The Two Witnesses

Why the need for two witnesses? What was the crime? Before He was even martyred, Jesus directed seven woes to the hypocritical religious leaders in the old covenant land. He knew the crimes they committed and the ones they would commit. This is the same Jesus who later revealed the seven ‘woes’ to the seven churches, through John. In that unveiling, the seven woes are given four different formats: seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders and seven vial/bowls. Do you get the idea that Jesus repeated Himself using different imagery to describe the same pending judgement?

John’s revelation was very surreal and dreamlike, just like when Joseph was given his famine vision and Peter was given his sheet vision. God employed Hebrew understanding of biblical imagery to communicate His messages. Even so they had to be interpreted. The vision of the sheet containing the four original creations was at first perplexing to Peter. He was soon made to realize the meaning; that people from all nations would join the resurrected body of humanity, prior to the final judgement; not just the born-again Jews. The repetition of woes in the gospels, and in the more dreamlike Revelation, meant that judgement was sure to come to the land, for old humanity’s crimes against new humanity. 

In His initial seven or so woes (depending on how you count them) to the Scribes and Pharisees in the land, Jesus tells them they will not escape death and will be subsequently cremated in Gehenna. That meant they would be judged to die in Jerusalem and be thrown into the city dump. His final rationale for His seventh woe was for shedding the blood of the martyrs. Prior to the land judgement, the persecuted body of Christ came to represent all the martyrs all the way back to Able. Jesus had a winnable court case against the unbelievers. He was after all the chief martyr who already overruled their death. He was completely innocent. He was subsequently assigned the role of judge. Humanity vs humanity was on the docket.

How will you (first century leaders in the land of Jerusalem) escape being sentenced to Gehenna?

Matthew 23:29-36 `Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 So that ye testify to yourselves, that ye are sons of them who did murder the prophets; 32 and ye—ye fill up the measure of your fathers. 33`Serpents! brood of vipers! how may ye escape from the judgment of the gehenna?34 `Because of this, lo, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and of them ye will kill and crucify, and of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and will pursue from city to city; 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood being poured out on the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar: 36 verily I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

Though the judgement was already determined, it would be 40 years from the start of Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem before it was finally carried out. In the mean time, the number of martyrs that Jerusalem would be held accountable for would increase, as would the number of faithful witnesses.

Revelation 6:9-11 YLT 9 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony that they held, 10 and they were crying with a great voice, saying, `Till when, O Master, the Holy and the True, dost Thou not judge and take vengeance of our blood from those dwelling upon the land?’ 11 and there was given to each one white robes, and it was said to them that they may rest themselves yet a little time, till may be fulfilled also their fellow-servants and their brethren, who are about to be killed—even as they.

Why would God use two individual witnesses with so much testimony available from so many martyrs? And why is Jerusalem guilty for killing Peter and Paul? I thought Nero did that. And how could Babylon be destroyed again? Babylon didn’t even exist in the generation of Jesus. And why is Jerusalem being referred to as Sodom and Egypt? Hebrew symbolism maybe? Maybe the two witnesses didn’t really breathe physical fire. If they did then who could kill them? They were very reliable witnesses because they spoke the gospel truth. Valid testimony is why witnesses do end up dead, right before they are to appear in court. Alive, they have the power to convict. 

So who are the two witnesses? First let’s look at the two typical old covenant witnesses. Then we will try to determine their new covenant fulfillment. Joshua and Caleb were the original two faithful witnesses. They were part of the first exodus and they were the only two from their generation to enter the typical promised land. So let’s look for the two witnesses who enter the spiritual promised land from Jesus’ generation. 

Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb from the tribe of Judah. Ephraim represents the Northern Kingdom, which was the majority of the tribes and the first to enter the diaspora. They were not only being assimilated into the nations, but were humanizing the nations, by teaching them the laws of Moses. They took the blessings of Abraham to the nations in their forced missionary mode of pre-evangelism. The Northern Kingdom was morphing into all the nations; genetically and morally.

Jeremiah 31:26-27 ECB 26 On this I waken, and see; and my sleep pleases me. 27 Behold, days come, – an oracle of Yah Veh that I seed the house of Yisra El and the house of Yah Hudah with the seed of humanity and with the seed of animal.

The tongues of Israel and Judah were not always faithful witnesses.

James 3:7-10 (Jacob to the 12 tribes through seeded) ECB 7 For all nature, both of beasts and of flyers, both of creepers and of those in the sea, is tamed – and has been tamed by human nature: 8 but the tongue, no human can tame – an unrestrainable evil full of death bearing venom: 9 therein we eulogize our Elohim and Father; and therein we curse humanity who became after the likeness of Elohim. 10 From the same mouth comes eulogy and cursing. My brothers, these need not be thus.

Caleb represents the Jews in the land. Joshua represents the diaspora. From these two types came two faithful bodies of witnesses who did not take the Lord’s name in vain. In Jesus’ generation, those who actually believed God’s promise to take them into the spiritual promised land were part of the faithful, from both the Jews and the nations. These are the only two groups of people who were receiving God’s promises during the first century transition, also called the second exodus. And both bodies gave faithful testimony.

  Acts 1:8  but ye shall receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the end of the land.’

At first the gospel went to Jews only. Acts 1:8 is specifically not directed to the non-Jewish nations. After the unfaithful Jews started martyring the spirit filled Jews, it caused the church to scatter, out from Jerusalem, yet they were still reluctant to witness to anyone but Jews. The first faithful body was the Jewish body. And the unbelievers among the Jews were burned up about it. These unbelievers gave false testimony and even stirred up the nations against the faithful church body. 

Acts 11:19 YLT 19 Those, indeed, therefore, having been scattered abroad, from the tribulation that came after Stephen, went through unto Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only;

Acts 14:2YLT 2 and the unbelieving Jews did stir up and made evil the souls of the nations against the brethren;

Here we see the two bodies as false witnesses. In Acts 14:2  the unfaithful Jews gathered unfaithful people from the nations. But the unfaithful Jews were held responsible for tribulating the faithful Jews, even though they didn’t actually do it. Maybe this is why Jerusalem would be held accountable for the death of the apostle Paul even though Nero did it. The Jews who wanted to keep the old covenant of types, entered into a covenant with Nero. They helped create that monster. No doubt the apostles Peter and Paul faced some false witnesses in an unfair Roman trial before they were convicted to death.

Galatians 2:8 YLT 8 for He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work also in me in regard to the nations,

Again we see two specific bodies of faithful witnesses being called out prior to the AD 70 Judgement; one represented by Caleb (Jews-circumcision) and the other represented by Joshua (the assimilated into the nations tribes)

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 LITV 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save the ones believing. 22 And since Jews ask for a sign, and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 we on the other hand preach Christ crucified (truly an offense to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks), 24 but to the called-out ones, both to Jews and to Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;

The sign of a Jew or a Jewish proselyte was circumcision. Indeed, only the circumcision body received the Holy spirit on Pentecost; to the Jew first. 

Acts 2:5 &10: And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews: devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 10, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome: Jews and proselytes,

Paul, the apostle to the nations, wrote to the Corinthian church, but even it had the Jewish pre-evangelism as it’s roots.

Acts 18:8: And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

The Corinthians who worshipped in their satellite synagogue were probably circumcised proselytes, so they were called Jews. But  Greeks were also in attendance.

Acts 18:4 YLT and he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 15:21 YLT for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him—in the synagogues every sabbath being read.’

Galatians 3:23 YLT And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, (Who was being kept under law if not Jews and proselytes?)

Acts 18:19-21: And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20, “When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21, But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 20:6: And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Acts 17:1: Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

Hebrews 8:8: For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

The gospel went to the house of Judah and the Judah (Jew) proselytes first, then to the genetically lost tribes of Israel who had morphed into the nations.

The word Gentile is from the LatinVulgate. It is a translation of the Hebrew word goyim and the Greek word ethne, which both mean nations or people of the nations. The term refers to a person who is not a Jew or a proselyte, i.e., the uncircumcised, whether they were decedents of the other tribes or not.

The circumcised body of believers were astonished when the uncircumcised believers were added to their body, by receiving the same gift of the Holy Spirit as they did! The Holy Spirit created the two faithful witnesses. From that generation, these two bodies were the only ones to enter the spiritual promised land after the second exodus, by belief in God’s ability to conquer the promised land through Christ. The promise was life to the age; eternal life in the new covenant by God’s Spirit. But woe to the apostates in a covenant with Rome. In the new covenant, Yeshua ended the typical old covenant outcomes for Yahweh’s children. 

Isaiah 30:33 LXX2012 1 Woe to the apostate children, says the Lord: you have framed counsel, not by me, and covenants not by my Spirit, to add sins to sins:

John 3:15-16 CLV 15 that everyone believing on Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.” 16 For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.”

Acts 11:1-18 YLT 1 And the apostles and the brethren who are in Judea heard that also the nations did receive the word of God, 2 and when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision were contending with him, 3 saying—`Unto men uncircumcised thou didst go in, and didst eat with them!’ 4 And Peter having begun, did expound to them in order saying, 5`I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel coming down, as a great sheet by four corners (beginnings, originals) being let down out of the heaven, and it came unto me; 6 at which having looked steadfastly, I was considering, and I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the fowls of heaven; 7 and I heard a voice saying to me, Having risen, Peter, slay and eat; 8 and I said, Not so, Lord; because anything common or unclean hath at no time entered into my mouth; 9 and a voice did answer me a second time out of the heaven, What God did cleanse, thou—declare not thou common. 10`And this happened thrice, and again was all drawn up to the heaven, 11 and, lo, immediately, three men stood at the house in which I was, having been sent from Caesarea unto me, 12 and the Spirit said to me to go with them, nothing doubting, and these six brethren also went with me, and we did enter into the house of the man, 13 he declared also to us how he saw the messenger in his house standing, and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter, 14 who shall speak sayings by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house. 15`And in my beginning to speak, the Holy Spirit did fall upon them, even as also upon us in the beginning, 16 and I remembered the saying of the Lord, how he said, John indeed did baptize with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit; 17 if then the equal gift God did give to them as also to us, having believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I—how was I able to withstand God?’ 18 And they, having heard these things, were silent, and were glorifying God, saying, `Then, indeed, also to the nations did God give the reformation to life.’

Reformation to life meant the death penalty was erased in the regeneration. The two faithful witnesses would enter the promised land. Among them was the apostle, Paul from the tribe of Benjamin. In an unfair public trial, it was Paul who stood by, giving his approval, as Stephen was being martyred. But Paul had a life altering change of mind after the good judge introduced himself. 

Acts chapter 18 is packed with believing Jews cross examining unbelieving Jews in their synagogues.

Acts 18:1-28 YLT 1 And after these things, Paul having departed out of Athens, came to Corinth, 2 and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquilas, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife—because of Claudius having directed all the Jews to depart out of Rome—he came to them, 3 and because of being of the same craft, he did remain with them, and was working, for they were tent-makers as to craft; 4 and he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks. 5 And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit, testifying fully to the Jews Jesus the Christ; 6 and on their resisting and speaking evil, having shaken his garments, he said unto them, `Your blood is upon your head—I am clean; henceforth to the nations I will go on.’7 And having departed thence, he went to the house of a certain one, by name Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue, 8 and Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue did believe in the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing were believing, and they were being baptized. 9And the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, `Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent; 10 because I am with thee, and no one shall set on thee to do thee evil; because I have much people in this city;’ 11 and he continued a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.12 And Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a rush with one accord upon Paul, and brought him unto the tribunal, 13 saying—`Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;’ 14 and Paul being about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, `If, indeed, then, it was anything unrighteous, or an act of wicked profligacy, O Jews, according to reason I had borne with you, 15 but if it is a question concerning words and names, and of your law, look ye yourselves to it, for a judge of these things I do not wish to be,’ 16 and he drave them from the tribunal; 17 and all the Greeks having taken Sosthenes, the chief man of the synagogue, were beating him before the tribunal, and not even for these things was Gallio caring. 18 And Paul having remained yet a good many days, having taken leave of the brethren, was sailing to Syria—and with him are Priscilla and Aquilas—having shorn his head in Cenchera, for he had a vow; 19 and he came down to Ephesus, and did leave them there, and he himself having entered into the synagogue did reason with the Jews: 20 and they having requested him to remain a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, `It behoveth me by all means the coming feast to keep at Jerusalem, and again I will return unto you—God willing.’ And he sailed from Ephesus, 22 and having come down to Caesarea, having gone up, and having saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch. 23 And having made some stay he went forth, going through in order the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.24 And a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by birth, a man of eloquence, being mighty in the Writings, came to Ephesus, 25 this one was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit, was speaking and teaching exactly the things about the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John; 26 this one also began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Aquilas and Priscilla having heard of him, took him to them, and did more exactly expound to him the way of God, 27 and he being minded to go through into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples, having exhorted them to receive him, who having come, did help them much who have believed through the grace, 28 for powerfully the Jews he was refuting publicly, shewing through the Writings Jesus to be the Christ..