During the 70th Week of Daniel's seven-year period of time, there are two blocks of three and one-half years.   The first three and one-half years are a time of relative false-peace where:

• The Earth's true Christians will have been Raptured, and
• Many Biblical prophesized events are being setup

The last three and one-half years are known as the Tribulation Period.  The Tribulation Period will be a very horrible time to be alive on the Earth as God will be exercising many judgments and woes against the people of the world.   See the Chronological Timeline of Events section of the Tribulation Period topic. 

At the start of the Tribulation Period there are only two categories of people on the entire Earth:

1. Those who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior during the Tribulation Period, and
2. Those who will not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, will be given over to the Great Lie, which involves taking the Mark of The Beast and then
   (a) Eventual death by one of God's judgments, or
   (b) Suffering under God's judgments until the end of the Tribulation Period.

Unlike all the history in the Earth's past, there will not be a choice of staying in a place of neutrality.  Failure to not ask Jesus Christ as the person's Savior, will have the person be given over to the Great Lie.

The primary purpose of the Tribulation Period is:

1. For the people of Israel to accept their Savior Jesus Christ, which a portion of Israel will do. 
2. Bring an end of the ruling of the planet Earth by Lucifer.
3. Have great numbers of people, from every place on the Earth, accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
4. Prepare the Earth and those People, with Salvation alive at the end of the Tribulation Period, to go into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
   (No one without Salvation will enter the Millennial Kingdom.)

During the Tribulation Period, there will Two Witnesses selected by God to preach from Jerusalem against the Antichrist.  God also has many other witnessing representatives occurring during the Tribulation Period everywhere on the Earth. 

Scripture Announcement

In the Book of Revelation, there are Two Witnesses that are on a mission during the Tribulation Period to:

1. Prophecy against the Antichrist
2. Be an embarrassment against the assertions by the Antichrist that the Antichrist is God, who can't eliminate the Two Witnesses
3. Remind the Antichrist and the Earth of Jesus Christ immediate Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation Period. 

During their 3.5-year mission they cannot be killed, where anyone who tries to kill them will be killed.  After 3.5 years, the Two Witnesses are killed.  For their 3.5 days, their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem, while their Spirit will be with God until they are sent back to their earthly bodies.  More on this later in this topic.

What is a Calendar Year in the Bible

Identification of the duration of the Tribulation Period is important as it is based on a 360-day year, which the Earth formerly had prior to the Long Day of Joshua and the 2 Kings Chapter 20 Events.  After the two events, the Earth changed to a 365.25 days in a year cycle.

God has always used 360-day years in the Scriptures.  Revelation 11:3 is describing a three and one-half year period which is the second half of the Tribulation Period.

As previously stated, our current time period is using the Julian Calendar Year definition.  The calendar year is actual 364.25 days long excluding leap years.  In the Old Testament Period there were two events that changed the length of a calendar year.  See the Biblical Calendar Year topic for more information.

Revelation 11:3 days calculated is: (1200 days plus (three multiplied by twenty ~ threescore)) = 1200 + (3 X 20) = 1260 days.   (Year 1's 360 days) + (Year 2's 360 days) + (Year 3's 360's days) + (1/2 of a year's 180 days) = 1260 days.

The Two Witnesses of Revelation will be stating many things during their mission of prophesying against the Antichrist, which will also most likely contain a count-down of days left before Jesus Christ's return.

Two Witnesses Needed

God uses two witnesses in several places in the Bible and by the law, two or more witnesses are required as described in the scriptures so that a matter will be confirmed:

Examples where two witnesses were used:

Identity Theories of the Two Witnesses

There has always been a great deal of speculation on who are these two witnesses, since the scriptural passage does not give us the identity.  For most of the history of the Church age period, often called the Fullness of the Gentiles the speculations have been primarily a few prominent scriptural persons. 

Below are the proposed theories, by many Biblical Commentaries, on the identity of the Two Witnesses:

Two key points of the Tribulation Period's Two Witnesses, is:

1. God has completed the Fullness of the Gentiles before the Tribulation Period starts.
2. God has the prophecies to complete with Israel during the Tribulation Period where
   (a) Israel will recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior where the Second Coming occurs because Israel asks for Jesus Christ to return.
   (b) Jesus Christ sitting on King David's thrown. (see Luke 1:32-33 and others). 

As God works in the Tribulation Period, the Period takes on Jewish idioms in the Book of Revelation scriptures.  Some Biblical Scholars state

1. The identity of the Two Witnesses
2. The theoretical thought that the two men will be Jewish, who of course recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Can we know the identity without any doubts? No

Here are some points to consider regarding any theories which show that we cannot know the identity beyond a shadow of doubt:

1. Regarding the theory that the two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah because they were taken out of this world where they appeared to not have a bodily death. 
   (a) This is not an absolute reason as there have been many other people who have not faced death.  The question could be asked if there is a requirement anyone Raptured to come back to earth and experience a death?  The answer is "no", because there will be millions upon millions Raptured before the Tribulation Period.  Additionally, God may choose to have other Raptures. 
   (b) Another overlooked aspect is Enoch is not Jewish.  Enoch was taken out of the Earth before the Great Flood of Noah, where the Jewish Faith doesn't start a much later time.  
2. Some people quote Hebrews 9:27 as a proof that everyone must die and then have the judgment.  The word appointed is not an absolute.  In verse 28, the scripture is dealing with judgment and the work Jesus Christ did for us which therefore has the context of verse 27 is judgment will happen.  It does not mean humankind must die to enable the Judgment to happen to them.

   Hebrews 9:27	And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
   Hebrews 9:28	So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

3. There have been many people who have died once and then faced death a second time or were taken up. 

   Matthew 27:53-54	The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many
   Acts 9:40	Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up

4. If God would have wanted us to know the identity of the Two Witnesses, then He could have revealed it.  There are unknowns in the Bible like Revelation 10:4 "seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down"
5. God uses many approaches to how He deals with the earth where most of the time it is a pattern.  Those who are listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews chapter 11 will show that the road used by God is not glamorous, easy and filled with riches in this life.  God's pattern in the Bible is to use the humble and meek to deliver a message and do tasks for the Glory of God.
6. Ignoring Charlatans, there are many cases of great teachers from the pulpit, at a home group and even on TV who would want to claim an identity of being one of the "Two Witnesses" but can any of us be that pretentious and presumptuous?  The answer should be "no" and at the same time, all of us should desire that privilege in the sense of doing it for the Glory of God.  The understanding that is often missed by all of us is we can be used in a paramount, exemplary ways by God and not be required to be listed in the Scriptures. 

Elijah, Moses or Apostle John?

Before discussing the possibilities, using the scriptures, to identify the Two Witnesses identity, it needs to be stated that it is myopic for us to believe it has to be someone who hasn't died which has been a common thought by many Christians.  This belief of God selecting someone from the Old Testament period, who hasn't died, seems to be also heard quite often from Church sermons. 

During the Tribulation Period (Revelation 14:6), there will be Angels making direct contact with people alive during that horrific period, so we should put no limit God in our minds on what He will be doing during the Tribulation Period.  God will have:

• Guarding Angels speaking directly to people.
• Most likely sending multiple of people back from Heaven to preach is also a possibility.  In Matthew 27:53-54 the dead came out of tombs, back to life, to preach the Good News after Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
• Can still have multiple Prophets and Apostles of the Scriptures come to witness during the Tribulation Period, but not be assigned directly as one of the Two Witnesses.

After considering the three points above, it should be noted that the identities of the Two Witnesses have merit for primarily pointing to Elijah and, Moses and as third option even the Apostle John because Elijah, Moses and Apostle John:

• Have missions that are still prophesized to still happen in the scriptures, and/or
• The powers and miraculous signs of the two Witnesses are similar to the miraculous signs and powers of Elijah, Moses

Here are some scriptural passages, of several, that can be mapped to Elijah, Moses and the Apostle John that point to a possible Tribulation Period assignment from God:

Additionally, Moses is identified as the Law Giver of the Old Testament where the Tribulation Period is the climax ending for the nation of Israel.  Biblical Scholars have stated it is fitting for Moses to take a role as one of the Two Witnesses because Moses:

• Who God used to lead Israel out of Egyptian Captivity,
• For almost 40 years in the wilderness led Israel before entering into the Promise Land,
• Gave Israel all of the Laws of the Old Testament Period that pointed to Jesus Christ,
• Was not allowed to enter into the Promise Land because of the failure of Numbers 20:6-12 as explained below.
• (Interestingly) If Moses is one of the Two Witnesses, then Moses' prayer in Deuteronomy 3:23-26 is granted.

Many Biblical Scholars, and this author, believe that Moses did not complete his earthly mission of leading Israel, which along with the scriptural passage of Elijah and Moses meeting with Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration event have the strong possibility that Moses is one of the Two Witnesses.  Moses had a very extraordinary life handling the roles that God gave him, but Moses failed at a very important event when Israel was needing water and guidance that reflected negatively on God as being angry at Israel where God was not angry:

Powers and Mission

The powers and mission given to the Two Witnesses, where the powers are reflective of the powers held by Elijah and Moses in the Old Testament.  God always uses patterns in the scriptures.

A Theory by This Author on the Identity

1. The Two Witnesses are Moses and Elijah
2. The Apostle John will also have a mission that the scriptures do not give us the specifics.
3. There will be Angels witnessing during the Tribulation Period also, where this author has theory that God will most likely have human-beings that have already died also witnessing to those on the Earth that are most likely relatives, friends and acquaintances of the human-being that already died.  This is similar to the event of people coming out of the graves after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to witness to people in Jerusalem, Matthew 27:52-53.

As discussed by the Biblical Scholar, who has passed on, the additional corroboration besides the powers that are identified with Moses is Lucifer fights with Michael over the body of Moses.  Why would a corpse of someone be important unless the body of the person is going to be used again!

Resurrection of the Two Witnesses

1. The Two Witnesses will be murdered. 
   (a) Note that for the entire time of the Tribulation Period, the Two Witnesses could not be murdered by the Antichrist's emissaries.
   (b) As read in Revelation 11:4, anyone attempting to murder the Two Witnesses, would be killed by the same method attempted to kill the Two Witnesses.   The Two Witnesses could not be killed for the entire Tribulation Period until this point where only three and one-half days remained.
   (c) Revelation 11:7 states they will be murdered.   More on the identity of who the murderer shortly in this topic.
2. The bodies of the Two Witnesses will be left in the location of their murder and not disturbed.
3. The Earth's population of those who do not have Salvation, will rejoice in their deaths
   (a) Revelation 11:12 lets the reader of this verse know the bodies are never moved.
   (b) The Antichrist is possibly familiar with the Revelation 11:12 verse and prophecy, and in his arrogance will think that there is no God so the bodies must be watched by video surveillance to assure the bodies are not stolen to fool the Earth's population. 
   (c) The theory on the video surveillance, based on Revelation 11:12, is the theory that Biblical Commentaries use to explain how the whole Earth will see or watch video replayed of the Two Witness's ascensions discussed next in point #4.
4. After three and one-half days, God will resurrect the Two Witnesses in the full-sight of the Earth's view.  God will call the revived Two Witnesses to come to Him, where the Earth's population, of those who do not have Salvation and those who do have Salvation, will also see the ascension. 
5. For one hour after the resurrection and ascension of the Two Witnesses, there is cataclysmic events of death across the Earth, where the theory also is the video recording of the ascension will be repeatedly viewed on Satellite, Internet and Televised broadcasting that will give great horror to those who have the Mark of the Beast (the followers of the Antichrist).

Some general observational theories that this author has not seen in any Biblical Commentaries which unfortunate as the theories, if true, gives more Glory to God for showing the control God always had over any machinations of the Antichrist and Lucifer:

1. The murder of the Two Witnesses appears to be done directly by the hand of the Antichrist as read in Revelation 11:7  
   (a) The keyword is the "beast" which is a pointer.
   (b) Biblical Commentaries, read by this author, state the interpretation of the Revelation 11:7 is an emissary of the Antichrist was the murderer, but the verse can also indicate it was done directly by the Antichrist which is this author's belief.
2. Interestingly, the three and one-half days of the death of the Two Witnesses is the cumulative (theoretical) amount of time Jesus Christ was dead:
   (a) On the Cross,
   (b) Taken down from the Cross and being prepared for Burial,
   (c) Taken to the Tomb, and
   (d) Then the three days His body was in the Tomb.
   (Note: because of God's use of patterns in the scriptures, the question for many has been why three and one-half days, when it should be just three days?)
3. The whole Earth being able to see the ascension of the Two Witnesses, certainly can apply to a television broadcast, but it is most likely more than that where God:
   (a) Does open a higher dimensional view into the Kingdom of God to allow "their enemies beheld them" to see into the location of God calling to the Two Witnesses.
   (b) The higher dimensional location of God calling down to the Two Witnesses, which is being also seen and heard by the enemies of Two Witnesses, informs us all that God's location and existence with Heaven is absolutely not in the known universe but outside of the universe.  Recall that in 2 Peter 3:10-13, that God will burn up the known universe, which also means God, God's Angels and All human-beings who have Salvation will be in a different location outside of the universe.   

What to read next?

What is Salvation?  Is it is possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?