Two Witnesses

by David W. Dyer

In this article I would like to address a subject which has been the source of much speculation in religious circles. It is a topic about which some Christians may have fixed opinions or even dogmatic doctrinal positions. In spite of this, I would like to urge all readers to, as much as they possibly can, put aside for a moment any preconceived ideas about this subject and open to the Holy Spirit. By so doing you will be allowing Him to speak into your hearts anything He would like to impart to you from this message. The reason I request this is not that I think what I am writing here is the definitive, "right" answer but simply because it is my desire that you might hear a word from God Himself. If, through these words, the Almighty can reveal Himself and His purposes to you in some deeper way than you have ever known before, then all the effort put into both the writing and reading of this pamphlet will be worthwhile.

Biblical prophecy is very difficult to understand. No one man has everything about the end of this age figured out. In fact, if you find someone who thinks that they do, this may be a good indication that this person has lost his or her ability to be taught of God. With this in mind, I would like to say that the material which I am presenting here is only being offered for your contemplation. It is not the "last word" on the subject. I am certain that as we draw closer to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, many of these things will become increasingly clear to those who are walking in intimacy with Him. Therefore, it is possible that what you are about to read may only be a part of the truth or may even eventually be shown to be a mistake. We should always be open to correction as further light is given to us from the Lord. However, in spite of these limitations, I strongly feel that herein lies a message which every believer should take seriously. In this Bible passage about the coming two witnesses may lie a very important clue to what God is doing among His people as we approach the "last days."

Before we begin to discuss these things together, I would like to request that every reader take some time, set aside this pamphlet, and read Revelation 11:1-15-- the passage about these two witnesses. The reason for this is that if you are not familiar with this section of scripture, the following discussion will have little meaning for you. Additionally, it is very unwise to simply adopt other men's opinions about such things without thoroughly searching them out for yourself. If you are not well acquainted with the verses involved, it will be impossible for you to know if what I or anyone else is saying is correct. On the other hand, once you do familiarize yourself with the scriptures, they will become a blessing to you as God speaks to your heart through them. So, please read the above mentioned passage right now.

As we approach this topic, many of you may remember hearing that these two witnesses are going to be a reincarnation of or a reappearance of two former Biblical figures. Some think that they might be Moses and Elijah while others speculate that Enoch might replace Moses in this duo. The Enoch and Elijah team is customarily chosen because these are the only two men who were taken up without ever experiencing death. Thusly, some reason they must come back again and be killed since "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Heb 9:27). A difficulty with this line of reasoning arises however, when one attempts to reconcile it with the coming resurrection of believers, commonly referred to as the "rapture." At this event many human beings will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air without ever undergoing physical death (I Thess 4:17).

While the understanding that these are two literal prophets may prove to be the correct one, there are a few things about this Revelation passage which seem to mitigate against such an interpretation. There are several indications given to us here that something larger and even more amazing is in view. But before we explore them together, I would like to clearly state that BOTH views-- the one which I am about to give and the "Enoch and Elijah" scenario-- could have some validity. We must all recognize that biblical prophecy often has several "layers of meaning" or even an earlier and later fulfillment. Nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than in prophecies concerning the coming "end times."

TWO "MEN" -- ONE "BODY"

One of the first significant items which hints that something more than just two men is in view here was brought to my attention by a brother in England. He pointed out to me that in the original Greek language the word "bodies" (vs 8,9) appears twice in the singular form. While most Bible translations have "helped" us understand these verses better by changing the two singular words into the plural, this is not what was written by the Apostle John. Instead these passages should actually read "their dead body." ( The third "bodies" in vs 9 is correct.) Now this is a little peculiar. Why would the inspired text twice make this kind of grammatical mistake? It is just possible that there is no mistake at all but that some deeper meaning is being conveyed to us.

Here we have our first indication that the scripture may not be merely referring to two individual men but instead to a "corporate" entity. This word "body" reminds us of the use of this same word in the phrase "the body of Christ" which of course consists of countless individuals. We read in one place: "we are members of His body" (Eph 5:30). Verses such as this combined with many others certainly provide an adequate scriptural basis for supposing that the word "body" could be referring to a much larger group than simply the two prophets mentioned earlier. This then leads us to the possibility that the sacred Word is here speaking about great numbers of men and women who, at the end of this age, fulfill some important function in preparing the world for judgment and the Lord's return.

The first thought that most people will probably have concerning the above postulation is: "If these witnesses are really a group of many people, why then does the Bible use the word 'two?' Isn't that quite confusing?" Yes, it certainly is but there is also a very scriptural explanation for it. Throughout God's Word an unwavering principle is taught. It is that judgment can only be executed upon a sinning individual if at least two witnesses can be produced to verify the truth of any infraction. We read that, "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death" (Deut 17:6). Anything less than this is simply not acceptable.

The number two is everywhere in the scriptures the "number of testimony." The early disciples were sent out "two by two" as they testified concerning the truth of Jesus. There were two tablets of stone in the Ark of the Covenant bearing testimony concerning the law of God. Even on the lid of the Ark there were two cherubim symbolically witnessing the sprinkling of the blood, attesting to the fact that God's righteous requirements had been fulfilled. Therefore, the word "two" here could be understood as being a symbolic representation of the dual witness required by God before His sentence can be carried out. Of course the Most High does not need anyone to tell Him what is in the heart of man. These witnesses only serve to fulfill the demands of His law and also to warn a perishing world.

Now in the situation before us in the book of Revelation, the sins of an individual are not in view. Instead the rebellion of the whole world is being exposed by these prophets. Since the impending judgment is "corporate" or universal, it stands to reason that the charges which are being brought might necessitate a larger witness than just that of two men. A couple of "outsiders" making sweeping accusations from great distances may not be sufficient to powerfully convict the guilty. The evidence against each nation or group of people would be most convincingly brought by those who were intimately acquainted with each respective situation and who therefore could give accurate testimony against them. Consequently, it seems reasonable to suppose that God's final witness may be given to everyone in their own language, by someone living within their own culture, thereby exposing their own sinful condition in a way that they can easily understand.

WAR ON THE SAINTS

Another word in this passage which gives us some indication that the "two witnesses" are not merely "two" at all is found in verse 7. Here we find the inspired text using the word "war" which in the Greek is POLEMOS. This word means a prolonged engagement spanning a considerable length of time and probably involving many battles. Such a meaning is in direct contrast to the Greek word PHONEUO which means to murder and also to the word MACHE used to signify a single battle. The distinction between these words is certainly important. Why would the antichrist need to fight a war against two individual men? Could he not just kill them? Of course some may point out that their power is so great that a single attack will not do the job. While God's protection is upon them this is certainly true. During this period of time they are invincible. But once this covering is removed, as it evidently is at some point, there is no need for a protracted struggle which could be described as a "war." Simple murder will do the job. Furthermore, this word "war" ordinarily refers to a slaughter on a far greater scale than just the murder of two peculiar prophets.*

Interestingly there a few other places in the Bible where we find this word "war" used in a context which could have some bearing on our subject at hand. In the Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 7, verse 21 we are told of a "horn" (which here symbolizes the coming "man of sin"), who makes "war with the saints" and prevails against them. Evidently this sinister, evil man will begin a crusade to annihilate every one of God's people who opposes him. In Rev 13:7 we are reminded a second time that this man is granted permission to "make war (POLEMOS) with the saints and to overcome them." So we discover that at some point in time, whatever protection has been afforded these sanctified believers ("saints") is removed and the antichrist-beast is given power to begin a wholesale bloodbath. A "war" of tremendous, perhaps global, proportions is waged against Christian men and women whose lives and testimony oppose the purposes of this satan-inspired madman. While it is just not possible to prove from the scriptures that the "war" waged against these end-time witnesses is the same as the "war with the saints" mentioned above, the parallelism here is unmistakable.

Still another item which seems to lend support to the idea that this conflagration is not limited to the deaths of two individuals is the apparent world-wide scope of this prophetic ministry. In Rev 11:9,10 we discover that "peoples, tribes, tongues and nations" view this dead "body" and also that the celebration over these deaths is universal. This implies that the prophecy of these witnesses and the effects of the plagues which they have brought upon mankind were widespread enough to affect virtually everyone on the earth. Although some have cited the television and the news media as the vehicle through which this astounding global witness and viewing of the corpses will occur, I believe those with spiritual eyes can perceive something a little deeper.

While I suppose it is conceivable that two men could so influence the entire world there is a possibility that something larger is in view here. Since there are currently over 300 countries in our world, it would be almost impossible for these prophets to reach each one of them individually in only 1,260 days. When you add to this idea the fact mentioned earlier that not only "nations" but also "peoples," "tribes" and "tongues" are involved here, all possibility of such a tour disappears. However, we do know with certainty that God will claim as His own some from every "kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev 5:9). It is just possible that some of these "in place," holy agents will be raised up and anointed by God to testify concerning His righteous judgment in these last days.

At this point it seems appropriate to discuss some of the time elements involved in this passage. The 3.5 year (1,260 day) period found in verse 3 is probably a reference to the first half of the seven-year tribulation. This then would be the time during which this powerful prophetic witness takes place. But there is also another number 3.5 mentioned-- the duration of "days" which "their dead body" lies unburied in the streets. Quite honestly, it seems a little strange that a fraction of a day should be recorded here. Is it possible that something more than simple days is being indicated? Although nothing in Bible prophecy can be "proven" it seems reasonable to suppose that this second 3.5 might have some connection with the first one.

Earlier in the same book, we read that some believers of the church in Smyrna were going to suffer tribulation "ten days" (Rev 2:10). While the exact meaning of this phrase is not clear, it may have meant a ten year period of intense persecution. If we apply this one-year-for-one-day formula to our present considerations we could then hypothesize that the coming slaughter of the saints will occur during the second 3.5 years of the tribulation. At the end of this time they are resurrected possibly during the "rapture." Confirming this idea is the fact that this event is precipitated by a "loud voice from heaven" which could correspond to the "shout of the archangel" mentioned in I Thess 4:16. Also, it occurs just at the sounding of the seventh and perhaps the "last" trumpet (Rev 11:15; I Cor 15:52).

THE SPIRIT OUTPOURED

In Joel 2:28-32 and also in Acts 2:17-21 a very significant prophecy is recorded. Here it is clearly stated that in the "last days" there would be a mighty spiritual anointing poured out upon the servants of the Lord. This supernatural unction is given for one stated purpose--so that they might prophesy. While the Apostle Peter quotes this passage in reference to the early disciples' experience on the day of Pentecost, the context of the passage in both Joel and Acts clearly links it to an even later "last days"-- the completion of the age. When we read that "the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord" (Acts 2:20), this does not exactly sound like the day of Pentecost. Undeniably, something further in in view. Please remember what was stated at the beginning of this article--prophecy can often have more than one fulfillment. In this case, it seems evident that the full realization of this prediction is yet to come.

What stands out clearly to us here is that before the second coming of Christ, there will be a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the servants of Jesus. This tremendous anointing will precipitate one last, earth-shaking, prophetic witness to the truth of God and against the corruption of the world. It may be worthwhile to remember at this juncture what the scripture says concerning the two witnesses currently under consideration. We read: "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy" (Rev 11:3). Not only is there a clear connection between this and the Joel prophecy but there is also an inescapable relationship between this verse and Jesus' instructions to His disciples. He said: "But you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses . . . to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Once again, while we know that this verse has had a fulfillment in all that has transpired since that day, we also have before us some substantial evidence that there may be a further, final outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who will prophesy for Jesus during the last days. "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10).

Revelation chapter 11 begins with an interesting scenario. While beholding this vision, the Apostle John is instructed to measure the temple. Why is this little section included here? Did God suddenly forget the dimensions of this building? But wait. Not only is he to measure the temple but also the "altar" (the place of sacrifice) and very significantly, "those who worship therein" (vs 1). Probably every Christian realizes that the individual members of the body of Christ are the true "temple of the living God" (I Cor 6:16). It is quite conceivable therefore that John is conducting a survey, not of a physical building, but of believers. Perhaps God, before He pours out His end-time anointing is searching for those whose lives have been prepared to receive it. This "measurement" may in fact be an inspection which is being carried out to determine who among God's people is ready and able to fulfill this last great commission.

And what is the measurement which will be required of those who are chosen? What is the standard by which they will be judged? No doubt it has something to do with the altar. In other words, the men and women who are selected must be those whose lives have become a living sacrifice to God-- those who know what it means to have died with Christ completely. Worship also seems to be a factor. In order to be qualified for such a task, these individuals must have spent much time "in the temple"--in the very presence of God. They are ones who have become intimate with Him. They do not just "do" worship on Sunday morning, their whole lives have become a spiritual offering to Him. Moment by moment their souls are poured out in worship to God Almighty. This surely is the requirement--to be living only for Jesus.

THE COMING OF ELIJAH

No discussion of this subject would be complete without the mention of a very important event: the appearance of Elijah the prophet before the "great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal 4:5). Before the first advent of Jesus, this prophecy had a preliminary fulfillment in the person of John the Baptist. We read that he came in "the spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). His mission was to prepare one small race, located in one tiny spot on the globe for the appearance of their promised Messiah. What we are exploring now is the possibility that before the second coming, there will be a world-wide outpouring of the "spirit and power of Elijah" upon many thousands of believers who have been prepared by God. Their job will be to testify to the entire planet that the the Lord's righteous judgment is about to be manifested and that men must make themselves ready.

If this is so, then the following features will no doubt also be true of these individuals. They will probably be, as John the Baptist was, completely outside of any religious organization. Significantly, much of John's negative testimony was against the hypocrisy of the ecclesiastical establishment of his day. These will be men and women who are uncompromising. They will be owned by no one. Theirs will not be a zeal for fame, fortune or earthly power. Instead they will burn with the flame of what will glorify their Master. They will be fearless, bold prophets who are bent upon telling people exactly what they don't want to hear. They will be the mouthpieces of God, exposing the sins of the world and the worldly Church to turn them from their folly before it's too late. Additionally they will be the kind of people whom God can trust with His power so that their words will be backed by supernatural plagues of every description.

Can't you see why everyone hates them? The deeply rooted evil within the hearts of men desperately does not want to be exposed. How many Christians for example are continually attempting to cover their sins instead of repenting of them and receiving God's cleansing power. Oh, how we justify ourselves against the righteous requirements of the Most High! How we like to pretend that we are doing all we can to serve Jesus! And how uncomfortable such prophets will make us when they come around spouting the unbearable truth that we are not really right with God! If the Church is in such a state, how much more strongly will the world react against those who try to reprove them for their wickedness. This then is the ministry of this twofold witness. It is to bring to repentance those who will hear, thereby preparing them for the coming of the King and to warn those whose stubborn hearts refuse to bend before Him.

John came clothed with camel's hair, eating insects and wild honey. He was different, non-conforming and offensive. He was not well-received by the religious crowd. Similarly these future witnesses will arrive "clothed in sackcloth," the garments of mourning (Rev 11:3). Whether they be two or many, one thing is sure, they will not be welcomed either. These unpopular figures will have nothing to gain in this world. They will have already forsaken their appetite for the things of the earth. They will not be looking forward to ministering to great crowds on Sunday morning. Their "ministry" coffers will not be bulging with the contribution of widows and other poor saints whom they have robbed of their last penny. Madison Avenue building projects and theatrical productions will hold no glamour for them. Acclaim and all the trappings of today's "successful Christianity" will not attract them in the least. The only future they have in this life is death &endash; be struck down for their faithful testimony to the righteousness of God.

These burning, holy prophets are evidently slain in the "great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" (vs 8). Some have taken this to refer to Jerusalem in a very immoral state, but I believe that something much more significant may be in view. If God were trying to indicate Jerusalem, He could have done so without all this mysterious, veiled language. It is possible that these three identifying characteristics of this great city--"Sodom," "Egypt" and "where our Lord was crucified"--may simply be descriptive language indicating to us something about the coming massacre of God's prophets. Sodom was a city of great wickedness and sin. Egypt is often used in the Bible to typify worldliness and sensual pleasure. Finally, "where our Lord was crucified" indicates Jerusalem, the Jewish religious center at that time. Keeping in mind that Judaism was the only God-ordained religion but yet it had strayed far from spiritual reality, we can identify here three elements which will join together to attack God's end-time witnesses. The inhabitants of the earth--those involved in sin, worldliness and empty, hypocritical religion--will combine forces, just as they did in Jesus' day, to destroy these prophets who trouble them.

In Zechariah 4:14 we read that these two witnesses are the "two anointed ones who stand before (in the presence of) the Lord of the whole earth." These last days prophets have made a trade. They have been willing to forego all the pleasures and attractions of this life--even the religious ones, for the incomparable privilege of standing in the immediate presence of God Almighty. This fourth chapter of Zechariah shows us an eloquent picture of these future prophets. Here they are described as two olive trees continually pouring oil out of themselves. This may be a reference to the "double portion of the spirit" which was received by Elisha when Elijah departed from him. It may also have an association with our previous discussion of how the Holy Spirit will be especially poured out upon God's faithful servants in the last days. You may notice as you read through this text that only one lampstand is mentioned here while in Revelation we are told of two. The explanation for this may be that at the end of this age the testimony of God will be intensified twofold--the number necessary before judgment can begin. While the olive trees speak of the anointing, the lampstands portray the shining testimony of all that God is. This then is what will characterize the ministry of the "two witnesses"--a double portion of God's Spirit and a twofold testimony to the righteousness of God.

A TIME OF PREPARATION

No one could live in this way without going through an intense period of preparation. John the Baptist was "in the deserts" until the hour came for his ministry to Israel to begin (Lk 1:80). The Apostle Paul spent time in Arabia (Gal 2:17). Both of these men were called to do something out of the ordinary. Both of them eventually had to stand against the religious trends of their time. John felt constrained to confront the Pharisees with their sin. Paul constantly opposed the work of the "Judaisers" who were trying to bring Christian converts back under the bondage of dead orthodoxy. Neither of these men could have stood firm under such stress if it were not for the time of preparation through which God had taken them. In the same way, those who are chosen by God to fulfill this prophetic calling will no doubt also pass through some kind of spiritual wilderness.

A true man or woman of God must someday learn to stand alone. Fellowship is important. The enjoyment of true spiritual relationships with others is unparalleled. But if God is calling you to be His prophet or prophetess you may come to a time in your life when you find yourself alone with only Him to lean upon. This does not necessarily mean being in physical solitude but just somehow unable to find comfort or companionship from others. Such experience is essential because it teaches us not to rely upon Christian friends, Bible teachers, movements or groups but upon Christ exclusively. These times of trials wean us from the outward props which have been keeping us going but which at the same time have been masking our inner weaknesses. Such periods of spiritual difficulty serve to expose us in a deeper way than ever before and press us to seek the only One who can carry us through to the final goal. Only those who have undergone such "wilderness experiences" will be equipped to stand unshaken in the evil day, boldly testifying for Jesus. Coming out the other side of these fiery testings are men and women of God who are purified, anointed and ready for the Master's service.

I am not recommending here that Christians should be abandoning church meetings or cutting off relationships with other believers. Such is the way of fleshly individuals who are overly sensitive to criticism or are attempting to "be something" by pretending to be more spiritual than others. Neither am I sanctioning those whose impatience, self-righteous behavior and offensive personalities alienate them from their fellow believers. This is not a word for spiritual babes or neophites. It is not a commission which you can take upon yourself. Don't even try. Nothing of what I have been describing here is something which can be attained by self-effort. I am only stating here what should already be obvious: anyone who is called of the Lord to an end-time prophetic ministry will undoubtedly undergo painful testings and trials--many of which will have to be endured alone.

Now with all this in mind, I would like to ask all of you readers some important questions. Would you be willing to say "yes" if God called you to one be of these? How do you find yourself responding to this message which has been given? If all this makes you a little uncomfortable, it is certain that there is something within your heart at this moment which is not right with God. Don't delay. Make your peace with Him right now. Repent of whatever He is touching in your life and decide never to be involved with that unclean thing again. You can be assured that whatever it is, if you are completely willing, God will deliver you.

On the other hand I would like to ask others of you, does your heart respond to the upward call of "holiness to the Lord" (Ex 28:36)? If so, do yield yourself to Him right now more completely than you ever have before. Take a moment and pray sincerely towards this end. Only He can do the cleansing and preparing work in your heart that is necessary for you to be truly useful to Him. If you will only present your body as a living sacrifice, He will accept it and begin to work in and through your life in ways you never thought possible.

In closing I would like to say that no one knows certainly who these "two witness" will be. Whether they are corporate as I have been suggesting or just two individuals, at this point only God holds the answer. However, there is one main point which I have been attempting to bring forth in this pamphlet of which we can be utterly confident--God knows your heart and He is calling every single believer to a life of consecrated ministry for His name before He comes. No one is exempt. No one is too weak or spiritually impoverished to serve Him with all of their heart. And He is going to hold ALL of us responsible for what we did with what He has given to us.

The message of the Revelation prophets is also our message today as servants of the living God. What He will declare then in twofold power, He greatly desires to say today through us to a perishing world and a backsliding, compromising Church. We don't need some supernatural appearance of angels or voices from heaven calling us to this work. The command has already been given (Mt 28:19). The fields are already white (Jn 4:35). Perhaps only one thing hinders us from hearing His voice and responding. It is the one issue which remains central in every Christian life. It is the one choice which will become astonishingly real to all of us one day. It is the one question with which each one of us must ultimately come face to face. ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR JESUS?

*Steve Shearer, The Beginning of the End. Littleton, CO: E.A.M., 1985. pp. 42-50.