The Two Witnesses Part 5

The two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 have a precedent described in Zechariah chapter 4. Revelation says this of the two witnesses; “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth” (Rev. 11:4). Zechariah says this about two Jewish prophets during the return to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity; “What are these two olive trees-at the right of the lampstand and at its left?….These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:11, 14). During Zechariah’s time, the Jews were attempting to rebuild the burned out temple of the Lord and encountering many difficulties. An angel showed Zechariah a vision of two olive trees providing a continuous stream of oil to a lampstand. The lampstand represents Israel, oil, God’s Spirit, and the olive trees, two of God’s prophets. Israel’s governor Zerubbabel was encouraged by these two prophets that he would surely complete the temple, not through his human effort, but by the power of the Spirit. These two prophets were Zechariah and Haggai; “Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them” (Ezra 5:1-2). Revelation’s two “olive trees” are Elijah and John. Notice there are two lampstands in Revelation, whereas there was one in Zechariah. In my opinion these two lampstands represent Judaism and the Christian Church. Because Revelation links directly back to these prophets, we have a huge clue to a major part of the ministry of these two prophets. In order to fulfill prophecy, there needs to be a temple rebuilt in Jerusalem on the temple mount. It is evident that the two witnesses will have a large role to play in its construction early in the 70th week by direction and encouragement to those involved. And, as they will be operating under the power of the Holy Spirit, enemies interfering will be quickly dispatched. If you’ve been wondering how a temple could be rebuilt on the temple mount in spite of the seemingly insurmountable religious and political pressure, this may be the answer. As in the time of Zechariah, this temple won’t be built solely by human power, but by the power of God’s Spirit. In Ezekiel chapter 40 the prophet was given the task in a vision of measuring a future temple. Ezekiel was captive in Babylon at the time and Solomon’s temple was already destroyed. He was measuring a future temple. Revelation chapter 11 on the two witnesses begins with John also measuring a future temple; “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angels stood saying ‘rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.”(Revelation 11:1) This was after 70 AD when the 2nd temple had already been destroyed. The reason John was instructed to do this was the same as for Ezekiel; to provide hope for the faithful remnant who will survive the tribulation of those days.

I conclude that from the above scriptures one of the major acts of the two witnesses that will serve to identify them will be their involvement and direct assistance in the building of a new temple in Jerusalem, just like their predecessors, the first two “olive trees”, Zechariah and Haggai. This should be clearly recognizable to all. In the next blog, I’ll continue to elaborate on the specific ministry of the two witnesses.