Revelation 11
4
These are the two olive trees
and the two lampstands,
standing before the Lord of the earth.
the
two olive trees
The angel who talked with
me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his
sleep. He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I
have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold,
with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there
are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it; and
two olive trees by it, one on the
right side of the bowl, and the other on the
left side of it."
I answered and spoke to
the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these,
my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Don't
you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of
Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. Who are you,
great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring
out the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace, to it!'" Moreover
the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel
have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish
it; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you.
Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall
rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
These are the eyes of Yahweh, which run back and forth
through the whole earth."
Then I asked him, "What
are these two olive trees on the right side of
the lampstand and on the left side of
it?" I asked him the second time, "What are these
two olive branches, which are beside the two golden
spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?"
He answered me, "Don't you know what these
are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said, "These
are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the
whole earth." (Zechariah 4:1-14)
As he was praying, the
appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and
dazzling. Behold, two men were talking with him,
who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory,
and spoke of his departure, which he was about
to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:29-31)
But as for me, I
am like a green olive tree in God's house. I trust
in God's loving kindness forever and
ever. I will give you thanks forever, because
you have done it. I will hope in your name, for
it is good, in the presence of your saints.
(Psalms 52:8-9)
Given the descriptions of
the activities of these two witnesses, the evidence seems to lean
toward them being in reference to the characters of Elijah
and Moses. The question then arises, how accurate is the
testimony of these witnesses? Given the following passages linked to
them, we have to take into account the implications of other clues.
Then shall the cities of
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the
gods to which they offer incense: but they will
not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For
according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and
according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you
set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars
to burn incense to Baal. Therefore don't you
pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for
them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to
me because of their trouble.
What has my beloved to do
in my house, seeing she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy
flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you
rejoice.
Yahweh called your
name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit:
with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it,
and the branches of it are broken. For Yahweh of
Armies, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you,
because of the evil of the house of Israel and
of the house of Judah, which they have worked for
themselves in provoking me to anger by offering
incense to Baal.
Yahweh gave me
knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you shown me their
doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the
slaughter; and I didn't know that they had devised devices
against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit
of it, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his
name may be no more remembered. But, Yahweh of Armies, who
judges righteously, who tests the heart and the
mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have
I revealed my cause.
(Jeremiah 11:12-20)
Just because some group has
been called by God to be His witnesses does not preclude
the potential that they can so distort that privilege that God
has to finally reject their testimony because it is only
accomplishing the opposite from what they were called to do.
One of the most dangerous notions that people of God become trapped
in is the belief that because God chose them as a people to
bear His name, that no matter how negligent they have become,
God does reverse His gifting to them or revoke His covenant
with them. This has been a problem of God's chosen people many
times throughout history, including while Jesus was living among His
fellow Jews on earth.
Paul picks up on this in a
way that resonates with what we are finding regarding these two
witnesses. Consider this sobering advice given to those who were
replacing the people who had failed their calling by God
and had been broken off from the true trunk of the olive tree.
But if some of
the branches were broken off, and you, being a
wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became
partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the
olive tree; don't boast over the branches. But if you
boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in." True; by their unbelief they were broken
off, and you stand by your faith.
Don't be conceited, but fear; for if God didn't spare the natural
branches, neither will he spare you. See then the goodness
and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but
toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you
also will be cut off. (Romans 11:17-22)
There is an interesting
passage in Isaiah that can relate to this. But the only
translation I have found that makes this connection clear is the
literal translation from the Greek Septuagint called the
Apostolic Bible Polyglot. And while it does not specifically mention
an olive tree, the message that comes through regarding God's
attitude toward branches is quite revealing.
And you shall say to him,
Guard to be still, and do not fear! nor your soul be weak from the
two trees of these smoking firebrands; for whenever
the anger of my rage takes place, again I will heal.
(Isaiah 7:4 ABP)
the
two
lampstands
He said to me, "What
do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a
lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and
its seven lamps thereon; there are seven
pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;
and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the
other on the left side of it."
I answered and spoke to
the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these,
my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Don't
you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then
he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh
to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by
my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. Who are you,
great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he
will bring out the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace,
to it!'" (Zechariah 4:2-7)
There is a fascinating
connection that may need closer examination involving these olive
trees, lampstands and an additional feature – a
mountain. I think we need to explore this more closely because
they are interconnected in this prophecy in Zechariah with the
symbols of the olive trees and the lampstands. This may reveal clues
that might resonate with other things in Revelation and could
enhance our capacity to perceive deeper insights as to the
identity of these two witnesses.
I will render to Babylon
and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their
evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,
says Yahweh. Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain,
says Yahweh, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out my
hand on you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make
you a burnt mountain. They shall not take of you
a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but you
shall be desolate for ever, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 51:24-26)
The second angel sounded,
and something like a great burning mountain was
thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood,
(Revelation 8:8)
These words Yahweh spoke
to all your assembly on the mountain out of the midst of
the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a
great voice: and he added no more. He wrote them on two tables of
stone, and gave them to me. (Deuteronomy 5:22)
This is the blessing,
with which Moses the man of God blessed the
children of Israel before his death. He said, Yahweh came from Sinai,
And rose from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came
from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was
a fiery law for them.
(Deuteronomy 33:1-2)
He said, Go forth, and
stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold,
Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and
broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the
wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the
earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but
Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a
still small voice.
(1 Kings 19:11-12)
After six days, Jesus
took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought
them up into a high mountain by themselves.
He was transfigured before them. His face shone
like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. Behold,
Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
(Matthew 17:1-3)
Moses led the people out
of the camp to meet God; and they stood at
the lower part of the mountain. Mount
Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on
it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a
furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:17-18)
For you have
not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that
burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, the
sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it
begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, for they
could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an
animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;" and so
fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am
terrified and trembling."
But you have
come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, to the
general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in
heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made
perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood
of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. (Hebrews
12:18-24)
What is emerging from these
passages appears to reflect transitions that have taken place
throughout history in how God's people perceive Him and related to
Him. I wonder if these symbolic two witnesses represent old
ways that God was perceived through the mindset and modeling of
Moses and Elijah. It is clear in the following verses that the
actions of these witnesses parallel actions
carried out by these two prophets. So what kind of conclusion
does this suggest? Are these witnesses false witnesses, true
witnesses or merely less than fully informed witnesses with
good motives but immature ideas about God's heart and
the methods they expect Him to use to overcome evil?
One more thought relating to
the two lampstands symbolism. It has been noted that there are only
two assemblies in the addresses of Jesus, that did not receive
any negative feedback or reprimand from Him. An interesting
distinction between the two is that apparently one is warned
that they will suffer death while the second one is
promised to be spared from that kind of testing.
To the angel of the
assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and
the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things: "I
know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and
the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but
are a synagogue of Satan. Don't be afraid of the things
which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about
to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested;
and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to
death, and I will give you the crown
of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
assemblies. He who overcomes won't be harmed by the second death.
(Revelation 2:8-11)
To the angel of the
assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is
holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and
no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: I
know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no
one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and
didn't deny my name. Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of
those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I
will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that
I have loved you.
Because you kept my
command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of
testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test
those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold
firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your
crown.
He who overcomes, I will
make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from
there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from my God, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (Revelation 3:7-13)
You are the light of the
world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. Neither do you light
a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on
a stand; and it shines to all who are
in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father who
is in heaven. Don't think that I came to destroy the law
or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but
to fulfill. (Matthew 5:14-17)
standing
before the Lord of the
earth
Behold, the ark
of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth
passes over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men
out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. It shall come to
pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of
Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the
Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the
waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.
(Joshua 3:11-13)
The mountains
melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of
the Lord of the whole earth. (Psalms 97:5)
For your Maker is your
husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is
your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be
called. (Isaiah 54:5)
Arise and thresh,
daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn
iron, and I will make your hoofs brass; and you will beat
in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their
gain to Yahweh, and their
substance to the Lord of the whole earth.
(Micah 4:13)
Then he said, "These
are the two anointed ones who stand
by the Lord of the whole earth."
(Zechariah 4:14)
The angel answered me,
"These are the four winds of the sky, which
go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth."
(Zechariah 6:5)
What are we to make of these
mixed signals found in these references to the Lord
of all the earth? We have already seen repeatedly how symbols and
nuances in this book must be given very close attention, as they
often have been overlooked in a rush to force them to fit traditional
conclusions. We need to be more diligent and open to receiving new
insights to allow the Spirit of truth to guide us into deeper
understandings that correspond with the truth as revealed by the Lamb
against every other agenda.
Discerning the meaning of
this title Lord of all the earth may hold much
significance for helping to unlock the mystery of the deeper
meanings of these two witnesses.
Additionally, I find a
number of references using this phrase that connect
directly with the symbol of a mountain. We just reviewed
this connected with two other symbols in this prophecy, so I find
this compelling. This is likely a useful key for discerning
more of what these witnesses are about. In particular, I find in
Micah 4 a number of significant clues that may also
help bring us closer to understanding the nature of what this chapter
may be designed to reveal. That chapter begins with reference to
mountains and ends with mention of this phrase Lord
of all the earth. Even more importantly, we find a very
strong clue in both of these locations that I feel may be a vital key
to unlock far more than we might be expecting when it comes to these
two witnesses.
But in the
latter days, it will happen that the mountain of
Yahweh's temple will be established on the top of the mountains,
and it will be exalted above the hills; and peoples will stream to
it. Many nations will go and say, "Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he
will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in
his paths." For out of Zion will go forth the law,
and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem; (Micah 4:1-2)
But they don't
know the thoughts of Yahweh, neither do they understand his counsel;
for he has gathered them like the sheaves to the threshing floor.
Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron,
and I will make your hoofs brass; and you will beat in
pieces many peoples: and I will devote their
gain to Yahweh, and their
substance to the Lord of the whole earth.
(Micah 4:12-13)
Is it possible that there
could be a difference of meaning between Yahweh here
and the meaning of the Lord of the whole earth? I understand
the literal method of Hebrew parallelism or repetition, and
according to that this would be seen as saying the same
thing with different words. But what if God is nuancing this to
disclose something more profound than our simplistic way of
typical interpretation here? Is that possible or credible enough to
consider?
What if mountains
might at least in part represent various figures throughout
history that loom large in shaping our perceptions about
God, people like Moses and Elijah for instance? This tells us
that in the latter days – that would seem to apply to us
more than anyone previous would it not – the mountain of Yah's
temple will be established at the very top of all other
mountains. Then in this context that we read that He will teach
us of His ways. Wouldn't that imply this is necessary because we
do not yet really know His ways?
This is reinforced at the
end of the chapter where it talks about not knowing the
thoughts of Yahweh or understanding His counsel. Some might rush to
insist that this only refers to the enemies of Zion, in this
case other nations assembled against God's people. Yet all of these
are symbols that resonate with similar issues still very much
present today. The problem all along has been that humanity does
not know the thoughts or ways of Yahweh, often because they
resist knowing them, not always because of ignorance. This is
a theme that I am finding more clearly everywhere I look in Scripture
as well as here in the book of Revelation. A principle is to use
the first key given in the book, and filter everything we
read as synchronized by the truth about God that Jesus alone
brings to light, and that eclipses every other version of God
including those of Moses and Elijah.
If the best interpretation
we find in the end as to the meaning of these two witnesses is to
embody the methods and motives of Elijah and Moses and all who share
their immature views of God and how He uses power, it occurred to me
that rather than the traditional view of them representing the Old
and New Testaments, they could represent the Law and the Prophets
meaning that the New Testament is more in line with representing
Jesus rather than as a second witness. And I believe this may be
confirmed rather succinctly in the event that happened on the mount
of transfiguration When God contrasted their inferior testimonies to
the authentic witness of His Son who is to have the final word over
any other testimony.
But I tell you the truth:
There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of
death, until they see the Kingdom of God." It happened about
eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John,
and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. As he was praying,
the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white
and dazzling.
Behold, two men were
talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, who
appeared in glory, and spoke of his
departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when
they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood
with him. It happened, as they were parting from him,
that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here.
Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for
Elijah," not knowing what he said.
While he said these
things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as
they entered into the cloud. A voice came out of the cloud,
saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"
When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They
were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which
they had seen. (Luke 9:27-36)
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