Revelation Part 45

Revelation 11:3 introduces two witnesses who will be given power and will

"prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Their presence follows a consistent biblical pattern. Throughout Israel's history, God sent prophets to warn His people and call them to repentance. During the long periods of rebellion in Israel and Judah, prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, and Amos were sent to deliver God's warnings. They were often rejected because people did not want to hear the truth. Amos 3:7 establishes the principle that God reveals His plans to His servants the prophets.

The two witnesses will serve this same purpose during the final period of tribulation. They will fearlessly proclaim God's message during the last half of the tribulation, a period of intense judgment and persecution. Their preaching will explain why these judgments are occurring and will give people an opportunity to repent. Amos 4 demonstrates that even severe judgments do not automatically cause people to turn to God. Amos 5:10 says that people hate the one who rebukes at the gate and who speaks truth. The same attitude will exist during the final period of human rebellion.

There is also an important biblical principle behind the fact that there are two witnesses. Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15 establish that two witnesses were required for valid testimony in important matters. This principle is seen throughout Scripture. Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs in Mark 6:7, and the early church likewise sent workers together when possible. Peter and John were eyewitnesses to Christ's resurrection and the empty tomb. The presence of two witnesses therefore establishes credible testimony. The number two may also connect with the two representatives in Zechariah 4, Joshua and Zerubbabel, and provides a contrast with the two evil leaders introduced in Revelation 13.

The witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth was a rough, coarse material associated with mourning, grief, distress, humility, and repentance. Their clothing will therefore be part of their message. They will be witnessing the oppression of Jerusalem, the rise of the Antichrist, and the terrible condition of the world under Satan's influence. Their appearance will communicate sorrow over the rebellion and suffering taking place around them.

Revelation 11:4 describes the witnesses as

"the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth."

This imagery comes directly from Zechariah 4:11–14, where the two olive trees are associated with Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor. God's people are described as a spiritual collection of kings and priests, set apart and anointed for His purpose. The lampstand represents light, and the witnesses will be empowered by God's Spirit to bring light into an increasingly dark world.

Who are the two witnesses? There has been considerable speculation about the identity of the two witnesses. One common interpretation is that they could be Moses and Elijah because the miracles described in Revelation 11 resemble miracles associated with their ministries. Elijah called down fire from heaven and prayed for a drought that lasted three and a half years. Moses turned water into blood and brought plagues upon Egypt. Jewish tradition also anticipated the return of Elijah, based on Malachi 4:5. John the Baptist was asked whether he was Elijah in John 1:21–23, and while he was not literally Elijah, he fulfilled a similar prophetic role. This demonstrates that the prophecy could involve someone coming in the role and spirit of Elijah rather than necessarily being the same individual.

Moses and Elijah also appeared with Christ at the transfiguration, which provided a preview of Christ's future glory. Their unusual departures from this life have also led to speculation. Elijah was taken from the earth in a fiery chariot in 2 Kings 2:11–12, while Moses died and was buried by God in an undisclosed location according to Deuteronomy 34:5–6, and Jude 9 references Michael's dispute with Satan concerning Moses' body.

However, the text does not definitively identify the witnesses as Moses and Elijah. The Greek word “martus,” translated as "witness," refers to someone who gives testimony. Witnesses and martyrs are closely related concepts because faithful testimony can ultimately cost a person his life. The witnesses are therefore not necessarily identified by their names, but by their mission. They will speak God's truth, preach His message, and fulfill their assigned purpose. God will ensure that they cannot be killed until their work is complete.

Revelation 11:5–6 describes the extraordinary authority given to these witnesses. They will have the power to stop rain, turn water to blood, and strike the earth with plagues. Their authority resembles the ministries of Elijah and Moses. Their enemies will be unable to stop them until God permits it.

The statement that fire proceeds from their mouths can be understood either literally or symbolically. Jeremiah 5:14 describes God's words as fire that consumes the people who reject them, while Hebrews 4:12 describes God's Word as living and powerful. Revelation 19:15 similarly describes judgment proceeding from Christ's mouth. Scripture also contains examples of literal fire being used in divine judgment, such as the judgment upon Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, the fire that consumed rebellious Israelites in Numbers 11, the judgment associated with Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16, and Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. Regardless of whether the fire is understood literally or figuratively, the central point is that the witnesses will possess extraordinary authority from God.

They will exercise this authority for 1,260 days. A prophetic month can be understood as thirty days, making forty-two months equal to 1,260 days. This corresponds to the final three and a half years of the prophetic period. Their ministry therefore takes place during a very specific and limited period immediately preceding the culmination of these events.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.