Previously: Revelation 11: two witnesses concluded, part one
First post in the Revelation series
Last time we began seeing other places in the Scriptures, besides Zechariah 4, Romans 11, and Revelation 11, where the two witnesses, Ephraim (Gentiles) and Judah (Jews), witness of God. One instance is in Numbers 13 and 14, where two spies agree (witness) with God 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 Luke 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 brother 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, and Elijah of ? 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.'” Matthew 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 by the power of the Holy Spirit.
To be continued …
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Update: continued in Revelation: correction
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