Program 276
Revelation 11 & the Two Witnesses

Diligent comparison of Revelation with Old Testament passages establishes Moses and Elijah as the two witnesses of Revelation 11.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of WLC Radio Ministry, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: The two witnesses of Revelation. Who are they? Well, opinions vary, as they often do when it comes to interpreting symbols. Some people believe that the two witnesses are a symbol for the righteous. They say they’re believers of the last generation who have a special message for the world. Some believe they’re two literal individuals whose identities have not yet been revealed. Others say the two witnesses are symbols for the Old and New Testaments. Still others believe that they’re Enoch and Elijah, since it is a common misconception that Enoch and Elijah were both taken to Heaven.

But who are the two witnesses really? The nice thing about Scripture is that it always defines its own symbols. It can take time and effort to track down those definitions, comparing Scripture with Scripture, but once you do, you can know that you’ve got the correct definition, however obscure the symbol may be.

But if you haven’t joined us before, hello, my name is Miles Robey and you’re listening to World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, practical piety, Biblical beliefs, and living in constant readiness for the Savior’s unexpected return, whenever that might be.

Today, Dave Wright is going to be leading us in a fascinating study to determine the identity of the two witnesses of Revelation. Speaking for myself, in the past I’ve believed they were symbols of the Old and New Testaments. I also spent awhile believing that they referred to some future believers whose identity would be revealed in time. Dave tells me I’m wrong on both counts, so we’re going to get into that today and see how Scripture identifies the two witnesses.

Later, Jane Lamb has an encouraging promise for anyone who’s struggling to make ends meet which, in today’s world, is probably most of us.

Dave? You’ve really piqued my curiosity about the two witnesses. I was sure I knew what they were, so I’m really interested to hear what you’ve found in Scripture.

Dave Wright: Thank you, Miles. It is a fascinating study. Especially since, as we now know, Revelation was written primarily to warn of the destruction of Jerusalem. Aside from a handful of chapters at the very end that speak of Yahushua’s return and the setting up of Yahuwah’s kingdom, everything else in the book is a prediction of events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, so the two witnesses of Revelation 11 have to fit within that framework, as well.

Miles: Okay. Yeah, that makes sense.

Dave: To start with, let me ask you: have you ever misinterpreted anything?

Miles: Oh, yeah. Who hasn’t?

Dave: I think we all have. Symbols can be sort of tricky because, by their very nature, you can interpret them multiple ways. And if you interpret them incorrectly, your understanding can get way off.

Now, this isn’t a perfect illustration of this, but I came across a funny story online that sort of illustrates what I mean. This exchange happened in English. It’s important to note that.

Anyway, this young adult got a text from his mum saying something like, “Your great-aunt Carol died.” And then, underneath that, it said “L-O-L.”

Miles laughs: It literally said “L-O-L” underneath?

Dave: It did. So, the kid writes back and says, “That’s terrible. Why is that so funny?”

Miles: And what did Mum say?

Dave: Well, she was indignant. She said, “It’s not funny! Why would you say that it’s funny?”

He had to explain, “Mum, you’re the one that said it was funny! L-O-L stands for laughing out loud.”

Miles laughs: What was her reaction to that?

Dave: Well, she was horrified! She said, “Oh, no! I thought it stood for lots of love”—which, in English, begins with the same letters as laughing out loud. “I’m going to have to write everyone back and explain!”

Miles laughs: Well, I can see how, if you didn’t know, you could assume it symbolized something else. But, I see your point: you misinterpret what it stands for and you can find yourself in a spot of trouble.

You told me that the two witnesses don’t represent the Old and New Testaments, nor do they represent a couple of future believers commissioned to do an end-time work for Yahuwah. So, who are they?

Dave: I believe the evidence reveals them to be Moses and Elijah.

Miles: Really?? Now, see, I wasn’t expecting that. Not Enoch and Elijah?

Dave: No.

I remember one New Testament scholar saying all books of the Bible end in the book of Revelation. You can find themes all through Scripture that tie into symbols in Revelation, and we’re going to see that in today’s study. Once we can identify the symbols correctly, then the true meaning of the passage will open up.

Let’s start by reading the passage in Revelation that talks about the two witnesses, so everyone knows what we’re talking about. Would you please turn to Revelation 11 and read verses … uh, well, let’s get the whole thing in context. Read verses 1 to 12.

Miles:

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

Dave: Okay, I’m going to just interrupt really quickly here. One of the principles of Biblical interpretation is that when we can interpret something literally—when it makes sense to do that—then that’s what we’re supposed to do. A lot of sincere people can get way off by symbolizing something that’s to be understood literally, and by literalizing symbols.

Here, John is told to measure the temple of God. Well, after the fall of Jerusalem, that wasn’t even possible because the temple had been destroyed. This is one of the details that lets us know the book of Revelation was foretelling the fall of Jerusalem.

Okay. Going on.

Miles:

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

Dave: There are a lot of details drawn from, and references to, Old Testament events. When we can find what that’s referring to, we’ll see that they identify Moses and Elijah as the Two Witnesses.

Let’s start with Elijah. Would you please turn to 1 King chapter 18? This is the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal to determine who was the true God. What does verse 21 say?

Miles:

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If Yahuwah is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

Dave: This demonstration was to reveal who was to be worshipped. Now, typically, the priests would light the sacrifices on fire, but Elijah had a plan to demonstrate the true God.

Keep reading. Verses 22 to 24.

Miles:

Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of Yahuwah’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahuwah. The God who answers by fire—he is God.”

Dave: So that’s what they did. Starting in the morning, the prophets of Baal called on their god, asking him to set their sacrifice alight. It must have gotten rather old after a while because, verse 27, apparently Elijah got bored and began to mock them. “Call louder! Maybe he’s sleeping and must be awakened.”

Let’s pick up the story at verses 29 and 30.

Miles:

Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of Yahuwah, which had been torn down.

Dave: This display went on for hours.

Miles: I find it interesting that it was at the time of the evening sacrifice that Elijah basically said, “Okay. Time’s up. My turn now.”

Yahushua died at the time of the evening sacrifice.

Dave: That’s correct. So, what happened next? Elijah prepared his sacrifice and then had them dump 12 large jars of water over the altar. He did this to make it harder to burn so there’d be no question that there’d been no trickery or slight-of-hand involved.

Let’s read what happened next. Verses 35 to 39.

Miles:

The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Yahuwah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Yahuwah, answer me, so these people will know that you, Yahuwah, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

Then the fire of Yahuwah fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “Yahuwah—He is God! Yahuwah—He is God!”

Dave: This was a showdown between deities, and it established Yahuwah, without a shadow of a doubt, as the only true God. Our Creator is the only God we are to worship.

So, let’s go back to Revelation 11 now. Read verses 5 and 6 again. These give us clues to identify the two witnesses.

Miles: Ummm …

If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Dave: It was at the word of Elijah that fire fell from Heaven and consumed his sacrifice.

We didn’t read this part of it, but it was after a three-year long drought. Elijah himself had announced the drought was to turn the people of Israel back to the worship of the true God. What did he say in 1 Kings 17:1?

Miles: Uhh … “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As Yahuwah, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.’”

Dave: This is an interesting detail. It was only at Elijah’s word that the drought finally ended. An identifying characteristic of the witnesses in Revelation 11 is … what? Verse 6.

Miles: “They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying.”

Dave: That’s right. You comb through all the Bible stories, and the only one who ever did this? Elijah.

But there are two witnesses. Read the rest of verse 6. What else sets these two witnesses apart?

Miles: Uhh … “and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.”

Dave: Who did that? Christ turned water into wine, but who turned water into blood? Who “struck” the earth with plagues so that the earth produced frogs, and lice, and flies, and locusts and … hail. Boils. Dead livestock. Dead firstborn children.

Miles: Moses.

Dave: That’s correct. Obviously, for both Elijah and Moses, it was the power of Yahuwah working through them, but they stood in the place of Yah before the people. They were witnesses for Yahuwah then, and they’re witnesses again in Revelation 11.

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: The idea that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses makes sense. They stood before despotic rulers and turned the hearts of the people back to Yahuwah.

Dave: Yes. They’d already acted as witnesses for Him.

Turn to Matthew 17 and read verses 1 through 8.

Miles: Okay.

After six days Yahushua took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Yahushua.

Peter said to Yahushua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Dave laughs: You have to love Peter. There is no occasion in which he can’t find something to blurt out.

Miles: Yeah, if someone as impetuous as Peter can be so close to Christ, it gives me hope!

Uhhh … going on:

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Yahushua came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Yahushua.

Dave: There are several points of interest here. Verse 5 we read that a bright cloud covers them, and a voice comes out of the cloud. Keep your finger there in Matthew 17 and flip back to Revelation 11. What does verse 12 say?

Miles: “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”

Dave: There’s a thematic correspondence there. This teaches us that when we stand for Yahuwah as His witnesses, He will always be there supporting you.

And that’s important because, just as Moses and Elijah were witnesses for Yahuwah, the three disciples privileged to witness the transfiguration were, in turn, to bear witness to what they had seen. What does verse 9 say?

Miles: “As they were coming down the mountain, Yahushua instructed them, ‘Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’”

Dave: When we are privileged with increased light from heaven, we’re expected to stand in as Yahuwah’s witnesses and share it with others.

Miles: Why Moses and Elijah? I can see why people think it might be Enoch and Elijah based on the assumption that they were both taken to heaven. And, I just want to insert here really quickly, that while Yahuwah did transport them, He didn’t actually take them to Heaven. We know that from dates given in Scripture. Elijah sent a message to some king—forget who it was—after he’d been “taken up” by a fiery chariot. So, the assumption they were translated without seeing death is incorrect.

But with that assumption, I can see why people would think Enoch and Elijah were the two witnesses. But why Moses and Elijah? And what’s the point being made by having them show up at all?

Dave: Those are great questions.

Well, in Jewish minds, Moses was synonymous with “the Law.” Remember the woman caught in adultery? When they dragged her before Christ, what did they say?

Miles: Uhhh …

Dave: “Moses in the law commanded that such should be stoned …!” In fact, “the Law and the Prophets” was an idiom they used to refer to the Bible in its entirety. Of course, as the New Testament hadn’t been written yet, it was referring only to the Old Testament.

We find this phrase used several times in the New Testament. In speaking of the coming of a new era heralded by the preaching of John the Baptist, Yahushua said, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John.” That’s in Luke 16:16.

We find the phrase in the sermon on the mount, too. Would you read Matthew 7 verse 12?

Miles: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Dave: We tend to remember Elijah for the miracles he performed. But he also was a prophet. He prophesied there would be no rain until the people of Israel returned to the worship of the God of Heaven. So, Moses and Elijah typify the law and all the prophets.

Miles: I can see that. It was actually the law of Yahuwah but, more often than not, they’d refer to it as “the law of Moses.”

Dave: Yes, because he was Yahuwah’s spokesman. Together, Moses and Elijah represented and encapsulated all of the messages from Yahuwah given to men.

Miles: That makes sense. But why have them come to Yahushua?

Dave: Because … they were the symbolic embodiment of the Old Testament. They represented the summation of the law and the prophets.

Miles: No. I get that. What I mean is, why have them come at all? What was the point of having the law and the prophets represented in this way?

Dave: Because they were the symbolic embodiment of all of Yahuwah’s testimony, their presence authorizes or gives official approval of Yahushua and his mission. Remember: humans can’t behold the divine face of Yahuwah and still live, so He has to work through others. He sent Moses and Elijah as visible proof of His approval.

After they disappear, Yahushua remains. This is important because Yahushua is both the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and he himself is also the summary of the Law and the Prophets.

Miles: That’s beautiful.

Dave: It really is. This shows us that Christ himself is the embodiment of the two witnesses.

Moses and Elijah—the Law and the Prophets—appeared on the mount of transfiguration. But when they faded away, who remained?

Miles: Yahushua.

Dave: That’s right. Because the Savior is the ultimate revelation of Yahuwah. His words, his acts, his looks of love, his perfect obedience to the divine law, his fulfillment of prophecy, his death … all of that summarizes Yahuwah’s revealed will throughout all history and reveals the Father Himself.

But there’s more. Read verse 8 again.

Miles: Of Matthew–?

Dave: Revelation 11.

Miles: Oh. Uh … “Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.”

Dave: John explicitly states that he’s dealing with figures—symbols—here. The death, resurrection and ascension of these witnesses typifies the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Savior.

Miles: It’s interesting that Sodom and Egypt are mentioned.

Dave: Sodom is known for its licentiousness. Egypt, for its worship of false gods.

Yahushua redeemed mankind. How? By overcoming on every point where we have fallen.

Turn to Hebrews 4 and read verses 14 and 15.

Miles:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Yahushua the son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Dave: Because he overcame on every point, Yahuwah could, in justice, resurrect him from the dead. Romans 6:23 tells us “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of Yahuwah is eternal life through Yahushua Christ our lord.” Yahushua died for our sins. Our guilt was accredited to him, so that his righteousness could be accredited to us.

Paul explains it really well in Romans chapter 3. Would you please read verses 21 to 26?

Miles:

But now the righteousness of [Yahuwah] apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of [Yahuwah], through faith in Yahushua Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of [Yah], being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Yahushua, whom [Yahuwah] set forth as a propitiation by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance [Yahuwah] had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Yahushua.

Dave: This entire transaction of our sin exchanged for his righteousness is encapsulated by this statement in verse 8 of Revelation 11 where it says the bodies of the witnesses lie in the great city that, figuratively is called Sodom and Egypt. And then, to make sure there is no question whatsoever, John adds: “Where also their Lord was crucified.” And we know where that was.

Miles: Jerusalem.

Dave: Once we understand that Yahushua is himself the fulfillment and summary of all of Yahuwah’s dealings with mankind throughout all history, we can begin to see the overlap. Just as the sacrificial lambs were types of the Savior, the two witnesses are also types of the Savior. Yahushua is the great antitype to which all the types were pointing.

So, the story of Yahuwah’s two witnesses is the story of Christ, and the story Christ is the story of the two witnesses because the two witness are both Christ and the Law and the Prophets, just as the Law and the Prophets all point to and foretell and describe Christ.

Miles: Wow. That’s deep. That’s beautiful.

Could you explain what verse 4 means? Let me read it again. In speaking of the two witnesses, it says: “They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, and they stand before the Lord of the earth.” I don’t get the reference here.

Dave: To understand that reference, we need to turn back to the Old Testament. Remember – all books end in the book of Revelation? Well, this is a reference to Zechariah chapter 4. Why don’t you turn there for us and read verses 1 through 6?

Miles:

Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

So he said to me, “This is the word of Yahuwah to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahuwah Almighty.

Dave: And verses 11 to 14?

Miles:

Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Dave: This is where we get the imagery in Revelation 11. The olive trees are heavy with olives. They provide the oil that keeps the lamps in the seven-branch candle stick in the temple constantly burning. This is all very symbolic. John is applying this symbolism to his “two witnesses,” saying that the Law and the Prophets are what provides constant illumination.

Miles: I’ve heard it said that the oil is the Holy Spirit.

Dave: Sure! But what the Spirit uses is Yahuwah’s word recorded in the Law and the Prophets to convict the mind and heart. This teaches us the importance of staying in Yahuwah’s word and meditating on it.

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The Gospel of John opens with the beautifully poetic words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” These words, undeniably written under inspiration, have long been taken as proof that Yahushua is divine.

Unfortunately, this interpretation ignores a multitude of contextual evidence that Yahushua, in fact, is not divine. So if, as Scripture teaches, the divine nature is unitarian—there is just one God and that’s Yahuwah alone—then what is this passage referring to? Who, or what, is the Word?

To find the answer that is consistent with Scripture, listen “The Word Became Flesh,” Program 265 on WorldsLastChance.com. Just go to our website and click on the WLC Radio icon. Select your language and scroll down to find Program 265, “The Word Became Flesh.” Because truth will never contradict itself.

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: One of the interesting things about the two witnesses is that they have a very special and important function: they stand in judgment.

Miles: Interesting. Where do you get that from?

Dave: It has to do with the judicial laws of ancient Israel. Turn to Deuteronomy 17 and read verse 6. This has to do with testimony given in court.

Miles: Okay … it says: “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”

Dave: If someone had committed a crime so heinous that they were to be sentenced to death, it required a minimum of two witnesses to testify against them. This is confirmed in Deuteronomy 19:15. Could you read that next?

Miles: ^“One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

That’s kind of a nice safeguard to have in place. That way it doesn’t devolve into a he said/she said situation.

Dave: Even the term “witnesses” alludes to the judicial work the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are called to do. Verse 4 states that the two witnesses “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” They are fulfilling the requirements of the law of Moses in standing as witnesses before passing judgment upon Jerusalem.

Miles: I really like that. In fact, I kind of find it comforting. When you read the historical accounts of the destruction of Jerusalem, it was so horrific. I find it comforting that Yahuwah would not send destruction on them without thoroughly warning them first.

Dave: Jeremiah 9:23 and 24:

Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am Yahuwah, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares Yahuwah.

We serve a God who “delights” in justice. So, yes. He would make sure that destruction on that level would not occur without first making sure everyone knew what was coming.

The two witnesses, then—Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, the Scriptures—they confirm the sentence of death against the Israelite nation in general, and the city of Jerusalem in particular.

This principle of always having two witnesses is more foundational than we’ve understood. Christ himself likely had this principle in mind when he was giving instructions on how to deal with interpersonal conflict amongst believers.

Let’s read it: Matthew 18 verses 15 to 19.

Miles:

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Dave: That’s quite the promise! Whatever we bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever we release on earth will be released in Heaven. It’s also a fascinating nod to the Israelite judicial system because in order to pass a death sentence on someone, you had to have two or three eye-witnesses. Here, when dealing with cases of disfellowship, Christ says you have to have at least two witnesses.

Miles: Ohhh. Okay. That makes more sense. I always thought this passage was talking about establishing a quorum for conducting church business.

Dave: No, because in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul uses the same language when he talks about disfellowshipping a man who had brought shame to the church by deeds even the pagans wouldn’t do.

Miles: Really?

Dave: You can read it if you want. It’s the first five verses of 1 Corinthians 5.

Miles:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Yahushua on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Yahushua is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Dave: Sometimes believers will refer to different passages of Scripture that teach the same thing as “witnesses.” Again, it all harkens back to this same principle of having two or more witnesses to establish the truth.

We see this in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. And, interestingly, it’s for the same reason. Read 2 Corinthians 13 verses 1 to 3[a].

Miles:

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.

Dave: Turn now to Mark chapter 6. Here, Christ sends out the disciples to perform two tasks. First, they’re to witness to and for the kingdom of Yah. Secondly, they’re to pronounce curses upon all who reject their testimony as a witness against them.

Read verses 7 to 13.

Miles:

Calling the Twelve to him, [Yahushua] began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Dave: In Matthew’s account of Christ sending out the twelve, he adds an interesting detail that highlights their role as witnesses. Read Matthew 10 verse 15. This is right after he says to shake the dust from their feet of any city that rejects their testimony.

Go ahead.

Miles: “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

Dave: Two witnesses. We find a parallel idea in Matthew 12. Speaking of the judgment, Christ says in verse 15: “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.” Unquote.

So, the role of witnesses is inseparably bound to judgment.

Miles: That’s fascinating. See, I’ve always assumed that Christ sent out the disciples by twos for company and encouragement. But, while I’m sure that was part of it, the main reason was because two witnesses were necessary if you were going to condemn a place for rejecting the gospel.

Dave: Exactly.

When we step back and take a broad look at human history, the story of the two witnesses reflects Yahuwah’s work with humanity.

In Revelation 10, John is commanded to eat a scroll. He does, and he finds that while it tastes “sweet” in his mouth, it becomes “bitter” in his belly. There are a number of lessons we can draw from this. First, the scroll tasting sweet occurs when our faith is strengthened as we see Yahuwah’s word fulfilled when judgments come true. That same sweetness becomes bitter due to the suffering caused by the judgments on the world.

But there’s more. Turn to the first chapter of Romans. Romans 1, verses 1 to 3. Could you read that for us, please?

Miles: “Paul, a bondservant of Yahushua Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of [Yahuwah] which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His son Yahushua Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

Dave: The gospel was … what?

Miles: Ummm … promised.

Dave: Through prophets in the Holy Scriptures. That’s the two witnesses: the Law and the Prophets right there. So, the scroll of Revelation 10, you could argue, is the story of Yahuwah’s two witnesses throughout all of human history. They have stood for the truth, declaring it, and witnessing error and sin. They have testified time and again of Yahuwah’s character as outlined in His law. And yet, even with this witness, what has been the reaction of the world to Yahuwah’s witnesses?

Psalm 2 verses 1 to 3.

Miles: Ummm …

Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against Yahuwah and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”

Dave: The result of rejecting Yahuwah’s witnesses is given in Christ’s words in Matthew 23. It’s the last words ever recorded of him speaking in the temple before his death. Read verses 33 to 39.

Miles:

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’

Dave: The destruction that befell Jerusalem is but a faint foreshadowing of the destruction that will fall on the entire world at the final judgment when all who continue to reject Yahuwah’s witnesses have judgment pronounced upon them.

Fortunately, there is still time to accept Yahuwah’s mercy.

* * *Daily Promise:

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your daily promise from Yah’s Word.

Betty Farkas-Hart and her husband were struggling. Her husband was out of a job so Betty was supporting the family while her husband stayed home with their two young children. People kept trying to encourage the young couple, telling them, “Think positive! You’ll make it!” And they did. Betty and her husband tried to stay focused on the positive. They had Betty’s income, and no one was sick. For that, at least, they were grateful.

But one morning, everything seemed to come crashing down. Her husband told Betty that they needed some more groceries and asked if she had any money. She didn’t. “I’ll put it on the credit card,” he said, but there was no more credit limit available. It was Tuesday and pay day wasn’t until Friday.

As she left for work, Betty wracked her brain trying to figure out where she could borrow some money, even just $20, until pay day. She did not want to make things awkward with her colleagues at work, but she had to feed her family. She arrived at work feeling panicky. What would she do if no one was able to lend her some money? She headed into the employee locker room. There, she saw an envelope in each employee’s mailbox. That was unusual.

Betty opened the letter. Inside was a 50-dollar Visa gift card! The letter was from the president of the company. He wrote that, as a thank you to everyone for their hard work and meeting company goals, he was giving everyone a bonus.

Betty felt light-headed. A fifty-dollar bonus, right when they needed it most! Just then, a co-worker, Alan, walked in. Alan said he’d been looking for her and handed her his gift card. “I know you’ve been having a tough time of it lately. I want you to have my bonus,” he said.

Betty was astonished! Fifty dollars is fifty dollars and Alan was just giving his to her?? Just then, two more co-workers walked in. They also gave their bonus gift cards to Betty and refused to take no for an answer. Betty couldn’t stop the tears. The relief, the kindness and generosity of her co-workers, was simply over-whelming.

“Thank you! Thank you so very, very much,” she kept repeating over and over through her tears. From zero dollars to $200 in minutes, Yahuwah had provided for her family.

Psalm 22 says that Yahuwah has, quote:

Not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden His face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek Yahuwah will praise Him. [Psalm 22:24 and 26]

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 4: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: So, what’s the takeaway from today’s study? Well, Yahuwah’s law, as well as His prophets, are His two witnesses.

When Christ was asked, “What’s the greatest commandment?” Do you remember what his response was?

Miles: Yeah. Didn’t he quote Deuteronomy or something? He said, “‘You shall love Yahuwah your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Dave: And then Yahushua explained why these were the greatest commandments. In the next verse he said, quote: “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” So “law” and “prophets” are linked. The law is a transcript of Yahuwah’s character, revealing what sort of thoughts and behavior we should have, too. The prophets were Yah’s spokesmen for declaring the law and revealing Yahuwah’s will to mankind. These witnesses also let us know that in the end, Yahuwah will be triumphant.

Miles: So, what’s the significance of this for believers? What does this mean?

Dave: It’s very significant. These symbols teach us a lot. As lampstands, standing before the God of the whole earth, they teach us by example that we are also to be a light in the world. We’re to burn the pure oil of the law and radiate out the light of Yahuwah’s love.

Now, notice: I said we’re to “radiate” the light of Yahuwah’s love, because that’s what Yahushua did. It’s love that draws people. Being a light isn’t going around denouncing people whose beliefs or sexuality don’t agree with ours. We’re not to condemn and judge and denounce. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict of sin. Not ours. We’re to be LIGHT. We’re to reflect Yahuwah’s love which is the greatest power in the universe.

Condemnation drives souls away. Only love draws.

Miles: What’s the significance of the oil being a symbol of the Law and the Prophets? What does that mean? And then we’re supposed to burn it.

Dave: It means that believers are to be a Biblical people. More than doctrinally “sola scriptura,” our attitudes and beliefs, the choices we make, the actions we do, are to be based on the truths and principles taught in Scripture.

Another point that should strengthen our resolve and give us courage is the realization that our witness—our authority as witnesses for Yahuwah—rests on His word and not ourselves.

Miles: Good point. That’s important to remember because the two witnesses are killed.

Dave: That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be martyred. But it does mean that, just as Yahushua made both friends and enemies wherever he went, we will, too. It doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong. In fact, it means we’re likely doing something right.

Miles: “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they’ll persecute you, too.” [John 15:20]

Dave: That’s exactly right. So, when it happens, instead of being discouraged, we will take it as confirmation. This is how persecution actually strengthens the believer’s faith.

And even if we are called to “seal our testimony with our blood,” as John Bunyan described martyrdom in Pilgrim’s Progress, even if that happens, we know that we’ll be raised back to life when Yahushua returns. So again, we’ve nothing to fear.

Miles: Yahuwah wins in the end.

Dave: Always.

To close, I’d like to personalize this vision. Yes, the two witnesses are the Law and the Prophets, symbolized by Moses and Elijah. They’re also Yahushua himself. Ultimately, the witnesses are you … me … everyone who takes the name of Christ to stand before the world and stand for truth.

Remember: in a court of law, witness statements are both for and against. As believers, we witness for Yahuwah. We witness to His goodness, His justice, and His love. We also stand as witnesses against Satan and the rebellious. And when we do this, we know that we have the protection and support of our heavenly Father.

Would you please turn to Isaiah 43 and read verses 1 to 11? This is the promise I want to end on today.

Miles:

But now, this is what Yahuwah says—
He who created you, Jacob,
He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am Yahuwah your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; …
Since you are precious and honored in My sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by My name,
whom I created for My glory,
whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.
All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
“You are my witnesses,” declares Yahuwah,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.
Before Me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after Me.
I, even I, am Yahuwah,
and apart from Me there is no savior.

Dave: With Yahuwah on our side, we have nothing to fear. We can stand boldly before the world as His witnesses, knowing that in the end, Yahuwah is triumphant.

Miles: Amen. Thank you, Dave.

If you enjoyed today’s program and would like to share it with a friend or family member, you can find it on our website. Just go to WorldsLastChance.com and click on the WLC Radio icon. Look for Program number 276, called “Revelation 11 & the Two Witnesses.” That’s “Revelation 11 & the Two Witnesses,” Program 276, on WorldsLastChance.com.

Thank you for joining us today. We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.