The Two Witnesses are
the prophetic figures described in Revelation 11
who are granted authority to prophesy
for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
They stand as the two olive trees
and the two lampstands before the Lord of the earth,
performing signs that echo Moses and Elijah.
When they have finished their testimony,
the beast from the bottomless pit kills them;
their bodies lie in the street of the great city
for three and a half days
while the earth-dwellers celebrate.
God then raises them to life,
and they ascend to heaven in a cloud
while their enemies look on,
after which a great earthquake strikes the city.
In the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, John is given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there, but to leave out the outer court. He is then shown two witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days. These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain falls, to turn waters into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague. Their ministry is one of bold testimony against a rebellious world. When their work is complete, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit makes war on them and conquers and kills them. The peoples, tribes, languages, and nations gaze at their dead bodies for three and a half days and refuse them burial, while those who dwell on the earth rejoice and exchange gifts because the two prophets had tormented them. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God enters them; they stand on their feet, great fear falls on those who see them, and they hear a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” They ascend in a cloud while their enemies watch. In that hour a great earthquake destroys a tenth of the city and seven thousand people are killed; the rest are terrified and give glory to the God of heaven. The two witnesses thus serve as God’s final prophetic testimony before the seventh trumpet and the full outpouring of wrath.
- The two witnesses prophesy for a limited, divinely appointed period of 1,260 days.
- Their ministry is characterized by powerful signs reminiscent of Moses and Elijah.
- They are protected until their testimony is finished; only then can the beast overcome them.
- The world’s celebration over their death reveals the depth of its hostility to God’s word.
- Their resurrection and ascension demonstrate that God has the final word over death and over His servants.
- The earthquake that follows produces both judgment and a measure of fear that leads some to give glory to God.
- Their story assures believers that faithful testimony will be vindicated, even through death.
- Prophetic Authority – Granted power to prophesy for 1,260 days in sackcloth.
- Symbolic Identity – Called the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
- Miraculous Powers – Ability to shut the heavens, turn water to blood, and strike the earth with plagues.
- Protected Testimony – Fire proceeds from their mouths to consume their enemies; they cannot be harmed until their work is done.
- Death at the Hands of the Beast – The beast from the abyss kills them after their testimony is finished.
- Public Dishonor – Their bodies lie unburied for three and a half days while the earth-dwellers rejoice.
- Resurrection and Ascension – A breath of life from God raises them; they ascend to heaven in full view of their enemies.
- Revelation 11:3-6 – “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”
- Revelation 11:7-10 – “And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.”
- Revelation 11:11-12 – “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here!’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.”
- Revelation 11:13 – “And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
- Zechariah 4:2-3, 11-14 – The vision of the lampstand and the two olive trees; “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
- Malachi 4:5 – “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
- Deuteronomy 19:15 – “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”
- Matthew 17:3 – Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus at the Transfiguration.
- Luke 9:30-31 – Moses and Elijah speak with Jesus about His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…”
- Revelation 13:7 – The beast is allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.
- Revelation 20:4 – Those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God come to life and reign with Christ.
- Acts 1:9-11 – Jesus is taken up in a cloud while the disciples watch; the two men in white announce His return in the same way.
- 1,260 Days
- Beast from the Bottomless Pit
- Olive Trees and Lampstands
- Sackcloth
- Testimony of Jesus
- Resurrection
- Ascension
- Great Earthquake
- Seventh Trumpet
- Prophetic Ministry
- Moses and Elijah
- Great City
The two witnesses stand as God’s final prophetic testimony in the face of a hostile world. Clothed in sackcloth, empowered with signs, and protected until their work is finished, they proclaim the truth for 1,260 days. When their testimony is complete, the beast is allowed to kill them, and the earth rejoices. Yet God has the last word. After three and a half days the breath of life enters them; they stand on their feet and ascend to heaven while their enemies watch. The earthquake that follows produces both judgment and a measure of glory given to God. Their story assures every faithful witness that death is not the end. The God who raised the two witnesses will raise all who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Therefore speak the truth. Finish the work given to you. And rest in the certainty that the same voice that said “Come up here” will one day call all of God’s servants into His presence.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.