The Two Prophets

One of the most interesting prophecies concerning the last days is that of the two prophets who will be in Jerusalem, die, and be raised again.  The Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and Book of Mormon all talk about this event which is yet to come, which I think is a clue that the event is an important one. 

The first instance of the passage chronologically is found in Isaiah, though it certainly is not clear: “These two things are come unto thee… Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets” (Isaiah 51:19-20).  The Book of Mormon quotation of this passage makes it slightly clearer: “These two sons are come unto thee…  Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at the head of all, the streets” (2 Nephi 8:19-20).  Apparently many in Jerusalem will be wicked (“fainted”) with these prophets being an exception.  The Book of Revelation is really were we get the most information about this event.  They will apparently be in Jerusalem for “forty and two months” or 3½ years.  They will be given “power” from God such that they can “shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy” as well as power to “smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will” (Revelation 11:3-6).  We learn that the beast shall “make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”  Their bodies will lie in the streets for 3½ days during which time their enemies will rejoice.  But then “the Spirit of life from God” will come upon them and they will be raised from the dead and ascend into heaven (Revelation 11:7-12).  In the vision of John they are described as “two olive trees” and “two candlesticks standing before God,” and this language is also in Zechariah (Revelation 11:4).  Like John, this Old Testament prophet had a vision that caused him to ask questions: “What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick,” and he was answered “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:11-14). 

Gratefully Joseph asked the Lord about who these two were to be, and we have this response in the Doctrine and Covenants, “They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered” (D&C 77:15).  We assume that this means that two from the Quorum of the 12 apostles will be these two prophets.  I had always assumed that they would be fighting against the Jews in the city, but that’s not the way that Orson Pratt saw it.  He suggested that they will be helping keep Jerusalem protected from all of those trying to destroy it: “During the days of their prophesying they will have power to smite those who undertake to destroy them, and until their testimonies are fulfilled they will be able to keep at bay all those nations besieging Jerusalem, so that they will not have power to take that city” (JD 18:57).  I don’t know how this will really play out, but the fact that these two will be able to thwart the nations of the earth from overcoming Jerusalem through the power of God is pretty incredible.  I think it must be symbolic of what happened in Jerusalem 2000 years ago: Jesus walked among them performing incredible miracles while the wicked leaders tried to kill him.  He finally let Himself be killed, only to be resurrected three days later.  And since those around them likely won’t understand this sign and how it points back to the mortal Jesus, one of the greatest events surrounding the Second Coming will occur: Jesus will descend upon the Mount of Olives, split the mountain in two, and the Jews will realize who they rejected.