Revelation 11:3-14 - The Two Witnesses - Bible Studies With Mark

 

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. [Rev 11:3-14 ESV] 

 

There is much debate around the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3–14. This visually intense passage describes the appearance, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Two Witnesses during a period of great tribulation.

The Two Witnesses

The text introduces two individuals granted authority by God to prophesy for 1,260 days (3.5 years). They are described using heavy symbolism:

• The Two Olive Trees and Lampstands: This imagery pulls from Zechariah 4, symbolizing that these witnesses are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring light to a dark world.

• Supernatural Protection: If anyone tries to harm them, "fire proceeds from their mouth" to consume their enemies.

• Miraculous Authority: They have the power to shut the sky (no rain), turn water into blood, and strike the earth with plagues.

But, who are they? The identity of the two witnesses is one of the most intriguing mysteries in eschatology. While the Bible doesn't explicitly name them, there are two interpretations we will consider based on clues in the text.

1. Moses and Elijah (The Most Common View)

Many point to Moses and Elijah because the miracles performed by the witnesses in Revelation 11 directly mirror the famous signs from their ministries:

• The Miracles: Like Moses, they turn water into blood and strike the earth with plagues. Like Elijah, they have the power to "shut the sky" so it does not rain and they use fire to consume their enemies.

• The Transfiguration: Both appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17), suggesting they serve as the ultimate representatives of God’s authority.

• Symbolism: Together, they represent The Law (Moses) and The Prophets (Elijah).

2. Enoch and Elijah (The "Deathless" View)

This view is based on the idea that "it is appointed for men to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). Since Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven without dying, it is logical to think that these two men could be the two witnesses. Proponents of this view argue that these two must return to earth to complete their ministry and experience physical death as the witnesses do in Revelation 11:7.

Regardless of their names, the text gives us specific "ID badges" for them. The "Two Olive Trees" refers back to Zechariah 4, where two "anointed ones" stand by the Lord of the whole earth. They appear for exactly 1,260 days (3.5 years), which aligns with the second half of the tribulation period in many prophetic timelines.

Testimony and Death

Once their testimony is finished—and not a moment sooner—God allows them to be overcome. The Beast from the Abyss rises to make war against them and kill them. Their bodies lie in the street of "the great city" (symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where Jesus was crucified, i.e., Jerusalem) for three and a half days. Because these prophets "tormented" the inhabitants of the earth with their call to repentance, the world celebrates their death by sending gifts to one another.

Resurrection

The celebration is short-lived. In a dramatic reversal that mirrors the Gospel, God breathes life back into them after 3.5 days. They stand on their feet, striking "great fear" into those watching. A loud voice from heaven says, "Come up here." They ascend in a cloud while their enemies watch, a public vindication of their message.

Judgment

The departure of the witnesses is immediately followed by divine judgment. A great earthquake causes a tenth of the city to fall, resulting in the death of 7,000 people. Interestingly, the survivors are terrified and "gave glory to the God of heaven." This marks the conclusion of the Second Woe (the sixth trumpet).

Key Takeaways

• At the end of the matter, the identity of the two witnesses does not matter. God’s plan for the second woe is set and knowing the “who” (or “what”) of the witnesses will not change anything.

• God never leaves Himself without a witness, even in the darkest times. The witnesses do not work on their own; they are "granted authority" (v. 3). Their power is specifically tied to the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the "two olive trees."

• No one can harm the witnesses until their "testimony is finished" (v. 7). This suggests that God’s servants are immortal in their purpose until their specific mission is accomplished.

• The reaction of the "inhabitants of the earth" reveals the deep-seated rebellion of humanity. The world finds the message of the witnesses "tormenting" (v. 10). This highlights that the truth often feels like an assault to those who wish to remain in sin. The exchanging of gifts and celebrating mimics a perverted version of a holy day (like Purim or Christmas), showing how far human morality has drifted.

• The journey of the two witnesses intentionally mirrors the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus:

  • They are killed in the city where their Lord was crucified.

  • After three and a half days, God breathes life into them.

  • They are called up to heaven in a cloud, providing a visible sign of God’s final victory over death and the Beast.

  • The passage concludes with a great earthquake and the "second woe." Unlike previous judgments where people cursed God, here the survivors are "terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (v. 13). This indicates that the combination of the witnesses' testimony and the visible judgment finally breaks through the world's indifference.

Revelation 11:3–14 teaches that while the followers of God may face intense persecution and even death, their testimony is divinely empowered, and their ultimate vindication is guaranteed by God Himself.