The two witnesses are not named in Scripture, and Les Feldick deliberately leaves them unnamed, though he considers Elijah a strong possibility.
Les Feldick teaches that since Revelation does not identify the two witnesses by name, he will not name them either. He acknowledges that others suggest Elijah and Moses, or Elijah and Enoch. He further teaches that God sends them to Jerusalem at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation, where their ministry to Israel leads to the sealing of the 144,000.
Revelation 11:3 — This is the foundational verse that introduces 'my two witnesses' and the 1,260 days of their prophesying.
Revelation 11:3 says, "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." Verse 4 describes them as "the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." Verses 5 and 6 show they possess miraculous power: fire devours their enemies, they can shut heaven so that it does not rain, they can turn waters to blood, and they can smite the earth with plagues. Verse 7 records that "when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." In verse 12, they hear a great voice from heaven saying "Come up hither," and they ascend to heaven in a cloud. Nowhere in Revelation 11 does Scripture give these two men personal names.
Les Feldick will not name the two witnesses because he says Scripture does not. He notes that others call them Elijah and Moses or Elijah and Enoch, and he admits Elijah is a real possibility because "Elijah was taken up without having died." He also observes that the witnesses' power to stop rain (Revelation 11:6) matches Elijah's Old Testament experience, and their power over water to turn it to blood reminds many of Moses. However, he says, "This isn't all that basic to our doctrine. All we have to understand is that the Sovereign God is in control." Les places the appearance of the two witnesses at the very onset of the seven-year tribulation, specifically in Jerusalem. He says they come to the nation of Israel, and out of their preaching the 144,000 young Jewish men will be sealed and commissioned to take the gospel of the kingdom across the world—the message that the King is coming. He clarifies that the two witnesses minister for the first 1,260 days (the first half of the tribulation), not the last half, because in Revelation 11:12 they ascend to heaven and the earthquake marks the middle.
Les Feldick points out that Scripture simply does not tell us who these two men are. He says, "Since the Scripture doesn't name them, I'm not going to." He acknowledges that others call them Elijah and Moses or Elijah and Enoch, but he will not get dogmatic. He emphasizes that the sovereign God is in control and will bring these two men to Jerusalem at the very onset of the seven years of tribulation.
Les says Elijah is a real possibility because Elijah was taken up without dying. The witnesses' power to shut heaven so that it does not rain (Revelation 11:6) matches what Elijah did in the Old Testament when he stopped the rain for three years. The same verse gives the witnesses power over waters to turn them to blood, which reminds many of Moses. Others argue for Enoch because Enoch also did not die. Les concludes, "This isn't all that basic to our doctrine."
Les teaches that the two witnesses appear at the very onset of the seven-year tribulation, right after Israel signs a treaty, and they come to the city of Jerusalem. They minister primarily to the nation of Israel for 1,260 days. Les explains this is the first half of the tribulation, not the last, because in Revelation 11:12 they hear 'Come up hither' and ascend to heaven, and the subsequent earthquake in verse 13 marks the middle of the seven years.
Les believes that out of the preaching of the two witnesses, the 144,000 young Jewish men of Revelation 7 will be sealed and commissioned. He says the 144,000 will go into all the world proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom—the good news that the King is coming to set up His Kingdom. Les sees this response happening quickly, perhaps within the first week or so of the two witnesses' ministry.
What Happens to the 144,000 Jews in the Tribulation?
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Witnesses Sent to Israel; 144,000 Commissioned
Les teaches that the two witnesses come to the nation of Israel in Jerusalem at the beginning of the tribulation, and from their preaching the 144,000 young Jewish men are sealed and sent out with the gospel of the kingdom.
No Names Given; God Is Sovereign
Les notes that Scripture does not name the two witnesses, so he will not; he says the sovereign God will bring these two men to Jerusalem at the onset of the seven years.
Witnesses Arrive After Israel's Treaty
Les places the two witnesses in Jerusalem at the start of the seven years, after Israel signs the treaty, and connects their ministry to the sealing of the 144,000 who proclaim that the King is coming.
Power of Elijah and Moses
Les points out that the witnesses' power to stop rain echoes Elijah and their power to turn water to blood echoes Moses, which is why people guess those names—but he stays non-dogmatic.
1,260 Days in Jerusalem
Les clarifies that the two witnesses minister in Jerusalem for the first half of the tribulation (1,260 days), not the last half, because they ascend in Revelation 11:12 before the earthquake.
144,000 Respond to Their Preaching
Les teaches that the two witnesses proclaim the King and the Kingdom, and immediately the 144,000 young Jewish men respond and are sealed, as found in Revelation 7.
Elijah a Possibility
Les explains that Scripture does not say who the two witnesses are; he speculates Elijah is a real possibility because Elijah was taken up without dying.
Revelation 11:3: And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
This verse introduces the two witnesses and their 1,260-day ministry.
Revelation 11:4: These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
This verse gives the symbolic description of the two witnesses.
Revelation 11:5: And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
This verse describes the protective power given to the two witnesses.
Revelation 11:6: These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
This verse is why people suggest Elijah (stopping rain) and Moses (turning water to blood).
Revelation 11:7: And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
This verse records the killing of the two witnesses by the beast.
Revelation 11:12: And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
This verse shows the two witnesses ascending to heaven, which Les uses to mark the middle of the tribulation.
Revelation 7:4: And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
This verse identifies the 144,000 whose sealing Les connects to the ministry of the two witnesses.
No. Revelation 11 only calls them 'my two witnesses.' Les Feldick follows that by refusing to name them, saying the Scripture is silent on their identity.
They prophesy for 1,260 days, which Les identifies as the first 3.5 years of the seven-year tribulation.
Because Elijah was taken up without dying, and the witnesses' power to shut heaven so it does not rain matches Elijah's Old Testament miracle of stopping rain for three years.
Because the two witnesses have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with plagues, which recalls Moses' plagues in Egypt.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit kills them. They then hear 'Come up hither' and ascend to heaven, followed by a great earthquake.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to the 144,000 Jews in the Tribulation?