The witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth, meaning they will live and act in a continuing attitude of humble repentance and will preach repentance, saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Revelation 11:4)

The "two olive trees" speak of the double portion of God's power that will rest on them, the "Elisha" anointing. These are the two wave loaves of the Levitical feast of Pentecost.

The "two candlesticks" are golden lampstands. Golden lampstands can typify only Christ and that which is of Christ. Only Christ and His churches are golden lampstands.

Since the fourth chapter of Zechariah describes only one lampstand, and now there are two, we believe the second lampstand is the Body of Christ, the holy nation that will be born "at once" in the last days (Isaiah 66:8).

The two witnesses, to our understanding, are Christ and His Body. The two witnesses will herald the sixth day of God, the day of reconciliation, the day when man is made in God's image.

God sends two witnesses at the beginning of each eternal day.

Adam and Eve were the two witnesses who announced the day of form. They showed in themselves the form that people will have for eternity.

Abraham and Sarah portrayed the day of separation, the eternal division between the elect and the saved nations of the earth.

Moses and Aaron proclaimed the eternal moral law of God.

The Lord Jesus and His Father were two witnesses who revealed the Person of God and His Kingdom.

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (John 8:17,18)

The Apostles and the Holy Spirit brought eternal life to mankind.

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32)

Now we are approaching the dawning of the Kingdom Age. The two witnesses are the Lord Jesus and His Body. All of God's witnesses must show in themselves the nature of the age that is at hand. This is why great works of destruction will be performed by the sixth pair of witnesses. When the Kingdom of God invades the earth, destruction will follow.

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. (Revelation 11:5)

As long as it is God's will for the testimony to proceed, the witnesses will be invulnerable.

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. (Revelation 11:6)

We have no doubt these plagues will have both a literal and a symbolic fulfillment. The point is, the Christian Church has never before possessed this kind of power. However, such a demonstration of power will be essential if a witness is to be borne to every nation of the last days. The wickedness of man has become exceedingly great, and the Christian churches have sometimes presented a less than adequate witness of the Nature of God and His Kingdom.

All of this will be changed during the latter-rain outpouring.

To be continued.