The "two witnesses" of Revelation 11 are also mentioned as being the "two candlesticks" (Rev.11:4).
What were the "candlesticks" per Revelation 1? The 7 candlesticks John saw represent the 7 Churches.
Revelation 11 is thus pointing to two literal witnesses in Jerusalem that will prophesy against the beast, and the beast (Satan) will ascend from the bottomless pit and kill them, leaving their dead bodies laying unburied in the street for three and one half days.
The symbolic "two candlesticks" represent the only 2 Churches which Jesus had no rebuke for, the Church of Smyrna and the Church of Philadelphia. Those 2 Churches represent Christ's elect that are aware of the false Jews of the "synagogue of Satan", the heart of Christ's enemies that crept in among Israel long, long ago. They represent Satan's servants here on earth, the "many antichrists". And because these 2 candlesticks are aware of that, Satan will specifically go after these 2 symbolic Churches also.
Don't you recall brethren, about Jesus' warning for the end about some of us being delivered up to councils and synagogues, in order to give a TESTIMONY for Him with allowing The Holy Spirit to speak through us? (See Mark 13). Don't you remember what Peter quoted from Joel 2 about the cloven tongue manifesting for the end, just prior to the "day of the Lord" when Jesus returns?
Thank you for your interest, and for your interesting perspective. It seems that you are tending towards the literalist interpretation of the Two Witnesses of Rev.11, and of the seven churches of Rev.1-3.
The literalist perspective of the Two Witnesses is not preferred for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there is Rev.11:7, which states that the (first) Beast will make war against the Two Witnesses. War is conducted between two parties of multiple individuals, so both the Beast and the Two Witnesses must be groups of people. Secondly, Rev.11:12 states that the Two Witnesses ascended to heaven. In Joh.3:13, Jesus said that "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven". Jesus was speaking of His future physical ascension. As He said, his physical ascension was the exception, as "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God", 1Co.15:50. Consequently, not only are the Two Witnesses two groups of people, but the ascension of Rev.11 is a spiritual ascension. Jesus said to Nathaniel that "you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man", Joh.1:51, even as with Jacob's ladder. The spiritual ascension and descension of men occurs likewise, as the sons of the resurrection are equal to the angels, Luk.20:36. The general resurrection completes the regeneration of the spirit body (the second birth), which resurrection is spiritual, 1Co.15:42,44, and concurrent, Eph.2:5,6, as heaven is juxtaposed, not postponed. Yes, an exact understanding of scripture requires a paradigm shift. That is why we must come to the Lord as little children, for children have little in the way of preconceptions, such that they are teachable.
The two lamp stands, or candlesticks, of Rev.11, are from Zec.4, where the two lamp stands are as one, though it is fed by the oil of the two olive trees, which are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth. The single lamp stand of Zec.4 has 7 lamps, which are stated to be eyes which scan throughout the whole earth, for the 7 lamps are the 7 spiritual generations of the true Church, which reside in the seven heavens, the septum. In the NT, the Gentiles have begun to come in to the kingdom of heaven, so the one lamp stand of Zec.4 becomes the two lampstands of the Two Witnesses. Further, the seven lamps of Zec.4 become the seven lamp stands of Rev.1, which are the 7 Churches, which are the 7 spiritual generations.
There are false brethren who are of the "synagogue of Satan", or of the church of chips, or of the mosque of malevolence. This is necessarily true in a world of sin, from which God is saving people, to be in the true congregation. This is why Psa.23 says that "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies". Be that as it may, there are still two blood covenants which are still valid today, the adherents of which compose the Two Witnesses. Abraham is the head of the First Witness, and Melchizedek is the head of the Second Witness, for Abraham circumcised both Isaac and Ishmael, and Melchizedek was the Gentile priest of the God most high, such that Jesus was revealed to be the high priest of the order of Melchizedek, for Jesus preceded Melchizedek, both by His preexistance and by HIs preemminance.
There is much that may be said about Mar.13 and Joe.1, by which we may stir up the Spirit for Testimony, as members of the Two Witnesses, especially concerning the end.
Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Mar 13:32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
The heaven and earth of the former dispensation gave way to the new heaven and the new earth of the new dispensation. This transition is reflected in the transition from BC to AD, which day and hour was at that time unknown to all but the Father. However, the placement of that date is not in accord with the actual transition. Jesus knew when that occurred, Luk.16:16/ Mat.3:16/ Dan.9:27, as did we, Luk.3:1/ Joh.2:20, which was Nisan 29AD. That was the middle of the 70th week, from Nisan 26AD to Nisan 33AD.
Joe.2 is almost entirely about another end, the end of the worldly powers over the Church, which will come as a result of the Second Coming. The final paragraph of Joe.2 is not about the Second Coming, however. At first glance, this passage which Peter quoted in Act.2:16 seems to be directed towards the events that are to follow the Second Coming. However, though unspecified, the term "afterward" in Joe.2:28 refers to the time after the First Coming, not after the Second Coming. It is interesting to note that in the main body of Joe.2 that the soldiers of the Lord in the Last Battle are said to enter like a theif, and the Lord said that He would come as a theif in the night.
However, your point here seems to be the movement of the Spirit which causes the testimony of the Two Witnesses. There is one thing that one may find puzzling about Rev.11, which is the statement, "when they finish their testimony" the beast will overcome and kill them. Believers should not ever finish their testimony. The sorry circumstance of such a thing occuring would likely cause spiritual descent, even to the point of falling asleep, which is like spiritual death; the
petite mort, the little death. Overcoming most often requires such unpleasant experiences, and though those of the world rejoice over such failure, yet there is the revival;
Rev 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 11:11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
Don't lose heart, especially if you don't understand it all.
Be blessed, be well.