We know for certain that the ministry of the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 will be for a period of 3 1/2 years. “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3). We also know from context that this will take place during Daniel’s 70th week, often called the tribulation. But when exactly during this seven-year period will their ministry take place? It’s important for us to know this so we can be prepared to positively identify them and follow their warnings and instructions. It seems the majority of prophecy teachers have settled on their ministry happening during the last half or the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week. The evidence for this, however, is quite weak IMO.
There is a verse in chapter 11 that, I think, solidly nails down the timing. “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7). The word for “that ascends”, underlined above, is a present participle that is properly translated “ascending“. Ascending coupled with the word “when” gives us the timing. While (when) ascending out of the bottomless pit, the beast kills the two prophets. This “beast” is none other than the destroyer named Abaddon or Apollyon who inhabits the antichrist. His release from the pit and possession of the antichrist occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation when the antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation. Therefore, we are safe to assume that the two witnesses are killed mid-trib, placing their ministry during the first half of the 70th week. Also note that there are two “woes” to come following their death making their ministry during the second half of the week impossible.
This observation is of great importance to Christians living in these last days. What this means is that the very next event in God’s eschatological timeline that will be patently obvious to us just may be the appearance of these two prophets from God. It is critical that we know the who, what, why, and where about these men from God. For an in-depth study of these two witnesses, I devoted an entire chapter (8) to these prophets in my new book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony”. It can be found here: Last Days Events: Sequence and Synchrony by Weinert, J D (amazon.com)
Maranatha, Jim
Hi Jim. I was under the impression that the two witnesses were killed at the midpoint of the trip. but were resurrected to further minister. Though I am not sure where that came from. Also, why is Abaddon depicted as infilling the antichrist? He did come out of the pit but for the purpose of stinging those not marked by God. I’ve always pictured him as a scorpion looking creature that terrified those marked with the 666. I ordered your book maybe that clarifies it.
I agree, at the midpoint. Abaddon is the Destroying angel, the king of the abyss. The “locusts” are his demonic subjects. He is also called the “beast” in Rev.17. “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the abyss and go to perdition”. (Rev. 17:8) He is undoubtably the destroyer of Exodus 12:23, the angel God used to kill all the first-born Egyptians. In subsequent verses, he is the beast called the antichrist. “The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”(Rev 17:11). So, we see he was (destroyer in Egypt), is not (locked in the abyss), and will ascend as the “beast” (synonymous with the antichrist).
I do go a little deeper in the book. Thanks for your comment, Bob
Jim