Jacob's Trouble: The Two Witnesses

"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth."
-Revelation 11:4, WEB

These men are probably the two most influential, yet elusive figures mentioned in prophecy of the tribulation. Let's make a list of facts...

Just the facts

They will prophesy 1260 days. Revelation 11:3

In sackcloth. Revelation 11:3

Two olive tree, lamp stands before God. Revelation 11:4

If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouths and their attackers consumed. Revelation 11:5

They have the power to shut heaven. Revelation 11:6

They will be killed. Revelation 11:7

All people, everywhere will see their dead bodies. Revelation 11:9

They will not be buried. Revelation 11:10

They will be resurrected by God. Revelation 11:11

They will ascend into heaven. Revelation 11:12

After that, there will be a great earthquake. Revelation 11:13

That list is rather short, that's because the Bible gives little information about the Jerusalem Twosome. I suspect that the reason for that is Satan, He would spare no expense to thwart God's plans, especially if those plans are to save the whole world. The Bible does, however, provide us with great information about what they do. While you can speculate on whether Moses and Elijah might be the witnesses (with Biblical hints, of course) you can't just walk down the street, pickout two guys, and say, "Hey! You're the witnesses!" With that, I'd like to introduce three good candidates that could well be the witnesses.

Moses & Elijah. Here's a combination that just makes sense. Moses and Elijah were the greatest leaders of Israel. When people say, "Moses and Elijah" they're usually refering to the "law and the prophets." It is well known, and hardly worth repeating, that God gave His law to Moses, and that Elijah started the school of the prophets. Not only that, but they both shut the heavens and turned water to blood, much like what the witnesses will do. Elijah called fire down from heaven on more than one occaision. In Malachi 4:5 we find that God promises to send Elijah before the day of the Lord. "The day of the Lord" usually refers to the tribulation. Not to mention that they both appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration. (1 Kings 18:36-38; 2 Kings 1; 1 Kings 12:1; Exodus 7-12; Malachi 4:5)

Elijah & Enoch. This view is because both men never died. It lacks strong Biblical evidence.

Moses and Elijah were two great Israeli leaders, if they proclaim Jesus as messiah, Jews would be more open to the gospel. In Matthew 17 we read about Jesus, the three disciples, and Moses anf Elijah on the Mount. This event is called the transfiguration. Malachi 4:5 states that He(God) will send Elijah before the day of the Lord. "The day of the Lord," "Jacob's Trouble," "the Great Tribulation," and many more Biblical terms typically refer to the tribulation. Malachi doesn't come right out an say that Elijah is a witness, but Revelation 11 and Malachi 4 are easily explained if we assume that that's what Elijah will be.

For a reason, known only to God, God allows the two to be killed by the Beast(Antichrist). Everyone, everywhere, will see this. Not until recent years, with sattelites & the internet, has this even been possible! The world will make a Christmas out of the event, passing out presents and having a big party. The people will also deny a burial for the two, remember that this is Israel and it's a Jewish custom to bury the dead quickly.(in some Biblical passages, people are buried almost faster than they die!) But, (I love this) the story doesn't end there. A voice rumbles from the sky, "Come up here" and they do! The two witnesses rise from the dead, and, like Jesus, they rise to the heavens on a cloud. Within the hour, an earthquake rumbles across the Holy City. One tenth of the city falls, and 7,000 people die. In most other tribulation judgments we read that the populas still rejects God and continue in their evil ways. After this judgment, however, we find that they give glory to God!

Why the witnesses came

The two witnesses are real proof that even in times of grief and great sadness, God still cares. He sent His one and only Son to the cross that we might have eternal life with Him. God's witnesses, all 144,002 of them, and the whole tribulation is a message to the whole world, written on the wall. "Do you really know where you're going? Are you sure? Do you really have what I can give?" And without Him at the center of our lives, and the foundation of our hearts, we can not honestly say yes. The witnesses will come, not to bring heartache and pain, but to bring the message that God loves even people like you and me...

    If you have never accepted Christ...
...the good news is that you can make sure you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.
It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done. Jesus loves YOU personally very much. He even died so YOU can have eternal life, then He rose from the dead to prove it!

So how do you get eternal life with Jesus? It is not difficult.
The Bible teaches that you must:

1) Recognize we are sinners and need forgiveness
2) Then, admit our sins to Jesus, "If confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
3) John 1:12 says we must personally receive Him, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God." This means your life is going to change! "He who has the son of God (Jesus) has the life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."
4) Romans 10:9-10 says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raiseth him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

If you would like to be saved say this simple prayer with faith...

Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I am sorry for my sins and I don't want to sin against You anymore. I believe You are the Son of God and You died on the cross for MY sins. I also believe that you rose from the dead so that I, too, may have victory over the grave. Please forgive me now Lord and cleanse me. Come into my heart and give me a new life. Thank You, Jesus, for shedding your blood for me and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen

Luke 15:10 says: "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

"Ok, I've prayed the prayer and asked Jesus into my heart, so what do I do now?"
John 1:12 says "As many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he the power to become Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
Galatians 4:4-7 - "God sent forth His Son...that we might receive the adoption of sons...and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
Revelation 21:7 - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son"
2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."

WOW! To be a child of God...and you are! If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you have been adopted as a child by Almighty God! You are a new creature in God's eyes! ALL things have passed away and ALL things have become as new. Jesus compared the new birth experience to the wind, which can be heard and felt, but not seen. We do not see God, nor do we see our sins being taken away and forgotten, but when we sincerely repent and confess our sins to Jesus and by faith believe that He has forgiven us, what a feeling of relief!

The next thing you need to do is tell someone you have asked Jesus into you heart! Romans 10:9 says "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" Tell someone "I am saved!" If you would like to tell me email AJ@gmail.cjb.net I'd love to hear it!