The 42-month Ministry of the Two Witnesses

The Times of the Gentiles

For nearly 2000 years, the Holy City of Jerusalem has been trodden down by the Gentiles as an outward manifestation of a spiritual reality. These 2000 years encompass the period known as the times of the Gentiles. In Luke 21:24, the Savior prophesied of this time that began with his death, saying:

“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Luke 21:24

The times of the Gentiles refers to the time in the earth’s history when non-Jewish people have power in the earth and receive the gospel on a priority basis. The times of the Gentiles shall continue until the Second Coming, when the Jews shall then receive the gospel on a preferential basis, thus fulfilling the prophecy that

“The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
1 Nephi 13:42

Gentiles Tread Down the Holy City 42 Months

In their last great act of power, the Gentiles will tread down Jerusalem during the last 42 months before the Second Coming. (Rev 11:2) This is the period of the Great Tribulation that corresponds in time with the last half of the Second Woe (Armageddon). (Rev 9:12–11:14)

In numerology, the number 42 is the product of 6×7. 42 represents a period of evil because six is an imperfect number that falls short of the perfect number seven. 42 months is also equal to 3½ years, or half of the seven-year battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 11:3 states that during this 42-month period of evil, the Two Witnesses will prophesy in Jerusalem for 1260 days. The 42 months of evil is equal to 1260 days of goodness, based on 42 months of 30 days each.

Whenever John speaks of a time of goodness, he measures the period in days, and when it is evil he measures in months.

To be clear:
42 months = 1260 days = 3½ years = “time and times and the dividing of time.” (Dan 7:25)

The Identity and Ministry of the Two Witnesses

The Two Witnesses are prophets who will prophesy of Christ among the Jews in Jerusalem. They will be two actual mortal men that can die a martyr’s death, not translated prophets from ages past. They are the two sons foreseen by Isaiah who lie in the streets “full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.” (Isa 51:20)

Joseph Smith describes their mission and identity in Doctrine and Covenants 77:5, saying they will be:

“Two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days … to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.”
D&C 77:5

The Two Witnesses are called “the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks” in Revelation 11:4 because they spread spiritual light among the Jews during their ministry. They will be latter-day forerunners for Christ’s Second Coming just as John the Baptist was a forerunner for Christ’s First Coming.

The Two Witnesses will prepare the Jews to receive the gospel last from the Millennial Messiah at the Second Coming, just as the Jews received the gospel first from the Mortal Messiah at his First Coming.

The Two Witnesses also minister in the likeness of Zerubbabel and Joshua, the Jewish governor and high priest, respectively, who built the Second Jewish Temple that was dedicated in 515 BC. Since the Two Witnesses are the antitype for Zerubbabel and Joshua, we can learn a lot about their future ministry from past history.

Learn More

To find out more about the identity and mission of the Two Witnesses, check out my podcasts from:

🎧 August 3, 2025 – Listen here

🎧 August 5, 2025 – Listen here

(Also available wherever you get your podcasts)

John Cassinat
Unveiling Jesus Christ