The Bible tells us that in the Last Days, God will send his two witnesses who will stand in the holy city of Jerusalem to prophesy before the antichrist beast and his followers. They will also testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His kingdom is coming soon.

Their witness is for the whole world but particularly for the people of Israel to turn their hearts away from the man of sin back to the true God of heaven, and to prepare them for the true Messiah, Jesus.

That the two witnesses continue to stand before the god of this world is a testimony to their chief work which is against the beast and what he claims to be. (2Th 2:4)

The beast makes war on the two prophets, and also makes war on the saints on earth. (Re 13:7) who are the remnant of the woman’s seed (Re 12:17) proving that the rapture has not yet happened.

In relation to these events described in Revelation Chapter 11, John is told by the angel standing by him to “Rise up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those that worship therein”. John is told not to include the court outside the temple because it has been given to the Gentiles and they will tread the holy city under their feet for 42 months.

“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)

This would imply that the temple is already in existence during the first 3½ years of the Tribulation, which would place the work of the two witnesses in the latter half of the Tribulation because they prophesy for 3½ years. Also, because after the witnesses are killed, the second and third woes follow soon after. This may also happen in conjunction with some of the trumpet and bowl judgments.

So by comparing scripture with scripture we can see that the two witnesses prophesy for 3½ years mostly during the Great Tribulation. They are clothed in sackcloth signifying the call to repentance before the coming of the Great and terrible day of the Lord in which the sun itself will be clothed in black sackcloth. (Jl 2, Ac 2, Re 6)

The 7-year tribulation marks the last period of this present age. When Christ returns the new millennial age will dawn. (Rev 20:4)

The two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands who are standing before the face of the god of this world.

The two witnesses are given power to devour their enemies with supernatural fire and any that would hurt them. They also have power to stop the rain for the 3½ years of their prophecy. They will turn water into blood, and strike the earth with all kinds of plagues similar to those of Egypt as often as they will. Their witness torments those who have rejected the Gospel of Jesus.

Many claim that the two witnesses must be Moses and Elijah because the miracles they perform are similar to the miracles performed by Moses – who turned waters into blood – and Elijah – who stopped the rain for 3½ years. But this is not what the Bible says.  Also, scripture says that it is appointed to men once to die (He 9:27) and Moses has already died once so he cannot die again as one of the two witnesses who are killed. Whereas Enoch, like Elijah did not die but was taken up into heaven.

Some believe God may empower other individuals or groups in the spirit and power of Elijah: “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.” (Lk 1:17)

Although there is no mention of others being empowered in the same way, scripture does say those who know their God will do brave exploits on behalf of the truth. This will be their witness. “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Da 11:32)

As the spirit does not speak of himself, but glorifies Jesus, so the two witnesses will not speak of themselves but bear witness to the coming kingdom of Christ. Due to their work many will be converted. When they finish their testimony (Re 1:9, 19:10, 22:9), the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit makes war against them, overcomes and kills them.

The world rejoices and people send gifts to one another to celebrate the death of the two witnesses, as they had been tormented by their bearing witness to the truth. The two witnesses are made out to be evil tormentors. And there is an extended period of celebration, and the inhabitants of the whole world rejoice because the enemies of mankind are no more. The beast is acclaimed as the true saviour of mankind.

Their dead bodies are not allowed to be buried and are left on the street as a public spectacle to prove the superior power of the beast. But after 3½ days, the spirit of life from God enters into them and, to the great fear and astonishment of their enemies, the two witnesses rise to their feet. Then a great voice from heaven tells them: “Come up here”. The two witnesses ascend up to heaven in a cloud in the sight of everyone. (Re 14:14)

So the two witnesses of Jesus, who are martyrs, ascend to be with him. Their work is not yet fully finished for they will have a part to play in future events. They will sit on the right and left hand of Jesus’s throne in his Kingdom on earth.

In the same hour, there is a great earthquake and a tenth part of the city falls killing 7,000 of the followers of the antichrist, including dignitaries. This is the second woe.

The third woe follows soon after, with the sounding of the 7^th trumpet

The 7^th angel now sounds the 7^th trumpet which heralds the imminent coming of Christ’s Kingdom on earth. (Re 11:14) It is also the time for Christ to reward his saints on earth when he comes in his kingdom bringing his rewards with him. (Re 11:18,24)

“But in the days of the voice of the 7th angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” (Re 10:7)

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump[et]: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1Co 15:51-52)

The context reveals the important timing of events

Scripture reveals that the two witnesses appear near the midpoint of the Tribulation around the time when the beast breaks his covenant with Israel and places the abomination of desolation in the holy place, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Mt 24.15, 21)

We know that (a) scripture must be fulfilled; (b) scripture cannot be broken; and (c) to have the complete picture we must allow the spirit to guide us to put all the relevant parts in the right order.

The events described all happen on earth. The beast makes war on the saints, indicating they have not been raptured but have been on earth bearing witness against him. (Re 13:7) He also makes war on the woman’s seed. (Re 12:17)

Scriptural prophecy is conspicuously silent concerning the Church being raptured to heaven at any time prior to the Last Trump which is the 7^th trumpet. This proves that the saints have been on earth all the time. The only saints in heaven are the ones who have died or were martyred by the beast. (Re 6:10-11)

The mistiming of the rapture as pre-Tribulation is Satan’s masterpiece of deception. This is part of his master plan to take us off guard, so that the antichrist and the false prophet will be revealed and deceive Christians. Many will not see through this deception because they believe they will be raptured before the antichrist appears, thus falling into Satan’s trap. This is in complete contradiction to scripture. (2Th 2:2)

Some believe they don’t even need to know what the Bible says, as they are just waiting to be raptured. Instead of being prepared for the tribulation, they are praying to be ‘rapture ready’ as the pre-tribulation rapture has become a counterfeit doctrine of salvation and redemption for them. But without the light of the word, believers can lose their way in the darkness of the Tribulation.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” (2Th 2:7-15)

“And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They are “the two olive trees” and “the two lampstands”, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”^[ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. THEIR BODIES WILL LIE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation WILL GAZE ON THEIR BODIES AND REFUSE THEM BURIAL. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But AFTER THE THREE AND A HALF DAYS THE BREATH OF LIFE FROM GOD ENTERED THEM, AND THEY STOOD ON THEIR FEET, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.” (Re 11:3-14)

“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. 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? 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? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zc 4:10-14)

Scripture confirms who the two witnesses are

According to the Bible, there are only two people God took up – or translated – to heaven without them having died and that is Enoch and Elijah:

“And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Ge 5:22–24)

“Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2Ki 2:11)

In the very last chapter of the Old Testament we see

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Ma 4)

And in the New Testament

“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.” (Lk 1:17)

Jude quotes from the book of Enoch

“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jd 1:11-15)

In the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus 9:25

“And setting out to paradise, He took hold of our forefather Adam by the hand, and delivered him, and all the just, to the archangel Michael. And as they were going into the door of paradise, there met them two old men, to whom the holy fathers said: Who are you, who have not seen death, and have not come down into Hades, but who dwell in paradise in your bodies and your souls? One of them answered, and said: “I am Enoch, who was well-pleasing to God, and who was translated hither by Him; and this is Helias the Thesbite [that is Elijah]; and we are also to live until the end of the world; and then we are to be sent by God to withstand Antichrist, and to be slain by him, and after three days to rise again, and to be snatched up in clouds to meet the Lord.”

This has been the blessed hope of believers for the last two thousand years

Enoch is to again prophesy what he told people when he was last on earth, speaking of the coming of the Lord with all of his saints. Likewise, as God told Elijah there were seven thousand men who did not bow their knee to worship the God of Jezebel, Baal, so there will be 144,000 chosen witnesses in the Last Days who have not bowed their knee to the antichrist Baal. These have been called virgins because they have played no part with the denomination daughters of their Mystery Babylon harlot mother.

Both Enoch and Elijah were hunted men in their day, but God translated his two special prophets reserving them for their greatest witness to come against the god of this world. So scripture tells us, as Enoch and Elijah bore witness in their time, they will return to finish their testimony against the wickedness of this world, and proclaim the return of Jesus Christ bringing his Kingdom with him.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Ti 2:13)

A Guide to the Tribulation
Seven Churches of Revelation
Signs of Jesus’ Second Coming
Who Are the Nicolaitans
Hebrew Roots Movement
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing In KJV Scripture
Prayer of Release from the Occult and False Religion
Your Church Babylon Or Zion?