The correct interpretation of this period of time is a key to understanding prophecies such as this prophecy about the Two Witnesses, in Revelation 11:1-13, which otherwise remains locked up or sealed. As interpreted below, this prophecy presents the divine perspective on the two witnesses of God, which remain in the world, one of which is the Bible, and the other being the Holy Spirit.
The prophecy outlines, in symbol, the history, and purpose of the holy scriptures in the world, and of the Spirit of God. These are identified within the New Testament as "two witnesses," which testify to Christ and to the truth in the world.
Daniel's time period of three and a half years is identified with the last half of the final "week" in the prophecy about the 70 Weeks, in Daniel 9. This final week is a figurative period of seven years. It is during this "week" that Christ "confirms the covenant with many," as stated in Daniel 9:27. The first half of this prophetic "week" was the three and a half year ministry of Christ on the earth in the first century. The second half of the final "week" is symbolic, and represents the entire period of the Church.
The final three and a half years, also referred to as a period of 1,260 days, and as forty two months, or any other reference to a time period associated with the number "three and a half" is here taken to be a figure or symbol of the period in which the scriptures and the Holy Spirit are in the world, from the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church in the first century, on the day of Pentecost after the crucifixion of Christ, to the return of Christ to the earth. The phrase can also refer to a portion of this period.
The scriptures have a crucial role in this period. Along with the Spirit of God, they bear witness to Christ. Their significance and history is clearly a suitable topic for biblical prophecy.
John was told to measure the temple [Revelation 11:1-2]; not the physical temple in Jerusalem, but the spiritual temple, the Church. To "measure" is to describe, and that is what the prophecy in this chapter does. It describes the role of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit in the Church in symbolic terms. The message contained in the prophecy is learned by interpretation of its symbolic language. To measure the temple means, in this prophecy, describe the Church. But the court outside the temple was to be excluded. That is, the prophecy applies to Christians only, and is not intended for correction of unbelievers.
The Apostle Peter refers to Christians as "lively stones" built up as a spiritual house, with Christ the chief cornerstone. He wrote: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)
Similarly, Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22) These scriptures show plainly that the temple is a symbol or figure of the Church.
John was also told to measure the altar. In Revelation 8:3 the altar in heaven is mentioned in connection with the prayers of the saints. The phrase, "them that worship therein" must refer to the saints. Peter said Christians are to offer up "spiritual sacrifices," consisting of prayers of thanksgiving, praise, and good works, and the altar mentioned in the prophecy could be a figure of these. In Hebrews we read: "Through him, then, let us continually lay on the altar a sacrifice of praise to God, namely, the utterance of lips that give thanks to His Name. And do not forget to be kind and liberal; for with sacrifices of that sort God is greatly pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16, Weymouth translation.)
The description of the state of the Church in this prophecy is one which reveals the great needs of the Church in our age. There is a need for all Christians to consider the state of the Church in the present age, so they can effectively pray that God would revive and heal it by revealing His truth. If Daniel's prayer about the desolate state of the city of Jerusalem, which consisted of heaps of stones and rubble, could lead to the revelations recorded in Daniel chapter 9, how much more would the earnest prayers of the saints today, and their concern about the overall state of the Church, the people for whom Christ gave his life, move God to send forth His Spirit? But few Christians today have the vision to even comprehend what the Church is. The prophecies of Revelation 11-12 provide insight into this important question.
The holy city mentioned in verse 2 is another figure of the Church. It was to be trodden under foot for 42 months. This indicates the saints were to be subjected to others. There is a parallel between this scripture and Daniel 7:21. This prophecy does not refer to the nations taking control of the literal city of Jerusalem, for three and a half years, although Christ referred to the city of Jerusalem being trodden down by the nations "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24) It refers to Jerusalem as a figure of the Church. Paul uses the expression "Jerusalem which is above" in Galatians 4:25 to represent the Church. The Church, according to this prophecy, has been trodden down, dominated by unbelievers. The court outside the temple represents the world. The Gentiles mentioned in the prophecy are a figure of the world, or unbelievers.
The two witnesses are identified as two olive trees, and two candlesticks, which is similar to the vision described in Zechariah 4. In this prophecy, two olive trees stood one on each side of a golden candlestick. On top was a bowl, and pipes led from the bowl to seven lamps. Two olive branches provided golden oil through two golden pipes, the oil being the fuel for the candlestick. The olive trees were the source of the oil, which provided light when it was burned in the candlestick.
In scripture, light represents truth and understanding. Proverbs 6:23 says: "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is a light..." Psalm 119:105 says: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Many other scriptures use light and a lamp as a symbol of truth and insight. In Psalm 119:130 we read, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple." The two witnesses are called two candlesticks because they are the source of light and truth in the world.
Zechariah 4:14 says the two olive trees are "the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." Adam was given dominion over the earth, at Creation. The Lord of the whole earth, then, is man. The anointing refers to the Spirit of God. In the Garden of Eden, God planted the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9) The two olive trees of prophecy can be identified with the two trees God had planted in the Garden of Eden, which figure prominently in God's purpose for the destiny of man. They represent the truth God has revealed in His Word, and the Spirit of God which is available to man.
The book of Zechariah was written at the time of the rebuilding of God's temple. The prophecies show the role of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit in the construction of God's spiritual temple, the Church. When Zechariah asked the meaning of the vision of the two olive trees beside the golden candlestick, the angel mentioned the word of God, and the Spirit of God. He answered: "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (Verse 6) The olive trees represented the word of God, and the Spirit of God.
The light produced by the candlesticks is a symbol of truth and understanding. The olive trees in Revelation 11 along with the two candlesticks, represent the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit which was given to the Church. In Zechariah's prophecy, only one candlestick is mentioned. John may have spoken of two candlesticks because the scriptures today consist of the Old and New Testaments. Both bear witness to Christ.
In the first chapter of John's gospel, Christ is identified with the Word, and He is called "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) In verse 5, we read, "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
Can we really know that Revelation chapter 11 is meant to be interpreted, and is not to be taken literally? How can we be sure it has to be understood figuratively? One reason is because it is prophecy. The book of Revelation is full of symbolic language. It cannot refer to two Christians, or any two humans, since fire came from their mouth, and killed their opponents. They "smite the earth with plagues." There are no Christians who can, or should behave in such a fashion. It is not language which should be taken literally. The mouth of man was not designed to project fire! Christians do not have a mandate to take vengeance on those who would do them wrong. Christ said we should "turn the other cheek."
The identification of the two witnesses is not merely a matter of guessing. Christ identifies two things which would testify of him: the scriptures, and the Spirit. The first is found in John 5:39. Christ said to the Jews, "Search the scriptures, for in them you think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." One who testifies is a witness.
John recorded Christ's promise to his disciples that the Spirit would come: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:17) Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the other witness. He said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye shall also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27)
Moses wrote of a future prophet who was to appear in Israel: "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 harken." (Deuteronomy 18:15) This was fulfilled in Christ. Also Elijah was predicted to come, and "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers." Both Moses and Elijah were mentioned in the final few verses of Malachi.
A future coming of the prophet Elijah, before the "day of the Lord," was promised in the Old Testament prophecies. The prophecy of Revelation 11 explains what this means. The words of scripture have been available since Old Testament times. They were completed when the New Testament was compiled by the Apostles. The "spirit of Elijah" is same Spirit of God which was given to the Church on the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. The Spirit inspired the writers of the New Testament. It has remained with the saints until now. It will be with the Church till the end of the world. It was to lead the saints to "all truth."
The two witnesses are depicted as clothed in sackcloth, representing humility. Sackcloth, when used as clothing, is a means of expression. It is not particularly attractive, and is seldom worn. Similarly, the scriptures are not widely believed or understood. The truth in the scripture has been presented in symbolic language, as with the parables of Jesus. This was not to make the message plain, but to conceal it from the world, and preserve it.
Moses compared his words to rain: "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass" (Deuteronomy 32:2).
Elijah was unique among the Old Testament prophets. He had the Spirit of God, typified by the "still small voice," which came after the earthquake, wind, and fire. (1 Kings 19:12) Elijah seems to represent the Spirit of God especially. He prayed that there would be no rain in Israel for a period of three years and six months. He told the Israelite king Ahab, "As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." (1 Kings 17:1)
In the prophecy of the two witnesses, the Spirit and the scriptures have "shut heaven" and caused the cessation of prophetic revelation and other "signs" to the Church. At least it is not evident nearly so much as in the early first century church. There are no dramatic miracles occurring today, for example, such as those performed by the apostles. This has been true since the days of the apostles in the first century.
The "rain" is a symbol of the outpouring of God's spirit. The word of God comes to us only through the scripture, not the book of Mormon or the Koran or St. Augustine or any other source. None of the early church fathers, or any Christians today, have the authority of the scriptures.
The writing of scripture has ceased, since the New Testament scriptures were compiled in the days of the Apostles. Although the Apostles had prophetic revelations, no such inspired writings have been afforded to the Church since. Scripture is the only source of revelation to the Church, and much of it has not yet been understood. Why would God give new revelations, when we have not understood what he has already revealed?
The fire represents the fire of future judgment, when offenders will be killed by fire. Jesus said of this judgement that is to come: "The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42)
The scriptures speak of God as "the fountain of living waters." (Jeremiah 2:13) Isaiah wrote, "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3) Jesus said to the woman of Samaria, who came to draw water from Jacob's well, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14) And when Jesus was at the feast of tabernacles in Jerusalem, he said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39)
Clearly, the waters are identified with God's Spirit. The blood is a symbol of murder. After the murder of Abel, God said to Cain, "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10) The power of the two witnesses over the waters is symbolic of the Holy Spirit guiding Christians to the truth, and their witness which has at times resulted in persecution. Changing the waters to blood seems to represent the power of the sriptures to impart faith, strong enough to overcome the fear of persecution. It may also depict murder of Christians for their belief in the word of God.
The two witnesses have the power to "smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." This kind of power can only belong to God. It cannot reasonably apply to any two men. It is a reference to the prophecies of sripture. Just as the plagues announced by Moses came upon Egypt, the events foretold in sripture will come to pass.
This is all spelled out symbolically by the description of the war with the beast from the bottomless pit, (Satan) which overcame the two witnesses, and killed them. Satan has made war against the scriptures, and caused Christians to doubt. His efforts to deceive men have succeeded. The attitude of many Christians to the sriptures has become not much different to that of the world.
The war between Satan and the two witnesses is about the authority and reliability of the sriptures, and our faith in them. It is fought in the minds of people, rather than physical warfare. Paul wrote: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12) In this war, the two witnesses were overcome.
This explanation of the prophecy of the war between the beast from the abyss and the two witnesses is supported by comments of Howard Rand in his book "Study in Revelation." He wrote: [1]
The power of the Witnesses is in the testimony of the Word and the Spirit. So long as men believed and accepted the Word, Satan was powerless to overcome the Witnesses or silence their testimony. It was necessary in his new plan of attack that the Word be brought into disrepute. Men must be made to doubt its message and accuracy.The rise of modern science and materialism has been a major factor in this war against the Bible. This was recognized by C.A.L. Totten in 1890, in his description of the effect of the biblical criticism that overwhelmed seminaries and other educational institutions in the last century. His comments were cited by Rand:
Most religious people are literally afraid to investigate the Bible, and well they may be if the canons of the 'Higher Criticsm' are to guide their study. Most of the laity consider it to be beyond their sphere, and so far as 'Moses and the Prophets' are concerned, even the clergy almost entirely neglect them. We readily grant that Sin, Repentance, and the Gospel of a Saviour are the vital 'end' of apostolic work. Nevertheless we hold that Christ and the Resurrection cannot be successfully preached in this age upon the undermined foundation left by the Higher Critics. It is well for them if they can hold their own souls within the fold: we question it; but be this as it may, it is the rest of men that are the ones whom Christ desires to save, and they have logic left, and cannot be savingly reached by any other means than a logical exegisis of the whole Bible, and a satisfactory explanation of its inspiration as such, upon the basis that it is 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' For, not though one rose from the dead will men believe, unless they likewise are taught to believe implicitly, and are made to understand, 'Moses and the Prophets.'Here is the Bible's evaluation of much of the biblical scholarship in religious books and periodicals and seminaries and universities in the world today: it has "killed" the two witnesses, the scriptures and the Spirit! Many Christian people have vague and confused ideas about the message of salvation contained in scripture. It is not difficult to see how this war has been waged. Along with many discoveries of modern science, belief in the Bible has waned. The biblical criticism of the last century, acceptance of long ages of historical geology and the theory of evolution among Christians are examples of the battles in this war. Science and modern scholarship have been used to blind people to the truth of the sriptures. Gradually, faith and scripture have been cast aside, even in many churches.It is the Bible that Atheists and Infidels attack - the Old Testament chiefly - for they are logical, and perceive that if the foundation goes, the superstructure cannot stand, no matter how eloquently it can be clothed in Agnostic sermons. Hence this Old Testament is our one and only bulwark of defense. It will not do to preach Christ and deny Moses. It will not do to doubt the universality of the Flood, and ask men to accept a Saviour who alludes to it! ...If the story of Eden and the Deluge, of Jerico and Joshua, are myths, or fables, and not literal facts, then, to the still rational mind, all that follows them is equally so, and faith, lost in those who foretold His advant, can never be savingly and logically found again in Christ and His apostles.
Many interpreters have identified the "city where our Lord was crucified" as referring to Jerusalem, but this ignores the symbolic significance of Christ's death occurring outside the city. The great city John refers to is later on identified with Babylon, as a type of this world. Rand has also recognized this:
The reference to "Where also our Lord was crucified" has led many students astray as they immediately think of the city of Jerusalem, or the land of Palestine. In doing so they have overlooked the fact that the Great City is none other than the mystical city which John later names Babylon.The "dead bodies" of the two witnesses is a figure representing Bibles which are readily available in our society, but are not read, believed or understood. This figure may also apply to those Christian institutions readily found in the world today, which are called "dead bodies" in the prophecy because the Holy Spirit of God is not present!
The Bible and its message appears to be useless and unimportant to many people today. There are "three days and a half" in which these corpses are seen in the world, in the "street," or in public. The three days an a half means a part of the present age in which the Church remains in the world, before Christ returns.
People of various nations, languages, and races of the world are acquainted with the Bible, and with Christians. Bibles are a persistent best seller. Most people have a Bible or two in their home. Most people know a few Christians, too. Although discredited, Bibles are kept around, and people who profess belief in Christ are tolerated. They "do not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves."
The phrase "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations" in verse 9 refers to people of every nation and tribe and language who have been exposed to the Bible and Christianity. This verse shows the Bible would be distributed worldwide, and translated into every language.
A similar explanation was supported by Rand. He wrote:
Since modernism has overcome the Witnesses and brought their message into disrepute, the ridicule and contempt for the things for which they stood and to which they testified have been evidenced on every hand. This statement is borne out in that the warnings of the past from the mouth of the Witnesses are no more heeded, and there is great rejoicing because of the passing of old beliefs. The Bible is considered as folklore and fable and no longer needed or heeded as the Word of God, while the Holy Spirit is entirely ignored.Rand's explanation of the death of the two witnesses seems to be in harmony with the prophecy, and with the history of the Bible and God's Spirit in this present century. Rand anticipated the "death" and the subsequent "resurrection" of the two witnesses in the twentieth century. The "three days and a half" is a symbolic period of indefinite duration. It would indicate a period which is a fraction of the symbolic 1,260 days also mentioned in the prophecy. Rand wrote:
What is to happen that will revive the power of the Witnesses, enabling them to testify with an authority that will again bring men under conviction? It is certain that whatever produces this will have effectively destroyed the doctrinal teachings that the Bible is folklore and fable. It will completely answer the higher critic and destroy the arguments of all the modernists.According to the prophecy of the revival of the two witnesses, a dramatic "great rain" may be ahead for the Church. In the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, found in 1 Kings 18, rain is sent from above, in abundance. The "rain", since it comes from above, represents the Holy Spirit of God. Similarly, a resurrection of the corpses of the two witnesses probably depicts the Spirit of God restoring faith and courage to believers, and scripture being understood and believed. This prophecy of the two witnesses, and other prophecies, will be understood and taken to heart. Fulfilled prophecy will show scripture to be the word of God.
In the time of Elijah there was no rain, and famine in Israel for three years and six months. (James 5:16-17) This time period is also a figure of the entire age in which the Church is in the world. Elijah predicted it would not rain, until he gave the word. His purpose was to turn the hearts of the people back to the true God. This period of three and a half years of famine corresponds to the symbolic 42 months, and the 1260 days mentioned in the prophecy of the two witnesses. It represents the period that the Church exists in the world.
After the three and a half years of drought, Elijah's prayer brought rain in abundance. This appears to be a type of what is to happen in the future. The Spirit is to be revived in the Church and the scripture will come alive. This means it will be understood. The scriptures and the Spirit will "stand on their feet," which will cause great fear to those who become aware of it. This will fulfil the role of Elijah which was foretold in Malachi 4:5-6: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
The proper interpretation of key prophecies will allow an understanding of scripture as never before. Christians who have long thought this prophecy of the two witnesses referred to two men, who are to appear in the future, and who will preach in Jerusalem for three and a half years, causing terror or "torment" to men around them, will be enlightened. They will realize this scripture is figurative. The language of symbol can be understood, since the scriptures explain these symbols. Christ gave us lessons on the symbolic language of the Bible in the parables.
We should not expect another return of Moses or Elijah in person until the resurrection of the saints. But they will return figuratively. Christ said, "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." (Matthew 17:11-12) The disciples understood he meant John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Christ at his first coming.
Moses and Elijah also returned in vision. This vision of the transfiguration of Christ before three of the disciples, and the reason Moses and Elijah appeared was significant. Perhaps this was because they were to symbolize the scriptures and God's Spirit in John's prophecy.
The prophecy found in the second chapter of Joel also depicts the Holy Spirit being "poured out upon all flesh." The Apostle Peter connected this prophecy with the "last days," before the return of Christ, when he quoted from this passage when the Holy Spirit was first given to the Church (Acts 2:15-21). Joel wrote: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
The two witnesses are pictured
returning to God, in much the same way Christ ascended to heaven, (Acts
1:9), when they have fulfilled their role in God's plan of redemption,
and accomplished all that God had intended. They will have produced a
"harvest", like the seed which fell in good ground, in the parable of
the sower. The saints will be that harvest. The resurrection of the
saints will vindicate the scriptures.
Revelation 11:13 says:
And the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35)
The Bible and its promises are to remain in force. Psalm 119:89 says, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."