Chapter 13: The Two Witnesses – Drought and Fiery Judgment

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One of the most incredible occurrences during the 7-year period of the tribulation will be triggered by the destruction of the temple at the end of the first 3½ years. At that moment, two “witnesses” will arrive. This fact is presented in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to His servant, John. Listen to these words.

Revelation 11:1-14 (NKJ)

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
2 “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
7 Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

First, understand that the arrival of the two witnesses will coincide with the trampling of the holy city, Jerusalem, for forty-two months. If we reference the prophecy of Daniel we will see that the one who was making war against the saints (Daniel 7:21) is the antichrist. He will persecute the saints of the Most High and intend to change the course of history. He will prevail for 3½ years but not without resistance from God’s two witnesses.

Read again what it said above:

Revelation 11:5-6 (NKJ)

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

These two will have power. They will be able to destroy their enemies with fire. Listen to an example of that power when King Ahaziah asked Elijah if an injury he incurred in a fall was going to cause him to die.

2 Kings 1:2-17 (NKJ)

2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.”
3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’
4 “Now therefore, thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.
5 And when the messengers returned to him, he said to them, “Why have you come back?”
6 So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ “‘ ”
7 Then he said to them, “What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?”
8 So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ”
10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
11 Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ”
12 So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
13 Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.
14 “Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.”
15 And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king.
16 Then he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ”
17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken.

Here Elijah says that , “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Elijah demonstrated God’s power. The two witnesses will have this same power. They will be able to destroy an enemy simply by calling on God’s power to do so. This will not exactly make these two popular. Their mission and their power will gain international attention, to say the least.

Let’s review again the second thing these two do that will cause the entire world to suffer (except those who God miraculously leads to water).

Revelation 11:6 (NKJ)

6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

The “days of their prophecy” are 42 months (Rev. 11:2). No rain will fall from the time that the 3rd Temple is destroyed by the antichrist. Again, the world will suffer because of the power of the two witnesses to withhold the rain. This is not the first time in Israel’s history that the rain was withheld. Listen:

1 Kings 17:1 (NKJ)

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

Luke 4:25 (NKJ)

25 “But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land;

In these next verses, Jeremiah tells Israel why the latter rain will be withheld.

Jeremiah 3:1-3 (NKJ)

1 “They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me,” says the LORD.
2 “Lift up your eyes to the desolate heights and see: where have you not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them like an Arabian in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness.
3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; you refuse to be ashamed.

Does it surprise you at all, that the world, under the authority and leadership of the antichrist will be angry with these two? They have the power to kill anyone who defies them and they withhold the rain. Finally, as we read in Rev. 11:7, they are killed by the beast (Satan). What do you think happens when these two who have made the enemies of God suffer, then die? The world throws a party celebrating their death! Listen:

Revelation 11:10 (NKJ)

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

But the party is premature. Listen:

Revelation 11:8-9, 11 (NKJ)

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

Can you imagine this scene? The world has been celebrating, for 3 ½ days, the death of these two who have tormented them and then they stand up and are alive. From that moment on, God’s wrath is poured out upon His enemies. The great time of tribulation will be concluded with an earthquake that will destroy many and finally be brought to an end by the battle of Armageddon, a battle fought by God against His enemies.

To place these events in perspective, listen to how Daniel describes the rise of the antichrist and his fate.

Daniel 7:25-28 (NKJ)

25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel 8:23-27 (NKJ)

23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 “Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.
26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”
27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.

Daniel concludes each of these two accounts with these words:

… “my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

… “I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.”

If you are reading the account of the two witnesses as a casual observer you may be missing the point. This will be a time of terrific turmoil and unrest. Your personal position in all of this will be tested. If you are faithful to God and seek to understand what is in store, you will not be surprised at all this. You will be severely tested but during this last 3½ years, preceding the millennium, God has promised to care for His people, those who love Him and are obedient to His Word. This period of time, for many of the faithful, will be much like the Exodus, when God preserved His people in miraculous ways in a barren and hostile land.

Listen to the prophecy of Isaiah. Is this a scenario much like the one described above? Will the land be desolate and will a tenth remain as God’s holy seed?

Isaiah 6:9-13 (NKJ)

9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate,
12 The LORD has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.”

All of this would seem to point to a significant amount of despair for a very large number of people.
Jeremiah, in the Book of Lamentations offers prophecy that seems to fit three times. Once when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple, again when the Romans destroyed the rebuilt Temple (whose western wall remains today) and finally here in the end times, after the Temple is rebuilt for a third time.

Lamentations 2:1-8 (NKJ)

1 How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! He cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, and did not remember His footstool in the day of His anger.
2 The Lord has swallowed up and has not pitied all the dwelling places of Jacob. He has thrown down in His wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought them down to the ground; he has profaned the kingdom and its princes.
3 He has cut off in fierce anger every horn of Israel; he has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy. He has blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire devouring all around.
4 Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow; with His right hand, like an adversary, he has slain all who were pleasing to His eye; on the tent of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out His fury like fire.
5 The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, he has swallowed up all her palaces; he has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah.
6 He has done violence to His tabernacle, as if it were a garden; he has destroyed His place of assembly; the LORD has caused the appointed feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion. In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest.
7 The Lord has spurned His altar, he has abandoned His sanctuary; he has given up the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in the house of the LORD as on the day of a set feast.
8 The LORD has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion. He has stretched out a line; he has not withdrawn His hand from destroying; therefore He has caused the rampart and wall to lament; they languished together.

Notice the words in verse 6: He has done violence to His tabernacle. Many mistakenly think that evil people independently “do the violent things ” because they are in control. Evil people perform evil acts because God permits them to do so. They do so to their own detriment but God Himself is in control and what they do, they do with His permission or by His design.

God could prevent evil people from drawing their first breath and He certainly is not surprised when they do violence to His tabernacle or His people. Does this mean that what God foreknew (our every thought and action), He preordained? The Scriptures make the following point over and over again. Listen.

Romans 9:20-24 (NKJ)

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Listen again to Isaiah and understand that your faithful obedience also leads to a wonderful result.

Isaiah 66:5-14 (NKJ)

5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.”
6 The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies!
7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child.
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.
9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
11 That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”
12 For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies.

This kind of encouragement is present throughout the Scriptures. There is the “blessing” and the “curse.” Choose which you will have and if you choose the curse, pray for mercy, because judgment awaits those who are disobedient, just as peace, like a river, awaits those who are obedient and faithful and who love God with all their hearts, mind, soul and strength and their neighbor as themselves.

As to who the two witnesses are, their identity is not revealed. Many scholars have debated this topic and there is no need to “nail down” an answer. It matters less “who they are” than “why they are.” They have a specific role to fulfill and prophesy tells us what that role is.

I will speculate that the two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch. From the readings above you can see that Elijah already was used by God to destroy the enemy by fire and to withhold the rain. That fact, in itself, means little, since God can impart power to anyone He chooses, including another witness beside Elijah.

In addition, listen to these verses which were written by John, the Apostle, concerning John the Baptist, where people asked John the Baptist, “are you Elijah?” I will offer this quotation in a more full context than is called for, simply because I feel that these words are perhaps the most important words in the New Testament.

John 1:1-34 (NKJ)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ‘as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.
27 “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30 “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
31 “I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, (my emphasis) therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34 “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Here John is the herald, announcing the coming of the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. They ask, “are you Elijah?” Why? Listen to what Malachi told God’s people.

Malachi 4:5 (NKJ)

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

Malachi said Elijah would be the herald announcing the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The two witnesses do just that. They precede the coming of the Messiah. That coming will be good news to some and bad news to others, but just as John the Baptist announced the first coming, here Elijah announces the second coming.

In addition, when John the Baptist had been thrown into prison (for scolding Herod about marrying his brother’s wife), the disciples of Jesus brought a question from John the Baptist. Listen:

Matthew 11:1-15 (NKJ)

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 “But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10 “For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 “And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Jesus tells us, John is Elijah, who is to come. These verses concerning John’s identity and role are not easily understood, in my opinion, but if the role of Elijah and John are similar, they are both heralds of the coming of the Messiah.

There is one other reason that is more compelling, in my opinion. The Bible is true, every word of it. There is a verse that says: And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) Only two persons do not die in the Biblical record. Those two are Enoch and Elijah. Listen to the description of their departures:

Genesis 5:23-24 (NKJ)

23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

The circumstances of Elijah’s departure were more dramatic and it is better, I think, to look at it in a more full context. Listen:

2 Kings 2:1-17 (NKJ)

1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”
17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him.

Whether Elijah and Enoch come back as witnesses and do what is recorded above, I do not know, for certain, but it makes a lot of sense to place them in this role so the verse about every man dying once, can be fulfilled. It can be fulfilled in other ways, I am sure, but this is one way that seems to fit.

I believe you get the point. The tribulation period will be one of miraculous events, both good and bad. It appears that few will remain faithful and obedient to God during this period. You may choose to be “different” now or then, but in any event the choice will carry with it either great mercy or eternal judgment. If you are praying for the former, give “legs” to your prayer. Seek a personal relationship with Him now by accepting the redemptive act of His Son and being filled with the Holy Spirit, equipped to do the work of the saints, by His Grace.

You do believe the Messiah is coming. Search the Old Testament for the evidence pointing to His lineage, His birthplace, and the circumstances of His ministry and His death on the cross. If you await One who must precisely fulfill these prophecies, it would indeed be a miracle to have another do so.

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