The Two Witnesses and the 9th of Av

Who are the Two witnesses of Rev 11:3-12

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 
    We have seen this time of 1260 days in the book of Daniel and days can also refer to years.

 1967 CE  Psalm 67; 69th Jubilee year (yovel יובל) June 5th, 6 Day War; Jerusalem reunited. Lunar Eclipses on Pesach פּסח and Sukot סוכות‎. 1967-2520 (360 days per year) = 587  BCE period of Jerusalem’s Desolations. Jewish Year 5727 Deut. 31:3-4. 50 years to 2017. 19 years from 1948 to 1967. When the city of Jerusalem was reclaimed by the Jews in 1967, prophecy watchers declared that the "Time of the Gentiles" had come to an end. ATONEMENT day was on September 23, 2015 to start the Jubile Year. It ended October 2016 in the leap year / pregnant year.

17640 days from June 7, 1967 to September 23, 2015 completed a Sabbatical system of Leviticus 25:8,9.
360 days of prophetic system times 49 years is 17640 days.
The Moon cycle will always be 30 days of light in Revelation chapter 11 & 12. 360 days a Year.
Moshiach Ben Daveed is here. The Sign say so.
06/07/1967 + (360x50=18,000)= Sept 17, 2016 (Sabbath). September 16/17, 2016 — Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
This penumbral lunar eclipse can make the Harvest Moon look a little darker in Europe, parts of Asia, Australia, and East Africa. 2016 – Two bombs explode in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and Manhattan, New York. 31 people are injured in the Manhattan bombing.

754-6 Papal States Vatican Rule Starts. 70 years from 685-686 CE with Dome of the Rock. 1260 years ends on Dec 31, 2016.

          757 CE +1260 years = 2017. Popes Issue +1260 years = Jan 17, 2017.756 Papacy +1260 years ended at Christmas Time in 2016.

The Two Witnesses may be in Israel at this time are like Moses (the law) and Elijah (a Prophet; 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:36-38; Lk 4:25; Jas 5:17) or like Elijah and Enoch, or like Elijah and John the Revelator. They are doing the will of God for their lives but are not at the forefront or in the news until after the gathering, Resurrection, rapture of the 1 percent of humanity. They die around the 9th of Av to 12th of Av and resurrected 3 and a half days later. They die approximately 60 days before Armageddon. The year of their death is according to Psalm 118 is 5778/2018.
They began their journey 30 days after Passover in 2013-2015 time frame.

The Two Witnesses  Rev 11:3-15

    They start 30 days after the Abomination of Desolation.

1947+62 Shavuots (Pentecosts)=2009 on the 7^th Day of Feast of Tabernacles when Obama received the Norwegian Peace Medallion.

 See Obama’s Trip to Israel in March 20-23^rd, 2013.

   If we use March 22, 2013 as our start date, we arrive on April 21, 2013 on Day one of the week. 04/21/2013+1260 days = Oct 2, 2016.

    So let’s recalculate. If Day of Atonement 2018 is Armageddon, then Passover of 2015 timeframe  plus 30 days  would be the start of their ministry.

    Now comes who did the Abomination at Passover 2015 if it was not Obama. Ah the Pope or Erdogan? April 27 – The Catholic Church simultaneously canonizes Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

    In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small, yet enough. They prophesy in sackcloth. It shows their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorrow for the abominations against which they protested. They are supported during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of 1260 days/years, antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, would war against them, with force and violence for a time. Determined rebels against the light rejoice, as on some happy event, when they can silence, drive to a distance, or destroy the faithful servants of Christ, whose doctrine and conduct torment them. It does not appear that the term is yet expired, and the witnesses are not a present exposed to endure such terrible outward sufferings as in former times; but such things may again happen, and there is abundant cause to prophesy in sackcloth, on account of the state of religion.

These two witnesses will prophesy and proclaim God’s message of salvation and repentance to the world from Jerusalem. They will also have power, like Moses before Pharaoh, to inflict the world with many judgments. The timing of their ministry has also been debated. However if you look to the end of Revelation 11, you will notice that right after the witnesses die and are resurrected, the second woe is past. The three woes are the last three trumpet judgments. Thus, their work on earth ends between the 6^th and 7^th trumpet judgment. (The last 30 days before Armageddon are for the seventh trumpet judgment, which consists of the seven bowl judgments.) Thus with their 1260 day ministry ending at the latest at day 2490 this would place the start of their ministry sometime before day 1230. We also know that the 2 witnesses are to die and their bodies will lie in the street for 3½ days, which may be part of the 1260 they are allotted to minister or may be outside of it. If the 3½ days are part of the 1260 days and they are killed on day 2490 then their ministry would end on day 2494 and start on day 1234.

      Jewish tradition places the return of Elijah to occur during a Passover Seder.

So if that tradition has merit and Elijah is one of the two witnesses then their 1,260-day ministry will start on the feast of Passover after the abomination of desolation and continue for 1260 days and end at most on day 2494.
    Passover is 1260 days to 1290 days from Day of Atonement or Feast of Tabernacles. So if we us Passover of 2013, 2014, or 2015, then that places the death of the two Witnesses around the 9th-12th of Av. of 2016, 2017, or 2018. However some teach that the two witnesses will die between the end of the Trumpet Judgments and the beginning of the Bowl Judgments which would be around Passover time frame in 2018. April 1, 2018
    Passover 2018- 1260 to 1290 days = Feast of Tabernacles 2014 and one of the red blood moons on its Eve.
    Some teach that the Trumpet Judgments are poured out in the first 3.5 years of the 7 year tribulation and then the bowl judgments are poured out in the last 3.5 years. Others teach that the Trumpet judgments are poured out for 6 years and then the last year the bowl judgments are poured out. Some teach that in the last year (Deut 24:5; John 6:38,40, 44,54; Psalms 117-118) from the rapture to the Day of Atonement, that the Trumpet Judgments are poured out for the first 5 months and the Bowl judgments are poured out in the last 7 months.

3.  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (Gen 37:34).

     These two witnesses are God's prophets, sent to proclaim His message of doom. They are clothed in sackcloth. In the Bible, sackcloth and ashes always picture repentance-and repentance is demanded when sin stalks a nation. Repentance is God's call to either turn or burn (Matt 11:21). The witnesses are described in the next verse.
   

4.    These are the two olive trees (Zech 4:3, 14), and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

    Olive trees exude oil. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Candlesticks are light bearers. Thus, we have a beautiful picture of two chosen witnesses, anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the message of light in the midst of a sin-blackened world. There is no other way to do God's service. Oh! Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

     There has been a great deal of discussion concerning the identity of these two witnesses. Most Bible scholars believe they are either Elijah and Moses, or Elijah and Enoch. Malachi is explicit in predicting Elijah's future appearance upon earth. He states: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 3:1 and 4:5). Thus, there is no doubt about Elijah being one of the witnesses.

      This prediction is corroborated by the fact that Elijah did not die a physical death but was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind and a chariot of fire (see 2 Kings 2:9-11). Likewise, Enoch was taken to heaven without experiencing death (see Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5). He also prophesied the coming day of God's judgment and the return of Christ with His church (see Jude 14, 15). Since Enoch's earthly ministry predated the establishment of the Jewish race, he is considered by some as God's first prophet to the Gentiles. Elijah, on the other hand, was God's prophet to Israel. Thus, since God's witness during the Tribulation hour is to both groups, many believe the two witnesses to be Elijah and Enoch.

     Personally, I believe that Moses will be the other witness because he appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-8)-a preview of the glory to come in that day when the Lord Jesus Christ will be the only important one. The preview indicates that, when the day finally arrives, Moses and Elijah (also called Elias)-representatives of the law and of the prophets-will be present, undoubtedly as the two witnesses.

     Concerning Moses: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken...and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him (Deuteronomy 18:15,18,19). One should also keep in mind that the body of Moses was preserved by God. Jude, verse 9 declares: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

     These witnesses, dressed in sackcloth and proclaiming the message of judgment, will be hated. Latter-day terrorists will attempt to destroy them. God, however, forbids it and offers sovereign protection.

5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed (Num 16:29).

     This can be nothing but supernatural power and intervention. The fact that the two witnesses have superhuman anointing is evident from the next verse.

6. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

     One of these two witnesses, Elijah (or Elias), performed this very miracle in earlier days: Elias ...prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit (James 5:17, 18, see also I Kgs 17:1; 18:41-45).

     Moses, the second witness, had power (along with Aaron his brother) to turn the waters into blood and smite the earth with diversified plagues (see Exodus 7-10). Thus, the Tribulation ministry of these two supernaturally anointed prophets will be but a repeat performance. During the entire period of their witness they cannot be killed. Their death must be at God's appointed time.

    The Messiah’s two witnesses are identified with the two olive trees of Zechariah 4:3 and the two menorahs standing before the Lord of the earth. Zechariah 4:2 speaks of one menorah with seven branches, while Zechariah 4:14 identifies the two olive branches with “the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

     These two witnesses testify about Yeshua, spread his Good News among the Jewish people in Jerusalem, prophesy and perform miracles; during this time they enjoy God’s special protection (vv. 5-6). Then the beast from the Abyss kills them (v. 7). Their bodies lie in the main street of Jerusalem for three-and-a-half days (vv. 8-9), after which they rise from death and go up into heaven (vv. 11-12).

     In the context of Zechariah 3-4 the two “anointed ones” are Joshua the high priest and Z’rubaval the governor. In the Talmud Rabbi Yitzchak calls the scholars of Eretz-Israel “anointed ones” (b’nei-yitzhar, literally, “sons of clear oil”) because they debate amicably, and those of Babylon “olive trees” because their disputes are bitter (like uncured olives; Sanhedrin 24a).

     So then, who are the two witnesses? Often they are said to be Moses and Elijah, since these appeared with Yeshua at the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8). The problem with this understanding is that the witnesses must die (Rev 11:7), and human beings die only once (Heb 9:27).

     The case for Elijah is a good one. He has not yet died (2 Kgs 2:1, 9-12), he is expected to return before the Messiah comes (Mal 4:5-6), and he has already shut up the sky, so that no rain falls. (I Kgs 17:1, 18:42-45; Lk 4:25; James 5:17-18).

     While Moses did turn the waters into blood and strike the earth with every kind of plague (Exodus 7:17-12:30; I Samuel 4:8), Scripture says that he died, so that he cannot die again. Nevertheless Jewish tradition is not satisfied to let him rest in peace. To prove he is still alive one Talmudic rabbi used the principle of interpretation called g’erah shavah. The term means “analogy” (literally, “equal decision”) and operates by inferring that if a word has a particular meaning in one passage of Scripture it must have the same meaning in a second passage. (The rabbis saw that this technique could easily be misused to reach conclusions contrary to Scripture and therefore prohibited its further use; only the instances cited by the early interpreters are recognized.)

    John himself is sometimes suggested as one of the witnesses, on the basis of Jn 21:20-24. But the two witnesses had lived and were already in heaven in the fifth century B.C.E., when Zechariah prophesied (see Zechariah 4:11-14).

    Besides Elijah, only one person has been taken into heaven without dying—Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5). Both lived before 500 B.C.E. and both were prophets (they will prophesy; see Jude 14). Since they have never died, they can yet undergo the death of v. 7. If the “two witnesses” are two literal persons and we are not dealing with a figurative expression, I nominate Enoch and Elijah.

    Meanwhile, believers in Jerusalem have grown used to being presented with other candidates. They appear every few months, often dressed in sackcloth like the Prophets of the Tanakh (Isa 20:2; compare 2 Kgs 1:8, Zech 13:4, Mt 3:4), and claiming to be “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lk 1:17) or even to be Elijah himself. Whatever the spirit, till now the power (vv 5-6) has not been in evidence.

    Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies. At Jeremiah 5:14, the prophet addressed Israel: “Therefore thus says Adonai, God of the armies of heaven: “Because you speak this word, I will make my words fire in your mouth, and this people wood, and it will consume them.’” See also 2 Kgs 1:10, 12; Lk 9:54.

7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

     Isn't it wonderful to know that nothing can happen to any child of God without the Lord's divine permission? "What have I to dread, what have I to fear; leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace, with my Lord so near; leaning on the everlasting arms." That's right; no one can take a believer's life without the permissive will of God: Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? (Job 7:1). It is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27). This is why Christians should always say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that (James 4:15). At this point the time of the witnesses' testifying ends. God's purpose for His two servants has been completed. Soon they will be called home. The method of their release from the body is death at the hands of the beast. His conduct is identical to that of the now deceased Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran, who had the bodies of America's brave servicemen displayed in the streets of Tehran following the April 1980 hostage rescue attempt. His action was one of the most repulsive, repugnant sights ever witnessed. The Antichrist commits the same dastardly deed with the bodies of Moses and Elijah.

     The beast seems to be the same as the Anti-Messiah. See 13:1-18&N, 14:8-11&N; I Jn 2:18. He is also called the man of sin (2 Thess 2:3). The same person is mentioned in Rev 6:2; 13:1; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 17:3, 13; 19:20; 20:10. He cannot kill these two witnesses until God allows him to.

    Bottomless pit (Abyss). The Abyss is not Sh’ol (as at Rom 10:7), but a place where demonic beings are imprisoned (vv 2-11, 11:7, 17:8, 20:2-3).

8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom (Isa 1:9) and Egypt (Ezk 23:3), where also our Lord was crucified.

    Since the Lord was crucified in this city, we know it to be Jerusalem. The term great city is the Holy City (Jerusalem) of verse 2. Why, then, is it called Sodom and Egypt? Because the moral and spiritual conditions that existed in Sodom before its destruction and the idolatrous iniquities that abounded in Egypt before God judged the land, are found inundating Jerusalem during this period of time. All the preaching of repentance by the two witnesses in sackcloth does not change the wicked complexion of the city.

    Sodom. Here is a comparison taken from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness, no good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul. Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's fall. This passage of Isaiah 1:1-10 declares the total depravity of human nature. While sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing these wounds, and preventing fatal effects. Sodom was full of wickedness (sin) and therefore had to be destroyed.

    Sodom: burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Gen. 13:10; 14:1-16). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (18:16-33; 19:1-29; Deut. 23:17). This city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Deut. 29:23; 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer. 23:14; Ezek. 16:46-56; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 10:15; Rom. 9:29; 2 Pet. 2: 6, etc.).

    Egypt: The Egyptian religion was a strange mixture of pantheism and animal worship, the gods being adored in the form of animals. While the educated classes resolved their manifold deities into manifestations of one omnipresent and omnipotent divine power, the lower classes regarded the animals as incarnations of the gods.

     Under the Old Empire, Ptah, the Creator, the god of Memphis, was at the head of the Pantheon; afterwards Amon, the god of Thebes, took his place. Amon, like most of the other gods, was identified with Ra, the sun-god of Heliopolis.

     The Egyptians believed in a resurrection and future life, as well as in a state of rewards and punishments dependent on our conduct in this world. The judge of the dead was Osiris, who had been slain by Set, the representative of evil, and afterwards restored to life. His death was avenged by his son Horus, whom the Egyptians invoked as their "Redeemer." Osiris and Horus, along with Isis, formed a trinity, who were regarded as representing the sun-god under different forms.

    “Their” refers to the two witnesses.

   

9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves (Ps 79:2-3).

  The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them.

     Satellite television, beaming the identical image to every nation on earth, and into every home equipped with a receiver, allows the spectacle to be observed internationally. The action constitutes a victory celebration by the Antichrist, similar to Khomeini's televised production. In response, the world rejoices. The two "gloom and doom" preachers are gone! No longer will two hellfire advocates spoil their tea parties. No longer will their beer and salami festivals be hindered. The two witnesses are dead.

     People and kindreds and tongues and nations, that is, from the Gentiles, are so hostile to God, his Word and his Prophets that they prevent the burial of the two witnesses whose bodies lie exposed in the main street of Jerusalem to dogs and flies, and, more importantly, to shame (19:21N; Psalm 69:2-4, I Kgs 13:22; Josephus’ Wars of the Jews 4:5:2).

10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts (Neh 8:10) one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

    They that dwell upon the earth. I believe this refers here to pagans and Jews of the land of Israel. This conclusion is based on the facts that (1) the Hebrew antecedents of the Greek expression frequently mean this (see 3:10N), and (2) a Gentile reaction to the death of the witnesses has been given already in v. 9.

    John foresees a time when Jewish opposition to the Gospel is intensified by the appearance of these two prophets. From the point of view of believers, they evangelize the non-Messianic Jews of the Land, testifying to Yeshua and proclaiming the Good News. But the non-Messianic Jews’ evaluation is that the two prophets tormented them. For this reason they not only reject the witnesses’ message but instead of sitting and mourning for seven days due to a death, they celebrate and send each other gifts—like the Jews of Shushan after slaying Haman’s sons (Esther 9:22). The difference, of course, is that Haman and his sons were truly oppressors, whereas the Messiah’s witnesses offer deliverance.

11.  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God (Ezek 37:5) entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

     Imagine the effect the resurrection of these two men will have on those who, only the moment before, were viewing their corpses in the street! God alone could cause them to live.

 12.  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud (2 Kgs 2:11); and their enemies beheld them.

    Elijah and Moses receive the same treatment as the raptured saints in Revelation 4:1. Hallelujah! They depart for glory in a twinkling of an eye. As this awe-inspiring sight is being observed, God sends judgment for all the sacrilegious acts the violent, drug-crazed crowds perpetrated on these two servants.

     The resurrection and ascension of the witnesses, similar to Yeshua’s own, causes great fear in their enemies, because this demonstrates in power (I Cor 2:14, 4:20, 6:14, 15:54-57) that our God reigns. The Word of Adonai is powerful (Isa 55:10-11; Heb 1:3) and indestructible (Isa 40:8; I Pet 1:23-25); it cannot be silenced by killing those who speak it.

   They ascended up to heaven in a cloud, not only like Yeshua (Acts 1:9-11) but also like Elijah (2 Kngs 2:11).