Teaching by: Pastor Jeff
Lesson on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l7u0xnUQb2U
Many people interpret the two witnesses as Enoch and Elijah or Moses and Elijah. But when we consider the symbolism and defined symbolism throughout scripture we end up with a much more personal answer to who these two witnesses are. This lesson is the first in a series that has an escatology theme, but drives us to our calling and obligation to deepen our relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. While many watchers believe we are on the doorstep of the tribulation. Even if you don't believe that, I pray that these lessons for followers of Jesus will reawaken the desire to dive deep into Him!
Revelation 11:3-6 NASB
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.
Zechariah 4:1-3
1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”
Theories of Enoch, Elijah, and Moses
Hebrews 9:27 NAS
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Malachi 4:5-6 NASB
"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Matthew 17:9-13 NASB
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
Luke 1:13-17 NASB
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Exodus 7
Read for plagues of: Blood, Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Livestock, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Death of the Firstborn
Matthew 17:1-8 NASB
1 Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Another Theory...
The two witnesses might be the Old and New Testament
Why these theories are easier
If the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah, or Enoch and Elijah; or they are something like the old and new testimate, this removes our responsibility from the matter. If it is someone or something else that does the work, then our need to prepare and witness for the Kingdom of God is removed.
This also allows for a pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. That doesn't mean that pre-tribulation followers of Jesus are wrong about everything, because we are ALL wrong about something. But our job is to look at the Scripture and do our work to understand by reading and the Rhema knowledge from the Holy Spirit about what we need to do and prepare for.
Identity of the Olive Trees and Lampstands
Zechariah 4:11-14
11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Jeremiah 11:16
16 The Lord called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”; With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are worthless. 17 The Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me by offering up sacrifices to Baal.
Romans 11:13-18
13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
Romans 11:23-24
23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
Revelation 1:12,20
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 11:4
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Psalm 44:5
5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
Romans 16:20
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
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