Looking for the Two Witnesses

End Times Berean Watchman Report

March 15, 2024 – No. 43

Analysis and commentary on today’s prophetic events from author and biblical researcher – Dr. Christian Widener

EndTimesBerean.com

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I would like to welcome all of you, and especially all of you who are new subscribers this month, to the ETB Watchman Report!

In this newsletter, I’d like to primarily deal with the question of the identity of the Two Witnesses. Who are they? When will they appear? What will their ministry look like? And I also have a few updates for you at the end…

FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD Update. — I had a 2022 Version Online for the FREE PDF of Witnessing the End, BUT it is now UPDATED to the 2023 Version as of 3/7/24 (see title page of the book for the date). Go to my website if you have an old version, or if you just want to see the book pictures in color.

FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD (in Color) HERE: https://witnessingtheend.com

This is a long post, by the way, but I hope you will take some time to really think about what I have to share.

Okay, let’s get started looking into the mystery of the two witnesses!

The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11

I gave a recent interview on Janie DuVall’s YouTube channel, and it got a lot of views (over 400K as I finish this post). If you didn’t see the Janie DuVall interview and would like to, you can find it at the top of the News and Media section on my website.

The interview, like my last newsletter, was mainly focused on Daniel’s Seventy Sevens and the coming Abomination of Desolation. However, a lot of people in the comment section asked why we haven’t seen the two witnesses yet. And the answer is simple, it’s because they come on the scene at the same time that the antichrist (a.k.a. beast from the sea) does. But many people have been taught otherwise. So I thought it would be good to lay out a solid explanation of when they are expected to arrive and what their time here may look like. First, let’s review the passage in Revelation 11.

The Two Witnesses

¹ 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. ² 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. ³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ 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. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ 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. ¹² 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.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

The Seventh Trumpet

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Revelation 11:1-15 NIV

When Will They Arrive?

Again, many have been taught that the two witnesses preach during the first half of the last seven years, but that just can’t be the case. Why not?

First, their ministry is likened to 42 months in verse 2, just before it is stated that they will testify for 1260 days. That gives us a parallelism for connecting their ministry to the 42 month reign of the first beast, the one from the sea.

Second, their deaths come at the end of the second woe, or sixth trumpet, and right before the seventh trumpet, as seen in verses 11-15.

For me, those two things make it a lock. This passage tells us that the ministry of the two witnesses is going to be at the same time that the antichrist is reigning and the rest of the world is falling apart–i.e., during the second half, or last three-and-half years of the tribulation.

There are some persuasive arguments that the witnesses minister only in the first half of the tribulation. But they are based on presumptions that force a reinterpretation of the plain text. In the case of the two witnesses, though, the text really is clear, they minister in the second half. So, therefore, if I have an interpretation paradigm that tempts me to explain away what is clearly stated in Scripture, then instead, I should recognize that there may be something wrong with my interpretation paradigm. At the very least it’s a big red flag.

Remember, the text is always right, and it means what it says. [The only exception, or caveat, to that principle is if you find a statement in another part of the Bible that seems to contradict or modify our understanding of the first passage. In that case, you need to take both passages together and sort out the truth that is being taught in-between the apparently paradoxical statements. It is never a case of just deciding which Scripture you like better or think is the right one. You have to understand them both together at the same time.]

Plus, assuming I am right about already being in the final seven years, then the fact that they aren’t here yet means they must be coming in the second half simply by a process of elimination. 🙂

Who Are They?

Many believe that they will actually be Moses and Elijah, or Enoch and Elijah, returned to the earth. Based on the fact that specifically Enoch and Elijah never actually died, so they could theoretically be allowed to come back and finish out their natural lives. As Hebrews 9:27 says, we are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment. Or, perhaps it will be Moses and Elijah because both appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, see Matthew 17. And don’t forget what the prophet Malachi said:

See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.

Malachi 4:5 NIV

Let me start by saying, that would be awesome! I would love that, and the questions that they could answer would be unbelievable. Theoretically, it’s a tantalizing idea to contemplate. Practically, however, I think it’s unlikely.

For one, having been to Heaven and returned to Earth they would have an authority that might just be over the top. They could even become objects of worship themselves. Remember how the disciples wanted to build three tabernacles as soon as they saw them standing there with Jesus? (see Matthew 17:4)

But perhaps the best reason to suspect that this will not be the case is that we already have an example to reference in Scripture. It’s found in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus said that John the Baptist WAS Elijah. [Obviously, in the spiritual sense, not in the reincarnated or physically reborn sense.]

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 11:11-15 NIV

Therefore, when you look at this question from a very practical point of view, and take into account the case of John the Baptist, I think it is unlikely that it will be men brought back from the ancient past; however, if it is, no worries, no one will miss that!

They May Look Like Regular Guys

So, that’s why I’m thinking that the two guys we are looking for will be men now living in this present age. Will they end up being two unknown guys from who-knows-where? Or could they be a couple of pastors or teachers who are already super well-known and like elders have proven themselves to be honorable men with fantastic ministries? Those are good questions. I wish I knew, but I suspect that they will be David-like people, not Saul-like. In other words, we may not immediately recognize their qualities or qualifications externally, but God, who judges the heart, not the outward appearance, will know them and make them known.

Revelation 11:4 says that they are the two lampstands and the two olive trees that stand before the Lord of the Earth, which is also a reference to Zechariah 4. This is a tough vision to sort out, but it has some thought provoking references to the rebuilding of the temple. The laying of the cornerstone and the temple foundation is mentioned, and also that “these seven will rejoice when they see it,” which might be a reference to the seven lampstands of the Church rejoicing when they arrive.

Some have thought that these two represent the law and the prophets, hence Moses and Elijah. Or they might represent Israel and the Church, i.e., the natural olive branches and the wild ones. In that case, one might be a Jew and the other a Gentile, but since all of the apostles were Jewish, it’s likely both witnesses will be, too.

Now, before anyone starts to envy their assignment, remember how tough they will have it. They have to wear sackcloth for 1260 days. Most of the world will hate them. They are killed at the end of that time and their dead bodies lie in the street for three and half days. And finally, if there is an early rapture, which I think there may be, they get left behind. Wow, that’s rough! Of course, great will be their reward, too.

Why Two?

This may seem obvious, and others, like John MacArthur, have pointed this out, but every matter should be established by two or more witnesses. Since they are delivering God’s testimony to the world, there had to be at least two…

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.”

Matthew 18:16 NIV

In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.

John 8:17 NIV

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

2 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

[ See that? — Three witnesses, i.e. three scriptures to make my point 🙂 ]

What Will Their Ministry Look Like?

We’ve got to think about this question and others like it, if we want to be sure to recognize the two witnesses. And as I started to work on this section, I realized that I was seeing a lot of things that I had never really thought about before. Maybe you’ll feel the same way, too.

What Kind of Power Will They Have?

The sure way to recognize the two witnesses is given in Revelation 11:5-6. They will have power from the Holy Spirit performing signs that haven’t been seen on the Earth since the days of the prophets in the Old Testament. Yes, Jesus did amazing miracles, and so did the apostles, but these signs will be different.

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

Revelation 11:5-6 NIV

Fire coming from their mouths beckons back to Elijah calling down fire from Heaven (1 Kings 18). Shutting up the heavens so that it wouldn’t rain happened when Elijah prayed to stop the rain for a few years while Ahab was king (1 Kings 17). And it was Moses who turned the waters into blood and struck Egypt with a total of ten plagues, by the power and will of God (Exodus 7-11). These are awesome and terrible signs to be given to the two witnesses to perform, and they certainly won’t be missed.

They Will Prophesy in Sackcloth and Have Authority Over the Church Like First Century Apostles and Prophets

Because they will have the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be Christ’s witnesses for those 1260 days, they will also have the same authority that we would recognize in a first century apostle. Of course, it will be absolutely critical to make sure that they really are the two witnesses, but once their identity is confirmed, it’s going to be important to listen to them.

Besides performing signs and wonders, we are also told that they will wear sackcloth and that they will be prophesying. This is another reason we know that we should be listening to them. Yes, they may be saying things to the world as a testimony against evildoers, but I’m pretty sure that they will also have a lot to say to the church as well. Remember that prophecy is for believers (1 Corinthians 14:22).

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 11:3 NIV

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

1 Corinthians 14:22 NIV

They May Receive Their Power and Authority Like the Twelve Apostles Did in Acts 2

The Two Witnesses will not be wondering if they truly are the ones God has chosen or not, because He will come on them in power like he did for the twelve apostles, as I believe Christ also prophesied in Acts 1:8.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

Most people will immediately recognize that Acts 1:8 is talking about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the twelve apostles in Acts 2.

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4 NIV

But the word witnesses in Acts 1:8 is the Greek word that transliterates as martyrs, and it is the same word John used in Revelation 11:3.

 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 11:3 NIV

So, I’m looking for a repeat of Acts 2, in the last days, for the two witnesses. God will bestow apostolic power on two guys that will probably be chosen from this generation. And that’s not all. I’m guessing it will actually happen again on…you guessed it… Pentecost.

Their calling may also come as a Damascus Road type event, in a similar way to that in which Paul was called. And once again, when that happens, there will be no mistaking it. Saul wasn’t wondering if something supernatural had really happened to him. It shook him to his core and turned his life upside down, and he went from being Saul to being Paul. And I think Paul’s call to ministry is a good model for us to consider regarding the two witnesses. Why? Because Paul’s call to ministry came in the days after Jesus ascended into Heaven, i.e., the church age, which we are still living in.

It Will Probably All Start in Jerusalem

And if we are looking for a repeat of Acts 2, I’m thinking that Jesus’ words, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised” will also be fulfilled a second time. So, perhaps the calling of the two witnesses will also start in Jerusalem.

³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:3-5 NIV

Reading further on in the same passage. Notice that Jesus was asked if this was now the time to restore the kingdom, i.e., the disciples were wondering if they were seeing the last days. Jesus told them that it isn’t for them to know, and then told them that the Holy Spirit will come up on them and they would be his witnesses. And then Jesus ascended into heaven, and the angels who were there watching with them told them that Jesus would one day return in the same way.

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:6-11 NIV

Clearly, that was all fulfilled in Acts 2, but I see a possible double fulfillment for two reasons. First, the initial context is the last days. Second, at the end of the passage, the angels talk about Jesus returning in the same way that he just left. Those bookends seem like a foreshadowing that Jesus’ words will be repeated with the two witnesses in the last days.

Hence, if the two witnesses have the same start in Jerusalem, then it seems logical that their ministry would also begin in Jerusalem, and then to Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth, either physically or because their message will be carried all over the Earth, or both.

Their Ministry is to Prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom

This one struck me as something I should have known, but I just didn’t see it coming. So, we’ve already established that although the two witnesses will have the power of the ministries of Elijah and Moses, we should probably be thinking more along the lines of John the Baptist. Well, if we think about what Luke said the ministry of John the Baptist was, then I think it may be a good indication of what the ministry of the two witnesses will be.

“And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF FATHERS BACK TO THEIR CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:17 NIV

This was stunning to me! Again, something so obvious, but hidden in plain sight. Let’s break down these things that Luke lists for us one by one.

1.) TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN. This is a quote of Malachi 4:6, and I think it is also a reference to the spiritual condition which precedes it that is given in Psalm 78:5-8.

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.”

Malachi 4:6 NASB

⁵ For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they were to teach them to their children, ⁶ so that the generation to come would know, the children yet to be born, that they would arise and tell them to their children, ⁷ so that they would put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, but comply with His commandments, ⁸ and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalm 78:5 NASB

First, we could understand this verse to be saying that the Jewish people of today, the children of prior generations, need to “not be like their fathers” who were stubborn and rebellious, whose spirits were not faithful to God. Elijah’s call is for them to repent and keep God’s commandments, to put their confidence in Him, and to not forget His works. The two witnesses must undoubtedly be calling the Jewish people to turn to God and believe in Jesus as their Messiah.

But I believe there are also some broader applications for all people: 1) Fathers, have you put your confidence fully in God so that you will not forget His works and will comply with all His commands? 2) Fathers, have you been neglecting your children by not teaching them all these things? I would say that means both literal children AND spiritual children, i.e. people that we have led to the Lord or discipled in the past or have otherwise shepherded.

2.) Turn the Disobedient to the Attitude of the Righteous. Again, there is clearly a direct application for the lost to be called to repentance and to believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation, both Jews and Gentiles. But let’s be honest, the Church has become an unruly bunch on the earth and has become pretty divided in doctrine and practice over the past 2000 years. I think there is an application here for us as well. We are full of division. Everyone does what is right in his own eyes. We are easily offended. We want to remove specks from everyone else’s eyes, but ignore our own planks. We compromise with sin. We idolize many things in this present age that are not worthy of the time and adoration we give them. We neglect the Word of God. We are embracing a form of godliness but denying its power. We tolerate false teachers. Need I go on?

Furthermore, we are in great need of correction to our doctrines. We know this implicitly, simply by observing the diversity of doctrines that exist across the many sects and denominations we see today. Clearly, they can’t all be right. However, at the present time, we lack any real referees or Holy Spirt empowered apostolic judges who can set us all straight. So we congregate according to our consciences, but we cannot really settle things on our own between factions. Which leads me to the final point.

3.) To Make Ready a People Prepared for the Lord. Lastly, this is again certainly about getting the Jewish people ready for the return of the Messiah. Nevertheless, I believe one big job for the two witnesses will also be to get the Church ready for the Bridegroom.

Wow! Had you ever considered that all this might be part of the work of the two witnesses? But once you start thinking about it like this, it seems pretty clear that it probably will be.

They Might Need Help

So, I hope this isn’t presumptuous, but I think they are also going to need help. Why? Because almost all of God’s human ministers in the Scriptures did.

Think of Moses. He had to appoint men to help him.

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Genesis 18:17-23 NIV

And what about David? He had his Mighty Men. See 2 Samuel 23.

Or, how about the Disciples? They also needed help with logistics and ministry so that they could focus on doing what the Lord had sent them to do.

¹ In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷ So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:1-7 NIV

And don’t forget about Paul. He had lots of people helping him: Barnabus, Luke, Mark, Timothy, Tychicus, Epaphras, Demas, Nympha, Archippus, Justus, Aquila and Priscilla, Euodia, Syntyche, Clement, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Phoebe, Epenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion, Narcissus, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, Olympas, Philemon, Apphia, Onesimus, and I may have even missed a few. If you want some encouragement, look at the ends of Paul’s letters and read about all the people listed above that Paul acknowledged and thanked for their help.

They May Not Receive Their Power on Day One

There is another inference that could be made about the arrival of the two witnesses based on the pattern of the disciples and their empowerment by the Holy Spirit. But first, I think we should expect that the two witnesses will somehow be called by God around Passover. Why? Because it was the time when Christ died and was resurrected, and it is also probably when the 42-month reign of the antichrist will begin. And here’s the point: Although the witnesses might be called to start their ministry around Passover, they may not receive their power until Pentecost, nearly fifty days later, if things repeat the way they happened the first time. Of course, it doesn’t have to, and they might get their power right away, in which case, it will be obvious.

They May Initially Be Impersonated

Furthermore, imagine how many people may initially claim to have had a dream, or say that they saw a vision, or heard voices, where God told them that they were one of the witnesses? I can imagine hundreds of people falsely claiming they are one of them. This could be another reason that their testimonies will initially be hard to accept, because there will also be counterfeits present. However, given their power in the Holy Spirit to perform signs, this may not be a problem for long.

Anyway, when you think about the fact that there are already at least 19 people currently claiming to be Jesus Christ living in the world today, it seems plausible to me that there will also be people falsely claiming to be one of the witnesses. Plus, there are already a lot of people today claiming to have full apostolic authority, so it’s not a stretch for some of them to also claim that God has called them to be one of the witnesses, when He hasn’t.

The World and Apostate Believers Will Reject the Two Witnesses

And thinking about the two witnesses and how to recognize them, it occurred to me that it might be more difficult than I initially thought. Why? Well, what if they aren’t Moses and Elijah, or even two famous pastor/teachers, but instead are two unknown guys from who-knows-where? In the latter case, I’m guessing that their testimonies will be difficult for many, if not most to accept, at least at first—particularly, by many of the religious leaders of the day. And why do I think that? Because who accepted John the Baptist’s testimony? Many people did, but many, if not most, of the religious leaders of the day did not.

²³ Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

²⁴ Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

²⁵ John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Matthew 21:23-27 NIV

And here’s another twist. Not only may it be difficult to verify the identity of the two witnesses, at least initially, but also false believers will never accept their correction. Again, as in the days of John the Baptist, not everyone was keen to accept his message and repent. And here’s the crazy thought, I think that the False Church will use the Book of Revelation to accuse the two witnesses of being the Beast and the False Prophet. What?!

Well, just look at what is happening right now. Good is being called Evil and Evil Good. Patriots are called Insurrectionists and violent anarchists are said to be defending democracy. Jews defending their land are called Nazis and are accused of genocide, while Hamas terrorists are called innocent victims and freedom fighters. Christians are racists and bigots, while pedofiles are called minor attracted persons. And just like Jesus was called Beelzebul, the two witnesses will be called evil, while the antichrist will be worshipped as the false messiah.

It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

Matthew 10:25 NIV

There are also Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:24 that could easily be used to falsely accuse the two witnesses of being false prophets. Just think about how diabolical this is likely to be! As the two witnesses are trying to establish the truth of their ministry by doing true signs and wonders, their accusers will use those same signs and wonders to make the accusation that they are actually false prophets. And if so, then I suspect that even the elect might almost fall for it.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:24 NASB

Plus, there is some overlap between the signs that the two witnesses will perform and those that the false prophet will, so it will be easy slander. In Revelation 13:13, it says that the false prophet, or beast from the earth, will even cause fire to come down from heaven. Think how easy it will be to say that the two witnesses defending themselves with fire from their mouths are really just the beast and the false prophet…

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. ¹² It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³ And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth.

Revelation 13:11-14a NIV

But maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Remember the words of Jesus in John 16 that a time “is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” That statement could certainly be true of Christian martyrs killed by fanatics of other religions (i.e. Islam, Hinduism, etc.), but how about if we applied this statement to apostate believers who will actually be serving Satan, not God, by calling for the death of Christians? A sobering thought, but it demonstrates the point that the people who will be doing these evil acts will believe themselves to be righteous and that the righteous ones they are killing are evil. And therefore, they will almost certainly label the two witnesses as false prophets and the epitome of evil. And what better way to confuse people than to slander them as the two villains of the Book of Revelation.

¹ All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. ² They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. ³ They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴ I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.

John 16:1-4a NIV

This would also explain the behavior of the world exchanging gifts to celebrate that the two witnesses have finally been killed by the antichrist. They might have a hard time celebrating if the world saw them as righteous people, but believing them to be the embodiment of evil, they will be able to celebrate joyously.

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.

Revelation 13:10 NIV

What If It Doesn’t Happen This Way?

What I’m concerned about, is that the church hasn’t really thought enough about what to expect regarding the two witnesses, so we might not recognize them right away. One reason for that is because most have assumed that the witnesses will just suddenly appear and everyone will instantly recognize them with no problem. If that is true, and they will be unmistakable, then I’ve got nothing to worry about, and the scenario I laid out above will be easily refuted and set aside. I mean, if Moses and Elijah, or Enoch and Elijah were really suddenly walking around in Jerusalem, or anywhere for that matter, there is little chance that the Church would fail to recognize them.

Thus, if the two witnesses arrive supernaturally, then no worries. It will be clear. But, if they are just two men chosen by God out of the remnant of His Church living on earth, then it may be a little more difficult. John the Baptist wasn’t initially widely recognized, or even Jesus himself, for that matter. Even after they had been ministering for a while and were seen to be fulfilling prophecy, many still didn’t accept them. Could something like that happen again with the two witnesses? I think so.

Why Am I Bringing All of This Up?

I am raising these very difficult and practical issues because I am realizing more and more just how close we could really be to all of this beginning to happen, and I’m not ready. I bet none of us are really ready.

We’ve spent a lot of time imagining how things would play out, as in a movie we would like to watch. But very soon we are going to find out that it is actually a play, and when we do, it will be because we are suddenly handed the part that we are supposed to play in it!

Going Back to Israel This March

My wife and I will be flying to Israel at the end of March to see for ourselves if anything out of the ordinary is going to happen. Please pray for our safety, but also that we will be able to see what is going on and meet the people that in the Lord’s providence and wisdom, He wants us to talk to. Going to Israel near the end of a war might not sound prudent, but I’m sure it’s still probably safer than a visit to Chicago. [I’m only partly kidding about that.] Our lives are ALWAYS in God’s hands, no matter where we are. So there’s really no need to be afraid, if you feel called to go somewhere—and we do feel called to go at this time. It is also a great time to show our support for Israel. We hope that the Israelis we meet there will see how much we care about them and the land that they have been given by God.

Will this really be it? I wish I knew, but who hopes for what he sees? This trip is about going to the door and checking if the master is about to return.

²² For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ²³ And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans 8:22-25 NASB

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.

Luke 12:35-37a NIV

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the safety of the Jewish people and their soldiers fighting the war in Gaza. Pray for the return of the hostages. Pray for the salvation of Jews and Muslims, that both sides would come to know Jesus as their Messiah. Pray that the government stops interferring with Jewish people attempting to restore the practice of their faith. Remember that their returning to faith in God and to their religious practice is a fulfillment of prophecy… AND it is a big step towards them being able to see how Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of the Messiah.

The Red Heifer Sacrifice

There is serious intent and a genuine possibility to sacrifice the Red Heifer before Passover this year. Some in the government want to prohibit the attempt in order to avoid raising tensions even higher with Muslims in East Jerusalem and the disputed parts of Judea and Samaria (aka, the West Bank). But appeasement will never solve the problem, it will only encourage them. Unfortunately, that is exactly the strategy that is being debated within the Israeli government, and who knows what will actually happen. Nevertheless, the Shabbat of the Red Heifer is coming up and if it does happen, we are really hoping that we will be able to witness it. But we trust God’s perfect timing and that He will help arrange that, if it is His will. For more on the possible significance of that event see my last newsletter.

Something else new to consider about the red heifer. The attacks of October 7 were abominable and they made a desolation of the land. They were not focused at the holy place, though, so I don’t think those atrocities qualify as the event we are looking for, but they might be giving us a clue about what to expect. Especially, if we really stop and think about the fact that Hamas later announced their attack on October 7 was because of the red cows, i.e. to stop the sacrifice of the red heifer and “to defend al-Aqsa,” i.e. the Temple Mount.

https://israel365news.com/382489/hamas-spokesman-oct-7-attack-launched-to-stop-the-red-heifers

Some of you may already be going there, but, would an October 7 style attack of the Temple Mount, with the express purpose of preventing the reinstatement of sacrifices, be something that would fulfill what we are told in Scripture?

His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish (soor) the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Daniel 11:31 NIV

The Hebrew word for abolish is a form of the word, soor (Strongs H5493), which means to remove, take away, put aside, eliminate, rid, or annul, and with the “Hiphil” prefix (which this form of the word has) it can mean to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, or abolish. In that case, the true sense of this prophecy might be that they will cause the effort to restore sacrifices to be set aside and left undone. Their act will be a rejection of Jewish aspirations to restore sacrifices. Whoa! That would be a lot different than what most, including myself, were expecting.

Of course, there would still need to be some kind of declaration about being God given by someone who fits the bill of the antichrist, but what if that came at a later time, like after the mayhem was resolved? Perhaps even by a person who helped clean up the mayhem? And if so, then such a statement could come a month or more later, after the antichrist has begun his official rise to power, when he will reign for 42 months. After all, the reference to counting 1290 days doesn’t mention the declaration of being God at that moment. And such a separation of events would obfuscate his identity, helping it to be an event that many will still not understand or accept, even though they watch it.

⁹ He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

¹¹ From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

Daniel 12:9-12 NIV

Thus, I am suggesting that the abomination of desolation and the antichrist setting himself up in the temple of God and declaring himself to be God could be two separate events. And furthermore, that even if the Jews don’t reinstate sacrifices, if they are attacked for the express purpose of stopping them from doing so, then I think that might actually fulfill what was written by Daniel, i.e. that the forces of the antichrist will cause the sacrifices to be set aside. Again, I’m not saying this is what it will be, I’m just trying to expand my own thoughts about what to be watching for.

Things are Starting to Move

So those of you who have been following me for a while know that I’ve been developing this idea of the two seventy sevens for about fifteen years, and in earnest since the start of the COVID pandemic. The idea just didn’t get a lot of traction, until recently. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but I think that the Holy Spirit is starting to move and He is finally letting the idea begin to get out. As a result, I’ve also been leaning forward a lot more in faith that the timing is truly correct. This moment in my life feels a lot like that scene in the Indiana Jones Last Crusade movie where Indy has to make a step of faith out onto a rock bridge that he can’t see. Whatever happens, God will be there for me, and I trust that things will work out for good, because that’s what God promises, and I know that He rewards steps of faith.

Wrapping Up

I’ll have another interview coming up with Janie DuVall, so you can be on the look out for that, too. 🙂 This one will be on the temple location.

Also, if you’ve had a chance to read either of my books, would you be willing to write a review on Amazon to encourage others to read it, too? I think that could help convince people that the book is worth their time to investigate. Thanks!

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, and may we be found ready when He comes. Amen and Maranatha!

Christian Widener, PhD

EndTimesBerean.com

P.S. Feel free to reach out anytime with comments, suggestions, or questions. 🙂

christian@endtimesberean.com