Monday, September 15, 2003 (75) THE TWO WITNESSES IDENTIFIED BY THEIR WORKS.These men are fearsome and mighty during the three and one-half year ministry. They are absolutely untouchable by any enemy until their ministry is finished. Any opposition will be met with dire consequences. When confronted by those who would harm them they have unusual and unlimited powers of immediate punishment.
THEIR ENEMIES JUDGED BY FIRE. Each of them will have equal ability to manifest any and all of their powers and judgments. MOSES. In the history of the life of MOSES, we find a manifestation of FIRE destroying two hundred fifty men who were in rebellion. Num. 16:11-13, 35. MOSES, pronounced a judgment of blood upon Egypt. Ex. 7:20 The plagues in Egypt instigated by MOSES at the command of the Lord are an example of how the Lord used MOSES. Ex. chapter 7 and 8. Plagues are not something that would be foreign to him. He need not repeat these plagues, nor would he be confined to them. The ability to produce plagues has certainly been demonstrated by his works.
ELIJAH. Elijah pronounced a three and one-half year drought on the Land. 1 Kings 17:1 Now, is not that significant? Since the measurements of time, given in the Book of Revelation, for the duration of the tribulation period are all three and one-half years. Lk. 4:25, James 5:17. ELIJAH, challenged the false prophets, the prophets of Baal, to produce fire upon their sacrifice. For the God who answered by fire would be the true God. 1Kings 18:24 The LORD answered ELIJAH by fire. Consuming the animals sacrificed, the wood placed on the altar, the stones of the altar, the soil on which the altar stood and the water which had been used to thoroughly soak the whole. Five elements were consumed [five is the number of atonement]. 1 Kings 18:38. The judgment of fire against those who came to take him. 2 Kings 1:10. Repeated with the second group. 2 Kings 1:12 To further help us determine that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah we must return to the Mount of Transfiguration For here they are plainly named, as Moses and Elijah. Mt. 17:3 The work of these two will not end until the close of the tribulation period. The Lord himself buried Moses and until this day no one knows where. Deut. 34:5-6 Obviously, the Lord did not leave him in the grave. There came a moment of time, shortly after his burial, when he was raised. The argument that erupted is mentioned in Jude 9. Michael [who is like God], the archangel, the angel of resurrection claimed the body of Moses. In so doing, He rebuked the devil and loosed Moses from the grave. There is no other way for Moses to have appeared on the Mount. There is no concourse of the spirits of the dead between heaven and earth.