Hi jfh,
Thank you for all of your kind words. First of all, I want to say that I have not posted on Fivedoves for quite awhile and someone else has been posting in my name. Fortunately, they are sending information from my website, so I have to say that I am in agreement with what is being posted and happy to respond.
I am not completely certain who the 2 witnesses are in Rev 11, but I believe that what I have written on my website concerning them is the correct interpretation of those verses. But only the Lord knows for certain. http://jesusiscoming2016.webs.com/thetwowitnesses.htm
One of my biggest concerns is that if I am correct, and the Rapture does take place this fall, and the Great Tribulation is shortened to 3 years in length to fulfill the 9th plague (3 days of darkness), that many people who are left behind will not believe that it is actually the final 3 years because they do not see 2 old men hanging out in Jerusalem wearing sackcloth, blowing fire out of their mouths. I believe this is going to be a MAJOR distraction for Christians left behind who interpret Revelation 11 to mean that 2 people will be in Israel blowing fire out of their mouths and wearing sackcloth for the 1260 day Tribulation period.
And why is it important that they know that the Great Tribulation does not last for 7 years? Well, if I were left behind, I think I would like to know that I only had to endure what was happening for 3 years and not 7.
Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
If what I have written on my website and in my videos is going to make a major difference after the Rapture, then the Church needs to understand where they are at on God's timeline and how much time they have left. And if they do not see 2 prophets in Israel, most are not going to believe they can be in the final half of the 7 years, because they obviously did not show up during the first half. I foresee these verses in Rev 11 being a major stumbling block for those who are only willing to take these verses literally and not symbolically and therefore I felt that it was important to share on my website who I believe these 2 witnesses are and what they represent.
I actually hope I'm wrong and that 2 men do appear in sackcloth and go around blowing fire out of their mouths! That would be an awesome sign from the Lord, wouldn't it?!?! The problem is that in Christ's first coming, so many who were watching for the Messiah missed him because they thought they had it all figured out and He was so much different than what they were expecting, and yet fulfilled every prophecy about Him. Revelation is not an easy book to understand and it takes "revelation" from the Lord to interpret many of these symbolic things that are found throughout the book, as well as allowing Scripture to interpret other Scripture. We must keep an open mind and allow God to do things differently than what we expect or have been told, because that's the way He likes to do things.
There are many foreshadows in the Bible that are examples for us of things to come. It is possible that Jesus and John the Baptist were foreshadowing the 2 witnesses because of their ministries lasting for 3 1/2 years and they were both killed. Obviously, Moses and Elijah are foreshadowing these 2 witnesses as well because they were the 2 who turned water into blood and shut the sky so that it did not rain, the 2 specific things that are mentioned about the 2 witnesses.
There are so many different ideas about who these 2 witnesses are, and God knows for certain who they are. My main concern is that we keep an open mind and not be dogmatic about who these 2 witnesses are and if they don't appear in the way we expect them to, that does not mean that they are not there and that the prophecies are not being fulfilled.
Blessings,
Renee
Renee M,
I believe these two witnesses are John the Baptist and Jesus. There are many witnesses today, and since Pentecost. That is what all believers are commanded to do. [Mark 16:15-20] Their ministry was ca. 3.5 years or 1260 days. [1260 ÷ 3.5 years = 360 prophetic years]
Rev. 11:3 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Zech. 4:12 [KJV] “What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?”
I believe these two witnesses are John and Jesus. They were both filled with the Holy Spirit: John was filled from his mother’s womb, and, of course, Jesus was the Holy Spirit [Emmanuel or God with us]. God is a spirit.
They both gave their lives: John was beheaded and Jesus was crucified. Oil represents the Holy Spirit. So they spilled out their golden oil for us. The Messenger and the Message performed their task almost 2,000 years ago. All we have to do is repent, receive and believe: and watch for His 2nd coming.
May God bless you and all in your needs and desires, jfh