When do the two witnesses appear in the tribulation? The two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11:2-14 perform their ministry in the last half of the tribulation – not the first part of the tribulation. There are several reasons for this conclusion. But first, here are the first two verses of the passage, Revelation 11:2-3. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:2-3 (NASB) It is important to notice that their ministry will last for 1,260 days, which is 42 months, or 3.5 years. What follows provides several reasons why we know they will perform their ministry in the last half of the tribulation. The Two Witness in Revelation 11 Ascend to Heaven First Half of the Tribulation Is Peace First, it is important to notice that Daniel 9:27 describes the tribulation period as a seven-year period. The tribulation starts with a peace treaty. The first half of the tribulation will last for 3.5 years. It is a time of peace, but the second half is anything but peace. The last 3.5 years are a time of desolation and complete destruction. Daniel 9:27 says, . . . but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. Daniel 9:27 (NASB) Now it is essential to remember that the first 3.5 years of the tribulation are peaceful (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) when we read that the two witnesses in Revelation 11 will cause suffering and disease! The only other reference to the first part of the tribulation is the first seal (Revelation 6:1-2). The first seal is about a white horse which symbolizes peace. The rest of Revelation describes events that will occur during the last half of the tribulation or the second 3.5 years (Revelation 6:3-19:21). The other seals characterize the last half of the tribulation as a time of war, famine, death, the martyrs in heaven, and terror. The second half of the tribulation is a time of war and destruction (Daniel 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). Last Half of the Tribulation Is Not Peace Second, the most significant reason why these two witnesses will minister during the last half of the tribulation is that their ministry will occur during the time of war, famine, and death—not during a time of peace. For example, the length of their ministry is specified as occurring for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, forty-two months, as well as “times, time, and half a time.” Notice that these terms equal 3.5 years. This same timeline occurs in Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 12:7 where it refers to a period of authoritarian rule over and then “shattering the power of the holy people,” that is, shattering the power of Israel. That refers to the last half of the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). The descriptions of the length of the ministry of the two witnesses always fits into the biblical description of the second half of the tribulation which Daniel 9:27 describes as a time of desolation and a complete destruction. During the time of the ministry of the two witnesses, they will be attacked and eventually killed (Revelation 11:4-9). Since the last 3.5 years of the tribulation is not a time of peace, it is best to understand this event as occurring in the last part of the tribulation. Also, notice that these expressions are only used in the book of Revelation for the last half of the tribulation (Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:4; 13:5). When we examine the atrocities that will occur during the ministry of the two witnesses, we learn that these atrocities only fit into the last half of the tribulation and not the first half. For example, Revelation 11:2 tells us that the nations of the world will be allowed to trample the holy city for forty-two months, which is 3.5 years. Zechariah 14:2 prophesied that this would be occurring at the Second Coming. According to Jesus, this would occur during the great tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28), which occurs just before the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:29-30). Since Jesus in Matthew 24:15 refers to the abomination of desolation mentioned in Daniel 9:27 and to the great tribulation in Matthew 24:21, this means the two witnesses will minister during the last half of the tribulation. The Beast and Two Witnesses A very strong reason for the ministry of the two witnesses occurring in the second half of the tribulation is that we are told the beast who comes out of the abyss, (Revelation 11:7), will be allowed to kill the two witnesses. Here is Revelation 111:7. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. Revelation 11:7 (NASB) Now the beast is the antichrist (Revelation 13) who will be empowered by the dragon or Satan (Revelation 12:9). Revelation 9:1 says the dragon will descend from heaven and is also the angel over the abyss (Revelation 9:11). Revelation 13:1 states that the antichrist will appear in the last half of the tribulation (Revelation 13:2-7)—forty-two-months. So, it is not possible for the two witnesses to appear in the tribulation before the beast does. The beast will appear when he sits in the temple and declares that he is God (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). That will occur at the middle of the tribulation. Therefore, the beast will appear at the beginning of the the last or second half of the tribulation, and that means the two witnesses cannot appear in the first half of the tribulation. How can they appear before the beast does? When we come to Revelation 19:15-18, we discover that at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return and defeat the armies of the antichrist. Jesus will completely deny any freedom to the antichrist and the world forces. Jesus will destroy anyone who comes to fight Him.

When They Will Finish Their Ministry Revelation 11:7 must not be understood as implying the two witnesses ended their ministry on the 1,260 day of their ministry timeline. The English text implies that the two witnesses finish their ministry on the 1,260th day, but that ignores the Greek word and the tense of “finished.”The Greek word is teleo . It means to complete, end, or finish. The English translation implies they will finish their ministry on the 1,260th day, but the Greek tense is an aorist. An aorist tense is a general statement, but the specifics of the action are unknown. That is, they finish their ministry but the exact time is unknown. Since we are told they died and were resurrected 3.5 days later (Revelation 11:7-11), it appears that event was included in their 1,260 days of ministry. The aorist tense does not allow us to be more specific. Revelation 11:12 says then they were taken to heaven. So, when do the two witnesses appear in the tribulation? The answer is they will appear in the second or last half of the tribulation. After the tribulation, Jesus comes and establishes real peace during the millennial kingdom and will be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Suggested Links: Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . . . Jeremiah 9:23-24 Like the Master Ministries P.O. Box 31976 Tucson, AZ 85751 A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Donations to this ministry are tax-deductible. NeverThirsty.org is the ministry of Like the Master Ministries since 1998, providing verse-by-verse Bible studies and theological Q&As. We are independent of and unaffiliated with Neverthirst (neverthirstwater.org, 2008), a water charity. Getting Acquainted Origin of Our Name What We Believe About the Author Bible Copyrights Donate to NeverThirsty Ask A Bible Question Newsletter Signup Legal Topics & Permissions Do Not Track or Sell My Information CONSENT PREFERENCES Manage Consent Preferences