The subject of the 2 witnesses has remained such a mystery, but not because it is this intricate puzzle that needs to be articulately assembled. It is actually very simple, yet has remained a mystery because it has been veiled. 3 messages that have been hidden in scripture for more than 2500 years.
Understanding the olive branch:
Paul speaks to the Gentiles
Romans 11:17
17But if
some of the branches were broken off, and you,
being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the [j]rich root of the olive tree,
18do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
19You will say then,“
Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
21for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
22See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off.
Above you see that some branches (Jews) were broken off from the holy tree for their unbelief. Then in their place Gentiles or wild olives/or olive trees were grafted in among them. We can understand that a tree cannot be grafted in the place of a branch.
23And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.
24For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
Contextually we can see that only a branch can be cut out off of a wild olive tree. A tree can’t be cut out of a tree. Each person represents an individual branch.
What are 2 things we can we gather from Romans 11:16-25
#1 there are not 2 olive trees that will be saved. There is no Jewish and Gentile Church described here. You are either grafted into the “Jewish olive tree”, as a spiritual descendant of Abraham, or you will be judged as an individual branch on the wild olive tree.
#2 a branch represents an individual person. If a Gentile believes in the Lord Jesus, he is a branch broken off his wild olive tree , and grafted into the holy Jewish tree…a spiritual descendant of Abraham.
Once again, we must understand that there are not a Jewish Church and a Gentile Church. If we Gentiles are saved, We are spiritual descendants of Abraham…period. You are either grafted into that natural (holy Jewish) olive tree, or you stay on the wild olive tree and will be judged however the Lord judges you. This is the symbolism Paul explains in Romans 11.
The 2 witnesses are 2 olive branches (2 individuals) and likely 2 Gentiles.
In Zechariah 4:14 it is a clear match to Revelation 11:4. The 2 olive branches (individual believers) are the 2 “Sons of oil” that Stand before the Lord of all the earth.
Another thing lost in most English translations is that it doesn’t actually translate as “2 anointed ones” it translates as “2 sons of oil”
Darby translates closer to what Hebrew means
Zechariah 4:12-14
12And I answered again, and said to him: What are the
two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold?
13And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And I said: No, my lord.
14And he said:
These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
If you research, this it is easily found. Just look at the footnotes for the verse. The 2 olive branches are the 2 sons of oil, and are 2 Gentiles, as we can conclude from Romans 11:16-25
The truth is we don’t know if Zechariah saw olives or olive trees. The immediate translation for the word זֵיתִ֖ים in Zechariah 4:3 is olives. In the immediate context olive trees makes more sense, but having a peculiar familiarity with this subject, I believe it is olives on branches only. Similar to what the National emblem of Israel shows.
israeilj national emblem - Google Search
View attachment 327378
https://www.amazon.com/Olives-Garli...keywords=israeli+olives&qid=1675262030&sr=8-5
Above is a can of olives, not a can of olive trees. The first word on the right is olives. זֵיתִ֖ים
The Latin vulgate says olives
The Reina Valera (old one) says olives
Wycliffe Bible says olives
Zechariah 4:2-3
2 And he seide to me, What seest thou? And Y seide, Y saiy, and lo! a candilstike al of gold, and the laumpe therof on the heed therof, and seuene lanternes therof on it, and seuene vessels for to holde oyle to the lanternes, that weren on the heed therof.
3 And
twei olyues there onne, oon of the riythalf `of the laumpe, and `an other on the left half therof.
11 And Y answeride, and seide to hym, What ben these
tweyne olyues on the riythalf of the candilstike, and at the lift-half therof?
12 And Y answeryde the secounde tyme, and seide to hym, What ben the tweyne eeris, ether ripe fruyt, of olyues, that ben bisidis the twei bilis of gold, in whiche ben oile vesselis of gold?
13 And he seide to me, and spak, Whether thou woost not what ben these thingis?
14 And Y seide, No, my lord. And he seide, These ben
twei sones of oile of schynyng, whiche stonden nyy to the lordli gouernour of al erthe.
And Revelation 11:3-4
3 And Y schal yyue `to my twey witnessis, and thei schulen prophesie a thousynde daies two hundrid and sixti, and schulen be clothid with sackis.
4 These ben
tweyne olyues, and twei candilstikis, and thei stonden in the siyt of the Lord of the erthe.
Whether it is olive trees or olives in Revelation 11:4 is really a moot issue. The truth is, that is just a reference back to Zechariah 4:
Zechariah 4 is the first biblical message to 1 of the 2 witnesses. Nothing in Zechariah 4 occurred during the second temple era, aside from Zechariah receiving and recording the message. I know you’ve heard what’s passed down and perhaps what commentary’s bring but I come with a different perspective
Another thing added in translation is in Revelation 11:3
Revelation 11:3 Greek Text Analysis
The word power is not in that verse. It just isn’t there. It is
“And I will give my 2 witnesses” or “and I will give unto my 2 witnesses” the former obviously makes more sense.
“And I will give my 2 witnesses”
