Now that we’ve measured the true sanctuary, true salvation and the true saints with the canon of Scripture—the only spiritually accurate “measuring rod” for the Christian’s faith and practice—let’s turn our attention to the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-13. The identity of these famous witnesses has been debated by Christianity’s greatest minds throughout Christian history. We are going to begin, however, with their number rather than their identity.

The fact that there are two witnesses is significant. If it were not significant it would not be specified in the Scripture. God would not have recorded it in His Word. By learning the  significance of their number we may gain needed insight into their identity.

First, notice in verse 3 that the word “power” is  italicized in the King James Version—“And I will give power unto my two witnesses.” This means that the word “power” was added by the King James translators and does not appear in the  original text. Therefore, a more accurate translation of the original text might read: “It will be given to my two witnesses to prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” This is not to say that the two witnesses will not have power, something  that verse 6 clearly ascribes to them, but only that the word “power” does not appear in the original text of verse 3.

Just as it is not their identity, so also it is not their power that we want to zero in on at this  point. Instead, as we’ve already stated, it is their number. Why are there two witnesses?

The number two is significant in Scripture. The Old Testament taught that it took the testimony of “two witnesses” to confirm or establish a fact in court, especially when the alleged crime was a  capital offense (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17). Jesus sent out “the Twelve,” as well as “the seventy…two by two” to testify and witness for Him (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1). Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul demanded that all charges brought against individuals in cases of church discipline be established by “two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). Paul taught that an accusation against “an elder” should not even be entertained unless brought by “two or three witnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:19). And according to the Book of Hebrews, those who rejected “the law of Moses”—the Old Covenant—“died without mercy under two or three witnesses” (Hebrews 10:28).

In light of the above, can we not safely conclude that just as it took two witnesses to condemn those who rejected the Old Covenant—“the law [which] was given by Moses”—it will also take two witnesses to condemn those who reject the New Covenant—“grace and truth [which] came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17)? Here, we have our first hint at the identity of these two witnesses. If all who reject Christ are going to be condemned as a consequence of their testimony, then, contrary to popular opinion, they must serve as Christ’s witnesses throughout the church age, not just for a short span of time at the end of the age.

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