Apostles

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Originally Posted by OBW

What is never clear to me is how we can be clear that certain parts of Revelation and other apocalyptic revelations, which are by nature pictures, types, metaphors, etc., are intended to be read literally and which are to be read as pictures and metaphors.

And the typical answer is that if we think it could make sense literally, we read it that way, if it is does not, then we don't. We refuse to accept that even the somewhat commonplace language could be part of the metaphor.

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."