by John Zienkosky

Created on: April 06, 2009   Last Updated: April 08, 2009

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."(Rev.11)(niv) And the identities of these two witnesses are a source of controversy and speculation in the body of Christ today. Should it be? Let's look at another verse, this time attributed to Paul.

For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believeas the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1Cor.3niv) How does this verse apply to the identities of the 2 witnesses? Paul is making a point to the Corinthian church that to adhere to the teachings or even stylings of a man is to be carnally minded. He is saying that it is God and His work that is important here and not the vessel He uses. So, to argue over the identity of the 2 witnesses should fall into the same category in my opinion. What does it matter who it is? None of the men speculated to be one of the 2 has any power of his own. Elijah was translated (2kings2) and did not see physical death, but it is a logical fallacy to believe this translates into His reappearing as a witness. Bible Hermeneutics argue against this as well since there is no precedent for it in scripture. Another argument in favor of Elijah is this verse:

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."(Malachi 4 niv) This prophecy may yet be fulfilled, but I contend it already has. What did Jesus say about Elijah? Read this verse: 10The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" 11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Matt.17 niv) So, it appears that John the Baptist was identified with the ministry of Elijah by Jesus. This says or implies nothing about a future ministry.

Another candidate is

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