ISB ~ Revelation 11 v3

two witnesses:Represent the Church’s witness to Israel and, more specifically, her conviction that the Law and the Prophets bear witness to Christ. So understood, the fate of the two witnesses symbolize the rejection of the gospel by unbelieving Israel (11:10), as well as the Church’s conformity to Christ in his dying, rising, and exaltation (11:7, 11-12). Some see the witnesses as two historical individuals, either as two unknown martyrs or as two figures from the OT, such as Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah.

• The actions of the witnesses recall those of Moses and Elijah: they “shut the sky” (11:6; 1 Kings 17:1); they turn water “into blood” (11:6; Ex 7:20); they are taken up to “heaven” (11:12; 2 Kings 2:11); and they give “testimony” to Jesus (11:7; Lk 9:28-31).

sackcloth:A coarse garment of goat hair worn as a sign of mourning and repentance (Dan 9:3; Joel 1:13).