Yet here, the speaker speaks of the two witnesses as being his own. Thus far the two witnesses of the bible correspond exactly with the two witnesses of the prophecy. Obviously, the two events are linked in the flow of prophecy. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Three arguments as to the identity of the two witnesses will be examined. The two witnesses, measuring the temple revelation. Revelation describes the two witnesses as two olive trees and the two. I find that the book of revelation is in what is called the new te. Reviving the two witnesses watchtower online library.
Jan 02, 2020 there are three primary theories on the identity of the two witnesses in revelation. As far as the identity goes for the two witnesses, scholars have. Either 1 the angel is speaking in the first person for god. Even alford attempts to spiritualize the city, the temple, and the events portrayed in this chapter. And i will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty da. And i will give power unto my two witnesses, according to the scriptures, there must be two witnesses to an act in order for the sentence of the law to be carried out. The two witnesses of revelation biblical thinking with. The giving of authority and prophesying to the two witnesses in revelation 11. John gills exposition of the bible interprets the two witnesses as the true church in counterdistinction to the antichrist system of roman catholicism.
May 14, 2020 the death of the two witnesses revelation 11. The temple, the two witnesses, and the seventh trumpet rev. Book of revelation chapter 11 the two witnesses and the. The only possible period of time when the two witnesses could testify is during the three and a half years that precede christs returnthe time of the tribulation and the day of the lord. Revelation 11, coffman commentaries on the bible, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely. The two witnesses of revelation biblical thinking with dr. The two witnesses or revelation 11 are historical individuals popular suggestions include. There was once a man who prophesied for three and a half years, 1 was hated by the jewish elite, 2 was flogged by a roman procurator yet he did not open his mouth, 3 and was killed on passover. The two witnesses are interpreted as two individuals. But the court which is without the temple leave out. Zerubbabel and joshua are types of the two witnesses whose work it will be to proclaim that the time has come to rebuild jerusalem and revelation establish the temple worship, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Three and onehalf years represents the time of an army siege against a walled city. The two witnesses will proclaim to the world that the disasters occurring during the last half of.
Yet, the doubling of the witness is symbolic of the whole church. Again, this is the same as a period of three years and six months 1,260 divided by 360 equals 3 12. If anyone attempts to harm them before they complete their ministry, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies verse 5. David guzik commentary on revelation 11, describes the introduction of the two witnesses, their ministry, death and reviving. I want to reveal to you twelve things about these mysterious men that you need to know. Gods true people are measured, or judged, while the others are not. Revelation chapter 11 and the identity of gods two witnesses.
The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 11. Careful students of the book of revelation will probably agree with alford that chapter 11 is undoubtedly one of the most difficult in the whole apocalypse. Jun 25, 2020 the two witnesses are symbolic of the whole church. There are also two witnesses prophesying twelve hundred and sixty days, like the prophets of old in israel. Study the bible online using commentary on revelation 11. The only possible period of time when the two witnesses could testify is during the three and a half years that precede christs returnthe time of the tribulation and the day of the lord most of this period of time has already been covered by chapters 6 the fifth and sixth seals and 89 the trumpet plagues. These two witnesses and the temple of god are one and the samethat is, the two witnesses are the church. The two witnesses are two human beings who will be given extraordinary power for 3 12 years just before christs return revelation 11. This revelation timeline decoded bible study will teach you about the fulfillment of the prophecy of the two witnesses of revelation 11 summary. There is a general expectation among gods people that the two witnesses will begin to prophesy soon, if only because we anticipate christs return in the near future. Four times in the revelation does the apostle john use the expression, in the spirit 1. Those who wish to be amused or bewildered, may have recourse both to ancients and moderns on this subject.
I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth verse 3. Revelation 11 a study of the prophetic book of holy. Assuming this to be the correct exposition, their what is here said revelation 11. They shall bear witness for 1260 days, the fortytwo months the holy city is trodden down. They are martyred by the beast three and a half days before the first resurrection, when they are raised to join him in the air with the other firstfruits. Based on this description, who is the first person to come to mind. Nov 03, 20 many christians have sought the true identity of gods two witnesses in chapter 11 of the book of revelation. Two witnesses help us reduce the maintenance cost of our online services. At the end of this period of testimony, the beast, who then comes on the scene, makes war with them. Though the book of revelation never explicitly identifies the two witnesses as jesus christ it does provide many subtle clues throughout these two chapters that all point to this idea. A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 11 the two.
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the lord of the earth. Just as these two witnesses were raised up to be lampstands or witnesses for god and were empowered by olive oil representing the power of the holy spirit, so the two witnesses of revelation 11 will likewise execute their prophetic office. We are told that the two witnesses are, the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the lord of the earth. Revelation 11 coffman commentaries on the bible bible. Christ sent out his disciples two by two, to preach the gospel. John wesley in his commentary on revelation 11 suggests a more spiritual, almost ambiguous, application. Of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and what followed upon it v. The first group represents gods true church, spiritual israel, while the second represents a false and corrupt church that professes to worship god but is not true to him. This view has real problems, however, as moses died. Revelation 11 tells us of two people, or two groups of people, that will prophesy and spread the word of god for 1,260 days symbolically or literally 1,260 years. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 11. Opinion eth in the book of revelation chapter 11, the bible mentions the coming appearance of two witnesses that will take place during the tribulation.
God has never resurrected a prophet or apostle to do a. This chapter appears to break the continuity of the text, as if to call for an intermission. Nowhere does the bible identify these two witnesses by name, although people through the years have speculated. In the book of revelation, the two witnesses are two of gods prophets who are seen by john of patmos, during the second woe recorded in revelation 11. This is one of the glorious, mighty themes of the book of revelation. However, there is no biblical justification to believe that the two witnesses are indeed moses and elijah. As alford cautioned, much of this mysterious book is as yet unfathomed. Revelation 11 the two witnesses grace communion international. Please click here for the previous study on revelation 10 commentary. The temple, the two witnesses, and the seventh trumpet.
In revelation 11, we learn a great deal about these two figures the two witnesses who will appear during the end times. John wesley in his commentary on revelation 11 suggests a. The vision of the mighty angel in chapter 10, and the vision of the two witnesses in chapter 11 correspond to each other but are not in chronological order. The two witnesses are the word of elohim and the church of messiah, which testified during the 1,260 year reign of the antichrist beast popes of rome, about the pure gospel of salvation through messiahs atoning blood, not by works through the. They are cruelly killed, as he was killed, and are resurrected 312 days later, and ascend into heaven before the eyes of this startled crowd. The two witnesses the word of god and the wordindwelt ch. The bible identifies these two witnesses as the two lampstands or the two olive trees zechariah 4. Several references to the actual judgment itself are retrospective, referring. A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 11 the. Net 3 and i will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth. Though the book of revelation never explicitly identifies the two witnesses as jesus christ it does provide many subtle clues throughout these two chapters that all.
And i will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in. These prophets will be a great plague to the men of the earth, who try hard to say, there is no god. Each of these instances signifies a vision that john was given to. Revelation 11 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. This is the marked change in the book, and here dates commence. The first argument is the two witnesses are moses and elijah.
The two witnesses and the seventh trumpet 1 and there was given me a reed like unto a rod. This is the first time revelation refers to the beast, and it is a bit surprising since the beast is not fully explained until chapter. A second interpretation is that they are enoch and elijah. First of all, they are clothed in sackcloth and prophesy for 1,260 days about three and a half. Rather than assuming that zechariah was prophesying the return of two preexisting characters, perhaps we should understand that these were meant to taken as two. Book of revelation chapter 11 the two witnesses and.
Commentary on revelation chapter 11 theology first. The 1599 geneva study bible has asserted that the two witnesses are the exclusive purview of the church. And i will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. The two witnesses, measuring the temple revelation chapter. I got a kick out of adam clarks commentary on the two witnesses. Another fulfillment, partial at least, of zechariah 4. Clothed is a perfect passive of periballw meaning to throw around, about. The subject of zechariahs book was a call to gods people to repent zechariah 1.
There was given the line of thought in chapter 10 carries into chapter 11. Revelation 11 two witnesses sacred scripture catholic. Revelation 11 should be read in conjunction with ezekiel 37. Many will own and acknowledge christ in times of prosperity who will desert and deny him in times of persecution.
The latter scene, one of the most difficult passages in revelation, has been explained in a number of ways. Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff. Nowhere does the bible identify these two witnesses by name, although. Revelation 10 and 11 imply that the two witnesses are jesus christ. Alford, bengel, and dusterdieck favour the latter view of the two. The fact that jesus the son of ananus claims to be a voice from the four winds strongly suggests that he is the two witnesses. Two prophetic witnesses work in jerusalem for three and a half years.
The two witnesses of revelation 11 ekkehardt m ller biblical research institute revelation 11. Dec 04, 2009 my two witnesses this is extremely obscure. The two witnesses of revelation 11 revelation timeline. Unfortunately, zechariah 4 is a difficult text to understand which does not help us much in understand who the two witnesses are in revelation 11. I lean toward the symbolic view based on my understanding of the whole book. Haldeman identifies the two witnesses as moses and elias who were seen together on the mount of transfiguration synopsis of the book of revelation, p. Of the measuringreed given to the apostle, to take the dimensions of the temple v. And i will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Zechariah asks about the meaning of the olive trees and the branches. It will, however, have another 42 months to operate and then god will establish the true temple. At the end of this period of testimony, the beast, who then comes on. Rather than assuming that zechariah was prophesying the return of two preexisting characters, perhaps we should understand that these were meant to taken as two people yet to come.
In revelation 11, we learn a great deal about these two figures who will appear during the end times. Revelation 11 bible commentary wesleys explanatory notes. Thus, in revelation 11, the two witnesses are not literally elijah and moses. Matthew henrys complete commentary on the whole bible gives one church interpretation as consisting of believing jews and that of the gentiles. And the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the temple of god, the altar, and those who worship there. The third, and last view to be considered in the scope of this paper is that they are in the spirit of zerubbabel and joshua. Though the revelation tells us that the ministry of the two witnesses will be cut short by their death, i. The two witnesses have been interpreted as representing the church or a similar concept. Revelation 11 bible commentary on the book of revelation. A realized eschatology interpretation and commentary of revelation 11. The two witnesses of revelation 11 revelation timeline decoded. Who are the two witnesses in the book of revelation.
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