Dear Arno Froese,

First, and foremost, I would like to express my appreciation for your magazine, especially the question and answer section. I feel this is an excellent way in which to share our knowledge of the Word of God.

In two of the issues that I have reviewed, the question was asked concerning the two witnesses, and who they might be. No one knows for certain except our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But, over the years of my study of the Scriptures, and especially the prophetic Word, I would like to share my opinion.

I will say, for myself, if it is two of the three: Moses, Elijah, and Enoch, I am of the opinion that it will be Moses and Elijah. I know a lot of Christians believe it to be Elijah and Enoch. Most people agree that Elijah will be one of the two.

Moses is the one about whom I would like to share some knowledge with your readers, if I may. Hebrews 9:27 states: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” From this one verse, people tend to believe that it will be Elijah and Enoch, because neither of these men faced death. If this were the only verse we had, that might be true. But I believe, to obtain a better understanding, we have to compare other Scripture with this one. To do this, we must ask ourselves, “What is death?” The Bible is very clear on the definition of death. Death is no more than separation. Separation from what, we ask?

No. 1: Spiritual death is separation from God. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, and they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden, they hid themselves. Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Ephesians 2:1: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Verses 5-6: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” 

John 8:51, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Verse 52, “Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.”

John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Praise God, I believe with all my heart.

No. 2: Physical death—same as spiritual, separation. In the case of physical death, when God calls for us, lost or saved, we answer the call. When the soul and spirit leaves the body, the body is dead. This is the end.

James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Second Corinthians 5:6-8: “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 

With these Scriptures, we should be able to understand that this is the point in time when the Lord withdraws both soul and spirit. The soul and spirit live on, while the body is lifeless. And the spirit will reenter the body; the body, soul and spirit will be complete once again. The body at this time will be quickened (made alive to die no more).

Back to Hebrews 9:27: “And as it appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” What do we do with those who have died twice? 

1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah raises the widow’s son.

2 Kings 4:18-37 – Elisha restores life to the son of the Shunammite.

2 Kings 13:20-21 – Dead man touched bones of Elisha; the man revived, and stood up on his feet.

Luke 7:11-15 – The widow’s son raised.

Mark 5:35-42 – The daughter of Jairus raised.

John 11:1-44 – The raising of Lazarus.

These all died and were brought back to life, and no doubt they died again. Their spirit returned to God, who gave it, and their souls went back to Heaven or Hell. There, they are waiting for one of the two resurrections: resurrection of life or resurrection of damnation.

I personally have no problem with believing Moses will be one of the two witnesses. He died once, God buried his body, but Moses himself is with the Lord in Glory. If he is one of the witnesses, he’ll come back in bodily form, be killed, and God will raise him and Elijah back to life again and they will ascend back to Heaven.

-A. Cobb, WV

Answer: We share your understanding of the two witnesses, and appreciate the clear biblical references and the profound question, “What do we do with those who have died twice?”