Identity of the Two Witnesses: Revelation 11

The significance of two witnesses is to confirm the accuracy of whatever is claimed as being true. According to the Law of Moses, no accusation should be accepted on the testimony of only one witness (Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Num. 35:30). We see this reappear in other contexts of Scripture for the same reason (Matthew 18:16; 1 Tim. 5:19-20, John 8:17).   For this reason, some suppose that these two witnesses are not two historical people, but representative witnesses to confirm the truth of this revelation.      

Let’s see if we can identify them.

1. The context already sets us in Jerusalem in verses 1-2 with the reference to the “holy city,” the “temple,” the “altar” and “those who worship therein.”  In addition, verse eight identifies the city as the one in which “our Lord was crucified.”   
2. They were His witnesses.  They are His witnesses in the same way as Cyrus, King of Persia, was His servant.  They are accomplishing His purpose and fulfilling His agenda.  The two oldest high priests at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction were Ananus, the son of Annas, and Jesus, the son of Gamaliel.  They were often referenced as “the high priests” at this time. 
3. They would prophesy.   John 11:49-51 speaks of Caiphas who was High Priest that year prophesied that it was expedient for one man to die for the nation and that the whole nation perishes not.   I’m not sure he understood his prophecy, but the text reads, “This he said not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation.”  It would not, therefore, be so unusual for these two High Priests to prophesy.  The period of time they would prophesy was three and a half years, according to the Jewish calendar.  This is the same as the 42  months in which the Jews profaned the holy city earlier in the text.    We know from Josephus that Ananus preferred peace because the Romans were not to be conquered.  He believed war was inevitable but that “unless the Jews made up matters very dexterously, they would be destroyed” (Wars IV, v, 2).  
4. Clothed in sackcloth. This was a coarse cloth, usually made of goat’s hair, and was typically a dark color dressed for those in mourning (2 Sam. 3:31, 2 Kings 19:1-2).  These two witnesses were grieved over the condition of Jerusalem and the sacrilege.  It is true that they, themselves, were not the best representatives of truth and righteousness, but they did recognize the blatant disregard for all things holy and a growing sense of the loss of control.  They were seeing a personal loss of position and authority in the city.  The seditious renegades, who cared nothing for God, the city, or the temple, were gaining more power.  
5. These two are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the Lord of the earth.  One common use of the olive oil was to annoint kings and priests into office.   Similar to verse 4 is Zechariah 4:1-14 where Zechariah sees to olive trees beside a golden candlestick.  These two annointed priests stand before the Lord of the whole earth (Zech. 4:14).   Candlesticks or lampstands give off light in the holy place (Ex. 25:31-40).   God’s people, the ekklesia (class of called-out individuals), are lights in the world, illuminating the law of God to the people.  When they failed in this assignment, they were under God’s wrath (Mal. 2:7-9).   These two candlesticks were chosen in the midst of their generation to illumine and serve the people as His annointed
6. If anyone desired to hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies.  The high priests were the elected ethnarchs of the Jewish people (1 Macc. 14:41-47) during the Maccabean period.  In the Roman era of power, high priests were the political governors who were second only to Rome and the Herods (cf. Acts 5:17-42; 12:1-3, 23:1-10, Matt. 27:1-2).    Their harsh judgments are depicted here as fire that proceeds out of their  mouth.
7. They have the power to shut the heaven that it rain not during the days of their prophecy.  Siloam was the only water supply of any significance.  In times of drought, water had to be brought in.  There was a severe drought during the 3 1/2 year siege.  This was one of the curses of the law found in Deuteronomy 28:23-61 (v. 23).  
8. Power over waters to turn them into blood and smite the earth with every plague as often as they desire.   Much evil was introduced by the High Priests. Judgment of God would come in the form of many plagues. 

(To Be Continued)