In other words, my "hmmm" means - I wonder just what was discussed. The two were certainly privy to the event that was shortly to take place, the crucifixion, and they were the most prominent OT figures (law and prophets), SO I was just considering what details their conversation might have included, and if anything might have been discussed about the end of time as well. Just musing ... nothing profound.

Questions: What will be the role of the witnesses of Rev 11? To whom specifically will they be witnessing, and what will be their witness(message)?

God buried Moses and no-one knew where he was buried.

Deut 34: 5 ¶ So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

Matt 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

However earlier earlier Jesus said:

Matt. 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I know a Jewish believer who says that "as the Jews didn't accept it, John was not Elias."

I had a brief correspondence with John F. McArthur who quote the "McArthur Study Bible" to "prove" the same point.

When I pointed out Mat. 17, and that his comment stopped short of v. 13, his assistant wrote back to say, "please do not write again, as you will not receive a reply."

I suspect that this view is widely held. The attitude of the unbelieving Jews overrides the plain teaching of the Lord Jesus, and the understanding of the Apostles.

And no, I didn't rush out & buy his "Study Bible."

Hi Bro. Chuck. Personally, I go with Enoch and Elijah, mainly because neither saw death.

While I was thinking about this, the though came to me about verse 14 in Jude regarding Enoch:

So we have a witness who lived before the flood and a witness who lived after the flood.

One could also consider that perhaps Elijah would be a witness particularly for the Jews and Enoch particularly for the Gentiles. Enoch having lived pre the flood would be evidence for the flood, something many claim didn't happen.

i think it is quite obvious that moses was the one to smite the earth with all the plagues. When did Enoch shut up heaven that it not rain in the days of his prophecy? He didn't. Elijah did. These two witnesses doing these very things would not have been mentioned unless there was a coorelation between what was done and who did them in the OT.

This post was last modified: Sat Jul 12, 2008 06:43 PM by Jim.

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I am not happy with the interpretation that they are OT characters returned to earth for a final hopeless attempt to witness to a rebellious people, only to suffer the fatal venom of the beast from the abyss. John wrote in the Gospel: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

We have to take into account the allusion to Zechariah 4 - Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. The flying (open scroll) roll of Zec. 5 declares the Law on one side, & the penalty on the other.

I see them as Moses & Elijah, representing the Law & the Prophets. I do not expect Moses & Elijah in person to be returned to earth. The Word of God stands as a witness to Christ till the end of time.

Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This post was last modified: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:21 AM by Ebenezer.