Revelation 11:4
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Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Introduction
Here is verse three’s description of these two olive trees and two candlesticks.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
So God’s “two witnesses” are also called ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.” The phrase ” The two olive trees and the two candlesticks” with the article, lets us know that this refers to something with which those who are reading, hearing and keeping the things written in this prophecy are already familiar. This is not the first time these things have been discussed. These two witnesses are ‘ the two olive trees and the two candlesticks; the ones who are standing before the God of the earth’. The fact that it is thus worded also tells us that those for whom this prophecy is intended are the few chosen to whom such words mean much more than what they say. This section of scripture reveals to us that those who know they are to keep the things written in this prophecy also understand that this is a book of symbols and that those to whom it is given will know what “the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” and God’s “two witnesses” all symbolize. We are casually informed “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” because the spirit speaks only “in demonstration of the spirit and power of God”, and those who know what that spirit and power are will become familiar with the verses of scriptures which reveal the meaning of all the symbols of the things written in this prophecy.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [ even] the hidden [ wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Before we speak “in the demonstration of the spirit and power of God” by referring to the scriptures which reveal the meaning of the symbols of verse four, we will list the symbols of this verse which we will consider today.
The symbols of this fourth verse are 1) two olive trees, and two candlesticks, 2) standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
1) Two olive trees, and two candlesticks
Remembering the principle revealed to us by Joseph, we know that these two symbols are one:
Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
Gen 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Here is what God gives us to “understand” both dreams and visions, including this vision given to John of the symbols of this book of this revelation of Jesus Christ in us. This is a principle that will help us to understand all prophecy.
Gen 41:25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Gen 41:26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
Gen 41:27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
Gen 41:28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
Gen 41:32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
The dream is one, and it is “doubled… [ and given] twice” because “God will shortly bring it to pass”. Is this only true of the way the Lord dealt with Pharaoh at that time, or is He the same God when telling you and me to keep the things written in this prophecy? The answer is that God does not change. He is always the same, and just as the cows and the corn were one dream, so also the two olive trees and the two candlesticks are one vision which will shortly come to pass in the lives of all to whom it is given to “read, hear and keep the things written in the words of this prophecy.”
Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
We saw last week that the never changing God always uses the number ‘two’ as the symbol of witness. We gave the scriptures which establish this truth and will not repeat them here. But we will ask why these “two witnesses” are called ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks,” as if it is assumed that those reading the sayings of this prophecy would already have heard of ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks.” Are these phrases used earlier in the scriptures? Are ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” mentioned already, and is there anything we can learn about who they are from those earlier verses as we have learned from the story of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams? The answer is, Yes, indeed, we need not speculate about who ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” are. Here is where they are first mentioned. The fact that they are mentioned again here in Rev 11 and are doubled twice to us is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring these ‘two witnesses’ to pass in the lives of those who are given to read, hear and keep the things written in this prophecy.”
The two olive trees revealed in Zechariah four
Zec 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all 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:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zec 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zec 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6 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, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10 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.
Zec 4:11 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?
Zec 4:12 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?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Now let’s compare Zec 4:14 with Rev 11:4.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
As Joseph told Pharaoh, “The dream is one, And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”
What does this have to do with you and me? This is what that has to do with you and me.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [ Greek – tupos, types of us]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
But are these things not also written for the admonition of the people of whom they are written? The answer in no, not at this time. The day will come when all men, including those by whom these things are written will become those “upon whom the ends of the ages are come”, but today is not that day. These words are only for ‘all men’ as they come to know Christ and His Father. Here is how the spirit explains this through the pen of the apostle Peter.
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Now before we go on, let’s glean all we can from what is revealed to us here in Zec 4 about these two olive trees, which are also called two candlesticks in Rev 11:4.
1) The first thing we need to notice is that we have to be awakened from sleep to be shown who these two olive trees are.
Zec 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Once we realize that it is we who “must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4), that knowledge is, in itself, an awakening, and we can now begin to realize that the reason all ten virgins “slumbered and slept” is that we are all first the foolish virgins who do not take enough of God’s spirit, and then we will all, in our own appointed time, become the wise virgins, who tell the foolish virgins to go and buy their own oil (Mat 25:1-13). “All things [ really] are ours, [ and] there [ really] is [ only] one event to the righteous and to the sinner” (1Co 3:21-22, and Ecc 9:2).
2) The next thing we are told is that it is through these two olive trees, also called two candlesticks, that all seven of the candlesticks receive the golden oil to provide the light for the temple of God.
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all 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:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
What are these seven candlesticks? This is what they symbolize.
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
So, are we talking about 2 candlesticks, or are we talking about seven candlesticks. The answer is, We are talking about both because we always seek the sum of God’s word, and in that ‘sum’ we must consider both the complete church within us, and we must also be concerned with witnessing to that complete church. So we are both 2 and we are 7, and in the final analysis, we are told that the entire “kingdom of God is within you”.
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
3) The direct answer to Zechariah’s question, “What are these [ two olive trees], my lord?” is ” This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord.” Here is that question.
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [ side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [ side] thereof.
Zec 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [ are] these, my lord?
Zec 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6 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, saith the LORD of hosts.
So the two olive trees are those who are faithful with “the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel.” Just a little later we will learn that these two olive trees “empty the golden oil through the two golden pipes out of themselves” and into the seven golden candlesticks.
Zec 4:12 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?
4) Zerubbabel, who constructed the second temple, the temple to which Christ came, is an Old Testament type of Christ. Here is the Old Testament type and shadow or what Christ is doing in us.
Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
It was Christ who was sent to build the church of God, and He said “I will build my church”. So Christ is both the builder and the foundation of His own house.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
5) It is through the spirit and the Word of the Lord pouring out of these two olive trees and into the seven golden candlesticks, that the mountain, which is this world in us, becomes a plain. This is the very mountain which the “faith of a grain of mustard seed” can destroy and cast into the sea. Christ, in His saints, will finish the building of His temple, “which temple we are”.
Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Let’s just believe what we are told and accept the fact that these two olive trees are a type of Christ, including Christ in His body through which He builds His church. That is the very meaning of “This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel…” coming from these two olive trees.
6) This Temple of Zerubbabel seems small and insignificant when compared to the first temple, just as the things of the spirit are always vastly undervalued when compared to the things of this world. But it is the precious few “chosen and faithful”, who will be used to redeem and save the many called. “Who has despised the day of small things?” It is “Those seven, [ the seven golden candlesticks which are the seven churches, and the two olive trees and the two candlesticks] they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” What is the earth? It is God’s own people. It is you and me.
Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
“Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little (Isa 28:9-13), we are learning that Christ also has a Christ whom He has sent to do what His Father sent Him to do.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Christ is not being negligent or passing the buck, He is rather, revealing that we, His body, are “Jesus of Nazareth”.
Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
This knowledge requires a rude awakening, and the gift of eyes that see and ears that hear things that cannot be received by carnal babes in Christ. It is not revealed all in one verse or even all in one chapter or in one book of God’s Word. This is “hidden wisdom” given only to those who have been given to understand that they are the man who killed Christ, and took His wife (as David killed Uriah, a type of Christ and took Bathsheba), and it is revealed only to those who know that “the chief of sinners” is the man they see in the mirror every morning.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
It is Christ in His saints who are “the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth”, and those eyes are “eyes of fire” which are finding and destroying every sin and weight within which so easily besets us, and which see the line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little design of the hidden wisdom of the word of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [ Greek, being perfected]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [ Greek, a secret], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
These are inward eyes, and this is their function:
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin whi ch doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
It is here in Zec 4 that we learn that the seven candlesticks, which are the seven churches, are also “the eyes of the Lord”, and “the seven spirits of God” in the heavens, “which run to and fro through our whole earth”.
Zec 4:10 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 [ golden candlesticks]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
What else are these seven candlesticks? They are those who comprise the seven churches.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Where else do we see “two… olive trees” in scripture? Could these two olive trees also be the symbols of this very same body of Christ?
1Ki 6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
Who are these cherubims? As we saw in our study of Revelation four, these cherubims are just another symbol of those who have “the word of God to Zerubbabel?” They are the same as the two olive trees that empty the golden oil out of themselves and into the golden pipes that take that golden oil to the seven candlesticks which symbolize the seven churches!
Without completely rehearsing our study of Revelation chapter four, we should remember that these cherubims, like all of the secrets of God’s Word are revealed to us line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The cherubims are first introduced to us as the cherubims who “guard the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The next time we see them is in the book of Exodus as two cherubims which cover the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant. That is followed by this description here in 1Ki 6 of the two cherubims “within the oracle”, meaning within the holy of holies, at the west end of the temple. It is here that we discover that these two cherubims are “made of olive trees.”
But the revelation of what these cherubims symbolize is still not complete. The next time we read of the cherubims is in Ezekiel 1 and ten, where we are informed that they are actually surrounding the throne of God, and they each have four faces; the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox and the face of an eagle. But the final revelation of who these cherubims symbolize is found here in the book of Revelation, in chapter five, where they themselves tell us who it really is that they symbolize, and who it really is who “keeps the way of the tree of life.”
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
So the two cherubims are now four cherubims and instead of having four faces each, they now each have individual faces. But the four individuals have the same four faces that we saw on each cherub in chapters one and ten of Ezekiel. Here in Revelation five one cherub has the face of a man, one cherub has the face of an ox, one has the face of a lion and another has the face of an eagle.
Now we learn that these two cherubs which cover the mercy seat are but an earlier symbol of those who have the word of God. These two cherubs are made of olive trees, and as “covering cherubs”, they also “stand before the God of the earth.”
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
But there is more about to be noted about two olives trees, right here is this same 6th chapter of 1 Kings. We see that the two doors to the holy of holies are also made of olive trees, and they even have the cherubims carved upon them, to let us know for certain that “the dream is one.”
1Ki 6:31 And for the entering of the oracle [ the hoy of holies] he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
This tells us that the only way into the holy of holies is to go through the two doors of olive tree. Do two olive trees have any place in the doors that lead into the holy place which is before the holy of holies? Let’s see what the scriptures teach.
1Ki 6:33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:34 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door [ were] folding.
1Ki 6:35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered [ them] with gold fitted upon the carved work.
“What are these two olive trees?”
For the second time Zechariah asks the angel that has awakened him “What are these two olive trees?”
Zec 4:11 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?
Zec 4:12 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?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
The purpose of this entire chapter is to make clear that these two olive trees “are the two anointed ones, that stand by the [ Word of] the Lord of the whole earth.”
Summary
What now have we learned about these two olive trees which are also called two candlesticks here in Rev 11? What we have learned is that the seven horns and seven eye on the slain Lamb are the seven spirits of God which, we are told in this fourth chapter of Zechariah, are the same as the seven golden candlesticks, which candlesticks we are told in Revelation one, are the seven churches. But it is here in this same fourth chapter of Zechariah that we discover that these seven golden candlesticks are also the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth in “the day of small things.”
Zec 4:10 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 [ golden candlesticks]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
We have also learned in Zechariah four that these two olive trees and two candlesticks are “the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel”, and the word of the Lord according to Joh 6:63 is spirit.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
So in the final analysis, the “plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel” and the “reed like unto a rod” which is given to John and the seven candlesticks and the seven horns and seven eyes and the seven spirits of God and the seven churches and the two candlesticks and the two olive trees and the two witnesses and the fire that proceeds out of their mouths and the eyes like fire, are all one and the same. They are “the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel” by which we measure and plumb and judge ourselves to see and to know whether Christ really is living His life in us.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
If Christ really is living within our hearts and minds, then the eyes with which we examine and judge ourselves will be “eyes… as a flame of fire” doing what fire does.
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
So who are these two olive trees and two candlesticks and two witnesses? They are “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations.” They are all of God’s anointed witnesses who have lived and faithfully witnessed to the Truth which is His word, since the death and resurrection of our Lord. These two olive trees and two candlesticks and two witnesses are Christ living His life in His “few” and His “rejected” and His “small things” Christ. These two olive trees and these two witnesses are all those who are given to “lie dead in the streets of that great city where our Lord was crucified and who are filling up in their own bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ, for His bodies sake which is the church.”
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of [ Greek, ‘the’] Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what [ is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Next week, Lord willing, we will cover verses five and six, which tell us of the power given to those who are given to be the witnesses of Christ. Here are verses five and six.
Rev 11:5 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.
Rev 11:6 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.
Other related posts
- The Souls Under The Altar 2013 (July 11, 2005)
- The Revelation Of Jesus Christ Part 1 Introduction (January 14, 2007)
- Revelation 9:5-12 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:3-4 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:17-21 (March 27, 2010)
- Revelation 9:13-16 (March 19, 2010)
- Revelation 9:1-2 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:8-9 (January 15, 2010)
- Revelation 8:7 (January 8, 2010)
- Revelation 8:3-4 (December 29, 2009)
- Revelation 8:12-13 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:10-11 (January 22, 2010)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 2 (December 26, 2009)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:9-17 - I Beheld, and, lo, a Great Multitude (December 13, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Who Are The 144,000 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 3 - Who Are The 144,000 (November 23, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 2 - Who Are The 144,000 (December 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 5 - What Is The Seal of Our God? (November 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 3 and 4 - What Hurts The Earth, Sea, And Trees? (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:9-11 - The Souls Under the Altar (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:5-6 The Black Horse (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:1-4 (August 22, 2009)
- Revelation 5:7-10 (July 31, 2009)
- Revelation 5:4-6 (August 4, 2009)
- Revelation 5:11-14 (August 8, 2009)
- Revelation 5:1-3 - Who Can Open the Book? Part 1 (July 4, 2009)
- Revelation 4:8-9 Wings of the Seraphim (June 25, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 6 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 5 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 4 (May 23, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 3 (May 16, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 2A (May 9, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 1 (May 7, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 2 (May 2, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 1 (April 30, 2009)
- Revelation 4:4-5 Four and Twenty Elders (April 11, 2009)
- Revelation 4:10-11 (June 28, 2009)
- Revelation 4:1-3 His Throne in Heaven - Part 1 (April 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:7-9 (February 13, 2009)
- Revelation 3:4-6 - Sardis, Part 3 (February 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:3 - Sardis, Part 2 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 3:19-22 Laodicea, Part 3 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:18 (March 14, 2009)
- Revelation 3:14-18 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:10-13 - Philadelphia, Part 2 (February 19, 2009)
- Revelation 3:1-2 Sardis, Part 1 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 2:8-11 - Smyrna (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:26-29 (January 17, 2009)
- Revelation 2:21-25 (January 10, 2009)
- Revelation 2:18-20 (January 6, 2009)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 2 (December 26, 2008)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 1 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:1-7 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 22:6-10 (June 4, 2011)
- Revelation 22:16-21 (June 25, 2011)
- Revelation 22:11-15 (June 11, 2011)
- Revelation 22:1-5 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:9-12 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:4-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:23-27 (May 15, 2011)
- Revelation 21:18-22 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:13-17 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:1-3 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:7-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:11-15 (October 26, 2011)
- Revelation 20:1-6 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 2 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 1 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:8 (July 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He Cometh with Clouds... (July 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:6 (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 2 - First Begotten of the Dead (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 1 (June 20, 2008)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 2 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 1 (June 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:18-20 (December 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:17 (November 24, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 2 (November 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 1 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:15 (November 1, 2008)
- Revelation 1:14 (October 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13, Part 2 - One Like unto the Son of Man (October 3, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 4 (November 17, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 1 (September 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:11-12 (September 13, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 3 (October 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 2 (August 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 1 (August 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:1-2 - Read, Hear and Keep These Words (July 24, 2008)
- Revelation 19:6-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:20 (November 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:17-21 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:11-16 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:1-5 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:9-14 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:5-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:24 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:20-23 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:15-19 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:1-4 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:7-11 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 17:12-18 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:1-6 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 16:4-9 (October 22, 2010)
- Revelation 16:17-21 (November 13, 2010)
- Revelation 16:10-16 (November 7, 2010)
- Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:5-8 to Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:1-4 (October 9, 2010)
- Revelation 14:6-12 (September 16, 2010)
- Revelation 14:13-20 (September 23, 2010)
- Revelation 14:1-5 (September 11, 2010)
- Revelation 13:6-9 (August 6, 2010)
- Revelation 13:3-5 (July 29, 2010)
- Revelation 13:14-18 (September 3, 2010)
- Revelation 13:10-13 (August 19, 2010)
- Revelation 13:1-2 (July 22, 2010)
- Revelation 12:7-9 (July 2, 2010)
- Revelation 12:14-17 (July 16, 2010)
- Revelation 12:10-13 (July 9, 2010)
- Revelation 12:1-6 (June 25, 2010)
- Revelation 11:7-14 (May 8, 2010)
- Revelation 11:5-6 (April 30, 2010)
- Revelation 11:4 (April 22, 2010)
- Revelation 11:15-17 (June 12, 2010)
- Revelation 11:1-3 (April 18, 2010)
- Revelation 10:5-11 (April 9, 2010)
- Revelation 10:1-4 (April 12, 2010)
- Rev 1:3 How do we Keep the Sayings of this Book? (January 22, 2009)
- Rev 1:13, Part3 - Christ Revealed in the Law of the Offerings (October 11, 2008)