The Book of Revelation details the final, dramatic acts of history leading up to the Lord’s Return, and standing at the center of the Tribulation period are the Two Witnesses of Chapter 11. These figures are given astounding authority to prophesy for 1,260 days before their infamous execution by the Beast, making their identity one of the most controversial and highly debated topics in all of prophecy.
For our website, TheLordsReturn.com, this subject serves as a vital Prophetic Hotspot, demanding a deep, structured examination of the leading interpretations. While the text is silent on their names, the theories draw upon key scriptural foreshadowing.
The Core Controversy: Distinguishing the Candidates
The identity of the Two Witnesses is disputed across three main schools of thought, each leveraging specific verses from the King James Version (KJV) to make their case:
Theory 1: The Literal Return of Moses and Elijah
This is a popular theory based on the prophetic and ceremonial roles of both men, as well as their visible appearance with Christ:
- The Power to Plague: The Witnesses have the power to “turn their waters to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues” (Revelation 11:6, KJV). This power is the definitive signature of Moses, who commanded the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:20, KJV).
- The Power to Stop Rain: The Witnesses also shut heaven “that it rain not in the days of their prophecy” (Revelation 11:6, KJV). This is the hallmark miracle of Elijah (I Kings 17:1, KJV).
- The Transfiguration: Both Moses and Elijah appeared together in glory with the Lord Yeshua on the mount of Transfiguration, demonstrating a shared prophetic partnership (Matthew 17:3, KJV).
Theory 2: The Symbolic Interpretation (The Church or the Scriptures)
This view holds that the witnesses are not literal men but a symbolic representation of God’s enduring testimony on earth:
- The Two Candlesticks: The witnesses are identified as “the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Revelation 11:4, KJV). This imagery is taken from Zechariah 4, which is often interpreted as representing God’s consecrated messengers, the Church (the olive trees and oil), or the Testaments (the Old and New).
- A Continuous Testimony: In this view, the “death” and “resurrection” of the Witnesses symbolize the temporary suppression of God’s truth during the Tribulation, followed by a dramatic, worldwide revival.
The Preferred Theory: Enoch and Elijah and the Necessity of Death
Despite the compelling evidence for Moses, the theory naming Enoch and Elijah remains the most theologically robust because it resolves the universal decree of death:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
— Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
Enoch and Elijah are the only two men in history who were translated and thus bypassed the decree of death, a fact explicitly stated in Scripture:
- Enoch: “…was translated that he should not see death…” (Hebrews 11:5, KJV).
- Elijah: “…went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11, KJV).
The Theological Argument in Presentation Format:
| Theological Principle | Problem with Moses/Elijah | Solution with Enoch/Elijah |
| Hebrews 9:27 (Once to Die) | Moses already died. Deuteronomy 34:5 states, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there…” Even if he was resurrected later, he has still died once. | Enoch never died. He is the perfect candidate to return and fulfill the decree. |
| Prophetic Fulfillment | Requires a complex explanation for Moses’s second appearance, after his death and burial. | Requires only that two men who never died return to face their single appointed death. |
| Revelation 11:7 | The killing of the Witnesses is their first and final death, perfectly aligning with Enoch and Elijah’s unique status. |
The Ultimate Answer: The Translation
The death, resurrection, and translation of the Two Witnesses serve as the ultimate prophetic sign for the faithful in the final days, providing a living example of the victory achieved through The Lord’s Return.
After their bodies are slain, the world rejoices, but this victory is brief. When the “Spirit of life from God entered into them,” and they stand on their feet, their resurrection is followed by a command:
“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”
— Revelation 11:12 (KJV)
This dramatic, visible translation confirms the great hope of the final generation—that the righteous who are “alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds” (I Thessalonians 4:17, KJV), fulfilling the glorious promise of being “changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (I Corinthians 15:51-52, KJV). Whether they are Enoch and Elijah, or Moses and Elijah, their ministry confirms that God’s plan leads to the final, triumphant return of the Lord.