Question
I am enquiring into the identity of the two witnesses spoken of in Revelations. I so far have read that they are Elijah and either Moses or Enoch. Do you have any other sources that can tell me more?
I would also like to enquire on what happens to the non-christian people of the world. Do they all go to hell? Do they all have exposure to Christianity and especially Orthodox Christianity? Is this the purpose of the witnesses? To make sure all the world are told about the Trinity, etc?
Answer
The two witnesses are spoken of in Rev 11:1-14. According to my research on your question, there is little consensus as to the identity of these individuals. What you have read—that the two witnesses represent Elijah and Enoch—seems to be the commonly held opinion of many Church Fathers. The connection here is found in the Old Testament accounts of their being taken up into heaven. In other places I have found that the two witnesses represent Elijah and Moses, perhaps on the basis of a tradition which states that Moses was also taken up into heaven or because, in the account of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Moses appears with Elijah.
Concerning your other questions:
“What happens to the non-Christian people of the world. Do they go to hell?” While Christ clearly says that unless one is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit they cannot attain the Kingdom of heaven, it is not our place to presume the mind or judgment of God. God alone is the Judge; how and why—and when—He judges we do not know. It is for us to ask that He grant mercy, forgiveness, and loving kindness upon those who stand before Him.
” Do they all have exposure to Christianity and especially Orthodox Christianity?” While I am not sure as to what you are asking here, I might reply that some have made a distinction between those who have heard of Christianity and have chosen willfully to reject it, and those who have never had the opportunity to hear of Christianity and who, as a result, have never been given the opportunity to respond to the Gospel. There are those who feel that, in light of Christ’s command to “baptize all nations,” those who have had no encounter with the Gospel due to a lack of zeal in proclaiming it on the part of Christians will not be punished as a result. The question may be asked, however, as to whether Christians who have been complacent in reaching out with the Gospel will be judged for their lack of zeal. A great deal of speculation can arise in reference to such matters.
” Is this the purposes of the witnesses—to make sure all the world are told about the Trinity, etc.” The two witnesses clearly speak with prophetic voices—and the prophets were characterized primarily by their zeal in proclaiming the presence and expectations of God in the midst of those who often rejected such realities. As we read in Rev 11:9,10 the world, rebelling against God, rejoiced in the death of the prophets, just as we find in the Old Testament as the prophets were persecuted because their words and actions threatened their rebellious listeners. As we continue to read we find that the prophets are raised with the “breath of life” and taken up into heaven in view of their tormenters, causing great fear among them. Here one might say that the two witnesses are perhaps held up as examples of the faithful remnant, filled with zeal, who try through their words and actions to proclaim the Good News in the midst of those who reject it.