The Bible tells us that in the Last Days, God will send his two witnesses who will stand in the holy city of Jerusalem to prophesy before the antichrist beast and his followers. They will also testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His kingdom is coming soon.
Their witness is for the whole world but particularly for the people of Israel to turn their hearts away from the man of sin back to the true God of heaven, and to prepare them for the true Messiah, Jesus.
That the two witnesses continue to stand before the god of this world is a testimony to their chief work which is against the beast and what he claims to be. (2Th 2:4)
The beast makes war on the two prophets, and also makes war on the saints on earth. (Re 13:7) who are the remnant of the woman’s seed (Re 12:17) proving that the rapture has not yet happened.
In relation to these events described in Revelation Chapter 11, John is told by the angel standing by him to “Rise up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those that worship therein”. John is told not to include the court outside the temple because it has been given to the Gentiles and they will tread the holy city under their feet for 42 months.
“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
This would imply that the temple is already in existence during the first 3½ years of the Tribulation, which would place the work of the two witnesses in the latter half of the Tribulation because they prophesy for 3½ years. Also, because after the witnesses are killed, the second and third woes follow soon after. This may also happen in conjunction with some of the trumpet and bowl judgments.
So by comparing scripture with scripture we can see that the two witnesses prophesy for 3½ years mostly during the Great Tribulation. They are clothed in sackcloth signifying the call to repentance before the coming of the Great and terrible day of the Lord in which the sun itself will be clothed in black sackcloth. (Jl 2, Ac 2, Re 6)
The 7-year tribulation marks the last period of this present age. When Christ returns the new millennial age will dawn. (Rev 20:4)
The two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands who are standing before the face of the god of this world. The two witnesses are given power to devour their enemies with supernatural fire and any that would hurt them.
They also have power to stop the rain for the 3½ years of their prophecy. They will turn water into blood, and strike the earth with all kinds of plagues similar to those of Egypt as often as they will. Their witness torments those who have rejected the Gospel of Jesus.
Many claim that the two witnesses must be Moses and Elijah because the miracles they perform are similar to the miracles performed by Moses – who turned waters into blood – and Elijah – who stopped the rain for 3½ years. But this is not what the Bible says. Also, scripture says that it is appointed to men once to die (He 9:27) and Moses has already died once so he cannot die again as one of the two witnesses who are killed. Whereas Enoch, like Elijah did not die but was taken up into heaven.
Some believe God may empower other individuals or groups in the spirit and power of Elijah: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk 1:17)
Although there is no mention of others being empowered in the same way, scripture does say those who know their God will do brave exploits on behalf of the truth. This will be their witness. “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Da 11:32)
As the spirit does not speak of himself, but glorifies Jesus, so the two witnesses will not speak of themselves but bear witness to the coming kingdom of Christ. Due to their work many will be converted. When they finish their testimony (Re 1:9, 19:10, 22:9), the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit makes war against them, overcomes and kills them.
The world rejoices and people send gifts to one another to celebrate the death of the two witnesses, as they had been tormented by their bearing witness to the truth. The two witnesses are made out to be evil tormentors. And there is an extended period of celebration, and the inhabitants of the whole world rejoice because the enemies of mankind are no more. The beast is acclaimed as the true saviour of mankind.
Their dead bodies are not allowed to be buried and are left on the street as a public spectacle to prove the superior power of the beast. But after 3½ days, the spirit of life from God enters into them and, to the great fear and astonishment of their enemies, the two witnesses rise to their feet. Then a great voice from heaven tells them: “Come up here”. The two witnesses ascend up to heaven in a cloud in the sight of everyone. (Re 14:14)
So the two witnesses of Jesus, who are martyrs, ascend to be with him. Their work is not yet fully finished for they will have a part to play in future events. They will sit on the right and left hand of Jesus’s throne in his Kingdom on earth.
In the same hour, there is a great earthquake and a tenth part of the city falls killing 7,000 of the followers of the antichrist, including dignitaries. This is the second woe.
Persecution Live 