The Two Witnesses: The Lampstands and the Olive Trees

Originally posted on Jan. 3, 2025.

If you’ve read Revelation, you’ve heard about the two witnesses from chapter 11. These two are granted authority to prophecy for 1,260 days (3.5 years). During this time they are invincible breathing fire and killing their enemies. After their time is up, the beast from the bottomless pit rises up and kills them. Their enemies rejoice over their dead bodies for three and a half days then the Lord raises them back to life and brings them up to Heaven on a cloud. Wild right?

The big question I’ve always had about the two witnesses is, are they two individuals or are they representative of two groups of people? The more of the Bible I read, the more I lean towards two groups, yet part of me believes it could be both because if feels like anything is possible when it comes to God and especially the end times.

As I read Revelation 11 this evening, verse 4 intrigued me. Referring to the two witnesses it says, “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth” (ESV).

At the beginning of the book, lampstands were established to be the churches. “…and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Rev. 1:20).

And when I think of olive trees, I think of Jews versus Gentiles as found in Romans 11. Israel being the natural, native olive tree and the gentiles are wild olive branches that have been grafted into the native tree.

Other important verses can be found in Zechariah 4 — the vision here is very closely connected to this. The two olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand with God.

I also thought about the sons of Zebedee who asked Jesus to grant them to sit at his right and at his left in glory — the olive trees in Zechariah are one on the right and one on the left.

All this to say, I’m no closer to an answer yet. The Bible is confusing and mysterious and I pray one day God helps me understand.