Of all the topics in the Book of Revelation, few have caused as much difficulty in
understanding or diversity of interpretation as the two witnesses in Chapter eleven.
I am not stating that this is the last word on this topic, or that everything here
presented is beyond debate. I do believe that if one studies this presentation with
an open mind he can't help but see this prophecy better, if he didn't understand it
previously. The reason for this is because I have relied on Scriptural
evidence to make my conclusions. Any personal conclusions must fit in the context of
the scriptural frame-work and not be in contradiction to
any of its pieces.
Rev. 11:1,2 -- "Go and measure the temple of God and the
altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure
it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city
for 42 months.
The outer court refers to the place the common Israelites could have access to.
These were the ones not to measure for judgment because from this group the remnant group
of survivors of this 42 months of trampling were to be rescued by Christ and His army at
His second coming.
Note the account in Daniel's prophecy of the little horn -- Antichrist.
It's the time the Antichrist and his army and the ten kings with each his army conquers
and subjugates the Israelites in the holy land:
Daniel 7:21 -- As I watched, this horn was waging war against the
saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor
of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom...
Vs. 25b -- The saints will be handed over to him for a time,
times and half
a time.
(footnote: or a year, two years and a half year)
Notice Jesus describing this same trampling which pin points the time He was speaking
of:
Luke 21:20-22 -- "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by
armies, you will know that its desolation is near...
Vs. 22 -- For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of
all that has been written...
Vs. 24 -- They will fall by the sword and will be taken as
prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until
the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (time, times and half a time)
If we can be certain that this trampling takes place for 3-1/2 years and
is brought to an end by Christ and His army at His second coming, then it is easy to
figure out that it must be initiated 42 months earlier.
We can't figure it out that way because we don't know when Christ will come; but when
Jerusalem is surrounded by armies of this multinational force -- then this
destruction, subjugation and brutalizing of the remnant Israelites in Jerusalem will
begin.
Rev. 11:3,4 -- "And I will give power to my two witnesses,
and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two
olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
First, let us investigate the witness that is symbolized by the two
lampstands. It is important to remember that these various participants and events
are occurring during the final day of the Lord. This is the 1335 days spoken of by
Daniel.
Daniel 12:11,12 -- "From the time that the daily sacrifice
is abolished (the onset of the Great Tribulation) and the abomination that causes
desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. (This is the time of the universal death
decree for all who refuse to worship the beast.)
Vs. 12 -- Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of
the 1335 days. (This is the fortunate one who survives through the Great Tribulation
and the seven last plagues which follow. Christ comes during the 7th and final
plague.)
Zechariah is a prophetic book that describes various events occurring during the final
Day of the Lord.
Zech. 4:1 -- Then the angel who talked with me returned and
wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep.
Vs. 2 -- He asked me, "What do you see?" I
answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on
it, with seven channels to the lights.
A couple of verses earlier Zechariah was given the description of the capstone which is
symbolic of Christ.
Zech. 3:8,9 -- "Listen, O high priest Joshua and your
associates seated before you, who are symbolic of things to come: I am going to
bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!
There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,"
says the Lord Almighty.
Zech. 4:7 -- Then he (God Almighty) will bring out the capstone
to the shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "
Vs. 8 -- Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me
(Christ) to you.
Vs. 10 -- "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range
throughout the earth."
Rev. 5:6 -- Then I saw a Lamb looking as if it had been slain,
standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the
elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent
out into all the earth.
Horns represent power. Seven horns represents all powerful.
Omnipotence. Eyes represent awareness. Seven eyes represents all awareness,
past, present and future. Omniscience.
The golden lampstands with the seven lights to each stand represent the seven eyes of
the Lord which ranges throughout the earth. These represent Christ. The
Capstone with the seven eyes engraved on it is also symbolic of Christ for the same reason
and is so stated to represent Christ. Then let us look at the description of this
golden lampstand with its seven lights as found in the first Chapter of Revelation.
Rev. 1:10 -- On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard
behind me a loud voice like a trumpet...
Vs. 12 -- I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to
me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was
someone like a son of man...
Vs. 16 -- In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his
mouth came a sharp double-edged sword...
Vss. 17,18 -- Then he placed his right hand on me and said:
"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living One; I was dead, and
behold I am alive for ever and ever...
Vs. 19 -- "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now
and what will take place later.
Vs. 20 -- The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right
hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels (footnote:
or messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Vs. 20b (Young's Literal Translation) -- ...The seven stars are
messengers of the seven assemblies, and the lampstands that thou hast seen are seven
assemblies.
Vs. 20b (Amplified Bible) -- ...The seven stars are the seven
angels (messengers) of the seven churches (assemblies) and the seven lampstands are the
seven churches.
Vs.20b (Weust) -- ...The seven stars are the messengers of the
seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands are the seven assemblies.
Literally the seven stars in Christ's right hand are the messengers of the seven
assemblies. The translators are trying to tell us that angels are often called
messengers and paraphrase this for our help in our study. Most translations will
footnote it and state that literally it means messengers. I believe this is showing
Christ among the lampstands in the act of harvesting His selected messengers from the
Christian churches or assemblies during this Day of the Lord scene.
First of all its important to note that John was having this vision in the time frame
of this 1335 day period that Scripture labels as the Day of the Lord.
"And among the lampstands was someone like a son of man." This
representation with Christ and these lampstands was not necessary, in John's day, to
identify these churches as Christian churches because it was common knowledge that
these churches were composed of Gentile converts from the seven cities of the Gentile
country of Asia Minor.
It is important, however, to establish the fact that these symbolic churches represent,
at the Day of the Lord time frame, every church that is Christ centered at this
time. The number seven in the symbol signifies any group number required to
represent all the Christian assemblies or denominations at this time. A number that
is well in excess of 200 at the present time.
The golden lampstand, being a symbol of Christ --
the Word, verifies that it is these churches which, collectively, give birth to the
144,000 and cannot be birthed from the literal Israelites as a nation, because they are
anti-Christian as a nation.
To prevent needless duplication I would recommend you read my booklet #34 The
Heavenly Pregnancy to show the Scriptural basis to verify this.
The two lampstands then are symbolic of Christ.
In both the written word -- the Bible, and his spoken communication that He
relates to His 144,000 servant prophets via the Holy Spirit through which Christ maintains
constant communication with them as needed. Remember when John fell at the feet of the
angel to worship him?
Rev. 19:10 -- At this I fell down at his feet to worship him.
But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and
with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the
testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."
The angel was a heavenly messenger that relayed messages at Christ's direction and
listed himself as a servant just as he designated John and his brothers --
referring to the 144,000 servant prophets, the first fruits of earth's harvest at the time
of the end.
The golden lampstand is also used symbolically to represent Christ being associated
with each of the Christ centered assemblies at this time frame and from which Christ makes
His personal selections for His special purposes. There will be millions of born
again Christians that will not be selected, but will have their witness to give with the
continuing working of the Holy Spirit directing their lives during this time.
I believe we can be certain that every person that Christ selects to be one of His
special 144,000 servant prophets will have been already serving Him and with the Holy
Spirit directing his life.
Then what is the difference from what he is and what he will become? Most of
God's choices of a prophet to serve Him are chosen at, or before birth, at which time they
are especially filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a special filling which is by
Christ's selective process alone and which no one can achieve by personal
endeavor to attain.
The 144,000 were all filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit at their spiritual birth --
when Christ selected them from Zion's churches at the end time and sealed them with the
Holy Spirit before they began their 1260 days of prophesying. (Rev.11:3; Rev.7:3)
Now the other witness is represented by the two olive trees. Olive oil was the
only oil acceptable for keeping the lights in the lampstands continually burning.
Exodus 27:20,21 -- "Command the Israelites to bring you
clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps will be kept burning.
In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is
in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the
Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the
Israelites for the generations to come.
Olive oil was used in the temple to keep the lights in the lampstands to light up and
continue to burn. This olive oil was used symbolically to represent the Holy Spirit,
who is the author of the Word -- the Bible. He is also the one that
transmits messages from Christ to His chosen prophets on an ongoing basis. Remember
Christ's description of the work of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13,14 -- But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will
guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears,
and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and
making it known to you.
During this time of the "Day of the Lord" at the end time, the Holy Spirit
will be very much involved. Every born again Christian will be led by the Holy
Spirit in his personal witness to his unsaved neighbor. The Holy Spirit will also be
involved with each of God's servant prophets by relaying messages from Christ to each
member of this group as the need arises. They will be in direct communication
with Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit. This is the way prophecy has
always been received.
These two witnesses, Christ, in His written word and His personal testimony, and the
Holy Spirit. These are the ones who stand before the Lord of the earth (Rev.
11:4). Who is the Lord of the earth at this time? It has to be the
Antichrist. He will be given authority to rule the earth for the first 42 months of
this 1335 days. How are these two witnesses to present themselves? That is the
problem we now need to see clearly.
Malachi 4:5 -- "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah
before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes."
Luke 1:12-17 -- When Zechariah saw him he was startled and was
gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah;
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John...
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord... And he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit even from birth.
Vss. 16,17 -- Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to
the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of
the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
When Jesus came preaching that He was the Messiah, His claim was met with
contempt. He was not what they were expecting. One text they used to prove
that He was not the one they were expecting was the text from Malachi above. There
had been no one that was claiming to be Elijah.
Matt. 17:10 -- The disciples asked him, "Why then do the
teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
Vss. 11,12 -- Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and
will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not
recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son
of Man is going to suffer at their hands.
Vs. 13 -- Then the disciples understood that he was talking to
them about John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was a type of Elijah who was selected by God from birth to prepare the
Israelites to be ready to meet their God. He was an application of Malachi's
prophecy and one that we can learn from in order to better recognize those Elijah prophets
that God has chosen to represent the two witnesses for the future "great and dreadful
day of the Lord" -- a day that must be imminently approaching.
These are the 144,000 servant prophets to reveal Christ to every inhabitant of the
earth, through their carrying out the daily instructions of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
They do this in defiance of the threats of the Antichrist -- the death
penalty to all who refuse to worship the beast.
Rev. 11:3 -- And I will give power to my two witnesses and they
will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Christ and the Holy Spirit prophesy through human agencies and the only human agencies
prophesying during the reign of the Antichrist are those servant prophets -- the
144,000.
Rev. 11:6 -- These men have power to shut up the sky so that it
will not rain during the time they are prophesying.
This further proves that these are men and not Gods that are doing this
prophesying. The Holy Spirit and Christ are in charge of these prophets and
supplying them with all their needs to successfully carry out this awesome task.
Vs. 7 -- Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast
that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
Remember the first Antitype of Elijah at Christ's first coming, when he had finished
his testimony and had introduced Jesus to his audiences and followers; he was soon
imprisoned by Herod and shortly thereafter was martyred -- by being beheaded.
Vs. 8 -- Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city,
which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Vs. 9 -- For three and a half days men from every people, tribe,
language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.
Figuratively their bodies lie in the street of that great city called Sodom and
Egypt. This refers to the world who, at the end of the 1260 days of witnessing, will
end up worshipping the beast -- all except for those whose names are found to be
in the book of life (Rev.13:8).
Just as Christ remained dead for three and a half days prior to His resurrection, so
His firstfruits will remain dead and rejected by most of earth's inhabitants for three and
a half days. Then as Christ was raised from the dead following His death on the
cross; these special witnesses are to be raised to life.
Rev. 11:11,12 -- But after the three and a half days a breath of
life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck 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 while their
enemies looked on.
Rev. 11:9 -- For three and a half days men from every people,
tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.
How could men from every group on earth be able to gaze on their dead bodies for three
and a half days? How is this possible? Notice where these servants were
selected from.
Rev. 5:9,10 -- "You are worthy to take the scroll and open
its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from
every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to
serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Only the 144,000 are stated that they will reign with Christ for 1000 years.
Also, note that these witnesses are selected from every tribe and language and people and
nation. Other than being a born again Christian, of second importance would be; to
be knowledgeable of the heritage and customs of those they will be revealing Christ
to. When they have finished their testimony the beast from the Abyss will kill them
where they have carried out their witnessing-among every tribe and language and people and
nation.
Note this description of the resurrection of the 144.000 and the event immediately
following.
Rev. 11:12b -- And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their
enemies looked on.
Vs. 13 -- At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a
tenth of the city collapsed...
Vs. 14 -- The second woe has passed; (6th trumpet) the third woe
(7th trumpet) is coming soon.
The point I am making here is that these witnesses are raised from the dead and taken
up to heaven before the 7th angel sounds his trumpet.
Vs. 15 -- The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were
loud voices in heaven which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of
our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
The Antichrist's reign is officially over and Christ's reign begins.
Vs. 16 -- And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their
thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: ... The time has come
for judging the dead and for rewarding your servants the prophets.
Remember that while they are making this statement, the 144,000 are in heaven where
they had just arrived a very few days earlier. We know, for certain, that the
144,000 had been redeemed and taken to heaven as a group from their description in heaven.
Rev. 14:1 -- Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,
standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name
written on their foreheads.
Vs. 3 -- And they sang a new song before the throne and before
the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the
144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
Vs. 4b -- They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were
purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
We have much more material in the Book of Revelation describing events in the lives and
deaths of the 144,000. They are profiled because they play such an important part in
the activities of that time-frame -- the Day of the Lord. Notice this
important description:
Rev. 20:4-6 -- I saw thrones on which were seated those who had
been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not
worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or
their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Vs. 5 -- The rest of the dead did not come to life until the
thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Vs. 6 -- Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first
resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of
God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Vs. 4 -- "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been
given authority to judge." This is referring to the 24 elders who have their
thrones before the throne of God. This is to set this picture as happening in
heaven. "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their
testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God." Remember the testimony of
Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). These are all prophets. They
were all martyred because of revealing Christ in following the instructions of Christ and
the Holy Spirit.
"They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on
their foreheads or their hands." They have witnessed during the reign of the
Antichrist, the first 3-1/2 years of the Day of the Lord. They had overcome
the beast by refusing to worship the beast instead of the true God.
"They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." First of
all this shows that these souls that John sees in heaven are not living souls, because he
notes that they came to life. Following their martyrdom they remain dead for three
and a half days. It had to be during these three and a half days that John was
seeing their souls, before they came to life. When did they come to life? It
had to be when a "breath of life from God entered them and the stood on their
feet" (Rev.11:11).
Vs. 5 -- "The rest of the dead did not come to life until
the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection."
This has to mean that any souls in heaven now or later, other than this group, will
have to wait until the end of the 1000 years before they will be brought to life.
This doesn't need any interpretation. This is very plainly stated.
Vs. 6 -- "The second death has no power over them, but they
will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."
Here's another marker which is a trade mark for the 144,000. Notice His trademark
in another section of Revelation.
Rev. 5:9 -- "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open
its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from
every tribe and language and people and nation.
Vs. 10 -- You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve
our God, and they will reign on the earth.
They will reign on the earth, and with Christ, for a thousand years. The Bible
does not leave any doubt about this.