Bible Question:

My question deals with the time frame of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. You state that they will minister in the latter half of the tribulation. Can you give me a basis for this? I always thought that they would prophesy in the first half and out of their ministry would come the 144,000 of chapter 7.

Bible Answer:

When do the two witnesses appear in the tribulation? The two witnesses first appear in Revelation 11:2-14. When they do, they perform their ministry in the last half of the tribulation – not the first part of the tribulation. There are several reasons for this conclusion. But first, here are the first two verses of the passage, Revelation 11:2-3.

Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:2-3  (NASB)

It is important to notice that their ministry will last for 1,260 days, which is 42 months, or 3.5 years. What follows provides two reasons why we know they will perform their ministry in the last half of the tribulation.

First Half of the Tribulation Is Peace

First, it is important to notice that Daniel 9:27  describes the tribulation period as a seven-year period. The tribulation starts with a peace treaty. The first half of the tribulation, or 3.5 years, is a time of peace, but the second half is anything but peace. The last 3.5 years is a time of desolation and complete destruction. For Daniel 9:27 says,

. . . but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. Daniel 9:27 (NASB)

Now it is essential to remember that the first 3.5 years of the tribulation is peace (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)! The only other reference to the first part of the tribulation is the first seal (Revelation 6:1-2). The first seal is about a white horse which symbolizes peace. The rest of Revelation describes events that will occur during the last half of the tribulation or the last 3.5 years (Revelation 6:3-19:21). The other seals describe war, famine, death, the martyrs in heaven, and terror. That summarizes the last half of the tribulation.

Revelation - Scenes In Heaven

Their Ministry Occurs in the Last Half of the Tribulation

Second, the most significant reason why these two witnesses will minister during the last half of the tribulation is that the length of their ministry is specified as occurring for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, forty-two months, as well as “times, time, and half a time.” Notice that these terms equal 3.5 years.

The same timeline occurs in Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 12:7 where it refers to a period of authoritarian rule over and then “shattering the power of the holy people,” that is, shattering the power of Israel.  That refers to the last half of the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). Now notice that the descriptions of the length of the ministry of the two witnesses always fits into the biblical description of the last half of the tribulation.

During the time of their ministry, they are attacked and eventually killed (Revelation 11:4-9). Since the last 3.5 years of the tribulation is not a time of peace, it is best to understand these time periods as corresponding to the last part of the tribulation. Also, notice that these expressions are only used in the book of Revelation for the last half of the tribulation (Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:4; 13:5).

When we examine the atrocities that will occur during the ministry of the two witnesses, we learn that these atrocities only fit into the last half of the tribulation and not the first half. For example, Revelation 11:2 tells us that the nations of the world will be allowed to trample the holy city for forty-two months, which is 3.5 years. Zechariah 14:2 prophesied that this would occur. According to Jesus, this would occur during the great tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28), which occurs just before the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:29-30). Since Jesus refers to the abomination of desolation mentioned in Daniel 9:27 in Matthew 24:15 and to the great tribulation in Matthew 24:21, this means the two witnesses minister during the last half of the tribulation.

Seven-Year Tribulation

Another example is in Revelation 11:7 where we are told that the beast who comes out of the abyss will be allowed to kill the two witnesses. This beast is the antichrist (Revelation 13) who is empowered by the dragon or Satan (Revelation 12:9). The dragon descends from heaven (Revelation 9:1) and is the angel over the abyss (Revelation 9:11). The antichrist appears in the middle of the tribulation (Revelation 13:1) and becomes violent in the last half of the second half of the tribulation (Revelation 13:2-7). This implies that the two witnesses die in the last half of the tribulation because the first half of the tribulation is a time of peace (Daniel 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

When we come to Revelation 19:15-18, we discover that at the end of the tribulation Jesus returns and defeats the armies of the antichrist. Jesus will completely deny any freedom to the antichrist and the world forces. Jesus will destroy anyone who comes to fight Him.

Conclusion:

So, when do the two witnesses appear in the tribulation? The answer is the last half of the tribulation.  After the tribulation, Jesus comes and establishes real peace during the millennial kingdom. For Christ will be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Suggested Links:

Prophecy of Daniels' 70 Weeks
Will the two witnesses appear in the first half of the tribulation?
What is the meaning of the white horse in Revelation 6:2?
What do the four horses of the apocalypse represent? Are the four horses literal?