So, how will we recognize these two witnesses beyond any doubt as the legitimate prophets of Revelation 11 sent by God ? We must always keep in mind that deception is the order of the day, and false prophets are and will be everywhere. Jesus said ; “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). We need to be absolutely sure they are the ones, because God’s people will be hanging onto every word they speak. The wisdom, information, direction, and testimony they provide will be critical to how we conduct ourselves during this time.
It’s likely that they will both be Jewish men, as Elijah and John were both Jews, although they probably won’t go by those names. I don’t think the one akin to Elijah will want to be called Elijah the Tishbite. I also don’t think the one akin to John will call himself John son of Zebedee. We simply do not know at this time their names or if or how they they will interact with the names Elijah and John. They will be somewhat recognizable by their clothing. Verse three says they will be clothed in “sackcloth”. Sackcloth or camel’s hair was the humble dress associated with someone mourning, fasting, or in extended prayer. OT prophets often dressed this way so that they would be recognizable in public, as did Elijah and, in the NT, John the Baptist. Our nearest modern equivalent is probably burlap – gunny sacks. At any rate, we can expect these two to be dressed humbly, and perhaps ragged -certainly not in $5000 suits and big hair like modern TV evangelists masquerading as prophets. While Elijah’s origin will likely be Israel, John’s might not be. Remember, he spent a large part of, and his final ministry in Turkey. It’s possible he might hail from the area of the seven churches Revelation was written to. We do know for certain where they will end up; preaching together in Jerusalem. The earlier phases of their 42 month ministry may not be together or in Jerusalem, although they will certainly be aware of and compliment each others ministry. In fact, this may be one way of identification, they will acknowledge each other as genuine.
What will be difficult for imposters to duplicate will be their miraculous powers. If any try to derail their ministry, they will be destroyed by fire from their mouths (verse 5). In other words, they will merely speak destruction, and it will happen. They won’t need weapons or outside help to keep their enemies at bay. Their word will be sufficient. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop their ministry until they are finished. They will also have power over nature, with the ability to cause drought in the land (like Elijah) and cause various plagues to occur, and turn water into blood (like Moses) (verse 6). I think that even we in the US, a far off land, will be daily informed of their activities. It will be impossible even for a hostile media to ignore their actions. Imagine two prophets speaking death to their enemies, with no entity able to arrest them or stop their ministry.
The surest way for us to confirm their legitimacy will be to test their prophecy. “The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die……when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing the Lord has not spoken.” (Deuteronomy 18:20, 22) If these men prophecy even one single thing that does not come to pass, we’ll know they are false. Over the three and one half year period of their prophesying, we will have many opportunities to verify their accuracy. Although they will bring some new revelation, we also, of necessity, must hold up all the words they speak to the bible . They will not speak anything contrary to the holy scriptures. If they do, they are false. God will not contradict himself. That is why we must strive to be competent in our handling of all of the scriptures, not just eschatology. This will be a tough and confusing time for the biblically illiterate. Finally, let me emphasize that we must rely on the one God sent to lead us into all truth, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not fail us. And, I think, as the ministry of these two witnesses progresses, we’ll find wholesale agreement amongst our spirit filled brothers and sisters about the identity of these two prophets. In the next blog, I’ll discuss just what their ministry will consist of, which will also help to identify them.