 From 1974 and until he passed away in June of 2005, Frank Caw devoted a considerable amount of time to research and study in Bible prophecy and related philosophical and theological issues. This website is dedicated by his family to his memory and work and is as he presented it at the time of his death. The family of Frank Caw, Jr. would like to thank Tim McHyde of EscapeAllTheseThings.com for hosting his website.
While always insisting on a plain, literal and sensible approach to scriptural exegesis,
he has pieced together many new scriptural insights on a number of extraordinary
prophetic developments that are poised to be fulfilled in our immediate
future!
Thus, it is safe to say that things are not going to happen the way many people think
they will happen.
But, this book will give you the scriptural keys for truly understanding what God has
preordained will happen, and how you can survive the incredible scenario of prophetic
events about to unfold! |
This ministry is dedicated to the loving memory of my
late wife, Debbie, who went to be in the presence of God on October 23, 1997, and who was
so instrumental in helping me to prepare for my ministry during those many long, difficult
years.
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Who Will Be The
Two
Witnesses In Revelation 11?
Latter Half Of Daniel’s
70th Week
An Ipsos poll says that 25 percent of adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that Jesus Christ will return to Earth in 2007 2008. Of white evangelical Christian adults it's 66%. Want to know why Jesus won't come in 2007 2008, before most find out in Jan 1, 2008 2009? »» Read Featured Article
Revelation 11:1-2
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (KJV)
“Reed like unto a rod.” A “reed” is an instrument or tool of measure, generally six long cubits in ancient Israel. (Ezekiel 40:5; 41:8). A “long cubit” was about 20½ inches, thus making this reed about 123 inches or 10.25 feet in length. Likewise, the “rod” became a symbol of authority and power in Bible times. (Jer. 48:17) (Exodus 4:2,17,20; 7:9-20) (Exodus 8:16-17) (Exodus 9:23) (Exodus 10:13; 14:6; 17:5-7) (Num. 20) (Exodus 17:9-13; 21:20) (Ps. 89:32; 125:3) (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 29:15) (Micah 5:1) (Ps. 2:9) (I Cor. 4:21) (Heb. 9:1-28) (Rev. 2:27). In this passage, we see John once again acting as a “type,” representing all the saints throughout the ages while exercising his power and authority to measure the temple of God and the alter in anticipation of actual physical possession. Since it is only natural to survey and inventory property that one is about to redeem, this is what John does symbolically.
Although a substantial percentage of Revelation 11 centers its focus on the Jews, neither they nor the city of Jerusalem are actually referred to by name. This is because Revelation is about the church, not the Jews, so the Jews are included here in this scriptural passage only because measuring and judging the Jews will be a part of the overall task which the saints will face during the redemption of the earth. Thus, Jews are mentioned in Revelation only when they directly impact the church in some way.
“The holy city (i.e., Jerusalem) shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” Compare the following scriptures:
Daniel 9:27
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (KJV)
Luke 21:20-24
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (KJV)
Zechariah 13:8-9
8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (KJV)
Matthew 24:15-20
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (KJV)
Jeremiah 30:5-7
5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (KJV)
Zechariah 11:15-17
15 And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (KJV)
After watching a demonstration of God’s mighty power at the time of Israel’s miraculous recovery during the Second Crisis, the Antichrist will not dare to bother Israel again until after he first tempts them into sin. That is an objective he will accomplish, eventually, by enticing Israel to sign a special seven year treaty with him (i.e., Daniel’s 70th Week) in which he will guarantee Israel its historic land in Palestine. Signing that treaty with Antichrist, however, will be a major sin for Israel because it will signal the usurpation of God’s role as protector and guarantor of their promised land. Furthermore, that 7-year treaty, as mentioned previously, will not take effect until just AFTER the Great Tribulation is over.
However, midway through the seven years of Daniel’s 70th Week, the Antichrist will violate his seven year treaty with Israel when he begins to desecrate the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem for 3½ years while persecuting the Jews. This horrific time of tribulation and desecration is known as “Jacob’s Trouble” (Jer. 30:5-7) and the “Times Of The Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). It will be during this Jewish persecution that the extraordinary ministry and testimony of the Two Witnesses will emerge to hinder the activities of the Antichrist in Israel. Thus, the Antichrist will invade Israel when he first rises to power and prominence, and then many years later, after the Rapture, invade Israel again during which time he will desecrate the Jewish temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem during the period of peace and prosperity that will flourish before the Rapture.
Likewise, Jesus called this same period of time the greatest tribulation (i.e., anguish, distress, trouble, affliction) in human history because it will begin during the Day Of The Lord when the worst of the seven great Trumpet-Vial plagues will demolish and burn and pulverise the entire world. The Scriptures also prophesy that two-thirds of the Israelis will be “cut off” (i.e., killed), and that many other Israelis will be carried off into captivity. However, the Bible goes on to say that Jewish survivors will be “tried” and “refined” as pure gold, and that when they finally “call” upon the Lord God, they will become His people again forever. (Compare Romans 11:21-32). During this 3½ year period of time, the Antichrist will also desecrate the Jewish Temple by sitting in it and declaring himself to be a god. However, as noted earlier, the Antichrist will not pretend to be the true God of the Bible, but a god of the universe:
II Thessalonians 2:4
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (KJV)
Daniel 8:11-14
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (KJV)
Revelation 11:3-4
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (KJV)
Zechariah 4:11-14
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth. (KJV)
Several scriptural passages throughout the Bible establish the logical, commonsense rule that all important matters should be verified as to their authenticity by at least two or three witnesses. (Num. 35:30) (Deut. 17:6) (Deut. 19:15) (Matt. 18:16) (John 8:17) (II Cor. 13:1) (I Tim. 5:19) (Heb. 10:28). Thus, when the women arrived at the sepulchre of Christ on the morning of His resurrection, they found the stone rolled away from the entrance and the sepulchre empty. Then two men, standing nearby and dressed in shining garments, reminded them of the prediction made by Jesus that He would be crucified and then resurrected on the third day. So, these two angelic individuals were God’s witnesses to the resurrection.
Likewise, at the moment of Christ’s ascension, while the apostles watched Jesus ascend to Heaven, two men standing nearby, dressed in white apparel, told the apostles that Christ would Return someday in like manner. Again, these were God’s witnesses to another major event that was happening in the grand scheme of things. Furthermore, yet another example of this dynamic principle in action was the presence of Elijah and Moses as witnesses to the glorious Transfiguration of Christ during which He was transformed into His Divine radiant appearance. So, in similar fashion, God will now send His Two Witnesses, the “two olive trees, and the two candlesticks” who have been standing before Him in Heaven. Moreover, Malachi 4:5-6 states with clarity and certainty that Elijah will be sent to the earth as one of these Two Witnesses:
Malachi 4:5-6
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (KJV)
In Matthew 11:12-14, Jesus said, “the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it (i.e., the Kingdom of Heaven), this is Elias, which was for to come.” Then later, in Matthew 17:10-13, Jesus said: “But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not... Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” On the basis of these two scriptural passages, sometimes it is said that Jesus implied John the Baptist could have fulfilled the prophecy about Elijah if Israel had accepted Him as Messiah. Thus, it is argued, there could have been a “spiritual” or “figurative” interpretation for this prophecy in Malachi even though, generally, all other biblical prophecies have been fulfilled, literally, so far.
However, Luke 1:17 identifies John the Baptist as someone who came “in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah).” Likewise, in John 1:21, John was questioned concerning his true identity: “And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.” Therefore, if we harmonize and balance the above two scriptural passages in Matthew with the two passages in Luke and John, then our analysis leads us to only one likely conclusion: John the Baptist came in the same spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the hearts of people for the First Coming of Messiah in the same way that Elijah will prepare the hearts of Jews for the Second Coming of Messiah.
But, once Israel exercised her collective free will and rejected Jesus as Messiah, a completely literal fulfillment for Malachi’s prophecy became an absolute necessity, especially after the Revelation was given to John many years later. Otherwise, Revelation 11:3-4 could not have identified the Two Witnesses as the “two anointed ones,” pictured in Zechariah 4:11-14, who “stand by the LORD of the whole earth.” Therefore, the Two Witnesses must be mortal men who were standing beside God in Heaven 2500 years ago. That singular fact, by itself, makes it very likely that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses because the Bible states that everyone must die and then face judgment (Heb. 9:27), and Elijah and Enoch are unique in that they never died, but were translated to Heaven, instead. Furthermore, both Elijah and Enoch were prophets of judgment (Jude 1:14-15; I Kings 17-18), so their lives parallel each other in many ways. Therefore, the Two Witnesses probably will be Elijah and Enoch.
But on the other hand, someone such as Moses died thousands of years ago, thereby making it impossible for him to be one of the two mortal men standing beside God 2500 years ago. Moreover, it would not have been possible for Moses to be in his resurrected body at that point because Christ was the firstfruits of the resurrection (I Cor. 15:20-23), and He was not crucified and resurrected until 500 years after Zechariah was given his visions. Besides, the Two Witnesses will have mortal bodies, or otherwise it would not be possible for them to be killed by the Antichrist, then resurrected by God 3½ days later. So, these facts automatically preclude Moses in his resurrected, immortal body. But, sometimes it is said that the miracles performed by the Two Witnesses will resemble the miracles performed by Elijah and Moses during their ministries, and that it was Elijah and Moses who appeared with Christ during His supernatural “transfiguration” (Mark 9:1-8). Thus, it is argued, these facts appear to indicate that the Two Witnesses will be Elijah and Moses. However, there is no reason to believe that Moses and Elijah are the only individuals through whom a Sovereign, Infinite God could perform these kinds of miracles. In fact, Revelation 11:3 states that God will empower the Two Witnesses at the time their ministry on earth first begins, so any two individuals selected by God could be blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit in such fashion. Therefore, the scriptural case for Moses appearing as one of the Two Witnesses seems to be much less persuasive than the compelling evidence that can be mustered in support of Enoch. Accordingly, the Two Witnesses most likely will be Elijah and Enoch.
Revelation 11:5-6
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (KJV)
“The testimony.” This scriptural passage views prophetic events from a heavenly perspective because it is part of the first parallel account in Revelation, so it does not say what the testimonial prophecy of the Two Witnesses will be. However, a passage of scripture in the second parallel account of Revelation does because it narrates events from the perspective of an observer on earth. Moreover, not only is it a prophecy to the Jews foretelling the imminent appearance of their long-awaited Messiah, but it is also an appeal to moral and spiritual purity:
Revelation 16:15
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (KJV)
The testimony to Israel is the proclamation: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” for He shall come suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning, like a thief in the night. The ministry of the Two Witnesses also parallels the ministry of Christ in the sense that both of them last for 3½ years, i.e., 42 months, and both of them demonstrate the mighty, miraculous power that the Jews expect to see in their Messiah. Moreover, the miracles and plagues unleashed by the Two Witnesses will not only remind the Jews of their Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Moses, but they will greatly hamper the activities and persecutions of the Antichrist.
Revelation 11:7-12
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. (KJV)
The Jews collectively rejected Jesus as their Messiah 2000 years ago because most of them were interested primarily in a political messiah who would conquer their enemies and establish a Jewish state as supreme; most of them had very little interest in a spiritual messiah who would transform their hearts and minds spiritually. But, that self-centered and rebellious attitude is not even close to what God has in mind. So, the Jews must see Him as the one whom they rejected and caused to be crucified; they must “look upon him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:37) (Zech. 12:10). They must repent of their sinful rebellion, and accept Christ Jesus as their Messiah, so that all Israel can be saved in one day. (Rom. 11:25-29) (Matt. 23:37-39).
Thus, the Two Witnesses will re-enact the ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ as a way of preparing the minds of the Jews, spiritually and psychologically, to accept Jesus as their Messiah at His Second Coming. As noted above, their ministry will last for 3½ years, the same as Jesus, during which time they will testify to the imminent Coming of Messiah while also appealing for moral and spiritual purity. They will demonstrate miraculous powers and abilities from God as they oppose and hinder the Antichrist and his forces. We are not informed as to how they will be killed by Antichrist, but death by crucifixion may be implied by the scriptural descriptive phrase of Jerusalem: “Where also our Lord was crucified.” Then after the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses lie in the streets for 3½ days, they will be resurrected by God, after which they will ascend up to Heaven in a cloud within the sight of their enemies below. But in all of this re-enactment, there will be one major difference. Please observe that Antichrist will not make the same mistake Pilate made by allowing the body of Jesus to be buried in such a manner that it could be stolen, or otherwise disappear for whatever reason. The prophecy in Revelation 11:9 states that Antichrist “shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.” Instead, he will insist that “their dead bodies shall lie in the street.” So, it is no wonder that the resurrection of the Two Witnesses will induce great fear in their enemies who will be watching them.
“Television and modern communications.” It is predicted that people from all “kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half.” Obviously television with world-wide satellite coverage is an essential requirement for the prophetic fulfillment of this biblical scripture. Moreover, when people throughout the world see the Two Witnesses lying dead in the street, a global celebration and holiday of sorts, replete with gift exchanges, will break out “because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” Thus, the entire world will rejoice at the news of their deaths. The mere fact that people from all over the globe will rejoice and celebrate and send gifts to one another, within a limited time-span of just 3½ days, also necessitates the modern inventions of television communications and satellite technology and very swift modes of travel.
“The great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” Unfortunately, after the Jews enter the bond of their ancient covenant during the Second Crisis, they will succumb to the rampant sin and evil that will envelop the world, generally, during the years of peace and prosperity that will be created by Antichrist before the Rapture. Thus, during the time of the end, the city of Jerusalem can be called spiritual Sodom and Egypt because it will become the headquarters of sodomites (homosexuals; Isa. 1:9-10; Ezek. 16:46, 53) and whoredoms (sexual and religious perversions; Ezekiel 23:3,8,19,27). So, this passage is just one of the many scriptures that indicate sexual and religious perversions will be predominant sins at the end of this age.
Revelation 11:13-14
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. (KJV)
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