April 6, 2022
These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. Revelation 11:6
Investigating the identity of the two witnesses brings to mind events from the past experienced by God’s people. Israel’s legal system required at least two witnesses to establish a case. Jesus sent out disciples two-by-two for the preaching of the gospel (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1). The power to shut heaven takes us back to Elijah and the wicked leadership in Israel (1 Kings 17). For three and a half years there was no rain, quite literally. Rain symbolizes the Word of God, the rejection of which results in spiritual draught. A mind closed to God cannot receive His words of instruction. This time period corresponds to the length of the ministry of Jesus, and in prophetic reckoning (day/year principle), the length of the ministry of the two witnesses in sackcloth (v.3). The waters…to blood and the plagues take us back to Moses in Egypt as he faithfully witnessed before the wicked Pharaoh (Exodus 7-11).
The parallels to Joshua and Zerubbabel we saw in verse 4 and to Elijah and Moses in verses 5 and 6 are encouragements to see the powerful lessons of Yahweh’s faithful ones of the past. His people today are to be in earnest, daily preparation for the ministering of His Word on the earth, as they (we) minister daily! The two witnesses are not Elijah and Moses reincarnated, as many are teaching today*. Rather, they are representative of the role of today’s witnesses until Jesus returns at the end of the age. The same divine power that accompanied His faithful witnesses in the past is with us who bear faithful witness in these last days. God’s Word, like the breath of life, animates His people in every age (see Job 33:4).
The two witnesses are the people of God, living by His Word. Lest anyone be tempted by Satan to misuse authority given to us by the Lord Jesus, remember the reality of other spirits at work in the fallen world. Be on guard, for our archenemy aims especially at Christians to lead them astray. Unbelievers will show disrespect for our Savior. Their greatest need is to be saved!
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” Luke 9:54-56
*This false teaching undermines God’s principle of personal responsibility of witnessing for Him