Revelation 11:1-13

At Revelation 11:1-2 John is shown a vision of the earthly temple in Jerusalem and the worshippers in it, both of which will come under evaluation and judgment from God.
At Revelation 11:3, we learn of God’s two witnesses who “will prophesy for 1260 days.” This refers to the last half of the 70th week of Daniel, which begins when the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:2-10) as the beast out of the sea who will “make war with the saints,” and reign for 42 months. The 42 months is the SAME period of time as the 1260 days. (Revelation 13:1-7).
It is determined therefore that verses 1-13 constitute an addendum that BACK TRACKS from the chronological progression seen from chapter 6 through 10. At chapter 6, the vision begins with the start of the 70th week via THE PEACE that is established by the rider on the white horse. The rider on the red horse is said to take THE PEACE from the earth, which begins the tribulation of the beast’s oppression via the breaking of THE covenant of PEACE and tolerance. The rider on the black horse represents the economic controls of the beast’s reign that are administered by the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-17). The rider on the ashen horse AND the horse that follows him, represent the DEATH that occurs from the economic controls and the persecution during the beast’s reign.
SEE the 6 seals at Revelation 6

At the 5th seal, we are shown the souls of a group of martyrs who REPRESENT the Christians who have been killed by the beast’s oppression. Justice for them is to be delayed for a while longer, but it will BEGIN with the 6th seal, which represents the arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky to bring judgment on the earth dwellers. This occurs at some unknown day and hour AFTER the midpoint of the 70th week. This is as Jesus taught in Matthew 24, saying that we would know the SEASON of His return (the time of the beast’s persecution - the tribulation), but could not know the day or the hour.
According to Matthew 24, it is at this arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, that He will gather His elect out from all over the earth and take them to Himself in the sky and then to heaven. Mark 13:27.
After the rapture occurs, there will be a conversion of 144k Jews who will then function as bond-servants of God to minister truth (the gospel) to the rest of the world (Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-7).
Once the bond-servants are converted, Jesus will begin to judge the earth dwellers through the 6 trumpet judgments. These judgments are chronologically progressive and take us through Revelation chapters 8 and 9, and to the end of the 70th week.
Chapter 10, which gives some personal information for John alone, then gives us the chronological notation at verse 7 that indicates the 70th week will have ended by the sounding of the 7th trumpet.

“. . . there shall be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when is is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

The mystery of God refers to what was proclaimed to the OLD TESTAMENT prophets and revolves around the establishment of God’s personal reign on the earth via Jesus the Messiah. The purpose of the 70 weeks of Daniel is to bring history to that point where the Messiah will take possession of the kingdoms of the earth and reign from Jerusalem as the Prince of Righteousness. This does not mean that all is accomplished WITHIN the parameters of the 70th week, but once the 70 weeks are concluded, then the Messiah will lay claim to the kingdoms of the earth and begin to cleanse it from the unbelievers. This cleansing will take place in three stages.
Stage one is judgment on all the nations of the world through the 6 trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments, which produce extreme negative reactions from the unbelievers (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21).
Stage two is Armageddon where Jesus destroys all the armies of the world that are gathered in the Middle East.
Stage three is the separation of living unbelievers from believers so that only believers can go alive into the earthly kingdom over which Jesus will reign for 1000 years.

At Revelation 11:1-2 the vision focuses on the earthly temple in Jerusalem. Of course the safest course is the literal interpretation.
That means that everything mentioned should be viewed as actual unless there is an OBVIOUS symbol used, such as "fire from the mouth."
There is a literal temple and altar and literal worshippers.
The outer court is the actual outer court, the nations are the literal Gentile nations, and the 42 months is a literal and actual time period.
In fact, this mold should be followed throughout the entire section of verses 1-13. I reject any allegorical interpretations.

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES

This temple will obviously be built some time between 70 AD and the rise of the beast. But of course, as of this date in 2020, there is no temple in Jerusalem.
That this is an earthly temple is confirmed by five factors:
(1) it mentions “those who worship in it,” which refers to national Israel operating under the covenant of peace and toleration, although the worship activity of the Jews at this time will not be acceptable to God.
The covenant of peace will be established at the beginning of the 70th week through the world ruler of the first seal (Revelation 6:1-2; Dan. 9:27). We know that this "covenant" involves religious toleration because it allows for a Jewish temple to be built in Jerusalem, in which sacrifices will be offered. AND we know this because 3 1/2 years later, at the midpoint of the week, the world ruler will put a stop to the sacrifices.

It is possible that this world ruler is described at Daniel 8:23 as “a king will arise, arrogant and skilled in deception.” But this could refer to the man of lawlessness at the midpoint of the week instead. However, the next verses, Daniel 8:24ff definitely refer to the man of lawlessness at the midpoint and afterward.

(2) the outer court is to be dominated by the Gentiles, and in fact, the entire city of Jerusalem will be controlled by Gentiles under the leadership of the beast, for 42 months. This will begin at the midpoint of the week.
(3) At 2 Thessalonians 2:4, the man of lawlessness is described as one who “take his stand in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
(4) In Daniel 9:26, this man of lawlessness, who corresponds with the “prince who is to come,” will “put a stop to sacrifice and grain offerings,” which indicates that there needs to be a functional temple or sanctuary existing in the city of Jerusalem. Accordingly, it is consistent with Scripture and context to understand this as reference to an earthly temple, even though other references to a temple in the book of Revelation seem to have a HEAVENLY temple in view. (Rev. 7:15; 11:19; 14:15, 17; 15:5, 6, 8; 16:1, 17.

Revelation 11:1 then, represents an evaluation AT the MIDPOINT of the week, of what has been going on BEFORE the midpoint of the week. The thing that is being measured and the people who are being measured are ALREADY THERE. The temple is ALREADY THERE. The people are ALREADY worshipping BEFORE the measuring begins. It is the measuring that EVALUATES the situation and results in divine rejection of the building and worship. This measurement is an indictment on the Jewish people and is the basis for the ministry of the two witnesses who exhort the people to a return to the TRUE hope of the coming of their Messiah.

Worship in the Jewish sacrificial system is NOT valid. It has not been valid since the crucifixion. It will not be valid UNTIL the millennial kingdom.
The temple that is constructed during the 70th week is not honoring to God. Animal sacrifices are no longer honoring to God. Amos 5:18-24 (Day of the Lord context).
Verse 18, "Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD,
For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you?
It will be darkness and not light."
Verses 21-24
"I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs ; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

The Jews are operating under the deception of the confirmed covenant with the world ruler. Their ATTITUDE toward Jesus WILL STILL BE total rejection and disdain.

The Jews are operating under the deception of the confirmed covenant with the world ruler. Their ATTITUDE toward Jesus WILL STILL BE total rejection and disdain. They are worshipping according to a religious tradition and legalism that has lost sight of the true Messianic promise (Rom. 10:2-3).
When the tribulation begins under the oppressive reign of the beast, the two witnesses will come on the scene and proclaim the message that Jesus is the Messiah. They will appeal to the nation in order to "restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers." Malachi 4:6.

This will result in the 144,000 Jewish bond servants recognizing Jesus as the promised MESSIAH to such an extent that it can be considered a "national" repentance.
However, they won't accept Him as SAVIOR until after He comes back. This is why the MEASURING is an evaluation that has a negative verdict. There is nothing positive in unbelievers “worshipping” in a religious system that has been rejected by God. For that matter, there is nothing positive in “believers” worshipping in a religious system that has been rejected by God.

Although the nation is still under discipline and the "worshippers" at this temple are NOT in right standing with God, IT IS STILL God's temple and the worshipers are still God's PEOPLE (the Jews). Even though this is an "unauthorized" temple, it still reflects there religious tradition, and it is THIS TEMPLE that symbolically represents the NATION. So when Yahweh comes suddenly to the temple, He is presenting Himself to the NATION and does not literally arrive AT the temple (Mal. 3:1b). However, the temple has been abominated and still needs to be cleansed of that abomination. That temple will be destroyed probably during the 7th bowl judgment. The new temple in the kingdom will be built, 2300 days after the midpoint of the week (32 months after the start of the kingdom). Dan. 8:14 and 26.

It seems that other "measurements" in Scripture have to do with Divine ownership and Divine authority over the items being measured. Sometimes blessing is in view and sometimes judgment is in view. (Zech 2; Ezekiel 40; Rev. 21:15-17).

The measurement of Revelation 11:1 indicates that there is to be an ACCOUNTING from God upon the Jewish people. This administration of divine justice will take place in 3 phases.
But before judgment comes God's grace. Prior to the 70th week and up until Jesus returns, the church will be evangelizing the world so that "whoever calls upon the Lord will be saved." Joel. 2:32; Mat. 10:23; 24:14.
A. Phase one will begin at the midpoint of the week, when the beast is allowed to carry out his oppressive reign (the great tribulation).

Grace before judgment will be seen in the ministry of the church and the two witnesses who will be appealing to the Jews "to press on to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3).

B. Phase two will be after Jesus returns in the clouds of the sky and prepares to judge the unbelievers through the trumpets and bowls.
And -
C. Phase three will be the removal of the unbelievers of Israel (fat sheep) from the believers (lean sheep). Ezek. 34:17-22; Mal 3:2-3.

Grace before judgment as the two witnesses and the 144k Jewish bond servants will continue to appeal to the Jews, to "fear God and give Him glory . . . and worship Him." Rev. 14:7.

This administration of divine justice is to result in a "saved" nation that will go alive into the millennial kingdom as per Romans 11, "thus all Israel will be saved."

After the beast takes over, the temple will be desecrated and the altar "abominated."
The "worshippers" will now have to choose between God and the beast. The ministry of the two witnesses in conjunction with the evangelistic ministry of the church ‎will exhort the Jews to return to a genuine expectation of their Messiah's return and to realize that Jesus is indeed their Messiah. And yet, choosing this true heritage of the fathers (Mal 4:6) and even acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah, does not guarantee their salvation, for they do not become "saved" until they accept Jesus as the SAVIOR. But the CHOOSING will separate them from beast worship and prepare them to trust in Jesus after He arrives. For then they will KNOW.

Thus, the reason for the ministry of the 2 witnesses which will begin at the midpoint of the week, is to "restore the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse." Mal. 4:6
Accordingly, the ministry of the two witnesses will be instrumental in impacting a group of 144,000 Jews who will trust in Jesus immediately after His arrival. Then the 144k will pick up the baton from the church and carry the gospel throughout the world as BOND SERVANTS of the Lord.

Many of those who choose to reject beast worship will flee Jerusalem, and will find shelter and protection in the wilderness area of Edom. Revelation 12:6, 13-16. They leave BECAUSE OF THE THREAT, not because of reading the warning given by Jesus at Matthew 24:16-20. That warning is for BELIEVERS who are living in Judea. Of course, ANYONE who reads this part of the Bible might understand and heed the warning.

There will probably be no one left in Jerusalem who could be considered FAITHFUL to Moses. Most of these will probably take the mark of the beast. However, many will somehow avoid taking the mark, for AFTER the 1260 days + the 3 ½ days of the 2 witnesses, AFTER 7000 people are killed in Jerusalem by the earthquake, THE REST will believe (Rev. 11:13). Thus, when Jesus later arrives IN Jerusalem we find the “believing” inhabitants of Jerusalem at Zech. 12:4-9. The clans of Judah here include the survivors living outside of the city as well as PERHAPS the Jews who return from Edom after Jesus rescues them by the defeat of the armies garrisoned there (Isaiah 63:1-6).
So, during the many months of the tribulation period, the two witnesses will be appealing to Jews throughout the world to "restore the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse." Mal. 4:6

This message involves re-igniting the spirit of the Messianic promise; the heritage of the nation through the covenants made to their fathers. The testimony of the two witnesses will be instrumental in impacting the 144,000 Jews from 12 tribes of Israel scattered throughout the world. These will be viewed by God as representatives of the NATION, who will recognize Jesus as the Messiah and begin to seek God in truth. This will fulfill Hosea 5:15; Mat. 23:39; and Zeph. 2:1-3.
These will trust in Jesus immediately after His arrival. Revelation 7:1-3
Verse 1, "after this." That is, after the arrival of Jesus at the 6th seal (Rev. 6:12-17) and the "announcement" that it is now time for God's wrath to come.
Verse 3, "do not harm . . . until we have sealed the bond servants of God on their foreheads."

The administration of God's wrath will be delayed until 144k bond servants are sealed. The sealing comes AFTER the return of the Lord and constitutes divine ownership. Divine ownership indicates salvation relationship. The sealing is the claim of God upon them after they trust in Jesus as Savior.
This sealing might be the same kind of ministry by the Spirit to the church, "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13), and probably includes the indwelling presence and empowering of the Spirit.

After they are saved the 144k will pick up the baton from the church and carry the gospel throughout the world as BOND SERVANTS of the Lord. Rev. 14:1-7.

The reason the outer area is not measured is because that indicates the NATION is STILL under ultimate divine discipline as it has been since 70 AD, just as Jesus explained at Mat.23:37-39 and Luke 21:24. "Jerusalem will be trodden under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled."
It is still under the OFFICIAL control of the Gentiles via the reign of the beast, and will be for the next 42 months (1260 days).
This is another factor that indicates this should be viewed as taking place at the midpoint of the week. If it was looking at the start of the week, then the time factor would be 7 years rather than 3 1/2 years.

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES

The TOG refers to the time of national discipline upon Israel which began in 70 AD and will be completed at the end of the 70th week. One could make a case that the TOG actually began in 605 BCE when the kingdom of Judah was placed under Gentile domination and the people were scattered throughout the Chaldean empire. Although the people of Israel returned to their land and remained there until 70 AD, the nation was still under Gentile control. Thus, it seems that the times of the Gentiles should extend from 605 BCE until it is brought to an end at the completion of Daniel's 70th week.

The verb tread upon in both verses is pateō, and means to put a foot on something and simply indicates hostile control. And that is exactly what has been the case since 70 AD; although, some periods of time were worse than others, and of course, some better.

Rev. 11:2 refers to a CONTINUATION of being tread upon from the midpoint of the week until the end of the week.
It is NOT something NEW for Jerusalem, but a continuation and in fact a statement of completion; for 42 months.
The time of the Gentiles will be fulfilled officially at the end of Israel's national discipline, which is the end of the 70th week, which is 42 months after the midpoint of the 70th week.
Jerusalem will still be under the OFFICIAL control of the Gentiles via the reign of the beast, and will be for the next 42 months (1260 days).

So both Luke 21:24 and Rev. 11:2 both refer to exactly the same thing.
At Luke 21:24 the TOG began in 70 AD and certainly does not refer to the tribulation. Likewise, the same term used at Rev. 11:2 does not refer to the length of the tribulation.

The TOG is not the same thing as the tribulation. The tribulation will begin at the midpoint of the week, but will not last for the entire second half of the week. It will be cut short or amputated from its "expected" duration, as indicated at Mat. 24:22. Its "expected" duration would be the 3 1/2 year reign of the beast as per Dan. 7:24-25, 9:27 and 12:7. But although the official reign of the beast will indeed last for 3 1/2 years, the severity of his oppression (tribulation) will be interrupted by the return of Jesus at an unknown day and hour at least 5 months prior to the end of the week (probably more like sometime during the 18 months before the end of the week, as seen at Hosea 6:2).

Revelation 11:2
The time factor indicates the END of that period of discipline.
AFTER the 3 1/2 years, the official period of Israel's national discipline will be completed and the process will begin that will result in "all Israel will be saved," (Rom. 11:25-29; Mal. 3:1b-4). But it will not be fully realized until after the 75 days of Daniel 12:11-12. From the end of the week until Christ's victory at Armageddon, there will be 30 days for the bowl judgments. After Armageddon, there will be an additional 45 days during which Jesus will remove all unbelievers from the earth and set up His Millennial kingdom.
(Removal of the goats from the sheep of Mat. 25 and the lean from the fat sheep of Ezek. 34:17-24).

Rom. 11:25-26, "a partial hardening has happened to Israel UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in."
Thus, after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, which is the close of the 70th week, "all Israel will be saved."
Thus, as per Daniel 12:12, "happy are those who attain to the 1335 days."
This indicates there will be an additional 45 days after the 1290 and will bring the progress of God's plan to the start of the millennial kingdom.

The arrival of the Messiah is described as, “will suddenly come to His temple,” at Malachi 3:1b. Even though the temple in view is constructed by the Jews in unbelief, it is constructed according to God’s specifications, and as the POINT OF CONTACT between the Jews and their worship of God. It is still HIS TEMPLE and at 2 Thes. 2:4, it is called "the temple of God." But since they are not in relationship with God, all worship activity through sacrifices or otherwise is totally rejected by Him. Amos 5:21-24.
Let me suggest that Jesus does not need to come DIRECTLY to or into the temple. It is His arrival in the clouds of the sky, Whom EVERY EYE will see that is the official one and only second coming that is the focus of every OT and NT prophecy. And this arrival of the Lord fulfills the idea of "suddenly" for it is spoken of as coming "like a thief in the night." He will then begin the Day of the Lord judgments which will involve judgment on this false temple as well as the ruin of the beast and his kingdom, and ultimately the removal of all unbelievers from the earth. Jesus will then set up His 1000 year kingdom which will begin with believers only.

See commentary: Malachi 3:1-6

THE TWO WITNESSES
Verse 3
“And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Just as there was a herald for the arrival of the Messiah at His first advent, there will be one for the second advent. But at the second advent there will be two heralds.
I suggest that this vision follows chronologically from the previous one and therefore refers to the midpoint of the week.
One of the heralds will be a resuscitated Elijah. Malachi 3:1a predicts the coming of the first advent herald who was John the baptizer.
"Behold, I am going to send My messenger,
and he will clear the way before Me."
This is clear from Mark 1:2 where Malachi 3:1 is quoted in reference to John. Isaiah 40:3 is also quoted as fulfilled in John. This is confirmed at Matthew 3:1-3, "for this is the one referred to by Isaiah the Prophet. ."

Malachi 3:1b continues,
"And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple;"

This indicates that the arrival of Messiah will occur in close proximity to the ministry of the herald. Now although, this second part of the verse is never quoted in the New Testament, it is probable that we can find a preliminary fulfillment in the abrupt manner in which Jesus presented Himself to the nation of Israel during His ministry. He did indeed "come suddenly to His temple," as suggested - -
1. At the beginning of His ministry: John 2:13-22
2. At the conclusion of His ministry: Matthew 21:12-13

However, based on the text following Malachi 3:1b, the direct fulfillment of this phrase, "The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple," refers to the arrival of the Messiah at the Day of the LORD. Verses 1-3 continue,
"that is, the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight,
behold, He is coming, says Yahweh of the armies."
"But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire and launderer's soap.
And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver,"

This did not happen at the first advent of the Messiah, but it is at the 2nd advent when He comes to pour out the wrath of the Godhead upon the kingdom of the beast and to purify the world so that He might bring into His earthly kingdom "the wheat" of Jews and Gentiles who become believers between the rapture and Armageddon.
Let me suggest that Jesus does not need to come DIRECTLY to or into the temple. It is His arrival in the clouds of the sky, Whom EVERY EYE will see that is the official one and only second coming that is the focus of every OT and NT prophecy. And this arrival of the Lord fulfills the idea of "suddenly" for it is spoken of as coming "like a thief in the night." He will then begin the Day of the Lord judgments which will involve judgment on this false temple as well as the ruin of the beast and his kingdom.

Now back to the first advent arrival of the Messiah we discover that the nation, did not recognize either -
1. The herald: Matthew 21:32
2. Or the Messiah: Matthew 19:44

They did of course know about the prophecy but rejected its application to John and Jesus. Jesus however clarified it to them at Matthew 11:7-15. Here, He associates John's ministry with the prophecy concerning Elijah at verse 14,
"and if you are willing to accept it,  he himself was Elijah who is to come."

But that association is based on similarity of ministry and not equation. The phrase, “if you want” refers to a POSITIVE attitude toward Jesus as the Messiah. If they are WILLING (Greek verb, thelō) refers to acceptance of John as the spiritual counterpart of the YET FUTURE coming of Elijah. If they do, they will see his ministry as one of both blessing and judgment. Yahweh Elohim will become flesh and dwell among men; carry the sins of the world; and be the focal point for either salvation or eternal condemnation.

Jesus is exhorting them to recognize the difference between the first and second comings of the Messiah, "he who has ears, let him hear," (verse 15) and to recognize Himself as the Messiah.
Gabriel shows this association in his message to Zacharias, John's father at Luke 1:16-17. And Zacharias himself, later taught it as recorded at Luke 1:76-77.

Malachi records another prophecy of a herald for the Messiah.
Malachi 4:5 says,
"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord."

However, John was not the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6. Jesus makes two statements at Matthew 17:11-12, to clarify this.
Verse 11, "Elijah is coming."
This is still future and refers to the arrival of Elijah as a herald to the Messiah's second advent.
Verse 12, "But I say to you that Elijah has already come."
This refers to John's ministry, "in the spirit and power of Elijah," but does not, indeed, cannot fulfill Malachi 4:5-6.

What then of the future coming of Elijah?
As already indicated, that coming will be directly related to the coming of the Day of the Lord. His PURPOSE as indicated by what Jesus said at Matthew 17:11 (“Elijah is coming AND will restore all things”) is to bring Israel back into a covenant relationship with God. This refers to trusting in the Messianic promise and acceptance of the Messianic person, who is Jesus. This ministry is summarized by Malachi at verse 4:6, “And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”

It is very probable that his ministry is one of the reasons the 144k Jewish men will trust in Jesus at His arrival in the clouds of the sky.
Their ministry is described as, "they will prophesy." The verb is prophāteuō, which means to proclaim to speak forth. It does not directly refer to prediction or foretelling, although sometimes the nature of prophecy is just that. However, in this case, it refers to the ministry of proclaiming the gospel and the coming of divine judgment.
It is called "testimony" at verse 7. The word is marturia and means witness or testimony and describes the nature or content of the proclamation.

Their ministry will begin at the midpoint of the 70th week, BEFORE the Day-of-the-Lord arrival of Jesus. Through their testimony they will seek to save a large number of Jews so that they might escape the time of God’s wrath. This plea for RESTORATION of the Jews into a covenant relationship with God is given at Zephaniah 2:1-3.

“Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without shame,
before the decree takes effect — The day passes like the chaff — before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

Elijah’s primary focus will be on the Jews in Palestine, but he will have a worldwide impact as he seeks to convict and convince Jews everywhere. The difference between Elijah’s ministry and the ministry of the 144,000, is that they seem to be scattered all over the world, whereas Elijah is centered in Jerusalem; or at least at the end of his ministry he is in Jerusalem. Both however, have the same purpose in bringing Israel back into a covenant relationship with God through acceptance of Jesus as the promised Messiah. However, since at verse 10, Elijah and Moses are described as ones who "tormented those who dwell on the earth." Perhaps they will have access to some kind of high speed transportation that enables them to travel all over the globe even with the rigid controls of the beast that will be in place.

Good evidence that Elijah is one of these two witnesses is found in the event recorded at Matthew 16:27 through 17:8. This event is crucial for understanding the future coming of Elijah.
At Matthew 16:27, Jesus says,
"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father
with His angels, and will then recompense every man
according to his deeds."

This statement correlated with all that has been taught to God's people throughout their history, refers to the Day-of-the-Lord return of the Messiah. It is at this time that He will
1. Deliver His people; the Jews from their oppression (tribulation).
   Jeremiah 30:7-8
2. Administrate divine justice on those left in the world. Ezekiel 30:1-5.
3. Evaluate their deeds.  Ezek. 34:17-22
4. Establish his earthly reign. Ezek. 34:23-31; Daniel 7:14, 22
5. Build a new temple: Dan. 8:9-26; Ezek. 43:1-17; Zech. 6:12-13
6. But of course, all these things will take place as a PROCESS that will take 2300 days from the midpoint of the 70th week until the completion of the temple.
SEE The 2300 days of Daniel 8

7. And render the last judgment on unbelieving humanity after His earthly reign. Revelation 20:11-15

He then tells the disciples a very strange thing at verse 28.
"There are some standing here who will not taste of (physical) death
until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

The term, "coming in His kingdom," refers to the second advent presence of Jesus in resurrection glory to BRING to the earth His 1000 year reign upon David’s throne in Jerusalem.
This strange prediction is fulfilled 6 days later when He takes Peter, James and John up onto a mountain and appears to them in the manner He will appear at His second coming. This is recorded at Matthew 17:1-8. We know that this fulfills the words of Jesus at Matthew 16:28 because Peter tells us so at 2 Peter 1:16-18.
Verse 16,
"For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

We also learn from this reference by Peter that the SECOND COMING that Jesus displayed to the disciples is the VERY SAME second coming that the church is looking for. For, later, Peter writes that we should be “looking for and diligently promoting the coming of the day of God,” (Verse 3:12), which is the alternate term for the day of the Lord (and the day of Christ), and refers to the very same second coming that Peter has mentioned in his earlier letter (1 Peter 1:7, 13; 4:13). There is no contextual basis for seeing TWO events in Peter or Paul, but one visible and glorious revelation of Jesus in the clouds of the sky at the day of the Lord. One exception is found at Romans 11:26, which quotes Isaiah 59:20, and very clearly refers to a physical descent to the earth to rescue national Israel from the invading armies of the Armageddon campaign.

At Matthew 17:2, it says that Jesus was "transformed" before them. He appeared the way He will look in his resurrection glory which is called, "the body of His glory," at Philippians 3:21.
Then Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, "in glory," according to Luke 9:31. "In glory," refers to their radiance in association with Christ's glory.

They were also carrying on a conversation with Jesus about "His departure which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31)." That departure refers to the sacrifice on the cross and the subsequent resurrection and exit from the earth via His ascension 40 days after the resurrection. The conversation also probably revolved around His return at the Day of the Lord which God "will make known at His own time (1 Timothy 6:15)," since “coming in His kingdom” (Mat. 16:28) is what this APPEARANCE is all about.

How the disciples knew it was Moses and Elijah is not indicated. Obviously, there was a valid identification made.
Neither Moses or Elijah have a resurrection body (1 Cor. 15:23), so that is not in view.

So how can either of these men come back and minister on the earth?
First, it is no trick for God to bring back to life one who has died. Abraham's understanding of this is quoted for us at Hebrews 11:19, "having concluded that God is able to raise up even the dead." And Lazarus is a prime example of this (John 11:17-44). But of course, Lazarus was only 4 days dead and we are speaking of those who have been dead for many centuries.

Actually, this is no problem if God has preserved and protected the physical bodies of those involved. In fact, there is no problem even if the bodies had been incinerated, but we do have specific information that the body of Moses was protected (Jude 9). It is quite interesting that only three people in the entire history of Mankind went through physical death (separation of the soul from the body) apart from the normal mechanics; Enoch (Hebrews 11:5), Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5-7), and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11-12).

Furthermore we have specific information concerning the protection of the body of Moses after his soul left. Jude verse 9 tells us that Michael the Archangel was given the responsibility to place the body of Moses in a place for safe keeping and preservation, and there seems no reason for this unless it is to be used by God for some very special purpose in the future, which Satan knew about and would attempt to prevent. The soul of course, went to paradise in Hades (Luke 16:22) as did all Old Testament believers at death, including Enoch and Elijah. None of these men either received a resurrection body, or ascended into heaven.
Jesus is the only one to have received a resurrection body and no one else will until the Day of the Lord return of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:20-23). In addition, no one had ascended into heaven prior to the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (John 3:13), at which time He took to heaven all Old Testament believers who resided in Hades (Eph. 4:8-9).
SEE TOPIC: Death -physical

In view of God's special protection of the body of Moses, it is easy to assume the same protection assigned to Elijah's body. Thus, it is totally possible for these two men to be resuscitated at the end time to fulfill the ministry foreshadowed at the Mount of Transfiguration; the ministry of Elijah prophesied to occur prior to the coming of the Day of the Lord as recorded at Malachi 4:5-6. There is no need for the body of Enoch to be protected in this manner, since there is not even a hint of a future role for him. It is suggested that his body was simply "buried" by God because of his super righteous life, to await resurrection at the Day of the Lord return of Jesus.

Concerning the suggestion that Enoch is one of the two witnesses, it need only be pointed out that the presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17) in a second coming context, gives Moses "the nod" in choosing between the two; as well as the miracle activities ascribed to them at Revelation 11:6.
Furthermore, in that some suggest that Enoch is the other witness for the reason that he did not “see” death, let me point out that both Enoch and Elijah did indeed die physically. Both were placed into Paradise in hades, when their job was done here on earth. These men simply received a special treatment from God, and as their bodies were left behind and privately buried by God, their souls interacted with God and the angels in a very special manner. At 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah is NOT taken into “heaven,” but into “the heavens,” (Hebrew) ie., the sky.
Enoch did not “encounter” death in the normal manner and that is why it is said of him that he "was transferred" and “did not see death” (Hebrews 11:5).

As mentioned earlier, John 3:13 tells us, that at the time that Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, during His earthly ministry,
“no one has ascended into heaven, except the Son of man.”

This indicates that Enoch and Elijah did NOT go into heaven.
Another reason they could not have gone into heaven is because NO Old Testament believer was given the “completeness” of salvation in heaven BEFORE the church (Hebrews 11:39-40).

Based on the appearance of these two men here with Jesus in a foreshadowing of His second coming, we can conclude that Moses is also a herald of that coming. There is no prediction of this for Moses as there is for Elijah, but because of the association presented here, it seems best to conclude that the two of them function together in the capacity spoken of in reference to Elijah at Malachi 4:6, "And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers."I am suggesting that the two witnesses of Revelation 11 fulfill this prophecy. The two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-7, are not only testifying about the things of God to the whole world (Revelation 11:9-10), but minister specifically BEFORE and after the arrival of the Day of the Lord.

VERSE 5
The two witnesses have an ability to protect themselves from personal harm by calling down fire upon there persecutors.
"And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies."

This is adequately explained by John F. Walvoord in his commentary on Revelation, page 180.
"Verses 5 and 6 record the miraculous powers given to the two witnesses. Anyone who attempts to hurt them will be destroyed by fire proceeding our of their mouths. This is at once a judgment of God upon their enemies and a means of protection of the two witnesses, so that no one can lay a hand on them. A parallel is found in the prophetic ministry of Elijah, who on two occasions called fire from heaven upon the company of fifty soldiers sent to arrest him. . . (2 Kings 1). In a similar way, the enemies of Moses were destroyed (Numbers 16:35)."

We need not think of fire coming LITERALLY out of their mouths, but rather a VERBAL judgment on the enemies that is pronounced by the mouth and results in a judgment of fire coming from God.

Verse 6
Here we see that these two witnesses are characterized by actions which are Biblically and traditionally associated with Moses and Elijah. 
Revelation 11:6,
1. "These have the authority to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying.
Like Elijah at 1 Kings 17:1.

2. and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood.
Like Moses at Exodus 7:17-20.

3. and to smite the earth with every plague as often as they desire."
Additional 9 plagues like Moses as found at Exodus 7:17 -12:30

It has been suggested that this verse indicates that the two witnesses are omnipresent, since they seem to have jurisdiction over the whole earth. However, this does not say that they are “present” everywhere, but that they have “authority” (exousia) to smite the earth. This simply indicates that where ever they are, they have the authority and power to administrate divine judgment over the ones who persecute them. And even if their ministry is limited to Israel (which is quite possible) they have authority to “reach” to anywhere on the earth to defend their cause. Indeed, verses 9-10 indicate that their jurisdiction extends worldwide, but does not require an omnipresence idea.

Verse 7
1. When they have finished their testimony: The word for finish is teleioō, which means to bring to completion, to finalize. It is an aorist active subjunctive to go with the temporal adverb, when (hotan). The aorist tense indicates that in a specific point of time their job will be done. That specific point of time will be the end of the 70th week of Daniel; 1260 days after the start of their ministry and the start of the tribulation at the midpoint of the 70th week.

2. Testimony is marturia and defines the nature and content of the proclaiming (prophecy) of verse 3. They will bear witness to the power of God and the message of salvation. The result will be success for at least a large number of the earth dwellers in Jerusalem. After the ascent of the witnesses and the great earthquake,  many will show reverence and glorify God.  See at Verse 13.

3. the beast will “make war with them, and overcome them and kill them,”
  A. The beast: This is the first mention of the beast in the book of
       Revelation. The only hint of his existence is at Rev. 6:3 with the
       opening of the 2nd seal and the rise of the rider who takes THE PEACE
       from the earth.
       We do not get any information about him until chapter 13.
       This seems to be out of chronological order for us, but John must have
       had some frame of reference to understand what was meant as he
       listened to the "someone" (v. 1) who was talking to him.
       This helps me to identify the activity of seals 2-5 as referring to the
       oppression from the beast; the great tribulation.
       It is also possible that when John wrote down the contents of the vision,
       he did not preserve a precise chronological order. It appears from verse
      10:4, that John saw all the visions over the course of many days, but did
       not write anything down until God's revelation to him was completed.
  B. who comes up out of the abyss: the verb, comes, is erchomai as a
      present active participle that describes his point of origin.

We learn of this later at Rev. 17:8, where it says that he is ABOUT to come out of the abyss. The verb, about, is mellō as a present active indicative which describes the following action as something that will occur LATER in time from the time it is seen in this vision.
The verb, to come, is anabainō as a present active infinitive. So in the context of John's vision, this beast is SOON to come on the scene
 
C. It has been suggested that the term, “make war” indicates a massive campaign against a “group” or “corporate body” rather than against two individuals. The reasoning is that the word, “polemos,” which is used here, refers to a whole series of battles rather than a “limited” campaign. However the word polemos is used for a “single isolated engagement” in the NT at Revelation 19:19; 1 Corinthians 14:8 and Luke 14:31.
Not to mention the several times it is used this way in the LXX.

Furthermore, even if the word usage was restricted to a “large” campaign, that would not militate against someone waging a “detailed” and drawn out campaign of aggression against an individual or two or a whole group. The same construction is used at Revelation 13:7 and 12:17 for making war with believers. The use of polemos does not militate against these two witnesses being two actual people.

  D. the beast will overcome them: nikaō means to gain a victory over.
It is the same word used for the person who becomes a believer at Rev. 3, "he who overcomes." And at Rev. 12:11 for both salvation and victorious living in the face of the beast's persecution. "They overcome him because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."
Here, when the time is right within God's plan, the beast will be able to stop all the defenses and the plague like activity of the witnesses and neutralize them.

  E. and kill them : apokteinō as a future active indicative, but the future tense goes back to the specific point of time in God's plan of verse 7, "when they have finished their testimony." All is in God's perfect timing and according to His perfect plan. Physical death occurs when the soul and the spirit leave the body and goes into the hands of God, Who then places them where He chooses.  Job 34:14-15
It is also described as when the "life force" or the "breath of life" leaves the body. When Jesus died on the cross, he of His own free will EXHALED or breathed out the breath of life. The principle is seen at Ezek. 37:5 (spirit of life in the LXX).
At that time His human soul and spirit left the body and went into Hades. (Luke 23:46).
We see both factors at Luke 23:46, "Father, into Your hands I dismiss My spirit, and having said this, He breathed out."
Likewise with Steven at Acts 7:59, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
NeshAmAh and spirit (ruach) are both used to indicate the life- force of man. Job 32:8; 33:4; 27:3; 34:14; Is. 42:5; 57:16.

Verse 8
And their bodies will lie in a street of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days. The city in view here is called “the great city” and although Jerusalem is not called “great” again until verse 16:19, that need not be a problem, for it is indeed “alegorically” designated as Sodom and Egypt (Isaiah 1:9-10; 3:9; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:46, 49). And it is indeed, the city where, the Lord was crucified. Someone has argued against this referring to Jerusalem because Jesus was actually crucified “outside” the city rather than in it. However, this reference does not state that Jesus was crucified IN Jerusalem, but simply AT Jerusalem. Nothing is violated by understanding the idea of “where” as designating the general geographical location.
There is also the view that Babylon the great is actually the city of Jerusalem, but I think that is disproved at Rev. 16:19 where we see two different cities, "the great city" and "Babylon the great."


Verse 9
Even after witnessing the visible arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, and being in the midst of the severe judgments from the first 6 trumpets, the beast worshippers will still be loyal to him and will celebrate his various victories.
Upon the killing of the two witnesses, the beast worshipers from around the world "from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations," will be able to observe the dead bodies lying in the street. This will be easily accomplished through the video technology available today.
In addition, "they will not allow their bodies to be laid in a tomb." This refusal to allow burial is to boastfully broadcast the beast's victory throughout his beleaguered kingdom and promote the celebrations mentioned in verse 10.

Verse 10
1. those who dwell on the earth: The "earth dwellers" are seen several times in The Revelation. Generally it simply refers to any unbeliever. Here it refers specifically to the beast worshippers.
Rev. 1:7, the tribes of the earth.
Rev. 3:10, those who dwell upon the earth
Rev. 6:10; 8:13; 13:12, 14; 14:6; 17:2

2. rejoice over them: The verb is chairō, which indicates an a feeling of joy or exhilaration or feeling of relief. It occurs with the preposition, epi + them, which indicates an attitude of glee about the death of the witnesses.
3. and make merry: euphrainō takes the attitude of gladness into a celebration mode as in "party time."
4. send gifts to one another: probably at the direction of the beast. It seems that this will show additional OUTWARD loyalty to the beast. It will serve as a kind of propaganda program to encourage the people who not only suffered at the hands of the witnesses, but are also still under many of the judgments of God that have come through the trumpets.
Of course, this reminds me immediately of the Christmas tradition of giving and receiving gifts. It could be an attempt to counterfeit that tradition and downplay the reality of Christ's presence and judgment on the beast's kingdom.
However, there are many and varied celebratory occasions throughout the world's cultures that involve the trading of gifts.
The Jews also had a tradition of sending food and other gifts to one another and to the needy on various joyful occasions. Esth. 9:19, 22; Neh. 8:10, 12.

5. because these two prophets tormented:
  A. Because: This word is hoti, used as a causal conjunction and indicates
      the reason there is a celebration. It is because the two witnesses who
      tormented the people are now dead.
  B. basanidzō as an aorist active indicative which indicates the historical
      fact of torment through the activities of the two witness/prophets that
      occurred over the space of the 1260 days. The verb can refer to both
      physical and mental torment and distress. I suggest that the ministry of
      the two witnesses involved both. Mental torment will come from the
      message that will indict them of spiritual failure and assure them of the
      spiritual consequences. The physical torment will come from the
      prophets' defense maneuvers and some of the plagues they will bring.

6. But they really had very little to celebrate in the midst of the turmoil and death that permeated throughout the beast's empire from the trumpet judgments.

Verse 11
1. After 3 1/2 days: This will be the first days after the end of the 70th week; the first of the 30-day period that follows the 1260-day period. Daniel 12:11
"And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days."

2. The breath of life out from God came into them:
The Greek is pneuma of zoā to refer to the return of physical life to the body. It is the same construction used in the LXX at Ezekiel 37:5.
In actuality it is the return of soul and spirit into the body. This is the same thing that occurred at Luke 7.11-17; John 11:38-45; Mat. 27:50-53.

3. and they stood on their feet: evidence that they actually came back to life.

4. and great fear fell on those who were seeing them.
Watching: is a present active participle of theōreō. This is more than just a glimpse-in-time action. It is an on going activity as the whole event transpired.

The word for fear is phobos. It sometimes means the idea of being afraid, which is probably the idea here. At verse 13 there is a different reaction from those who remain alive after the earthquake. The verb ginomai with the adjective emphobos is used along with the RESULT of the mental reaction, "and they gave glory to the God of heaven." See at verse 13.

At this point there is a question about resurrection.
After the bodies lie in the street for 3 1/2 days, they are brought back to life. But will they receive a resurrection body at that time and then be taken into heaven to take their place with the rest of the elect, as part of the bride of Christ?
It is true that if Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses, then they will "miss out" on the resurrection of the Old Testament elect which takes place at the rapture. But that is simply a matter of timing, because they would receive a resurrection body when they are taken up. This is a delay I suggest they are willing to make in order to participate in this very special aspect of God's plan. It will be a great privilege to provide a final evangelistic outreach to Israel and to the world prior to Armageddon.
Whether this “raising” is only a restoration to physical life rather than resurrection, their bodies will certainly be transformed before they ascend.
Receiving a resurrection body at this time is in order, since they were indeed, believers prior to the GATHERING of the elect (all Old Testament believers and church age believers), and are officially part of that group.

Thus either AS or after they are brought back to life after the 3 1/2 days, they will receive a resurrection body. Then after the people have a moment to react and digest the event, the voice from heaven will call them up into the sky, with all the people in the city staring after them (Revelation 11:12). There, they join the others of the elect waiting in the third heaven for the completion of the reward seat and their preparation for the marriage of the Lamb.

It has been suggested that these two witnesses are other than two individuals but from the perspective of the "Golden Rule of Interpretation," this option is not viable.

GOLDEN RULE OF INTERPRETATION
When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.

Although there is an abundance of symbolism employed in the book of The Revelation, there is no clear or even implied indication that the characteristics ascribed to these two witnesses, should be taken in any other way than "ordinary, usual, literal." Except of course, where symbolism is obvious such as "olive trees," "lamp stand," and "fire from their mouth."
The first issue is LITERAL interpretation.

When symbols are employed the interpretation of those symbols NEVER counter the LITERAL factors in the context.
Since the literal descriptions of the two MUST refer to literal people, then the interpretation of the symbols must ALSO refer to people.
One has to ignore those literal descriptions to come up with ANY "entity" theory.
1. Literal, physical bodies clothed in sackcloth.
2. Dead LITERAL, PHYSICAL bodies in the street.
3. In a LITERAL PHYSICAL street.
4. ONE literal city of Jerusalem.
5. Not permit their dead LITERAL, PHYSICAL BODIES to be laid in a tomb - v. 9
6. Stood on their literal, physicl FEET
7. The instructions to "come up here" is addressed to individuals, not some entity.
8. Their enemies watched them go up.
9. Even the fact that "they will prophesy," v. 3.
And have a "testimony," verse 7.

The three symbolic factors ascribed to these witnesses must be viewed as subordinate to the identification of them as two individuals. So all the straining and twisting and pseudo comparisons to find proof that the symbols refer to the church or any other entity ignores the literal INTENT of the vision shown to John at Rev. 11.

The SECOND issue is TIMING.
The 42 months, 1260 days and 3 1/2 years all refer to the same period of time - from the midpoint of the week until the end of the week, which will be indicated by the sounding of the 7th trumpet.
The church will be removed 6 to 18 months before the end of the week. The two witnesses testify UNTIL the end of the week. And they are raised up 3 1/2 days into the next 30-day period after the end of the week.
God is not playing games and intends for His word to be understood. It violates the integrity of purposeful communication to have 1260 days at Rev. 11:3 mean something different from the 1260 days of Rev. 12:6.

The THIRD issue is previous Scriptural identification.
1. Mal. 4:5-6, Elijah will come as a witness to the nation of Israel prior to the arrival of the DOL.
Mark 9:12, "Elijah does come first to restore all things."
2. Mat. 17:1-5, Moses and Elijah are shown to be heralds of Christ's second coming (the arrival of the DOL).
3. Nowhere in the rest of Scripture finds the fulfillment of this prophecy except the ministry of the two witnesses.

It is therefore unacceptable from my perspective that these two witnesses "symbolize" ANY thing, but rather refer to two literal individuals. Suggestions such as the church, Israel, the word, the Spirit, or anything else are totally inadequate and violate the "individualistic" flavor employed in describing them. The three symbolic factors ascribed to these witnesses must be viewed as subordinate to the identification of them as two individuals.
The first two symbols assigned to these witnesses are the "lamp stand" and the "olive tree."
The olive tree usually speaks of oil. Oil primarily was used to "anoint" someone when they had a specific job to do. Sometimes "oil" speaks of the Holy Spirit, so this factor must be considered. The best example of this symbolism is found at Zechariah 4:2-14 where we see the two leaders of restored Israel, Zerubbabel and Joshua, in about 520 BC.

It is also significant that we have a lamp stand and 7 lamps here which speak of some aspect of Divine provision as indicated at verse 6, "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit."
Is it not most likely then, that the lamp stand speaks of "witness" (thus the word "testimony" at verse 7) via the power of the Holy Spirit? And that it is used that way in connection with the 7 churches also (for notice at Revelation 2:5, "I will remove your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent." Ie, their witness will be removed, perhaps that local church even destroyed)?
The lamp stand then, simply reflects the idea that all believers are to be "lights of (to) the world," (Philippians 2:15; Matthew 5:14-16) and fulfill their responsibility as ambassadors for Christ. These two witnesses just have a very specialized ministry as heralds to the second coming of the Messiah and as catalysts for bringing the nation of Israel back into a right relationship with God (Malachi 4:6) as they "prophesy" and proclaim their "testimony" right up to the very end of the 70th week.

Zechariah 2:11 asks, what are these 2 olive trees?
and verse 14, the answer: these are the two "sons of oil" (which designates them as "anointed ones") who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth. That is, they are anointed with a specific job to do in ministering to the nation of Israel.

Thus - the 2 witnesses are:
1. Anointed (commissioned) by God to testify for 1260 days.
2. Specially provisioned to be "lights to the world."

The third symbolic factor concerning these witnesses is the term, "Fire from the mouth," which we already saw at verse 5.

The identification of these two witnesses "before the fact" is not important and certainly not a reason for contention. I simply feel that when all the pertinent passages are considered and correlated, Moses and Elijah come forth strong and clear as the two witnesses.

Concerning the suggestion that Enoch is one of the two witnesses, it need only be pointed out that the presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17) in a 2nd coming context, gives Moses "the nod" in choosing between the two; as well as the miracle activities ascribed to them at Rev. 11:6.

These two witnesses are given authority for 1260 days, which extends from the midpoint of the 70th week, at the inception of the tribulation; the oppressive reign of the beast, and concludes at the end of the week. It is at this time that they are killed by the beast, and their bodies lie in the street for 3 1/2 days. Although the 70th week ends at this time, there still remains 30 additional days during which God will pour out the final wrath of His justice upon the earth and the beast’s kingdom. These are the first 3 1/2 days of that next 30 day period.
According to Daniel 12:11, there will be 1290 days until the abomination is ended. That is 30 days beyond the end of the week.
Even though the beast's reign OFFICIALLY ends at the end of the week, he is not neutralized and destroyed until 30 days later. His kingdom will go through a massive judgment from the bowls, but he will still be huffing and puffing against God and God's people, enough so that he can assemble his troops to Armageddon where he will be destroyed. Just as Paul wrote, “whom the Lord will slay with the breath (word) of his mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming,” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This of course refers to the Day-of-the-Lord arrival of Jesus in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, portrayed at the 6th seal, and which initiates the judgments that will be finalized at Armageddon. However, the beast is NOT SLAIN at this arrival in the clouds, but remains alive until after the battle of Armageddon which is portrayed for us at Revelation 19:11-21. Paul is not giving us a chronological factor but simply a statement of fact, that it is “the appearance of His coming” that will EVENTUALLY bring about the destruction of the man of lawlessness.

To repeat, 30 additional days are mentioned at Daniel 12:11, where we learn that “from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up” which is the midpoint of the week, “there will be 1290 days.” Thus, the removal of the desolation in the Jewish temple will not occur until 30 days after the end of the 70th week. Armageddon occurs toward the end of that 30 day period, and it might very well be that the believing Jews in Jerusalem remove the idol image from the temple after the invading armies are all destroyed.

Revelation 11:12
1. And they heard a loud voice from heaven: "the heaven" is used to refer to the sky rather than actually to the third heaven at this point. The issue is what is observed by the onlookers. They see them go up into the SKY, not into "heaven."
This is the same language that we see at Acts 1:10-11, "as you have watched him go into the sky (heaven).

2. saying to them, come up here, and they went up into the sky (the heaven) in the cloud:
Since upon this invitation they went into the sky in THE CLOUD (definite article - the), I understand this as being taken up into the sky to meet Jesus who will be "sitting" on the cloud as the trumpet judgments are poured out on the earth.
At Rev. 14:14, the vision shows "one like the son of man" sitting on THE CLOUD and preparing to reap in judgment those who are upon the earth.
This judgment refers to the final pouring out of God's wrath through the bowl judgments of Revelation 16.
After Jesus receives them to Himself, they will then be escorted to the third heaven to join the other saints who were resurrected and taken to the third heaven at the rapture.

3. and their enemies watched them: The verb is  theōreō again, but as an aorist active indicative. They will have been watching for awhile as the two men got up on their feet, but this is now describing the single event of going up into the sky.

Verse 13
1. in that hour: the use of the word, "hour" indicates that many minutes passed before the earthquake occurred.
Thus, within an hour after the two witnesses are taken up from the earth, there is a great earthquake which demolishes a tenth of the city, killing 7,000 people (Revelation 11:13a). As a result of this it seems that the remaining Jews in the city (or most of them) finally change their minds and express reverence toward God, giving Him glory - AND probably accepting Jesus as the Messiah at that time. The gospel message which had been being proclaimed since the rapture is “Fear God and give Him glory . . . and worship Him,” (Revelation 14:7).  And that is exactly what these people did.
Their reaction and response is, "they became reverent." This is an aorist middle indicative of ginomai + the adjective, emphobos.
This adjective occurs only 5 other times sometimes meaning afraid (Luke 24:37 and 22:9 t.r.) and sometimes reverent (Luke 24:5; Acts 10:4; 24:25-26).
This same "respect" factor is seen in response to Jesus, using the noun phobos (fear).
Luke 5:26, "And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!"
Luke 7:16, "Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people."
And the verb (phobeo) is used in Acts.
Acts 10:2, "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household."
Acts 13:16, "Men of Israel and you who fear God."
Acts 13:26, "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family and those among you who fear God."

(Contrast this with negative fear at Luke 8:37, gripped with great fear and asked Him to leave).

This group of people designated as “the rest” will not include people who have taken the mark of the beast. Thus we find in Jerusalem at this time a large group of people who are unsaved resisters to beast worship, and yet have not been killed off by the beast. They have probably been living underground, barely surviving and are “shaken” out of hiding by this great earthquake.
This is how we can find so many believers in Jerusalem and vicinity as “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” at the time the armies of the world invade during the Armageddon campaign (Zechariah 12:5-8; 14:14).

 

And these are the ones for whom the Lord descends to the earth as recorded at Isaiah 59:20, “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn away from transgression in Jacob.” This is not the Day-of-the-Lord arrival of Jesus, for that is described in Isaiah 59:17b-19, and at the 6th seal of Rev. 6.

It has been suggested that verse 13 takes place in an Armageddon context. However, the focus is on Jerusalem and NOT the valley of Megiddo, where the final physical conflict occurs, known as Armageddon. Here, there is not military confrontation. Here, there is no judgment on the beast, but a very specific judgment on the CITY and the citizenry. There is a great earthquake; one of FIVE that occur on the earth during that time period known as the end times. It is a LOCAL earthquake which destroys one tenth of the city and kills only seven thousand people. THE END, which is Armageddon, will have not as yet occurred.
There will be another earthquake at the 7th bowl judgment, which will be the greatest of all time just before the final confrontation between Jesus and the armies of the nations at Armageddon. Rev. 14:18-20.

After the two witnesses ascend into heaven, and after the great earthquake, the 7th trumpet will sound which announces the end of the 70th week, and the arrival of the final wrath of God to be dealt upon the world of unbelievers (Rev 11:14-19; 15:1-8).
This will be through the 7 bowl judgments and take place over the next 26 1/2 days of the 30-day period of Daniel 12:11.

As already observed, Daniel 12:11 indicates that there will be another 30 days after the end of the week. Verse 12 further indicates that there will be an additional 45 days after the 30 days (1290 + 45 = 1335). Those believers left alive on the earth at the end of the 45 day period will experience the JOY of entering the 1000 year reign of Jesus. This must refer to the cleansing of the earth from all unbelievers that is described in two ways.
(1) the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25:31-46.

(2) the fat and lean sheep judgment of Ezekiel 34:17-31.

Those who are left alive on the earth after these two "separation" events will go alive into the kingdom in their normal mortal bodies as subjects of King Messiah (Zechariah 14:16-21).


SUMMARY
1. The two witnesses are Moses and Elijah.
2. Their ministry is to woo Israel back to trusting in the Messianic promise and seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise.
3. They minister for 1260 days, from the midpoint of the week until the very end.
4. They are killed by the beast but brought back to life 3 1/2 days later, at which time they are taken up into heaven to join the rest of the bride.
5. The immediate result is that the vast majority of Jews in the vicinity of Jerusalem become believers in Jesus as the Messiah.