The End Times - Pt 6: Book of Revelation: The Two Witnesses

 

The Two Witnesses

Before the 7th Trumpet Judgment sounds two witnesses sent by God make their appearance in the Holy City.
Rev 11:3-12
And I will give power to my two witnesses, (Enoch and Elijah- see note below) and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, (42 months or 3 1/2 years) 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.
The 2 Witnesses Killed
7 “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (the antichrist) 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 (Jerusalem).
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 grave.(This probably applies to this day and age where satellite TV allows us to view events taking place worldwide - CNN, BBC, Al Jezeera! Prophesied nearly 2000 years ago!)
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.”
The two witnesses
Who are these two witnesses?
"common interpretation is that they are Moses and Elijah because the judgments inflicted by Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament are similar to those of these two witnesses (Rev 11:5-6). Further support is given the identification of Elijah because of the prediction (Malachi 4:5) that he will appear "before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes." Christ said this prophecy of Elijah was partially fulfilled in His lifetime (Matt 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; cf. Luke 1:17). And both Moses and Elijah were involved in the transfiguration (Matt 17:3), which anticipated the Second Coming. 

But a problem with this suggested identity is that Moses had already died once. (However, there is also an unconfirmed pious belief that Moses was assumed bodily into Heaven after his death; this is based on the Epistle of Jude, where Saint Michael the Archangel contends with Satan over the body of Moses.Jud 1:9  But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the Devil, he argued about the body of Moses, he dared not bring a judgment of blasphemy, but said, Let the Lord rebuke you!) Some have identified the two witnesses as Enoch and Elijah inasmuch as they did not die but were translated (cf. Heb 9:27).”    (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament)

Just prior to the 7th Trumpet sounding there is mention in the same Chapter:
Rev 11:1-2
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.

Will the 3rd Temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem?
The 1st Temple was that built by Solomon, and the 2nd that built by Zerubabel. (erected by sanction of Cyrus King of Persia) The 2nd Temple was inferior to Solomons' in splendor and costly metals and lacked the 5 glories of the former. Herod's Temple was an extension of the 2nd Temple and was totally destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
What is this temple that John's in his vision is referring to?
The Temple mount is currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock.
Dr Kaufman, a renowned archaeologist, has evidence that the Golden

Dome of the Rock could not be over the Temple site (as had been almost universally believed). The strongest evidence being that the Dome is at least 150 meters south of the east-west line, the Eastern Gate being the reference. The Eastern Gate was exactly on the east-west centre-line of the Temple itself. Moreover it is believed that the Dome of the Rock is the area of the Outer court given to the Gentiles (Verse 2 above). See photo below- Eastern Gate is bottom right.

Therefore prophesy that a Temple will exist during the last 42 months of the Great Tribulation (where the Antichrist can desecrate it and erect a statute of himself), has all the possibility of being fulfilled.