Principal of the two witnesses
Part 3 of the Two Witnesses Series
We need to establish the principal of why there are two witnesses. This principal is found throughout the bible.
Deut 17:6 On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Deut 19:15 “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
Matt 18:16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
1 Tim 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
A testimony or accusation can only be confirmed by two or three witnesses. When I was considering this in the context of the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11, the Lord showed me a key truth. This truth became the foundation to understanding the two witness ministry of the last days.
The life and ministry of Jesus is the pattern and foreshadow of the two witness’s ministry. Let’s look at this foundational truth of Jesus ministering as two witnesses.
John 5
31 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was the lamp that was burning and was shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works that I do–testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
Jesus says if He alone testifies of Himself then His testimony is not true. Shocking statement coming from the Son of God. John the Baptist’s testimony was only one, not two. Jesus says that His testimony is greater than the testimony of John. Why? Because Jesus has two witnesses! He testified of Himself and the works that the Father did through Him testified of Him.
After Jesus healed the sick man at Bethesda, He was questioned by the Jews.
John 5:17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Again, Jesus was one witness and the works that the Father was doing through Him was the second witness.
Later in Acts Peter confirms this again:
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—.”
The apostles, in the book of Acts, also operated in a two witness ministry. They were witnesses themselves and the Holy Spirit was a witness. Two witnesses are always required.
Acts 5:32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Jesus and the works that the Father did through Him was the first two witness ministry in the church age. Later, the apostles and the works that the Holy Spirit did through them was the second two witness ministry in the church age. They bore witness themselves and the Holy Spirit bore witness. At the end of the church age the worshipers will be the final two witness ministry before the return of Jesus. They will bear witness themselves and the works that the Holy Spirit does through them will bear witness. This will be the fulfillment of the prophecy by Jesus when He said greater works than these you will do.
John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
The two witnesses at the end of the age will be granted authority and power that has never been seen before in the history of the church. Fire will come out of their mouths and consume their enemies. They have power to turn the waters into blood, stop the rain and send pestilence on whomever they please.
Rev 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.
As I studied these things, the Lord began to show me the big picture. During the ministry time of Jesus on the earth, He always operated as two witnesses. The apostles always operated as two witnesses. At the end of the age, this same principal will be in operation for three and a half years during the ministry time of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. Most scholars agree that Jesus’ ministry lasted three and a half years. The two witness’s ministry also lasts three and a half years. The life and ministry of Jesus is the pattern and foreshadow of the two witness ministry.
