The Two Anointed Ones = The Two Witnesses

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

NayborBear

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2020
815
291
63
73
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Let's keep it simple this way, Priests act as intercessors between God and man. We are sent to preach the gospel of salvation to all people. Therefore, God through Christ in us is reconciling the world unto Himself.
We have P-L-E-N-T-Y of these already. Right?
Ezekiel 13:
3 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

And? We have P-L-E-N-T-Y of these also.........Right?
Mattthew 23:
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
 

ewq1938

Mod
Staff member
Jul 11, 2015
8,911
1,812
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
So you say, but....could we please stay on the topic of this thread?
Thanks.

In my post #6, I have biblically proved that John the Baptist was permanently anointed by God's Holy Spirit, even in his mothers womb upon birth, being the FIRST anointed ONE of the "two anointed ones" of Zech. 4:14.
These [John and Jesus] are the two anointed ones, that stand by [for] the Lord of the whole earth.

John the Baptist is the witness of who Jesus is, and Jesus is the witness of who God the Father is.


Neither are the two olive trees of Rev 11 because I do not believe both will be murdered a second time plus Christ is immortal since his resurrection and his body cannot die again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LoveYeshua

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
We have P-L-E-N-T-Y of these already. Right?
Ezekiel 13:
3 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

And? We have P-L-E-N-T-Y of these also.........Right?
Mattthew 23:
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Scribes and Pharisees are descriptive of religious minded people who do not have the Spirit of God, but love to flaunt their authority and leadership over the Saints through the doctrines of men.
 

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
I explained that already.
The words: "the second resurrection" do not appear in any Bible. Yet, you are determined to agree with what the doctrines of men have falsely imposed.

The same applies to the two anointed ones. Men today do not believe that John and Jesus were the two witnesses of Rev. 11, and therefore in comparison to them (who both were born having the Holy Spirit), they are waiting in vain for two imposters that will never show!!

However, according to the "religious narrative" about them, supposedly they shall appear in "the last days", having the abilities and power of Elijah and God Himself. Really???
Yep! It sure does sound familiar.

Do you not understand that according to God, WE HAVE BEEN in the last days, ever since God's two anointed ones of John the Baptist and Jesus appeared in the Person of His Holy Spirit.

Heb. 1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
 
Last edited:

NayborBear

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2020
815
291
63
73
Midwest
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Scribes and Pharisees are descriptive of religious minded people who do not have the Spirit of God, but love to flaunt their authority and leadership over the Saints through the doctrines of men.
Well? The "label or moniker" of scribes and pharisees has certainly changed over the some 2,000 er so years.
Yanno what HASN'T changed?
Their FRUIT!
Of the which? You wouldn't be exhibiting some of these characteristics. Would you?

In performing just a little bit of "thread bleed" here?
Although a "Second Resurrection" is not specifically mentioned ver batum?
There IS something to be gleaned (if you will) in "implication" here:

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power*, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

*This implies that although these ones may not be Priests NOR reign with God, or Jesus Christ "during" the Millennium?
(although they may either be deceived, or are under "Strong Delusion" into thinking they SHALL reign?)
The second death will not transpire not only AFTER the millennium?
IOW? An "event or happening" of which the "second death" would have the same
But AFTER satan has been released for a "SHORT season!"
Which means that these Priests of God AND Jesus Christ WON'T be taking ANY "Sabbatical Leaves" during this "Millennium slice of Eternity (teaching)!"
IOW? Although a "Second Resurrection" is not mentioned? There CERTAINLY is something IMPLIED that after the Millennium, and satans release for a short season that would preclude the judgement of the second death!
Remembering that God's "LOVING KINDNESS ENDURES FOREVER!"
Which goes WELL BEYOND any and EVERY whatever "slice of eternity" we are living in or through!
"Although Heaven and Earth may pass away?" (slice/s of eternity folks)
"MY WORDS SHALL NEVER PASS AWAY!"
And THAT'S A FACT Jack!
 
Last edited:

TribulationSigns

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2023
2,897
1,015
113
57
Somewhere west of Mississippi River
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Has anyone here dared to believe that those who God prophesied of in Zech. 4:14, as being "His two anointed ones", are in fact that of John the Baptist and Jesus?

Nope. The idea of John the Baptist and Jesus as the Two Witnesses, two anointed ones, etc. is NOT correct.

Zechariah 4:14 must first be interpreted within Zechariah 4.
  • Two olive trees/branches → two anointed ones
  • The work → restoration of God's house
  • The power → God's Spirit
Therefore, saying “the two anointed ones are John the Baptist and Jesus Christ” is not something Zechariah 4 actually says. It is an interpretation imposed upon the passage.

The deeper problem is that much of church tradition automatically assumes that “the two anointed ones” must refer to two individual human beings. That assumption then carries over into interpretations of the Two Witnesses, leading many to misunderstand what the biblical imagery is actually communicating.

We should not begin with the assumption that the “two anointed ones” are two people and then force the rest of Scripture to fit that conclusion. We need to let the biblical text and its symbolism establish what these things mean rather than allowing church tradition to determine the interpretation beforehand. Selah!
 

TribulationSigns

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2023
2,897
1,015
113
57
Somewhere west of Mississippi River
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The (Two Witnesses) will have literal bodies that die and lay in a literal street in Jerusalem, as a literal world watches in celebrating their deaths, exchanging literal gifts between one another in this celebration.

Literal bodies, lying on a literal street, in a literal city, while the entire literal world watches their literal deaths and literally exchanges gifts to celebrate?

Wow… when you repeat the word “literal” enough times, I suppose it makes the interpretation automatically true. LOL!

The problem is that simply calling everything “literal” does not prove that the passage is meant to be interpreted literally. Revelation is filled with highly symbolic imagery, yet some people seem to read the word “literal” into the text wherever it helps their interpretation.

Apparently, all you need is a street, two bodies, a city, and some Christmas-style gift exchanging, and—voilà!—you've solved Revelation. Seriously?

It's far too easy for MOST people to assume what the text means instead of actually asking what God is communicating through the symbolism!

The question isn't, “Can I make this sound literal?” The question is, “What does the text actually say, and how does Scripture itself interpret these symbols?”

Don't confuse an assumption about the text with what God actually revealed in the text.

Jesus died once and now sits at the right hand of the father, your claim that Jesus is one of the (Two Witnesses) is 100% "False"!

Agreed, like yours, his interpretation is wrong too.
 

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
9
Nope. The idea of John the Baptist and Jesus as the Two Witnesses, two anointed ones, etc. is NOT correct.

Zechariah 4:14 must first be interpreted within Zechariah 4.
  • Two olive trees/branches → two anointed ones
  • The work → restoration of God's house
  • The power → God's Spirit
Therefore, saying “the two anointed ones are John the Baptist and Jesus Christ” is not something Zechariah 4 actually says. It is an interpretation imposed upon the passage.

The deeper problem is that much of church tradition automatically assumes that “the two anointed ones” must refer to two individual human beings. That assumption then carries over into interpretations of the Two Witnesses, leading many to misunderstand what the biblical imagery is actually communicating.

We should not begin with the assumption that the “two anointed ones” are two people and then force the rest of Scripture to fit that conclusion. We need to let the biblical text and its symbolism establish what these things mean rather than allowing church tradition to determine the interpretation beforehand. Selah!
Instead of trying to force the reading of Rev. 11 to be literal in meaning, step back a little to Rev. 1:1 and please notice who it is that is giving the vision to whom, and then to who else down the line. In Isa. 55:8-9, what do we know about God the Father and His thought process in relation to our??

What other ways can the words of Rev. 11 be read and interpreted, whereby we may obtain the truth about it? Through prayer and waiting on the Holy Spirit's teaching?
We are shown in 1 Cor. 2:13 that we are to "compare spiritual things with spiritual".


Rev. 1:1-2
1.The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Isa. 55:8-9
8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Cor. 2
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 

TribulationSigns

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2023
2,897
1,015
113
57
Somewhere west of Mississippi River
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
9

Instead of trying to force the reading of Rev. 11 to be literal in meaning, step back a little to Rev. 1:1 and please notice who it is that is giving the vision to whom, and then to who else down the line. In Isa. 55:8-9, what do we know about God the Father and His thought process in relation to our??

What other ways can the words of Rev. 11 be read and interpreted, whereby we may obtain the truth about it? Through prayer and waiting on the Holy Spirit's teaching?
We are shown in 1 Cor. 2:13 that we are to "compare spiritual things with spiritual".


Rev. 1:1-2
1.The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Isa. 55:8-9
8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Cor. 2
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


Okay, you quoted the Scriptures, but I'm not sure what conclusion you believe they establish concerning Revelation 11? I agree that Revelation is a divine revelation, that God's thoughts are higher than ours, and that spiritual truth is discerned through the Holy Spirit. I don't disagree with any of that.

But none of those passages actually tells us what the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11 mean.

Revelation 1:1 tells us that the revelation came from God through Jesus Christ, through His angel, to John. In fact, the word “signified” in Revelation 1:1 is important because it tells us that the revelation was communicated through signs or symbols. That actually supports my point that we need to carefully examine the biblical symbolism rather than automatically assume that everything described in the vision must correspond to two literal individuals.

Isaiah 55:8–9 certainly teaches us that God's thoughts are higher than ours, but it does not mean that we can use that verse as a blank check for any interpretation we want. God has revealed His thoughts to us through His Word, and our responsibility is to interpret what He has revealed according to Scripture.

And 1 Corinthians 2:13 does not mean, “Pray about it and whatever interpretation comes to you through the Holy Spirit is therefore correct.” Paul is talking about spiritual truths taught by the Spirit. Those spiritual truths still come through the revelation God has given—not through subjective speculation.

So yes, we should pray for wisdom and depend upon the Holy Spirit. Absolutely. But the Holy Spirit does not teach us independently of Scripture or give us permission to bypass the biblical context.

That's precisely why I started with Zechariah 4.

Before we identify the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11, we should ask what biblical imagery John is using. Revelation repeatedly draws upon Old Testament imagery, and Zechariah 4 is directly relevant because it contains the imagery of the two olive trees / two anointed ones.

My point is not, “Let's make Revelation 11 literal.” My point is actually the opposite: let's not force a literal interpretation onto symbolic apocalyptic imagery before examining what the symbols mean within Scripture.

So if you believe the Two Witnesses are two literal individuals, then let's establish that from the text. Show me from Revelation 11 itself, Zechariah 4, or the broader biblical context why the “two witnesses” must necessarily be two individual men.

Appealing to prayer, the Holy Spirit, or Isaiah 55:8–9 doesn't answer that question.

The question remains: What does Scripture itself tell us the Two Witnesses represent?

That's where I believe the discussion should begin.
 

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
The (Two Witnesses) will have literal bodies that die and lay in a literal street in Jerusalem, as a literal world watches in celebrating their deaths, exchanging literal gifts between one another in this celebration

Jesus died once and now sits at the right hand of the father, your claim that Jesus is one of the (Two Witnesses) is 100% "False"!
Not all of Revelation Is far future. The prophecies of Rev. began in the days of John the baptist and Jesus and have been fulfilling all along with intensity.
You are misunderstanding the placement of John the Baptist and Jesus in time. It is a past event, NOT TO BE repeated again. We have been in "these last days", ever since their appearance.
Heb. 1
1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
 
Last edited:

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Nope. The idea of John the Baptist and Jesus as the Two Witnesses, two anointed ones, etc. is NOT correct.

Zechariah 4:14 must first be interpreted within Zechariah 4.
  • Two olive trees/branches → two anointed ones
  • The work → restoration of God's house
  • The power → God's Spirit
Therefore, saying “the two anointed ones are John the Baptist and Jesus Christ” is not something Zechariah 4 actually says. It is an interpretation imposed upon the passage.

The deeper problem is that much of church tradition automatically assumes that “the two anointed ones” must refer to two individual human beings. That assumption then carries over into interpretations of the Two Witnesses, leading many to misunderstand what the biblical imagery is actually communicating.

We should not begin with the assumption that the “two anointed ones” are two people and then force the rest of Scripture to fit that conclusion. We need to let the biblical text and its symbolism establish what these things mean rather than allowing church tradition to determine the interpretation beforehand. Selah!
In both Zech. 14 and Rev. 11, there is no doubt about it that "the two anointed ones", aka. "the two witnesses" are indeed people, specifically John the Baptist and Jesus.

The keyword to focus on is the word "anointed", which is to say for anyone who does have the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, they are anointed by God the Father.
Prior to John and Jesus, no man has ever had the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, until the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.

John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb and then 6 mos. later Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I dare say, that has not happened to anyone under the OC., or under the NC.

The best that could take place for all the patriarchy and the prophets under the OC., is that God could only temporarily visit with them for a short time. He could never stay, because the Sacrificial blood of Christ was not yet shed for the remission of sin.
John 7
38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
 
Last edited:

ewq1938

Mod
Staff member
Jul 11, 2015
8,911
1,812
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
In both Zech. 14 and Rev. 11, there is no doubt about it that "the two anointed ones", aka. "the two witnesses" are indeed people, specifically John the Baptist and Jesus.


Don't they die in Rev 11? How can Jesus die again after being resurrected in an immortal body? Will he die on a cross again or be killed in a new way?
 

TribulationSigns

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2023
2,897
1,015
113
57
Somewhere west of Mississippi River
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
In both Zech. 14 and Rev. 11, there is no doubt about it that "the two anointed ones", aka. "the two witnesses" are indeed people, specifically John the Baptist and Jesus.

The keyword to focus on is the word "anointed", which is to say for anyone who does have the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, they are anointed by God the Father.
Prior to John and Jesus, no man has ever had the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, until the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.

John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb and then 6 mos. later Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I dare say, that has not happened to anyone under the OC., or under the NC.

The best that could take place for all the patriarchy and the prophets under the OC., is that God could only temporarily visit with them for a short time. He could never stay, because the Sacrificial blood of Christ was not yet shed for the remission of sin.
John 7
38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)


I think several points here go beyond what the text actually says.
  1. Zechariah 4 does not identify the two anointed ones as John the Baptist and Jesus. In the immediate context, the two anointed ones are associated with the lampstand, olive trees, and the rebuilding of God’s house (Zech. 4:2–6, 9–14). The interpretation must begin there, not with Revelation 11.
  2. Revelation 11 never names the two witnesses as John and Jesus. That identification has to be imported into the text. Revelation describes them symbolically as two olive trees and two lampstands, deliberately echoing Zechariah 4 (Rev. 11:3–4).
  3. “Anointed” does not prove they are two specific individuals. Scripture uses anointing in different contexts. The fact that John was filled with the Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15) does not establish that he was one of Zechariah’s two anointed ones.
  4. The claim that nobody under the Old Covenant had the Holy Spirit working in or upon them is too absolute. David says, “Take not thy holy spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11), and the Spirit was upon prophets and servants of God (Num. 11:25; 1 Sam. 16:13; Ezek. 2:2). John 7:39 is specifically about the Spirit being given in the new-covenant fullness associated with Christ’s glorification, not proof that the Spirit never indwelt anyone before John.
  5. John 7:39 actually points us to Christ’s glorification. The Spirit was “not yet given” in the sense Christ was speaking of because Jesus had not yet been glorified. That does not establish John and Jesus as the two witnesses.
So the question is not, “Can we find two people who were specially anointed?” The question is, “Who does the biblical text itself identify as the two olive trees/two lampstands?” Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 need to be interpreted together before we assign the identities of John and Jesus. They are NOT two individuals, but GROUP OF PEOPLE aside to do the work for the kingdom of God. The number 2 signifies truth that the witnesses bear. Who do you think they are in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit gave them to prophesy, humm? Do you homework with your Bible and find out.
 

Earburner

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2019
8,578
2,013
113
76
South Carolina
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
I think several points here go beyond what the text actually says.
  1. Zechariah 4 does not identify the two anointed ones as John the Baptist and Jesus. In the immediate context, the two anointed ones are associated with the lampstand, olive trees, and the rebuilding of God’s house (Zech. 4:2–6, 9–14). The interpretation must begin there, not with Revelation 11.
  2. Revelation 11 never names the two witnesses as John and Jesus. That identification has to be imported into the text. Revelation describes them symbolically as two olive trees and two lampstands, deliberately echoing Zechariah 4 (Rev. 11:3–4).
  3. “Anointed” does not prove they are two specific individuals. Scripture uses anointing in different contexts. The fact that John was filled with the Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15) does not establish that he was one of Zechariah’s two anointed ones.
  4. The claim that nobody under the Old Covenant had the Holy Spirit working in or upon them is too absolute. David says, “Take not thy holy spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11), and the Spirit was upon prophets and servants of God (Num. 11:25; 1 Sam. 16:13; Ezek. 2:2). John 7:39 is specifically about the Spirit being given in the new-covenant fullness associated with Christ’s glorification, not proof that the Spirit never indwelt anyone before John.
  5. John 7:39 actually points us to Christ’s glorification. The Spirit was “not yet given” in the sense Christ was speaking of because Jesus had not yet been glorified. That does not establish John and Jesus as the two witnesses.
So the question is not, “Can we find two people who were specially anointed?” The question is, “Who does the biblical text itself identify as the two olive trees/two lampstands?” Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 need to be interpreted together before we assign the identities of John and Jesus. They are NOT two individuals, but GROUP OF PEOPLE aside to do the work for the kingdom of God. The number 2 signifies truth that the witnesses bear. Who do you think they are in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit gave them to prophesy, humm? Do you homework with your Bible and find out.
I am very aware of the deep seated indoctrination that has overtaken almost all believers, by the preaching and teaching of church-ianity that the two witnesses are nothing more than converted mortal men chosen by God to preach doom and gloom to unrepentant people.

Prior to John and Jesus, the Holy Spirit was NEVER GIVEN to anyone permanently!!
All sin was not yet forgiven UNTIL the shedding of Christ's blood. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell PERMANENTLY within anyone who has not been sanctified BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

However, before you convince me even more of how unprepared you are spiritually for this study, please remember that scripture tells us that ever since the days of John and Jesus, we have been in "these last days".
I would ask that you continue thinking on this topic, by reading my post #6 and #33 together.
 

gpresdo

Active Member
Jul 22, 2023
584
136
43
77
Paducah Kentucky
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
In both Zech. 14 and Rev. 11, there is no doubt about it that "the two anointed ones", aka. "the two witnesses" are indeed people, specifically John the Baptist and Jesus.

The keyword to focus on is the word "anointed", which is to say for anyone who does have the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, they are anointed by God the Father.
Prior to John and Jesus, no man has ever had the permanent indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, until the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.

John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb and then 6 mos. later Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I dare say, that has not happened to anyone under the OC., or under the NC.

The best that could take place for all the patriarchy and the prophets under the OC., is that God could only temporarily visit with them for a short time. He could never stay, because the Sacrificial blood of Christ was not yet shed for the remission of sin.
John 7
38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Enoch and Elijah.
They have not died...scripture tells us it is appointed once to die.
The Bible tells us directly that Enoch will be sent.
One is certainly not Jesus.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LoveYeshua

LoveYeshua

Eagle
Staff member
Sep 25, 2024
1,982
1,222
113
Quebec
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Male
The words: "the second resurrection" do not appear in any Bible. Yet, you are determined to agree with what the doctrines of men have falsely imposed.

The same applies to the two anointed ones. Men today do not believe that John and Jesus were the two witnesses of Rev. 11, and therefore in comparison to them (who both were born having the Holy Spirit), they are waiting in vain for two imposters that will never show!!

However, according to the "religious narrative" about them, supposedly they shall appear in "the last days", having the abilities and power of Elijah and God Himself. Really???
Yep! It sure does sound familiar.

Do you not understand that according to God, WE HAVE BEEN in the last days, ever since God's two anointed ones of John the Baptist and Jesus appeared in the Person of His Holy Spirit.

Heb. 1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Yes. Revelation clearly describes two resurrections, separated by the thousand-year reign. Revelation speaks of a second resurrection. John writes:

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4–6, ASV)

Then, after the thousand years, John describes the rest of the dead being raised:

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12, ASV)

This is the second resurrection. The first resurrection is for those who belong to Christ and are counted worthy to reign with Him during the thousand years. The rest of the dead are not raised until that thousand years are finished. They then stand before God for judgment, and those whose names are not found in the book of life face the second death.

The first resurrection is called “blessed and holy,” because those who share in it will not be harmed by the second death.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ewq1938

Truth7t7

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2014
13,344
4,181
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Literal bodies, lying on a literal street, in a literal city, while the entire literal world watches their literal deaths and literally exchanges gifts to celebrate?

Wow… when you repeat the word “literal” enough times, I suppose it makes the interpretation automatically true. LOL!

The problem is that simply calling everything “literal” does not prove that the passage is meant to be interpreted literally. Revelation is filled with highly symbolic imagery, yet some people seem to read the word “literal” into the text wherever it helps their interpretation.

Apparently, all you need is a street, two bodies, a city, and some Christmas-style gift exchanging, and—voilà!—you've solved Revelation. Seriously?

It's far too easy for MOST people to assume what the text means instead of actually asking what God is communicating through the symbolism!

The question isn't, “Can I make this sound literal?” The question is, “What does the text actually say, and how does Scripture itself interpret these symbols?”

Don't confuse an assumption about the text with what God actually revealed in the text.



Agreed, like yours, his interpretation is wrong too.
Future & Literal

Revelation 11:7-12KJV
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
 

Truth7t7

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2014
13,344
4,181
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Not all of Revelation Is far future. The prophecies of Rev. began in the days of John the baptist and Jesus and have been fulfilling all along with intensity.
You are misunderstanding the placement of John the Baptist and Jesus in time. It is a past event, NOT TO BE repeated again. We have been in "these last days", ever since their appearance.
Heb. 1
1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
I Disagreed With Your Claims, No Need To Run Around The Bush Again