Revelation 11: The two witnesses: non-exhaustive
This is another fine teaching video from Mr. Bruce Gore. I appreciate his academic, preterist perspectives on the Book of Revelation, which at least warrant significant consideration on many points. In regards to much of the Book of Revelation, Mr. Gore favours, based on his contextual understanding, a symbolic, metaphorical interpretation of the verses under consideration, which from his video are Revelation 11: 1-8. In particular...
Revelation 11: 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
This is approximate, as three and a half years. The scripture is noted to document approximates.
To paraphrase Mr. Gore from the video, these two witnesses are within scholarship, generally considered to represent:
The Law: Moses
The Prophets: Elijah
Staying true to Mr. Gore's largely symbolic and metaphorical interpretations of eschatology from Revelation, he views these two witnesses as representing the early New Testament Church that lived and witnessed the Gospel work of Jesus Christ, and the new covenant, which replaced the old covenant from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The Book of Hebrews presents the theology of the new covenant thoroughly and Jesus Christ mentions it in the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 22:20
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[a]
Footnotes: a Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts omit, in whole or in part, verses 19b-20 (which is given… in my blood)
Hebrews 8:6 as example
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 But as it is, Christ[b] has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
b Hebrews 8:6 Greek he
Based on what Gore presents in his video, the New Testament Church presents the new covenant to Jersusalem until the fall of Jerusalem; until the fall of the city to Rome, in AD 70.
Revelation scholar Robert H. Mounce explains that 'There is little doubt that the witnesses are modelled after Moses and Elijah.' (222). Mounce's view basically agrees with Gore's on the two witnesses as Mounce writes: '...that they are not two individuals but a symbol of the witnessing church in the last tumultuous days before the end of the age.' (223). Mounce states that some scholars limit this symbolic witness to those in the early Christian Church that are martyred. (223).
The two witnesses are killed by the beast (v7), which is interpreted as the Roman Empire by Gore, and God after 3 and half days brings them back to life (v 11). Again in basic agreement with the views of Gore, Mounce views this as the resurrection of the Church (228) and that God demonstrates that he has ultimate power over life and death, (228). Those persecuted and killed within the early Church and throughout Church, history will one day be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 20-22, my add).
Pastor and scholar, David Hocking documents there has been a wide variety of interpretations regarding the identity of the two witnesses. (379). There is a symbolic view relating to Israel and the Church (379), another view is that they are Israel and the Word of God (379). Further, there is a view that these might be Zerubbabel and Joshua (Gore mentions these two) which would represent the Law and the Prophets, respectively. (379). Some have suggested that they are two unknown individuals that never existed before. (379).
But Hocking appears to lean toward a more literal interpretation, being that Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets. (379). He reasons that the supernatural, miraculous powers mentioned in Revelation 11: 6, point to Moses and Elijah being the two witnesses, as the miraculous works in Revelation are similar to their supernatural works done through God in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Please see Elijah: First and Second Kings and Moses: Exodus.
Revelation 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
Courson in his commentary agrees that the description in Revelation 11 matches Elijah and Moses (1726-1727), and similarly to Hocking, but perhaps with more certainty, based on his commentary, appears to take the view that Elijah and Moses will be literally present. "The witnesses are examples of what you can be in the last days in which we live'. (1727). The Christian can have a revived faith (1727), just as the two witnesses are revived in Revelation 11: 12 is the practical theology, I reason.
Greek New Testament
Bible Hub
Marshall on page 747 with dusin martusin (two witnesses) is in basic agreement with the majority of Greek New Testament readings from my the first link (my two witnesses) and the Greek rendering from the second link I present from Bible Hub (two...a witness).
The Greek New Testament website does offer an alternative but very similar rendering from the Byzantine Majority Text. dusi martusi (my two witnesses).
The symbolic, metaphorical language of eschatological concepts in Revelation, for accuracy, requires consideration while allowing for degrees of literalness with interpretation and theology. Mounce has stated in regards to the new creation (Revelation 21-22). 'Interpreters understand these figures with varying degrees of literalness.' Mounce (369). This is true in regards to eschatological biblical texts, including significant parts of Revelation.
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| Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice Ernest Hepnar photo |
HOCKING, DAVID (2014) The Book of Revelation, Tustin, California, HFT Publications.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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