The Two Olive Trees, the Two Witnesses

The “two olive trees” recorded in the book of Zechariah are explained as “the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” If we look only at this word, we may think that the two olive trees refer to specific individuals. In the book of Revelation also, the “two olive trees” that stand before the Lord are called “the two witnesses.”

Revelation 11:3-4, 10 “3 And I will give 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 Lord of the earth. 10 And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.”

Because this word also calls the “two olive trees” the “two witnesses,” we may think that they must be specific individuals. In fact, in the past, there were people who claimed that these two olive trees referred to themselves. I do not know whether there are still people today who make such claims, but in any case, let us first examine through the Bible why they must be “two witnesses.”

Numbers 35:30 “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.”

Thus, the law says that a person who intentionally kills another shall be put to death according to the testimony of witnesses, but that he must not be put to death based only on the testimony of one witness. In the words recorded below in Deuteronomy also,

Deuteronomy 17:6 “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 19:15 “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 a matter be established.”

He again said that a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Since the word of God says that, in order to establish something, there must be more than one witness, we can understand why there must be “two olive trees,” that is, “two witnesses.”

In the past, the Pharisees used this word to condemn Jesus, saying that it was not right for Him to bear witness of Himself.

John 8:13 “The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.”

Jesus said the following to them:

John 8:14-18 “14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true. 18 I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”

The part we must pay attention to in this word is this: “I am he that beareth witness of myself,” and “the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” These are the “two witnesses.” Therefore, Jesus clearly told the Pharisees that His witness and judgment were true.

Yes. The witness of the Father, that is, the Old Testament, and the witness of Jesus, that is, the New Testament—these two Scriptures bear witness to Jesus. Therefore, even before the words above, Jesus had already said, “These are they which bear witness of me.”

John 5:31-39 “31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. 34 But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. 36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not. 39 Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me.”

As this word testifies, although John bore witness unto the truth, Jesus did not receive witness from man. Rather, He said that there was a greater and true witness that bears witness to Him. That witness was “the works that I do” and “the Scriptures by which the Father Himself bore witness of Me,” that is, the New Testament and the Old Testament, which are the greater and true witnesses that testify of Jesus.

Therefore, we must know that the “two olive trees,” that is, the “two witnesses,” do not refer to certain specific people, but to the two testimonies of the Old Testament and the New Testament, to which the Spirit of truth bears witness (1 John 5:7). And because these two Scriptures bear witness only to Jesus Christ, we must believe in Jesus through these two Scriptures, and also believe in the name of Jesus and receive eternal life. This is what the Bible testifies.

1 John 5:9-13 “9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. 11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. 13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Amen.