Who Are the Two Witnesses?

Maria Merola אריאל 

© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, July 2004

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We have all noticed (when reading the book of Revelation), that it is full of symbolism and mystery. However, most (if not all) of the book of Revelation cannot be understood properly without first consulting the Towrah & Prophets (from Genesis to Malachi). 

I learned early-on in my study of Revelation, that deciphering these prophetic pictures requires going back to the beginning in Genesis, and continuing into the books of the prophets to look for clues. The heavenly messenger described to the Apostle Yahuwchanon (John) “Two Witnesses” that will be conducting a final end-time evangelistic outreach to the world.

Theologians and bible scholars have debated and speculated for centuries about these elusive figures, supposing that they are a reincarnation of Moses & Elijah. 

Some have even postulated the two witnesses could be Enoch and Elijah, since neither one of these men seem to have died in the conventional way. However, we are told that flesh and blood cannot enter into the dimension of eternity:

1st Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohiym; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

What this means, is that Elijah and Enoch had to die to their mortal bodies on way up. We are told in 1st Corinthians 15:44, that when a righteous person in Messiah dies, his spirit/soul (neshema) immediately goes to Paradise in a spiritual body. 

However, the resurrection of all the righteous will collectively be given glorified bodies “At the last day”  (Ezekiel 37:4-14; John 6:40, 44 & 54). To fully understand what happens to the righteous when they die, please read my other blog: Where Do Redeemed Souls Go When They Die?

In Malachi 4:4-5, we are told that before Messiah returns to earth, Eliyahuw (Elijah) must come first, to prepare the way:

Malachi 4:4-5 “..Remember you the Towrah of Mosheh my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Yisra’el, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Eliyahuw (Elijah) the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YHWH.”  

But does this prophecy mean that Elijah will return to earth in the flesh, and then be killed a second time by the beast? This is not possible, because reincarnation is not a concept found in Scripture. 

Hebrews 9:27 tells us “...It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.”

The Birth of John the Baptist

It is important to understand that Yahuwchanon (John the Baptist) was an intermediate fulfillment of the Malachi 4:5 prophecy at Messiah’s first coming. John’s parents had been unable to bear children, until his father (Zechariah), received a miraculous visitation while serving as a priest in the Temple. The details can be found in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel (Luke 1:5-17).

It was during this supernatural visitation, that the malak (angel) Gabriel told John’s father, that his son would come in the “Spirit of Eliyahuw!” 

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Eliyahuw (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for YHWH.

Because of this, the religious leaders in the days of Yahuwchanon (John), asked him “Are you Elijah?” John’s answer was simple and straightforward: “I am not” (John 1:21). This would seem to settle the matter, and put an end to any controversy. 

Later, however, Yahuwshuwa said of John the Baptist: “And if you will receive it, this is Eliyahuw (Elijah) which was to come. He that has ears to hear, them him hear.”

In other words, even though John was not a reincarnation of the prophet Eliyahuw (Elijah), he came in the same anointing as Elijah!

In the same way that John was an intermediate fulfillment of the Malachi 4:5 prophecy, (without being a reincarnation of Elijah), the same thing will be true of the Two Witnesses in the future. They cannot literally be Moses, Elijah or Enoch. I will explain more about this as we progress in this teaching.

We must ask ourselves this question “If Revelation 11:7 tells us that the beast makes war against these two witnesses and kills them, how can they be Moses & Elijah reincarnated?”

Stay with me, and you will understand who these Two Witnesses are. When I first began to study the book of Revelation, this verse jumped out at me, like a flashing neon sign:

Hazown (Revelation) 11:4 These are the two candlesticks and the two olive trees standing before the Elohiym of the whole earth.

I could not help but envision two olive trees and two lampstands or menorahs!

This was my first clue, that these Two Witnesses could not be describing two individual men. Why would Yah use four objects to describe two individuals? It didn’t make sense to me.

But then I remembered that the nation of Yisra’el is likened unto an “olive tree.” That’s when I did a keyword search for all the places in Scripture where it mentions “an olive tree,” or “olive trees.” I discovered that the first time an olive tree is mentioned, it is used as a metaphor for Yisra’el: 

Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 11:16 YHWH called your name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

However, after King Solomon died, Yisra’el became divided into Two Kingdoms: 

1.) The Two Southern Tribes of Judah & Benjamin. 

2.) The Ten Northern Tribes of Ephrayim/Joseph. 

That would explain why we find Yisra’el being described as “Two Olive Trees,” after 1st Kings chapter 12.

The next time we see Two Olive Trees is in Zechariah & Ezekiel.

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:2 And said unto me, What see you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:4  So I answered and spoke to the malak (messenger) that talked with me, saying, What are these, my master?  

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:5  Then the malak (messenger) that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my master.  

By the end of the chapter, Zechariah asks the malak (messenger) about the identity of these two olive trees. He not only asks him once, but twice:

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my master.  

Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Master of the whole earth. 

What is interesting about verse 14, is that the King James Version says “two anointed ones.” However, in Hebrew, it says “beyn yitshar,” which means “two anointed sons!”

Why is that significant? Because in Exodus 4:22, YaHuWaH calls the nation of Yisra’el “MY SON!” In Jeremiah 31:9, he calls the nation of Yisra’el “MY FIRST-BORN SON!”

To see more examples of these “two anointed sons,” portrayed as the Two Spies (Joshua & Caleb), see my other blog entitled: “What is the Double Portion Inheritance?”

In Ephesians 2:15, the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) calls the redeemed Jews & Gentiles in Messiah “ONE NEW MAN!”

Therefore, we should be able to figure this out. The “two anointed sons” are not individual men, but the anointed ones from among these two nations! 

In Ezekiel 37, it is important to read the first 14 verses to understand who is being described in verses 16-19. In Ezekiel 37:1-14, YaHuWaH tells the prophet to speak to the dry bones, and to prophesy to them, breathing upon the dead bones (verse 9). 

In verse 10, after Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones, they came back to life, and new skin, and flesh was placed upon them. Then, he is told the identity of these dry bones, now resurrected:

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.  

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Yisra’el: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 

*Explanation: Did you see who they are? This GREAT ARMY IS the WHOLE HOUSE OF YISRAEL! 

Now we can understand who the “two sticks” are in Ezekiel 37:16-19. Additionally, we see this same “ARMY” returning on white horses with Messiah at his return in Revelation 19:7-14. 

This “army” is the bride of Messiah, as she is “Clothed in white linen fine and clean,” which is the righteousness of the qodeshiym (saints).

In the next verses of Ezekiel 37, it is important to look up the meaning of the word “stick” in Hebrew. It is #6086 “ets” in the Hebrew Lexicon & Concordance, and it literally means “tree!” 

But what is even more telling, is that each individual “tree” or “stick” represents one nation. One stick (tree) is for the Kingdom of Judah, and the other stick (tree) is for the Kingdom of Ephrayim, and for the whole house of Yisra’el. 

This completely disqualifies the notion that the “Two Olive Trees” in Revelation 11 are two individual men. While I do believe there may be two individuals who represent each of the two nations or kingdoms, there is no doubt that each “tree” represents a nation.

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:16 Moreover, you son of man, take you one tree (stick), and write upon it, For Yahuwdah (Judah), and for the children of Yisra’el his companions: then take another tree (stick), and write upon it, For Yahuwceph (Joseph), the stick of Ephrayim and for all the house of Yisra’el his companions:

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:17 And join them one to another into one tree (stick); and they shall become one in your hand.

Another witness in Scripture can be found in the epistle of Sha’uwl (Paul) to the Romans. Once, again, this same “typology” describes the nation of Yisra’el:

Romiym (Romans) 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Romiym (Romans) 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.

Romiym (Romans) 11:19 You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Romiym (Romans) 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

Romiym (Romans) 11:21 For if Elohiym spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you.

We can now see who these “Two Olive Trees” are!

Yahuwshuwa revealed to us the mystery of the “seven candlesticks” or menorahs in Revelation 1:20. He said they represent the “seven congregations” in Asia Minor.

When reading the first three chapters of Revelation, our Messiah had words of rebuke for five out of seven assemblies. 

Out of those seven assemblies, only two congregations were not rebuked, but instead, they were commended for their “works.” 

Who are they? Smyrna & Philadelphia!

These TWO WITNESSES include the two overcoming assemblies, or the TWO CANDLESTICKS!

They are FOUR GROUPS of people coming together! 

We can also interpret these “Two Witnesses” as two different elements, such as “spirit & truth” or “wisdom & revelation” also, “Towrah & Prophets.”

In other words, we are going to see “balance” with both the “written word,” as well as “gifts of the spirit” in operation. These two witnesses will operate in both! 

They will have the baptism in the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit) & fire with signs and wonders following, but they also obey the Towrah!

These two witnesses in Revelation 11:6 will also do the same exploits as Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah), because they carry the same anointing as Moses & Elijah. 

Generally-speaking the Yahuwdiym (Jews) have an emphasis on the Towrah (law), while the born-again gentiles have an emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit. Together, these two elements will make up THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING!

When these former gentiles, who follow Messiah (typified in Ephrayim), come together with the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) as ONE NEW MAN (Ephesians 2:15), and ONE STICK (Ezekiel 37:16-17), they will become a corporate body of believers who will carry the DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING OF MOSES & ELIJAH!

Every month on a lunar cycle, there is a new moon called “Rosh Chodesh” (head of the month), and for seven months, there is a trumpet sounded to usher in the new month (Numbers 10:10). 

In the “seventh month” of Ethaniym (Tishri), when the “seventh messenger” sounds the shofar, this is when the “The Two Witnesses” will be resurrected! 

This is the very same “LAST TRUMPET” in 1^st Corinthians 15:51-53, where the chosen ones are caught up and changed!

In other words, these Two Witnesses are the “overcoming congregations” of Smyrna & Philadelphia (symbolized by two menorahs/candlesticks). The “Two Houses of Yisra’el,” (Ephrayim & Judah) are symbolized by these two olive trees.

These “Two Witnesses” are NOT Moses & Elijah (literally speaking), as many theologians have taught us. Neither is it Enoch, which many people have speculated on. While I do believe that the two witnesses may have two individual men that will  represent them, there will also be “two groups of people” that will come out of four groups of people, representing “Two Houses of Yisra’el, & Two Congregations.”

In other words, when Philadelphia & Smyrna come out of the Mother Harlot Church system, they will join themselves to the Two Houses of Yisra’el, and will become their “companions.” Thus they will be part of the corporate “Two Witnesses” instead of four witnesses.

We already know who “The Two Olive Trees” are, as we have just seen in Jeremiah 11:16 that Yisra’el was named “An olive tree.” Yisra’el later-on split into two separate nations in 1^st Kings 12, and became known as “The House of Judah” (Two Southern Tribes), and “The House of Ephrayim” (Ten Northern Tribes).

In Ezekiel 37:16-17 we see the same thing again with “The Stick of Ephrayim & The Stick of Judah.” As I illustrated earlier, the word “stick” in this prophecy is the Hebrew word “ets” which means “tree.” This is how we know that these two witnesses are “Both Houses of Yisra’el” (Isaiah 8:14).

The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) also described “TWO OLIVE BRANCHES” in Romans 11, when he referred to them as “The wild olive tree” (returning Gentiles) and the “The natural olive tree” (Yahuwdiym or Jews) being grafted into one olive tree.

In Revelation 1:20, Yahuwshuwa likened the “seven congregations” to CANDLESTICKS!

Hazown (Revelation) 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the malakiym (messengers) of the seven assemblies: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven assemblies.

Hence, the “two candlesticks” represent these two assemblies who “Overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). In other words they overcome the sinful nature by accepting the blood of the Lamb as atonement for their sins. 

But they also obey the “commandments,” because they have the “two tablets of testimony” deposited into their hearts, as a sign of the Renewed Marriage Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).

When these two overcoming assemblies join the Two Houses of Yisra’el, they will become the corporate two witnesses in the earth, for they will operate in both “spirit and truth!” 

But after these two witnesses resurrect, they will become “ONE NEW MAN,” (Ephesians 2:15), as they are the ones found worthy to become recipients of the “FIRST RESURRECTION” (Revelation 20:6) at the “LAST TRUMPET!”

Yahuwshuwa said in Matthew 24:31 that all of this will happen “WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET” (the last one), “Immediately AFTER the Tribulation!”

There Are Several Reasons Why neither Elijah, nor Enoch, nor Moses can be the “Two Witnesses,” Literally Speaking

1.) In Revelation 11:7, we are shown that the ministry of the two witnesses ends after 1,260 days, because the beast shall over come them and kill them. This means that the two witnesses would have to put on corruptible (mortal) flesh again, which means reincarnation. Scripture does not support the idea of reincarnation. It says in Hebrews 9:27 “...It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.”

2.) Eliyahuw (Elijah) was taken up in a whirlwind by a chariot, but he had to put on incorruptible (immortal) flesh in order to inherit the Kingdom of Elohiym. In 1^st Corinthians 15:50 we are told that “...flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohiym.”

Some people argue that Eliyahuw (Elijah) was “taken to another place,” and not to heaven, as seen in 2^nd Chronicles 21:12-20. We read in this account that Eliyahuw had been taken some place else,  yet ten years later, he wrote a letter to the King of Judah. But Eliyahuw did not remain alive forever. He had to die to his mortal body at some point, but nobody knows when, because Scripture never tells us when he died.

However, we also see Eliyahuw (Elijah) at “The Mount of Transfiguration” with Mosheh (Moses), standing between our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa (Matthew 17:3-4). Therefore, both Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah) were seen in their spiritual bodies, because they were able to materialize, and then disappear. 

In Luke 16, Yahuwshuwa described a place called “Abraham’s Bosom” where all righteous souls went while they were awaiting Messiah’s blood sacrifice. 

After his sacrifice for us on the cross (the two trees or two sticks), he would then go into “The lower parts of the earth” so that he could give them “The gift of salvation” (Ephesians 4:8-9).

Regardless of where Mosheh & Eliyahuw were at, (from the time that they both departed from this earth), the fact remains, that Mosheh & Eliyahuw have a spiritual body, which houses their “neshema” (spirit and soul).

In 1st Corinthians 15:44, Shauwl (Paul) explained that we have a natural body (that decays in the ground when we die). And we also have a spiritual body, which houses our spirit and soul (neshema), while we await the final end-time resurrection, as described in Ezekiel 37:1-14. Once the righteous are resurrected, they will receive an immortal, incorruptible body (1st Corinthians 15:52-54).

Therefore, Moses & Elijah will not go back to being mortals again, so that they can be killed by the beast, as described in Revelation 11:7.

3.) Mosheh (Moses) died, although there was a dispute over his body between the angels/messengers (Jude 1:9). But Joshua 1:2 says “Moses my servant is dead....”  Therefore, we know that he died.

It is also entirely possible that the two witnesses will be headed up by two individual men who come in the same “anointing” as Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah). Revelation 11:6 tells us that these men do the same exploits as Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah). Here is what it says:

Hazown (Revelation) 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy [Elijah]: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues [Moses], as often as they will.

This is how we know that the two witnesses “Come in the spirit and power” of Eliyahuw & Mosheh (Elijah & Moses). 

Just as in the days when Yahuwchanon (John) the Baptist fulfilled his ministry calling, our Messiah declared that he was “The Elijah” that they had expected. However, Yahuwchanon (John) denied that he was “Elijah.” 

Was John contradicting our Messiah? No! They were both telling the truth. John was telling the truth when he said that he was not literally “Elijah” reincarnated. And Yahuwshuwa was telling the truth when he described John as one who came in the “role” of Eliyahuw! 

Therefore, he came in the “Spirit and power of Eliyahuw” (Luke 1:17). The same thing will be true of these two witnesses.

We have established that these two witnesses the “Two Houses of Yisra’el” (Ephrayim & Yahuwdah), and they have gentile companions who will join them, which are the “two candlesticks” (Smyrna & Philadelphia). 

These “two witnesses” (corporately speaking), will become a powerful force in the last days, because they will prophesy against the beast for 1,260 days. After they are killed in Revelation 11:7, it says that these two witnesses are then “Taken up to heaven!” 

In the next chapter (Revelation 12), we see a mysterious pregnant woman, and she gives birth to “a man-child.” 

Who is this woman? And who is this man-child?

This woman with a crown of twelve stars around her head (symbolic of the twelve tribes), is none other than “Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all!” (Galatians 4:26). The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) gave us a hint about this woman in 1st Timothy 2:14-15. Speaking about Eve (the mother of all the living), he made this peculiar statement, which had baffled me for years:

1st Timothy 2:14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.  

1st Timothy 2:15  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 

This woman represents Eve, who is called “The mother of the living” (Genesis 3:20). However, in Isaiah 66:7-14 & Galatians 4:26, it is Jerusalem that is referred to as “The mother of us all!” 

Hazown (Revelation) 3:12  Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my Elohiym, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my Elohiym, and the name of the city of my Elohiym, which is new Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), which comes down out of heaven from my Elohiym: and I will write upon him my new name. 

Even though Jerusalem in the last days becomes the epicenter for the One World Religion of Anti-Messiah, there will remain a remnant who will be saved. In Zechariah 13:9 & Ezekiel 5:2-12, the prophet described “one third” that will be saved, while the other “two-thirds” will perish, and be lost to the Anti-Messiah. 

This is also explained in Ezekiel chapter 9, as those who receive the “Mark of YaHuWaH” will be saved, for they “sigh and cry against the abominations” that are being done in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation.

Jerusalem will therefore be saved, when she gives birth to the “one new man,” spoken of in Ephesians 2:15. These are the same “two witnesses” (made up of Jewish & Gentile believers in Messiah), and when she (Jerusalem) gives birth to them, they shall be resurrected, and taken up to heaven, and to the throne of Elohiym!

Hazown (Revelation) 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto Elohiym, and to his throne. 

These two witnesses shall become the resurrected “One new man,” and they will rule and reign together with Messiah for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

This prophecy in Revelation 12 is also about the birth of our Messiah in the past, as he is the prototype for the “The man-child.” However, his bride will also follow in his same pattern (see Romans 6:3-5).

To learn more about our Messiah’s birth on the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), see my other two blogs on the subject:

When Was the Messiah of Israel Born? 

When Was the Real Messiah Born & Why Does it Matter?

Revelation 11:15 tells us that as soon as these two witnesses are taken up to heaven “The seventh angel is sounded!” 

And guess which trumpet that is? It is the very same “Last Trumpet” spoken of in 1^st Corinthians 15:50-52 & Matthew 24:29. This is precisely when Yahuwshuwa shall gather his elect “With the great sound of a trumpet!”

And Yahuwshuwa said this is all going to happen “Immediately AFTER the 1,260 days of tribulation!”