So we have established that the two witnesses will most likely be Enoch and Elijah, since they are two men who were taken into heaven without dieing. When they return to prophesy, they will be clothed in sackcloth. These are probably the same clothes that they were wearing when they were taken up into heaven, so it will probably be obvious who they are when they show up again, at least to those who know they are coming. The world will probably say, "Who are these idiots?" They will shortly find out that these two are no one to mess with. John wrote in verse 4;
"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord on
the earth."
The prophet Zechariah wrote about these two. After seeing a vision, Zechariah wrote in his 4th Chapter, verses 11 -14;
(11)"Then I answered and said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right of the
lampstand and on the left?' (12) And I answered again the second time and asked him,
'What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the
golden oil from themselves?' (13) So he answered me saying, 'Do you not know who
these are?' and I said, 'No my lord.' (14) Then he said, 'These are the two anointed ones
( literally, Sons of fresh oil), who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'"
The oil has always represented the Holy Spirit of God. We know that Jesus is the Spirit of Truth. The Word is Spirit. So when it says tha these two are the Sons of fresh oil, I believe that they will pour out from their mouths by the Spirit of God, the exact words that Jesus whats to speak to men through them and they will prophesy and proclaim as Jesus leads them. This will all be to give everyone a chance to hear the unadulterated word of truth, so that everyone will have a chance to to gain eternal life and everyone who refuses to believe will be without an excuse.
These two witnesses will have will have devine protection that will allow them to proclaim the truth without being harmed. I am sure that many will try to kill them, because what they will be saying will fly in the face of all satan's vessels who are trying to decieve the world. They will be exposing the deception. This will annoy the world enough, but more so, they will be rescuing souls from the realm of darkness and bringing them into the realm of light. This is always what Satan has tried to minimize. He knows his fate and he has always wanted to drag as many souls with him into the lake of fire as he could. John wrote in verses 5 and 6;
(5)"And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours
their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in the manner he must be killed.
(6)"These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the
days of their prophesying; and they have the power over the waters to turn them into
blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire."
Remember Elijah when he lived on earth, twice called down fire from heaven to kill a group of fifty of the kings men. If it actually will come forth from their mouths, everything will be possible during that time. Satan knows all that will occur during those days. He has always known that these two will cause it to not rain on the earth for twelve hundred and sixty days. Satan does not want people to believe that these two are sent from God, so he will try to minimize their influence. Satan needed to prepare peoples thought patterns to think that something else could have caused the climate change that would not allow it to rain for twelve hundred and sixty days. As we read on through Revelation, it will become evident that Satan has for sometime been preparing peoples thought patterns to recieve his deceptions and disbelieve what will be brought forth from Jesus.
John goes on to write this in verses 7 -14;
(7)"And when they have finished their testimony, the beast who comes out of the abyss
will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them."
Notice that the only reason that the anti - christ was allowed to kill them was because the time of their testimony was complete. They were allowed twelve hundred and sixty days to prophesy and be protected.
(8)"And their dead bodies will in the street of the great city which mistically is called
Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified."
We know that Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, so we know that these two are laying in a street somewhere in Jerusalem. John called it by the mistical names of Sodom and Egypt because at this time the city will be more reflective of Sodom with it's permissiveness and Egypt with it's bondage, than Jerusalem, which means The City of Peace.
(9)"And those from the peoples and tribes and touges and nations will look at their
dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their bodies to be laid
in a tomb."
When I first became a believer in the truth and read this passage of srcipture back in the 1970's, This seemed to be either impossible or way in the future. All we had as far as being able to view such an event throughout the whole world was TV. Futuristic maybe wrist TVs. Since then, technology has increased at such a rapid pace, that it is very possible. Almost everyone, even people in the remote parts of the earth, can now have access via cells devices of one type or another, to be able to view such an event. Likewise, they would have been able to view, the prophesying of these two as they go troughout the earth and are covered by news outlets. Remember that Daniel wrote in his last Chapter 12, verse 4; " But as for you Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth (flight), and knowledge will increase,..."
Notice that they would not allow them to be laid in a tomb for before three and a half days pass. Most cultures and religions believe that the soul does not leave to another realm until after three days. After that it is impossible for someone to come back to life. This is why they made sure that there was no chance that these two would resurrect.
(10)" And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and
they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who
dwell on the earth."
Wow, the world will celebrate like it is Christmas. Can you believe that people on earth will be so disturbed by the message of these two, and I think more by the message than the torment, that they will be so relieved by their deaths, that they will celebrate by exchanging gifts and partying.
(11)"And after three and one half days the breath of life from God came into them,
and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them."
In other words, all those who were not still busy celebrating, but were still viewing the event, were filled with fear at seeing these two come back to like. I would imagine so. Oops!
(12)"And they heard a loud voice in heaven saying to them,'Come up here.' And
they went up into heaven in a cloud."
All this will happen just prior to the Day of the Lord and the wrath of God. The Church is preserved from the wrath of God. I feel that it is possible that at the same time the loud voice from heaven says, "Come up here", to the two witnesses, that it will include all believers who are alive and remain as well as those who have died. This will be the call of the first resurrection. As Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians Chapter 4, verses 15 - 17;
"For we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain
until the coming of the Lord, shall not proceed those who have fallen asleep (died).
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then
we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
In completing the scripture of the two witnesses, Paul concludes in verse 13 and 14;
(13)"And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and
seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified
and gave glory to the God of heaven. (14) The second woe is past; behold, the third
woe is coming quickly.
Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians in the 2nd Chapter, verses 9 - 11;
"Therefore God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is
above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who
are in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."
The peace of Jesus be with all of you.
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