02.33. LECTURE No. 33 -- Rev_11:3-12
LECTURE No. 33 -- Revelation 11:3-12 The Two Olive Trees and the Two Candle Sticks Who Will Stand Before the God of the Earth - What the Prophet Zechariah Saw in His Vision - The Seven Branch Candle in the Tabernacle Symbolic of the Light and Truth and Power of God - The Two Trees Are Two Persons Who Will Witness to the Truth of God During the Tribulation Period - Enoch and Elijah Fit into the Prophetic Picture - Conditions upon the Earth Will Demand Such a Witness and Testimony - Antichrist Will be in Authority and He Will Subdue Others Who Witness to the Truth - These Two Witnesses Will Be Endowed with Authority to Witness in the Face of the Antichrist
IN our previous studies we have learned from Revelation 11:1-2 that the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein, are to be measured as an act of reappropriation by Christ. When this work of reappropriation begins, the Court that is without will not be measured, and the Gentiles shall trod the Holy City under foot for a period of forty and two months. This indicates that after the work of reappropriation of the earth actually begins, it will be forty and two months, or three and one-half years, to the end of the Gentile period.
Revelation 11:3-12, we have an account of the two witnesses who are to come from heaven and prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sack cloth. This is exactly forty and two month, or three and one-half years, and will be the same period during which the Gentiles will tread the Holy City under foot.
We know from other passages of scripture that during this time Antichrist and the false Prophet will arise and govern the earth during the Tribulation period for exactly the same period of three and one half years.
The great purpose, therefore, for the return of these two witnesses from heaven, will be in order that they may witness and testify and prophesy against the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and to warn the people of the awful consequences which will come to those who believe and follow them.
In our last two lessons we have searched the scriptures diligently in an effort to discover and to determine who these two witnesses are to be.
Without listening to manmade opinion on the subject, and by comparing scripture with scripture, we concluded, quite to our own satisfaction that the two witnesses referred to here, will be none other than Enoch and Elijah. Our Lesson Text-The Two Witnesses
Now, since we did not advance in our last lesson very far, in order to refresh our minds concerning the lesson text, we are going to read again the account of these two witnesses, recorded in Revelation 11:3-12, where it says,
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
“These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
“And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
“And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” The Two Olive Trees and the Two Candlesticks
Now let us give our attention first of all to Revelation 11:4, where it says, “These are the two Olive Trees, and the Two Candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth.”
In Revelation 11:4 these two witnesses are described under the symbolism of the Two Olive Trees and the Two Candle Sticks standing before the God of the earth.
It will be utterly impossible for us to understand the language and symbolism used here, unless we look elsewhere in the Word of God and find where similar language and symbols were used.
What Zechariah Said
Most Bible expositors agree that the language used here refers to the vision given to Zechariah, which is recorded in Zechariah 4:1-14, where it says,-
“And the Angel that talked with me came again and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked and behold a candlestick of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and His seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
“And two Olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord.
“Then the Angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, sayest the Lord of Hosts.
“Who art thou, O great Mountain?- before Zerubbabel? Thou shalt become a plain: and He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
“Moreover the Word came unto me, saying the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of the house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the Plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
“Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two Olive Trees upon the right side of the Candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him,
“What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Time will not allow a separate and detailed exposition of Zechariah 4:1-14 which we have just read, but suffice it to say that what is stated here refers to the work of the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was to be accomplished by Zerubbabel.
In this passage mention is made both of the Candle Stick and the two Olive Trees. The Candle Stick in the Tabernacle
Almost everyone knows that among the furniture in the Tabernacle, which Moses pitched in the wilderness, there was the Golden Candle Stick with its seven branches and seven lamps, which were kept burning continually.
Naturally the Candlestick was symbolic of the light and truth and power of God, and when the Angel spoke to Zerubbabel about the work which he was to accomplish in the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem, he wanted him to know that he could not accomplish this in his own strength; therefore he used the Candle Stick as a symbol of God’s light and truth and power, and in Zechariah 4:6 the Angel said, “this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” he was made to understand that the great work of building the Temple, and the restoration which was to be accomplished at that time, would not be brought about by any strength or merit of his own, but by the Spirit and power of God, as symbolized by the Candlestick in the vision. The Two Anointed Ones When Zechariah asked for the meaning of the Two Olive Trees, which were seen in the vision the Angel answered and said,
“Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
When we study this statement in the light of its context we understand that the first application of this truth was to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the Priest, who were the anointed of the Lord, and who undertook the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of restoration when the Jews returned from their Babylonian captivity.
Therefore in Revelation 11:4, when the Mighty Angel said to John (of the two witnesses) these are the Two Olive Trees, and the Two Candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth, he meant that they were to be the Zerubbabel and the Jeshua of the final restoration, who will be filled with the light and truth and power of God, as symbolized by the Candlesticks, and the two Olive Trees, of Zechariah’s vision. An Interesting Quotation Concerning these two witnesses, in I, book on the Apocalypse, J. A. Seiss, says, quoting,
“The two Olive Trees in the vision are two individual persons; so then these two Witnesses are likewise two individual persons, for they are ‘The Two Olive Trees’-for their day, as Zerubbabel and Jeshua were in a former day.
“But whilst they are, ‘The Two Olive Trees’ of their time, as viewed through the medium of Zechariah’s vision, the whole order of things has changed from what it was in Zechariah’s day, or what it is in the present Church period.
“The Golden Candlestick, with its many conduits and multitudinous burners is missing. All of that arrangement has disappeared. The Church period has ended.
“Gospel ministers are stars; but these witnesses are not stars. There are neither “Stars” nor Candlestick left in the time of these Witnesses. As the more direct and special messengers of God, like Zerubbabel and Jeshua, who gave out the golden oil into the golden bowl and candlestick, the two olive trees remain; but they are alone, with no Golden organism of light bearers to feed and supply. They are themselves the only light bearers now; for they are at once, ‘The Two Olive Trees and the two Candlesticks’ standing before the God of the earth.
“This clearly demonstrates that the economy is a new one, whilst it at the same time singularly agrees with the two characters whom we take it to describe. Such a lone and self supplying lamp was Enoch-the soul light nearer to the old world; then on the eve of the submersion in the great waters of judgment; And such a lone and self supplying lamp Elijah to the nation of Israel; then in great darkness and drawing near its great captivity. Many distinguished light bearers have graced the several ages of time, but none of them so marked and conspicuous in self standing loneness as these two. Never but once did the human race depend for a knowledge of God’s purposes upon one mere man as it depended upon Enoch; and never but once did the Hebrew faith hang upon one mere man as it hung upon Elijah and his ministrations . . . Looking through the world for two men preeminently entitled to the name of ‘The Two Lamps’ (or candlesticks) we must inevitably settle upon Enoch and Elijah, who as the two Lamps are mysteriously preserved to come again for the illumination of still darker times after the same style as of old.”
Before the God of the Whole Earth
We are now ready to consider the fact that they were “standing before the God of the earth.”
This expression would indicate that they were at that time, when this vision was given to John on the Isle of Patmos, standing before the God of the earth.
In the scriptures God often refers to Himself in different terminology suitable to the occasion and in keeping with the lesson which He desires to teach. For instance in Joshua 3:11, He is referred to as “The Lord of all the earth” while in Daniel 2:18, He is called “The God of Heaven.”
When He is spoken of as “The Lord of the Earth” the word used is “Adon” which means Master! Therefore these witnesses were standing before the God or Master of the earth, which fact impresses us with the theocratic power of God in His Government of the earth.
They Will Come with Authority
It is significant also that when these Two Witnesses come to prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sack cloth, it will be during the Tribulation Period, when the Antichrist and the False Prophet will have challenged the authority of the God of Heaven and of His right to govern the earth in righteousness. Therefore they will come with the authority of heaven to witness against those who would usurp the authority of God and claim for themselves the right to govern the earth. The Conditions Upon Earth at That Time
We are now ready to consider more in detail the conditions as they will be during the time when these two witnesses shall come to prophesy upon the earth. Let us remember that they are coming as the personal representatives of Christ, for He speaks of them in Revelation 11:3 as “My Two Witnesses.” Therefore they will not be men who will be chosen and ordained and sent forth by some Church Organization, but they will come from heaven as the personal representatives of Christ, anointed with God’s Holy Spirit, to perform a great and necessary work in the dark days of the Tribulation Period. The Church Will Be Gone
Let us remember that by the time these things come to pass the Church will have been completed, and caught away to be with Christ at the rapture of the Church, indicated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The Abomination of Desolation
We must also remember that when the Antichrist comes into power he will commit the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, in Daniel 9:27, and referred to by our Lord in Matthew 24:15, by exalting Himself in the rebuilt Temple of the Jews in Jerusalem, “above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing Himself that he is God”-as stated in 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
This means, of course a temporary interruption so far as the exercise of the Jewish religion is concerned. Therefore with the Church gone, and the Jew’s religion interrupted by the deeds of Antichrist, it will be necessary for God to send the two witnesses from heaven in order to witness and testify concerning the truth and the power and the purposes of God!
If God did not send these two witnesses there would be no light whatever upon the earth during that awful time of coming darkness. How thankful we should be therefore, that God has told us before hand, even before the Church is taken away, and before the rebuilt Temple of the Jews in Jerusalem is desecrated by the Antichrist, that will send these two witnesses endued with power from on high to bear witness to the truth in that dark hour, so that all who will believe the truth may turn to God and be saved, even from the hands of the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
Prophets of Judgment
Another evidence that these two witnesses are not Gospel preachers of this present age of grace, is that they are Prophets of judgment and actually bestow vengeance upon those who would oppose them in their ministry.
During this age of grace ministers of the Gospel are forbidden, even though they are persecuted without cause, to strike in self defense.
The reason of this is that this is the day of grace, and those of us who have received grace from the Lord are required to manifest the same Spirit of grace unto others. We who have received the forgiveness of our trespasses are required to forgive other men their trespasses.
The Christian spirit of the present age is manifest in the lives and example of such men as Stephen, who was stoned to death. The Apostle James was beheaded. Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into prison, and Paul Himself was later beheaded. Many Christians were martyred, like Polycarp, who was burned at the stake, and we are told that Peter was crucified with his head downwards, and none of these men feared or resisted death at the hands of their enemies.
During this present age of grace “if men revile and persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely,” we are told by our Lord “To rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is our reward in heaven!”
Now and Then
Now we are commanded not to resist evil but to turn the other cheek, and if necessary to go the second mile, but when the time comes for these Two Witnesses to prophesy, it will be entirely different then; for we are told in Revelation 11:5-6 that
“If any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have Power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” This is positive proof that they will be judgment Prophets, and that they will accomplish their work in evil times, and it is evident from what is stated here that the world will be so wicked that they could not live and carry on their work unless they were anointed by God’s Holy Spirit and protected by the power to work miracles, and to destroy their enemies. The Case of Elijah
We need not be surprised at those things which are stated here concerning the work of these two mighty prophets of God.
You will remember, I am sure, the account given in Second Kings the 1st chapter, how Elijah called down fire from heaven upon the messengers of the King who were sent to him. This he did not only once but several times, thus showing the power which he had with God. Therefore if one of these two witnesses is to be Elijah the Prophet, whom God has promised to send before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, should we not have reason to believe that he would be able to repeat such miracles against his enemies as often as he would need to do so?
Surely if he performed such miracles then, he would be able to do so again. We need not be surprised therefore if these two witnesses employ this same method in protecting themselves from their enemies in the days of their prophecy. No Rain Not only will they be able to hurt with fire but it says, “These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy.”
Elijah an Example Again
Here again we need not be surprised as if this were something which had never occurred before. Almost everyone is familiar with the story recorded in 1 Kings 17:1-24, of how Elijah told King Ahab, saying, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
Commenting upon the work of Elijah, the Apostle James said, in James 5:17-18 :
“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
Indeed, my friends, if such things were accomplished by Elijah in times past, why would we think it incredible, or impossible, for these two witnesses to accomplish the very same things again? The reason Elijah prayed in olden times for the heavens to be shut that it might not rain, was because of the wickedness and idolatry which existed at that time among the children of Israel.
In Leviticus 26:3-4, God said,
“If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”
But in the times of these two Prophets, God will shut up the heavens again because of the wickedness and idolatry which will exist upon the earth at that time.
Waters Will Be Turned to Blood Not only will these two witnesses have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, but it says they will “have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.”
Again we do not need to be surprised at their power to do this, because these things also have been done before. All who are familiar with the Old Testament know of the miracles and plagues wrought upon Egypt through the ministry of Moses and Aaron, whom God sent to redeem His people from the hands of Pharaoh.
The second miracle which Moses performed was that of turning the waters of the river into blood.
We know also about the plague of the frogs, and that of the flies, and of the boils and blains, which broke forth upon man and beast in the land of Egypt, and other terrible plagues also, which Moses and Aaron wrought against Pharaoh, and upon the land of Egypt, because Pharaoh would not let the people go.
Again it stands to reason that if such miracles and plagues have been accomplished in the past, they could be accomplished in the future by these two witnesses, whom God will send to prophesy in the midst of judgment times.
Elijah Will Come
Let us not forget that in announcing the return of Elijah, the Lord said in Malachi 4:5-6,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
From what is stated here, it is perfectly clear that Elijah the Prophet, will not only be a judgment prophet, but that he will prepare the way for the restoration of God’s people Israel, back to their own land from their age long dispersion among the Gentiles in preparation for coming events, lest God should come and smite the earth with a curse.
Enoch Was a Prophet Also But let us not forget that Enoch was not a Jewish Prophet, for he lived and prophesied long before the giving the law, and it was through his ministry, just preceding the flood, that a very small remnant, even the household of Noah, was saved from the awful judgment of the flood, and was preserved to re-people the earth.
As Elijah represents the Jews, therefore, Enoch would represent the Gentiles in the needed work of restoration. You will recall that the Gentiles rebelled against God at the Tower of Babel, after the flood, and went off into heathen idolatry, and except for a small believing remnant, who have accepted the Gospel during the present age of grace, the Gentiles are still away from God and are walking in spiritual darkness.
Therefore the Gentiles also need someone to represent them in the time of judgment during which these two witnesses will testify in order to prepare them for their part in the great restoration, which is to be accomplished when Christ comes again!
What the Apostle James Said This twofold aspect of the coming restoration, which is to be prepared for by the work of these two Prophets, is forcibly brought to our attention in Acts 15:13-17, where the Apostle James said-
“Men and brethren hearken unto me: Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name and to this agree the words of the Prophets; as it is written, after this I will return, and will build again the Tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”
It is my firm conviction that these two Prophets, whom we have designated as Enoch and Elijah, will come at the time appointed, and at a time of dispensational change, to prepare the minds and hearts of Jews and Gentiles alike for the things that are to follow in the program of God, when Jesus comes to subdue and to restore all things.
We still have not finished our study of these Two Witnesses, but at this point we must conclude our study.
~ end of lecture 33 ~