The ‘two witnesses’ prophesy clothed in sackcloth. They are in ‘sack and ashes’ like prophets of punishment and judgement. They are in mourning, deep mourning2 because of the unrighteousness of the City, the land, the people—indeed even of the Temple. The world is full of all kinds of apostasies and actions that go against God and His Word. Yet the message of the ‘two witnesses’ is proclaimed anew and relentlessly every day during the 42 months of trampling underfoot3 and blasphemy.4 Notice the expression: 1260 days of prophetic testimony5 and 1260 days of protection for the persecuted woman.6 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.”7 These are the ‘times of the Gentiles’ that Jesus speaks about when Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot, until ‘the times of the Gentiles’ will be fulfilled.8
Some believe that ‘the times of the Gentiles’ have already been fulfilled when Jerusalem was liberated by the Jews in 1967, because Jerusalem then—after the occupation by Jordan from 1948 to 1967—became one City again, under Jewish administration. However, the holiest part of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount in the heart of the City, upon Mount Zion which is also Mount Moriah, remains under the control of Islam. And many political and religious powers in the world claim the City of Jerusalem for themselves. The Pope lays down his claim for the internationalisation of Jerusalem and the so-called “Holy Places”. The United Nations have not (yet) decided on the status of Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim a section of the city for their ‘capital’, and Europe tends to agree with them.
In short, the ‘times of the Gentiles’ are still full on with regard to the City. And even if the Temple were to be rebuilt for Israel, the City and its ‘forecourt’ are still in Gentile hands, Revelation 11:2.
The ‘two witnesses’ are temporarily all powerful and invulnerable. When Ahaziah, King Ahab’s successor, thinks he is able to summon the prophet Elijah and he sends fifty men to him to bring him in, fire falls from Heaven—twice.9 When Elijah, in the Mount Carmel judgment, stood against the priests of Baal, he prayed for fire from Heaven.10 Two witnesses testify, for the Bible says that every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses: “One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”11
These ‘two witnesses’ stand at the end of the age of the Church and the soon beginning of the Kingship of the Lord over all the earth. Like in the days of the Old Testament they are allowed to wield the power of judgement and punishment to their defence. The New Testament Church though was not allowed to act in this way. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”12 The prophet Jeremiah’s words were made into fire in his mouth and the people of Israel like wood, “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: “Because the people have spoken these words, I will make My words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes. People of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation against you…They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees.
With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”13 Fire came down from Heaven and consumed Nadab and Abihu because they brought strange fire before the face of the Lord.14 Fire consumed the people who complained,15 and the two hundred and fifty men who were in league with Korah, Dathan and Abiram.16 Holiness and fire go together. The Lord appears in fire.17 The Holy Spirit appears as tongues of fire.18 Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.19 Fire consumes, burns clean, purifies and destroys.
• This must refer to a form of real fire. Words like fire, but also literal fire. Fire from Heaven. How otherwise could the two witnesses remain out of the clutches of the troops of the anti-Christian and anti-Semitic police and army? Although their words are as ‘flames of fire’, like that of Elijah, this is accompanied by protective, Heavenly ‘firepower’ that is lethal.
Bible References:
1.NIV 2.Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 20:31; 2 Kings 19:1; Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:1; Job 16:15–16; Psalm 35:13; Isaiah 15:3 and 20 3.Revelation 11:2 4.Revelation 13:5 5.Revelation 11:3 6.Revelation 12:6 7.Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV 8.Luke 21:24 9.2 Kings 1 and Luke 9:54 10.1 Kings 18:23–24 and 36–40 11.Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; Numbers 35:30; Matthew 18:16 12.Luke 9:55–56, Romans 12:17-21 13.Jeremiah 5:14-17 14.Leviticus 10:1–2 15.Numbers 11:1–3 16.Numbers 16:15, 26:10; see also Judges 6:21; Job 1:16 17.Exodus 3:1–4, 19:18, 24:17 18.Acts 2:3 19.Matthew 3:10–12
