The Meaning of the "Two Witnesses"
by J. L. Haynes
this page can also be found at http://www.historicism.com/Haynes/2witness.htm
Many Christian teachers argue that the Two Witnesses are the Church and the
Bible, the Old and New Testaments, or two individual prophets. The evidence
of Scripture is against this kind of interpretation. Consider the following:
a. the vision is "signified" to John (Rev 1:1), or "communicated",
from the Greek word "semaino" meaning a sign. The language of the
Revelation is one of signs, or symbols, that represent actual realities. This
can be thought of like the ancient writing found on the walls of caves, etc.,
or like Egyptian hieroglyphics.
b. in the same chapter (1) Jesus explains the symbols of "lampstands"
and "stars" as representing "churches" and "angels"
respectively (at least these can be understood to be churches in some sense
of the word, and angels in some sense of the word, e.g., "bodies of believers"
and "spiritual beings").
c. Rev. 11:4 explains the signs by pointing back to Zechariah's vision of the
lampstands and olive trees, but the explanation given to John that the two witnesses
are "two lampstands" would indicate that Jesus' application of the
sign still holds true: the two witnesses/ two lampstands are two "churches"
or,
d. the symbol of "two witnesses" signifies a minimum number of "witnesses"
(or in this case the smallest remnant of true believers) in order to have legal
and valid testimony. This is a common and clear teaching in the Scripture, and
one which would be naturally understood by Jewish Christians familiar with the
Old Testament:
Numbers 35:30 {A} ‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put
to death at the {1} evidence of witnesses, but {B} no person shall be put to
death on the testimony {a} of one witness. {1) Lit mouth}
Deuteronomy 17:6 {A} "On the {1} evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses,
he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the
{1} evidence of one witness. {1) Lit mouth}
Deuteronomy 19:15 {A} "A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin {1} which he has committed; on the {2} evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. {1) Lit in any sin, which he sins 2) Lit mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three}
Matthew 18:16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that {A} BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY {1} FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. {1) Lit word}
2 Corinthians 13:1 {A} This is the third time I am coming to you. {B} EVERY {1} FACT {2} IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE {3} TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. {1) Lit word 2) Lit shall be 3) Lit mouth}
1 Timothy 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an {A} elder except on the basis of {B} two or three witnesses.
Hebrews 10:28 {A} Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Revelation 11:3 "And I will grant authority to my two {A} witnesses, and they will prophesy for {B} twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in {C} sackcloth."
Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with {A} the blood of the {1} saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered {2} greatly. {1) Or holy ones 2) Lit with great wonder}
e.The Biblical evidence strongly suggests that the Two Witnesses simply refer
to a protesting, true Church of faithful believers, nearing extinction and scattered
throughout the Roman world. It is a symbol that represents a minimal number
of believers, or a small remnant of the faithful saints. The Bride of Christ,
the remnant Church.
Also see, "666 - The Antichrist to come?" by Richard Gunther.