When we were last together in this series which will identify the Two Witnesses, we found that God revealed to the Prophet Zechariah their identity...Zec. 4:13-14. Jesus also revealed their identity to John...these are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth...Rev. 11:4.
In this vision, God revealed to the Prophet Zechariah who the olive trees on either side of the lampstand symbolized. God was releasing Israel from their 70 years of captivity in Babylon. King Cyrus chose two men to lead them back to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and their temple.
Zechariah asked the angel in the vision...what be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? The angel told Zechariah...these are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth...Zec. 4:12-14.
God confirmed to Zechariah that Zerubbabel and Joshua were His choices to lead His people out of captivity. King Cyrus anointed Zerubbabel as Governor of Judah, who would represent the Law of God - civil authority. King Cyrus anointed Joshua the high priest and prophet - the spiritual leader, who would impart the oracles of God to the people.
Anointed means: oil - to produce light. In the days of Zechariah, perpetual light was supplied to the tabernacle from the seven-branched golden lampstand - menorah. The Two Anointed Ones in our text symbolize Governor Zerubbabel and Priest Joshua, who became mobile lights, lighting the path that will lead God's chosen people to rebuild Solomon's destroyed temple in Jerusalem.
Lampstand in the original Hebrew language means: portable light. While in the temple they appeared to be stationary, but could be moved. A lampstand in the temple of worship was made of solid gold and had seven branches which supplied oil from real olive trees. The number 7 symbolizes completeness - perfection.
The olive oil supplied perpetual light from the lampstands in the tabernacle, which were placed in front of the Holy of Holies - symbolizing God's eternal light in Heaven.
The anointed oil - light of God - poured into the Two Anointed Ones, which then emptied out of themselves to the people they would lead back to Israel to rebuild Solomon's temple. Zerubbabel and Joshua were anointed and empowered by God to complete this assignment.
The Two Anointed Ones manifested on the earth as two literal men in the service of the Lord on the earth. Let's recap what we have learned so far...
Two Witnesses = Two Olive Trees
Two Olive Trees = Two Anointed Ones
Two Anointed Ones = Zerubbabel and Joshua
We have laid out the scriptural background that defines the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3. One witness symbolizes the Law - civil authority. The other witness symbolizes the priest/prophet - spiritual authority. But...are they two men or something else?
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets...Rom. 3:21. Paul is explaining to believers that, through Christ, righteousness has been provided for them apart from the Law - serving the Law will not save them - Jesus Christ did. Paul said that the Law & the Prophets had already witnessed this revelation. So what did the Law & the Prophets witness?
Earlier in this series we determined that Jesus and His apostles tread a path through Jerusalem witnessing His message of salvation for 1260 days. By defining the ministry of Jesus and His apostles - what they were witnessing - we will find the answer to our question.
One day a gentile woman was pleading with Jesus to help her with her demon possessed daughter, whom He eventually helped. Jesus said to her...I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...Matt. 15:24.
Why is this declaration by Jesus critical in identifying the Two Witnesses - who are the lost sheep of the House of Israel? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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