The Two Witnesses

Found an interesting site about the two witnesses in Revelation 11. I haven't read through it all yet, but wanted to get it posted in this new section as a starter for the topic of who the two witnesses might be.

http://www.revelations-two-witnesses.com/

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The Two Witnesses Of Revelation

Before getting into this intriguing and very misunderstood topic on the two witnesses of Revelation, here is an interesting fact to introduce the illuminating truth on Revelations two witnesses.

The brightest man made light on earth emanates from the top of the Luxor hotel, which is a giant pyramid structure found in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are a total of 45 xenon lights, with each one being as big as a washing machine and using the brightest bulb available, which shoots a powerful blast of radiant light straight up into space. This light that beams from the top of this artificial mountain is so bright that astronauts can see it flying overhead. Airline pilots are warned to avoid the area, as the beam of light can blind them temporarily if they were to fly through it. Sadly, this brightest man made light on earth is totally wasted as it is not illuminating anything as it blazes into the heavens above.

Did you know there is a story in the Word of God that tells of a mountaintop blazing with heavenly light? Even though it is very seldom addressed, this event called the Mount of Transfiguration, or sometimes the Glorious Mount, is one of the most pivotal moments found in the New Testament. This monumental experience found in the Gospels of Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10 and Luke 9:28-36 is full of profound meaning for Christians, and it helps illuminate many other amazing Bible truths including the very misunderstood truth on Revelations two witnesses.

Ascending To The Light

After a long day of teaching and ministering to the multitudes, Jesus and His disciples separate from the clamouring crowds. Jesus then says something quite unusual: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Mark 9:1. It probably seemed to His disciples that Jesus was predicting something incredibly big. But what? Then six days after Jesus makes this cryptic announcement, they reach the foot of a “high mountain.” There Jesus handpicks His own trusted “trinity” of apostles; Peter, James and John and with them in tow, He leaves the others in the valley and begins the long assent up the steep hill. As the sun is setting, they finally stumble wearily onto the summit. Jesus then immediately kneels and begins to pray, and at first the disciples attempt to join him; yet exhausted, they soon drift into a deep sleep.

Then something really extraordinary happens! Combining the testimony of the synoptic Gospels Luke and Mark, we are told, “As He prayed, He was transformed before them. The appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. Exceeding white, like snow such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” (See the full account in Luke 9:28-36 and Mark 9:2-10.)

Who are Revelations Two Witnesses?

You can begin to see why many may think that Revelations two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. But are they right or is there symbolism involved here? Suddenly awakened by this cosmic event, the disciples see Jesus Christ shining with a heavenly light radiating from within. He is not just the humble son of Joseph and Mary, but with unveiled glory, Jesus Christ now appears as the majestic Creator of the universe.

In His prayer, “He pleads that they may witness a manifestation of His divinity that will comfort them in the hour of His supreme agony, with the knowledge that He is … the Son of God and that His shameful death is a part of the plan of redemption.”

Our loving heavenly Father grants them this brief glimpse of His Son’s glory, because He knows the disciples were soon to see their Master be completely humiliated. Their teacher was about to be stripped, beaten and bleeding; appearing very helpless and very mortal. So in the same way that a little tree stores sap during the warm, bright spring to sustain it during the cold, dark winter, Jesus knows the faith of His disciples needed a bright boost on the mountain to see them through the approaching dark day on Calvary.

The disciples also needed the reassurance of this event because they continued to confuse the purpose of the Messiah’s mission with the popular Jewish fables of earthly glory. Jesus knew it was going to be devastating for them to see their hopes for earthly glory punctured by those ghastly Roman nails, so their heavenly Father granted them this vision to remind them that Jesus Christ’s kingdom was heavenly and not earthly.

Are Moses And Elijah Revelations Two Witnesses?

Along with the glorious light of heaven, the brightest ever seen on earth, two of the greatest celebrities of Scripture appeared at the side of Christ. “And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.” Mark 9:4.

Someone might ask, why these two individuals? God had also taken Enoch to heaven, so why was he not along for this special visit? Put very simply, the two prominent individuals who did come were living symbols of the Word of God. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to [fulfil].” Moses was the great lawgiver, and Elijah was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.

One can see why some conclude that Moses and Elijah are Revelations two witnesses. However, throughout the Bible we find the Word of God is often portrayed with a dual image. The Ten Commandments were written on two tables of stone. The Word of God is also portrayed as a sword with two edges. Two lamps and two olive trees portray the two sacred divisions of the Bible. But the ultimate testimony of God’s Word is Jesus: “In the volume of the book it is written of me.” Hebrews 10:7. The volume of the Book, the Bible, all points to Jesus who is the combination of two natures, the human and the divine. Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

In Luke 16:31, Jesus concludes His parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Here Jesus places a very high priority on God’s Word, and we should not miss it. No matter what miracles you witness, even someone rising from the dead, you should still place the plain Word of God on higher ground.

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