The fourth objection may be the most convincing. It is that there are statements in the Scriptures themselves that reveal the meaning of the two witnesses. In these passages, the two witnesses are not portrayed as two men who will come down from Heaven and preach on the earth.

Two olive trees and two lampstands.

The reference here is to the fourth chapter of the Book of Zechariah.

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. (Zechariah 4:2,3)

Zechariah asked the angel the meaning of the golden lampstand and the two attending olive trees.

Then the angel gave the meaning of the vision to Zechariah.

Notice carefully that the angel did not say, "These are two prophets of God who will return to the earth in the latter days and announce the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth."

Rather, the angel declared:

. . . 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. (Zechariah 4:6)

The immediate application of the vision was to the rebuilding of the Temple of Solomon after the Babylonian captivity. The Lord was informing the builders that it was God's Spirit who would accomplish the work of restoration.

The prophecies of Zechariah concern Christ and His Kingdom. Therefore we apply the above interpretation of the vision to the work of the Kingdom of God.

The meaning of Revelation 11:4 and Zechariah 4:2,3 is stated in the Scriptures. It is that the work of God, in particular the finishing of the work of building the house of God, will be accomplished by the Spirit of God and not by the efforts of men. This is the interpretation of the "two witnesses" of Revelation, Chapter Eleven.

The two witnesses of Revelation are clothed in sackcloth. God's "witnesses" of today often are arrayed in the most expensive of clothing, drive the finest of automobiles, and attempt to live as wealthy people. If our understanding is correct, the day of the "big preacher" is drawing to a close. The massive "latter rain" revival at hand will utilize the humblest of people. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day!

The number two signifies the double portion of God's power that will abide on the saints who bear the end-time witness of the soon return of Christ in His Kingdom. Two speaks of the validity of the witness:

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

Two speaks also of the power of God:

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. (Psalms 62:11)

The latter-rain revival is the "second" prophecy (see Revelation 10:11), the first prophecy (former rain) being the revival of the Book of Acts.

The symbolism of the two witnesses is related to the two wave loaves of the feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:17), and also to the double portion that rested on the Prophet Elisha. The life of Elisha is strongly typical of the ministry of the two witnesses.

To be continued.