The Two Witnesses are impressive end time prophets able to stop the rain, send plagues and survive the Beast and False Prophet who they prophesy against. Understandably, they are the subject of much speculation and even envy today among Christians. Christians alternately believe that they are Enoch and Elijah (who allegedly never died), Moses and Elijah (from the Transfiguration), or even Christians among us today who claim to be them. But are they here and do we need to figure out who they are or worry about what happens if we don’t? Find out why they are not here today and no one in their right mind should want to claim to be the Two Witnesses.
What If You Don't Identify the Two Witnesses?
Over the years I have received a steady stream of questions about the Two Witnesses. After considering those questions and others, I have noticed a trend. There is clear anxiety and worry over the Two Witnesses and other end time prophecy topics.
It's almost as if we tend to view the Book of Revelation as a study guide to the Great Tribulation coming as our "final exam." If we do not learn enough to figure out, say, who the Two Witnesses are or what the mark of the Beast is, we may miss the real prophet, listen to a false prophet, be deceived and lost thereby flunking the exam and suffering through the horrific scenarios Revelation graphically describes to us. This includes being left behind from the rapture, missing the protection of the 144,000 or the Woman or, God forbid, taking the mark of the Beast.
Imagine being saddled with this stressful view and encountering one of several believers on the Internet who come forward claiming to be the Two Witnesses. (Isn't the Internet grand?) Obviously it only compounds the situation. What if we reject them and they turn out to be God's true end time prophets?
The good news is that, as with everything else in the difficult book of Revelation, God does not expect believers to figure out who the Two Witnesses are. It's a prophetic mystery today and when they come, they come. You definitely do not have to fear they have already come or fear rejecting them when they do come. As we shall see, they are not coming for you and I, or to rule over us like head prophets of the modern church.
Let's look at what Revelation says and get the peace from it that we're supposed to have, rather than be stressed about what we do not understand yet or worry about missing out when it comes to pass.
The Two Witnesses' Mission
The first thing to get straight is that the Two Witnesses are not here today any more than the Antichrist or mark of the Beast can be here already. The people who later become them are probably alive already, but they are not in that role yet or under that title. Just like them, their official appearance is directly tied to the future 3½ year, 42 month, 1260 day Great Tribulation:
Revelation 11:3-6 (NKJV) — 3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."...5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies . And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
Their job seems to be to counter-program the lies of the Beast and False Prophet for the entire period of their 42 month rule (Rev 13:5). The Two Witnesses are situated in Jerusalem (Rev 11:1-3, 8), the Beast's headquarters (Dan 11:45), for this reason.
Would You Take This Job?
If one considers the above and everything else Revelation shares about the Two Witnesses, it is ironic that some continue to claim to be them. The next time you encounter someone who thinks they are the Two Witnesses, it might be fun to point out what Revelation says is ahead for them:
- A hard and stressful mission for 1260 straight days (Rev 11:3).
- To be hated by everyone, the whole earth (Rev 11:5,10). (Probably the only human friend they will have will be the other witness.)
- The tasks of killing numerous people, causing a 3½-year-long drought, bloodying drinking water, and otherwise plaguing the earth (Rev 11:5-6).
- After all that, a vicious martyrdom in Jerusalem, by Satan himself without a proper burial (Rev 11:7-9) at which everyone else celebrates by giving presents (Rev 11:10). (By the way, in case you were wondering, no, it does not happen anywhere near Christmas time, three days before the Yom Teruah/Day of Trumpets on Tishrei 1, that typically falls in September.)
Plainly, this is a job that not only would no one in their right mind take, but one that few who God has to pick from would even be able to handle mentally without having a nervous breakdown or quitting. In fact, I can imagine the person who God assigns the job to trying to get out of it just as Moses did for the leader of the Exodus role.
Numerous Bible-based Candidates
Certainly it's a relief to rule out bumping into the Two Witnesses in church, on the street, the 'Net or anywhere else before the Great Tribulation starts. You do not have to worry about mistakenly denying or disobeying the real Two Witnesses this side of the Great Tribulation, either.
However, this does not address the problem of all the Bible-based theories you will find on the Internet about future candidates and being asked to consider or accept them by your well-intentioned friends. For example, are the Two Witnesses...:
- Elijah and Enoch: This theory is by far the most popular one. It is based mainly on the argument that these are "the only two men who never died." However, that assumption is easily disproved with one of many plain verses (Heb 11:5, 13).
- Elijah and Moses: This is a much more convincing theory as the miracles that the Two Witnesses do are all ones that Moses and Elijah did. Also these two appeared in the Transfiguration with Jesus when he was glorified and shown as he will be in the Kingdom (Mt 17:3). They will be resurrected and have obvious key top positions under him. The problem here is that they are dead and would require a special resurrection just for this job. There simply is no precedent for this in the Bible. On the contrary, the precedent we have for prophesies of coming prophets always show a new person being raised up for it. When the Malachi 4:5 prophesy of Elijah coming in the last days was fulfilled, it was a new person named John the Baptist. Jesus was "the prophet like unto Moses," not a resurrection of Moses (Acts 3:20-22). We should expect the next and final Elijah as well as the Two Witnesses to again be someone new coming in the spirit of those great prophets, Moses and Elijah.
- Israel and the Christian Church?
- The Old and New Testaments?
The last two theories are allegorical interpretations. These run into difficulty when you consider everything mentioned above about the mission of the Two Witnesses such as being killed and their bodies left in the streets and seen by everyone to much celebration. The allegory has to go very far to work.
Literal, Symbolic, Allegorical...or All the Above?
But does that mean the entire prophecy of the Two Witnesses is literal? Not necessarily. Context must always be considered. As those familiar with my book or website are aware, I do advocate reading Revelation just like the rest of the Bible: as plainly and literally as the context permits or directs. I find that most of Revelation reads quite plainly this way with few exceptions.
As I covered in my article on the 144,000, Revelation does occasionally have truly allegorical passages. The 144,000 men are not literal "virgins," literally "undefiled by women," literally following a literal "Lamb everywhere he goes" (Rev 14:4). Revelation 12 talks about a Woman who is both figurative woman (a constellation of a virgin woman, Virgo) and allegorical woman (she flees on the ground after giving birth to the Messiah, a picture of righteous Israel), but not literal single flesh and blood woman.
Yet for many, the verses on the Two Witnesses require a symbolic interpretation because the literal interpretation seems to present insurmountable difficulties. For example:
- The two witnesses must create real plagues (Rev 11:6): No problem here if you remember that Moses created real plagues, ten of them. Elijah stopped the rain for 3½ years (Jas 5:17). It's nothing new for God's major prophets.
- A real temple must exist in Jerusalem, with sacrifices being offered (Rev 11:1): This is what Daniel's 70th week prophecy predicts (Dan 9:27). Likewise, Paul said the Antichrist would sit in the temple at that time declaring he is God (2Th 2:4)
- There must also be a real temple in heaven containing the ark of the covenant (11:19): Moses was told when he built the tabernacle on earth that he was building a copy of what God showed him from Heaven (Heb 8:5). The angels at the 7th trumpet are shown coming out of a heavenly sanctuary with the last seven plagues (Rev 15:5-8).
- Precisely seven thousand people must be killed in an earthquake (11:13): The Bible is full of many such numbers of deaths that seem exaggerated. God is sovereign and can direct things so that exactly 7000 die or as he made it take exactly Ten Plagues before Pharoah decided of his free will to let his people go (with a little hardening of his heart to help).
- And, fire must come from two human mouths (11:5): This last one may not be literal despite the rest of the descriptions being literal. If we look at it in context, we can see why.
Revelation 11:4-5 (HCSB) — 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
Just as we saw with the 144,000 above, we have metaphorical and figurative language introduced here for two verses that is difficult to take literally. They are not literal lampstands and candlesticks obviously. (Certainly not both at the same time!) Therefore, perhaps when it says fire comes out of their mouth, it is figurative speech reminiscent of Jeremiah: "I am going to make My words become fire in your mouth. These people are the wood, and the fire will consume them " (Jer 5:14). (Compare also Jesus' return at Armageddon described as having a sword comes out of his mouth to strike the nations also amidst figurative language (Rev 19:15).)
The End In 2026? It's Now Possible
Since learning in 2001 that Yeshua must return in a Sabbath year, I've had to rule out three Sabbath year cycle windows for the final 7 years (2003-2009, 2010-2016, 2017-2023). With the next window (2024-2030) less than 7 years away, I'm ready to share why I believe, based on the real end time sign of Mt 24:14, that this can be the one. If it is, the "birth pains" (WW3 + Wormwood, Lk 21:10-11) would hit near its middle in 2026 with Yeshua returning in 2030. Find out what's changed to convince me about 2026 and what you can do about it...
Because, there is no precedent of literal prophet fire-breathing and also because the preceding verse has such clear metaphorical language, I would say the fire is probably not literal unlike the plagues of the next verse and details in following verses.
If it seems unreasonable of God to mix literal, metaphorical, symbolic and allegorical language together in this way, leaving us little chance of knowing how to read it, well, no one said understanding the future in advance was going to come easy or that your life depended on getting it right anyway.
Conclusion
The Two Witnesses are central end time figures who oppose their counterparts of the evil Beast and False Prophet. They are not here now to tell you or I what to do, but come only when their counterparts take over for the Great Tribulation.
Like past fulfillments of promised prophets, someone of the current generation will step into the prophesied role like John the Baptist did, rather than long-dead prophets being given a special resurrection to do it.
However, even if we understand or accept none of this now (or none of this article is correct) it will not affect our chances of being safe when the Two Witnesses come. Here's the simple focus/intent (not understanding) that will determine our chances:
Revelation 14:12 (HCSB) — This demands the perseverance of the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.”
For more on the two witnesses, see my article on "who will bring them food?"
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Tim McHyde
Tim is the author of this site (since 1999) and the book Know the Future that explains Revelation literally at last--including the key event of Wormwood (Rev 6-8). To read more from Tim and not miss a single new article, sign up for his free newsletter above.
29comments
It is really quite amazing, but there are actually 3 biblical messages to one of the 2 witnesses. It’s really quite interesting, The first is in Zechariah 4. Nothing in Zechariah 4 occurred during the second temple era (except for Zechariah receiving and recording the message). The translation to English actually just helps hide it. Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4 is a symbol of 1 of the 2 witnesses. Just as Joshua the high priest symbolizes the Lord Jesus in Zechariah 3 and 6.
In Zechariah 3:8 we are told that Joshua and his friends are a symbol.
‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the [fn]Branch.
Joshua is a symbol of the Branch which is a term for MESSIAH. Now we aren’t told which friends are sitting before Joshua, but Zerubbabel is there. This is why 2 verses later the same angel rouses Zechariah to a vision of a Lampstand, 7 lamps, olives and clusters/branches, and it represents the word of the Lord to one of the 2 witnesses.
Here Zechariah 4:2-6
2And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven [a]spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”
Zechariah sees a vision and asks the angel “to interpret or translate” it for him.
Zechariah 4-6
4Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6Then he said to [b]me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of armies.
The Lampstand, 7 lamps and olives/olive branches is “The word that the LORD “cut” or covenanted with him.
When I say nothing occurred during the second temple era it is true. When the exiles returned to Judah and Jerusalem, after the proclamation made in the first year of Cyrus around 539 BC, it was Sheshbazzar who was appointed as governor/prince of Judah.
Ezra 1:8
8and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah.
In Zechariah 4:9 we are told that Zerubbabel laid the foundation of “this house”
Zechariah 4:9
9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
However biblically we know that Sheshbazzar, not Zerubbabel was credited to laying the foundation of the second temple. As soon as you realize Zechariah 4:9 is not speaking of the second temple then you must admit it speaks of something else.
14Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took them from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15And he said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and have the house of God rebuilt in its place.” 16Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.’
This is why Sheshbazzar is given credit for laying the foundation of the second temple. Because he was the governor at the time of the laying of the foundation, in the second year of the exiles return.
I’m telling something that I know, and it not just a theory. In Zechariah 4:10 there is no plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. It is something that the 7 Spirits of the Lord see. Remember back to the vision in Zechariah 4:2-3, there are only 7 of one thing. Are there 7 Lampstands? Are there 7 olive branches? No and no, but there are 7 Lamps. The 7 lamps, the 7 eyes and the 7 Spirits are synonymous.
Zechariah 4:10
Revelation 5:6
Revelation 4:5
But what is it the 7 Spirits of the Lord sees in the “hand” of Zerubbabel?
First let’s look at Zechariah 3:9
‘For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
If you notice the stone above, it is not a literal stone with 7 eyes on it. It is a symbolic representation on the cornerstone with the 7 Spirits of the Lord on it.
Isaiah speaks of it and Peter expounds on this symbolism in
1 Peter 2 4-6
4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is [i]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, [j]are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For this is contained in [k]Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE,
AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN [l]HIM WILL NOT BE [m]PUT TO SHAME.”
Just as the stone before Joshua, is symbolic, so is the stone in the hand of Zerubbabel. It is a living stone with dross, or tin that is to be removed. There is a word plummet and it is not a stone and tin. You must understand, tin ore is not native to Israel. Tin is not really a heavy metal, as lead is, and would not be used as a weighted plummet. Additionally, it’s highly doubtful that tin ore would be shipped before it was smelted, it would be a big waste of cargo space because you only get a little tin out of ore. I’m explaining the logic, but it’s not to prove a “theory”, I’m explaining the true meaning. Here are the words translated as Plummet in Zechariah 4.
It is stone https://biblehub.com/hebrew/68.htm
And tin/dross
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/913.htm
Comes from the prim root
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/914.htm
It means to divide or separate
There is a Hebrew word for plummet and it is
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4949.htm
Maybe
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/594.htm
It is not tin and stone
There are all kinds of translation anomalies surrounding the 2 witnesses that have helped to keep this hidden.
2 things happened but it was totally unrelated to the second temple era.
But after vs. 10 the angel further explains to Zechariah part of the vision. Part of the vision that is, the “word the Lord covenanted with Zerubbabel “
12 And I answered the second time and said unto him, What are the two olive-branches which are beside the two golden tubes that empty the gold out of themselves?
13 And he spoke to me, saying, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14 And he said, These are the two sons of oil, that stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
The 2 olive branches/olives are the 2 sons oil which stand before the Lord of all the earth.
In the Hebrew it is BEN YITSHAR- sons of fresh olive oil
3323
Another weird translation, it is NOT “anointed ones” they changed all the words around for Zechariah 4. It is “sons of pure olive oil”
Revelation 11:4
4These are the two (ἐλαῖαι ) and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Zechariah 4 is the first biblical message to one of the 2 witnesses. It is the covenant that the LORD has made with him.
Just as Joshua the high priest never physically stood before the LORD with satan at his right hand in Zechariah 3. Zerubbabel of that era, never did any of those things in Zechariah 4.
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My name is Alan Finch. In April of 1976, I submitted myself to the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST.
God’s main mission for the “Two Witnesses” will be that of Preparing the “Bride of Christ” which is made up Believers in Christ (the true Church) for the return of the “Bridegroom,” JESUS CHRIST. This is why that there is no “Pre-Tribulation Rapture.”
I have put together 3 documents that clearly expounds upon these 2 individuals. “The Two-End Time Witnesses”, “The Two Lampstands & The Two Olive Trees”, “The Message of the Two End-Time Witnesses.”
These documents are too lengthy to post in the comment section. If anyone is interested in reading these 3 documents, email me at: (candy33alan@aol.com), and I will be more than happy to email you the 3 copies.
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i had passed through mysterious and weird experience that if I should explain I would be taken to be one of the witnesses but am waiting on Jesus because a prophet told me he will appear to me. a prophet also told me he saw me like an old man sitted on a chair that I have not begun my ministry. and several other weird visions about me from people. I had written thirty books based on end time message. but am not sure if am one
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Believe me you DO NOT WANT the job of 1st witness. In the summer of 2010, 13 witch assassins were dispatched to destroy me from Catemaco, Mexico, (The Cradle of Witchcraft and Demonism). I managed to destroy them instead using only faith, prayer, and one Kitty-Cat! I barely knew what was happening to me.
I’ve been homeless and poor for most of the time since. You can read about it in my book: “Trestle Board The Texas Witches Curse” available on Xlibris and Amazon.com. The very second I pushed “send” on the final round of changes to the publisher; messages and videos on Revelations 11:3 and the Two Witnesses began to appear on my computer. I had no idea what I was doing and only knew that God had ordered me to hurry up and complete my book.
Tonight I’ll go out into the 15 degree weather and enter my 56th year wearing a sackcloth type garment. More importantly who is the second witness?
I’ve defeated the mightiest Lieutenants Of Lucifer and it’s cost me everything except my life. Believe you me, if I point my finger at someone and let the fiery words flow from my mouth something bad happens to them. It’s a job I don’t want, but I can’t get out of! All I ask of you is your faith and prayers. Good luck and proper prayer to us all for the time draws near.
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Tim — I would also tend to agree with Nathan that weakness can be turned quite readily by the Spirit. A draw between the two witnesses and the references to Zerubabel and Joshua (Zechariah 3) may indicate that one of the two witnesses (the Joshua figure) is indeed very weak (clothed in filth to paraphrase) prior to the empowerment. This was so for Joshua – yet to be seen if it is so for one of the witnesses.
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Jericho, We all agree the HS/God can help anyone no matter how feeble they are, like Samson. However for this top tier end time role in God’s work, the limiting factor is not physical but rather zeal, faithfulness and mental strength (Lk 21:36). Historical precedents show that God does not just pick anyone nilly willy for his prophets, but people who are zealous for his Word and for truth, who have been mentally tested quite a bit. Given that most Christians today are “lukewarm,” materialistic, soft and not even zealous enough to even be considered saved (Mt 7:21-23) I expect the 2W to be special individuals you are not likely to encounter at church or rarely in life.
Reply The two witnesses are slain in Jerusalem. This doesn’t necessarily mean they spend their entire time of witness in that city.
Reply Jericho, No, not their entire time is in Jerusalem, but 1260 days of it (Rev 11:3) because we know that’s where they die and that’s where the Antichrist is based, Mount Zion/Temple Mount (Dan 11:45=2Th 2:4). You would have to give me a verse that says they are somewhere else for the 1260 days of the Tribulation other than the area of the Third Temple referenced several times in Rev 11 for me to accept your theory they preach in other places, especially when all other nations are covered already by their 144,000 counterparts sealed with protection for ministry outside the place of safety.
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Good article. I just wanted to point out that the Holy Spirit is capable of enabling any Christian, however weak they currently are, to be able to fulfill a difficult role like that of the two witnesses. Look at the difference it made with disciples like Peter. I also think that it’s unlikely that anyone who currently thinks they are one of the two witnesses actually will be as this likely springs from a desire linked to pride and vanity.
Reply Nathan, the HS is powerful, however God tends to put it on not just anybody for roles in service of God, but people who have proven zealous and righteous already. Most Christians are anything but that (Mt 7:21-23).
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Christians are too caught up in interpretation. Think about think what Jesus was saying.
All that stuff about the road to hell being paved with good intentions, and how you cant love your enemy with a shotgun?
He wasn’t kidding.
Ultimately it’s really easy to say & hard to do. The truth will burn through you like shit thru a goose..but:
Empathy leads to compassion, and that leads to mercy & forgiveness, a 4-way symmetry. And if you stand true in that place, your shield will be steady.
And it doesnt matter what what you ‘believe’, no one’s loop holing into heaven just because he called “Jesus”, by the right name, or said the right things, but here on earth couldn’t be bothered to treat others like human beings.
Likewise, no one will burn who didnt have time to praise a God because they were living for the good of others, as their intuition and instinct directed them to deal only with what they see. God is not an ego-maniac.
The author makes a good point, you should listen, and not worry too much about witnesses. The thing must take its course. So let it.
In the meantime turn your sight inward, and know thyself.
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Tim,
Under your sub-topic “Would You Take This Job”, you stated the following
“…When the Malachi 4:5 prophesy of Elijah coming in the last days was fulfilled, it was a new person named John the Baptist…”
In my humble opinion, this specific verse could be referring to John the Baptist but could also be insinuating “another Elijah” to come near the end times and here is why:
Malachi 3:1 states ” …Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple–the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight–see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts…”
Jesus himself confirmed in Matthew 11:10 that John the Baptist was indeed the messenger referred to in Malachi 3:1. Jesus also stated in Matthew 11:14 that “…And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come…”
Later after Jesus is transfigured in Matthew 17, Moses and Elias actually appear with Jesus in Matt 17:3. In Matt 17:10, the disciples inquire to Jesus as to why the scribes say that Elias must first come. Jesus answers them in Matt 17:11-12 stating Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things but also added that Elias is come already, and they knew him not. Matt 17:13 states the disciples understood that Jesus spake unto them of John the Baptist.
In retrospect back to the book of Malachi, in my opinion, chapter 4 is more directed toward the actual end times and the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s review chapter 4 as follows:
Malachi 4:1 states ” For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yeah, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”
4:2 states ” But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
4:3 states ” And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.”
4:4 states ” Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgements.”
4:5 states ” Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
4:6 states ” And he shall turn the heart of their fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Malachi 4:5, in my opinion, is clearly telling us the Lord will send “Elijah” BEFORE the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…Verse 4:1 is clearly describing a day that cometh that shall “burn as an oven” and the day that cometh shall burn up the wicked as stubble….
In conclusion and in my opinion, Malachi chapter 3 is referring to John the Baptist and the First coming of Christ and Malachi chapter 4 is clearly referring to the Second coming Christ and a completely different person/ figure that will assume the role of “Elijah” as John the Baptist did during the First Coming. Why else would chapter 4 the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”…???
Just some food for thought but a great article Tim and keep up the good work. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
Reply Benjamin, thanks, but I did not invent this. My statement about John the Baptist being the Malachi 4 (not 3) Elijah is based on what the Michael said about John the Baptist in Luke 1:17 quoting Mt 4:5-6 directly over him. He was a partial fulfillment of that as the angel said, but not the complete, latter fulfillment that the end time Elijah (right) “before the dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal 4:5-6=Joel 2:31-32) when the “sun turns to darkness and moon to blood” (Joel 2:31-32=Rev 6:12) because of Wormwood (Rev 8:11). You may want to read my fuller article on Elijah that covers all the verses.
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I am not sure of the definite pairing but I heard an interesting theory that they are one man and one woman because the Bible actually never said “These two men”. It said, “These two anointed ones” or “My witnesses”. I know this is a somewhat new concept. What does everyone think about this concept?
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Hi April
Yes it is possible for the two witnesses to be a man and woman given how seriously Adonai takes a man and woman bonding through marriage. Though I would be more concerned with building up one’s relationship with Yeshua so that he won’t cast you out for not having a relationship with him.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there is only so much time before Elijah calls us to Judea. Will you have enough faith and strength to leave for 3rd world living conditions in Judea to take up a crown in the Millennium?
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Marilyn, how are all the OT and NT prints in the world able to die and stand up on their feet and go to heaven as Rev 11 says??
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It should not be hard to understand, that if it is written then is shall be done. Whom ever these two shall be our God and Creator shall prepare for what lay ahead of them. Such as all other things we see all are created by him and for him. That which is ahead has been written and will come to pass. God walked with our Great Prophets and prepared each of them for their own journey and he will these two as well. If we belong to God and he dwells in our hearts we to are his servants in training.
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Sir,
Why is is not possible that the Witnesses are the actual Enoch and Elijah?
After all, both of them did not “die” in the usual way. In fact, they are not said to have died.
So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:23,24).
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11).
Why isn’t it possible that they are sent to die in the usual way this time along with their mission?
P.S. Your website is awesome and I am learning a lot.
Reply Subin, Enoch and Elijah did die just as Scripture says: “appointed to men to die” (Heb 9:27). Of course, some will miss that appointment with death because of the rapture.
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Surely, the Spirit of God will raise these prophets up from the wilderness of this world. They will have experienced a great amount of testing to prove themselves worthy of this calling. I think they will be nobodies in the site of the world, at first, until God starts working miracles through them. God is preparing them right now for service. I may be one of them, who knows for sure? If God works miracles through me, then I would accept the calling as one of the witnesses. I am a nobody right now, but God is good, and He will make a way for me. I would gladly take the call to be His witness.
SINCERELY
I am spirit
Reply Very good young man. I didn’t want this job, but The Great God “I Am” seems to have stuck me with it. I didn’t even know about Revelations 11:3 until the second I sent the changes to my publisher of my book: Trestle Board The Texas Witches Curse”. A story of how I faced down 13 witch assassins from the demonic city of Catemaco, Mexico in 2010. The second I pressed “send” to my publisher, videos and information began to pop up on my computer on the two witnesses. It’s a witness book about the power of faith and prayer against the mightiest Lieutenants of Lucifer! I’ve been homeless and wearing poor peoples clothes since that summer. A young man from the Union Gospel mission once denied me entrance to their program because I didn’t have a serious enough alcohol or drug problem. I told him: “I really hope you die really soon!” 21 days later he contracted testicular cancer, 31 days later it spread to his lungs. On day # 47 he was dead. Tonight I’ll wear my burlap looking sackcloth as I go out in the 15 degree weather. Believe me 1st witness is NOT a job you’d want!
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Here is a question I just thought of. Elijah will be the one who gathers everyone to Jordan prior to WW3/Wormwood. Then later, we’ll flee to Judea to be protected during the GT.
If the two witnesses (including Elijah) will be in Jerusalem for the entire 3 1/2 years of the GT, does that mean there will be NO prophet leading those being protected?
Reply Sam, this will be a time of the outpouring of baptism of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-30). Just as the first century church had several prophets as Acts frequently mentions, so too will we in the end time. There is no doubt that we’ll have prophet leaders even they are not named in prophecy yet.
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I’ve met people that have claimed to be one of the two witnesses. I also know someone that says that he “may ” be one; but does not want to believe that he is; but he says that if God puts him in the position to become one, even though he fully understands that the whole world will hate him, they will try to kill him, he will not have a home for 3 1/2 years, he will have to kill people in “many” ways = drought, poisoned water, no food because of drought, massive crime against people that believe in Yeshua (Yesh-u-a), and then have to fight Satan himself and be killed by Satan; then knowing that people will do all kinds of things to their bodies, he says that just to know that within the hour he’s brought back to life, Yeshua will come and take him to heaven, it would be his honor to be one. People don’t think of it that way. They think it will be all fun being one of the two witnesses. Think seriously about having to go through 3 1/2 years of what I just described and tell me if you would be willing to go through that (remember even your family and friends will hate you). As I read a few minutes ago the only earthly friend they will have is each other. Of Course Yeshua will be with tjem all the way. I truthly don’t think that there are very many people alive today that would be able to handle that life. I can’t imagine what living that life would be like.
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God said in the Last days: brother will be against father, mother against daughter, etc. most of my family can not stand me: because they believe in the “milk toast” pastors: sucking down Kool aid, licking lollipops, candy canes ministries: No ministry that Preaches the truth “Like it is” Gospel: they watch money seeking padded ministries with “feel good goody” FLESH ministries with the big “I” “I” “I”s: but God said: DIE TO YOUR FLESH {DAILY}: they “over PUFFED” their stinking flesh. Point is: the fakes , the Pretend christians will hate you any way: so what?
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i think i know one of the two. do you have any questions that would prove or disprove in your own mind? 7707221415 chip, give him a call
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