Quote:
Originally Posted by whirlwind
It is as when Israel is referred to as "woman." She is many....not one.
Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."
11:4 These are the TWO OLIVE TREES and the TWO CANDLESTICKS, standing before the God of the earth.
I used to read this as the two witnesses being the two candlesticks and the two olive trees...just another name for the same thing but still two entities.
The following scripture shows that I wasn't correct in my belief:
Revelation 1:20 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.
So...the candlesticks are churches and the only two churches He approved of are Philadelphia and Smyrna...they are the two candlesticks standing with the two olive trees before God. Together they are the "Two Witnesses." One of the witnesses (the two candlesticks) is the part of His church that He approves of (those that know and teach truth) and the second of the two witnesses are the two olive trees. Two churches and two olive trees make up the two witnesses.
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Whirlwind
Instead of going to Revelation 1 which talks about
seven candlesticks which are plainly identified as churches, why not reference Zechariah 4 which talks about the 2 anointed ones.
Zechariah 4
1. And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2. 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:
3. And
two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5. Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9. The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11. 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?
12. 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?
13. And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14. Then said he, These are the
two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
Revelation 11
3. And I will give power unto my
two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4. These are the
two olive trees, and the
two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these
two prophets (not churches) tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
The only reason a person would try and cram churches into Revelation 11 is if they believed the church would go through the tribulation. Another notable teaching of the "Serpent Seed" folks.