Chapter 18
The Two Witnesses
The historic application of the two witnesses were the Old and New Testament. Since the 1260 days (years) applied to the Dark Ages, then this view is not incorrect. But as the 1260 literal days pre-eminently apply to the last days just prior to the appearing of the Son of Man, then the Two Witnesses must also have another pre-eminent application for the latter days.
The Two Witnesses are also called "the two olive trees" and the "two candlesticks", "that stand by the Sovereign of the whole earth." Zech. 4:14. This title Lord or Adonai usually applies to the Son of YAHUWAH throughout the Old Testament. Since YAHUSHUA is in the heavenly sanctuary, it stands to reason that these two witnesses are also represented in the earthly sanctuary, which served unto the example of heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5), thereby locating them in the heavenly sanctuary, standing by YAHUSHUA. Zechariah stated: "These are the two sons of oil." Zech. 4:14 margin KJV.
In YAHUWAH's temple, made by Solomon, the Scripture states that "within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree (ring a bell?) each ten cubits high." (I Kings 6:23) The margin states the Hebrew more accurately "trees of oil".
Moses is in heaven, and Eliyahu is in heaven, and evidently they have a work that they do there. From reading Zechariah 4:12, they possibly produce oil which keeps the seven branched candlestick burning. "Oil for the light." Ex. 25:6. The seven branched candlestick represents something in heaven. It says within Hebrews 8:5...
...as Moses was admonished of Elohim when he was about to make the tabernacle: "for, see" saith He, "that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount."
The candlestick represents "the seven spirits which are before His throne." Rev 1:4. "The seven spirits of Elohim (are) sent forth into all the earth." Rev. 5:6. "Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire." Psalm 104:4.
Now, the Three Angels Message are not three literal angels, but three proclamations, messages and/or movements; but it is the people who give them. This is possibly also the case with the two witnesses. It is a message or proclamation and/or movements; people with a certain message. What was the message of Moses? The prophet Malachi gives us some insight, "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YAHUWAH." Malachi 4:4, 5. Strange how he mentions both of them together like this. Eliyahu is known for the set-apart name showdown upon Mt. Carmel, where the people of Elohim were tricked by their religious leaders to call upon a common title (Baal means Lord - Hosea 2:16 margin), thus they could be in ecumenical harmony with the churches around them. But Eliyahu burdened with a message of restoration of the true worship, thus acknowledging, praising and honoring the Creator's majestic name.
And Eliyahu came unto all the people, and said, "How long halt ye between to opinions? if YAHUWAH be Elohim, follow Him: but if haBaal (the Lord), then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." I Kings 18:27
If this true worship is followed, it shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. If the message is not received, I YAHUWAH will smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:6)
"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 smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." Revelation 11:6. This passage is a wide open hint to who the Two Witnesses are! Read it again! Does it ring a bell? Remember that it didn't rain in the days of Eliyah? Remember the plagues of Egypt with Mosheh?
The Two Witnesses are the Two Sons of Oil. So how does the oil tie in with the message? Consider the following passages carefully!
Your name is as oil poured forth, therefore do the (wise) virgins love you." Song of Solomon 1:3 ASV. Thus the names of the Father and His Son are likened unto oil. "A good name is better than precious oil." The Parson 7:1 ASV
"Oil to make his face to shine." Psalm 104:15 "Wisdom maketh his face to shine." The Preacher 8:1 Thus oil is also likened unto "wisdom". What does Scripture associate with wisdom? Moses said concerning the statutes and judgments: "this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations." Deut. 4:6. Also "the man of wisdom shall see Thy name." Micah 6:9.
There isn't that much problem with folks acknowledging the statutes, except when it comes to the Feast Days, and because folks wish not to embrace the Feast days as part of the covenant given at Mt. Sinai (see Exodus 23:14-17), they feel that they must try to rationalize away not only the Feast days, but all the statutes, since they rise and fall together [Note, the animal sacrifices were not given on Mt. Sinai, but from the cloudy pillar above the tabernacle later on, see Lev. 1:1 and onward]. Therefore you could sum up the Two Witnesses, Moses and Eliyahu, in the two messages, "the Set-Apart name and the Feast days."
Moses admonished the children of Israel to observe the statutes and judgments "that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it." Deuteronomy 4:5. A type of entering heaven! Today this same message is designed to prepare modern Israel to enter the Promise Land (the New Earth). "And they that love thy name shall dwell therein," Ps. 69:36. As men, women, and children proclaim the good news, YAHUWAH will open the eyes of the blind to see His statutes. The animating Spirit of Elohim, working through human agencies, leads the believers to be of one mind, one soul, unitedly loving Elohim and keeping His commandments—preparing here below for translation. This is what the angel of Revelation 18 will accomplish.
Moses told, in the plainest of speech, "My doctrine shall drop as the (latter) rain, my speech shall distill as the dew . .. Because I will publish the name of YAHUWAH: ascribe ye greatness to our Elohim." Deut. 32:2, 3
It remains to be seen if these Two Witnesses actually come from heaven and walk among men. That possibility does exist; they did appear upon the mount of transfiguration with YAHUSHUA (Matthew 17:2). It probably would not be necessary, since we have the writings of Moses and the prophets. If we do not believe them, neither would we be persuaded though one rise from the dead.
The Scripture has already foretold that the majority will reject their messages, yet because they are messages of truth, they will triumph and rise again. Let Scripture be true and every man a liar, "that the testimony of two men is true." John 8:17