Chapter 14 ofRevelation Revealed.
During the end time events, God is preparing instruments through He is going to do mighty works through. While many negative things are happening, there are also great exploits that God will do through His people (Daniel 11:32).
Revelation 11 opens up with instructions for an angel to measure the temple. He is the measure the temple but not the outer court. The reason behind the distinction is based on which areas was to be given to the people of God. The act of measurement dedicated that area for divine use.
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Revelation 11:1-2 |
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And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. |
God’s plans for the end-time involve more than just dedicating a building. God seeks to devote people to His use during this time. Verses 3-12 document the story of two witnesses who would minister with great power during the 70th week of Daniel. They would minister for 42 months and would have the power to call down from heaven great judgments that would torment the wicked inhabitants of the earth.
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Revelation 11:3-6 |
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And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.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. 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. |
Who are these witnesses? Are they two special people who happen to be living in the end times? Are they Moses and Elijah? Are they Enoch and Elijah? Are they representative of the anointed of God?
The text gives us a reference to the Old Testament that sheds some light on who they are. They are described as “the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth(Revelation 11:4).” In Zechariah 4:14, these are described as “the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
Zechariah 4 is a parable about these olive trees that are the anointed ones who stand before the Lord of the earth. These anointed ones are represented as olive trees that stand before “the lord of the earth.” These trees produce oil that feeds the candlesticks, lampstands, or menorahs. This oil is representative of the Holy Spirit, and the lampstands are representative of the light of God in the church (See week 1 for introduction to the significance of lampstands). As the Holy Spirit operates and flows through those anointed by God, the church operates in power. This power not only gives light to see but also represents the pursuit of God to show Himself strong on behalf of those who trust in Him. For these lamp-stands are also represented as the eyes of the Lord (Zechariah 4:10). ”For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9, read also Revelation 5:6).
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Zechariah 4:1-14 |
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Zec 4:1-14 NKJV Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. (2) And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I 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 with seven pipes to the seven lamps. (3) Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left…” |
This is a vision of the menorah that was in the Holy Place in the Temple. The ancient Menorah would have seven candles rather than the none on modern menorahs. The menorah and the show-bread would be in the Holy Place between the Court of the Israelite men and the Most Holy Place where the High Priest went once a year. The Menorah would light the way between the Court of Israel and the Most Holy Place.
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Zechariah 4:1-14 |
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Zec 4:1-14 NKJV …(4) So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” (5) Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” (6) So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. (7) ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!…” ‘ ” |
The menorah also represents the eyes of the Lord, which go forth to reveal God’s power to those who trust Him. In the context of Zechariah, God was going to reveal His power to Zerubbabel, the territorial governor appointed to govern. He would receive the power to finish building.
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Zechariah 4:1-14 |
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Zec 4:1-14 NKJV …(8) Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: (9) “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. (10) For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth….” |
We see reference to the Eyes of the Lord in 2 Chronicles 16:9, where the prophet explains to Asa the value in trusting God over human alliances.
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2Ch 16:7-9 NKJV |
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And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. (8) Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. (9) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” |
The eyes of the Lord provide the Anointing. In verses 11-14, the imagery is expanded to show these olive trees feeding the menorah with oil. Oil here, as in many other passages, represents the presence of the Holy Spirit or anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those who have the anointing of the Holy Spirit can light the lamp that represents the manifestation of divine powers towards those who have faith to trust Him.
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Zechariah 4:1-14 |
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Zec 4:1-14 NKJV ..(11) Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” (12) And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” (13) Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” (14) So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” |
The best interpretation of the two witnesses is that they are a collective representation of those who are anointed by God during this time. Revelation is referring to the description in Zechariah 4, and the description in Zechariah 4 applies to every Spirit-filled believer in Christ and not just two particular individuals. While there may be two standout individuals, this prophecy is bigger than just two particular people.
The representation as two witnesses has legal significance. It is written in the law that a matter was established by the testimony of at least two witnesses (Deut 17:6, Mat 18:16, Mat 26:60, 2 Cor 13:1, 1 Tim 5:19, Heb 10:28, Rev 11:3). these two witnesses operate in apostolic authority to bear witness to the coming of God’s wrath.