REVELATION 11.3 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 11.4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. 11.5 If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
11.6 These have the power to shut up
the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have
power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with
every plague, as often as they desire. -WEB Bible.
St. John’s visions now describe a series of dramatic
vignettes. These "mini-scenes" introduce major characters (good and
bad) who play major roles during the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation. The
ministry of the two Witnesses spans this 3.5-year time period.
The Bible doesn't give their names, but many speculate that
the two Witnesses may be the ancient prophets Enoch & Elijah, or Moses
& Elijah. Whoever they are, the two men are fearless and relentless in
preaching the gospel and warning people to repent.
God is faithful! Even in these final days, He sends
two powerful Witnesses to preach repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Even if no one will listen, God is still offering the Gospel to the very end.
In the image above, the two prophets stand at the Golden Gate
in Jerusalem, preaching to the people. The Golden Gate is probably the same
gate where Jesus entered the city on Palm Sunday, and it's also where he will
return to Jerusalem in triumph.
In our modern times, no one is allowed to preach at this
location because it is within the compound on the Temple Mount. The sacred
areas of Jerusalem are strictly controlled, in order to maintain the fragile
peace that exists in that city.
However, the two prophets will go wherever they want and do
whatever they want, and no one will be able to stop them because of the
miraculous powers they have been given.
IMAGE CREDIT: The
Golden Gate on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, photo by Yaakov Shoham, Public
Domain, Wikimedia Commons. Revised by C.A. Stevens.