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Two Witnesses, A Follow-up Flipbook PDF
1 Adventist Heritage From: Charles E. Wheeling on behalf of Charles E. Wheeling
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Charles E. Wheeling on behalf of Charles E. Wheeling Thursday, April 07, 2011 5:12 PM Adventist Heritage [Spam:****** SpamScore] April 7 - B, 2011 - Enews from the Desk of Charles Wheeling
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April 7 - B, 2011
Two Witnesses, A Follow-up By Charles Wheeling
I continue to receive interesting comments regarding the identity and mission of the Two Witnesses described in Revelation chapter 11. Of course, some comments are positive and some in total disagreement with my conclusions. Because I have never claimed 'infallibility' and because I do not believe these issues constitute 'Salvation' for anyone, I am not in the least troubled or puffed-up when others agree or disagree. After years of meeting 'other minds,' I have observed several truisms describing human behavior. One truism goes something like this: "An object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object at rest (not moving) tends to remain at rest." Are we talking here of 'bodies at rest' or 'minds at rest?" -- the answer is YES! Physically or mentally, moving or resting, human beings are resistant to change -- this includes Charles Wheeling. Thus a second truism: "The older a person becomes the more desirable rest becomes (not moving)." Yet, a third behavioral truism: "Not all minds reason alike." Is there a place for reason and logic in the study of Scripture? From my perspective some people reason in circles, beginning with a conclusion and arriving at the same conclusion, thus proving themselves correct. This does not seem to me to constitute logical or reasonable investigation. More reasonably, at least I think so, one should begin with a hypothesis (1. a theory needing investigation; 2. an assumption), then proceed to investigate the theory, following where the evidence leads. Several have responded, urging me to reconsider the interpretive identity of the Two Witnesses;insisting Old and New Testament Scripture are the Two Witnesses, rather than the living persons of Moses and Elijah. It's time to put Scripture to the test: "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." --Revelation 11:3. "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not [Elijah?!] in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues [Moses?!], as often as they will." --Revelation 11:6. 1
To "shut Heaven, that it rain not," clearly refers to Elijah and "power over waters to turn them to blood, and smite . . . with plagues" clearly refers to Moses! EVEN IF I WERE TO ACCEPT MOSES AND ELIJAH AS 'TYPES,' THEY WERE BOTH OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS! Where is the logic that will interpret two Old Testament prophets as 'typing' Old and New Testaments?! Doubtless, some will reply, "It is the same logic that allowed Jesus to 'type' John the Baptist as 'Elijah.'" YES, BUT, Jesus added, "If ye are able to receive it . . . ," clearly offering John as a type. John the Baptist died. If John is a 'type' of Elijah, then when does Elijah die?! If the Baptist was "Elijah [Elias] which was to come," then how did 'not-dead-yet' Elijah appear (in person) shortly after John's death? Following the Baptist's death, according to Scripture, both Moses and Elijah appeared alive on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah was taken alive to Heaven in the OT. How was he beheaded in the person of John and yet alive afterward on the Mount of Transfiguration? What is the reasoning here? As to the time granted the Two Witnesses to prophesy, both books, Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:3; 12:6, 14; 13:5, are in agreement -- "one thousand two hundred sixty days" are equated with "time, times and an half" and "forty and two months." Each of these time expressions is clearly derived from the "no rain for 3+ years predicted by the OT Prophet Elijah." See 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1.
Note: Neither John's appearance at the Jordan or Elijah's appearance on the Mountain fulfilled (filled-full) this Scripture: "I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." -- Malachi 4:5.
If as reasoned above, Elijah repeatedly appears, then it is reasonable to assume HE CAN AND WILL APPEAR ONCE AGAIN! When Jesus came to Earth the first time, Old Testament prophecies regarding a suffering Messiah were literally fulfilled. He was born in Bethlehem; He was led to slaughter; He did make His grave with the wicked and with the rich, and on, and on . . . For years I have urged my listeners to first read and apply Scripture literally. After that, parallels, types, shadows, applications and less than literal interpretations may or may not apply. A final observation: If the Two Witnesses, according to Revelation chapter 11, are to preach during the same time period allotted to the End-time Beast System, then the Old and New Testaments have not been preaching for 2,000 years and will preach only 3½ years at "the time of the end." Personally, I find it difficult to understand how the Old and New Testaments will be "murdered, resurrected and caught up to Heaven in a cloud" after preaching for 42 months . . .
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