Pt. 16    TWO ANOINTED WITNESSES: Arrival in Jerusalem to Restrain Antichrist's Abominable Act

The prophet Malachi declared, “I will send My messenger [Elijah], who will prepare the way before Me [for 1,260 days]. Then suddenly [just after the 1,260 days are completed] the LORD you are seeking will come to His Temple area [in Jerusalem]; the Messenger [Archangel Michael, Jehovah Sabaoth] of the Covenant [Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai], whom you desire, will come [bringing with Him the wrath of God and the Great Tribulation],” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? So I will come near to you for judgment.  I will be quick,” (3:1-2, 5).

Malachi 4:5 clarifies, “I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful Day of the LORD comes.”  It is evident that Elijah’s ministry of warning immediately precedes the Day of the LORD.  Once his ministry is completed, the Day of the LORD will come suddenly when Messiah ben David will descend to Jerusalem and cleanse it of the abomination, which will have just been set up.

In Paul’s day, there was a misconception in the church at Thessalonica that the “Day of the LORD” had “already come,” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10).  Paul clarified the Day of the LORD will not come “until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [Antichrist] is revealed [in the Temple], the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, and even sets himself up in God’s Temple [in Jerusalem], proclaiming himself to be God.” 

The modern misconception that the Day of the LORD comes at the beginning of a seven year tribulation flies in the face of this clear statement.  Not until Antichrist is found in the Temple in Jerusalem can or will the Day of the LORD begin.  Furthermore, the entrance of Antichrist into the Jerusalem Temple is the prophetic sign that warns the Day of the LORD is at hand, when Messiah will descend promptly in His righteous anger to clear out the Temple just as He did 2,000 years ago when the Temple was being desecrated by the money changers[1].

The members at the Thessalonica church were privy to Paul’s views surrounding the Day of the LORD, and he clearly believed they were living in the last days.  He wrote, “Now you know [although the modern student speculates] what is holding him [Antichrist] back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.  For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work [although Antichrist would not be revealed for nearly 2,000 years]; but the one [Spirit through His anointed witness] who now holds it back will continue to do so till he [the anointed one] is taken out of the way [killed; eliminated—Point 17]. And then the lawless one will be revealed [in the Temple], whom the LORD Jesus will [quickly] overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming,” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8).

Many who are not following the Word will be deceived by Antichrist, while others abandon the faith.  Paul warned in his letter to Timothy concerning the apostasy that will come: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits [demonic apparitions; false visions] and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron,” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

God’s plan for the end of the ages has been revealed, over the course of time, by the written words of His prophets.  In the prophecies of Malachi (3:1-2; 4:5-6), Heaven promises to send Elijah to warn.  In the book of Revelation, a second voice is added, giving two voices of warning just before the Day of the LORD comes[2], for “a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses,” (Deuteronomy 19:15).  “I will give power unto my two witnesses [Moses and Elijah], and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands [the “two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth,” Zechariah 4:2-14]. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies [for they will, of necessity, be invincible until their ministry is completed],” (Revelation 11:3-4).

The final week (7 days) that comprise the 490 day prophecy comes into focus in our study, leading to the eighth day (Yom Kippur) and God’s eternal rule.  “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Point 13) until the Anointed One [literally, “an anointed one”—Elijah], the ruler [powerful ruler over enemies and nature—Revelation 11:3-6], comes [to Jerusalem] (Point 16), there will be seven ‘sevens [49 days]’” and sixty-two ‘sevens [434 days]’” (Daniel 9:25).  At this point the final seven (7) days commence.  For the three and one-half (3½) days that remain of his life, Elijah (with Moses) will hold back Antichrist’s abominable act, even against worldwide public opinion.  The testimony of Jesus Christ and His written Word will be pointed to as evidence of Jerusalem’s folly.  However, their final warning to Jerusalem and world leaders will be disregarded, even hated.  The witnesses will at last pay the price with their very lives (Point 17), to the delight of faithless Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, and the many peoples, races and religions of the world. Yet, their celebration will be short-lived.

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