What Old Testament figures are echoed in Revelation 11:6's miraculous powers? Witnesses in Revelation 11:6 “ These witnesses have power to shut the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they wish.” (Revelation 11:6) Old Testament echoes sound unmistakably through those two miraculous abilities. They point to two towering figures: Elijah: shutting the sky Moses: turning water to blood and unleashing plagues Elijah: The Sky Closed • 1 Kings 17:1 — “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives… there shall be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word.” • 1 Kings 18:1, 41-45 — Elijah later prays, and rain returns after three-and-a-half years, matching the prophetic window in Revelation 11:3. • James 5:17-18 links Elijah’s drought to fervent, righteous prayer, underscoring God’s readiness to honor faith-filled proclamation. • Malachi 4:5 — Elijah is promised to return “before the great and awesome Day of the LORD,” preparing hearts for judgment and renewal. Key parallels – Both Elijah and the two witnesses speak a word that locks heaven. – The duration of Elijah’s drought (three-and-a-half years) mirrors the 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3). – Their authority is prophetic, confronting idolatry and calling people to repentance. Moses: Water to Blood and Every Plague • Exodus 7:17-20 — “By this you will know that I am the LORD… the water of the Nile will be turned to blood.” • Exodus 8–11 — Successive plagues strike Egypt: frogs, gnats, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborn. • Psalm 105:26-38 poetically recaps Moses’ signs, stressing God’s sovereign power displayed through His servant. • Deuteronomy 18:15 — Moses foretells a future Prophet like himself, ultimately fulfilled in Christ yet foreshadowed by end-time witnesses who bear similar authority. Key parallels – The two witnesses replicate Moses’ first plague and have freedom to “strike the earth with every plague as often as they wish.” – Both Moses and the witnesses confront a hardened world power, demanding allegiance to the true God. – Their miracles serve as judicial signs—warnings before final judgment. Why Moses and Elijah together? • They embody “the Law and the Prophets,” the whole witness of Scripture. • Both met God on Sinai/Horeb amid fire, cloud, and voice—motifs that reappear in Revelation. • Luke 9:28-31 — At the Transfiguration they stand with Jesus, discussing His “departure” (exodus). Revelation shows their testimony continuing until Christ’s return. • Their paired ministry bridges Israel’s past redemption (Moses) and prophetic expectation of final restoration (Elijah). Related Old Testament resonances • Jeremiah 5:24; Amos 4:7 — drought as covenant discipline. • Joel 2:30-31 — blood and heavenly signs preceding “the great and awesome Day of the LORD.” • Isaiah 10:24-25 — plagues on Assyria echo Egypt, hinting that end-time judgments replay earlier deliverances. Summary list – Power to stop rain → Elijah (1 Kings 17-18) – Power to turn water to blood → Moses (Exodus 7) – Power to inflict plagues → Moses (Exodus 8-11) – Shared prophetic authority, confrontation with evil regimes, and preparatory role for the Lord’s coming. The miraculous powers in Revelation 11:6 deliberately recall Elijah and Moses, underscoring God’s consistent pattern: He raises trustworthy witnesses, confirms their message with unmistakable signs, and uses them to summon the world to repentance before final judgment. |
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