The Second Witness

                                                                                         By Pastor F. M. Riley

    “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth,”  2 Timothy 2:15.

Introduction

    The identity of the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-13 often surfaces when discussing Bible prophecy.  Most serious students of Bible prophecy are agreed that Elijah will be one of the “two witnesses,” based on the explicit statement of the Lord as recorded in Malachi 4:5-6.  Therefore it is really the identity of the second “witness”  that is in question.  Who is the second “witness”?

    Opinions vary on the identity of the second “witness”?  Some think the second “witness” will be Enoch, due to the fact that he never died.  Others suggest that the second “witness” could be Daniel, Jeremiah, or even Ezekiel.  A few even suggest that the second “witness” could be Peter or Paul or one of the other Apostles.  I personally heard one preacher dogmatically declare that the second “witness” will be John the Baptist.  It should be obvious that all of these varied opinions and ideas are just “guesses” totally without any real Scriptural proof or merit. 

    However, the predominant opinion is that the second “witness” just has to be Moses.  Various reasons are given for this choice. Among them is the similarity of the Tribulation judgments to the judgments in ancient Egypt, the fact that Moses appeared with Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration, etc.  Sadly, most of those who espouse this opinion are very dogmatic, to the extent that any further light on the subject is not deemed even worthy of their consideration.  They have, in their own mind, proven that Moses is the second “witness,” and their mind is closed to any further light on the subject.  Period!

    Folks, such an attitude is wrong, and nothing said can ever justify it. God’s people [those truly saved] are to always be an humble people [1 Peter 5:5-6] and their minds should always be open to further light from God’s Word.  It is this proud, arrogant, dogmatic attitude on the part of many people that provokes me to write this study.  In this study I want to point out and emphasize a Scriptural truth about Moses that is commonly overlooked or ignored.  Let’s begin…..

Moses is a Type of Christ

    Any careful study of the Scriptures in regards to Moses will reveal that every aspect of the life of Moses; his birth, his life, his marriage, his ministry, and his death, were all typical of the life and ministry of Christ.  That Moses is a type of Christ in the Scriptures is beyond dispute, for Moses himself said so…..

The Testimony of Moses

    In Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Moses himself told the children of Israel, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.”  This statement is repeated a second time in this passage in verse 18, where Moses explicitly stated that the Lord Himself had given him this prophecy.  According to these Scriptures, the “Prophet” that the Lord would “raise up” would be like Moses.  This clearly establishes the truth that Moses was to be the  type and the “Prophet” would be the anti-type. Now who was the “Prophet” that the Lord raised up unto Israel?

The Testimony of Peter

    In Acts 3:22-26 the Apostle Peter quoted from Deuteronomy 18, emphatically stating that “God…..raised up His Son Jesus” as the fulfillment of the passage.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was the “Prophet…..like unto” Moses.  Peter thus verifies that Moses was a type of Christ.  See also Acts 2:22-32. 

The Testimony of Stephen

    In Acts 7:37 Stephen also quoted from Deuteronomy 18 and applied the fulfillment of the passage to “the coming of the Just One” [verse 52], again verifying that Christ Himself was the “Prophet…..like unto” Moses.  So once again Moses is set forth in the inspired Word as a type of Christ.

The Testimony of Paul

    In Acts 13 the Apostle Paul, in briefly rehearsing the history of Israel, stated five times that “God…..raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus,” 13:23; 13:30; 13:33; 13:34; 13:37.  In this context it is obvious that Paul had the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant in mind, but that doesn’t change the fact that these Scriptures confirm that it was Christ Himself whom God “raised up” to Israel just as Moses had predicted in Deuteronomy 18.  This again verifies Moses as a type of Christ. 

Other Related Scriptures

    The above passages and others that could be presented clearly establish Moses as being a type of Christ.  Therefore, such is a well established Scriptural truth that is beyond dispute if one believes God’s Word.  But now I want to point out other Scriptures that will shed further light on our subject. 

Moses’ Death

    At the conclusion of his ministry, the Lord called Moses to the top of Mount Pisgah.  See Numbers 27:12-13, Deuteronomy 32:48-50, and 34:1-6.  There Moses died.  After his death the Lord Himself buried Moses “in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day,” Deuteronomy 34:6. 

    How strange!  No where else in all of God’s Word is it recorded that the Lord “buried” anyone.  But He buried Moses.  Why did He bury Moses?  And why did the inspired writer specifically state that “no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day”? It has now been some 3,500 years since Moses died, and his sepulcher [grave; tomb] has still never been found.  Why?  Think about it!  Isn’t the answer obvious?  Moses is a type of Christ!

    If men could ever find the sepulcher and remains of Moses, would that not suggest [in their minds] that they might also find the sepulcher and remains of Christ?  …..that Christ didn’t really rise from the dead and ascend back to the Father?  …..that Christ wasn’t really the Divine God clothed in human flesh [Isaiah 7:14]?  …..that He was only a mere man like Moses and other men?  Well?  Think about it!  Use the brain power God gave you to do some logical reasoning, 2 Timothy 1:7. 

    God Himself has made certain that men have never been able to find the sepulcher [grave] containing the remains of Moses precisely because Moses is a type of Christ.  See Deuteronomy 29:29. Men have searched for the tomb of Moses, but have never found it [and never will].  Likewise, men have searched for the tomb and remains of  Christ.  Yes, we know where the tomb of Christ is, but it is empty.  Praise God!  “He is not here, but is risen…,” Luke 24:6.  Just as wicked men have never found the bodily remains of the Lord Jesus Christ [for He lives], so they will never find the bodily remains of Moses, for  in his death, burial, and disappearance from among men, Moses typified the rejected, crucified, buried, and  risen Christ.

Bible Types

    At this point I want to insert a few words about Bible types.  Types are not just the figments of men’s imaginations.  They are clearly authorized by the Scriptures and are an integral part of the inspired Word.  Look up the Greek word “tupos” in your Concordance or Lexicon, Strong’s No. 5179, and study the various places the word occurs in the New Testament.  Bible types are real!

    However, it is men’s imaginations that invent types that are not authorized by the Scriptures and therefore are not in harmony with the Scriptures.  Every true Bible type will have Scriptural authorization and will be in perfect harmony with the whole revelation of God’s Word.  If a claimed “type” does not meet these qualifications, then discard it.  It is not a true Bible type and it did not come from the Lord.

    Now let’s look at some more related Scripture.

Alive Forever More

    In Romans 6:9 we read, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.”

    In 1 Corinthians 15:20 the inspired Word states, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 

    In Revelation 1:18 the Lord Himself said, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.”  See also Revelation 4:9 and 5:14. 

    These Scriptures clearly state that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, having died to pay the sin debt of humanity, and then having been raised from the dead, “dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.”  The Lord Himself boldly stated, “I am alive forevermore.” 

A Direct Contrast

    However, in Revelation 11:7-10 it is clearly stated that God’s “two witnesses” will be killed, and that their dead bodies will lie in the street for “three days and a half.”  The whole world will observe their “dead bodies” lying in the street, and will rejoice that they are dead.  These verses establish very clearly that the “two witnesses” will be put to death by “the beast.”  Therefore, regardless of their identity, they will die. 

A Perplexing Problem

    The fact that Moses, in his death, burial, and disappearance from among men is a type of the crucified, buried, and risen Christ, presents a little problem for those who so dogmatically insist that Moses is going to be the second “witness” of Revelation 11.

    Revelation 11:7-10 clearly states that the “two witnesses” will be killed at the conclusion of their ministry.   If Moses is the second “witness,” as some so dogmatically insist, then Moses will most certainly be brought back to life to serve as the second “witness” and then be killed.  Now how does such a concept square up with Moses being a type of Christ?   Well…?

    The Scriptures are very clear that Christ “dieth no more,” Romans 6:9, and that He is “alive forevermore,” Revelation 1:18.  Are these statements true or not true?  Well…?

A Question…

    Since God’s inspired Word repeatedly sets forth Moses as a type of Christ,

    And since some dogmatically insist that Moses will be the second “witness,”

    And since the “two witnesses” are to be killed by the beast,

    Does this then mean that Christ, like Moses, will also be restored to physical life, and then be killed again?   Well…? 

    Or…..does it mean that those who so dogmatically insist that Moses is the second “witness” really haven’t studied the subject as well as they think they have, and really don’t know what they are talking about?  Think about this carefully before you answer.

Scriptural Truth

    Folks, it is impossible for Moses to be the second “witness.” To make Moses the second “witness” would totally violate the type of Christ, unless…..you are going to have the “alive forevermore” Christ dying again.  I don’t think so! 

    The real truth of Scripture is that Moses will not be the second “witness.”  The real truth is that both of the “two witnesses” are clearly identified by name in God’s Word.  God’s people don’t have to “guess” about their identity, nor spend time dogmatically debating the issue.  Their identity was already determined by the Lord nearly 2,000 years ago, and placed in His inspired Word. 

    I wrote a Bible study over thirty years ago entitled, The Future Ministry of God’s Two Witnesses.  In that study the “two witnesses” were identified by name, giving book, chapter, and verse as proof of the truth being presented, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.  After all of these years I have never had any reason to change my mind or the study.  God’s Word stands inviolate.  

    I will be glad to send a copy of The Future Ministry study to any reader who will send me a correct postal mailing address.  No charge!  All of our literature is sent out FREE. 

    God bless every reader, and may the Lord be pleased to bless His Word in this study.

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Pastor F. M. Riley

Last Call Gospel Ministry

3900 Clark Lane #178

Columbia, MO 65202

Email     fmrglbd5@aol.com