I can see how and why you make this connection between JtB and the two witnesses. I find some of these things that I don't think fit. For instance the two witnesses are called two olive trees and two candlesticks but are not called Elijah.
Being Amil I too consider the two witnesses to be the Church. Because the Church is sent out unto all the earth to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God through power from the Holy Spirit. It is the message of Christ that gives eternal life to all who believe that saves man, not the ones who proclaim Him. I believe the two witnesses represent the Word of God, the Gospel proclaimed that is silenced throughout the earth, and is as though dead.
The two witnesses of God are the two olive trees that are the Old Covenant Law that pointed Israel of Old to their need for the Messiah/Redeemer, and the Prophets of Old foretell would one day come to redeem them. The two olive trees are the Law and Prophets of Old. The candlesticks John tells us in chapter 1 are churches. I believe as two candlesticks they symbolize the Gospel of Christ proclaimed in the power of His Spirit. The two candlesticks are the Word of God (Gospel) and the Holy Spirit.
I believe the time will come and is fast approaching that through the power and spirit of this world, the message sent from the churches will no longer be tolerated. The churches and Gospel of Christ will be silenced and appear as though dead. I don't believe three and one half days is a literal amount of time, but symbolic of Satan's "little season" he shall begiven when the thousand years have finished. The church that was sent out with the Gospel of Christ for all appearances will be a dead body of believers to the world for this short symbolic period of time. Then the Spirit of life from God will enter them, they (the elect of God, His witnesses) will stand on their feet and will be called up to meet the Lord in the air. The final woe in the days the seventh trumpet sounds shall follow for then the wrath of God has come.
As we observe these times we live in and think about what shall be in the near or far future, we find the enemies of God are even now, as they always have been, persecuting and trying to destroy everything and everyone on the earth that is called to bring glory and honor to God. The spiritual Kingdom of God as it has always existed upon the earth was of Old found in the nation of Israel. It was to them that God gave His Word, the Law, Prophets, and the Covenant of Redemption (Christ) came through them. And it is through the universal Church on earth that God gave us His Gospel and power through His Spirit. Is there any wonder in seeing how both Old Covenant Israel, and the New Covenant Church on earth have had to endure the greatest persecution and tribulation, more than any other entity on earth. But time given this earth through the Church for building the spiritual Kingdom of God by the Word proclaimed will one day end with Christ physically coming again in the clouds of glory, and the wrath of God by fire being poured out on the earth. Then the new age will come and the faithful saints will dwell with Christ forever on the new earth.