The Two Witnesses

[Christian]

I would really like to know what other people think of this in Chapter in Revelation(chapter 11) because it seems as though this is a central theme running through the bible

In this chapter you have two witnesses which have a testimony to a city and when their message is completed the city is overthrown. What's interesting is that within this chapter both Sodom and Egypt are mentioned, the interesting thing about this is that within the Bible both Sodom and Egypt received two witnesses that had a message of the cities destruction and when their testimony was completed the cities were destroyed. Wow!

What is even more fascinating is that chapter eleven in revelation is surrounded by the seven trumpets of revelation of which the last, the seventh, ends at the conclusion of chapter eleven in which the city fell. Now work your biblical knowledge what other city within the old testament was encompassed by seven trumpets of which at the conclusion and blowing of seven trumpets it did fall. Jericho right? in Joshua 6 you have the account. And did it also receive two witnesses who had a message of it's destruction? :D absolutely.

Isn't it amazing :)

[Christian]

It's also interesting to note that the chharacteristics given to the two witnesses remind one a great deal of Moses and Elijah

"These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the time of their prophecy(Elijah did this) and have power over waters to turn them to blood(Moses did this), and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will"

Also in verse 4 a further characterization is given

"These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth" Rev 11:4

Now when you go to Zechariah 4:3-6 we find out what these two olive trees are

"and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying what are these my lord?"

"Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, knowest thou not what these be? and I said, no, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying This is the word of the Lord..."

So we understand from this cross referencing of texts that the two witnesses which are the two olive trees are in fact the word of the Lord. In fact the word of the Lord in the New Testament times were the Law(the Torah, first five books of Moses) and the Prophets of which the name of Moses was often used to refer to the Law, so it is not surprising that Moses and Elijah are used here as symbols.

But is there not one other who is the word of God in the bible?

"In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God" "and the word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth"

Jesus of course, he is the word of God.

The fascinating thing about this is that if you look at the lives of Moses and Elijah then they each parallel the life of Jesus, in different ways but quite considerably.

Just for example: Moses' first plague was to turn the water into blood wheras Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine which he later at the passover states that "this is my blood".

Jesus' ministry was for 3 1/2 years at the conclusion of which there was his sacrifice and then the pentecostal rain came just like Elijah who after 3 1/2 years of no rain had the final showdown with the prophets of Baal in commiting a sacrifice on Mount Carmel which God accepted and then the rain came (and there are many more parallels)

So you have Moses and Elijah both paralleling Jesus' ministry who after this are both shown in this chapter 11 of Revelation as the word of God paralleling Jesus' ministry once more

They have a 3 1/2 years ministry
The beast out of the bottomless pit makes war against them(just like the prince of this world came against Jesus) and kills them
They are ressurrected and ascend to heaven in a cloud (Just like Jesus)

Ok I think I have written enough, but really when you read this are you not at least a little amazed at the inherent coherency within the Bible? Who would honestly waste their time to fabricate this if it were a lie?

Isn't it more likely that it is the TRUTH and that you can be saved and a have place in heaven with the angels and with God if you will only accept it and live accordingly.

[Christian]

Excuse me, just need to place this here