The book of Revelation is full of signs and symbols.The two witnesses are symbols of Moses and Elijah.They have the power to turn water into blood and to shut up the sky, for 1260 days(three and one half years). The two olive trees are symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the two lampstands (two witnesses) are fueled by the Holy Spirit who gives light to the world.
Oil is used to anoint the people of God and the Holy Spirit is usually given to the anointed one after this.In 1:Sam 16-13 it is written,
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers,and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.
In John 8:12 it is written,
When Jesus spoke again to the people,he said, "I am the light of the world."
In Revelation 19:10 it is written,
"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
This scripture helps us to understand the two olive trees and the two lampstands.
In James 5:17 we read,
Elijah was a man just like us.He prayed earnestly that it would not rain on the land for three and one half years
****The above quote (because of the three and one half years-1260 days), the same period as mentioned in Revelation,surely reinforces the view that Elijah is one of the witnesses
Are these witnesses supposed to be actual men.
In Rev 11:8-10 we read,
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city,which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt,where also their Lord was crucified. For three and one half days men from every people,tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,because those two prophets had tormented those who live on earth
To understand the symbolism of the two witnesses we must look to the above scripture.
The men from every people ,tribe, language and nation represent followers of God.
The inhabitants of the earth represent followers of the beast.
To help understand the above two statements we must read Rev 14:6,
Then i saw another angel flying in mid-air,and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation,tribe, language and people.
Also Rev 17:15,
Then the angel said to me," the waters you saw where the prostitute sits,are peoples,multitudes, nations and languages.
Also Rev 19:6 to confirm that the peoples,multitudes,nations and languages are the people of God.
Then i heard what sounded like a great multitude,like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder,shouting:"Hallelujah! for our Lord God Almighty reigns."
So the prostitute sits on the waters, (God followers) and then in the next verse we read that the "rushing waters,"(God followers) are shouting "our God reigns."
The inhabitants of the earth follow the beast and this is confirmed in Rev:13 8-9,
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
He who has an ear,let him hear.
We read in above quote Rev 11:8-10,
For three and one half days men from every people,tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.
And then it reads,
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,because those two prophets had tormented those who live on earth.
Conclusion:
The two witnesses are symbolic of testimony and the fire coming from their mouths is symbolic of the word of god.
Two=testimony.According to the inhabitants of the earth the"testimony is dead"
The men of every people,tribe,language and nation know that "the testimony is alive."
The men of every people ,tribe, nation and language will refuse to accept that the "testimony of God" is dead (the two witnesses) and this is why they will refuse burial.
The inhabitants of the earth are happy because they think that the word of God is dead.No more will they be tormented by the testimony of God and they will now trample on the holy city for a period of 1260 days.