Major - however you want to slice the cake - they still are slain (I agree God allows it). You said that because all who live and are saved during the Trib will do so without physical death. You can't dismiss the theory based on that, that the 2 witnesses won't experience physical death. Aside from the fact that I believe there will be those saved who die before the trib ends.
The 2 witnesses seem to appear, full grown, in Jerusalem. And they are directly lead by God. It could be two unknowns and certainly I wouldn't think they would identify themselves as Elijah or Moses or whoever, immediately, if they were. If, as attributed by Christ, Elijah was reborn as John the Baptist, then he has suffered physical death. (Matthew 17:12 ). But, Malachi 4:5 , says Elijah will come
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" So maybe he will come both times. IDK.
I think the 2 witnesses come after the Rapture, at the beginning of the trib, for 3 1/2 yrs, to rebuild the 3rd Temple and gather the remnant. I think when the Temple is rebuilt, cleansed and dedicated (3 1/2 yrs), the AC will come to Jerusalem,allowed to slay the witnesses and abominate the Temple. That is the sign to flee Jerusalem and many have predicted they will flee to Petra.
The 2 witnesses seem to appear, full grown, in Jerusalem. And they are directly lead by God. It could be two unknowns and certainly I wouldn't think they would identify themselves as Elijah or Moses or whoever, immediately, if they were. If, as attributed by Christ, Elijah was reborn as John the Baptist, then he has suffered physical death. (Matthew 17:12 ). But, Malachi 4:5 , says Elijah will come
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" So maybe he will come both times. IDK.
I think the 2 witnesses come after the Rapture, at the beginning of the trib, for 3 1/2 yrs, to rebuild the 3rd Temple and gather the remnant. I think when the Temple is rebuilt, cleansed and dedicated (3 1/2 yrs), the AC will come to Jerusalem,allowed to slay the witnesses and abominate the Temple. That is the sign to flee Jerusalem and many have predicted they will flee to Petra.