WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES IN REVELATION 11?

A:As the Great Tribulation is about to begin, God sends two people to act as His special representatives to the world. Their identities are a mystery (Revelation 11:3). The most popular theory is that they are Moses and Elijah because they were with Jesus at the Mountain of Transfiguration (Matthew 17). Others believe that these two are Elijah and Enoch because these are the only two people to go to heaven without dying.

Who they are isn't as important as what they say, however. These two preach the Gospel to the world (A theme we find in Revelation is that God continues to give the world a chance to seek His forgiveness). God gives His Witnesses the power to destroy their enemies with fire, turn water into blood, bring plagues to the earth, and stop it from raining (Revelation 11:5-6). God gives them these powers to prove to the world that He has sent them.

So how does the world respond to their message? As we see throughout the Tribulation (the Tribulation starts in Revelation 6), the world isn't interested in making peace with God but rather making war against Him. After preaching the Gospel, God allows the Witnesses to be killed (Revelation 11:7-10). The world is so happy they are dead that a worldwide holiday is declared. People party and send gifts to one another like it's Christmas! (Revelation 11:10).

But after three-and-a-half-days, God gets the last laugh. He resurrects the two prophets and "Raptures" them into heaven (Revelation 11:11-13). Proving that they truly were from God.