Reviving the Two Witnesses - The Two Witnesses

 Even while being trampled on, these loyal ones do not cease to be Jehovah's faithful witnesses.  Hence, the prophecy continues: "And I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.' These symbolized by two olive trees and two lampstands and are standing before the Lord of the earth. " - REVELATION 11:3, 4. 

These faithful anointed Christians needed the qualityof endurance, for they had to prophesy "in sackcloth."  What does this mean?  In Bible times sackcloth often symbolized mourning.  Wearing it was a sign that the person had been brought low in sorrow or distress.  (Genesis 37:34; Job 16:15,16; Ezekiel 27:31)  Sackcloth was associated with the mournful messages of doom or grief that God's prophets had to proclaim.  (Isaiah 3:8. 24-26: Jeremiah 48:37; 49:3)  The wearing of sackcloth could indicate humilty or repentance in view of divine warning. (Jonah 3:5) The sackcloth worn by two witnesses appears to indicae their humble endurance in announcing Jehovah's judgments.  They were witnesses proclaiming his day of vengeance  that would bring mourning also to the nations. - DEUTERONOMY 32:41-43.

The John class had to preach the message for  definitely stated time: 1,260 days, or 42 months, the same length of time that the holy city was to be trampled underfoot.  This period seems to be literal, since it is expressed in two different ways, first in months and then in days. Additionally, at the beginning of the Lord's day, there was a marked period of three and a half years when the hard experience of God's people matched the events prophesied here -starting December 1914 and continuing to June  1918.  (Revelation 1:10) They preached a "sackcloth" message concerning Jehovah's judgment of Christendom and the world. 

The fact that they were symbolized by two witnesses confirms tous that their message  was accurate ad well founded.  (Compare  Deuteronomy 17:6; John 8:17, 18.)  John calls them "the two olive trees and the two lampstands," saying that they "are standing before the Lord of the earth."  This is evident reference to the prophecy of Zechariah, who saw the seven-branched lampstands and two olive trees were to said to picture "the two anointed ones," that is, Governor Zerubbabel and High Priesst Joshua, "standing alongside the Lord of the  whole earth." - ZECHARIAH 4:1-3, 14. 

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