The Two Witnesses

By Tim LaHaye, D.Min., Litt.D.
President, Tim LaHaye Ministries/Founder, Pre-Trib Research Center, El Cajon, California

Two of the most colorful characters in all of Biblical prophecy may be the supernatural prophets who burst on the scene during the first half of the Tribulation. According to the eleventh chapter of Revelation, those two characters dress in sackcloth, prophesy, dispense astonishing miracles and witness to the grace of God in the most evil culture known to mankind. There is much speculation as to the identity of the two witnesses.

Though some believe Elijah and Enoch are the two witnesses, most Bible scholars consider them to be Moses and Elijah. Proponents of the Moses and Elijah argument point out these two Old Testament characters were the most influential Hebrew men of their respective times: Moses introduced God's written Law to Israel, while Elijah was the first of the writing prophets and also started the school for prophets. In fact, whenever the Jews said, "Moses and Elijah," they usually meant the "law and the prophets."

One factor which may suggest Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation is the two men accompanied Jesus at the Transfiguration: Matthew 17. Another element is the miracles the witnesses are to produce have striking similarities to the judgment plagues initiated by Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament; see Exodus 7 – 12 and 1 Kings 17.1.

Together with the 144,000 witnesses, the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will have awesome power and impact in producing the enormous soul harvest of the first 42 months of the Tribulation described in Revelation Seven. They will provide the millions of Jews in the Holy Land a spiritual bridge to the Christian Gospel. God will demonstrate His mighty power and existence through these two prophets over whom the antiChrist will have no power until the God-appointed time. Before that designated time, the two witnesses will be untouchable and anyone who threatens them will be killed: Revelation 11.5.

The two prophets make mortal enemies of the antiChrist and those who reject Christ and worship the beast during the first half or 1,260 days of the Tribulation. For reasons known only to God, the Lord will allow the antiChrist to overcome and kill the two witnesses once they have "finished their testimony," Revelation 11.7.

Then the unsaved people of the world who so despise the witnesses will refuse to bury them, leaving their dead bodies to decay in the streets of Jerusalem. They will even make a Christmas-like celebration out of their murders by sending and receiving gifts "in honor" of the occasion. John prophesies "they of the people, kindreds, tongues and nations shall see the dead bodies three days and a half," Revelation 11.9.

How could the whole world see their dead bodies? Only a short time ago, it would have been humanly inconceivable for the entire world to witness such an event, but today, with rapid advancements in communication technology, such a spectacle is not so difficult to imagine.

But the most incredible aspect of Revelation 11 is the story doesn't end with the deaths of the two witnesses! God predicted while the world is watching, He will do a mighty miracle: He will raise the two prophets from the dead and take them up to Heaven: Revelation 11.11-13. This event will be a loving gesture by God Almighty, not only to resurrect and take to Heaven His two prophets, but also to make His existence and power known around the world.

From Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible - King James Version
Published by AMG Publishers, 2000. Used with permission.