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...
Today is Part 3 in our series to solve the riddle of the Two Witnesses in Revelation chapter 11, by defining the metaphorical language and esoteric imagery, using Old Testament scripture to prove their identity.
We left off last week in verse 3...And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. In part 2, we explained in detail how 1260 days equals 3.5 years, the amount of time that Jesus and His apostles witnessed in the streets of Jerusalem to the 12 tribes of Israel - the New Covenant. What is the significance of the symbolism ...clothed in sackcloth?
We will find our answer in the book of Job...I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and laid my head in the dust...my face is flushed from weeping, and on my eye lids is the shadow of death...Job 16:15-16.
Job has sackcloth over his skin, weeping for his losses - waiting to die. In those days, an outward expression of mourning was to wear sackcloth on one's head or over his body, while sitting on the ground in the dust. The sackcloth was woven from goat's hair, then made into cloth. The prophets were often seen dressed in sackcloth and ashes (dust), mourning for the sins of the people involved in paganism and immorality.
Using the term sackcloth to describe the clothing of the Two Witnesses, symbolizes they are mourning for the people who are caught up in paganism and immorality in Jerusalem - dead in trespasses and sins - separated from their Creator.
Why do I equate the ministry of the Two Witnesses with Jesus Christ and His apostles by saying they...will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months?...Rev. 11:2.
This is easy to answer, because chapter 11 tells us who they are...these are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth...Rev. 11:4. Since this is a metaphorical description, we must turn to the Old Testament to find out how the olive trees and lampstands in the temple of God could possibly be the Two Witness of Revelation.
Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep...and he said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps...two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left?...Zec. 4:1-3.
In this text, the Prophet Zechariah prophesied during the days of Darius the Mede, who ruled Babylon with King Cyrus near the time that Daniel and 50,000 of his people were released from their captivity to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. In this vision, the angel of God will explain the symbolism of the lampstands and olive trees in the temple of worship.
After the angel awakened him to see the lampstand and olive trees on either side, Zechariah asked...what are these two olive trees--at the right hand of the lampstand and at its left?...what are these two olive branches that drip into receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?...Zec 4:11-12.
The angel answered by asking Zechariah, "Do you not know what these are?" Zechariah answered, "No, my Lord." The angel told Zechariah who the two olive trees symbolized, "These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."...Zec. 4:13-14.
In our attempt to find out who are the Two Witnesses of the Revelation, we now find them described as Anointed Ones - who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth. Two Witnesses = Two Olive Trees = Two Anointed Ones. Why did God bother to give this detailed explanation to Zechariah?
The Prophet Zechariah needed this confirmation, so that he would know that the two men chosen by King Cyrus to lead the released captives in the reestablishment of Jerusalem, and their temple, were appointed and anointed by God. Who were the two men chosen by King Cyrus and how do the olive trees symbolize their leadership - and eventually the Two Witnesses? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
When we were last together we delved into a subject of which you have heard only one viewpoint for your whole Christian life - the modern viewpoint which I outlined in Blog #1 of this new series. I also gave you a hint about the identity of the Two Witnesses, which will bear up under scriptural scrutiny as we proceed with our research into chapter 11 of Revelation, and corresponding references. We will find that this chapter has been faithfully fulfilled.
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying. "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there...but leave out the outer court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months...and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth"...Rev. 11:3.
Don't you just love a good riddle - especially one that scripture will solve for us? Why did the angel give John a reed to measure the temple?
This temple is an earthly brick and mortar temple in the physical city of Jerusalem - a sacred place symbolizing the old covenant of God to Abraham that promised a Messiah. Having John measure the physical temple in Jerusalem symbolizes that the old covenant will complete its purpose at the end of the forty-two months - fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The earthly physical temple will be destroyed and never again be rebuilt.
And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall...the city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth, and he measured the city with the reed; twelve thousand furlongs, its length, breadth, and height are equal...Rev. 21:15-16.
In this vision, an angel also gave John a reed, but a golden one to measure the heavenly city - New Jerusalem. This also is a sacred place, symbolizing the new covenant to the whole world - signed and sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. The new covenant is being offered by the One promised in the old covenant - the Messiah has arrived!
The old temple on the earth fulfilled its purpose, now Jesus is showing John the New Jerusalem that is being built in Heaven as a result of His blood sacrifice, and the witness of His apostles. John measured the earthly temple and the heavenly temple. When Jesus died and rose again, He provided the heavenly temple of worship, which replaced the physical temple of worship on the earth.
The outer court of the temple in Jerusalem has been given to the Gentiles, symbolizing the unsaved world. While Jesus preached His salvation to the Jewish people, His apostles would take His message to the Gentiles. Human beings would have the opportunity to become the temple of the Holy Spirit - replacing the need for the brick and mortar temple in Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem in Heaven would be built with these redeemed human beings.
...and they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months...Rev. 11:2. The word tread in the original Greek language is pateo meaning: a path. This explains how the Two Witnesses will walk a path, and it will be a hard path of resistance with the message of salvation for 42 months.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days...Rev. 11:3. 42 months and 1260 days equal 3.5 years, describing the length of time that Jesus and His apostles will minister together in Jerusalem.
In ancient times, their calendar was calculated at 360 days for a year. It was called a Prophetic Calendar - 30 days for each month. After centuries of adjustments to finally synchronize the seasons, there was agreement that 365.2422 days would equal one year. But, the Prophetic Calendar was considered accurate to calculate prophetic references. 1260 days divided by 360 days = 3.5 years. While 42 months also equals 3.5 years.
...and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth...Rev. 11:3. We see the Two Witnesses clothed in sackcloth - what does this symbolize? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead. It was difficult for His apostles to comprehend that He must die for their sins, let alone understand the depths of the New Covenant changes taking place on the earth.
What Jesus couldn't explain about the strategic plan of God while He was on the earth, the visions enabled Him to fully delineate, so that the apostles and disciples would not only better understand for themselves the profundity of His death and resurrection, but would be able to clearly explain to the hearers of the gospel to whom they would preach.
This blog is dedicated to solving the riddles, enigmas, metaphors and esoteric imagery of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, while confirming through historical documentation that most of the visions have been fulfilled. The modern end time doctrine of the church is barely a hundred years old - a doctrine not embraced by the church for 1800 years. Looking back on fulfilled prophecy is easy - no guessing - no interpretation.
In this series, we will be researching chapter 11 of Revelation, and corresponding scriptures, in order to find out who are the Two Witnesses?
Modern Viewpoint of the Two Witnesses...
Since the modern viewpoint of the end time doctrine insists that none of the Revelation past chapter 4 has been fulfilled, their doctrine is speculation and interpretation of a future event. Doesn't anyone question the accuracy of this process? Apparently not, because every radio and television preacher and every mainline denomination preacher has embraced this viewpoint.
They speculate that the Two Witnesses are literally two men who will prophesy for 1260 days during a seven-year great tribulation, after the church is taken up in a Rapture. Since this is a future even they are forced to speculate as to their identity. Since Enoch & Elijah were "taken up," or possibly Moses, because a burial site could not be found, they believe that it must be two of these three prophets. Since they didn't die physically, they could come back for this event and finally die.
They speculate that the Two Witnesses will walk the streets of Jerusalem with their message to repent, demonstrating signs and wonders during the reign of the Antichrist. They will infuriate the populous who will kill them, and leave their bodies in the street for three and a half days, not allowing them to be buried. The citizens will rejoice that the Two Witnesses are finally dead. Did you ever wonder why only one city, out of the whole world, will experience the Two Witnesses?
Other scholars speculate that the Two Witnesses symbolize the witnessing church, who do signs and wonders during the reign of the Antichrist, but will lose their battle in the streets of Jerusalem and be killed. After three and a half days they will be revived, a cloud will engulf them, and they will be taken to Heaven in the middle of the seven-year great tribulation - the Rapture.
With all of this confusing speculation we can understand why the Apostle Peter warned Christians...no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation...for prophecy never came by the will on man, but by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...II Peter 1:20-21.
Historical Viewpoint of the Two Witnesses...
Does scripture really tell us who are the Two Witnesses?
In the Revelation to John, Jesus was able to define the significance of the earthly temple in Jerusalem in relationship to the old covenant, while defining how the new covenant established the heavenly temple in the New Jerusalem. In this study, we will discover how the Two Witnesses represent the old and the new covenants.
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there...but leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months...and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth"...Rev. 11:3.
Why did the angel give John a reed to measure the temple?
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
