The two witnesses represent the Old and New Testament Scriptures. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament point forward to a Saviour to come. The Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy.
189
{4SP 188.2}

"These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." [REV. 11:4.] Said the psalmist, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." [PS. 119:105.] {4SP 189.1}
But men cannot with impunity trample upon the word of God. The Lord had declared concerning his two witnesses, "If any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed." [REV. 11:5.] The meaning of this fearful denunciation is set forth in the closing chapter of the book of Revelation: "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." [REV. 22:18, 19.]

Notwithstanding the Lord's witnesses were clothed in sackcloth, they continued to prophesy throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God's word, and were jealous for his honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare his truth during the whole of this time. {4SP 190.2}

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." [REV. 11:7, 8.] {4SP 190.3}

These events were to take place near the close of the period in which the witnesses testified in sackcloth. Through the medium of the papacy, Satan
191
had long controlled the powers that ruled in Church and State. The fearful results were specially apparent in those countries that rejected the light of the Reformation. There was a state of moral debasement and corruption similar to the condition of Sodom just prior to its destruction, and to the idolatry and spiritual darkness that prevailed in Egypt in the days of Moses. {4SP 190.4}

In no land had the spirit of enmity against Christ and the truth been more strikingly displayed than in giddy and godless France. Nowhere had the gospel encountered more bitter and cruel opposition. In the streets of Paris, Christ had indeed been crucified in the person of his saints. The world still recalls with shuddering horror the scenes of that most cowardly and cruel onslaught, the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. The king of France, urged on by Romish priests and prelates, lent his sanction to the dreadful work. The palace bell, tolling at midnight, gave the signal for the slaughter to begin. Protestants by thousands, sleeping quietly in their homes, trusting to the plighted honor of their king, were dragged forth without a warning, and murdered in cold blood. {4SP 191.1}

Satan, in the person of the Roman zealots, led the van. As Christ was the invisible leader of his people from Egyptian bondage, so was Satan the unseen leader of his subjects in this horrible work of multiplying martyrs. For three days the butchery went on; more than thirty thousand perished. The result caused great joy to the hosts of darkness. The Roman pontiff, sharing in the diabolical rejoicing, proclaimed a jubilee to be observed throughout his dominions, to celebrate the event.
192
{4SP 191.2}

The same master-spirit that urged in the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, led also in the scenes of the French Revolution. Satan seemed to triumph. Notwithstanding the labors of the Reformers, he had succeeded in holding vast multitudes in ignorance concerning God and his word. Now he appeared in a new guise. In France arose an atheistical power that openly declared war against the authority of Heaven. Men threw off all restraint. The law of God was trampled under foot. Those who could engage in the most Heaven-daring blasphemy and the most abominable wickedness were most highly exalted. Fornication was sanctioned by law. Profanity and corruption seemed deluging the earth. In all this, supreme homage was paid to Satan, while Christ, in his characteristics of truth, purity, and unselfish love, was crucified. The Bible was publicly burned. The Sabbath was blotted out. Romanism had enjoined image worship; now divine honors were paid to the vilest objects. The work which the papacy had begun, atheism completed. The one withheld from the people the truths of the Bible; the other taught them to reject both the Bible and its Author. The seed sown by priests and prelates was yielding its evil fruit. {4SP 192.1}

Terrible indeed was the condition of infidel France. The word of truth lay dead in her streets, and those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God's law were jubilant. But transgression and rebellion were followed by the sure result. Unhappy France reaped in blood the harvest she had sown. The war against the Bible and the law of God banished peace and happiness from the hearts and homes of men.
193
No one was secure: he who triumphed today was suspected, condemned, tomorrow. Violence and terror reigned supreme. The land was filled with crimes too horrible for pen to trace. {4SP 192.2}

God's faithful witnesses were not long to remain silent. "The Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which saw them." [REV. 11:11.] The world stood aghast at the enormity of guilt which had resulted from a rejection of the Sacred Oracles, and men were glad to return once more to faith in God and his word. {4SP 193.1}

Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further, "And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them." [REV. 11:12.] Since the French Revolution the word of God has been honored as never before. The Bible has been translated into nearly every language spoken by men, and scattered over every part of the globe. After being, as it were, thrust down to hell, it has, in truth, been exalted to heaven.
194
{4SP 193.2}

newbie

It is a dual fulfillment. Then and once again the prophecies and truths will be proclaimed again....

I plan to take the bus to Cambodia tomorrow, so please pray for me.  The 1858gc book was printed in Khmer language there last year, but not much has been done to spread the book, so i hope to introduce it to a few places.  The biggest problem, is that Cambodian people, on average, don't read.  This is another reason why i'm so anxious to make the 1858gc into a full-length animated movie.....

Who is talking about the prophecy of the Two Witnesses, and applying it to the future?  I only know of a very few who are diligently studying it out, with most of the "noise" being done about it are from kook-type people.  Shouldn't us SDAs be more in advance of where we are, or will we have to wait until the prophecy is already in the past before we understand?

Dear Father God,
Please protect Webmaster and his possessions as he travels to and through Cambodia. Please give him your wisdom, patience and peace.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Dear Father God,
Thank you for this opportunity that Webmaster has to witness for you. Please help him to stay focused as he is being watched carefully by others wanting to know you better.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Webmaster,

It was a surprise to me yesterday to have a surprise visit from a church member stop by to get some of those 1858 GC books from me. He is witnessing to a couple of people and they were very interested.

Yes, there was unexpected joy in my heart too! God will give us these little perks now and then to keep us going and on fire!

newbie

That's exactly right, that Zechariah 4's "two anointed ones" have some connection with Revelation's two witnesses.  Why i don't believe Revelation's two cannot be angels, is that they are "Witnesses".  I'm not sure, but believe that means that they are witnesses of Jesus' saving power - meaning that they are humans.

To be off-topic again, Lord willing, i'll be going to Myanmar tomorrow (from Bangkok) to print the 1858 Great Controversy book there.  Hope to print 3,000.  Plan to be back in Bangkok on December 1.  Your prayers are requested/essential.

Interesting take on the 'witnesses'... are you thinking that they are ones translated or taken at the resurrection?

Yes, God's speed webmaster in the work you are doing for the world! The workers are few but the 3AM is global and the field is large.

newbie

"Why i don't believe Revelation's two cannot be angels," Sorry i made a mistake and made this a double negative.  It should read "Why i don't believe Revelation's two witnesses can be angels".  Notice that there is one place in the Bible where it is said "... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27).  This influences my thinking greatly in determining who the two witnesses are, as there have only been two humans in all of history who have never died.
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I'm still in Myanmar, altho i was scheduled to be landing in Bangkok about now..... Please pray that things will work out bloodlessly, and i can return soon.  On a good note - the translator of the Burmese version of the 1858GC and i completed a very detailed proofreading yesterday - what a powerful book!

webmaster,
Thank you for the clarity of your statement...

And, do be careful.... and also thank you for all you do!!

newbie

Good for you webmaster for doing what God wants us to do... the dear man has had a chance for the truth and has rejected. He will get other chances and we do not know.... God will work on his dear heart and maybe but maybe the seed will grow.... We are to work in darkness in this planet not knowing what fruit our labors will yield but it is not in vain!

newbie

Wow, so glad to hear this.... Maybe our news reports exaggerated things a bit?

God Bless,
newbie

sorry... forgot to sign.. above post by newbie

First time reading Dan 12 was strongly impressed in the mind that the 1260, 1290 and 1335 were all future. At that time, it was not apparent that there were already writings on this from the past. I was vocal but quickly put down because I was going against what men in the past had already published. Sad to say that this overrides what people read in the bible.

newbie