In the End-Time there will be one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in the history of mankind! 
      Not all illustrations are coming from the same source!

The two witnesses during tribulation?

The 2 End-Time Tribulation witnesses!
+ The Scriptural "raptures"

These two tribulation witnesses are literal 2 personalities who are going to appear in the 70th week of Daniel! They are ancient (2) Prophets from historical OT Israel! They are preparing the way of the second coming of the Messiah, Who will come as King of kings and as Lord of lords! In Scriptural history (records)  only two mortal men escaped death and were translated into Heaven.

& They are wearing a sackcloth
& They will perform miracles!
& They will perform their Ministry of prophesying for G-D for 1260 days!
& They will be killed; and die; their dead bodies will have to lie in the street for 3½ days!
& But...after 3½ days they will rise again!
& Before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into Heaven in a cloud!

Prophet Elijah was the second man to be taken to Heaven in a natural body, (2 Kings 2:11),  Enoch being the first (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; see Enoch) Both now reside in Heaven in their natural mortal bodies, having never died! However, they will die their own appointed death on earth as the 'two witnesses' of the future tribulation period (Zacharias 4:11-14; Malachi 4:5-6; Revelation11:3-12;) But also Moses could be a "candidate", because he represented the Law of God, but he died!  Than in the book of Zechariah; Chapter 4 there are also 2 other potential candidates (?) to be the 2 witnesses: Zerubbabel & Joshua! (Also men must also die to fulfill Hebrews 9:27)

Many of the early Christians, likewise Irenaeus; Tertullian & Hippolytus were believing that Enoch & Elijah will be the 2 tribulation witnesses!
Quote: ...And I say to you, O my brethren, that they also, Enoch and Elias [Elijah], most toward the end of time return into the world and die - in the day, namely of commotion, of terror, of perplexity, and affliction. For Anti-christ will slay four bodies, and will poor out their blood like water. {The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 8, Page 394; http://www.bible.ca/history/fathers/)

NOTE: The Early Church Fathers is a 38-volume collection of writings from the first 800 years of the Church. This collection is divided into three series, Ante-Nicene (ANF), Nicene and Post-Nicene Series I (NPNF1), and Nicene and Post-Nicene Series II (NPNF2 These writings are not the Bible/Scripture! This collection of early Christians who wrote are not inspired. They are not part of the Bible. They are absolutely not authoritative in determining doctrine. ONLY THE BIBLE/Scripture, (sola scriptura) is authoritative and inspired! The BIBLE/Scripture is our sole guide. However, these quotes do contain an interesting snapshot of the doctrine early Christians believed after the apostolic age. All quotes are sorted by date. But one final warning. ,There are forgeries within what Christians commonly call the: "Early Church Fathers". Some of the forgeries are obvious, but for others, there really cannot be sure what is forgery and what is genuine.{http://www.bible.ca/history/fathers/}

So we do not know really sure who are to be the two witnesses? But some day in G-d's Divine appointed moment of time they will appear during the Tribulation-time! Personal, I believe that Elijah is one of the 'candidates'! Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: (Malachi 4:5)  (Tribulation-period or "Jacobs trouble"; "Part in Daniel’s 70^th")

In Revelation 11:3, two witnesses arise to prophesy to the nations during the time of tribulation and will be given incredible power by G-d! (Revelation 13:3-6)! They are the usefully effective "vessels"  G-d will use to call forth the first six trumpets mention in Revelation Chapters 8-9! In spite of G-d's super-natural protection and the power they are using from G-d, they be be persecuted as well! When they are bringing plague after plague upon the  face of the Earth, the beast and his followers will view these witnesses as their enemies! The supernatural protection of G-d will last for three and half years. (Revelation 11:5)  G-d allow them to be killed by the antichrist.  The whole world rejoices at the deaths of these two witnesses, who have caused trouble by saying what the people didn’t want to hear—words about their sin, their need for repentance, and the coming punishment. Sinful people hate those who call attention to their sin and who urge them to repent! They hated Christ, and they hate His followers (1 John 3:13). When you obey Christ and take a stand against sin, be prepared to experience the world’s hatred. But remember that the great reward awaiting you in heaven far outweighs any suffering that you face now!

But...after 3½ days they will rise again!

But...after 3½ days they will rise again! It is the Lord our G-d Who will raise them back to life before audience world-wide. It seems to be possible to comprehend, how this can ever happen! Probably the Apostle John had a view on our day technologies. Now it can happen and all around the world throughout cable news people can watch such an "incomprehensible" spectacle!  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from G-d entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (Revelation 11:11)  The spirit of life entered into them, and they stood upon their feet again The spirit of life in one makes the body live, but when 'the spirit' leaves the body it dies (James. 2:26). This proves the two distinct natures (mortal bodies) of these 2 men -- the material and spiritual natures! Before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into Heaven in a cloud! Then [the two witnesses] heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into Heaven in a cloud. (Revelation 11:12 Amp.)  Picture-source  Bible for youth  ©  Please respect the copy-rights Æ

Their dead bodies

Will see their dead bodies… Nearly 2000 years ago the idea of everybody from all over the Earth seeing the same event would be impossible. Today with cable; satellite TV, internet and radio,  dramas of the world unfold daily. Events in Jerusalem, daily find their way into homes, causing  everybody to form an opinion on the issues of the Jewish state of Israel. For 3½ days the world will have time to make sure they are dead. The earth will be celebrating and savoring their death because through them the judgments from Heaven fell on earth.  The two witnesses' death and ministry is a 'passion play', of the events in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. They are living witnesses to Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ, they are a demonstration of G-d’s love to an evil world.

What here is explained is important to know! It will not put a certain 'doctrine" on you. You have to make you own conclusion out of this study. There are different opinions, which I respect. Here in this site I will open the possibilities and opportunities concerning the revelation about the 2 witnesses in the Tribulation time! Who are they really? It will give you a way to think but more to pray about God's plan and His preparation in the last days! Personal I belief that Enoch and Elijah are the 2 tribulation witnesses! It is up to you according the Scripture to conclude, whether these are the right persons or not! I am not in the intension to put a debate about it. I simply put some Scriptural 'nuggets' before you!...Paul van Beek

(Deuteronomy 34:5)  So Moses . . . died—after having governed the Israelites forty years. (Deuteronomy 34:6) He buried him—or, “he was buried in a valley,” i.e., a ravine or gorge of the Pisgah. Some think that he entered a cave and there died, being, according to an ancient tradition of Jews and Christians, buried by angels (Numbers 21:21; Jude 1:9). But no man should known of his sepulcher unto this day—this concealment seems to have been owing to a special and wise arrangement of Providence, to prevent its being ranked among “holy places” and made the resort of superstitious pilgrims or idolatrous veneration in later ages! Some people believe Moses will be one of the witness in Tribulation time, because he represents the Law, ...but Moses died!
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.(Hebrews 9:27) Man's inescapable appointment! "Be laid up" (Luke. 19:20; Colossians. 1:5; 2 Timothy 4:8). It is appointed or laid up by divine decree: "Dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return" (Genesis 3:19). This law of death will hold firm for all men until the time of the rapture (The great assembly of the righteous saints) when the living who are to be translated will not see death (1Corinthians 15:51-58; 1Thessalonians 4:13-16; Philippians 3:21).
There were people who were resurrected back to life, like Lazarus, 'died' a second time (but still his body was still in existence even it was in a grave), so it is not impossible, but Moses body is buried and gone. ONLY Enoch & Elijah were with their mortal body catch up into Heaven and so will return with their mortal body back on Earth during Tribulation and after their fulfillment of their  ministry during tribulation-period, will die (their appointed death) when the antichrist has killed them! Again they will be resurrected to life in this time in a immortal body just as all the resurrected righteous saint during the 'great assembly of the righteous saints!
These two witnesses bear strong resemblance to Moses (?) and Elijah, two of God’s mighty prophets. With God’s power, Moses called plagues down upon the nation of Egypt (Exodus 7–11). Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Both of these men appeared with Yeshua/Christ at His transfiguration! (Matthew 17:1-7).

2 witnesses; 2 candlesticks; 2 Olive-trees; Western-Wall Jerusalem; Picture-source with permission to use:  http://bethyeshua.ning.com/ 

Enoch; a very remarkable & Mysterious ancient prophet in the Scripture! (Before the flood of Noah!) It is fair to say that the patriarch Enoch was as well known to the ancients as he is obscure to modern Bible readers. Besides giving his age (365 years), the Book of Genesis says of him only that he "walked with God," and afterward "he was not, because God had taken him" (Genesis 5:24). God "translated" him without dying as in Elijah's case (2 Kings 2; Hebrews 11:5). His biography is brief but outstanding—one sentence revealing the history of 365 years, 300 of which were spent believing, being humble and holy, walking with God. This exalted way of life and mysterious demise made Enoch into a figure of considerable fascination, and a cycle of legends grew up around him! Enoch did NOT see death! Enoch represented God’s judgment on the days before the Noah's flood!

And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: (Genesis 5:18)  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years (962) and he died!  (Genesis 5:20)
Enoch (7-th generation after Adam!) was the father of the oldest man on record of human history: Methuselah, whose age became 969 years! And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (Genesis 5:21) And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. (Genesis 5:27)

(REMARK! There is an other "Enoch" recorded in Genesis! And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare "Enoch": and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, "Enoch". (Genesis 4:17) This is not the Enoch of Seth's line who was the seventh from Adam (Genesis 5:18-24; Jude 1:14). This 'Enoch' was third from Adam in Cain's line. This (other) 'Enoch' was the eldest son of Cain and father of Irad, the world first city was named after him!)

It is significant that his name was the first after the middle of ten names from Adam to Noah. In the day of his son Enoch, God foretold the flood as a judgment upon the apostate and corrupt race!

The Book of Enoch, written during the second century B.C.E., is one of the most important non-canonical apocryphal works, and probably had a huge influence on early Christian, particularly Gnostic, beliefs. Filled with hallucinatory visions of Heaven and hell, angels and devils, Enoch introduced concepts such as fallen angels, the appearance of a Messiah, Resurrection, a Final Judgment, and a Heavenly Kingdom on Earth. Interspersed with this material are quasi-scientific digressions on calendrical systems, geography, cosmology, astronomy, and meteorology.

The fact that something sounds strange, even weird, does not mean that it is necessarily unreal! After all, we are in the End Times and things will get even stranger and much more distasteful before the Messiah returns to end it all as we know it, and then start a new, perfect and beautiful world. I pray that you all are able to discern in these alternative news and articles the actual fulfillment of many prophecies which multiple generations of believers longed for the honor to see and live!

Dead Sea Scrolls, collection of more than 700 Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek manuscripts discovered in a group of caves near Khirbat Qumr'n in Jordan, at the northwestern end of the Dead Sea. The leather and papyrus scrolls, which survive in varying states of preservation, came to light in a series of archaeological finds that began in 1947. The manuscripts have been attributed to members of a previously unknown Jewish brotherhood. The scrolls include manuals of discipline, hymnbooks, biblical commentaries, and apocalyptic writings; two of the oldest known copies of the Book of Isaiah, almost wholly intact; and fragments of every book in the Old Testament except that of Esther. Among the latter is a fanciful paraphrase of the Book of Genesis. Also found were texts, in the original languages, of several books of the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. These texts—none of which was included in the Hebrew canon of the Bible—are Tobit, Sirach, Jubilees, portions of Enoch, (Like also include the book of Giants) and the Testament of Levi, hitherto known only in early Greek, Syriac, Latin, and Ethiopic versions.

Enoch prophesied that the Lord is going to return! And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. (Jude 1:13-15) This refers to the second coming of Yeshua Messiah or Christ as conquering King, with all the resurrected saints who will have been raptured at least seven years before this (2 Thessalonians. 2:7-8, Zechariah 14:5; Revelation 19:14).. Where Jude learned of this prophecy is not known, unless it was from the book of Enoch which was known in the early church. (Origen, Tertullian, and others mention a book by this name!).

Download:  Book of Enoch (PDF-File)(Also see more at: Ancient Prophets) Enoch; a very remarkable & mysterious prophet!

These two witnesses are Enoch & Elijah… For the following reasons:

& Both never died!
& Both men were taken in Heaven alive & bodily!
& Both men were alive when Zechariah saw his vision
& Enoch gave the first prophecy of Yeshua's 2-sd return & the coming judgment (Jude 14-15)
& Both men must also die to fulfill Hebrews 9:27
& Elijah is predicted to return before the terrible 'Day of the Lord"! (Malachi 4:5)
& Enoch was a Gentile, and Elijah was a Jew!
& Elijah will produce  judgments against his enemies!

These two witnesses do have the power…

These two witnesses do have the power… During the period of Elijah ministry he prayed and rain stopped for 3.5 years. (James 5:16), this will be repeated during the 1^st half of the tribulation-period. The source of the Judgments that fall on the earth during the first 3½ years will proceed from Jerusalem.

When they finish their testimony…The time of their witnesses is 1260 days or 3.5 years after that there time, their mission is complete. The will be the reason many on the earth find Yeshua/Christ. They openly proclaim him with their judgments. This will be a spiritual battle for the souls of men. satan will incarnate the Antichrist after satan is cast out of Heaven.  satan in the body of Antichrist will kill the “Two witnesses” at the “Midpoint” of the 7-year period!

Islam has a teaching of also that is the "Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal"

The End Time, End Times, or End of Days are the eschatological writings...

The End Time, End Times, or End of Days are the eschatological writings in the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and in doomsday scenarios in various other non-Abrahamic religions.

In Christianity, the End Times are often depicted as a time of tribulation that precedes the Second Coming of the Christian “Savior“ or a “hoped-for deliverer”, Jesus or Yeshua, the Christian Messiah, who will usher in the Kingdom of God and bring an end to suffering and evil.

In Islam, Yawm al-Qiy-mah "the Day of Resurrection" or Yawm ad-Din "the Day of Judgment", Allah's final assessment of humanity, is preceded by the end of the world.

In Judaism the term “End of Days” is taken from the Tanakh, Numbers 24:4, as a reference to the Messianic era and the Jewish belief in the coming of 'Mashiach' Various other religions also have eschatological beliefs associated with turning and redemption.

The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that the Two Witnesses will be Enoch and Elias or Elijah (the two individuals who entered bodily into Heaven), who will be sent back to earth to preach during the Great Tribulation, and they will be the last martyrs before the Second Coming!

Elijah (Malachi 4:5,6); Identifying one of the Two Tribulation Witnesses
Dake's Bible Note's

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:5-6)  This is part of the last prophecy in the O.T. It concerns the return of Elijah the prophet (not John the Baptist or some other man) to the earth, from heaven, shortly before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the L-rd; which refers to the Tribulation period. (Malachi 4:5-6). At that time there will be one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in the history of mankind. The hearts of fathers and sons, all children and parents, will be turned toward one another; families will be united in Yeshua/Christ; the Holy Spirit will be outpoured upon all flesh and even all of Israel will be saved as a result of the ministry of Elijah and Enoch as in Malachi 4:5-6; and Revelation 11:3-10; Acts 2:16-21; Romans 11:25-29; Isaiah. 66:7-8 and other scriptures will be literally fulfilled. All this will come to pass instead of a curse upon the earth! Elijah appeared on the Mount of transfiguration with Yeshua and Moses (Matthew 17:2,3) Caught up bodily and alive in a whirlwind; Elijah did NOT see death! (2 Kings 2:11)

This is part of the last prophecy in the O.T. It concerns the return of Elijah the prophet (not John the Baptist or some other man) to the earth, from heaven, shortly before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the L-rd (Malachi 4:5-6). At that time here will be one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in the history of mankind. The hearts of fathers and sons, all children and parents, will be turned toward one another; families will be united in Yeshua/Christ; the Holy Spirit will be outpoured upon all flesh and even all of Israel will be saved as a result of the ministry of Elijah and Enoch as in Malachi 4:5-6; and Revelation 11:3-10; Acts 2:16-21; Romans 11:25-29; Isaiah 66:7-8 and other scriptures will be literally fulfilled. All this will come to pass instead of a curse upon the earth!

(Zechariah 4:14) Anointed ones—The Hebrew phrase is literally to be understood “sons of oil.” This comes from the fact that both Joshua and Zerubbabel had to be anointed into their offices so they could serve in them to atone for sins and teach holy living. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and Joshua and Zerubbabel are symbols of all of God’s children, who must be anointed with the Spirit before they are able to furnish it to others!
(Zechariah 4:11-12) What are these two olive trees . . . two olive branches—Zechariah asks for a more detailed explanation of the significance of the olive trees. This is in contrast with (Zechariah 4:4), (Although Zechariah sees the vision clearly, he does not understand its meaning or the significance of the olive trees!) where he asked for a more general interpretation of the whole vision. The fact that he wanted a more detailed explanation is seen in the question he specifically asked about the two branches which dripped oil into the storage bowl on the lamp stand. The vision refers primarily to Joshua the high priest and to Zerubbabel the civil leader. They were both anointed with oil into their offices, and were thus responsible to G-d for the course of the nation’s history during their time! (According the NIV-translation)
#Picture-source with permission: www.Revelationillustrated.com  ©  Please respect the copy-rights! (Picture is edited)

And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the L-rd of the whole earth. (Zechariah. 4:12-14)
The fact that Zerubbabel ask in the vision who these two witnesses where, makes it clear that he could not be one of them, otherwise he could recognize himself as one of the 2 anointed one! The two anointed tribulation witnesses  are not specific referring to Joshua and Zerubbabel in this vision, dedicated for this special task!

These witnesses; 2 prophets are the two olive trees and the two lamp-stands which stand before the Lord of the earth. (Revelations 11:4)

The Scriptural "raptures" Some part are coming out of the Dake's Annotated Reference Bible
1	Enoch being the first...	Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5
2	Prophet Elijah was the second man to be taken to Heaven in his natural body!	2 Kings 2:11
3	The bodies made part of the multitude of captives Yeshua/Christ captured from satan in the underworld.  These bodies (in the area of Jerusalem) made part of the multitude of captives Yeshua/Christ captured from satan in the underworld of departed spirits and which He took captive with Him when He ascended on high (Ephesians 4:8-10; Hebrews 2:14-15). Now when Christians die they no longer go into the lower parts of the earth held captive by the devil against their will, but go to heaven to await the resurrection of the body (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation. 6:9-11; Hebrews 12:22). The wicked continue to go to hell to await their resurrection (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15). There is no evidence in the Scriptures when these specific resurrected saints went up into Heaven, but the expected and only 'point of view' should be together with the Lord's descending to Heaven!.	And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52-53)
4	Yeshua Messiah or Jesus Christ ascended And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)	Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; John 3:13; Ephes. 1:20; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 1:9
5	The "rapture" of the righteousness! (First-Fruits-Righteous-Believers) a. For the L-rd himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of G-D: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; KJV) b. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet {Shofar} shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV) c. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8) When? When he (the righteous ones) who hinders will be taken out of the way, "then shall that wicked be revealed"! Antichrist cannot possibly come until after the rapture of the righteous ones of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16. All who go in Yeshua/Christ's rapture will not be here during the days of Antichrist and during the tribulation of (Revelation 6:1-9:21; Matthew 24:15-21; Daniel 12:1).	1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
6	144,000 who will been redeemed from the earth! (Raptured) 144,000 were sealed and the multitude in white robes in Revelation 7:3-10; Revelation 14:3 This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the Throne of G-D and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.  (Revelation 7:3-10)
7	The 'rapture' - 'Harpazo' of the righteous 'uncompromising' Saints before the Tribulation period is the second resurrection; ending the first resurrection which began with the resurrection of Yeshua/Christ. The third resurrection that of the two witnesses, the forth resurrection is that of the 144,000 Jews; the fifth resurrection is that after the 1,000 yearn the  of the un-believers who have to face the judgment of G-D!	Revelation 11:7-11
8	Apostles James and John would have duplicated Elijah? acts, but Yeshua rebuked them!	Luke 9:54-56
No	The ark of Noah is an Old Testament-type & shadow or 'picture' of the 'rapture'! The righteousness were been brought on the ark in order to be saved. It boor the righteousness above the wrath of G-D still it was subsided, brought them right back on the Earth to continue to carry G-D's plan! G-D always removed the righteousness before and after His wrath. Righteousness are not appointed to wrath! Noah and his family escaped from disasters on planet Earth! Also Lot escaped the judgment on Sodom & Gomorrah!