The Two Witnesses of "Revelation" are Made Known
John's "Revelation" speaks of Two Great Witnesses who will prophesy to Jerusalem and be slain for their testimonies. But who are these two significant witnesses?
Actually, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and the Apostle John himself each tell us "in part." When we put their insights together (and add the help of a surprise witness), the full truth emerges. We must remember that all these prophets disguised their prophecies in imagery. But if we unify that imagery, the same truths emerge from all.
1. Zechariah.
Zechariah (4:2-4,11-12) earlier refers to them as "Two candlesticks" (of light), and "Two olive trees," or, more clearly, "Two branches of the same Olive Tree" which give light.
Israel itself as a whole has been designated as an olive tree (See Romans 11:16-24). So we see that one meaning of this prophecy is that the two witnesses represent two branches of the Olive Tree, Israel, who both radiate light.
Immediately after Zecharaiah speaks of these two witnesses, he adds a prophecy of a flying roll (a roll of scripture which comes from the Heavens) which would serve as the judge of all men. He is teaching that God's word would come from the Heavens and give the standard by which men would be judged. Zechariah's visions are undoubtedly connected. The truth which comes from Heaven through these two witnesses contain the standards against which men will be judged.
2. Ezekiel
Ezekiel (37:15-19) uses slightly different imagery. The Lord commands him to take "one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions. And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thy hand" (Ezek. 37:15-7). He is prophesying of two scriptural records, one coming from the descendabts of Judah and another coming from the descendants of Joseph.
Recent discoveries verify this scripture refers to two books of writings. The word translated "sticks," which is "etz" has been shown by scholars to really refer to "wood." Furthermore, in the bottom of a well in Iraq were found pages of a wooden book, carved out and once filled in with beeswax and written upon with a stylus. Since that discovery, many examples of wooden, hinged books have been found in bas-relief or carved pictures in ancient Middle Eastern lands. The ancients wrote records on wooden tablets!
So Ezekiel is actually referring to two books. Also important is the setting in which this prophecy is set. What comes as the result of these two books being joined together is very significant!
Ezekiel was shown the future Israel as dead and desolate, as a Valley of Dry Bones (Ezek. 37:14). Immediately after showing its desolation the Lord speaks of these two writings coming together. He shows that because of the uniting of these two books, the scattered and removed nation of Israel will arise and regather! It is these two written records, taken together, which will bring about the promised regathering of Israel which is to precede the coming of Christ (Ezekiel 37:21-28).
Here the Lord testifies, "I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, ... and will gather them... And I will make them one nation.... and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms" (Ezek. 37:21-2). The once united Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms with the northern kingdom then scattered and lost. The Lord promises there would arise in the Latter-days a new and undivided Israel. These Two Witnesses would be the instruments by which the tribes of Israel scattered throughout the world would be regathered. This gathering would also include any of any nation or culture who want to fully covenant with Jesus Christ. All individuals willing to make such covenants, regardless of ancient ancestry, could be part of this united people under God.
The reality is, it has happened, and is continuing to happen. The true proof of any prophecy is whether it comes to pass. And it is coming to pass.
We see from Ezekiel that the Two Witnesses are not just two single individuals, but two books of scripture containing the prophets' witnesses through the ages. These Two Great Witnesses are the Bible and The Book of Mormon. The Bible contains the testimonies of the prophets of Judah; the Book of Mormon contains the writings of prophets descended from the tribe of Joseph. (Look at Genesis 49:22-26, where Joseph's tribe is given the longest and greatest promises. But no one can tell how these blessings to Joseph's lineage have been fulfilled, except members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, whose lives are a fulfillment.) Both these books of scripture stand together as witnesses of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And because of their united witness, there stands a New Israel. It is made up of descendants of Israel now being gathered out of the world and any who will join wih them and make sacred covenants with Christ.
3. Isaiah
Isaiah (51:17-20) also referred to these two witnesses. Latter-day revelation clarifies Isaiah's writings, that he actually speaks of "Two Sons," who of all of Israel's sons, alone bring comfort to Israel.
From Joseph Smith's retranslation of the Bible and The Book of Mormon, we learn what Isaiah is really saying.
2 Nephi 29:7-8 translates Isaiah 51:17-20 in this way. "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury....[There are] none to guide her among all the sons she hath brought forth; neither that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons she hath brought up.
[But] These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee [for thy desolation and destruction], and the famine and the sword --- and by whom I shall comfort thee.
Thy [other] sons have fainted, save these two; (Judah and Joseph).
[These Two] lie at the head of all the streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God."
These "two sons" whose prophetic writings would both comfort Israel's righteous and judge Israel's wicked are the prophets of Judah through the Bible and the prophets of Joseph through The Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 29:7-8 adds other insight in Isaiah 51:5. Here the Lord tells that He has sent unto the world the "Testimony of Two Nations." The Bible is a testimony of prophets living near or in the land of Judea. The Book of Mormon is a testimony of prophets living among the ancient peoples of the Americas, now shown through archaeology to be numerous and knowledgeable.
Thus the two witnesses are the records of the prophets sent to both hemispheres of the world!
4. John's Revelation
Revelation (11:3-12) refers to these same "Two Witnesses." Let us see what John's Revelation adds.
John shows both bodies of scripture bore their true witness for a time. "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." (The number listed has both symbolic and real meaning).
John's "Revelation" then ties these prophecying witnesses to the writings of the prophets cited above: "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Meaning all those prophets who come from both branches of the House of Israel first received their foreordination as prophets before God's throne to bear witness of His light and truth, and will eventually return to receive God's blessings).
The Lord then tells that the voice of God's prophets would cease, for awhile. "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" (Rev. 11:7).
This is what actually happened. The voices of the prophets who completed the Biblical record in the Meridian of Time were stilled by martyrdom. (Peter, James, Jude, Paul, etc.)
And their voices were stilled for a special period of time --- 3 1/2 days. 3 1/2 days, is actually a code designating the time when God's kingdom would be taken from the earth due to apostasy. (See my accompanying article on Daniel which explains the signifucance of 3 1/2). Again, this was the reality. First of all, the last of the apostles and prophets in the Old World were slain after Christ Himself was. During the time of the apostasy, the Bible and its prophetic witness for all intents and purposes was also stilled. Its voice was eventually hidden in dead languages (Latin), and all efforts to bring it forth to the people so they could understand it were stifled. Not only that, but many of the true teachings of the Bible were set aside for the philosophies of men. While later reformers saw some things that had been corrupted, they did not recognize all that was amiss.
Then God sent forth His word to new prophets in the Last Days.
During the same time of apostasy, the voices of the Book of Mormon prophets had also been stilled. People in the Western Hemisphere who had been righteous also apostatized and their prophets slain. The records of these prophets were buried in the ground, on golden plates, to come forth in the Last Days.
But the appointed time came for God's prophets to speak again!
"And after [the time set aside for the apostasy] the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet" (Rev. 11:11). Like most of "Revelation" this is symbolic but also real. The reality is that the Lord raised up a new prophet, followed by others, to speak again. And one of the first things the new prophet did was to make available the clear voices of the ancient prophets! Thus they would all speak again!
Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and its testimonies of the prophets in the Western Hemisphere.
The Biblical prophets would also speak again. Through the works of Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale and Guttenberg, the Bible was made available to people in their own languages. The Book of Mormon would help make the Bible easy to understand. Thus the two books would stand together, united in their testimonies.
All prophets who left their testimonies in these records have ascended to Heaven (Rev. 11:12). At the time of Christ's Return, all the world will behold them there, standing beside their leader, Jesus the Christ (Rev. 11:12-3).
5. D&C 77:15
Doctrine and Covenants 77:15 would seem to contradict the above. It indicates that this prophecy refers to two single prophets. "They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers."
But Hebrew scriptures usually have more than one level of meaning! One classic example is Matthew 24 where the Savior combined prophecy of the impending destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. with the destructions preceding His Second Coming. He could do so because both fit the same pattern. Double meanings is, in fact, a perpetual form of Israelite prophesying.
So while evidently there will be two prophets testifying to Jerusalem in these last days, they will undoubtedly testify out of The Two Great Witnesses the Lord has previously provided.
Furthermore, the Prophet Joseph did not clarify all that he knew. He was, after all, the one who translated 2 Nephi and all the insights given above about the full meaning of these witnesses: that they are the Testimony of Two Nations, and the Two Sons of Israel who would bring her comfort.
Ultimately, the Two Witnesses are the Bible (from Judah in the Old World) and The Book of Mormon (from Joseph in the New World).
It is these Two Witnesses who have in fact caused Israel to arise after their time of desolation. The true Israel is no longer a "Valley of Dead Bones," but a thriving, growing Kingdom of God, spreading throughout the whole earth, and preparing for the return of Earth's Savior and King.
Judah has returned to its homeland and is awaiting their Messiah, as a witness to the world that God fulfills His prophecies.
Joseph has arisen as God's true Spiritual Kingdom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is actively preparing for the true Messiah, Jesus the Christ and His return.
Truth is finally determined by Realities. And these are the realities!
__________
*Also see 1 Nephi 10:12 and Jacob 5 from The Book of Mormon, a book which was handed down from descendants of Joseph of Egypt and eventually translated by the modern prophet, Joseph Smith.
**Apparently, Joseph left us to find out these things for ourselves.
..
Actually, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and the Apostle John himself each tell us "in part." When we put their insights together (and add the help of a surprise witness), the full truth emerges. We must remember that all these prophets disguised their prophecies in imagery. But if we unify that imagery, the same truths emerge from all.
1. Zechariah.
Zechariah (4:2-4,11-12) earlier refers to them as "Two candlesticks" (of light), and "Two olive trees," or, more clearly, "Two branches of the same Olive Tree" which give light.
Israel itself as a whole has been designated as an olive tree (See Romans 11:16-24). So we see that one meaning of this prophecy is that the two witnesses represent two branches of the Olive Tree, Israel, who both radiate light.
Immediately after Zecharaiah speaks of these two witnesses, he adds a prophecy of a flying roll (a roll of scripture which comes from the Heavens) which would serve as the judge of all men. He is teaching that God's word would come from the Heavens and give the standard by which men would be judged. Zechariah's visions are undoubtedly connected. The truth which comes from Heaven through these two witnesses contain the standards against which men will be judged.
2. Ezekiel
Ezekiel (37:15-19) uses slightly different imagery. The Lord commands him to take "one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions. And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thy hand" (Ezek. 37:15-7). He is prophesying of two scriptural records, one coming from the descendabts of Judah and another coming from the descendants of Joseph.
Recent discoveries verify this scripture refers to two books of writings. The word translated "sticks," which is "etz" has been shown by scholars to really refer to "wood." Furthermore, in the bottom of a well in Iraq were found pages of a wooden book, carved out and once filled in with beeswax and written upon with a stylus. Since that discovery, many examples of wooden, hinged books have been found in bas-relief or carved pictures in ancient Middle Eastern lands. The ancients wrote records on wooden tablets!
So Ezekiel is actually referring to two books. Also important is the setting in which this prophecy is set. What comes as the result of these two books being joined together is very significant!
Ezekiel was shown the future Israel as dead and desolate, as a Valley of Dry Bones (Ezek. 37:14). Immediately after showing its desolation the Lord speaks of these two writings coming together. He shows that because of the uniting of these two books, the scattered and removed nation of Israel will arise and regather! It is these two written records, taken together, which will bring about the promised regathering of Israel which is to precede the coming of Christ (Ezekiel 37:21-28).
Here the Lord testifies, "I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, ... and will gather them... And I will make them one nation.... and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms" (Ezek. 37:21-2). The once united Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms with the northern kingdom then scattered and lost. The Lord promises there would arise in the Latter-days a new and undivided Israel. These Two Witnesses would be the instruments by which the tribes of Israel scattered throughout the world would be regathered. This gathering would also include any of any nation or culture who want to fully covenant with Jesus Christ. All individuals willing to make such covenants, regardless of ancient ancestry, could be part of this united people under God.
The reality is, it has happened, and is continuing to happen. The true proof of any prophecy is whether it comes to pass. And it is coming to pass.
We see from Ezekiel that the Two Witnesses are not just two single individuals, but two books of scripture containing the prophets' witnesses through the ages. These Two Great Witnesses are the Bible and The Book of Mormon. The Bible contains the testimonies of the prophets of Judah; the Book of Mormon contains the writings of prophets descended from the tribe of Joseph. (Look at Genesis 49:22-26, where Joseph's tribe is given the longest and greatest promises. But no one can tell how these blessings to Joseph's lineage have been fulfilled, except members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, whose lives are a fulfillment.) Both these books of scripture stand together as witnesses of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And because of their united witness, there stands a New Israel. It is made up of descendants of Israel now being gathered out of the world and any who will join wih them and make sacred covenants with Christ.
3. Isaiah
Isaiah (51:17-20) also referred to these two witnesses. Latter-day revelation clarifies Isaiah's writings, that he actually speaks of "Two Sons," who of all of Israel's sons, alone bring comfort to Israel.
From Joseph Smith's retranslation of the Bible and The Book of Mormon, we learn what Isaiah is really saying.
2 Nephi 29:7-8 translates Isaiah 51:17-20 in this way. "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury....[There are] none to guide her among all the sons she hath brought forth; neither that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons she hath brought up.
[But] These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee [for thy desolation and destruction], and the famine and the sword --- and by whom I shall comfort thee.
Thy [other] sons have fainted, save these two; (Judah and Joseph).
[These Two] lie at the head of all the streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God."
These "two sons" whose prophetic writings would both comfort Israel's righteous and judge Israel's wicked are the prophets of Judah through the Bible and the prophets of Joseph through The Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 29:7-8 adds other insight in Isaiah 51:5. Here the Lord tells that He has sent unto the world the "Testimony of Two Nations." The Bible is a testimony of prophets living near or in the land of Judea. The Book of Mormon is a testimony of prophets living among the ancient peoples of the Americas, now shown through archaeology to be numerous and knowledgeable.
Thus the two witnesses are the records of the prophets sent to both hemispheres of the world!
4. John's Revelation
Revelation (11:3-12) refers to these same "Two Witnesses." Let us see what John's Revelation adds.
John shows both bodies of scripture bore their true witness for a time. "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." (The number listed has both symbolic and real meaning).
John's "Revelation" then ties these prophecying witnesses to the writings of the prophets cited above: "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Meaning all those prophets who come from both branches of the House of Israel first received their foreordination as prophets before God's throne to bear witness of His light and truth, and will eventually return to receive God's blessings).
The Lord then tells that the voice of God's prophets would cease, for awhile. "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" (Rev. 11:7).
This is what actually happened. The voices of the prophets who completed the Biblical record in the Meridian of Time were stilled by martyrdom. (Peter, James, Jude, Paul, etc.)
And their voices were stilled for a special period of time --- 3 1/2 days. 3 1/2 days, is actually a code designating the time when God's kingdom would be taken from the earth due to apostasy. (See my accompanying article on Daniel which explains the signifucance of 3 1/2). Again, this was the reality. First of all, the last of the apostles and prophets in the Old World were slain after Christ Himself was. During the time of the apostasy, the Bible and its prophetic witness for all intents and purposes was also stilled. Its voice was eventually hidden in dead languages (Latin), and all efforts to bring it forth to the people so they could understand it were stifled. Not only that, but many of the true teachings of the Bible were set aside for the philosophies of men. While later reformers saw some things that had been corrupted, they did not recognize all that was amiss.
Then God sent forth His word to new prophets in the Last Days.
During the same time of apostasy, the voices of the Book of Mormon prophets had also been stilled. People in the Western Hemisphere who had been righteous also apostatized and their prophets slain. The records of these prophets were buried in the ground, on golden plates, to come forth in the Last Days.
But the appointed time came for God's prophets to speak again!
"And after [the time set aside for the apostasy] the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet" (Rev. 11:11). Like most of "Revelation" this is symbolic but also real. The reality is that the Lord raised up a new prophet, followed by others, to speak again. And one of the first things the new prophet did was to make available the clear voices of the ancient prophets! Thus they would all speak again!
Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and its testimonies of the prophets in the Western Hemisphere.
The Biblical prophets would also speak again. Through the works of Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale and Guttenberg, the Bible was made available to people in their own languages. The Book of Mormon would help make the Bible easy to understand. Thus the two books would stand together, united in their testimonies.
All prophets who left their testimonies in these records have ascended to Heaven (Rev. 11:12). At the time of Christ's Return, all the world will behold them there, standing beside their leader, Jesus the Christ (Rev. 11:12-3).
5. D&C 77:15
Doctrine and Covenants 77:15 would seem to contradict the above. It indicates that this prophecy refers to two single prophets. "They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers."
But Hebrew scriptures usually have more than one level of meaning! One classic example is Matthew 24 where the Savior combined prophecy of the impending destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. with the destructions preceding His Second Coming. He could do so because both fit the same pattern. Double meanings is, in fact, a perpetual form of Israelite prophesying.
So while evidently there will be two prophets testifying to Jerusalem in these last days, they will undoubtedly testify out of The Two Great Witnesses the Lord has previously provided.
Furthermore, the Prophet Joseph did not clarify all that he knew. He was, after all, the one who translated 2 Nephi and all the insights given above about the full meaning of these witnesses: that they are the Testimony of Two Nations, and the Two Sons of Israel who would bring her comfort.
Ultimately, the Two Witnesses are the Bible (from Judah in the Old World) and The Book of Mormon (from Joseph in the New World).
It is these Two Witnesses who have in fact caused Israel to arise after their time of desolation. The true Israel is no longer a "Valley of Dead Bones," but a thriving, growing Kingdom of God, spreading throughout the whole earth, and preparing for the return of Earth's Savior and King.
Judah has returned to its homeland and is awaiting their Messiah, as a witness to the world that God fulfills His prophecies.
Joseph has arisen as God's true Spiritual Kingdom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is actively preparing for the true Messiah, Jesus the Christ and His return.
Truth is finally determined by Realities. And these are the realities!
__________
*Also see 1 Nephi 10:12 and Jacob 5 from The Book of Mormon, a book which was handed down from descendants of Joseph of Egypt and eventually translated by the modern prophet, Joseph Smith.
**Apparently, Joseph left us to find out these things for ourselves.
..