Thank you for the question on the Great Tribulation, “Why do theologians believe the two witnesses show up in the first half of the Great Tribulation? Do they possibly come during the time of the Feast of Trumpets?”
The appearance of the two witnesses during the first half of the Great Tribulation is subjective . As one thinks about the events of the Great Tribulation, I list the events for one’s consideration:
A. The Great Tribulation is a time period of seven years
B. The reconstruction of the Temple begins shortly after the rise of the Antichrist to bring peace between the Jews and the Muslims.
C. The Sealing of the 144,000 Jews.
D. The horrific judgments of the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls fall upon the earth.
E. The desecration of the Temple by the Antichrist near the 3.5 years of the Tribulation.
G. The persecution of the Jews and the Mark of the Beast on humans.
H. The Battle of Armagedón and the Return of Jesus Christ.
Revelations 11 states that the two witness will be on the earth for 42 months. The text says this, “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” (NIV).
From this text, there is a temple of God and the altar during this time period. The reconstruction occurs prior to Revelation 12. In Revelation 12, there is the Beast who wages war for 42 months on the Jews and on the world’s people, compelling people to worship the Antichrist.
The question becomes when do the two witnesses appear in that seven-year period? It is suggested that the two witnesses appear sometime soon after the rapture of the Church. If Christians are taken to be with the Lord, this leaves the world with all unbelievers. It would include those who heard about Jesus and his teaching but didn’t come to a full faith in him.
The arrival of the two witnesses at the beginning of the Great Tribulation will confirm of the imminent return of the Messiah as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They call the nations to repentance especially to the Jews. The sealing of the 144,000 Jews becomes witnesses in and beyond Israel.
The proclamation by the two witnesses will infuriate the Antichrist who will seek to isolate and or destroy the two witnesses. The death of the two witnesses after 42 months would prove to the world that he is the “savior” of the world. He is the only true god, demolishing all other gods including the temple in Jerusalem.
If the two witnesses are killed in the middle of the Tribulation, it will give the Antichrist time to consolidate his power and to persecute the Jews. It will take time for the world to bow to the Antichrist. The last 3 years of so will be intense persecution and intense judgments from God whereby the Antichrist may seek to attribute them to climate change or natural events, not judgments from God.
Your comment on the timing of the two witnesses during the Feast of Trumpet is very plausible. As the Jews restore the Temple, they will be celebrating the various feasts. It is also plausible that the two witnesses appear during the time of the Day of Atonement. The signs that accompany the two witnesses will give pause to the whole world initially. I tend to think that the Antichrist will attempt to isolate them since they can’t be harm until the end of the 42 months.
The view presented is a personal understanding of the Scripture. My view doesn’t represent any church or denomination. It’s worth pondering when and how the two witnesses will impact the people who will see the destructive power or the message of hope in the coming of the Christ.
-Kingston