Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

In the book of Zechariah we read the following:

Zechariah 3:1-5: "Then he showed me JOSHUA the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?' Now Joshua was clothed with FILTHY GARMENTS, and was standing before the Angel.

"Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'TAKE AWAY the filthy garments from him.' And to him He said, 'See, I have REMOVED YOUR INIQUITY from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.' And I said, 'Let them put a CLEAN TURBAN on his head.' So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by."

Who is this JOSHUA -- the one "clothed in filthy garments"? Is he a TYPE of someone yet to come in our time today? To find the answer to these questions we must turn to the book of Revelation --

Revelation 11:3-5: "'And I will give POWER to my TWO WITNESSES, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in SACKCLOTH.' These are the TWO OLIVE TREES and the TWO LAMPSTANDS standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner."

Although it is difficult to reveal the exact identity of the forthcoming "Two Witnesses," there is a great deal we can learn about them from the TYPES found in the Bible -- such as WHERE they will preach, WHAT their message will be, and TO WHOM it will be directed.

The book of Revelation (eleventh chapter) clearly shows that the Two Witnesses will be carrying out their work AT THE SAME TIME the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" will be in power. They will be a MODERN-DAY fulfillment of Moses and Aaron withstanding Satan's idolatrous system of religion that now grips this world.

The Two Witnesses will be CARBON-COPIES of Moses and Aaron who performed MIGHTY MIRACLES from YEHOVAH God in the sight of the pharaoh of the Exodus.

Even as this pharaoh was warned by Moses and Aaron of the catastrophic plagues that would strike the land if he would not allow the Israelites to leave -- so also will these two servants of YEHOVAH God. In Revelation 11 the apostle John writes of the supernatural powers these two men will possess:

Revelation 11:6: "These [the Two Witnesses] have power to shut heaven, so that NO RAIN FALLS in the days of their prophecy; and they have POWER over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire."

Throughout the Bible, we find that YEHOVAH God often works with pairs of individuals. During the time Zechariah was writing, Zerubbabel served as governor and Joshua served as the high priest (Zechariah 3:1). Earlier, YEHOVAH had used Moses as the leader of the ancient Israelites and his brother Aaron as the high priest.

In the New Testament, the Messiah sent his disciples out "two by two" (Mark 6:7). Although they occasionally had others traveling with them, Paul and Barnabas worked together to take the gospel to the Israelites in dispersion in Europe and beyond.

When two people work together, they can often be more productive and effective than when working alone. Recognizing this principle, Ecclesiastes 4 states:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up."

Another indication why YEHOVAH God will have two witnesses is because of the importance of having at least two people to testify in judicial matters. As Deuteronomy 19:15 states: "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established" (also see Deuteronomy 17:6).

By having two witnesses, YEHOVAH is following His own law as He, through the two witnesses, warns people to repent of their sins prior to punishing them if they do not heed His instruction.

Why, in Revelation 11:4, are these Two Witnesses labeled as "TWO OLIVE TREES" and "TWO CANDLESTICKS" as well? What could these symbols possibly mean?

To find the answer we must turn to the first chapter of Revelation --

Revelation 1:12-13: "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band."

In this passage the apostle John saw a vision showing SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS, and in the midst of them "One like the Son of Man." Revelation 1:20 explains WHAT the seven LAMPSTANDS represent:

Revelation 1:20: "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES."

This shows that YEHOVAH's Church would exist throughout the ages -- from the first century to the return of the Messiah in the very near future! Matthew 16:18 plainly says that the Church of YEHOVAH God would NEVER die.

The "One like the Son of Man" who sits in the midst of the lampstands is, of course, Yeshua the Messiah -- who is the invisible HEAD of his church (see Ephesians 5:23). Since the Messiah is the invisible head of the TRUE CHURCH, then Satan is the invisible head of the FALSE CHURCH! As Revelation 1:20 explains, the seven stars are angels (Greek "messengers") set over the seven churches.

Now we come to the heart of the matter: Since the "seven lampstands" represent YEHOVAH's seven churches, and because the "Two Witnesses" are pictured as two lampstands, then these two servants of YEHOVAH God must logically represent TWO OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES! They must SYMBOLICALLY represent two of YEHOVAH's churches extant at the time of the end! WHICH two churches could these be?

Zechariah reads --

Zechariah 4:1-3: "Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, 'What do you see?' So I said, 'I am looking, and there is a LAMPSTAND of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. TWO OLIVE TREES are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.'"

We can immediately recognize that John's prophecy of the Two Witnesses is clearly related to the prophecy of Zerubbabel and Joshua in the book of Zechariah in the Old Testament. Who were Zerubbabel and Joshua?

According to Smith's Bible Dictionary [1], Zerubbabel was "the head of the tribe of Judah at the time of the return from the Babylonish captivity in the first year of Cyrus." This dictionary goes on to state the following --

"In the first year of Cyrus he was living at Babylon, and was the recognized PRINCE OF JUDAH in the captivity -- what in later times was called "the prince of the captivity," or "the prince." On the issuing of Cyrus' decree he IMMEDIATELY availed himself of it, and placed himself at the head of those of his countrymen "whose spirit GOD HAD RAISED to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem."

"It is probable that he was in the king of Babylon's service, both from his having, like Daniel and the three children, received a Chaldee name, SHESHBAZZAR, and from the fact that he was appointed by the Persian king to the office of governor of Judea. On arriving at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel's GREAT WORK, which he set about immediately, was the REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. In the second month of the second year of the return, the foundation was laid with all the pomp which could be commanded."

At this point the Samaritans were successful in putting a stop to the work on the Temple -- which lasted for the remaining seven years of Cyrus' reign and eight years of the reigns of Cambyses and Smerdis. Smith's Bible Dictionary [1] goes on to say --

"...during this long suspension of sixteen years Zerubbabel and the rest of the people had been busy in building costly homes for themselves. But in the second year of Darius light dawned upon the darkness of the colony from Babylon. In that year -- it was the most memorable event in Zerubbabel's life -- the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY suddenly blazed up with a most brilliant light among the returned captives. Their words fell like sparks upon tinder.

"In a moment Zerubbabel, roused from his apathy, THREW HIS WHOLE STRENGTH into the work. After much opposition and many hindrances and delays, the Temple was at length finished, in the sixth year of Darius, and was dedicated with much pomp and rejoicing....Zerubbabel was the legal successor and heir of JECONIAH'S ROYAL ESTATE, the grandson of Neri and the LINEAL DESCENDANT OF NATHAN THE SON OF DAVID."

Concerning JOSHUA (Jeshua) the Bible dictionary Insight On the Scriptures [2] has this to say:

"A HIGH PRIEST (called Joshua in Haggai and Zechariah), son of Jehozadak and grandson of Seraiah. He was of the house of Eleazar.

"When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem he put to death Seraiah, who was high priest then, and took Jehozadak captive to Babylon. JESHUA returned from Babylon in 537 B.C.E. with ZERUBBABEL and served as high priest to the restored Jewish remnant. Thus the high-priestly line was preserved by Jehovah, so that Israel had the services of high priests from the restoration until the coming of the Messiah. Jeshua took the lead, along with Zerubbabel, in setting up the altar, then in REBUILDING THE TEMPLE, encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. He stood by Zerubbabel in opposing the adversaries of the Temple reconstruction -- Ezra 4:1-3.

"Some of the older ones among the returned Israelites had seen the glory of Solomon's Temple and tended to view the rebuilt Temple as nothing in comparison. Haggai the prophet was sent to speak to Zerubbabel and Joshua (Jeshua), telling them that the glory of the later house would become greater than that of the former one.

"The prophet Zechariah was given a vision in which he beheld Joshua (Jeshua) the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan at his right hand to resist him. 'Joshua' was given a change from BEFOULED GARMENTS to robes of state and a CLEAN turban. Then 'Joshua' was told of God's servant Sprout. -- Zech. 3:1-8.

"At another time Jehovah told Zechariah to put a CROWN on Joshua's (Jeshua's) head and to say to him: 'Here is the man whose name is Sprout....And he himself WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE of Jehovah,...and he must become a priest upon his throne.' The prophecy certainly applied to SOMEONE FUTURE for, under the Law, priesthood and kingship were strictly separate, and High Priest Joshua NEVER ruled as king over Israel (Zechariah 6:11-13)."

Cyrus allowed Zerubbabel to lead the people of YEHOVAH God out of captivity in Babylon and to rebuild the Temple of YEHOVAH God in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel's very name means "out of Babylon." And working alongside Zerubbabel was Joshua the HIGH PRIEST of Judah.

Oil (olive) is used in the Bible to symbolically represent YEHOVAH's holy spirit, and in these LAST DAYS the Eternal God is going to ANOINT His Two Witnesses with the power of His holy spirit to perform MIGHTY MIRACLES again! YEHOVAH encouraged Zerubbabel -- who led the rebuilding of the Temple -- to remember that spiritual events would be accomplished by YEHOVAH God's spirit and not by Zerubbabel's own doing (Zechariah 4:6).

Similarly, a present-day Zerubbabel in YEHOVAH's True Church is leading the people of YEHOVAH God out of "spiritual Babylon." This man is THUNDERING YEHOVAH's warning, "Come out of her [spiritual Babylon], my people, lest you SHARE in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

The prophecy is DUAL -- this end-time Zerubbabel (along with Joshua) will help build YEHOVAH's spiritual AND physical temples.

Just as Zerubbabel and Joshua began a "new work," "NOT BY MIGHT [Hebrew hayel, i.e., sheer force of labor], NOR BY POWER [Hebrew koah, i.e., ability], BUT BY MY SPIRIT [Hebrew ruah]," so also will the TWO WITNESSES!

This will be a "NEW WORK" in the end-time -- centered, eventually, in Jerusalem and performed by the POWER OF YEHOVAH GOD working in and through them. This "power" will be the same spirit that worked in the prophets of old and it will cause the glorious COMPLETION of YEHOVAH's work!

According to Ronald R. Wlodyga:

"This unifying and completing end-time work is also symbolic of the CAPSTONE mentioned in Zech. 13:2, which completes and unifies the physical AND spiritual Temple." [3] 

In chapters 3, 4 and 6 of the book of Zechariah, we can glean additional information about the Two Witnesses. In Zechariah 4:2 we read that Yeshua the Messiah (as HEAD of the Church of YEHOVAH God) is represented as "a lampstand of solid gold with a BOWL on top of it" -- and "on the stand SEVEN LAMPS with seven pipes to the seven lamps." These seven lamps clearly represent YEHOVAH'S SEVEN CHURCHES -- just as the lampstands of Revelation 1:20 did.

Furthermore, the seven pipes leading to the seven lamps represent the connection or "link" to Yeshua the Messiah whereby his holy spirit (in the form of olive oil) can flow to his churches (Zechariah 4:12). It is through this "medium" that the Two Witnesses will receive their tremendous power (Zechariah 4:6)!

"These 'TWO WITNESSES' will have power to shut heaven that it rain not, and turn water into blood and to smite the earth with all plagues. They will have POWER AND AUTHORITY to kill anyone who tries to overcome them (Rev. 11:6-7). They are the Lord's anointed Ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth (Zechariah 4:1; Rev. 11:4)." [3] 

Writes Philip Mauro --

"Christ's witnesses will not be clad in ecclesiastical regalia, they will not be personages of rank and title among men, but will be of lowly station, and like Christ's first witnesses will be regarded "as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things." For their testimony will be not of progress and world-betterment, not of peace and safety, not of the triumphs of science, nor of anything that the world loves to hear when it "goes to church."

"But they must testify of death and judgment, of the day of wrath and perdition of ungodly men, of the coming of the rejected Lord Jesus Christ...taking vengeance on them -- whosoever they may be and howsoever exalted their station -- who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2 Thess. 1:7-9)." [4]

These Two Witnesses will have a great part in reconstructing YEHOVAH's "spiritual Temple" -- the called OUT people of YEHOVAH God. Zerubbabel and Joshua rebuilt YEHOVAH's PHYSICAL TEMPLE shortly after the captive Judahites were released from Babylon in 536 B.C. YEHOVAH GOD USES THEM SYMBOLICALLY TO SHOW WHAT THE TWO WITNESSES WILL ALSO DO IN THESE LAST DAYS!

According to Ronald Wlodyga --

"Although the historical context of the book of Haggai and Ezra is to rebuild the 'physical Temple,' the book of Zechariah is primarily directed towards building God's 'spiritual Temple.'

"During the time of the rebuilding of the Temple -- Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi were God's living prophets. But it wasn't until 400 years after Malachi, that Israel had another prophet through the preaching of John the Baptist.

"During this interval of time, the Temple was not filled with God's shekinah glory! God's holy spirit was among them, but not IN them! God's glory only returned SYMBOLICALLY to the Temple when Jesus Christ entered with the LIGHT of truth!

"Speaking to the SPIRITUAL Zerubbabel, God says He will help lay the foundation of His house and finish it (Zech. 4:9). Concerning God's 'spiritual Temple,' Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of laying the foundation. Other apostles throughout the ages have helped Jesus Christ build the spiritual Temple, including the apostle Paul (I Cor. 3:11)." [5]

Because the Two Witnesses represent two of the seven churches of Revelation 2-3, it seems very evident that they will symbolize the Philadelphia and Laodicean churches!

The leader of the Philadelphia church will be a person who YEHOVAH God finds little fault with (Revelation 3:10) and who has little strength (Revelation 3:8 and Zechariah 4:6). This would have to be "Zerubbabel."

Now the leader of the Laodicean church will be a person who is LUKEWARM in character (Revelation 3:16) and who has "filthy garments" symbolic of sin. This man will have to go through times of trial (Zechariah 3:2-4) in order to clean up his act and qualify for the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God. This has to be "Joshua." Notice what YEHOVAH God says in His Word: "Is this not a BRAND plucked from the fire?" (Zechariah 3:2). This certainly corresponds to the Laodicean character. Also notice that the words "the Faithful and True Witness" in Revelation 3:14 refer to the LEADER OF THE LAODICEAN CHURCH!

Once this man repents before YEHOVAH God and throws off his filthy garments -- along with those representative of this era (his "companions" -- Zechariah 3:8) -- they will then qualify to become judges in YEHOVAH's Kingdom (Zechariah 3:7). If you read Revelation 3:21 you will see that this CORRESPONDS with the Laodiceans since they will ALSO sit with the Messiah on his throne (Revelation 3:21). This means they will be doing what the Messiah does -- judging over the nations (Acts 10:42; I Peter 4:5 & John 5:22, 27).

In Luke 7:41-50 Yeshua indicates that one who has had many sins (filthy garments) also has much love, because that person knows how much he needed forgiveness. As a result, this type of person would probably be more qualified to judge since he had FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE in repentance and mercy. YEHOVAH God indicates in Revelation 3:19 that He loves those He rebukes and chastens, therefore He loves REPENTANT Laodiceans!

Zechariah speaks of these "companions" of Joshua as a "wondrous sign" -- in Hebrew "men of wonder" (3:8). These "men of wonder" (repentant Laodiceans) will reign with the Messiah (the "BRANCH" of Zechariah 3:8) who is building YEHOVAH's "spiritual Temple" (Zechariah 6:8).

"It is also fitting that the Philadelphia church will have the responsibility of being EDUCATORS in God's Kingdom -- because they are represented spiritually as PILLARS that hold up God's Temple (Revelation 3:12). A physical pillar is a structural support." [6]

Since prophecy often refers to the nation of Israel AND the church, there will be PHYSICAL COUNTERPARTS to Zerubbabel and Joshua in these end-times -- men who will be instrumental in building YEHOVAH's physical Temple in Jerusalem after the Messiah's return!

It should be realized that Joshua's "filthy garments" in Zechariah 3:3 SYMBOLIZED the sins of Israel AS WELL as his own. Notice HOW Isaiah describes the national sins of Israel:

Isaiah 64:5-6: "You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned -- in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved. But we are like AN UNCLEAN THING, and all our righteousnesses are like FILTHY RAGS [margin -- "FILTHY GARMENTS"]; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

The changing of Joshua's "filthy garments" ALSO characterizes the RESTORATION and moral cleansing of the nation of Israel! Under Zerubbabel 4,289 priests returned to Jerusalem to restore the Temple service. Previous to this, Malachi indicates that the priesthood had become corrupted (Malachi 2:5-9) and the Temple offerings polluted. Therefore, the Eternal God "CLEANED UP" the nations of Israel and Judah at this time and made them ceremonially clean to rebuild the Temple!!

This same event will occur in the end-time! The moral cleansing of the physical nation of Israel will PARALLEL the spiritual cleansing of the Laodicean church under a spiritual Joshua. Realize that after Zerubbabel died, the priesthood once again became corrupt and the people TURNED AWAY from YEHOVAH God. Realize, also, that YEHOVAH does things in several stages. Since Zerubbabel and Joshua worked side by side rebuilding the MATERIAL TEMPLE in Jerusalem, they are FORERUNNERS or types of those building YEHOVAH's end-time SPIRITUAL TEMPLE!

Therefore (to follow it through logically) there will have to be TWO close associates building up the Church of YEHOVAH God in the last days -- two associates who will PARALLEL the lives of Zerubbabel and Joshua! We must remember that the main problem with the Laodicean church is their attitude which produces LUKEWARM WORKS! These "works" would obviously have to begin PRIOR to the events leading up to the Messiah's return, since it is these "lukewarm works" that has caused them to be thrust into these times of trouble! We must therefore conclude that the Laodicean church will exist AT THE SAME TIME as the Philadelphia church -- and may even be affiliated with it in some way.

The characteristics of Joshua found in Zechariah 3 and 4 may very well be a TYPE of the end-time spiritual Joshua. Zechariah reveals that Joshua was YEHOVAH'S CHOSEN LEADER until Satan found his weakness (or weaknesses), and overpowered him (3:1). When Joshua repented, he was given a new MITER (a symbol of GOVERNMENT) and NEW GARMENTS to replace his filthy ones (Zechariah 3:5). It seems evident, then, that Joshua had trouble obeying YEHOVAH'S LAW as previously laid down and enforced by Zerubbabel!

The "companions" of Joshua to come also have a similar problem and will have to go through times of trial to open up their eyes to their Laodicean attitude. They will not be walking in YEHOVAH's ways! (Zechariah 3:7).

According to Ronald Wlodyga --

"Just as God has always had a DUALITY between the physical and the spiritual -- there may also be a DUALITY between Spiritual Joshua and Zerubbabel of the Church and their COUNTERPART in the physical nation of Israel. The TWO WITNESSES may be instrumental in building a PHYSICAL TEMPLE in Jerusalem in the last days as did the literal Joshua and Zerubbabel (Zechariah 6:11-13, 15)." [7]

How very true! Notice what the apostle John says in Revelation 11 --

Revelation 11:1-4: Now I was given a measuring stick and told to go and measure the TEMPLE OF GOD, including the inner court where the altar stands, and to count the number of worshippers. 'But do not measure the outer court,' I was told, 'for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample over the Holy City for forty-two months. And I will give power to My TWO WITNESSES to prophesy 1260 days [42 months] clothed in sackcloth.' These two PROPHETS are the TWO OLIVE TREES, and TWO CANDLESTICKS standing before the God of all the earth." [8]

Just as "Joshua" and his "companions" will be plucked out of the fire, so also will a remnant of Israelites: '"I destroyed some of your cities, as I did Sodom and Gomorrah; those left [of the Israelites] are like half-burned FIREBRANDS snatched away from the fire. And still you [the rest of "Israel"] wont return to Me,' says the LORD" (Ibid., Amos 4:11).

During the time leading up to the Messiah's return a REMNANT of our people Israel will repent before YEHOVAH God and will be saved from the trials of this turbulent time.

Why did Joshua change his "filthy garments" as pictured in Zechariah 3? Because the removal of Joshua's "filthy garments" and the donning of "rich robes" was EMBLEMATIC of the perfect PURITY that will eventually overtake Israel and the Church -- the Messiah's "spotless Bride" -- see Revelation 19:7-9!

The DAY OF ATONEMENT is symbolic of this! When the high priest entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple, he was not clothed in his ordinary golden garments but in a WHITE LINEN dress with a matching girdle. Even his miter (turban) was of a different material than he usually wore.

Therefore, on this most scared and solemn day of the year, the high priest appeared -- NOT as the BRIDEGROOM of our Lord -- but SYMBOLICALLY as the BRIDE! White linen is ALWAYS the symbol of righteousness in the Bible!

Malachi the prophet, a contemporary of Zechariah the prophet, announced:

Malachi 4:4-6: "Remember to obey the laws I gave all Israel through Moses My servant on Mount Horeb. See, I will send you another prophet LIKE ELIJAH before the coming of the great and dreadful judgment day of God. His preaching will bring fathers and children together again, to be of one mind and heart, for they will know that if they do not repent, I will come and utterly destroy their land."

One of the most powerful prophets of YEHOVAH God in Old Testament times was ELIJAH the Tishbite. As a prophet he was a FIERY, ZEALOUS preacher who fought against cults and alien religious influences.

Well known by the way he walked and his manner of dress, King Ahaziah's envoys described Elijah as "a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins" (II Kings 1:8). Elijah also wore a mantle, a cloak, that had supernatural powers. As he rose into the air, he dropped his mantle, and, with its help, his disciple Elisha performed miracles too (II Kings 2:8-13).

During his ministry, as a TYPE of OUR PRESENT TIME, the people were heavily engaged in BAAL or SUN-WORSHIP under the leadership of Jezebel the wife of King Ahab.

This insidious and reprehensible woman craftily promoted her pagan BABYLONIAN MYSTERY RELIGION (on which the Catholic Church is based), and during her husband's reign Baalism flourished in the land of Israel. As a result, he became known as the wickedest king to ever rule the nation. During his reign (according to the Bible), the prophets of Baal outnumbered the servants of YEHOVAH God by 450 to one!

Unger's Bible Dictionary [9] states that,

"Ahab had taken for wife Jezebel, a Canaanite woman, daughter of Ethbaal. Of a weak and yielding character, he allowed Jezebel to establish the Phoenician worship on a grand scale -- priests and prophets of Baal were appointed in crowds -- the prophets of Jehovah were persecuted and slain, or only escaped by being hid in caves. It seemed as if the last remnants of TRUE RELIGION were about to perish."

In this spiritually debilitating environment, and without concern for his own life, Elijah proclaimed the Truth of YEHOVAH God -- clashing with King Ahab and Jezebel time and time again. He also challenged the prophets of Baal to a supreme test that would determine once and for all who was YEHOVAH's true servant and who was the one and only God of Israel.

According to Smith's Bible Dictionary [10] --

"There are few more sublime stories in history than the account of the succeeding events -- with the servant of Jehovah and his single attendant on the one hand, and the 850 prophets of Baal on the other; the altars, the descending fire of Jehovah consuming both sacrifice and altar; the rising storm, and the ride across the plain to Jezreel."

Unger's Bible Dictionary [11] completes the story:

"The Baalites are allowed to make trial first. All day long these false prophets cried to Baal, they leaped upon the altar, and mingled their blood with that of the sacrifice -- but all is in vain, for at the time of the evening sacrifice the altar was still cold and the bullock lay stark thereon -- 'there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.' Then Elijah repaired the broken altar of Jehovah, and having laid thereon his bullock and drenched both altar and sacrifice with water until the trench about it was filled, he prayed, 'LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.'

"The answer was all that could be desired, for 'the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.' The people acknowledged the presence of God, exclaiming with one voice, 'The LORD, he is God; the LORD he is God.'"

It should be noted that Elijah had the SAME POWER as the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11! In the first part of Revelation 6:11 we learn the following: "They [the Two Witnesses] have power to shut up the skies so that NO RAIN will fall during the THREE AND A HALF YEARS they prophesy..."

In the time of ELIJAH we find a SIMILAR occurrence taking place! Notice --

James 5:17: "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it DID NOT RAIN on the land for THREE AND A HALF YEARS. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Furthermore, Revelation 11:5 states: "Anyone trying to harm them [the Two Witnesses] WILL BE KILLED BY BURSTS OF FIRE shooting from their mouths." Did Elijah perform similar miracles in the Old Testament? "So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, 'If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.'" What happened? "And FIRE came down from heaven and CONSUMED HIM AND HIS FIFTY" (II Kings 1:10).

There are even more similarities between Elijah and the Two Witnesses. In Revelation 11:3 we read: "And I will give power to My two witnesses to prophesy 1260 days CLOTHED IN SACKCLOTH." Elijah appeared to the messengers of Ahaziah as "a HAIRY MAN [DRESSED IN SACKCLOTH], and [wearing] a LEATHER BELT around his waist" (II Kings 1:7-8). It is no coincidence that John the Baptist also dressed the SAME WAY!

In another link connecting the Two Witnesses and Elijah we read:

Revelation 11:13: "The same hour there will be a terrible earthquake that levels a tenth of the city LEAVING 7,000 DEAD. Then everyone left will, in their terror, give glory to the God of heaven."

Is it mere coincidence that 7,000 was the number that YEHOVAH God reserved for Himself during Elijah's ministry?

Romans 11:2-4: "You know what the scripture says in the passage where Elijah pleads with God against Israel: 'LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.' What answer did God give him? 'I have KEPT FOR MYSELF SEVEN THOUSAND MEN who have not worshipped the false god Baal.'"

Even the end of the ministries of Elijah and the Two Witnesses is similar: "Then a loud voice will shout from heaven, 'Come up!' And they [the Two Witnesses] will RISE TO HEAVEN IN A CLOUD as their enemies watch" (Revelation 11:12). Now notice what happened to Elijah:

II Kings 2:11: "Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN."

Even the Arabs have traditions of Elijah the Prophet. They identify him with KHADIR and, as folklorist Beatrice Silverman Weinreich points out, there are at least three Elijah tales in The Arabian Nights [12]. Here Elijah becomes an "ANGEL," or gadi (judge), or an unnamed "MESSENGER OF GOD" -- just like the leaders of the Philadelphian and Laodicean churches! (Revelation 3:7; 7:14).

It is therefore quite evident that one of the Two Witnesses is the SAME MAN WHO IS COMING IN THE POWER AND SPIRIT OF ELIJAH!

Counterfeits of the Two Witnesses: The Beast and the False Prophet

In the book of Revelation, YEHOVAH God reveals a prophecy concerning two individuals called “the beast” and “the false prophet,” who will be opposed to the work of the two witnesses. The beast from the sea (Revelation 13:1-10) will be the head of the Roman Catholic Church who a large number of people of the earth, except those Israelites faithful to YEHOVAH God, will follow (Revelation 13:8). The false prophet is the head of the Islamic religious system supporting the beast from the sea, and is known as the beast from the land in Revelation 13:11-18.

Speaking of this person, Revelation 13 says,

Revelation 13:11, 13-14: "Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon....He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men [an Elijah-like miracle]. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the [first] beast."

One tool used to understand prophecy is the type-antitype principle. The account in Exodus 7:10-12 provides a preview of things to come at the time of the two witnesses.

It begins with the first of several encounters between Moses and Pharaoh. Under Moses’ direction, Aaron threw down the rod and it became a snake. The magicians (the apostle Paul identifies them as Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy 3:8) also did the same thing with their rods (Exodus 7:11-12). Water was turned to blood, and the magicians did the same thing (verse 22). These miracles were performed in the presence of Pharaoh.

During Jacob's Trouble, the false prophet will also perform miracles. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

Satan will use the beast (from the sea -- the Roman Catholic Church) and the false prophet (beast from the land -- head of Islam) as counterfeits to the two witnesses. As a result, Satan will continue to deceive the whole world through “signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) and false religion (also see Matthew 24:24; Revelation 12:9).

YEHOVAH God does not want His followers to be deceived by these counterfeits. But most people will be deceived.

Lonely Men

John the Baptist was a lonely voice crying out in the PHYSICAL wilderness of Judea -- preparing the way for a PHYSICAL Messiah to come to a PHYSICAL people in Jerusalem. Elijah cried out in the SPIRITUAL wilderness of the Israel of his time. During the LAST DAYS someone will also prepare the way for a PHYSICAL (in the Shekinah Glory form) YEHOVAH God's coming to a PHYSICAL Temple in a SPIRITUAL wilderness of sin (religious confusion). Also, of course, a SPIRITUAL Messiah will be returning to his spiritual temple -- the Church!

Yeshua the Messiah's future coming to this earth, along with that of YEHOVAH God the Father, will be an antitype of the work of BOTH Elijah and John the Baptist!

Who will these men be? One thing is for sure -- these two men will come from the ranks of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. they will come from the ranks of the Churches of YEHOVAH God that are identified by lunar Sabbath-keeping -- churches that are little noted or recognized by the world today. That would certainly EXCLUDE the Worldwide Church of God and most of its offshoots since they are fast taking on all the trappings of the great whore (Catholic Church) or its daughter harlots (Protestant denominations).

References:

[1] Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, pp. 763-64.

[2] Vol. 2, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1988, pp. 50-51.

[3] Ronald R. Wlodyga, The Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel. Sword & Shield Publishing Co., Buffalo, N.Y. 1992, p. 93.

[4] Philip Mauro, Things Which Soon Must Come to Pass, G.A.M. Publications, pps. 342-343.

[5] The Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, p. 94.

[6] The Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, p. 95.

[7] The Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, p. 97.

[8] Living Prophecies: The Minor Prophets Paraphrased. Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. 1967.

[9] Unger's Bible Dictionary, Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL. p. 302.

[10] Smith's Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, p. 166.

[11] Unger's Bible Dictionary, page 303.

[12] Beatrice Silverman Weinreich, The Arabian Nights, 1957.

 

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Taking the Lead in the search for Truth!

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