The Two Witnesses
“3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
(Rev 11:3-4 KJV)
The two witnesses will prophecy for 1260 days of the judgment that is about to come. They will preach to Israel to accept Jesus as their God and Messiah. They will perform great miracles.
The fact they are olive trees shows they will have the anointing of God.
There is a lot of speculation as to who the two witnesses are. Some believe they are Elijah and Enoch. Both were taken into heaven without dying.
“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Gen 5:24 KJV)
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2Ki 2:11 KJV)
Most believe the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. They were seen at the transfiguration.
“2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
(Mat 17:2-4 KJV)
“2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
(Mar 9:2-5 KJV)
Satan fought for the body of Moses, showing that God has a plan for him.
“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jud 1:9 KJV)
God has made sure that Moses’ body will remain hidden.
“And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” (Deu 34:6 KJV)
When we consider how prominent Moses and Elijah were in the Old Testament, and that both had a ministry filled with miracles, and both appeared with Jesus in the transfiguration, it is easy to see that the return of Moses and Elijah as the two witness is a great possibility.
Another possibility is Elijah and the Apostle John. Jesus indicated that John could remain until he comes:
“21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”
(Joh 21:21-23 KJV)
It was also prophesied that he would prophesy before peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
(Rev 10:11 KJV)
Elijah would cover Moses and the law and John would cover the Lamb.