Two Witnesses: Difference between revisions

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"'And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.'  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.  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.  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.  When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.  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.  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 the graves.  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.  Now after 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.  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.  In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell.  In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven." (Revelation 11:3-13 - New King James Version)}}

==Identity==

==Religious-political ramifications of Israel and the Church==

Obvious collaboration between the "witnesses" is "eschatologically suggested" by those who espouse the two to be Israel and the Church—what form of cooperative witness seems crucial; especially with regards to the religious-political ramifications thereof.  Naturally, evangelical support for the nation of Israel is viewed by a growing number of Israeli Jews, as well as diasporic Jews (especially Zionists), as beneficial to the survival of Israel and highly influential upon American foreign policy,<ref>{{cite news |first=David D |last=Kirkpatrick |title=For Evangelicals, Supporting Israel Is ‘God's Foreign Policy’ |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/washington/14israel.html?ex=1321160400&en=60ed9b6dede3816e&ei=5090 |work=The New York Times |date=[[2006]]-[[11-14]] |accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> whether the imagery of the Two Witnesses is reflected in this Evangelical-Jewish Zionist alliance or not.  Furthermore, if the book of Revelation is to be viewed as a cosmic courtroom wherein the "Great City" is on trial, and the "Judge of all the earth" is pending a conviction by calling forth witnesses to "testify" against Babylon the Great (i.e., "the Holy City" vs. the "Great City" or New Jerusalem vs. Babylon the Great)<ref>

{{cite web |url=http://www.antipasministries.com/html/file0000026.htm#26c |title=Chapter VIII: Tribulation & Judgment |accessdate=2007-08-24 |last=Shearer |first=S.R |work=The New Antipas Papers |publisher=Antipas Ministries}}</ref> - then "Biblical collaboration" at the mouth of "two witnesses"<ref>Deuteronomy 19:15.</ref> prior to a conviction and ultimate sentence would be mandatory.