Elijah were people just like us, each with his own feelings and problems.

According to Scripture, the great tribulation and persecution will soon begin.
Then, the two prophets will give their testimony, anointed ones with the power and spirit of Moses and Elijah.
But what about us individually?
Can we be one with each other together with these two witnesses when they will soon do their work?

ESV (John 17: 11) 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Will our love for our Creator and His Son not be showed by the fact, that we support these two witnesses with this final global preaching work, the last chance for our loved ones to be saved?

KJV (Matthew 24:13) 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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