Today, we reflect on two powerful readings that invite us to reconsider our understanding of heaven and our relationship with Jesus. The Book of Revelation presents the vivid imagery of the two witnesses, bold and unwavering in their testimony, while our Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Luke challenges the Sadducees’ doubts about life after death. Together, these passages remind us of the profound truth about the nature of heaven and the promise of eternal life—a promise that may be radically different from what we often imagine.
In Revelation, we are given a description of the characters and roles of the two witnesses who embody the spirit of prophecy. Many have sought to identify them as Moses and Elijah while some state that these two witnesses represent all the prophets and John the Baptist (e.g. Chilton). However, the Church Fathers identified them as “Enoch and Elijah” (Augustine). The reason for this is that Enoch and Elijah are the two Old Testament saints who were assumed into Heaven prior to death. Neither of them died. Their future death will be a martyrdom under the hand of the eschatological Antichrist.
This is reitterated by Saint Thomas Aquinas in his 3rd Volume of the Summa theologiae, the 5th answer to the 49th question. He states: “Elias was taken up into the atmospheric heaven, but not in to the empyrean heaven, which is the abode of the saints: and likewise Enoch was translated into the earthly paradise, where he is believed to live with Elias until the coming of Antichrist.”
We can safely say, only God knows who these two witnesses are, and they stand as olive trees and lampstands, symbols of life and light in a world shrouded in darkness and despair. As they face the ultimate test—their martyrdom—they become a testament to the resilience of faith. Their death, witnessed by the inhabitants of the earth, may seem like defeat, but it is in that very moment that God's breath of life enters them, raising them from the dead. This powerful image reminds us that even in our most challenging moments, when it seems that hope is lost, God has a plan for resurrection and renewal and that his version of victory is so different from that of the world’s which is limited to the here and now. God has the final, perfected version, while we experience only “rough drafts” if you will, of what true victory is all about.
In our human understanding, we might envision heaven as a place similar to life on Earth, filled with familiar relationships and experiences, perhaps even an extension of our earthly joys. But Jesus, addressing the Sadducees, reveals a different reality. He tells them that in the resurrection, life will transcend earthly categories and constraints. There will be no marriage, no death—only the fullness of life as children of God, like angels. This reality invites us to embrace a vision of heaven that is beyond our current experience, a place of profound communion with God and one another, unfettered by the limitations of our human understanding.
So, what does this mean for us today as we strive to build our relationship with Christ? Firstly, it calls us to deepen our connection to Him, recognizing that our earthly lives are a preparation for something far greater. Each prayer, each act of kindness, and each moment spent in His presence is not just a duty—it is an investment in our heavenly future. When we nurture our relationship with Christ, we begin to glimpse the depths of His love for us and the eternal life that awaits.
Secondly, we must remember that our current trials and tribulations are not the end of the story. Like the two witnesses in Revelation, we may face challenges that leave us feeling despondent or defeated. However, it is in these moments that God’s power can shine brightest, transforming our pain into purpose and our suffering into a testimony of faith. Christ invites us to trust that even when the world seems indifferent, He is preparing a place for us—a home that far exceeds our imaginations.
May the Lord continue to make of you my dear brother and sister, his precious witness. May he give you the grace of freedom in heart and mind, and the joy of the Holy Spirit, as you boldly continue to live for and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ, Crucified and Risen and who will come again to judge the living and the dead, and may he himself prepare you for that day, when stepping out of this world you enter into the rest of eternity with him forever. Our Lady, Queen of Christians, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
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