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During the first half of the 7 year Tribulation Period, two men will prophesy for 42 months (3 1/2 years). They have the power to shut up the sky from sending rain during the time of their prophesying, turn water into blood, and smite the earth with plagues (Revelation 11:6). At the end of the 42 months, the Antichrist will kill them and they will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days. Then God will resurrect them and they will be caught up into heaven with their enemies beholding them (Revelation 11:7-12).

Many people have tried to guess their identity.

Some have said they are Moses and Elijah because of their miracles. Moses had the ability to turn water into blood (Ex. 7:17-19) and Elijah had the power to stop the rain for 3 1/2 years (James 5:17). But there's a problem with Moses. He died a long time ago (Deuteronomy 34:6, Jude 9) and would have to be resurrected in order to do this. Since resurrected people can't be killed, this would eliminate him as a candidate. On the other hand, Elijah is an interesting possibility. Not only did he shut up the sky from raining (1 Kings 17:1, James 5:17), he did it for the exact time period (three and a half years) as the prophets in Revelation 11. Coincidence?

In addition, Malachi 4:5 says, "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord." John the Baptist went forth "in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17), but he himself was not Elijah (John 1:21).

Elijah was caught up into heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:9-11), so we must assume God had a reason for this. Is it possible that God has kept him preserved in his natural body in order to send him back to earth to prophesy during the Tribulation Period? That's a definite possibility.

The only other person who has never died is Enoch. "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God" (Hebrews 11:5). Is it possible that he is the other prophet?

An interesting writing from the 4th century A.D., the gospel of Nicodemus (which is not scripture) reads, "I am Enoch who pleased God, and was translated by him. And this is Elijah the Tishbite. We are also to live to the end of the age; but then we are about to be sent by God to resist Antichrist, and be slain by him, and to rise after three days, and to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord." Again, this is not scripture, but it does give an insight into what some people believed in the 4th century concerning the identity of the two witnesses.

We believe the 2 witnesses are Enoch and Elijah, although they could also be two people who are saved after the Rapture. They will prophesy during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation because after they are killed, they lie in the streets of Jerusalem for over 3 days. If they prophesied during the last 3 1/2 years, those 3 days would be after the Second Coming. That doesn't fit, so their prophesying has to be during the first half of the Tribulation.

So here's the scenario: The two witnesses prophesy for 42 months, bringing plagues upon the earth, and no one is able to kill them (Revelation 11:5). On the last day of the 42 months, the Antichrist goes into the temple in Jerusalem and stops the sacrifices (Daniel 9:27). He then takes his seat in the temple and declares himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). He walks out of the temple and immediately meets the two prophets, who have just finished their testimony. No one on earth has been able kill the two witnesses for 42 months, but because their ministry is finished, the Antichrist is able to kill them. (Revelation 11:7). This gives him instant credibility in the world's eyes as the most powerful man on earth. After lying dead in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days, the two prophets suddenly are resurrected and ascend into heaven.

Some people have used this passage as proof as a "Mid-Trib" Rapture, but this can't be the case for three reasons:

First, these two prophets are the only ones resurrected, not the entire Church.

Second, the Rapture happens quickly in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52), but these two slowly ascend into heaven with people watching (Revelation 11:12).

Third, this occurs three and a half days after the middle of the Tribulation. This is not the Rapture, but a special resurrection and ascension for only these two people.

This is a great study, blackeyedpeas!

I always felt it was Enoch and Elijah, for the same reasons you listed. I'd never seen the writing from the gospel of Nicodemus, it was very interesting!

But may I add a portion of an article, by J.R. Church, that looks into this very question? It did make me wonder a little more and asks some intersting questions, and it does make some valid points:

"WHO ARE THE WITNESSES?

Are they Enoch and Elijah, Moses and Elijah? Many theologians have wondered at the identity of these two witnesses. Most are convinced that they represent the ministries of Moses and Elijah, since one has the ability to turn water to blood (as did Moses), and the other has the ability to stop the rain for three and a half years (as did Elijah).

Tertullian (AD 145 - 220), founder of Latin Christianity, was the first to suggest Enoch and Elijah:

"Enoch no doubt was translated, and so was Elijah: nor did they experience death: it was postponed (and only postponed) most ceretainly: they are reserved for the suffering of death, that by their blood they may extinguish Antichrist" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2, ch. 50, pg 4114).

Tertullian believed that all men must die. Therefore, the only two men in the Bible who did not fulfill that indictment must return for the purpose of dying in the Tribulation Period.

It is true that the writer of Hebrews said:

"And as it is appointed unto ment once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb 9:27).

He is referring to progeny of Adam, to whom God said:

"Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:16,17).

As a result of Adam's sin, all men are appointed to die. The Apostle Paul tells us:

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12).

This has been true in every generation. No one has left this world alive, with the exceptions of Enoch and Elijah. However, our Savior said that on resurrection day, a great host of believers will excape death. This is recorded in a conversation between Jesus and Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus:

"Martha saith unto him. I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 'Jesus said unto her; I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosovever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:24-26).

If there are exceptions to the rule, why must Enoch and Elijah return for the sole purpose of dying? Will the rest of the saints, taken at the sound of the last trumpet, also have to return and die? Of course, not. Therefore, the premise that Enoch must be one of the two witnesses is not necessarily so.

Furthermore, John the Baptist died. He was, in every respect, the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy. First of all, Gabriel revealed this to Zacharias:

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
"And many of the children of Israel shall he burn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:15-17)

Secondly, Jesus concurred with the angel's announcement:

"For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is gtreater than he.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law phrophesied until John.
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:10-15)

There can be no doubt that John fulfilled the prophecy. But we know that Elijah did not return from heaven in a fiery chariot. Nor do we believe in reincarnation. So, how can this be? By some heavenly process, the spirit of Elijah influenced John. Even before his birth, John had the knowledge to recognize Mary's voice:

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city os Juda:
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass,, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as they voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy" (Luke 1:39-44).

The unborn baby was able to express joy. There was a divinely imparted knowledge living in the fetus, something that could not have been learned. The spirit of Elijah was allowed to communicate with John's spirit. We do not understand the process, but it could not have been "reincarnation" in the classic sense of the term. John was a separate individual with his own soul and spirit.

There are instances in the Bible, where spirits indwell people. If demonic spirits can enter and influence the mind, perhaps angels and saints can, as well. In the case of John, the spirit of Elijah was manifested. And yet, John did not regard himself as Elijah. When a delegation from the Temple approached him about the matter, John explained that he was not Elijah:

"And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am no the Christ.
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith I am not" (John 1:19-21).

This may give us a clue as to why John, writer of the Gospel narrative, also refuses to give us the names of the two witnesses in his final book of Revelation. these two witnesses may not be ancient human beings returned to earth from heaven. Like John the Baptist, the two future witnesses may only be influenced by the spirits and powers of two Old Testament saints."

I agree, this is a great study.

Now I am not saying this article is right nor am I saying that it is wrong. I will agree that it is a difficult study and one that makes many people wonder. It has caused many to speculate, coming up with numerous different possibilities. One thing that I think that we can agree on, I hope, is that scripture does interpret scripture.

The scripture being referenced here is in Revelations 11. As we look at Rev 11:4 we see an indication of a prior mention of two olive trees. If we look through the rest of Revelations we do see references pertaining to candlesticks but usually in a different amount than two. If we look for olive tree(s) in Revelations we only see just this one verse. So where is this referring to?

If we look through the rest of scriptures we do see a reference to "two olive trees" (Zec 4 ) but however it only mentions one candlestick. Zec 4:14 does seem to imply a very close resemblance to Rev 11:4 ...  "standing before the God of the earth" vs "stand by the Lord of the whole earth". Note that in Zec 4:14 with the original Hebrew language that it could easily be translated into English to also say "standing before" as the given Hebrew words hold the same meaning.

Does this bring us any closer to knowing any more definitely as to who the these two witnesses are? Not really because the verses in Zechariah are also highly debated as to who is meant here with guesses anywhere from Joshua and Zerubbabel to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Or perhaps this scripture in Zec has nothing to do with the one in Rev and the statement in Rev 11 is referring to yet another previous mention not currently reveiled in our current scripture.

Perhaps someone else can join in with this study and point out more scripture on this subject?


Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.


Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Brothers and Sisters,

I've seen many beautiful studies on this subject, and it certainly is a complex study. The best studies I've seen are open-ended and conclude that the real answers are KNOWN BY GOD. Maybe it's sufficient for us to understand their purpose, know that they will have Great Power from GOD, and know the series of consequences resulting from yet more TESTIMONY OF GOD! The world will rejoice with the THOUGHT that the Two Witnesses are Dead, but we know that's not the end of PROPHECY, rather the beginning of a GREATER AND MORE HARSH PROPHECY!

My conclusion about the identity of the Two Witnesses is also open-ended. This is a fascinating and beautiful Bible Study that can take one all over the Bible. This is a common denominator with the study of all Bible Prophecy. One can quickly determine that the events of Bible Prophecy are woven together over thousands of years most perfectly by GOD. This is also MORE PROOF THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD!

Love In Christ,
Tom

blackeyedpeas and Pastor Roger - you've got me reading, and I thank you for that. This, as you've said is a very interesting subject, and one I also feel is coming in the near future.

There's more to J.R. Church's article. It's long so I didn't want to write the whole thing but would like to quote a little more, that's also interesting:

"...Why two witnesses? Did not Malachi promise only one witness?

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD" (Mal. 4:5)

At every Passoer table, the Jewish family provides a chair, plate and cup of wine for only one extra guest, not two. During the course of the meal, a child is sent to the door to look for the promised heavenly visitor. There is no second witness expected to arrive. Furthermore, in the days of our Savior's First Advent, only John the Baptist came to announce the Messiah's arrival. There was no other witness.

According to the Mosaic Law, two witnesses were needed in order to get a death penalty in cases of capital crimes: "At the mouth of two witnesses...shall the matter be established" (Deut. 19:15).

Why was John the Baptist the only witness? Two thousand years ago, there was no need for two witnesses. Jesus did not come to judge the world. He did not overthrow the Roman government and establish the Messianic Kingdom. He came only to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

First-century history does not record a divinely designated Antichrist, worldwide Armageddon or eternal judgment upon the wicked. However, two witnesses will be needed to bring about God's judgment during the Tribulation Period.

Normally, when we think of a witness, we envision a soul winner telling others about the Gospel. But these two witnesses are sent to observe and condemn diabolical activity. Though we are tole that they "prophesy" (Rev. 11:3): "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers" (Mal. 17:11): they also gather intelligence for the heavenly court. They will fulfill the requirements of the Mosaic Law."

Thought this was an informative article, and wanted to share. I do agree that God's purpose will be fullfilled - it will be an incredible time and wonderful to see the LORD at work through His servants!!