The Two Witnesses: Enoch & Elijah?

[Dani D]

I do have a question about the timing of Isa. 17, Gog Magog, and such. I believe the opinion of most folks is these happen pre-trib. But couldn't they still be post rapture?

Maybe when many in the U.S. disappear due to the rapture, Iran and friends will see the chance and attack Israel. Syria starts some mess and their capital is history. Then Gog Magog. Then AC comes with his treaty. Could this be feasible?

I believe now that it might be post Rapture...

[Dani D]

So do we know how long it has been since Christ was crucified? I kept seeing parallels in the Bible for a 6,000 year church age...

I have heard that there is a gap in the calendar we have so no one is sure exactly??

[Kknight]

So do we know how long it has been since Christ was crucified? I kept seeing parallels in the Bible for a 6,000 year church age...

I have heard that there is a gap in the calendar we have so no one is sure exactly??

6,000 year church age would mean we still have ~4,000 years to go. You sure you don't mean ~6,000 years since creation with a ~2,000 year church age?

EDIT: To answer your question...depending on correct dating and math (365.25 day years vs 360 day years, etc) I think we are somewhere between 1976 and 2004 years since the crucifixtion.

[Dani D]

6,000 year church age would mean we still have ~4,000 years to go. You sure you don't mean ~6,000 years since creation with a ~2,000 year church age?

EDIT: To answer your question...depending on correct dating and math (365.25 day years vs 360 day years, etc) I think we are somewhere between 1976 and 2004 years since the crucifixtion.

Thanks - You're right I think I meant 6000 years since creation! It looks like we are due for Daniel's 70th week here pretty soon!

[CharlotteMc]

I have another one for your consideration:

2 Chronicles 30:6-10 King Hezekiah sends out messengers to all of Israel & Judah to invite them to Passover celebration & tell them to yield themselves & serve the Lord.

We are the messengers that King Jesus is sending into all the world to tell them to yield to him & be invited to the Marriage Supper.

Verse 10 says that the messengers were laughed at and mocked. How true of the world today. :candle

[gratefulberean]

In my reading of "Footsteps of the Messiah" (Fruchtenbaum) I learned that Malachi 4:5-6 reveals that Elijah will return as a restorer during the pre-trib "before the great and dreadful day of the Lord" to prepare for the coming (2nd) of the Messiah. This would be as John the Baptist hearalded the first coming, but since Israel rejected John the Baptist and Christ, Elijah will now come to fullfill this prophesy.

I didn't think there would be any prophets during the remainder of the pre-trib era, so I was taken aback.

Of course, I have many more questions about this. There is no way of knowing if this is before or after the rapture. Conceivably, it could occur in our earthly lives before we are called home. Will we, the world at large, realize there is a resurrected human walking on the face of the earth? Or, will his presence be more stealthy, revealed only to the Jews he is commissioned to restore?



This is new to me, and I would love to hear your informed insights and thoughts on this...

[In His Service]

Interesting. But as to your question -
Will we, the world at large, realize there is a resurrected human walking on the face of the earth?

Elijah didn't die, he was taken away. Therefore, a miracle of resurrection will not be seen and he (Elijah) will be hard to believe. Just as John the Baptist was doubted by so many in his day. Remember, they asked if he was Elijah as well and when he said "no" they scoffed at him - Hence the "Brood of Vipers" rebuke.

Agape!

[JY11]

What is intriguing about this set of verses is that we don't know if Elijah's return would be before the rapture or after.

My heart tells me that his return would be right after the rapture but before the anti-christ's false peace treaty is signed, kicking off the Tribulation. He would warn of what is to come and that repentence and faith in Jesus is required for salvation--a "final warning" of sorts. I can't pinpoint specific scripture to back up my theory--but its a hunch that may make sense.

[Love4JC]

I believe Elijah will be one of the two witnesses that will preach the gospel during the tribulation period itself, spoken of in Revelation 11:3-12. The dreadful day of the Lord is usually used to describe the Great Tribulation, after the first 3 1/2 years, which will be like a walk in the park by comparison.

[sojourner]

looking way back at the entrance of Elijah into the affairs of Ahab and Jezebel, he just turned up out of nowhere and announced that he would cause a famine to come, and that famine lasted for 3 1/2 years. So, if things repeat, as so many things do in Scripture types,,,he will probably appear like this again, and in Revelation 11 it says that the two witnesses stand before "the God of the earth"........now, as Moses and Aaron stood before Pharoah, then these witnesses again will stand before "the God of the earth",,,which I assume may be the a/c, as it says "of the earth", not the God of heaven and earth, and they will preach in Jerusalem for 3 1/2 years. Our Lord said that Elijah would appear and restore all things, perhaps having to do with the temple in Jerusalem.
But it is important to remember that "the Jews require a sign",,,and we of the church believe, without seeing, and the two witnesses will bring with them many signs for the Jews. Signs are for the tribulation years, and not for us, so I would expect that they do not appear until the very beginning of the tribulation.