Coming soon, introducing the Two Witnesses!

Who are these two witnesses who testify for one thousand two hundred and sixty days during the great tribulation? 

image credit

Revelation 11 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Why two witnesses?

Deuteronomy 19:15

[ The Law Concerning Witnesses ] “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

2 Corinthians 13:1

[ Coming with Authority ] This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

Who are the two witnesses? The Bible only names one and that is Elijah.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

Many believe the witnesses will be Elijah and Moses because of the powers they exhibit in bringing forth plagues. I don't think Moses will be one of them based on the following Scriptures.

Hebrews 9:26-28 King James Version (KJV)

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

In verse 27 we see:  'And as it is appointed unto men once to die'; Elijah has not died but Moses died at the age of 120 years and was buried.

Deuteronomy 34:4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Christian are looking for Christ to return? In Hebrews 9:28 we are told He will appear only to those who are looking for His return unto salvation. Don't let the enemy distract you with all the current chaotic events.

Hebrews 9:27 caused me to ask a question, who else might have gone directly to heaven without dying? 

Elijah departed earth alive in a whirlwind to heaven.

2 Kings 2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2 Kings 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

My search of the Bible for a second person that went directly to heaven without dying, lead me to Enoch. Could Enoch be the second witness mentioned in Revelation 11? Yes, I think so.

Genesis 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

In summary I believe the two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch:

God tells us in His Word that He is sending Elijah before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. Elijah was taken alive into heaven in a whirlwind and has not experienced physical death. As one of the two witnesses, he will experience death at the completion of his 1,260 days of testimony. Refer to Revelation 11:7

Moses died at the age of 120 years, as we are told in Deuteronomy 34:5-6, and was buried. For him to die a second time at the end of 1,260 days would be contrary to God's Word as it is related in Hebrews 9:27; men only die once then the judgment. Based on this observation, I do not believe Moses is one of the two witnesses.

Enoch was translated to heaven so he would not see death as we are told in Hebrews 11:5 and Genesis 5:23. Enoch will also die at the completion of his 1,260 days of testimony alongside of Elijah. Refer to Revelation 11:7