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The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11: Difference between revisions
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 (view source)
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==Who are the two olive trees?== | ==Who are the two olive trees?== | ||
The reference to the two olive trees is clearly taken from the book of Zechariah: | The reference to the two olive trees is clearly taken from chapter 4 of the book of Zechariah: | ||
:''I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. | :''I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. | ||
:''And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord? | :''And '''there are two olive trees''' by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord? | ||
:''Then I said to him, | :''...Then I said to him, “'''What are these two olive trees''' on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said, “'''These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth'''.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Zec 4:2–4, 11–14.</ref> | ||
The two anointed ones is literally the two "sons of oil" in Hebrew, meaning ‘full of oil’.<ref>Joyce G. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 28, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1972), 132.</ref> | |||
Commentators in general agree that the two men are God’s appointed officers for his people<ref>John L. Mackay, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: God’s Restored People, Focus on the Bible Commentary (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2003), 117.</ref> '''Joshua the high priest''', and '''Zerubbabel the governor, the representative of the Persian King and a descendant of David'''.<ref>David J. Clark and Howard A. Hatton, A Handbook on Zechariah, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 2002), 146.</ref> | |||
Commentators in general agree that the two men | |||
==Who are the two witnesses?== | ==Who are the two witnesses?== | ||
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There are a number of reasons for this: | There are a number of reasons for this: | ||
#They are “lampstands” (Rev 11:4), which Revelation elsewhere explicitly identifies as churches (Rev 1:20). | #They are “lampstands” (Rev 11:4), which Revelation elsewhere explicitly identifies as churches (see Rev 1:20). | ||
#Joshua and Zerubbabel were the high priest and king seeking the restoration of their holy city; what could better symbolize the saints as a kingdom and priests (Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10) seeking their new Jerusalem? | #Joshua and Zerubbabel were the high priest and king seeking the restoration of their holy city; what could better symbolize the saints as a kingdom and priests (Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10) seeking their new Jerusalem? | ||
#Like John in this context, they prophesy (Rev 10:11; Rev 11:3, 6), fulfilling the standard Christian mission of testifying for Christ (Rev 19:10). | #Like John in this context, they prophesy (Rev 10:11; Rev 11:3, 6), fulfilling the standard Christian mission of testifying for Christ (Rev 19:10). | ||