The two witnesses (Ancient Greek: δύο μάρτυρες, romanized: duo martyres) are two figures mentioned in Revelation 11:1-14. Some Christians interpret them as two literal prophets, such as Moses and Elijah or Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Others interpret them as symbols for a group or groups of people, such as the Christian church (one group) or the Jews and the Christians (two groups). Still others interpret them as a symbol of two concepts, such as the Torah and Nevi’im or the Old Testament and New Testament. The earliest interpretation of the two witnesses is that they are Enoch and Elijah, the only two that did not see death as required by the Scriptures.[1] Hippolytus of Rome is the first commentator to unambiguously present this view.[2]
According to the text, the two witnesses are the "two olive trees and the two lampstands" that have the power to destroy their enemies, control the weather and cause plagues. They prophesy for 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth. They are eventually defeated by the beast from the abyss, but rise again, ascending to heaven after three and a half days.[3]
The early Christian writer, Hippolytus of Rome, concluded that the two witnesses would be Enoch and Elijah, the two individuals who did not experience death according to other biblical passages (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:10-11; Hebrews 11:05).[4] This is the earliest proposed identification for the two witnesses. This view is evident outside of early interpretive or apologetical Christian literature. For example, the apocryphal books called the Apocalypse of Elijah (also known as the Revelation of Elijah) and the Gospel of Nicodemus (also known as Acts of Pilate) state that those two witnesses who will appear in times of Antichrist to engage in battle with him are Enoch and Elijah:
32After these things, Elijah and Enoch will come down. They will lay down the flesh of the world, and they will receive their spiritual flesh. They will pursue the son of lawlessness and kill him since he is not able to speak.
— Apocalypse of Elijah, Chapter 5:32
3One of them answering, said, I am Enoch, who was translated by the word of God: and this man who is with me, is Elijah the Tishbite, who was translated in a fiery chariot. 4Here we have hitherto been, and have not tasted death, but are now about to return at the coming of Antichrist, being armed with divine signs and miracles, to engage with him in battle, and to be slain by him at Jerusalem, and to be taken up alive again into the clouds, after three days and a half.
— Gospel of Nicodemus, Chapter 20:3–4