Revelation 11:4: These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:4 symbolically describes the spiritual light of the Two Witnesses as two olive trees and two candlesticks.¹ The imagery comes from Zechariah chapter 4.² Zechariah's ministry began about 520 BC, soon after the Jewish captivity in Babylon had come to an end.³ He prophesied during the construction of the Second Temple of Zerubbabel in Jerusalem which the Jews completed in about 515 BC.⁴ Zerubbabel was the Jewish governor during the construction,⁵ and Joshua (Jeshua) was the Jewish high priest.⁶ These two men zealously completed construction of the Second Temple⁷ against a mountain of opposition,⁸ including threats from other nations.⁹ Through the power of God,¹⁰ these two men accomplished what no earthly army could have empowered them to do.¹¹ Their role in connection with the Second Temple after the Babylonian captivity typifies the role of the Two Witnesses in connection with the Third Temple¹² during the Great Tribulation before the Second Coming.¹³

In Zechariah 4:2-3, Zerubbabel and Jeshua are metaphorically identified as two olive trees¹⁴ that continually supply their oil¹⁵ to a single gold candlestick with seven lamps.¹⁶ Zechariah's candlestick is emblematic of the Jewish Menorah from the temple,¹⁷ except that Zechariah's candlestick is much more elaborate.¹⁸ This elaborate candlestick represented faithful Jews that upheld Jehovah's light after their physical and spiritual return from Babylon.¹⁹ The candlestick in Zechariah 4 represented the Jewish church as other candlesticks represent the Christian church at other times in history.²⁰ Zerubbabel and Jeshua (the two olive trees)²¹ were a continuing source of spiritual fuel²² to the gathered Jews (i.e., the candlestick)²³ as they built the Second Temple.²⁴

In Zechariah 4:14, Zerubbabel and Jeshua are called the two anointed ones,²⁵ which literally means the sons of oil.²⁶ Zerubbabel was the anointed civic leader of the Jews, and Jeshua was the anointed religious leader.²⁷ Their work and influence extended to both the political and religious elements of Jewish society.²⁸ Since Zerubbabel was a political leader and Joshua was a religious leader among the Jews anciently, this may typologically suggest that one of the Two Witnesses could have a strong political background while the other would have a strong religious background. Both will be prophets, but a diverse background between them would be important to their future ministry in Jerusalem at a time of great political and religious upheaval.

In their separate capacities, Zerubbabel and Joshua both served or stood by the LORD of the whole earth anciently²⁹ and were strengthened by the Lord³⁰ until their mission to rebuild the Second Temple was complete.³¹ Similarly, the future Two Witnesses will stand before the Lord³² to be anointed as sons of oil at Adam-ondi-Ahman.³³ When they die at the end of their 3½ year mission³⁴ they will be resurrected to stand by the Lord of the whole earth again at the Second Coming.³⁵

Olive trees and olive oil are important symbols in a variety of contexts.³⁶ They symbolize Jesus Christ, who is the anointed one.³⁷ The olive tree was such an important commodity³⁸ and life-giving staple anciently³⁹ that it became a symbol of life itself.⁴⁰ Olive oil was also a symbol of purity, purification, and spiritual regeneration.⁴¹ Zerubbabel and Joshua were the two olive trees that helped purify and heal⁴² the Jewish nation⁴³ at the dawn of its spiritual rebirth after the Babylonian captivity.⁴⁴ This foreshadows the ministry of the two olive trees in John's vision that will promote the spiritual rebirth of the Jews⁴⁵ before their actual conversion at the Second Coming.⁴⁶ The Jews that reject the healing oil of the Two Witnesses (olive trees) shall be as branches of the true olive tree that are good for nothing but to be cast out and burned.⁴⁷

In Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11:4, the symbolic candlesticks support the lamps that shine forth the light of Christ's glory.⁴⁸ However, in the two different visions, the number and meaning of the candlesticks materially differ because the spiritual condition of the Jews differs materially.⁴⁹ In Zechariah's vision, the image of one candlestick represented the faithful Jews⁵⁰ that gathered to build the Second Temple in Jerusalem as directed by the Lord's prophets.⁵¹ In John's vision, the two candlesticks represent the Two Witnesses as separate light bearers.⁵² There won't be a Jewish candlestick during the ministry of the Two Witnesses because the Jews won't convert as a people until after the Two Witnesses are dead and Christ appears on the mount of Olives.⁵³