Shalom All:
Because this weeks Torah Portion is about the Two Witnesses, and because this is a subject that is dear to my heart, I would like to post Chapter 24 from my new book.

At the end of that text, I added comments on this week’s Torah Portion collection: Numbers 13:1 to 15:41; Joshua 2:1-24; Hebrews 3:1 to 4:16.

Chapter 22: The Two Witnesses

Before Israel entered into the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes, to spy out the Promised Land. Only two returned with a good report: Caleb, from the tribe of Judah; and Joshua, from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:2,6,8). Thus, the first example of two witnesses who gave a good report about YHVH’s promises were a Judahite and an Ephraimite.

Concerning witnesses, we also see that Messiah Yeshua said, “I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses” (Revelation 11:3, TAB). YHVH’s two witnesses are anointed to speak for the Holy One of Israel. Yeshua describes them as “the two olive trees...that stand before the LORD of the Earth” (Revelation 11:4). After seeing two olive trees (or branches), Zechariah asked about them. YHVH answered, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the LORD of all the Earth” (Zechariah 4:11,14, NIV).

These two trees poured forth oil, which is a source of light, and Yeshua’s two witnesses also are called “two lampstands.” Lampstands are said to be churches (ekklesias); thus they are two congregations of called out ones (Revelation 11:3,4; 1:20). Lampstands give light, and Yeshua says of those who follow Him, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

Scripture describes two witnesses who are called to give forth light and who are described as two congregations of peoples. Our Father is now calling forth two congregations. They are the “two sticks” (1) that are presently being made “one in His hand” (Ezekiel 37:15-28). They are Judah and Ephraim.

Metaphorically, the two witnesses are two anointed olive trees who speak for the God of Israel. Judaism and Christianity are the only two religions on Earth that give testimony about Him. Although the people of Islam claim to follow Abraham’s God, YHVH calls Himself “The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 3:16; Acts 3:13). Islam denies that Isaac and Jacob are Abraham’s heirs, and instead claims that Ishmael is Abraham’s true heir. Therefore, their god, Allah, and the GOD of Abraham cannot be one and the same.<

Two Individual Witnesses

Many teach there will be two individuals who will arise as “two witnesses.” If, above and beyond the two companies of Ephraim and Judah there are to be two individual witnesses (and there may be two men who fill this role), and if we follow Scriptural precedent, one will be an Ephraimite and the other a Judahite. Moreover, if there are to be two individual witnesses, they probably will lead the two houses of Israel in a war against the beast. That the beast makes war with the two witnesses suggests a company of two peoples, since a head of state would not likely make war with two individuals (Revelation 13:7,10).

We must realize that, if ever there was a beast that would devour both Christians and Jews, it is the radical eastern beast that uses the sword of Islam against them. (2) Isaiah even says of Ephraim and Judah, “They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east; they will possess Edom and Moab, and the sons of Ammon will be subject to them” (Isaiah 11:14).

We also must realize we are called to be witnesses for the God of Israel. In Greek, “witness” is martus, from which we get the word “martyr.” (3) Many latter-day witnesses will be martyrs, they will testify even to the peril of their own lives. Yet, they are called overcomers, because of the blood of the Lamb, because of the word of their testimony, and because they did not love their life even to death (Revelation 12:11).

Wanting to Escape with Our Lives

Instead of focusing on being a living witness for the Father, some Christians look for an escape in a pre-tribulation rapture. But we are instructed to gain patient endurance by not loving our lives, even on pain of death (Revelation 13:10). (4)

The late Corrie Ten Boom was a Christian woman who lost most of her family in the Holocaust because they supported the Jewish people. She often cautioned Believers saying, “The rapture-before-tribulation doctrine is now an exclusively American message.” This woman of truly tested faith repeatedly warned all who had ears to hear, “Don’t listen to those false prophets...” (5)

Those who teach this theory errantly separate the Church and Israel, and they fail to recognize that there awaits a glorious prize for all who show unfailing allegiance during the end-times. Those who are “beheaded because of the testimony of Yeshua and because of the word of God...will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him” (Revelation 20:4-6). We must not focus on avoiding momentary earthly affliction, but must instead set our sights on the transcendent eternal reward that awaits the faithful. (6)

First They Believe—Then They See

This theory purports Christians will be snatched away while Jewish people are left to go through the tribulation, and that in the end, the Jewish people will “come to the faith.” (7) This teaching also suggests “wrath brings conversion,” but the Word reveals it is Yah’s kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Jewish people do not need more wrath. They need to see Messiah’s kindness in His people. The idea that Judah will look on Messiah Yeshua and then believe opposes Scripture: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” Yeshua said, “who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD’” (Matthew 23:37-39).

Judah will not see Yeshua until they first acknowledge Him as the Blessed One. First Judah believes, then he sees Yeshua.

Some people base this “see then believe” concept on Zechariah 12:10: “They will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn.” But John applies this verse to Yeshua’s crucifixion, saying, “They will look on the one they have pierced” (John 19:37; Psalm 22:16-17). This verse likely will see another fulfillment when our King returns in glory. When we look on His nail-pierced hands we too will mourn, knowing He was pierced for our transgressions. (8)

Putting On Immortality

The Rapture theory, which speaks of Christians being snatched away, is largely based on 1 Corinthians 15:52-54: “We will all be changed, in a moment, at the last trumpet.” This change specifically speaks of believing mortals putting on immortality. Thus we know Believers will be changed and become immortal. The only question is, when will it happen?

In the Book of Revelation, seven angels sound seven trumpets. When the seventh angel sounds the last trumpet, then the mystery of God is said to be finished, the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of our Lord, and our God has begun to reign (Revelation 8:2; 10:7; 11:15-17; 16:17). Since the Word declares at that time, “It is finished,” the trumpet of the seventh angel must be the uttermost trumpet. (9) If another angel were to sound another trumpet after this last trumpet, then all would not be finished.

We are warned, “With regard to the coming of our Lord, Messiah Yeshua, and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

We will be here to see the lawless one revealed. Mistaken teachings about a “pre-tribulation rapture” have turned many Christians into inactive spectators rather than prepared participants. This theory leads us to passively await escape. We must avoid this pitfall. We must not look for an early rapture, but for timely transformation. We must not look for escape, but for victory. Although imperfect, we are up to the job through our Messiah. We can know a level of victory.

His Chosen Two...

Our God calls us His two houses, two nations, and two chosen families. We are the two sisters and two sticks of Ezekiel. We are His two witnesses. We are the two lampstands that are called to give forth light. During Shavuot, two leavened loaves were waved before YHVH. Although the loaves were leavened, and thus imperfect (like Ephraim and Judah), they were nonetheless the prescribed wave offering. Two hammered silver trumpets were blown in unison to summon all Israel, but the silver had to first be purified and hammered into shape, then their unified sound would summon the congregation. Similarly, when Judah and Ephraim are hammered into shape, their pure voices will sound forth like ancient trumpets. Then all Israel will again be gathered together. When they reach out to one another in an embrace, they will be like the two cherubim over the Mercy Seat of the Ark. These cherubim also were made of hammered work, their gold signifying purity, and in the center of their embrace, one found the mercy seat. Likewise, in the pure embrace of a reunited Judah and Ephraim we will find mercy, we will even see YHVH’s manifest Presence.(10)

Let us therefore submit to the refining work of the Ruach HaKodesh, that He might prepare us for the days ahead.

Endnotes:

• Eze 37:20: S&BDB # H 6086: ‘ets, ates; from H 6095; a tree.
• See Is Fanatic Islam A Global Threat? by Victor Mordecai, Jerusalem, 2002, and, Christian Revival for Israel’s Survival, Jerusalem, 1999. Also see: www.vicmord.com
• Strong’s # G 3144.
• Luke 21:19; 2 Cor 6:4; Heb 10:36; 12:1; James 1:3-4; 5:11.
• Corrie Ten Boom: The Hiding Place, Elizabeth Sherrill, Chosen Books, 1996.
• Rev 20:4,6; 22:12; John 15:13; Luke 6:23.
• Jewish people are offended by the idea of being left behind for slaughter while Christians fly away for a Wedding Feast. Even so, it is heartless to think of one group of Father’s people eating wedding cake while the other is being severely afflicted. At the very least, this scenario suggests bad party planning.
• Isa 53:5,10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 12:2; John 19:34; 1:29; Rev 6:15-16; Mat 24:30-31.
• Last/uttermost: Strong’s # G 2078.
• Exo 25:18-20,31; 37:9; Lev 23:17; Num 10:2-3; Deu 17:6; Isa 8:14; Jer 11:10,16-17; 2:18,21; 31:31-33; Ezek 35:10; 23:2-4; 37:15-28; Zech 4:11-14; Rom 11; Heb 8:8-10; 9:28; Rev 11:3-4. S&BDB #’s H 4749, 4748; TWOT # 2086.

This weeks verses from Numbers remind us that Joshua and Caleb (Ephraim and Judah) were the first two witnesses. The Haftarah portion (Joshua 2:1-24) also tells of two spies. These men visited the harlot, Rahab and were being pursued by men of evil intent who wanted to destroy them, but Rahab protected them.

In turn, Rahab asked for “a pledge of truth,” a promise that she and her family would be spared from death. The witnesses then gave her something to display that would signify that she was under the same protection they were under. That symbol of truth was a “cord of scarlet thread.”

The scarlet thread is said to symbolize a “blood covering,” and in our day it symbolizes the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua, who is our covering, our protection, for in Him we find the promise of eternal life.

The portion from the Brit Chadashah (Hebrews 3:1 to 4:16) tells us the following:

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Yeshua, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Messiah was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

From these verses we see that when someone comes in contact with Abba’s witnesses, they should come away with a pledge of truth, with the hope that their life will be spared. And the only one who can provide that eternal promise is Messiah Yeshua.

In this latter-day, many of us have been touched in different ways by both Judah and Ephraim. We have learned much (not all of which has been good) from both Judaism and Christianity. At this time, many in Ephraim seek to learn more from their brother Judah, but sadly, some have learned at the expense of their relationship with the Messiah.

Those of us who have truly been touched by Messiah Yeshua, those of us who know Him, not by the hearing of the ear, but based on true heart circumcision, become part of His witness company. As such, we must be willing to display the truth that we are covered by His blood. And we must encourage those who want to be protected to likewise know and declare this truth. Otherwise, they are without His protection. It is as written in Hebrews: “Just as the Holy Spirit says, ‘TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME...IN THE...WILDERNESS.’”

We are called to be part of Messiah Yeshua’s greater house, we are protected by His scarlet thread - but only if we hold fast to our testimony in Him. The last Scripture listed for this week is, “It remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:6).

As we seek to return to the truth of our Hebraic roots, let us not forget or compromise the truth about the One who is our source of protection in this end-time hour.

Shabbat Blessings,
Batya