The two olive trees

Zechariah asked the angel of the Lord, “What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” He understood the lampstand, the seven lamps, and the forty-nine spouts. However, the two olive trees were a “new element” prophetically, so he asked what they were. He inquired further in verse 12: “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” The word translated “oil” in the original language is “gold.” Therefore, it means “golden oil.” The answer to that question is, “These are the two anointed ones, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth” (v 14). (1) The literal translation of “anointed ones” is “sons of oil.” This refers to those who have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit for service to God. (2) In Zechariah’s time, the priestly leader was Joshua, and the political leader was Zerubbabel. These two olive trees are understood to point to these two leaders. (3) At the same time, they can also be seen as pointing to the Messiah, who is both priest and king (this theme will be taken up in Zechariah Ch. 6).

The ultimate fulfillment

However, the ultimate fulfillment of the two olive trees will come in the Great Tribulation. They are the two witnesses who appear in Revelation 11:3-13. Especially in verse 4 it says, “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” (1) The two witnesses will preach during the first half of the Great Tribulation (three and a half years), but the Jewish people will reject them. (2) They will be killed by the Antichrist in the middle of the Great Tribulation. (3) Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days. (4) However, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be resurrected. After that, they will go up to heaven on a cloud. (5) At that time, the following will occur: “And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Rev. 11:13). This will lead to the national repentance of the Jewish people. The two witnesses became the source that supplied the oil of the Holy Spirit so that the people of Israel could become “a light to the nations.” Here again, the principle “do not despise small beginnings” is at work. No matter how small the beginning may be, it must not be taken lightly. Let us learn the importance of taking the first small step.