TO DAVID H./ JOHN THE APOSTLE
(re:David H (8 Aug 2013)
"two witnesses, The case for the Apostle John")
　
　
Hi David,
 
I found your letter very interesting and I have to say I have certainly pondered John the Apostle is one of the two witnesses in Jerusalem. In fact, I wrote a post on just this subject back in April of last year. I just thought you might like to read it so here it is below. It is very interesting to look into who these witnesses are, and try and understand the true meaning of what the Lord is showing us.
 
I enjoyed your letter, and want to thank you for sharing it.
Blessings to you!!
Patti C.
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IS THE APOSTLE JOHN ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES?
 
Hello John and all Doves!
Previously I posted a letter about my new insight into John the Apostle being one of the Two Witnesses, and admitting I was wrong about Enoch. Upon further study, I found this new insight to be the best one, and I now feel that it may be true. Here is further evidence.
 
(I would just like to note here, that even though the articles presented about the 144,000 being the witnesses was interesting and thought provoking, I do not see it as a possibility. I still believe that the two witnesses will be two of the Lord’s chosen prophets that will literally be in the street of Jerusalem.)
　
I believe that God has these two witnesses preaching with one representing Israel and the other represents the Bride of Christ. One represents the Old Testament, and the other the New, and they both stand as one witness to the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus. These two witnesses define God’s purpose for all time.
　
Most will agree that Elijah is definitely one of the witnesses and will represent Israel and the Old Testament. These two witnesses are, namely, "the word of God" and "the testimony of Jesus Christ," or what we today would call the OT prophetic message and the NT apostolic witness.
　
The candlestick in Zechariah 4:2 represents the nation of Israel while the candlestick in Revelation 1:12-13, 20 represent the church of Jesus Christ. Both John and Zechariah receive the same answer regarding their question as to “what are the two olive trees”. The answer was that “these are the two anointed ones that strand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
　
The Olive Tree in the NT represents the en-grafted wild branches of the Gentiles into the natural Olive Tree.
　
Rom.11:17. “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;”
　
Both the Olive tree and Candlesticks represent the Two Witnesses. The two "peoples of God" will be joined in one Olive Tree.
　
As for the witness that will represent the Church of Christ I believe it will be the Apostle John and here is why.
　
The introductory remarks to the Revelation make evident that in writing this book John bears witness "to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ" (1:2). In fact, his very exile on Patmos is also because of these two entities-"the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (1:9).
　
The following are several more reasons why John was chosen by Jesus to be one of His Two Witnesses, in Jerusalem, during the first half of the Tribulation. He was a witness to every aspect of Christ’s life and ministry, on top of being a witnesses and recorder of end time events.
　
12 MORE REASONS WHY JOHN IS ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES
 
1. WAS A FOLLOWER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
John is the perfect person from the New Testament to be one of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem. He believed in Christ, via John the Baptist’s teachings, before he met Christ.
 
2. PRESENT AT THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
Matt. 24:3 “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
 
3. WAS A WITNESS AT CHRIST’S TRANSFIGURATION
Mark 9:2 “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.”
 
4. WAS WITH CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
Matt. 26:37 “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.”
 
5. MOST BELOVED OF CHRIST’S APOSTLES
John 13:23 “There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
 
6. WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES TO WITNESS THE CRUCIFIXION
John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold your son!”
 
7. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, OF THE TWELVE, TO SEE THE EMPTY TOMB
　
John 20:1-2 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
 
8. WAS A WITNESS AT CHRIST ASCENSION
Matthew 17:1-2 ”And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
 
9. WAS CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN
Rev. 4:1 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
 
10. WAS TOLD HE WOULD WITNESS AGAIN DURING THE TRIBULATION
Rev.10:11 “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
 
11. THE ONLY APOSTLE THAT WAS NOT MARTYRED.
 
12. LIVED THE LONGEST OF ALL THE APOSTLES AND HIS DEATH IS NEVER RECORDED
 
*The Orthodox Church has always believed that John never died. John returned to Ephesus and stayed in the house of Domnus. He converted many and performed miracles. One morning, before dawn, he took some of his followers to a place to pray. Then he ordered them to dig a grave as deep as his height in the form of a cross. He had them cover him with earth to the neck. They kissed him for the last time and placed a napkin over his face, wept bitterly and then covered him entirely. Others soon after, on hearing about this, dug up his grave and found nothing.
The legend is found in "The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints," translated from the Slavonic edition published by the Christian Print Shop of the Transfiguration Alms House in Moscow in 1914. It was translated into English by the Chrysostom Press, P.O. Box 536, House Springs, Mo. 63051 in 1994. P.441.
　
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Upon learning that the two witnesses represent both the Old and New Testaments;the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, led me to see what was so obvious to begin with. John is totally the most likely candidate to represent the Church,having been a witness to Christ's life and ministry in all aspects of it, the author of the Book of Revelation, and was even told, by the Lord, that he would testify again. For me, another important puzzle piece has been fit into place.
 
 
MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL!!
　
Patti C.