The Book of Revelation 

Chapter 11 (continued)

We must ask a couple of questions in order to understand the identity of these witnesses (if it is even possible to do so).

Many scholars have supposed that these witnesses would be Moses and Elijah and base that assumption on the appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration with Christ, but given the qualifications of the Word of God alone, I must differ with that interpretation. 

Asking the following questions might help us understand:

1.  Do we have a record of anyone in the bible who has "never died"? 

2.  Do we have a precedent set or a written record of anyone in the bible who (a) was a prophet (b) had the authority to shut the heavens and (c) had the authority to smite the earth with plagues?

There are those who attempt to assign both Israel (natural) and the Church as being the two witnesses but I have a tremendous problem with that type of a "spiritual" rendering.  I believe the two witnesses are representatives Israel and the Church (and I will explain that on the next page), but not symbolic of Israel and the Church as a whole.  There are many other reasons why it is ludicrous to attempt to assign a spiritual versus literal interpretation to the identity of these two witnesses. 

1.  THE CHURCH HAS NEVER AND WILL NEVER DIE. 

2.  The Beast can NEVER overcome the church!   In Revelation 11:7 we read of the beast that kills both witnesses!   It is absolutely impossible for him (the beast) to even overcome the church and certainly he cannot "kill" the church! 

No, friend, while I believe these two witnesses are representatives from both Israel and the church, I do not believe these men are only "symbolic" in nature.  I believe they are literal, physical men, one from Israel and one from the "Church" (if you can receive that...I'll explain more on the next page).  For now, however, let's move back to our 2 questions above.

1.  Do we have a record of anyone in the bible who has never died?  Everyone knows the obvious answer and can almost readily name Elijah as one of those men! 

2 Kings 2:11 "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

We know Elijah had the power to shut the heavens that it would not rain!

Moses is being one of these witnesses simply due to the bible's statement in Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:..."   We find a record of Moses' death in the bible: 

Deuteronomy 34:7 "And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated."

Joshua 1:1-2 "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."

If the Lord himself says Moses is dead, that settles it for me!

2.  There is one other, however, that we find very briefly mentioned in Genesis 5:23-24  "And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."  The phrase "he was not" literally means he was no longer found on the earth!

We read in Jude that Enoch did prophesy!  Jude 1:14  "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,..."  Although there is no record of him smiting the earth or shutting the heavens, Enoch is the only other man in the history of mankind who has NEVER died.  He would thus fulfill the scripture as written in Hebrews 9:27 along with Elijah if they were to both die a natural death.

It is my firm belief that the two witnesses, the two olive trees and the two candlesticks are Elijah and Enoch.  There remains, however, the issue of the two candlesticks.  Only one candlestick is mentioned in Zechariah, yet 2 are present in Revelation.  Is there an explanation?  I believe there is.  Continue with me as we examine the candlesticks of Revelation chapter 11.

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