1. Last week John was given a measuring rod to measure the temple and count the people in it. And as we discussed, this did not mean the physical building but rather the true church which is the temple as described in the new testament. And we saw how the church in general can be described as the holy city. The city itself is the false church which denies the truths of the gospel. The outer courts represent the church which says it believes the right doctrines but does not show a true relationship with Jesus Christ. The measuring takes place throughout this present age - between the first and second comings of Jesus. And this means that throughout this age the true church is being determined and set aside. Those who are not part of it are being separated as the weeds from the wheat. And they end up joining the Gentiles and unbelievers who are trampling upon the church, seeking to destroy it.
2. Today we read about two witness. Again we have a puzzling question before us. Who are these witnesses? The answer to this question is found in our passage and in Zechariah 4.
3. There are a number of possibilities. They are given power by God to prophesy. They are God’s witnesses, they bear witness to him and His word. They proclaim His word and they have been given power by God.
4. The passage in Zechariah clearly refers to them, as we will see. In Zechariah we read that they have been anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. The setting is the people coming out of exile from Babylon back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and temple. Specifically two had been anointed by God to lead the people in resettling in the holy city. Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor.
5. Some say that these witnesses are Elijah and Enoch. Neither died but was taken up. And so each would be able to be killed, something that happens to these prophets. O
6. Others suggest Elijah and Moses. Elijah did pray and the heavens were shut (1 Kings 17:1) and did consume his enemies with fire (2 Kings 1:10). And Moses had power to turn water into blood and strike the earth with plagues. These are things the two witnesses have power to do.
7. The two witnesses, however, are not two individuals. The people we mentioned are included among those represented by the prophets. They are a type or model of the people that these prophets are.
8. Remember, last week we said that the 42 months represent this present age. vs. 3 says that they will witness for 1260 days or 42 months. So they will witness throughout this present age. They represent all those who present the word of God throughout this age.
9. And they are clothed in sackcloth. This indicates that their message is a message of repentance. They present the gospel call to repent of sin and to turn to Christ.
10. But the passage describes them further. It says that they are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands.
11. Zechariah explains this vision a little more. He sees a candlestick with 7 lamps. Above the candlestick he sees a golden bowl, a reservoir filled with oil. Pipes connect the bowl to the lampstands and the pipes allow the oil to flow from the bowl to them. They supply the oil for their light. And the bowl has is connected to each olive tree by a pipe. The oil flows from the olive tree to the bowl and to the lampstands.
12. The message of Zechariah 4 is found in vs. 6.
So he 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 Almighty.
In other words, Zechariah, you are going to rebuild the temple, by your hands, but you will do so by the Holy Spirit.
13. Friends, it is amazing how there is so much rich symbolism is God’s word and how it all ties together. Here is Zerubbabel building the physical temple under opposition. God assures that the temple will be built by the Spirit. And here are God’s people throughout history building God’s temple, his kingdom. They meet opposition but God assures us that the temple will be completed.
14. We have a role - we are the lampstands, the true church. Some of us are the olive trees. But the oil is the Spirit of God who enables us to shine forth the word, the truth so the temple can be built. Tat light shines forth both in our missionary effort to those who have not heard the word before and also shines in the darkness of opposition and evil around us. Remaining faithful.
15. vs. 4 says there are two olive trees and two lampstands. What is the difference? We already said that the two witness in Zechariah was specifically Joshua and Zerabbabel. But specifically they are represented by the two olive trees
Zec 4:11-14 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?" He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said. So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
The olive trees represents those anointed or ordained by God to serve Him. I the OT that includes prophet, priest and king. In the church we could say it represents those who are divinely ordained and called true ministers of the word. And the lampstands are the church itself, the people of God.
16. It is the role of ministers to faithfully proclaim the gospel, to supply the church, the congregation with the light of God.
17. God promises that throughout this age the witness shall stand. The Lord will not leave the church without its faithful servants . There may be many that will be unfaithful. Mmany may fall away. But God will always have His two witness - His church and His servants.
18. There is a call in this for us to remain faithful. And to know that God will empower us to be so. As the end nears this task will be more difficult and more important. Opposition will increase. We must defend the truth. By remaining true to the witness, we show ourselves to be true children of God (amongst those counted in the inner temple).
19. And we are given power.
Rev 11:5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.
20. There are those who would hurt the people of God. They cannot hurt them by physical harm or by killing them. We need not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The only way to hurt us is to get at us spiritually. To get us to waver in our testimony or deny Christ.
21. But what is the power we have been given? Fire that comes out of our mouths. Does fire come out of our mouths? Fire that destroys? Not seen any but the fire does come.
Rev 11:5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.
Jer 5:14 Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.
22. The enemy will fall by God’s word. It will defeat them and their cause. In that way it will kill them. Not a physical killing is meant here.
23. And yet there is power that comes forth from the church, for the church. God’s ultimate goal is the establishment of His kingdom. We pray "they kingdom come." Could some of the judgements on the earth be a result of our prayers? We see in verse 6 the power that Moses and Elijah had. Is that power limited to them? As God’s people, we may well have much more power that we realize . The pray of a righteous man availeth much.
24. May this make us more fervent in our prayers and our witness.
25. I get excited about Revelation 11. Gives us God’s view of His church, of our role and our responisbilites. Praise be to Him!
