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THE TWO WITNESSES OF REVELATION LAST DAYS
The mainstream teaching on the two witnesses of Revelation teaches that they will be literal people sent down from heaven to preach to the world for a literal 1260 days, 3 and a half years. And the mainstream view is that the two last day witnesses will be either Moses, Enoch or Elijah. But here we do not follow the crowd, we follow the truth, whether it is popular or not. Now one thing we must remember when studying the book of Revelation is that it is full symbolic language. So we are not to automatically take everything as literal.
Who are the beasts forcing people to take the mark? Who is the whore of Babylon? Is it a literal woman riding a literal beast? No, they are symbolic, and point to something else, just like a lot of Revelation does.
Let's start off by exposing a couple of BIG problems with this mainstream view of Moses, Enoch or Elijah being the two witnesses. Where are Moses, Enoch and Elijah right now? They are in heaven with God and Jesus Christ right? So what does that mean? It means they are now in their GLORIFIED IMMORTAL STATE. Please understand that important point. No one can dwell in heaven, in the presence of Jesus and God the Father without being in a glorified immortal state. And what does Revelation 11say will happen to the two witnesses?
Revelation 11:7-8.
So Revelation confirms that the last day two witnesses will be KILLED. This proves beyond doubt that the witnesses CANNOT be either Moses, Enoch or Elijah, because they are now immortal and cannot be killed.
Another problem is that Revelation 11 says FIRE comes from the mouths of the two witnesses to devour their enemies. So if the witnesses are literal people like Moses and Elijah, then are they going to breath fire like DRAGONS to kill people? SOUNDS MORE LIKE A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE TO ME, RATHER THAN THE TRUE WORD OF GOD! I hope you see the problem with this mainstream teaching. These witnesses of Revelation 11 must be someone, or rather some-THING else. REMEMBER, Revelation is FULL of symbolic language.
Friend, don't let above thought about 'more like Hollywood' with 'fire breathing people' escape your mind, because Satan is going to use some amazing 'signs and wonders' to deceive in the last days. And what is one of those deceiving 'wonders'? Revelation 13:13.
What about the 1260 days? Is this literal or symbolic? Day in Bible prophecy is equal a year. Now a lot of Christians will say "no that's not right, a day equals a day". And yet the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel, which equates to 490 DAYS, virtually the whole of the Christian world will agree that a day equals a year in this case. So we cannot go picking and choosing what we want to apply to different prophecies. We must stick to letting the Bible interpret itself. Take a look at the following two Bible verses regarding this:
Ezekiel 4:6. Number 14:34.
So this time period of 1260 'prophetic' days, is actually 1260 years. We will look at this time period a little later. First, let's get a picture of what's happening in Revelation 11 where the two witnesses are seen. Revelation 11:1-2
Notice 'forty two months' that the holy city is trod underfoot? This is the same time period (1260 days) that the two witnesses are prophesying for. But it is given in a different format, which is another sign that it is prophetic time, and not literal. First we see that there is some measuring going on in the beginning of Revelation 11. The angel says to John to measure the temple of God. Is this a literal temple? What is the temple of God?
Acts 17:24. 1Corinthians 3:26
So we are the temple of God, the church. So John is being shown here that the church is being measured. Is it a literal measuring to see how big or small we are? No, it is a measuring of our faith, and what can our faith be measured against? There is only one thing, and that is the Word of God, the Holy Bible and God's law. So we are talking of a JUDGMENT here. Did you know that there is a judgment going on in Heaven, and the church is being judged first?
John 12:31. 1 Peter 4:17.
So Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 8 and 9) is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary and between Him and God the Father, professed Christians are being judged to see if we proclaim and measure up to the standard set in His Word.
Who are the Two Witnesses?
Revelation 11:3-4
The majority of Christians will tell you that these two witnesses are either Moses, Enoch or Elijah. But there are a number of problems with that interpretation, as mentioned above. And not only that, the Bible even tells us what the two witnesses are. It says that these are two 'olives trees' and the two 'candlesticks', which again points to the two witnesses as being symbolic, NOT literal people. Let's see what the Bible interprets these as. If we look at Zechariah 4, we see a vision that contained a candlestick and two olive trees.
Zechariah 4:2-3.
So in this scene we have a candlestick with 7 lamps on top and a bowl to feed the lamps with oil. And on the two sides of the candlestick, we have the olive trees that empty their oil into the bowl, which in turn feeds the lamps. Then Zechariah asks what this symbols mean and the angel replies, '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.' The Word of God in the Bible is a light unto the world ... Psalm 119:105.
And God gives His Holy Spirit to guide us and illuminate His Word, then we as a church take light to the world.
So could these two witnesses represent the Word of God, THE LAW OF THE PROPHETS - a SYMBOL of Moses and Elijah? Well, it says in Revelation 11 above that they prophecy in sackcloth for 1260 days. As we found out earlier, these 1260 days is prophetic time and are actually 1260 literal years. When did this 1260 years take place? Between 538 and 1798, when the Roman Papal Church reigned. During that time, the Roman Catholic Church made it illegal to not only own a Bible, but even to read it. And if you obeyed God's Word in the Bible, rather than Rome, you were deemed a heretic, which was punishable by death.
The law and the prophets (Word of God) was 'clothed in sackcloth' for 1260 years!
The light of God's Word was kept by darkness by the Roman Church during these 1260 years, hence the term 'prophesy in sackcloth'. Many millions of Christians died at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church, because they chose to obey God's Word rather than bow down to Rome's supposed authority. Satan tried his best to destroy the Word of God, but God has anointed His Holy scriptures, 'the two anointed ones', and satan will never be able to completely extinguish the TRUTH.
You see, Moses and Elijah represent the Word of God. Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus confirmed that He did not come to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. The word fulfill meaning to exalt, to bring a clearer understanding. As we know, Moses and Elijah are in Heaven. We know this because they appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. And as I mentioned earlier, they cannot be killed as Revelation says happens to the two witnesses, because they are now in their immortal bodies. And why would God send them back to earth to be killed, when Jesus already died for us all. When you really think about it, it makes no sense to think that Revelation two witnesses would be Moses, Enoch or Elijah.
So could the 'law and the prophets' (the Word of God) be killed? Symbolically, yes! And it happened in French Revelation as the Papal reign was coming to an end of the prophesied 1260 year period. SEE THE FOLLOWING QUOTES:
The French convention dressed an ass, loaded it with the symbols of Christianity, and tied the Old and New Testament to it's tail. It was then led in mock procession, the crowd piled books of devotion into heaps and burned them to ashes, amid blasphemous shouts. A prostitute was enthroned as 'goddess of reason'." L.E.Froom, Prophetic Faith of our Fathers, Vol 2, page 738.
"French stands apart in the worlds history as the single state which by the decree of her legislative assembly, pronounced there was no God." Blackwoods Magazine Nov.1870
"On November 26 1793, the convention, of which 17 Bishops and some Clergy were members, decreed the abolition of all religion." The Age of Revelation, W.T.Hutton, Page 156
What about the two witnesses being dead for three and a half days? (Revelation 11:9). Well, we know in Bible prophecy a day is a literal year, so this would equate to three and a half literal years. Take a look at the following quote:
"In 1793, the decree passed the French Assembly suppressing the Bible. Just three years after, a resolution was introduced into the Assembly going to supersede the decree, and giving toleration to the scriptures. That resolution lay on the table for six months, when it was taken up and passed without a dissenting vote ...On 17th June 1797." George Stoffs, Midnight Cry, Vol 4, Nos.5-6, 47
1793 - French votes the Bible and religion out. (DEATH)
3Years, Six Months Later - France votes the Bible and religion back in. (RESURRECTED)
THE TWO WITNESSES LAYING DEAD FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS (YEARS) FULFILLED!
The mainstream teaching on the two witnesses of Revelation teaches that they will be literal people sent down from heaven to preach to the world for a literal 1260 days, 3 and a half years. And the mainstream view is that the two last day witnesses will be either Moses, Enoch or Elijah. But here we do not follow the crowd, we follow the truth, whether it is popular or not. Now one thing we must remember when studying the book of Revelation is that it is full symbolic language. So we are not to automatically take everything as literal.
Who are the beasts forcing people to take the mark? Who is the whore of Babylon? Is it a literal woman riding a literal beast? No, they are symbolic, and point to something else, just like a lot of Revelation does.
Let's start off by exposing a couple of BIG problems with this mainstream view of Moses, Enoch or Elijah being the two witnesses. Where are Moses, Enoch and Elijah right now? They are in heaven with God and Jesus Christ right? So what does that mean? It means they are now in their GLORIFIED IMMORTAL STATE. Please understand that important point. No one can dwell in heaven, in the presence of Jesus and God the Father without being in a glorified immortal state. And what does Revelation 11say will happen to the two witnesses?
Revelation 11:7-8.
So Revelation confirms that the last day two witnesses will be KILLED. This proves beyond doubt that the witnesses CANNOT be either Moses, Enoch or Elijah, because they are now immortal and cannot be killed.
Another problem is that Revelation 11 says FIRE comes from the mouths of the two witnesses to devour their enemies. So if the witnesses are literal people like Moses and Elijah, then are they going to breath fire like DRAGONS to kill people? SOUNDS MORE LIKE A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE TO ME, RATHER THAN THE TRUE WORD OF GOD! I hope you see the problem with this mainstream teaching. These witnesses of Revelation 11 must be someone, or rather some-THING else. REMEMBER, Revelation is FULL of symbolic language.
Friend, don't let above thought about 'more like Hollywood' with 'fire breathing people' escape your mind, because Satan is going to use some amazing 'signs and wonders' to deceive in the last days. And what is one of those deceiving 'wonders'? Revelation 13:13.
What about the 1260 days? Is this literal or symbolic? Day in Bible prophecy is equal a year. Now a lot of Christians will say "no that's not right, a day equals a day". And yet the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel, which equates to 490 DAYS, virtually the whole of the Christian world will agree that a day equals a year in this case. So we cannot go picking and choosing what we want to apply to different prophecies. We must stick to letting the Bible interpret itself. Take a look at the following two Bible verses regarding this:
Ezekiel 4:6. Number 14:34.
So this time period of 1260 'prophetic' days, is actually 1260 years. We will look at this time period a little later. First, let's get a picture of what's happening in Revelation 11 where the two witnesses are seen. Revelation 11:1-2
Notice 'forty two months' that the holy city is trod underfoot? This is the same time period (1260 days) that the two witnesses are prophesying for. But it is given in a different format, which is another sign that it is prophetic time, and not literal. First we see that there is some measuring going on in the beginning of Revelation 11. The angel says to John to measure the temple of God. Is this a literal temple? What is the temple of God?
Acts 17:24. 1Corinthians 3:26
So we are the temple of God, the church. So John is being shown here that the church is being measured. Is it a literal measuring to see how big or small we are? No, it is a measuring of our faith, and what can our faith be measured against? There is only one thing, and that is the Word of God, the Holy Bible and God's law. So we are talking of a JUDGMENT here. Did you know that there is a judgment going on in Heaven, and the church is being judged first?
John 12:31. 1 Peter 4:17.
So Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 8 and 9) is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary and between Him and God the Father, professed Christians are being judged to see if we proclaim and measure up to the standard set in His Word.
Who are the Two Witnesses?
Revelation 11:3-4
The majority of Christians will tell you that these two witnesses are either Moses, Enoch or Elijah. But there are a number of problems with that interpretation, as mentioned above. And not only that, the Bible even tells us what the two witnesses are. It says that these are two 'olives trees' and the two 'candlesticks', which again points to the two witnesses as being symbolic, NOT literal people. Let's see what the Bible interprets these as. If we look at Zechariah 4, we see a vision that contained a candlestick and two olive trees.
Zechariah 4:2-3.
So in this scene we have a candlestick with 7 lamps on top and a bowl to feed the lamps with oil. And on the two sides of the candlestick, we have the olive trees that empty their oil into the bowl, which in turn feeds the lamps. Then Zechariah asks what this symbols mean and the angel replies, '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.' The Word of God in the Bible is a light unto the world ... Psalm 119:105.
And God gives His Holy Spirit to guide us and illuminate His Word, then we as a church take light to the world.
So could these two witnesses represent the Word of God, THE LAW OF THE PROPHETS - a SYMBOL of Moses and Elijah? Well, it says in Revelation 11 above that they prophecy in sackcloth for 1260 days. As we found out earlier, these 1260 days is prophetic time and are actually 1260 literal years. When did this 1260 years take place? Between 538 and 1798, when the Roman Papal Church reigned. During that time, the Roman Catholic Church made it illegal to not only own a Bible, but even to read it. And if you obeyed God's Word in the Bible, rather than Rome, you were deemed a heretic, which was punishable by death.
The law and the prophets (Word of God) was 'clothed in sackcloth' for 1260 years!
The light of God's Word was kept by darkness by the Roman Church during these 1260 years, hence the term 'prophesy in sackcloth'. Many millions of Christians died at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church, because they chose to obey God's Word rather than bow down to Rome's supposed authority. Satan tried his best to destroy the Word of God, but God has anointed His Holy scriptures, 'the two anointed ones', and satan will never be able to completely extinguish the TRUTH.
You see, Moses and Elijah represent the Word of God. Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus confirmed that He did not come to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. The word fulfill meaning to exalt, to bring a clearer understanding. As we know, Moses and Elijah are in Heaven. We know this because they appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. And as I mentioned earlier, they cannot be killed as Revelation says happens to the two witnesses, because they are now in their immortal bodies. And why would God send them back to earth to be killed, when Jesus already died for us all. When you really think about it, it makes no sense to think that Revelation two witnesses would be Moses, Enoch or Elijah.
So could the 'law and the prophets' (the Word of God) be killed? Symbolically, yes! And it happened in French Revelation as the Papal reign was coming to an end of the prophesied 1260 year period. SEE THE FOLLOWING QUOTES:
The French convention dressed an ass, loaded it with the symbols of Christianity, and tied the Old and New Testament to it's tail. It was then led in mock procession, the crowd piled books of devotion into heaps and burned them to ashes, amid blasphemous shouts. A prostitute was enthroned as 'goddess of reason'." L.E.Froom, Prophetic Faith of our Fathers, Vol 2, page 738.
"French stands apart in the worlds history as the single state which by the decree of her legislative assembly, pronounced there was no God." Blackwoods Magazine Nov.1870
"On November 26 1793, the convention, of which 17 Bishops and some Clergy were members, decreed the abolition of all religion." The Age of Revelation, W.T.Hutton, Page 156
What about the two witnesses being dead for three and a half days? (Revelation 11:9). Well, we know in Bible prophecy a day is a literal year, so this would equate to three and a half literal years. Take a look at the following quote:
"In 1793, the decree passed the French Assembly suppressing the Bible. Just three years after, a resolution was introduced into the Assembly going to supersede the decree, and giving toleration to the scriptures. That resolution lay on the table for six months, when it was taken up and passed without a dissenting vote ...On 17th June 1797." George Stoffs, Midnight Cry, Vol 4, Nos.5-6, 47
1793 - French votes the Bible and religion out. (DEATH)
3Years, Six Months Later - France votes the Bible and religion back in. (RESURRECTED)
THE TWO WITNESSES LAYING DEAD FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS (YEARS) FULFILLED!
