What I am about to share is bound to be controversial, but I’m going to share it anyway. The rule of Equivalent Expressions may give us a clue as to the identity of the Two Witnesses in the book of Revelation. How is that, you ask? Look and see…
The Two Witnesses
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two menorahs, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. —Revelation 11:3–6 (WEB:ME)
Notice the words, “These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain… They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood…” if this sounds familiar, that’s because it should! What two Hebrew prophets are recorded causing drought and turning water into blood? Let me help you:
Elijah Prophesying a Drought
Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” —1 Kings 17:1 (WEB:ME)
Moses Turning Water into Blood
“It will happen, if they will neither believe you nor listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.” —Exodus 4:8–9 (WEB:ME)
Moses, Elijah, and Equivalent Expressions
Now, I think you can clearly see where I’m going with this: Moses and Elijah used the same kinds of miracles in their ministries as the Two Witnesses do. As a result, I tend to side with those who identify the Two Witnesses of Revelation as Moses and Elijah.
The Detractor’s View
Now, to be fair, I’ve taken some heat for this position, based on a passage out of Hebrews:
Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment —Hebrews 9:27 (WEB:ME)
Detractors put forward that this may be Elijah (because he never died, but was taken up to heaven) but this cannot be Moses, because he did die. Additionally, Enoch is cited as the most probable second witness because, like Elijah, he too never died. While these are all good points, and therefore fertile ground for good debate, I still think that Moses and Elijah are more likely candidates for the Two Witnesses.
One Last Point
Now, this brings me to another point: these rules are wonderful tools, but that’s all they are—tools. They can be applied properly or improperly, soundly or errantly. Always remember that at no point do these take away human reason or divinely granted insight. Learn to use them, enjoy the insights they give you, but do not make them a strait-jacket.
Come back soon for the Third Rule of Hillel: Building up a “Family” from One Text.
Tags: hermeneutics, sages, seven rules of hillel