Read with Me
Revelation 11:3-6 (NET)
“And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.) If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and completely consumes their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. These two have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the times they are prophesying. They have power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want.
Listen with Me
God reused imagery here that he used in the vision given to Zechariah in Zechariah chapter 4. In that vision, God showed the prophet a gold menorah, which represented His presence, His glory, and the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in the midst of His restored people. On either side of the menorah stood two olive trees which continually produce streams of oil that fed the lamps, so that they would never go out.
The context of that vision shows that these two trees represented Joshua son of Jehozadak the high priest, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor and a direct-line descendant of King David and all the Kings of Judah. Thus, it is a picture of God’s presence that would be represented and demonstrated through a legitimate line of priests and kings.
In Revelation 11 verse 4, the two witnesses are identified as two menorahs and two trees alongside them, continually feeding them oil. But these no longer represent human lineages of priests and kings, but the royal priesthood that is the Church of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, these two witnesses do not necessarily represent two individuals, but what some would call the professing or martyr Church. These are those who, despite the persecution and the general retreat of the rest of the Church, will continue to speak boldly and to demonstrate God’s power, even against those who would try to silence or destroy them.
God’s power working in and through those faithful witnesses would be so strong that no one would be able to successfully oppose or silence them until the very end of the time of persecution, the time of when God will overthrow the power structures that have been oppressing and persecuting his people.
Pray with Me
Father, this is a powerful reminder to all of us that in challenging times it may not be Your will for us, either as the collective Church or as individual Christians, to lie low. Instead, we may be called to be powerful, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led witnesses. We may be called on to speak out even in the midst of danger, empowered and protected by you, so that even in the dark, you will have lights that shine, providing clear testimony to Your grace and power. And our testimony during those dark and dangerous times will also provide a clear warning to the enemies of the cross that their time is short. Lord, help me to stand strong for You, no matter what. Help me to never rely on my own cleverness or wits, but to always rely solely on Your power and Your guidance, and to do that all the more as the times grow darker. Amen.