When Do The Two Witnesses Appear In Revelation?

Name: Melissa
Question: How and when do the two witnesses show up and what will they be doing when they get here? Where will they be? Will they be helping us by their ministry?

Answer: Thank you for the question Melissa.

We are going to learn, the Two Witnesses appear during the middle of the Tribulation. That means, the Two Witnesses appear after the Antichrist who is Satan.

The Tribulation is the point in time when Satan is cast out of Heaven and sent to the earth. While Satan will be on earth for the entire Tribulation, the Two Witnesses are only on earth for half of that time, the latter half.

Now let’s prove it by opening the Bible.

When Do The Two Witnesses Appear?

In order to prove when the Two Witnesses appear, we have to understand how long the Two Witnesses will be on earth.

Revelation 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

God explained, the Two Witnesses will prophesy on earth for 1,260 days.

Revelation 11:7 explains, when the Two Witnesses finish their testimony,

“The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”

This beast is Satan, the Dragon, the Antichrist who arises from the symbolic bottomless pit. This verse tells us, the Two Witnesses must be men, since they are killed.

Where Will The Two Witnesses Appear?

Now where exactly do the Two Witnesses appear?

Revelation 11:8 tells us,

The great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

We know Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem.

So the Two Witnesses will appear in Jerusalem right where the Antichrist will setup shop.

The interesting thing to note, while the Two Witnesses are killed in Jerusalem, their dead bodies will remain right where they perished, (Revelation 11:9).

Yet, after 3 1/2 days “the Spirit of life from God entered into them and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them”, (Revelation 11:11-12).

What a fantastic sight that will be!

Now, this ends the second woe, and immediately initiates the third woe, along with the Seventh Trumpet. That means, Jesus Christ has now returned, (Revelation 11:14-15).

So this conclusively proves, the Two Witnesses do not appear until the Midst of the Week. Meaning, the Two Witnesses are only on earth for the latter half of the Tribulation.

So that we can better understand, I want to briefly explain how long the Tribulation is.

The Two Witnesses And The Tribulation

The 70 weeks of Daniel help us understand, the Tribulation was originally 7 years long. However, those days were shortened as Jesus told us, (Matthew 24:22, perhaps to 5 mo. Rev 9:5, 10).

Regardless, let’s do some math here so we understand the time sequence of the Tribulation.

• 1 week of Daniel = 7 years
• 7 years x 12 months in a year = 84 months
• 84 months x 30 days in a month = 2,520 days

Therefore, the entire Tribulation, and the length of the 70th Week is equal to,

• 7 years which equals
• 84 months which equals
• 2,520 days

Again, Jesus told us this time was shortened.

Now, remember Revelation 11:3 explained the Two Witnesses will only be on earth for 1,260 days, (shortened to 2 1/2 months).

That is only half of the 70th week, half of the Tribulation.

So the Two Witnesses do not appear on earth until the Midst of the Week, the middle of the Tribulation. We know that for certain, as the Two Witnesses are killed at the end of their testimony, and then Jesus appears, (Revelation 11:11-15).

Here is a graphic to draw the point.

When does the Antichrist (Satan) appear?

Satan Appears At The Beginning Of The Tribulation

We are going to prove, Satan will be on earth for the entire week, the entire Tribulation.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Daniel 9:27
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.

“He” is the “prince of the covenant”, the “Little Horn” who comes in peace for one week, the 70th week, the entire Tribulation, (5 months, Daniel 11:21-23).

This entity is none other than Satan himself, the Antichrist.

We can verify that by reading Revelation 13:5, where we are told, the Dragon who is Satan had “a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”, (Revelation 12:7-9).

This perfectly aligns with Daniel 7:8, 25 where we are told the “Little Horn” had “a mouth speaking great things”.

This covenant is essentially Satan stepping foot on earth which initiates the Tribulation in order to negotiate power from world leaders. To put on a great display of supernatural acts as described in Revelation 13:13-14.

Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

The key word here is “continue“.

Obviously, Satan was on earth before the Midst of the Week, otherwise, he would be unable to “continue” for an additional 42 months.

We have just been provided with a second witness.

At this point in time, Satan is given control over the sixth kingdom, in addition to the seventh kingdom he brings with him, (Revelation 17:8-11).

Satan then makes war with the Saints, and the Two Witnesses who now appear, (Revelation 13:7). This is also the moment in time when Satan completely heals the Deadly Wound, (Revelation 13:3-5).

Now that we know how long the Two Witnesses and Satan will be on earth, let’s lay it all out.

Satan’s Time On Earth

• 42 months + 42 months = 84 months
• 84 months / 12 months in a year = 7 years 
• 84 months = 2,520 days (shortened to 5 months)

Two Witnesses Time On Earth

• 1,260 days / 30 days in a month = 42 months
• 42 months / 12 months = 3 1/2 years
• 42 months = 1,260 days (shortened to 2 1/2 months)

There we have it.

Conclusion

These facts clearly prove, Satan will be on earth for the entire Tribulation. The entire 70th Week, the same 7 years, the same 84 months, the same 2,520 days, the same 5 months.

While the Two Witnesses appear during the middle of the Tribulation (Midst of the Week), and prophesy for 1,260 days, the same 2 1/2 months.

Therefore, when the Antichrist (Satan) appears, the 70th Week begins along with Great Tribulation. The Two Witnesses appear halfway through the Tribulation, to prophesy with the Elect, against Satan and his Beast Government.