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[Seraph]

Are the two witnesses two new people (or prophets) one for the Jews & one for the Gentiles?

I understand the literal interpretations involving either Moses & Elijah, Elijah & Enoch or Moses & Enoch - As Scripture reveals Enoch did not die but was taken. Seems like God is 'up to something' with Moses' body being buried/taken. Elijah was seperated from Elisha by chariot of fire and taken into the atmosphere in a whirlwind, although seems to have written letters later on.

It could be the two witnesses are entirely new people.

Could one be a leader, or representative (or prophet sent to) for Jewish Christians and the other for Gentile Christians?

The 2000 year old text of Revelation 11, written at a time when information and current events took weeks to travel claims that the one from abyss destroys both of the witnesses by force, overcoming their (supernatural) power, and killing them in the streets of Jerusalem. The entire earth knows about the event, yet it all happens within three days or so. The entire earth exchange gifts with one another as these two tormented them, yet within three days they go from celebration to fear when the two witnesses are resurrected and ascend into the sky, to heaven.

Are these the last two Christians on earth, or the last leaders, teachers, prophets so to speak?

As Christ and Paul both mention the Gospel going forth to Gentiles, a time of the Gentiles... Is this the end of that time, and so these two witnesses are the last attempt to bring the Gospel to a world which now wants to go to war with God Himself?

[jimwalton]

> I understand the literal interpretations involving either Moses & Elijah, Elijah & Enoch or Moses & Enoch

These aren't literal interpretations. The text doesn't say who they are, so we can't say that the literal interpretation is these famous personages. The literal interpretation may be that they are two humans, but that's as far as that can reach.

> It could be the two witnesses are entirely new people.

Yes, it could be. There are so many theories about who (or what) the two witnesses are that it's difficult to stand firmly on any one of them. Here are some of the theories I've read:

1. Enoch and Elijah. 1 Enoch 90.31 (Hippolytus, Tertullian, Dake)
2. Moses and Elijah (Mal. 4.4-6; Rev. 11.6) (Tenney, Lindsey, Kittel)
3. Jeremiah and Elijah (Victorinus)
4. James & John (Bacon)
5. Peter and Paul (Munck, Boismard)
6. Symbolize the believing church. The reference to Ezekiel 37.10 in Rev. 11.11 suggests that the two witnesses are collective figures, not individuals (Ryken, Mounce, Poythress, Massyngberde)
7. Symbolize the law and the prophets (Torah and Nevi’im).
8. Symbolize the priesthood and the laity
9. Just two witnesses (Beckwith; Zahn)

> Are these the last two Christians on earth, or the last leaders, teachers, prophets so to speak?

Wow, that perspective really depends on your eschatology. I don't take Revelation as a chronological account (from ch. 6 - 21) but rather as multiple views of the same events. I think it is showing us from many different angles the one final judgment of humanity and the establishment of God's kingdom. So I don't perceive them as the last two Christians on Earth, or the last teachers, etc .

I think God will always have a witness to Himself on Earth until the very end. Rev. 9.2-210, 16.9 & 11 show that God is still working to bring people to repentance, and it usually takes someone telling the truth as the human mechanism of understanding and proclamation. But that's just my view. You'll find, as you likely know, that everyone has a different view of Revelation.

> Is this the end of that time, and so these two witnesses are the last attempt to bring the Gospel to a world which now wants to go to war with God Himself?

I think the whole of chapters 6-20 are God's last attempt, not the two witnesses in particular, though they do serve a significant function to that end.

Arguments about the identity of the two prophets are futile because the issue is unresolvable, and it doesn't matter anyway. There is no possible way to determine who they are. The point is that God, in His justice and desire for repentance and salvation, will continue to issue warnings and reveal Himself through prophets, even to the bitter end. In the power of God, they will warn of divine judgment and plead for repentance. The point is not to identify them, but rather to show us that God continues to draw all men to Himself and to warn of the dire consequences of defiance. The identity of the prophets is obscure so we get the message instead of dwell on the messengers.