On the Two Witnesses: part 2

An Epistle Concerning the Two Witnesses: Michael and Gabriel, Testifiers of the Last Week

To those who seek the truth and salvation during the days of Daniel’s last week, grace and peace from the Lord of all the earth, who is worthy of glory and honor forever. Amen.

The Testimony of the Two Witnesses

Beloved, the Scriptures reveal the sending of two witnesses during the days of tribulation, who will stand as God’s representatives, testifying to the truth and executing judgment upon a rebellious world:

"And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth" (Revelation 11:3, ESV).

These are no ordinary men, nor are they prophets raised again from the dead. Rather, they are the archangels Michael and Gabriel, servants of the Most High, who have stood before His throne and carried His commands throughout the ages.

Their presence on earth during Daniel’s last week signifies the seriousness of the situation, the urgency of Israel’s repentance, and the reliability of their testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us explore the witness they bear and the power they demonstrate.

1. Their Presence Demonstrates the Seriousness of the Situation

From the days of Genesis, Michael and Gabriel have acted in moments of divine judgment and revelation. Michael has been the defender of Israel:

"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1, ESV).

Gabriel has delivered God’s messages:

"And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision’" (Daniel 8:16, ESV).
"He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, ‘O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding’" (Daniel 9:22, ESV).

Their appearance on earth together during the tribulation signals the gravity of the time.

An Angelic Intercession:
Their presence highlights the spiritual battle raging over Israel and the world. Michael, who defends Israel, will intercede for God’s chosen people during this time of great trouble:

"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people" (Daniel 12:1, ESV).

A Call to Repentance for Israel:
Like the two angels who visited Sodom to witness its wickedness and warn of its destruction:

"The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth" (Genesis 19:1, ESV).
"For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it" (Genesis 19:13, ESV).

Michael and Gabriel will stand as witnesses against a world that has become spiritually like Sodom:

"And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified" (Revelation 11:8, ESV).

Gabriel, the messenger of God’s plans, will proclaim the truth of Christ’s kingdom and call for repentance.

2. Their Testimony is Reliable

Michael and Gabriel’s testimony carries unparalleled authority, for they have served in the immediate presence of God, witnessing firsthand His plans, His power, and His faithfulness throughout history.

• Eyewitnesses of God’s Acts:
  These archangels have seen the creation of the world, the fall of man, the calling of Abraham, and the covenant with Israel. They have been present at the unfolding of history, declaring and executing God’s will.

Supernatural Authority:
Their ability to call down plagues at will, rather than merely on divine instruction, demonstrates a power far exceeding that of Moses or Elijah:

"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" (Revelation 11:6, ESV).

Testifiers of Jesus Christ:
They proclaim the truth of Jesus as Lord, for they witnessed His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. Gabriel announced His coming to Mary:

"And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end’" (Luke 1:30-33, ESV).

Both angels testified to the apostles at His ascension:

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, ESV).

Yet, even in their might, they humbly honor Christ and point to Him as the Lord of all.

3. Their Death and Resurrection Testify Against the Beast

The Beast that arises from the abyss, Apollyon, slays the Two Witnesses:

"When they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them" (Revelation 11:7, ESV).

This act signifies the immense power of their adversary, for it is not humans who can kill them, but a demonic being of great authority.

A Witness Against the Beast:
The resurrection and ascension of the Two Witnesses will expose the deception of the Beast. While the Beast survives a fatal wound:

"One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast" (Revelation 13:3, ESV).

This is a counterfeit act, demonic in origin. The resurrection of the Witnesses, by contrast, is a divine act of power that reveals the Beast’s claims to divinity as false.

Their Ascension:
At the command of the Lord:

"Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here!’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them" (Revelation 11:12, ESV).

This act demonstrates their supernatural nature, as no human could achieve such a feat.

Their Deaths and Resurrection:
For three and a half days, their bodies will lie in the streets as a spectacle:

"And for three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb" (Revelation 11:9, ESV).

But then, by the power of God, they will electively reanimate:

"But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them" (Revelation 11:11, ESV).

4. A Testimony to the Supernatural Nature of the Tribulation

The Two Witnesses bear witness to the fundamentally supernatural nature of Daniel’s last week. With the Church taken to heaven in the rapture, God sends these heavenly emissaries to testify, to warn, and to demonstrate His power.

• The Temple Warning:
  They will warn against the idolatry and desecration of the rebuilt temple, testifying to God’s holiness and the coming judgment upon those who defile it.
• Supernatural Authority:
  Their presence underscores that the events of the tribulation are not merely human struggles but cosmic battles involving angelic and demonic forces.

5. Encouragement to the Reader During Daniel’s Last Week

Beloved, if you are reading this during the tribulation, know that the time is short, and the Lord’s return is near. If the temple is being rebuilt, listen to the Two Witnesses. Their testimony is trustworthy, for they speak not from speculation but from their firsthand experience in the presence of the Lord.

• Heed Their Call:
  Turn to the Lord in repentance, for the same God who judged Sodom will judge the world. Do not harden your hearts, but receive the truth they proclaim.
• Trust Their Witness:
  They testify of Jesus Christ as Lord because they have seen His glory. Their message is the truth, and their miracles confirm their divine mission.

Conclusion

Michael and Gabriel, the Two Witnesses, stand as divine testifiers of the Lord’s holiness, justice, and mercy. Their presence on earth during the tribulation testifies to the seriousness of the time, the reliability of their message, and the need for repentance. They are not mere humans but heavenly emissaries sent to call the world to turn back to God.

May you hear their testimony, believe their words, and turn to the Lord while there is still time. The One who calls them home in the clouds will soon come for His own in glory.

In Christ’s name, Amen.