The giving of authority and prophesying to the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3 matches John’s taking the scroll and call to prophesy in the previous chapter. Yet, the doubling of the witness is symbolic of the whole church.
According to the Old Testament law, a charge had to be established by at least two witnesses: “Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established” (Deut. 19:15). The two witnesses symbolize the church’s legally valid testimony.
The church, then, is a witnessing community being called to preach God’s truth and gospel. The church testifies that the Triune God is the only God of heaven and earth and that Jesus is the only Savior and King. She announces the truth of not belonging to this world, but to the Lord both body and soul. Read More»
Zach Keele | “Who Are the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11?” | January 10, 2023
Resources
- How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Top Ten HB Posts Through The Years
- How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Heidelmedia Resources
- The Ecumenical Creeds
- The Reformed Confessions
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- Heidelblog Contributors
- Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008).
- The Two Witnesses and Lampstands in Revelation 11
- The Story Behind The Story In Revelation
- On The Reception Of The Revelation Into The Canon
- The Church Should Speak Up In The Moral Revolution
- American Christianity Needs A Stronger Ecclesiology
- Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to
Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Heidelblog
The Heidelblog has been in publication since 2007. It is devoted to recovering the Reformed confession and to helping others discover Reformed theology, piety, and practice.
More by Heidelblog ›
I agree with two witnesses, for all authority of earth and heaven are belongs the Trinity.
How is this interpretation squared with the death of the two witnesses then their resurrection three days later?
It seems to me that her persecution followed by her ultimate vindication would satisfy that image.
Bjohnson: Death seems like a tad more than persecution. Death speaks of the end of physical existence no matter the time frame. It seems in vogue to spiritualize everything in Revelation to conform with a particular eschatological scheme. The WCF only speaks of eschatology in the broadest of terms. I believe we are on very thin ice when we try to do more.
One way or another, we have to interpret the vision, unless one imagines John is being shown a scene from a movie of the future; about two literal people who literally lay dead in the street For a few days while the world parties. There are many Saints in the body who gave their lives To the flames, to the joy of the world, who nonetheless shall be vindicated with the rest of the body at the resurrection. Their death is not being spiritualized, nor is their resurrection, which will take place before the eyes of the world, causing all those who persecuted them much chagrin as they see the one they pierced coming in the clouds of glory.
Bjohnson: Why couldn’t they be two literal people? I have two candidates. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die. There are only two men in human history who we are told didn’t die: Enoch and Elijah. If they are appointed to die just as every other human since Adam then this event would fulfill that.