THE TWO WITNESSES
Peter M. Wilson
14 November 2020
SALVATION
Scripture shows us that human beings are appointed to die once and then be judged and that those who look for Christ will see him and receive Salvation for their souls (Heb. 9:27-28; KJV). To receive Salvation is to obtain the promise of eternal life with God that He gives to any who diligently seek him. Salvation is entering into eternity with God. Being saved by God is to acknowledge him as the Captain of Salvation and enter into a covenantal relationship in which, as long as the covenant is upheld on the part of the one being saved, it is legitimate. God loves us and this is why he extends this opportunity unto every person (Jn. 3:16-21; Heb. 10:30-31; KJV).
We never have to doubt whether God will hold up his side of the covenant. However, scripture also shows us that to believe there is a God is not enough, because even the demons believe; true belief in God produces works and if one goes on willfully sinning after they receive the Holy Spirit there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment (Jm. 2:19-20; Heb. 10:26-29; KJV). This means the covenant is made void if the one being saved gives up to return to a life of sin; this is why scripture tells us that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord (Heb. 10:30-31: KJV).
Whether God will restore that covenant once again or not will be determined by Him; this is why scripture tells us to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12-16; KJV). These verses show that merely believing in God and being in relationship with God are two very different things. Also, we can see that just because one is being saved does not mean that they don’t still have the free will to turn away at any given time (2 Pt. 2:20-22; KJV).
We must endure to the end as scripture tells us, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Mat. 24:13; KJV).” This implies that if we turn from the truth we have once known, we are in danger of not being saved; this is also confirmed throughout scripture (Heb. 10:38; KJV). This is why it is important to understand what it means to live under this covenant. We are commanded to live a certain way in scripture, our unchanging moral standard. We are called to believe that God is one, and to love him with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. We are also called to love others as we love ourselves (Mk. 12:30-31). These are the great commandments that are unchanging and universal. If we diligently seek after Christ, He will appear to us, and lead us to Salvation.
The Holy Spirit will baptize us after entering into this covenantal agreement and diligently following after Christ. This baptizes us into the death Christ died and gives us a new life with the ability to receive knowledge of the truth and walk the path he has set for us. Scripture tells us “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4; KJV).” Once we receive the Holy Spirit we will walk in newness of life, and we will know we are living by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
This baptism will give us power over sin, and even over death. If it is appointed unto man to die once, and we die to the flesh in order to live for God, we will overcome death itself through this beautiful process given by God. This means that what we will be looking forward to at this point in our relationship with Christ is life everlasting in union with God, which is the promise of Salvation for our souls (Heb. 10:35-37: KJV).
DELUSION
Unfortunately, many people today are living under what the bible calls great deception, or strong delusion. The book of Hosea reads “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee… (Hosea 4:6)”. That is the most straightforward way to describe the times humanity has endured from the first century until now. However, there is another theme at work underlying all of these seemingly random, chaotic events. Many people often overlook or mischaracterize the idea of God’s Kingdom being established on this earth. This is partly due to the strong delusion on the earth, humankind’s unrighteousness, and a lack of people willing to seek actual knowledge.
The underlying theme that has been developing since the time of the first-century church until now, and will forevermore, is God’s kingdom being established on this earth. “…of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever… (Isaiah 6:7)”. We see here one of many examples where God’s kingdom is seen as being progressively established over time, and not just temporarily but forever. This should allow us to understand simply that Christ accomplished the work of the prophecies foretold of him, and is reigning on his throne to exact judgment and bring about peace on this earth continuously.
We often hear the prayer “thy will be done, thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven”. However, do we really comprehend that prayerfully? If we are praying for God’s will to be done on earth, the same way that it is in heaven, we are, in turn, praying for ultimate peace to be established upon this earth. This is a severe contrast to the view that is commonly held by many believers, which is technically the return of Christ with fire to annihilate all things. This is not that same view as “on earth as it is in heaven”. Therefore, we must take a deeper look into this order of God’s Kingdom and what that means for us who live on His earth to this day.
We have already explored the order of events and the reality that the most consistent view of eschatology is that of historical rather than futuristic. However, we didn’t ask what that meant for believers living after the time of the first-century church. In Proverbs we see that “the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it (Proverbs 2:22)”. There is a common theme about the status of the earth and what type of people will occupy it.
In Matthew we see that the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). This is a continuous theme throughout scripture about the type of people that will be produced after generations and generations of cultivation. We see a theme that, over time, leads to the righteous people inhabiting the whole earth and the wicked being taken out of it. A similar example is given with the comparison of weeds growing up alongside the wheat. For a time the weeds are permitted to grow, but only for the gardener to be able to distinguish and more easily uproot those weeds from the garden (Matthew 13:24).
This is exactly what we see going on now on God’s earth, he is allowing the weeds to grow along with the wheat, and in His time, he will harvest. In His time, he plants; in His time, He waters and watches over the increases of His people. The bottom line is this, we are living in His Holy Garden, and His kingdom, and His purpose will be established over His kingdom. This should give believers confidence and identity of they’re place within this amazing kingdom. However, as stated previously, delusion has been allowed to persist.
A result of that delusion is the belief that this world that we live in is actually a world controlled by Satan and evil, and that one day God will destroy it all. Even though this view not only directly contradicts the previously stated verses but also starkly contrasts many other verses and principles throughout scripture. As we have explored and discovered already, there is no basis in rational righteous thought for this form of delusion. Only that which seeks to glorify God for the completion of His purposes through the work of Jesus Christ should stand. All other views can only lead to more destruction, chaos, and ultimately pure delusion. So the question remains, where does that leave us presently?
THE TWO WITNESSES
In the book of Revelation, two witnesses are lifted up during a time of calamity. These two witnesses are ultimately persecuted to death and called up to God into His Kingdom. However, the task they accomplish and the path they lay out provides the very blueprint for all believers for all time. John recorded the following statements God revealed to him: "… 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 (Revelation 11:3-4)”.
Although this is a prophecy of imagery, we can observe that the two witnesses are given titles or descriptions. These descriptions are two olive trees, and two candlesticks. Therefore, we must seek to understand who these individuals are, what they represent, and how exactly this applies to all believers alike.
In the book of Zechariah, this prophet is given many visions, but also an angel is there to assist in interpreting these things. In Zechariah, the fourth chapter, we see a stunning description of those two witnesses that are also described in the Revelation. “And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 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: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof (Zec. 4:2-3)”. This portion of the vision welcomes us into what will soon be understood as the description of those two witnesses. Keep in mind that the candlestick supports seven lamps; this part is important.
As the conversation between Zechariah and the angel goes on, the angel reveals the following: “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? 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? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth (Zec. 4:11-14)”. Now we see that the oil from those two olive trees is providing oil for the bowl that supports the seven lamps through the two pipes or two candlesticks.
Where else in scripture do we see seven lamps? Back in the book of Revelation, John again describes the seven churches of Asia. “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 (Rev. 1:20)”. Now the stage is set, we have the two witnesses (two olive trees, two golden pipes), these two witnesses produce oil (spiritual outpouring from the olive trees) filtered through two golden pipes into a bowl by which the seven lamps (the seven churches) sit upon, and gather they’re oil from, to make their flame (they’re testimony) spread throughout the whole earth.
The vision is almost complete, except one thing is missing: who are the two olive trees that produce this Holy Oil by which the light of these seven churches shines over the whole earth? We know that these olive trees are anointed to serve the whole earth because, in Zechariah, the angel says, “These are the two that the Lord anoints to serve the whole earth.” Yet the question remains: who are they? The prophet Jeremiah shows us who the two olive trees are.
The first olive tree is a reference to descendants of abrahams sons Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac had a son named Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. He had 12 sons which grew to become the 12 tribes of Israel. Ishmael also had 12 sons which grew to become the 12 tribes of Ishmael (Gen. 25:12-26). As Jeremiah is speaking to a mixed group of these descendants, he says, “The Lord called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken (Jer. 11:16)”. Many of the branches of this olive tree are broken off due to unbelief, and rejection of Jesus Christ so God created a new olive tree.
The second olive tree is in reference to the gentile nations; gentile simply means all who do not share heritage with the tribes of Israel and Ishmael. In Romans, the Apostle Paul explains who he is talking to as he says “I am talking to you gentiles. In as much as I am the apostle to the gentiles (Rom. 11:13)”. He goes on to describe “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Rom. 11:17-25)”.
Finally, we see the two olive trees as the two anointed witnesses. These witnesses are the two anointed who are standing before the Lord continually. These two olive trees are two different groups of believers, yet all one family united and anointed by the Lord to carry out his purposes throughout the whole earth. We observed that those who are a part of this tree are able to partake from the root and fatness of the olive tree, and it is this tree that manifests the outpouring of oil, that same oil that is used to light the lamps of the seven churches that are active throughout the whole world.
We see that the olive branches are broken off due to unbelief, but also can be grafted back into another tree if God so decides. This process of grafting and restoring broken branches is a continual process that will endure in His Garden forever.
Reference can be found for this cultivation process in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he explains “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Eph 4:11-15)”.
Abrahamic and gentile believers alike are all a part of this mighty olive tree, and are anointed by God to serve as witnesses and skilled gardeners in his holy garden for the rest of time. We see that this process is not immediate, but that we should always grow up into Christ in all things. This is what the fivefold ministry is all about: Apostles, Prophets, Preachers, Teachers, and Evangelists all working together to cause God’s family to continue to grow up into the Head, which is Jesus, and to be His representatives upon this earth.
We are called to be that light on the candlestick that is set in the open to be a light unto the world. As we see in Matthew, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Mat 5:11-1)”.
This is also why we are told in Luke that the kingdom of heaven is within us as he writes “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: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you (Lk. 17:20-21)”. This phrase should finally come to light as we have seen that if we believe in God and His son's work, we have been grafted into that olive tree and adopted into that lineage.
This would mean that we also have the ability to partake in the root and the fullness of that olive tree. Not for our own sake or individual gain, but for the glory of God, so that all may see the light and come to know of the richness and glory of life in His kingdom. This is the ultimate mission and destiny of the New Testament believer. We have the authority under Christ, we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and we are grafted into His Holy tree. All we have to do now is accept this calling that is placed upon us to pick up our cross and follow after Him diligently.
Some will say that there should be a defined period of time where the full measure of gentiles must come to an end, and at that time the end of all things will come. However, this is a faulty conclusion based on an unsupported premise. The times of the gentiles being fulfilled was a designation given for the times that the gentile rulers would rule over Jerusalem (Jer. 22:30). Ultimately this time of gentile rulership as a result of the unbelief of God’s people would come to an end, at the return of Christ in 66 AD - 73 AD as discussed previously (Lk. 21:20-32).
This shows us that blindness came upon national Israel only until the fullness of these times was completed (Romans 11:25-29) as a result of the curse for their unbelief. This also confirms the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Isaiah and Jesus himself, that even after seeing, they would not see, and even after hearing, they would not hear (2 Cor. 4:3-4; Mat. 13:13-17; Isa. 42:18-20). Only that a remnant of righteous Jews would be saved from the judgement (Elect 144,000 - 12,000 from the 12 tribes of Judah), the rest would be blinded and destroyed; not as a result of anything they did, but simply as a result of the ordination of God, which was ordained before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).
To assume that national Israel is still being supernaturally blinded and will be revived when Christ returns is erroneous and offensive. Not to mention when the Israelites return, the prophecy follows that two thirds would be slaughtered during the judgement (Zechariah 13:8). To assume this is still something coming in the future is an interpretation that has the potential to cause many issues between those of Abrahamic heritage and gentile believers. Yes this curse did fall upon national Israel at the time of the judgement in 70 A.D. However, that is when the prophecy was complete, there is no longer a blinding of this people group or another pending judgement. Paul tells us himself that the Jew is not the one who is one outwardly, but the Jew is the one inwardly, whose heart is towards Christ (Rom. 2:28-29). Also as he says they are not all Israel who are of Israel (Rom. 9:6-8). Furthermore, as he says we have become a new creation; in Christ we are one, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or bond, male or female (Gal. 3:25-29).
Abrahamic and Gentile equality is that mystery of God that was being revealed to the first century saints, and furthermore shows us of our heritage and destiny, of all being one united body in Christ (Rom. 11:25-33). It is through this equality and unity that the message of these two olive trees is unified and spread throughout the world. Through the unbelief of Israel, the redemption of God was extended to all who would place their faith and belief in his Holy name.
“Watch the video below to gain further insight into these concepts”