Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Are we supposed to consider the two witnesses to be "pictures, types, metaphors, etc?" I don't think so. How about when they "prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days?" That is not metaphorical either. There are signs, however, and there are a number of signs in this section of scripture that brother ZNP quotes.
"Sackcloth" is a sign, as are "the two olive trees and the two candlesticks." As to whether the "fire that proceedeth out of their mouth" is a sign or not is uncertain. What should be taken literally is that there will be two witnesses for over three years who possess extraordinary powers. This part is not a sign. This is a prophecy so that the people of God will know when the time comes.
When their testimony is completed, they will be killed somewhat near where the Lord was crucified. This is not a sign. This is a prophecy that will definitely come to pass.
I think it is an excellent point made by ZNP that there will be a great need for the people of God to have proper discernment. The peoples of the earth were all fooled. They felt that these two witnesses, who were prophets, had "tormented them," and thus declared a new global holiday when they were murdered by the "beast."
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Well also there are other prophesies throughout scripture, for example the Lord Jesus says "he is Elijah who is to come". This is mentioned in the gospels and also in the OT. It is clear from the scripture that Jewish scholars said that Christ could not come unless these two witnesses came first. No verse is of its own interpretation.