Eschatology
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15. The eleventh chapter of the book of Revelation speaks of two
witnesses: who are they? |
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I think that they are Elijah and Enoch. The reasons why I have come to
this conclusion are these. |
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First of all, both of them did not see death because they were taken
away by God and were no more, for the Scripture says about Elijah: “And it
came to pass, as they [Elijah and Elisha] still went on, and talked, that,
behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them
both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11),
and about Enoch: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took
him” (Genesis 5:24) and again: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should
not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before
his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).
And I think that if God had not had in His mind a particular plan for the
future, that is, if He had not planned to send them into this world after a
certain period of time to carry out a mission, He would not have acted in
that way toward them. Furthermore, we must keep in mind that the Scripture states
that these two witnesses are “the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks
standing before the God of the earth” (Revelation 11:4), therefore, since the
Scripture denies the pre-existence of the souls of men, we deduce that these
two olive trees and candlesticks must be nothing but two human beings who
lived for a certain time on the earth. And Elijah and Enoch lived for a
certain time on the earth. |
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Secondly, Elijah was a prophet for he is called “the prophet Elijah”
(1 Kings 18:36), thus he prophesied; and Enoch prophesied, as it is written:
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon
all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly
deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which
ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 14-15). And when these two
witnesses appear, they will prophesy as it is written: “And I will give power
unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and
threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). |
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In addition to this, with regard to Elijah, I would like to say that
we are sure he will come because in the book of Malachi it is written: “Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6). Jesus Christ Himself confirmed
that Elijah will come, for He said: “Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come,
and restore all things” (Matthew |