PJ Hanley“Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, ‘Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty 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 wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.” Rev 11:1-6
The word translated “temple” here is the word “naos,” a word that refers to the Holy of Holies specifically. Interestingly enough, John is told only to measure the Holy of Holies and the Altar and to leave out everything else since it has been “given to the nations.” This implies that the entire structure which encompassed the first and second temples will not be in Jewish hands during the first three and a half years of the Last Shemitah Cycle but only an area covering the Holy of Holies and an altar. Also, Jerusalem (the Old City) will become an international city for at least forty-two months or three and a half years – the first three and a half years of the Shemitah Cycle. Then in a way that seems connected to the Holy Place, the Two Witnesses and their three and a half year ministry are mentioned. This, of course, occurs during the second half of the Last Shemitah Cycle – the Tribulation period.
The identity of these witnesses is likely Moses, and almost certainly, Elijah. When Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples on the Holy Mountain, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. They were discussing what He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. This indicates that Moses and Elijah play a pivotal role in the Day of the Lord and the dawning of the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus acknowledged that Elijah himself was coming and would restore all things (Mt 17:11). This is the restoration of the Jewish people back to God – turning the hearts of the children back to the fathers. Jesus also said that John the Baptist was a fulfilment of this prophecy, although he was not actually Elijah – he came in the Spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). John himself also said that he was not Elijah. However, he was the messenger (Mt 11:10), the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Mt 3:3). John came before Jesus’ first coming to prepare the Jews, and Elijah himself will come before His second coming to prepare the Jews. There is a strong tradition at the Passover Seder where a chair and a cup are prepared for Elijah. They truly expect him to come again!
Another point that must be made from this passage and the Two Witnesses is that they seem to be the same ones referenced by Zechariah. Note the similarity between these two passages.
“Then I said to him, ‘What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?’ And I answered the second time and said to him, ‘What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?’ So he answered me, saying, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.’” Zech 4:11-14
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” Rev 11:3-4
Moses and Elijah together represent the Law and the Prophets, which all pointed to the ministry of Messiah. Also, the miracles that the Two Witnesses perform- shutting up the sky, calling down fire, turning the waters into blood, smiting the earth with every plague- are trademarks of the ministry of Moses and Elijah and also correspond with the plagues poured out by God during the Great Tribulation. Likely, this means that these plagues are a direct result of a showdown between the Jewish people led by Moses and Elijah and the Gentile nations led by Antichrist.
