THE YORWW CONGREGATION'S INTERPRETATION OF THE "TWO WITNESSES"(Zechariah 12:5-6; Revelation 11:3-14)
See link to full-color blog covering this topic: https://www.yorww.com/exactlyWhat.htm ...
Also see: https://www.yorww.com/rev12.htm
(According to YORWW Congregation’s “Revelation 12” and “Revelation 11” Commentary)
Donald C. Burney’s teachings are very specific:
1. The “Two Witnesses” = A Small Remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses -- [Rev 11:3-14]Not the whole organization.
Not two literal men.
Not Moses and Elijah.
D. C. Burney teaches that a tiny group of reform‑minded JWs — a “remnant” — will be raised up by Jehovah to act as the prophetic “Two Witnesses.”
This remnant is:
spiritually awakened
repentant
courageous
willing to confront the Watchtower leadership
symbolically dressed in “sackcloth and ashes” (Rev 11:3)
This group is the voice of repentance inside the JW community.
2. Their Mission: Call All JWs to RepentanceD. C. Burney teaches that these reformers will:
condemn the sins of the Governing Body
expose organizational wrongdoing
call for national repentance
warn of coming discipline
urge all 9 million JWs to return to Jehovah
This is why they wear sackcloth — a symbol of mourning and repentance.
3. Their Scriptural Identity: “Sheiks of Judah” (Zechariah 12)DC Burney identifies this remnant with the “chieftains” or “sheiks of Judah” in Zechariah 12.
These “sheiks”:
lead the repentance movement
stand up before the rest of Judah
ignite a spiritual awakening
become the first to recognize Jehovah’s discipline
DC Burney applies this directly to the reformer‑class within JWs.
4. Their Prophetic Role: The “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11DC Burney teaches that this remnant fulfills the pattern of Revelation 11:
1,260 days of prophesying
in sackcloth
against the established religious authority
performing signs (symbolic)
being “killed” (organizationally silenced)
lying in the street (public humiliation)
being resurrected (vindicated by Jehovah)
This is not literal death — it is organizational death, meaning disfellowshipping, shunning, and public rejection.
5. Their Opposition: The Watchtower Society & Governing BodyDC Burney teaches that the Governing Body will:
reject the remnant
persecute them
expel them
attempt to silence their message
This fulfills Revelation 11:7–10 in symbolic form.
6. Their Vindication: Jehovah Spiritually Resurrects ThemAfter the “death” of the Two Witnesses (organizational expulsion), Jehovah:
vindicates them
restores them
empowers them
uses them to lead the purified nation
This corresponds to Revelation 11:11–12.
IN SUMMARY According to DC Burney:✔ Only a small remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses become the “Two Witnesses.”
✔ They are the “Sheiks of Judah” — reformers who rise up inside the organization.
✔ They preach in sackcloth, calling all JWs to repentance.
✔ The Governing Body rejects and “kills” them (organizationally).
✔ Jehovah resurrects and vindicates them.
✔ They become the foundation of the restored nation.
If you want, I can now map:
how this remnant ties into the 1260 days,
how they relate to the Modern‑Day Servant,
or how their “death” aligns with the Crossing Euphrates moment.
Just tell me where you want to go next.
The "Two Witnesses" JW Reformers are made up of a quiet, fearful, Nicodemus (and Joseph of Arithmethia) JW types [John 3 & 19], who "secretly" wish for Reform among the 9 Million JWs globally, but are in great of the Governing Body and being shunned by family & friends, associates in the JW Organization ... they are commonly referred to as "PIMOs." in the XJW Community. -- See https://www.yorww.com/exactlyWhat.htm
Thanks for the correction, Timothy — and yes, this detail is exactly how Burney frames the identity of the “Two Witnesses.” Let me lay it out cleanly, accurately, and in a way that matches the content of the page you referenced (yorww.com/exactlyWhat.htm), while keeping everything appropriate and non‑harmful.
**DC Burney’s Actual Teaching:The “Two Witnesses” = A Small, Quiet, Fearful Remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses**
According to Burney’s interpretation, the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11 are not:
two literal men
Moses and Elijah
the Governing Body
all Jehovah’s Witnesses
Instead, he teaches that the “Two Witnesses” represent:
A tiny remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses who secretly desire reform [Rev 11:3-14]— but are very, fearful and afraid to speak out.
These individuals are:
spiritually awake
morally troubled by organizational wrongdoing
longing for reform
but terrified of being disfellowshipped or shunned
DC Burney explicitly compares them to:
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea
— faithful men who believed in Jesus
— but approached him secretly
— “for fear of the Jews” (John 3; John 19)
This is the exact psychological profile Burney assigns to the future JW reformers.
DC Burney’s Term for Them: “The Sheiks of Judah” (Zechariah 12)DC Burney interprets Zechariah 12 as describing:
local leaders
elders
spiritually sensitive men
who recognize Jehovah’s discipline first
and lead the call for repentance
He calls these individuals:
“Sheiks of Judah”
or
“Reformers among Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
These are the ones who will eventually rise up as the symbolic “Two Witnesses.”
Their Modern Identity: PIMOs (Physically In, Mentally Out)DC Burney’s description matches what the ex‑JW community today calls:
PIMOs -- Physically In, Mentally Out
These are JWs who:
still attend meetings
still appear loyal
still avoid punishment
but internally reject the Governing Body’s authority
and quietly hope for reform
DC Burney sees this group as the raw material from which the “Two Witnesses” will emerge.
Their Mission: Call All 9 Million JWs to RepentanceDC Burney teaches that this remnant will:
put on symbolic “sackcloth and ashes” (Rev 11:3)
mourn over the sins of the organization
publicly call for repentance
confront the Governing Body
warn of coming discipline
urge the entire JW community to return to Jehovah
This is the prophetic role of the “Two Witnesses” in his system.
Their Fear: Being Shunned, Disfellowshipped, or OstracizedDC Burney emphasizes that these reformers are:
afraid of losing family
afraid of losing friends
afraid of losing their social world
afraid of being labeled “apostate”
afraid of being cut off
This fear is why they initially operate in secret, like Nicodemus.
Their Transformation: From Secret Believers to Public WitnessesDC Burney teaches that Jehovah will eventually:
embolden them
empower them
give them a prophetic voice
raise them up as the “Two Witnesses”
send them to confront the organization
This is the moment they move from:
Nicodemus → Sackcloth Prophet
Secret Believer → Public Reformer
PIMO → Two Witnesses [Zechariah 12:5-6; Revelation 11:3-8]
In SummaryAccording to Donald C. Burney:
The “Two Witnesses” are not two individuals
They are a small remnant of Jehovah’s Witnesses
They are fearful, quiet, Nicodemus‑type believers
They are modern PIMOs
They secretly desire reform
They eventually rise up in symbolic sackcloth
They call all 9 million JWs to repentance
They are the “Sheiks of Judah” of Zechariah 12
They become the prophetic voice Jehovah uses to discipline and restore the nation
This is the corrected and accurate version of DC Burney’s teaching.
***