I was referring to your post 4 with my post 22. But since we don't seem to be communicating, I'll catch you on some other thread. God bless.
I am awake and have not just come from anything negative, so I think I'm reasonably clear-headed.
I suppose then I'm not sure where you are seeing specific eisegesis as opposed to an undefined Scriptural theological opinion or belief-set.
I will accept correction if I am wrong, always from my brother's.
The OP was what I answered, the author is very kind so I made a short comment as to allude my theological position without inviting argument ( Never works does it?) to support the OP creator (no one wants a thread that's not active so I was being encouraging)
Now, specifically in Revelation 11:3 there's two witnesses.
The word for witness is martyr - literally.
martyr, witness.
Of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr" -- martyr, record, witness.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3144: μάρτυρ
μάρτυρ, μάρτυρός, ὁ, see μάρτυς.
... (etymologically one who is mindful, heeds ... μάρτυρός, accusative μάρτυρα, ὁ; plural μάρτυρες, dative plural μάρτυσι; the Sept. for עֵד; (Hesiod, Simonides, Theognis, others); a witness (one who avers, or can aver, what he himself has seen or heard or knows by any other means);
in a legal sense ...
.
in an historical sense ...
.
in an ethical sense those [who] are called μάρτυρες Ἰησοῦ, who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death ... Acts 22:20 [Stephen]; Revelation 2:13; Revelation 17:6.
The verb prophēteuō (to prophesy, v. 3) is used of the church’s Spirit-empowered witness in Acts 2:17-18 (quoting Joel 2:28-29), where all believers prophesy.
Since the Book of Revelation is prophetic symbolism, unlike other books of the Bible, the first thing to consider is what the words being used are.
While I have my own opinions about the prophecies illuminated in Revelation, I don't argue them because it is symbolic imagery, but whenever the opportunity arises to show who we are in Christ I take it, and we are His witnesses and martyrs upon this earth, until the end.
And in the end, we are resurrected and glorified in Christ Jesus (hence, raised up) . But I do see a more direct line between the Church and the Two Witnesses - since the type of them is Christ and John the Baptist.
I don't look at a single verse to determine what I believe Scripture teaches, I don't believe it possible, most especially in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Feel free to correct. This is the shortest possible answer, decidedly
not the fullest answer. However, I can continue to clarify.
I like my quote from Romans, I think it worked for the thread OP - short and sweet, and what I thought to be uncontroversial. I don't know about anyone else but I do know I am stood upon this earth as witness and testament to the goodness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Prophet and High Priest, King over all. The image of the living God. (Colossians 1:15, and as "the express image of his person" in Hebrews 1:3)
There's plenty more words used in revelation 11:3-4 which can be defined in order to clarify my position more, if needed.
