revelation 11, the two witnesses, part two

revelation 11, measuring the temple
revelation 11, the two witnesses

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 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. Rev 11:3-6

Last time we began seeing other places in the Scriptures, besides Zec 4, Rom 11, and Rev 11, where the two witnesses, Ephraim (Gentiles or Christians) and Judah (Jews), witness of God. One instance is in Num 13-14, where two spies agree with God (witness) about entering the Promised Land, while ten encourage the children of Israel to reject God. The two are Joshua and Caleb, the spies from Ephraim and Judah.

Then, Jesus tells the parable of two sons in Luk 15:11-32. The younger goes away to the Gentiles and squanders his Father’s inheritance, with Law-less living, and ends up in the pig pen (Ephraim or the Gentiles). The elder remains in his Father’s house and does the will (Law) of his Father (Judah or the Jews). But one day the younger comes to his senses, and decides to return to his Father. His Father receives him with open arms, even though the elder resents the younger until the Father comes and pleads with him. But the end result is both brothers in a unified house under the headship of the Father.

Also, two witnesses appear with Jesus when He is transfigured. They are Moses, and Elijah. Hey, the analogy breaks down, Moses was of Levi, even if Elijah was of Ephraim. But does it? Moses represents the Law of God, His teaching, His ways, His paths of righteousness — the letter of the law, the circumcision of the flesh. He corresponds to the Jews. Elijah represents the Spirit of God, the power of God, the life which infuses the letter with true holiness, the circumcision of the heart. Elijah was the prophet to the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) and he corresponds to the Gentiles or Christians.

“And the disciples asked him, ‘Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?’ He answered, ‘Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.’” Mat 17:10-11

Elijah, who Jesus said came in John the Baptist, heralded the first coming of the Messiah, and the rabbis today say that he will herald the (second) coming of the Messiah. Speaking of this, Jesus said that when he does come, he will restore all things. Perhaps even Judah to their Messiah? For Paul says, when that happens, the end of the age — the resurrection— is upon us.

Two witnesses, two ekklesia, who testify of God. Each have a testament. One day they will be made one and their message unified. The house of Judah will embrace the Messiah and His grace, and the house of Ephraim will walk, live, act in the ways of the righteousness of God written in Torah by the power of the Holy Spirit.

revelation 11, the two witnesses, part three
revelation 11, the two witnesses, part four
revelation 11, the great earthquake
revelation 11, the seventh trumpet

Return to revelation index of studies

Christine’s book The Revelation of Jesus Christ Revealed, based on these studies but greatly expanded, is now available at Revelation Revealed Online. You may also be interested in reading the Book Extras and joining in on the Discussion.