The Two Witnesses Revelation 11:1-6 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO of Two Tribulation Witnesses

In Revelation 11, the Lord tells John to measure the temple of God and then he reveals to him details about two tribulation witnesses who prophesy for the last 42 months of the tribulation.  First, we’ll study what John says about this temple and then we’ll see who the two tribulation witnesses are.

The Temple

 11:1 – John was given a reed like a rod – like the reed in Ezekiel 40:3-5 – that reed measured six cubits – not the normal cubit, but a cubit and a hand breadth [Ezekiel 43:13]

 11:1 – he measured the temple of God – there is no temple of God in Jerusalem right now but there will be by this time in the tribulation – it could be erected as a board temple with curtains like the one in the wilderness – Isaiah 33:17-20, Isaiah 54:1-3

 11:1 – he measured the altar – like Ezekiel 41:22; Exodus 27:1

11:1 – and he measured them that worship therein – he did that by using the rod to count the people – Leviticus 27:32, Ezekiel 20:37-38 – he measures a tenth [Isaiah 6:13, similar to Nehemiah 11:1] since only a remnant is saved after the tribulation Romans 9:27-28

11:2 – the court is not measured because it is given to the Gentiles – the holy city [Jerusalem] is tread under foot 42 months [Luke 21:24, Daniel 8:13, Micah 5:5-6]

The Two Tribulation Witnesses

11:3-6 Many people believe that the two witnesses are really Enoch and Elijah because they are the only two who were raptured alive in the Old Testament. However, this belief is primarily supported by Hebrews 9:27, which says, “… it is appointed unto men once to die.” And since Moses already died once in the Old Testament, he couldn’t come back and die again in the Tribulation. Of course, you realize that Hebrews 9:27 is not a doctrinal statement on death. Lazarus, Eutychus, Dorcas, and the widow of Nain’s son, to name a few, all died twice.

The evidence for the two witnesses being Moses and Elijah is compelling. Just look at the cross references.

1. They were both on the Mt. of Transfiguration with Jesus: Matthew 17:1-5.
2. They were the last two men mentioned in the Old Testament: Malachi 4:4-5, (the context is the Second Coming).
3. They were both taken to heaven from the same place: Deuteronomy 34:6; 2 Kings 2.
4. They both fasted 40 days just like Christ: Exodus 24:18; 1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2.
5. They were both on Mt. Sinai (Horeb), which is probably the same wilderness in which Jesus was tempted: Exodus 24:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Luke 4:1-13.
6. They both destroyed men with fire: Revelation 11:5; Numbers 16:35; 2 Kings 1:10.
7. They both stood by the Lord on earth: Revelation 11:4; Zechariah 4:14; Exodus 33:20-21; 1 Kings 19:11.
8. They both stopped the rain: Revelation 11:6; Exodus 9:33; 1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17.