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Revelation 11
3 I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth.
one thousand two hundred sixty days
The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days. (Revelation 12:6)
This period of time shows up in various formats a total of five times throughout Revelation. An interesting clue as to its meaning emerges by comparing the formats. Interestingly each time it is presented as 42 months, as well as when 42 is used in reference to other stories in Scripture, it involves violence and aggression. When this is formated as days, it seems to be related with God's witnesses, while when stated as times it involves times of warfare against God's people.
Months and 42
The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to: and besides them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities; them shall you give with their suburbs.
(Numbers 35:6-7)
[Elisha] went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldy; go up, you baldhead. He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. (2 Kings 2:23-24)
A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1-2)
They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (Revelation 13:4-5)
Days and 1260 (sometimes relying on the day for a year prophetic multiplier)
After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. (Revelation 11:11)
He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)
It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth. (1 Kings 18:1)
But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. (Luke 4:25)
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. (James 5:17-18)
Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)
and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" (Matthew 27:40)
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews therefore said, "Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?"
(John 2:19-20)
saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again.' (Matthew 27:63)
"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" (Mark 14:58)
He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He said, "Behold, it's me, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight." (Acts 9:9-12)
Time and Times Again
When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:13-14)
I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
This last passage parallels one we just studied in the previous chapter. Only there we heard this same man declare, in contrast to predicting a time period of 1260, that now there would be no more delay. How are we to understand this?
Many insist that all these numbers only point back to historical fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and this one was fulfilled during the time of intense darkness and persecution of God's true followers during the Dark Ages. I do not dispute that this number can apply to that period of time. However the question remaining is this: Is that the only valid application of this number? Personally I find compelling reasons to believe there are likely multiple applications for these prophecies, particularly in Revelation and including this one. I remain open to allowing that prophetic time periods presented in Revelation, may apply to future and/or current events, and as history approaches the final climax of crisis for the empire of evil I believe God will not leave us ignorant of important time periods that will involve. I believe it is possible that these numbers may also predict periods of time relating to current and future events that involve similar principles as in the past. At the same time I also realize it can be hazardous to attempt to predict precisely just how or when these predictions will play out in future events before they transpire.
I don't believe that these future time periods are to be understood as involving the prophetic multiplier of the day for a year principle in this venue. If these periods indeed apply to future events (and I believe there is good evidence for that), they will not be anchored to specific points in history as previous prophecies were, but rather will play out involving similar principles as in the past, while being initiated by new anchor-points in time. There are some that have studied more deeply into this idea and have discovered significant evidence that supports this scenario, But it is not something I want to spend a lot of time on here except to point out that I am open to considering this approach so long as such interpretations fit the primary criteria being used here to interpret what we read.
clothed in sackcloth
I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. (Revelation 6:12)
Keep in mind we are still in the time of the 6th trumpet and before the 7th trumpet. This last verse is the only other place in Revelation where sackcloth is mentioned, and it is part of the description of the effect of the Lamb breaking open the 6th seal. I believe this is not a coincidence.
If I'm correct, sackcloth can refer to tent material which was typically made from the hair of goats or camels. When a person went inside the tent when it was sunny outside, light would filter through the cloth and look like stars. When it rained, the moisture would swell the hairs causing the holes to close, thus effectively sealing out the water until it dried out again and the holes open up. There may be some useful symbolism here to ponder.
However and most importantly, this connects us directly to something significant within the message of the 6th seal, so whatever interpretation we settle on as to the meaning of that symbol may have parallel links to what we find as the meaning of these two witnesses.
There are at least two ways to view the 6th seal. One is the traditional view that it unequivocally refers to the Second Coming of Christ. That is what I assumed all my life until a few months ago when someone pointed out details that arouse serious questions. Now I am more open to more options, for the arguments that suggest it may be describing a counterfeit Second Coming seem compelling. I am also open to accepting that it could be interpreted both ways, though not in the same line of explaining the rest of the seals. For me it makes sense that all of the seals are exposures of fakes, counterfeits, frauds perpetrated by the enemy. So to interpret that the 6th seal as also an exposure of a counterfeit would fit much better into the overall pattern with the rest when viewed in that way.
Either way, what might it mean for the sun to be darkened like sackcloth of hair? And why would this be, either for the real Second Coming or for a counterfeit one? How would the literal sun look, or what does this represent if viewed as symbolic more than literal?
How might that contribute to understanding why these two witnesses prophecy for 1260 days in sackcloth? Is this in sympathy with the sun that wears sackcloth in the 6th seal? Is the sun in sackcloth a precursor of this prophecy seen here? Let's review more passages relating to sackcloth to see how they might provide additional clues.
Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. (Genesis 37:34)
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, See you how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days will I bring the evil on his house. (1 Kings 21:27-29)
Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a bitterly. (Esther 4:1)
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, (Psalms 30:11)
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. (Isaiah 3:24)
Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, "Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you until you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts. (Isaiah 22:12-14 NAS95)
Thus says Yahweh, Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were you sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. I gave my back to the strikers, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I didn't hide my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord Yahweh will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed. He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up. (Isaiah 50:1-9)
All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be on all faces, and baldness on all their heads. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Yahweh: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it has been the stumbling block of their iniquity. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein: therefore have I made it to them as an unclean thing.
(Ezekiel 7:17-20)
All who handled the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships; they shall stand on the land, and shall cause their voice to be heard over you, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust on their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: and they shall make themselves bald for you, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for you in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning. (Ezekiel 27:29-31)
Mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth! (Joel 1:8)
Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your God's house. (Joel 1:13)
I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will make you wear sackcloth on all your bodies, and baldness on every head. I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. (Amos 8:10)
The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. (Jonah 3:5-8)
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (Luke 10:13)
Based on these passages, sackcloth was most often associated with mourning, with foreboding, with repentance as well as a turning to God for mercy and/or protection from impending disaster. It is sometimes contrasted with rejoicing and celebration. I suppose this was because sackcloth is inherently uncomfortable to wear as it is likely quite scratchy on the bare skin. What this might promote is a synchronization of the external feelings with one's internal state of emotions.
In our next study we will take a look at the meaning of the olive trees and lampstands as early descriptors of the nature of these two witnesses.
