Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 11:4

"These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth." — Revelation 11:4 (ASV)

The reference to the “two olive trees and the two lampstands” is an allusion to Joshua and Zerubbabel in Zechariah’s vision, who were also said “to serve the Lord of all the earth” (Zec 4:l–6a, 10b–14). The import of Zechariah’s vision was to strengthen these two leaders by reminding them of God’s resources and to vindicate them in the eyes of the community as they pursued their God-given tasks. Thus John’s message is that the witnesses to Christ who cause the church to fulfill her mission to burn as bright lights to the world will not be quenched (cf. Revelation 1:20; 2:5). Why there should be two olive trees and two lampstands has been variously answered. Some suggest that “two” is the number of required legal witnesses (Numbers 35:30; cf. Matthew 18:16); others, that two represents the priestly and kingly aspects of the church or the Jewish and Gentile components.

Perhaps the dualism was suggested to John by the two olive trees from Zechariah and the two great prophets of the OT who were connected with the coming of the Messiah in Jewish thought, i.e., Moses and Elijah (v.6; cf. Matthew 17:3–4). What Joshua (the high priest) and Zerubbabel (the prince) were to the older community and temple, Jesus Christ is to the new community. He is both anointed Priest and King, and his church reflects this character especially in its Christian prophets (1:6; 5:10; 20:6).