Textual Analysis
The Apocalypse of John is considered by most Christian theologians to be the apostolic writings that incorporate more Hebrew (i.e., Old Testament) scriptures into the text than any other book of the New Testament. The images, symbolism, and allegorical language used throughout the Revelation are impossible to fathom or interpret without a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the original "Testament". The purpose and destiny of the two witnesses is to decry the reign of the Antichrist-Beast.
According to the text, the two witnesses are symbolised as the "two olive trees and the two lampstands" that have the power to destroy their enemies, control the weather and cause plagues. Their description as "two olive trees and two lampstands" may be symbolism, allegory, or literal. Some theologians believe that the two olive trees represent the peace that the witnesses try to bring to the sinful Earth and the two lampstands represent the light that they shine for Christ.
Read more about this topic: Two Witnesses
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“Ask anyone committed to Marxist analysis how many angels on the head of a pin, and you will be asked in return to never mind the angels, tell me who controls the production of pins.”
—Joan Didion (b. 1934)