The witnesses (and us).

We've all probably heard about the two witnesses of Revelation 11. We don't know their identity, but some have said that perhaps Enoch and Elijah would be likely candidates, as they never actually died (see Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11). On the other hand, by the time they come on the scene, many folks will have left the earth without dying (due to the Rapture), so perhaps that's not all that strong a position. I've also heard that Moses and Elijah are a good possibility. At any rate, who they are is not nearly as important as what they will be saying. There are a couple of slightly differing schools of thought on this. Some (e.g. Floyd Barackman) say that the witnesses will not be preaching the Gospel. His view is that the entire world will have responded to the available information from either the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, or the satanic lie. That being the case, they will have "chosen their side" at that point. The two witnesses' role would be to proclaim the existence and authority of God, and perhaps warn about the coming judgment. Others, such as John MacArthur, will say that the witnesses will indeed be preaching the Gospel along with the rest of their testimony, a view which makes more sense to me. So there's a good deal of speculation about these fellows, but the bottom line is that they will be standing for God in the midst of great opposition. It will even cost them their lives, before God finally revives them a few days afterward (see Revelation 11:7-12). What about us, in the present time? Do we stand for God in the face of even a little opposition? Never be "ashamed" of the Gospel (Romans 1:16)!