THE TWO WITNESSES AS EVIDENCE OF THE PRE-TRIB. RAPTURE!

REVELATION 11:1-12

[1] And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:  and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
[2] But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
[5] And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
[6] These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
[8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
[9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
[10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
[11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
[12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The identity of the two witness:  Some say because of the miracles they perform, the two are Moses and Elijah.  Others suggest they are Enoch and Elijah, in that, neither died, and Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."  Since both witness are killed (v. 7), Moses would have to die twice.  Another factor is that with the Church being in heaven at the time, the only two groups of people on the earth are Gentiles and Jews.  Enoch prophesied to the Gentiles (Jude 1:14-15), and Elijah was a prophet to the Jews (1 & 2 Kings).

We know that the two witnesses prophesy for the first half of the seven year Tribulation.  They are given 1260 days, or 42 thirty day months, to attempt to bring the lost of this world to repentance.  Those two time statements are also found in Revelation 12:6 and 13:5 but there, they refer to the second half of the seven years. "The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit" is not identified, but in Revelation 9:1-2, 11; 17:8; 20:1-3; the bottomless pit is associated with Satan.  The timing of his appearance, in the scheme of things, coincides with the empowering of the head which suffered a mortal wound in Revelation 13:2-3, and the sudden revealing of his hatred for God and the Jews.  

So what about all this supports the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church?  The answer is three-fold:  for one, the two witnesses torment the entire world - if the Church were still here, their message would be cheered by born again believers!  For another, believers would not rejoice and throw parties over seeing their dead bodies lie in the street for three days!  Finally, upon seeing their bodies resurrected and ascending up into heaven, believers would not be fearful, but would rejoices for them!

THE CHURCH IS RAPTURED PRIOR TO

EVEN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TIME

OF GOD'S WRATH, THE TRIBULATION!

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET TRUSTED CHRIST,

TODAY MIGHT BE YOUR LAST CHANCE!

DO NOT PUT IT OFF - BELIEVE IN HIM!