400 Rob Dalrymple likely predicated upon the OT law, which required two witnesses for the establishment of any testimony against the law (26). Therefore, the fact that there are two witnesses appears to function as a means of establishing the credibility of their legal testimony against the world. A. A. Trites suggests that “Their fire is the actual testimony which they must give in a Roman court of law” (27). Further attestation of their character as witnesses is the fact that they possess the ability to spew fire out of their mouths: “fire proceeds out of their mouth” (11,5). That this signifies judgment is widely acknowledged. Furthermore, that mouths represent their message appears equally justified. The use of fire proceeding from a mouth outside of the Apocalypse supports this conclusion. Jeremiah 5,14 provides a background for understanding the fire from the mouths of the Two Witnesses as representative of their message (28). Josephus, similarly, claims that Elijah’s calling down fire from Heaven served to prove he was a true prophet (29). In fact, the ability of the Two Witnesses likely contrasts with the demonic hordes in 9,17, 18; 13,5; and 16,13 (30). The references to the mouths of demonic, or demonically empowered entities (as in 13,1-10), and the reiteration of the deceptive aims of these beings (cp. 13,14) form a stark contrast with the testimony of the Two Witnesses. Furthermore, there is likely a contrast between the mouths of the demonic beings and the sword that proceeds from Christ’s mouth (1,16; 19,15, 21). That the “sharp two-edged sword” (1,16) represents His words is derived from the parallels with Heb 4,12 and 2 Thess 2,8. In the latter passage, Christ “will slay” his enemies with the “breath of his mouth”. The combination of these passages and Revelation affirms that Christ defeats his enemies by His very proclamation, which the Apocalypse represents by a sharp two-edged sword. Finally, in regards to the prophetic call of the Two Witnesses, due attention is warranted to the powers granted to them, in that they appear to embody the prophetic ministries of Moses and Elijah (31). Therefore, it is apparent that the Two Witnesses function as conveyers of the Gospel in accordance with the prophetic ministries of Moses and Elijah. —————— provide dual evidence necessary to sustain their case and to thwart the accuser” (MORRIS, Revelation, 135). Cf. J.P.M. SWEET, Revelation (London 1979) 184; SCHUSSLER FIORENZA, Revelation, 78; HUGHES, Revelation, 124. (26) Cf., Num 35,30; Deut 17,6; 19,15; also, Matt 18,16; Luke 10,1-24; 1 Tim 5,19. (27) A.A. TRITES, The New Testament Concept of Witness (MSSNTS 31; Cambridge 1977) 167. (28) Jer 5,14 reads: “Because you have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire and this people wood, and it will consume them”. NASB. Cp., also, Isa 11,4; 1,16; 2,12, 16; 19,15, 21. LADD, Revelation, 155; SWEET, Revelation, 185; HUGHES, Revelation, 124. (29) Josephus, Ant. 9.23. (30) The same phrase occurs in 9,17, 18. (31) Cf. BEALE, Revelation, 582-85; J.F. WALVOORD, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Chicago 1966) 180; POYTHRESS, Returning King, 129; WILCOCK, Heaven Opened, 105; MOUNCE, Revelation, 216; G.R. BEASLEY-MURRAY, The Book of Revelation (New Century Bible; Greenwood, SC 1974) 180; CAIRD, Revelation, 135; R.H. CHARLES, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of John (ICC; Edinburgh 1920) 283; D.E. AUNE, Revelation (WBC 52a-c; Nashville 1998) 600, 603.