Two Witnesses

Two Witnesses

[Rev 11:3-13 LSB]  “And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” [4]  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. [5]  And if anyone wishes to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wishes to harm them, he must be killed in this way. [6]  These have the authority to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; they also have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they wish. [7]  And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them. [8]  And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. [9]  And 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. [10]  And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. [11]  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. [12]  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. [13]  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.

I'm shocked at how many great expositors place the two witnesses at the first half of the 70th week.  Assumedly, because they time it with "the beast that comes up out of the abyss" (Rev 11:7).  The verse below does not state "as soon as, or when, the beast comes up from the abyss he kills the witnesses".  No... John has introduced us to the beast that comes up from the abyss.

[Rev 11:7 LSB]  And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss [see below] will make war with them and overcome them and kill them.

The two witnesses, and their role for 1,260 days, exist during the same events that John is speaking of in this context... all events of the Great Tribulation period - or, second half of the 70th week.  The Temple is being measured, and everything outside has been given over to the Gentiles to trample for 42 months.  This begins, and occurs at the midpoint.

The continued quotation (vv. 1c–3) shows that vv. 1–2 (temple measurement) and vv. 3–13 (two witnesses) present connected episodes in John’s vision. They are linked also by reference to Jerusalem (vv. 2, 8, 13), by the time frame cited (vv. 2, 3, 9), and by strong allusions throughout to passages from Zechariah (e.g., Zech 4: 2–6; 12:3; 14:2). The story of the “two witnesses” recounts their earthly activity (vv. 3–6), their celebrated murder by the beast (vv. 7–10), and their stunning resurrection (vv. 11–13).

[Zec 4:2-6 LSB]  And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it, [3]  also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” [4]  Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” [5]  So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” [6]  Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says Yahweh of hosts.

[Zec 4:11-14 LSB]  Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” [12]  And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” [13]  So he spoke to me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” [14]  Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”

In this context, Zechariah is referring to Joshua and Zerubbabel, through whom God was at work in rebuilding the temple at that time. John adapts these and takes them as patterns of two representatives of God in the future judgment and restoration of Jerusalem in the final days.

John’s description of these end-time spokesmen for God highlights the divine authority that will energize their ministry, which will include highly charged conflict as well as displays of divine power similar to what Elijah and Moses were authorized to use.

[Rev 11:7 LSB]  And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss [see below] will make war with them and overcome them and kill them.

50. John uses an articular expression to bring this figure into the narrative for the first time (contrary to the normal Greek pattern that would use an anarthrous phrase). But this is part of his individual narrative style, to give a brief preview of a major figure or item prior to its full discussion in the story. He seems to use the “well known” article because of the item’s importance to end-time events, even though it may be new to the story here. This adds tension to the narrative by heightening the readers’ awareness of central figures. See Beckwith, Apocalypse, 247– 48, and Resseguie, Narrative Commentary, 51– 52, for other examples.

Fanning, Buist M. . Revelation (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 11220-11225). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition. 

This human figure [Antichrist] is said to "come up from the bottomless pit" because his rise to prominence and exercise of power is under Satan’s control, not because he is himself a demonic spirit.

[Rev 11:8-10 LSB]  And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified [Jerusalem]. [9]  And 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 [a sign of extreme disrespect]. [10]  And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Once their commission is complete, per Yahweh's intent, they will be allowed to be overcome and killed.  Not until His plan is complete at the end of the 1,260 days though.  I would imagine, this will be all over the news... perhaps televised even.  The text tells us that all nations "will look at their dead bodies".

Notice the celebration brought on by their deaths.  This whole scene certainly indicates the extent of which Jerusalem will be the center of attention in these last across the globe.  However, their celebration and gloating will be short-lived as we see in these next verses:

[Rev 11:11-12 LSB]  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. [12]  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.

After shameful exposure and mocking for three-and-a-half days, the witnesses are completely vindicated as God’s servants by being raised from the dead for all to see.  The language of resurrection used here is drawn almost word for word from the LXX of Ezekiel 37: 5 (“ a spirit of life”; πνεῦμα ζωῆς) 68 and 37: 10 (the spirit “entered” them, εἰσῆλθεν; “they stood” on their feet, ἔστησαν), replicating God’s promise of new life from dead bones.

The two witnesses have been vindicated.  Hearing the loud voice, seeing them stand on their feet after three and a half days, and watching them ascend into the clouds can only mean one thing.  Yahweh is present... the wicked have every right to fall into "great fear".

[Rev 11:13-14 LSB]  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. [14]  The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

When the witnesses ascend in ultimate victory, their opponents in Jerusalem are left to face God’s culminating wrath in the form of a “great earthquake".

The third woe is coming soon... we've reached the end of the Great Tribulation period.

Notice above the second and third woes... each are tied to the conclusion of the 70th week.  It is not possible for the witnesses to come on the scene during the first half of the 70th week.

First Half?

The two witnesses are not killed until the end of the 70th week (second and third woes) - this is supported below. They come on the scene at the midpoint and are given authority for 1,260 days. They're preaching, defending themselves with fire from their mouths, controlling the weather, etc. during the second half of the 70th week in the presence of the Antichrist.

To place the two witnesses in the first half of the 70th week, when Israel is at relative peace is ridiculous.  That would mean the following:

The witnesses come into play before Israel even begins their daily sacrifices again. -- As soon as we see the two witnesses, we'll know the 70th week has begun.  Yeshua told us to watch for the abomination, not the witnesses. -- It also means that they will be killed 1,260 days later - the midpoint. -- It also means that the Antichrist kills them at the same time he sets up the abomination at the midpoint. -- This would also mean that the midpoint marks the end of the second woe (see below). -- It means the third woe begins the same day as the abomination.

  

To claim that Daniel’s midpoint (the abomination) and the second/third woe all occur on the same day is also ridiculous.  This belief essentially claims that the midpoint marks the end of the 70th week.  None of this works.

The two witnesses are present during the reign of Antichrist in the second half of the 70th week.

The two witnesses arrival is contextually tied to the Sanctuary, the altar, and those who worship in it (Rev 11:1). These are being measured/counted prior to the abomination being setup - it’s about to be desolated. This measurement is symbolic, and occurs elsewhere in Scripture also - it’s symbolic of coming destruction and God’s presence returning at some point.  This occurs before the witnesses.

There is no worshipping at the altar once the abomination has been setup. The Sanctuary, altar, and those worshipping will cease once the abomination is setup. The point is that this symbolic measuring occurs before the desolation at the midpoint.

The two witnesses are also contextually tied to: Gentiles will trample the holy city for 42 months (Rev 11:2). This "trampling" will happen in the second half of the 70th week - not the first half.

It has been noted that John's use of "42 months" is directing us specifically to the deeds of Satan and his children.  The only other time "42 months" is used by John, concerns the Antichrist (Rev 13:5) and the second half.

Having said that, you’ll notice that John’s use of “1,260 days” refers to God’s side of the fence.  The two witnesses (Rev 11:3) and the Jewish remnant fleeing to the wilderness (Rev 12:6).  Both second half of the week events.  In fact, all references to the 3.5 years (in Revelation), whether “days”, “months”, or “times” - all mentions of any of these 3.5 year time periods refer to the second half.  It wasn’t an accident that John wrote these clues out like he did. 

Next, we see "I will give authority" to my two witnesses for 1,260 days (Rev 11:3).

“And when they finish their witness”, after 1,260 days, they will be killed by the “beast that comes up out of the abyss” (Rev 11:7). John is giving a description of who kills them (parenthetically) not when they are killed.

When they are resurrected - in that hour, there will be a great earthquake, etc. (Rev 11:13) after which we’re told - “the second woe is past” and “the third woe” is coming quickly (Rev 11:14).

If the second woe is past, this means the first woe (5th trumpet - excruciating torture), which lasts at least five months, was triggered on day 1,110 at the latest.  Again, pointing to the second half of Daniel’s 70th week. 

The second woe (sixth trumpet) concludes after the resurrection of the two witnesses.  The second woe does not occur at the midpoint of the 70th week.  Both “woes” are clearly tied to the end of the 70th week.

The third woe is the seventh trumpet, which announces the bowl judgments, which are the final wrath of God, and the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15).  This does not occur until the conclusion of the 70th week.  

“The nations were enraged” (Rev 11:18)… (see Psa 110).  All of the above is at the conclusion of the 70th week.  This culminates in the Battle of Armageddon.

For those that believe their appearance occurs in the first, you're placing the arrival of Antichrist after God's wrath has already begun and is almost finished. 

The abomination on the same day of the third woe? You're placing the arrival of the Antichrist after the 6th seal when we are raptured. 

First half claimers?... you didn't think this through.  It's like you didn't even try.