Revelation 11:3-13 - "And I will grant authority to my
two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days,
clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two
lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm
them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone
wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut
up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying;
and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the
earth with every plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their
testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and
overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of
the great city which mystically is called Sodom
and Egypt,
where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and
tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days,
and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell
on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to
one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into
them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were
watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come
up here " Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies
watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the
city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest
were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven."
There are several different speculations on who these two witnesses are. One of the more popular opinions is that these two are Moses and Elijah. Whether they are or not, only God knows, but I think that the reason for this view is because of the power that's given to them.
We're told that fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies. This reminds me of the story in Second Kings chapter 1 when the king sends a few troops of men to take Elijah and he says, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
It was by his words that his enemies were killed.
We're also told that they have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying. This of course makes me think of when Elijah was introduced in the Bible, in First Kings 17, where he told Ahab "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
The next thing we're told is that they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. This makes me think of Moses and the plagues brought about through him in Egypt. One of which being turning water into blood.
Another reason I think that people see Moses and Elijah in this passage is because, even though they lived at different times these two men appeared to talk to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.
Whether this is talking about Moses and Elijah or not, the point is that God has a plan. The similarity in there works simply show us that the same God who worked through Moses and Elijah is working through these two witnesses. I'm sure that if God wanted us to know their names He would have told us. These two witnesses, whoever they may be, will have power and authority because God gave it to them. He has ordained their steps, just like He has ordained ours, and even their gruesome death is part of His plan. It says in verse 13 "seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." That's His ultimate goal. In every aspect of their lives, and ours, this is the outcome. To God be the glory.
There are several different speculations on who these two witnesses are. One of the more popular opinions is that these two are Moses and Elijah. Whether they are or not, only God knows, but I think that the reason for this view is because of the power that's given to them.
We're told that fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies. This reminds me of the story in Second Kings chapter 1 when the king sends a few troops of men to take Elijah and he says, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
It was by his words that his enemies were killed.
We're also told that they have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying. This of course makes me think of when Elijah was introduced in the Bible, in First Kings 17, where he told Ahab "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
The next thing we're told is that they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. This makes me think of Moses and the plagues brought about through him in Egypt. One of which being turning water into blood.
Another reason I think that people see Moses and Elijah in this passage is because, even though they lived at different times these two men appeared to talk to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.
Whether this is talking about Moses and Elijah or not, the point is that God has a plan. The similarity in there works simply show us that the same God who worked through Moses and Elijah is working through these two witnesses. I'm sure that if God wanted us to know their names He would have told us. These two witnesses, whoever they may be, will have power and authority because God gave it to them. He has ordained their steps, just like He has ordained ours, and even their gruesome death is part of His plan. It says in verse 13 "seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." That's His ultimate goal. In every aspect of their lives, and ours, this is the outcome. To God be the glory.
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