Two Witnesses: A Pattern

The 11^th chapter of the Book of Revelation describes two “witnesses” who are endowed with the ability to perform amazing wonders that make life miserable for the multitudes who accept the “mark of the Beast.” When you put together the kinds of miracles these two perform they begin to look like a combination of Moses and Elijah.

Of course those two eminent Old Testament prophets are the same ones who appear as Jesus is transfigured before His disciples in Matthew 17:1-13. This does not necessarily mean that these “two witnesses” actually are Moses and Elijah, but rather could be symbolic of the work those two had done to promote the true God in Israel.

Revelation 11:1-14 describes the appearance, mission and power of the two witnesses. We learn that they seem to operate outside  of the Temple of God, which is being measured by John rather than the witnesses. We also learn that their job is to prophesy for what appears to be the same length of time as the holy city is “trampled” by the Gentiles.

They dress like Elijah and perform the kinds of miracles that Elijah and Moses performed as they spoke on God’s behalf to Israelite and Gentile rulers. The miracles and prophesying seem to follow a pattern that reminds latter-day powers-that-be about who Israel’s God is and why they should pay attention to Him.

That much is probably obvious to most who read the passage. In this post I want to approach these two from a different direction by asking the question, “Why does God send two witnesses?

We find part of the answer in Gen. 18:20-23. God appears to Abram with two companions, who move out in the direction of Sodom. God remains behind with Abram to explain what the two are about to do in Sodom and surrounding cities. The two companions are angels who are to scout out the territory to determine if their sin is so complete that they need to be wiped out.  In 19:1,12-13 Abram asks God, “Will the judge of the earth judge righteously?” What if there are fifty righteous people among them? God agrees to let them live if there are afifty. A bargaining process occurs, with God finally agreeing to allow the entire area to escape judgment if only ten righteous people can be found in the entire region.

Unfortunately, they cannot even reach that threshold. Only Lot and his immediate household are considered righteous. Even they must leave the region to remain alive, losing all of their property and the rest of their family, including his wife (who ignored the warning not to look back longingly).

The point here is that God ensured that there were two witnesses of the state of that people before passing judgment. Note that He delegates the witnessing rather than simply observing Himself. This ensures fairness on His part is seen by the rest of the heavenly host, and presumably also by Abram.

We find out more about God’s judgment as we read the law that He gave Israel, beginning at Mount Sinai and elaborating until Moses’ final address in Deuteronomy. We find out that God is very interested in ensuring that judges do so justly. In Deuteronomy 16:18, for example, we find that God expects even human beings to be able to judge righteously. 

In other words, human beings are capable of moral choices, and are therefore culpable before God for immoral activity. God expects righteous behaviour and righteous judgment from those charged with investigating crimes. There is more to judgment, however. There is also the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. What follows then is the process of  how courts establish guilt.

God’s law for Israel includes the statement in Deuteronomy 17:6 that two or three witnesses are required in a capital crime before the accused can be put to death. The minimum requirement is two eyewitnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15 goes so far as to establish that this minimum applies to convict any accused of any crime. This principle becomes an important part of Israel’s jurisprudence.

Even Jesus adheres to this principle as He sends out His disciples. In Luke 10:1-24 He sends His disciples out to heal and preach in teams of two, but why? What we may not notice is how much of this passage (verses 10-16) is devoted to judgment upon those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus a Lord of the Kingdom of God. Having two per team establishes a witness to the reception of the message of Jesus. Those who reject Jesus reject the Father in heaven who sent Him.

So getting back to the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-14 Why are they prophesying? They perform a similar function to what the two angels performed in Sodom. Remember that the angels intended to remain in the city square overnight to witness what happens in the dark of night. It was only at the insistence of Lot that they went to his home. The trouble that they were sent to discern came looking for them anyway at Lot’s home, putting Lot’s family in jeopardy.

The two witnesses in Revelation scout out the territory of the “beast” and warn them of impending catastrophe if they do not repent and come to Jesus. When their “testimony” is over, “the beast” attacks and kills them. This tells God all that He needs to know about their attitude to God. He then begins to execute His wrathful judgment on this abode of spiritual evil.

In three days, he brings his two witnesses back to life, sends a terrifying earthquake and begins the end of a current human civilization that oppresses fellow human beings and destroys the world (Revelation 11:18).

Do I know if these two are specific individuals? Not yet. We are given the clue that these two are the “olive trees” and “lamp stands” anointed to serve the Lord of the earth. This seems to point to a passage in Zechariah 4:11-14. It is usually kings or priests who are anointed in the Bible. I wish I could say with certainty that I know.

Whether individuals or groups, these “two witnesses” will be Christians. I suspect that they may be comprised of Jewish and Gentile Christians (whether one of each or groups of each), but I cannot be sure.

What does seem clear to me is that their function is to be witnesses to the depravity of humankind at the time of the end of rebellious human rule on this planet, and so bring to pass God’s judgment on the evil system known as Babylon the Great.