Could Revelation’s Two Witnesses Already Be Here?
Christianity Q&A
Audio By Carbonatix
By Dr. Roger Barrier, Crosswalk.com
Editor's Note: Dr. Roger Barrier went to be with the Lord on February 16th, 2024. Dr. Barrier's family is honoring his legacy by continuing the ministry of Ask Roger and preachitteachit.org for years to come as they share more than two thousand still-unpublished sermons and Ask Roger articles. All articles authored by Dr. Barrier that are published and republished are done posthumously.
Dear Roger,
Is it possible that God already has His two witnesses (from Revelation) here on the earth, proclaiming the return of Christ before they show up in Jerusalem?
I remember praying and asking God to let me see those two witnesses before I die or before Jesus’s return. Then, I forgot about the prayer.
Recently, I walked right past the corner of a busy Chicago intersection and experienced a very surreal moment as if time had slowed down. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life! Standing on the street corner were two men dressed in white robes with something like a tied rope around their waists, ancient sandals, and long, flowing brown hair. I was staring right at these men; one was facing north, and the other faced towards me. I could see his face. They were saying to repent because the time is near for the Messiah to return. Crowds passing by them were oblivious.
What I really had difficulty processing was their voices. Roger, their voices sounded like rolling waves of water or echoes. The words rolled off their tongues, filling up the entire area … but they had no microphones.
I don’t know how much time passed, but I distinctly remember I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of that prayer I prayed about seeing the two witnesses. “Well, God just answered your prayer.” And trust me, it was a wake-up call telling me to truly make Jesus my Lord in all areas of my life.
Do you have any thoughts about such a thing? Could it be the two witnesses, according to Scripture? Or might it be angels?
Sincerely, Lana
Dear Lana,
Amazing! I can’t tell you for sure what happened, but I do know that when the Holy Spirit speaks, we need to pay attention. He is going to speak loudly in the last days:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28-30 RSV)
I believe Scripture teaches that God gives visions. Paul wrote that he was “caught up into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know” (2 Corinthians 12:2 NET). Visions have also been described by preachers, teachers, theologians, and many other Christ-followers throughout history.
Also, just as Revelation predicted, today nations are aligning to attack Israel. I’ve heard stories that many Jews and Arabs are coming to Christ because they have supernatural visions of Christ.
How You Can Know God Is Speaking to You
Before I address who the witnesses might have been, let me share ten biblical tests that will help you know if God is really speaking to you:
1. God speaks to your innermost human spirit. Self or Satan speaks in your Soul (Hebrews 4:12).
2. God tends to speak with gentle leadings in contrast to what I often perceive to be the compulsive, clamoring, loud demands of Self or Satan (1 Kings 19:11-13).
3. God’s voice produces freedom. Self’s or Satan’s voice often produces bondage (Matthew 11:28-30).
4. God tends to speak when we are consciously seeking Him. Self or Satan tend to speak with sudden intrusions of thoughts into the mind (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
5. When God speaks, there is a definite sense that everything is under control. When Self or Satan speaks, there is an inner sense that something is out of control (Psalm 37:4).
6. God gives clear-cut, specific directions. Self or Satan often communicates in confused, uncertain wonderings (Galatians 1:7)
7. God convicts of specific sins. Self and Satan often accuse in broad generalities that leave a lingering sense of haunting and unfocused guilt (John 16:8).
8. God speaks with 100% truth that can be tested by the Word of God. Self and Satan often traffic in lies, deceit, and half-truths (John 14:6).
9. God’s voice always leads to a deep, abiding sense of peace. Self or Satan often do not (Philippians 4:7).
10. God’s voice is testable and confirmed by the wisdom of many counselors (Proverbs 11:14; Deuteronomy 19:15; and Matthew 18:16).
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Jacoblund
Did You Really See Revelation’s Two Witnesses?
Now, let’s talk about whether the preachers you saw in your vision were the two witnesses referred to in Revelation 11.
The key passage to which you refer is in Revelation 11:3-12:
And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”
First, the two witnesses appear near the end of the Tribulation. When they appear, the Temple is already built, and the Antichrist is on the scene. John writes that the whole world will see them. The most likely candidates are Moses and Elijah, Enoch and Elijah, or two unknown believers whom God calls to be His witnesses in the End Times.
Moses and Elijah are seen as possibilities for the two witnesses due to the witnesses' power to turn water into blood (Revelation 11:6), which Moses is known for (Exodus 7), and their power to destroy people with fire (Revelation 11:5), which Elijah is known for (2 Kings 1).
Moses and Elijah also appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3-4). But Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed to a man once to die, and after that the judgment.” Of course, Moses did die once (Deuteronomy 34:5). But the people Jesus resurrected during His earthly ministry also died and were raised.
Enoch and Elijah are considered because God took them before death (Genesis 5:23; 2 Kings 2:11). Also, the two unknown witnesses could follow the pattern of John the Baptist, who can be considered a “virtual Elijah” (Malachi 3:1; 4:6; Luke 1:17).
We do know that we will not be here at the time of the preaching of the two witnesses if we believe in Jesus’s death on the cross to forgive our sins, receive Him into our hearts, and join the dead in Christ at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We will only see these two witnesses from our view in heaven!
If you know Christ, you will never meet the two witnesses here on earth.
Could the Two Men You Saw Have Been Angels?
The word in Greek for “angel” is “angelon” which means “messenger.” Angels appeared to people in the Bible in three ways.
First, some angels appeared to people in a recognizable form, even seeming to be human. For example, the angel that announced the virgin birth to Mary appeared in some kind of recognizable form (Luke 1:26-38), as did the angel who appeared to the shepherds and the angelic multitude who praised God (Luke 2:8-15). The angels who appeared to Abraham and Lot in Genesis 18-19 were humans from the men’s standpoint.
Second, other angels appeared to people in dreams. This was especially true surrounding the birth of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph, the man engaged or betrothed to Mary, in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife and that their son would be Jesus, the Messiah (Matthew 1:20-21). An angel also appeared to Joseph in another dream to warn him to flee to Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13).
Third, some angels appeared to people in visions. This was true of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1 and 10), as well as John’s vision in Revelation. These visions were distinct from dreams, as they took place when the individuals were awake. However, these visions were also different from appearances in which angels came to people in a recognizable way, or as humans, and could be seen by others.
Whether your vision involved the two witnesses of Revelation or angels, the message God sent you was very clear. Repent. Get your life in order because Jesus will return soon. Take that message very seriously.
I count a message like that—a vision—to be a very special, loving gift from our Creator.
God answered one of my prayers on a foggy morning when I was driving back from Texas to Arizona. I was feeling worthless as a young pastor. I prayed, “God, please let me know that you care and that you know where I am—what I’m going through.”
I stopped for gas at a deserted station outside of Van Horn, Texas. No one else was at the pump. The pay phone rang and rang. No one came out to answer it. I picked up the phone and the voice on the other end said, “Roger Barrier, is that you?”
I was speechless. I swallowed hard and answered, “Yes.”
“My name is Pastor John Kenny. I was praying, and God told me to call you. He gave me this number. I think He wanted you to know He loves you.”
God sent a personal message to me because he knew I needed it. I am so glad He revealed Himself to you.
Love, Roger
Related Resource: What You Need to Know about "The Two Witnesses" - Revelation 11:1-14
Revelation 11 drops us into the middle of intense prophetic action. Trumpets are sounding. Judgment is unfolding. The nations are restless. And right in the middle of all of it, God does something that feels rather personal. He measures. He appoints witnesses. He protects His purposes. And He makes it unmistakably clear that He isn't finished with this world, with Israel, or with His plan of redemption.
In this passage, there are numbers, symbols, judgments, and deaths. But beneath all of that is a very hopeful message. God knows what belongs to Him. God speaks even when the world refuses to listen. And God always vindicates His truth.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/AlexLinch
Dr. Roger Barrier retired as senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide. Casas Church, where Roger served throughout his 35-year career, is a megachurch known for a well-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value of including new generations is deeply ingrained throughout Casas to help the church move strongly right through the twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier holds degrees from Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care. His popular book, Listening to the Voice of God, published by Bethany House, is in its second printing and is available in Thai and Portuguese. His latest work is, Got Guts? Get Godly! Pray the Prayer God Guarantees to Answer, from Xulon Press. Roger can be found blogging at Preach It, Teach It, the pastoral teaching site founded with his wife, Dr. Julie Barrier.
This Ask Roger article may feature insights from Roger's wife, Dr. Julie Barrier, co-founder of Preach It, Teach It, worship minister, concert artist, and adjunct professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, or his daughter, Brie Barrier Wetherbee, a sought-after Bible teacher and conference speaker, author, analyst, and Christian theologian.
