Whirlwind wrote: "I haven't read all the replies...only part of the first page but...on the topic of the two witnesses; we are among the two groups of witnesses. It doesn't refer to two entities at all. Much as "the woman" is the church, the two witnesses are two groups."
Sorry, Whirlwind, but they are two people, not groups. They are individuals chosed by God. They are gentiles, they are causaions, they are... well, some of the rest of this will remain a secret for now.. Anyway, being gentile means the Jews will not accept them. Their travels will not be confined to Israel. They may make speeches on television or internet but will most likely not be making speeches to religious chruches, tent revivals or such. Their duty is to attack the world for its wicked ways and to reveal the anti-christ. They are not the Old and New Testiment, but mere men, selected of God, willing to do God's chore. They simply do not allow their personal inferriorities to have diminished their acceptance as a prophet. God chose the weak to confound the mighty.
You who consider yourself mighty... may be confounded.
God does not give rewards, then take them away, so.... Elijah and Enoch are not the 2 winesses, It is appointed for all men to die... Ok so maybe Enoch and Elijah return to earth, AFTER Armageddon. Maybe in their human imperfections they were allowed to miss that appointment. Possibly, once one is "made" a prophet (even if before birth) - the term prophet superceeds (replaces)the word "men." The Gentile Christains are grafted unto the vine of the Jews... The 2 witnesses being gentile - provide that proof. As such, I will allow God to reveal that part.
In the final analysis it will be noted that others with all their own deficiencies (inculding faith) can still aspire to be one of God's prophets. In the End...those thnking they were just not righteous enough or good enough to be a prophet will then understand that in Jesus we find ourselves righteous, cleansed, pure (re-born) and with all the ability to be a prophet of God and only their own personal self restrictions deny them the ability to obtain such a position. Welcome to freedom.
Most seem willing to complicate things to such a degree as no answer can be obtained, yet when Jesus taught it was the simplistic nature of his teachings that revealed great wisdom. keep this in mind when trying to understand Revelation prophecy. Why is so many here willing to disperse distain towards others? Are we not all here in a quest for teaching AND learning? Is it not our objective to rightly understand Revelation? Lets temper our criticism to a consructive ordinance so when it explodes - truth is revealed. God Bless