Two Witnesses of Revelation

1. Introduction

Some consider the two witnesses of Revelation 11 as proof that the Antichrist has not yet come. This is because the two witnesses prophesy for some time, are killed, and then raised from the dead. Because we have already been shown that the Antichrist appeared within a forty-year generation as Jesus said he would, we need to see what or who the two witnesses of Revelation refer to.

A. Measuring the Temple

Then, I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

Revelation 11:1

We have already discussed in the lesson Introduction to Revelation that this refers to John physically measuring a physical temple that was still present at the time of writing of Revelation, in 63-65 CE, and that the Gentiles trampled this temple for three and a half years. 

But leave out the court outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

Revelation 11:2

Interestingly, 42 months passed from when Titus surrounded Jerusalem to its destruction. Titus surrounded Jerusalem in March-April of 67 CE, and Jerusalem was destroyed in September-October of 70 CE.

2. The Two Witnesses of Revelation

Revelation 11 talks about two witnesses that will arise in the last days. Our first lesson on Eschatology showed that the previous days started with Jesus’ death, ending in 70 CE.

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:3

John saw no need to introduce the two witnesses. Writing to both Jews and Gentiles, his writing indicates that the believers understood who these two witnesses were.

A. Death of Jerusalem

Having two witnesses is a direct reference to the requirement under the law when someone is to be put to death:

Whoever deserves death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deuteronomy 17:6

The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 CE. Therefore, there must be two witnesses to this. We must see Jerusalem as God sees it – Sodom and Gomorrah: 

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Revelation 11:8

Jesus sees the natural Jerusalem spiritually as Sodom and Egypt, both of whom were subject to judgment under God.

B. Martyrdom

In Greek, the word for witnesses is matyr, from which we get the word martyr. At the start of Acts, the last words Jesus said to the apostles before His ascension:

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

He was saying they would be martyrs in Jerusalem as well. Interestingly, none of the twelve apostles were martyred in Jerusalem. Therefore, this could refer to what we see in Revelation 11.

3. Law and Prophets

Under the Old Covenant, they are the law and the prophets; under the New Covenant, they are a kingdom of priests. Before we get to the New Covenant witnesses, we need to look at the Old Covenant witnesses.

A. John the Baptist

John the Baptist was the end of the law and the Old Testament prophets:

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 11:13-14

So, there is no need to look for a physical Elijah in the future. 

B. First Witness – Elijah

The witnesses can do the signs of both Elijah and Moses:

These have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:6

Elijah, representing the Old Testament prophets, could shut the heavens so no rain could fall. 

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ”As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

1 Kings 17:1

We see in Revelation 11 that fire comes out of their mouths to consume their enemies.

And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

Revelation 11:5

This is, of course, a reference to Elijah prophesying fire.

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.

1 Kings 18:37-38

Therefore, Elijah is the first witness of Revelation 11 who must die along with the prophets when Jesus died.

C. Second Witness

God chose Moses to introduce the Old Covenant law. Therefore, he represents the law and must die with Jesus on the cross.

These have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:6

Moses, representing the law, turned the Nile into blood and brought down nine other plaques upon Pharoah and the Egyptians.

Thus says the LORD: “By this, you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters in the river with the rod in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.

Exodus 7:17

D. Law and Prophets are Dead

The two witnesses, representing the law and the Old Testament prophets, die:

When they finish their testimony, the beast ascending out of the bottomless pit will war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7

Now we have seen that Jesus nailed the law to the cross,

having wiped out the handwriting of requirements against us, contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

Jesus also put an end to the law,

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 10:4

And we have already seen that John the Baptist was the end of the law and the prophets,

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 11:13-14

So the law died on the cross, and the two witnesses of the Old Covenant also died.

When they finish their testimony, the beast ascending out of the bottomless pit will war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7

This is why Jude says these words concerning the body of Moses:

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Jude 1:9

He is referring to when war broke out in heaven at the time of Jesus death and entrance into heaven:

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 11:7-9

It was during this time that the courts were opened, as well as books. Although we do not know for sure, it is a safe assumption that is what Jude is referring to.

4. Lampstands and Olive Trees

We find the two witnesses now that we have seen that the law and prophets are martyred. Not only are the witnesses the law and the prophets, but they are also lampstands and olive trees:

These (TWO WITNESSES) are the two olive trees and lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:4

This is a direct reference to the prophet Zechariah’s vision and discussion with God:

And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the bowl’s right and the other at its left.”

Zechariah 4:2-3

A. Olive Trees

Olive trees produce olives, which represent the anointing. We see this when we look at how the anointing oil is made—most of it is olive oil.

Moreover, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make a holy anointing oil from these, an ointment compounded according to the perfumer’s art. It shall be a holy anointing oil.

Exodus 30:22-25

B. Lampstand Multiplied

We see an interesting difference between the Book of Revelation and Zechariah. In Revelation, it is lamp stands, yet it is quoting Zechariah, where there is only one lamp stand. The reason is that Zechariah is referring to the building of ONE temple. Yet the New Covenant has changed the Temple of Jerusalem into millions of temples walking this earth. These temples are gathered together into churches of people led by those with ministry gifts.

Revelation identifies that lampstands relate to churches.

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks amid the seven golden lampstands.

Revelation 2:1

C. Anointed Ones

Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and its left?” And I further answered and asked him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?”

Then he answered me, “Do you not know what these are?”

And I said, “No, my lord.”

So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”

Zechariah 4:11-14

God then declares that this vision refers to men:

The Hebrew word for ones is Ben, which means son or man.  Who are the two men that God is referring to here? 

D. Royal Anointing

One of the two men representing the two anointings is Zerubbabel:

“The hands of Zerubbabel

Have laid the foundation of this temple;

His hands shall also finish it.

Then you will know

That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

Zechariah 4:9

Zerubbabel is a royal prince, representing the royal anointing. 

E. Priestly Anointing

But who is the other anointed one? The other ‘anointed one’ is the high priest, referred to in Zechariah 3. 

Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,

You and your companions who sit before you,

For they are a wondrous sign;

For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.

For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua:

Upon the stone are seven eyes.

Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’

Says the LORD of hosts,

And I will remove the iniquity of the land in one day.

Zechariah 3:8-9

Of course, the last line of these two verses makes it clear that this is a prophetic vision linked to Jesus’ death.

Jesus has already declared in the first chapter of Revelation that the believers are kings and priests:

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:6

5. Resurrection of the Two Witnesses

A. Death of the Two Witnesses

We have seen the testimony of the two witnesses of the law and the prophets is finished because the law and prophets are also finished. When did they die? They died when Jesus died.

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies for three-and-a-half days and not allow them to be put into graves. 

Revelation 11:8-9

The disciples were expecting Jesus to rule by military means. Still, Jesus had made it clear He would not do that, just as God made it clear through the prophet Zechariah that the kingdom would not come by military might or force but by a work of the Spirit of grace.

‘Not by might nor power, but by My Spirit,’…

‘Who are you, O great mountain?

Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain!

And he shall bring forth the capstone

With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Zechariah 4:6-7

When Jesus died, the disciples’ hopes and dreams of Jesus reigning died with Him. They were perplexed and discouraged, and the witness of the law and the prophets lay dead in the streets of Jerusalem, with the disciples in hiding.

B. Three and a Half Days

Revelation 11 is particular in saying three and a half days. Yet Jesus teaches us that He would be in the belly of the earth for three days and nights:

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 12:40

Why does Revelation use three and a half days? Jesus died on a Thursday at 3 p.m. Jewish days finish at dusk. Therefore, the first day ended on Thursday evening at around 7 p.m. (sunset in late March). The third day finished at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, and the third night finished at around 6:40 a.m. If we count the same using three and a half days, we come to the same approximate time. Jesus was resurrected sometime around 7 a.m. on Sunday, and so were the two witnesses.

Three and a half days later, they were resurrected with Him, in soul and spirit. 

Now, after three-and-a-half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

Revelation 11:11

6. Mega-Earthquake

A. Fear Falls

Just as verse 11 says that fear fell on those who saw them, we see that great fear fell at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection. When Jesus was resurrected, the disciples’ witness was renewed, and the people feared them.

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:43

Can you imagine how fearful it must have been for the religious leaders when the veil tore in two from top to bottom? They should all have been killed instantly! They did not die because the law had passed and, therefore, had no more power to destroy.  Furthermore, there was a massive earthquake, and all the graves were opened.  This great fear continued as the church grew in Acts.

So great fear came upon all the church and all who heard these things.

Acts 5:11

B. Earthquake in Revelation

Revelation then refers to an earthquake. The word for great in Greek is Mega! There was a mega-earthquake in Revelation:

A great (Gk:-Mega) earthquake occurred in the same hour and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13

C. Earthquakes in Gospels

Revelation then refers to an earthquake. The word for great in Greek is Mega! There was a mega-earthquake in Revelation:

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Matthew 27:51

And an even more significant earthquake at His resurrection.

And behold, there was a great (Gk:-Mega) earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Matthew 28:2

7. Opened Graves

Even though the earthquake at His death was not defined as a mega-earthquake, it was mighty. Not only was the thick veil torn in two, but rocks split:

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Matthew 27:51

A. The Earth Split

The earthquake was so severe that the graves were opened and spiritual because people were resurrected from the dead!

A great (Gk:-Mega) earthquake occurred in the same hour, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Matthew 27:52-53

If the first earthquake was strong enough to split rocks and open the graves of Jerusalem, then the mega-earthquake that followed at His resurrection was strong enough to fulfil the earthquake referred to in Revelation 11, where 7,000 were killed, and one-tenth of Jerusalem fell:

A great (Gk:-Mega) earthquake occurred in the same hour, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:13

Indeed, the inhabitants of Jerusalem would have been afraid and given glory to God when the resurrection of Jesus started to spread throughout the city!

B. Bodies

In Revelation 11, we find that Satan is cast down at Jesus’ death in accordance with Revelation 12, killing the testimony of the law and the prophets:

And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Revelation 11:8

The two witnesses cannot be buried because all the graves have been opened. There are resurrected people walking around Jerusalem and open graves with dead bodies. These are those from Jerusalem who either accepted Jesus’ preaching (resurrected) when He went down to Hades or rejected His teaching, still dead in their bodies.

Then, those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies for three-and-a-half days and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

Revelation 11:9

It states that they will be seen from those of different nations, tongues, tribes and peoples. This is because Jesus died at the Passover, where Jerusalem was filled with people from every country in the known world who had come to celebrate this feast.

8. The Heavenly Temple is Opened

A. Temple of Revelation

Revelation makes it clear that the temple was opened in heaven when Jesus was resurrected, and the body of Christ was resurrected at the same time.

Then, the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11:19

The earthquake on Earth coincided with the establishment of the Temple of God in heaven. The earthly temple mentioned in the first verse is no longer relevant as it is part of the law and the prophets. The earthquake that opened the grave of Jesus was the same as the earthquake seen in verse 13.

Any serious theologian who tries to put the two witnesses of Revelation 11 sometime in the future will have to negate that the heavenly temple was opened at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

B. Temple of Zechariah

The temple of Revelation is the same temple that Zechariah refers to here:

So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

Says the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 4:6

And

“The hands of Zerubbabel

Have laid the foundation of this temple;

His hands shall also finish it.

Then you will know

That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

Zechariah 4:9

The Holy Spirit will build the temple of the Lord as Zechariah prophesied. And it will be a temple not based on the law but on grace:

‘Who are you, O great mountain?

Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain!

And he shall bring forth the capstone

With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Zechariah 4:7

9. The Kingdom is Now

In a separate lesson, we saw that the kingdom started when Jesus was enthroned. We know the timing of the two witnesses is related to 30 CE and not now because it is given in this chapter and the next. The timing refers to when the kingdoms of this world became the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:15

Jesus’ kingdom started in 30 CE. Revelation 11 and the two witnesses are historic during the change from the Old to the New Covenants. The two witnesses are not related to the present day, just as Revelation 12 relates to 30 CE, not now.

The Old Covenant, with the law and the prophets, is dead, replaced by a New Covenant in which we are kings and priests. We build the kingdom of God by moving in the royal and priestly anointings.

10. Summary

In summary, we have two witnesses found in Revelation 11. 

• Firstly, under the Old Covenant, we have the two witnesses representing the law and the prophets.
• Jesus taught that the law and prophets ended with John the Baptist.
• The law was nailed to the cross. 
• Therefore, the two witnesses represented by Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration had to be martyred.
• There were earthquakes in both the gospels and Revelation that equate to each other.
• The two witnesses of the law and prophets died with Jesus.
• They could not be buried because the graves were open.
• The two witnesses of the royal priesthood were resurrected with Christ.
• The timing of this chapter is linked to Jesus opening the temple in heaven in 30 CE.
• The timing of this chapter is linked to Jesus’ kingdom being established in 30 CE.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries / Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss.2024