The Two Witnesses are not the Church but the Seven Golden Lampstands are.
This is the main problem with allegorical interpretation of scriptures, it yields arbitrary conclusions inconsistent, if not contradictory, and without due regard to the immediate context.
Revelation has already, early on, referred to the Church as “Church” in chapters 2-3 identifying them each by name where they are based, namely, Church in Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7), Church in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11), Church in Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17), Church in Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29), Church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6), Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13), and Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:14-22).
But early on, they were seen in a vision in the Prologue, along with the vision of the Son of Man (Rev. 1:9-20), as the seven golden lampstands, while the stars in the vision signify the messengers sent to deliver the letter (aggelos, in Gk, Rev. 1:20).
The reason why lampstands are used to depict them in the Prologue is probably because they are supposed to shine their “light into the world” or to give glory to God. “Lamp” in the Book of Revelation is used for the following purposes:
In Rev. 21:23, it says, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” According to this verse the Lamb is its lamp because he is the glory of God in the city.
In Rev. 22:5, it says, “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Indicating their glory shines in the city that it needs no luminaries.
In Rev. 18:23, it says, “and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.” Referring to Babylon’s temporal glory that will cease to be because of God’s judgment.
Thus, they are depicted as lampstands because they function to shine the glory of God where they are, in Pergamum, in Ephesus, etc. And they do so by being the Lord’s faithful witnesses, like Antipas who was killed in Pergamum “where Satan dwells”, see Rev. 2:13.
That each and everyone of them are called to be witnesses is also evident in Rev. 19:10, when an angel told John saying, “I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”
Therefore each and every member of the Church is also called to hold the testimony of Jesus or to bear witness to Jesus. And by maintaining his word of testimony will they overcome the Evil One (see Rev. 12:11).
And so, this is why their function to do so (as a lampstand) is threatened removed if they do not repent from where they have fallen. And this is what it says in Rev. 2:5 to the Church in Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” Which is also the message of the Spirit to the other churches, see Rev. 2:7.
Being a lampstand is common to each Church because each of them is called to shine God’s glory where they are by maintaining their testimony to Jesus. And by being common, it means each and every member of the Church is also called to do the same. This brings to mind what the Lord says in the Gospels, for example in Mat. 5:15, “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” (see also Mk. 4:21; Lk. 8:16 cf. Jn. 5:35).
This is also why the Two Witnesses are called “two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth” (Rev. 11:4) because their function is not just to shine God’s glory by maintaining their witness to Jesus in a locality but “before the Lord of the earth“. Their role is given global prominence as the witnesses of God for the End Times (Rev. 11:3). And their function will be authenticated by signs and wonders (see Rev 11:5-6) like the prophets and apostles of old.
But when they finish their testimony for 42 months (the same period the beast was empowered compare Rev. 11:2-3 with 13:5), they will be killed like their Master (Rev 11:7) and will lie dead in the same city their Master was killed (Rev. 11:8). Their prominence will make sure their death will be known globally (Rev 11:9-11) so that even in life, death, resurrection and rapture, they continue to shine God’s glory by not loving their lives unto death (Rev 11:10-12). As a result those who survive the great earthquake in the city will also give glory to God because of their faithfulness to Jesus (Rev. 11:13).
Thus, it doesn’t make sense to interpret the Two Witnesses as representative of the whole Church because not all will given the same authenticating signs and wonders as they will be when the beast comes to power. We will exactly know their identity when their time comes .
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