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The Two Witnesses
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Zerubbabel
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The Two Witnesses
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Z echariah 4 outlines an awesome vision which
discusses Zerubbabel, a candlestick, seven
lamps, a bowl, two olive trees, golden pipes
and golden oil. In this booklet we will discuss the
Biblical explanation of all these components,
including clear irrefutable Biblical proof on the
identity of Zerubbabel and the two witnesses.
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Table of contents
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Chapter 1
The Biblical identity of Zerubbabel
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will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Cor.
6:16).
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Many have not accurately understood the scriptural role of
Zerubbabel in the New Testament, and have therefore
carelessly assigned this name to various individuals who have
come on the scene in these latter years. Assigning names to
individuals in error is extremely dangerous because it leads
well-meaning and unsuspecting begotten children of God to
focus on wrong personalities and also leads them to wrong
conclusions of many important prophecies outlined in the
Bible.
Chief cornerstone
These verses tell us that the house of God is built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus
Christ is the chief corner stone – “in whom the building fitly framed
grows unto a holy temple (or Church) in the Lord”. Read that again!
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Jesus Christ is the “chief corner stone”! What exactly does this
mean? The dictionary gives us the following definitions for
“corner stone”:
Evidently, the chief corner stone is the very first stone that
is laid when a building project commences. For example, when
a public building is about to be built, such as a government
office, library, museum etc., there is often a ceremony to mark
the beginning of the project. A mayor, prime minister,
president or some other dignitary may be invited to lay the very
first stone of such a building. That first stone is the “foundation
stone” or “corner stone” of the building.
Headstone
Let us notice Zech. 4:7 again, and see what other
information we are told about Zerubbabel:
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“I [Christ] am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which
was, and which is to come”.
The plummet
Let us once again visit Zech. 4:9-10, and notice that the
word “plummet” is used in reference to Zerubbabel:
“In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee,
O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith
the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have
chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts” (Hagg. 2:23).
“In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee,
O Zerubbabel, my servant…as a signet…”.
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Joshua - Christ the High priest
Zerubabbel - Christ the Builder
Elijah - Christ the Restorer
Eliakim - Christ who governs
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Chapter 2
The Vision of Zechariah 4 explained
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“And 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.” (Rev. 11:3-4).
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“For my people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed
them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no
water” (Jer. 2:13).
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Now that we understand that the “Bowl” is referring to
Jesus Christ, let us go back and continue discussing what is
being communicated to us in Zechariah 4:
Key:
(A) One candlestick all of gold (Zech. 4:2)
(B) Seven lamps on the one candlestick (Zech. 4:2)
(C) A Bowl on top of the candlestick (Zech. 4:2)
(D) Seven pipes to the seven lamps (Zech. 4:2)
(E) Two olive trees which stand one on each side of the bowl (Zech. 4:3),
and of the candlestick (Zech. 4:11)
(F) Two golden pipes emptying oil from the olive trees (Zech. 4:12)
As you will notice, the two olive trees empty golden oil
into the Bowl. Evidently, the two olive trees are representatives
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of “messengers” who serve Christ and the Church. It might be
helpful to think of the two olive trees as “conduits” between
God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. A physical parallel
might help make this easier to understand: Queen Elizabeth II
in England sits on the throne of David. Her son, Prince Charles,
is heir to the throne. The monarch will sometimes use
messengers, servants, or court men to deliver messages or
communication to her son when he is not immediately
available to her. In like manner, God the Father uses
messengers to sometimes communicate with His Son. The two
olive trees are representative of messengers, who are engaged
in serving Christ and the Church through Him.
“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And
being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in
the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the
Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot,
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle” (Rev.
1:12-13).
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Chapter 3
Identity of the two witnesses
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the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the
whole earth” (vs. 1-5, 11-14).
We have already seen that the two olive trees represent the
two witnesses. Now we will allow other scriptures in the Bible
to guide us in revealing the identity of these two witnesses.
When the two witnesses come on the scene they will have
the power from God to cause great destruction according to His
plan. They will have the power to perform mighty miracles as
God allows them throughout their 1260-day ministry. This
should act as a wonderful sign to God’s people during the
Great Tribulation. They will be as lights in a dark world!
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the
men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old
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and young, all the people from every quarter: And they
called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men
which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto
us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the
door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I
pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I
have two daughters which have not known man; let me,
I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them
as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do
nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of
my roof” (Gen. 19:4-8).
“And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This
one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a
judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with
them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot,
and came near to break the door. But the men [the two
angels] put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the
house to them, and shut to the door. And they [the two
angels] smote the men that were at the door of the
house with blindness [the two angel witnesses
performed this miracle], both small and great: so that
they wearied themselves to find the door. And the
men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son
in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and
whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of
this place” Gen 19:9-12)
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“For we will destroy this place, because the cry of
them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and
the LORD hath sent us to destroy it”.
“And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law,
which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out
of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But
he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
And when the morning arose, [i.e. the morning after
the feast when they ate unleavened bread] then the
angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife,
and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be
consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he
lingered, the men [the two angels] laid hold upon his
hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand
of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto
him: and they brought him forth, and set him without
the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought
them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life;
look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the
plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be
consumed” (Gen 19:14-17).
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The two angels who were witnessing unto Lot and his
family told them not to look back, but to flee to the mountain.
Lot and his family were urged to run for their lives and not
waste any time! They were very probably told not to return to
their house to take anything, but to simply run! Scripture
clearly indicates that the two witnesses were very urgent at this
time – just as it will be urgent in this end time as the Day of the
Lord begins and the Great Tribulation looms. Notice the
following verses in Matthew 24 which describe this:
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“And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold
now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou
hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto
me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the
mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold
now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one:
Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my
soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have
accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not
overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till
thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city
was called Zoar” (Gen. 19:18-22).
“The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered
into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and
upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD
out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all
the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and
that which grew upon the ground” (Gen. 19:23-25).
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she
became a pillar of salt. And Abraham gat up early in the
morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:
And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and
toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the
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smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a
furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the
cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and
sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he
overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt” (Gen.
19:26-29).
From the parallels we have seen thus far, and from what
scripture has to say about the identity of the two witnesses, it
becomes increasingly evident that the two witnesses in this end
time will be angels sent to this earth in human form. Just as
two angels were sent to witness unto Sodom and Gomorrah,
every indication is that two angels will be sent to fulfill the
prophecy of the two witnesses here in this end-time (Rev. 11:3-
12). Remember, on more than one occasion in the New
Testament pertaining to the two witnesses and the time of the
end, God directs our attention to the time of Sodom and
Gomorrah. There is a message which He evidently wants His
people to understand. As we closely look at the story of Lot
and Sodom and Gomorrah we see that two angels were sent by
God to witness unto Lot and his family, and then the rest of the
city, and also perform miracles during that time of destruction.
This is identical to the way it will be in this end time when the
two witnesses come on the scene. This is the first proof that the
Bible gives to demonstrate that the two witnesses in this end-
time will be angels. We will now look at a further two proofs,
which clearly indicate and confirm that the two witnesses will
be angels. As we go along, you will notice that the proofs given
are irrefutable!
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The second proof is that scripture proves that the two
witnesses will not be resurrected with the saints! Notice the
following scriptures, while paying particular attention to the
highlighted text:
Scripture does not state that the dead in Christ will stand on
their feet at the resurrection. It states that the dead in Christ
will be raised incorruptible! Notice further:
Please note that the above verses state that the dead in
Christ will rise first to meet the Lord in the clouds/in the air!
This is not what scripture states about the resurrection of the
two witnesses! The two witnesses will be resurrected to their
feet and do not immediately go up in the clouds as do the
firstfruits. This clear distinction in the resurrection of the
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firstfruits and of the two witnesses should prove beyond doubt
that the two witnesses are not resurrected at the same time as
the firstfruits, clearly indicating that they are not firstfruits!
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...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?...Then
said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by
the Lord of the whole earth” (Zech. 4:2-3, 11, 14).
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1. Zech 4:2 tells us that Jesus Christ is the Head of the one
candlestick or Church.
2. The seven lamps (or seven successive congregations)
form the one candlestick, or one Church (Zech. 4:2).
3. Zech. 4:3, 11, 14 tell us that the two olive trees are not
Churches, and do not stand beside the last two
congregations (Philadelphia and Laodicea). We are told
that the two olive trees are two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-4)
who stand on either side of Christ (the Bowl) and on
either side of the entire Church (candlestick) made up
of seven congregations (Ephesus to Laodicea).
4. Zech. 4:6-10 discusses the Church’s foundation: it was
laid millennia ago by Zerubbabel (or Jesus Christ)
through the apostles and prophets. We are also told that
the Church will be finished by Jesus Christ at the
resurrection.
5. Zech. 4:10 tells us that the plummet is in the hands of
Zerubbabel (Christ). A plummet is a measuring device
used to build. Only God can measure His called-out
ones as He builds and completes His temple.
6. Rev. 11:4 tells us that the two witnesses are lights in a
dying world during the Great Tribulation.
7. If the two witnesses stand on either side of the seven
lamps that make up the one candlestick, it would follow
that these two witnesses have stood on either side of the
Church since its inception on the Day of Pentecost in
the year of Christ’s resurrection. This clearly indicates
that the two witnesses are not men, but angels.
8. Rev. 11 tells us that the two witnesses will appear in
this end time to fulfill a 1260-day commission.
9. Luke 17:26-30 compares and contrasts the beginning of
the Day of the Lord to the time of Lot in Sodom and
Gomorrah as recorded in Genesis 18 and 19.
10. Genesis 18:2-3 state that three “men” appeared unto
Abraham: Christ, and two angels who witnessed to
Sodom and Gomorrah (see also Gen. 18:20-22; Gen.
19:1), further indicating that the two witnesses in this
end time will be angels.
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11. Genesis 19:12-23 demonstrates that the two angels
guided Lot and his family to a place of protection, as
will the two witnesses in this end-time guide God’s
faithful to a place of safety to be protected from the
Great Tribulation.
12. Gen. 19:13, 24-25, 28-29 show that the two angels
(witnesses of that day) were used to destroy Sodom and
Gomorrah just as the two witnesses will be used for
1260 Days of Tribulation to deliver the curses from
God on this sin-sick world. Through their preaching
and performing of miracles they will be lights to the
Laodiceans in the Great Tribulation.
13. The difference in events which take place between the
resurrection of the two witnesses and the resurrection of
the firstfruits proves that the two witnesses are not
firstfruits and will not be part of the firstfruits
resurrection (Rev. 11:11; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16-
17).
Sequence of events
To summarize what has been discussed, here is an outline
of a very possible sequence of events:
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• Feast of Trumpets
The two witnesses will be resurrected to their feet on the
Feast of Trumpets when great fear will fall upon those who see
them (Rev. 11:11). The two witnesses will after be called up to
heaven (Rev. 11:12).
On a future Feast of Trumpets Christ will return to this earth
with His wife, as King of kings and Lord of lords.
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Chapter 4
Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins
“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil;
for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered,
saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:
but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves” (Matt. 25:8-9).
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We are here to help! Please feel free to contact us should you
have any questions. Our address is: Faithful Church of God in
Laodicea, P.O. Box 31135, Edmond, Oklahoma 73003, USA.
Email: mail@menofsign.org. Our web address is:
www.fcogl.org
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