The Two Witnesses

(A quick look)

Revelation 11:4: The Two Lamp Stands “luchnia” (lookh-nee-ah)– The Two Olive Trees -- The Two Elaia (el-ah-yah)

Just who are the two witnesses, are they symbolic of something larger, are they a couple of devote Jews, are they Moses and Elijah, or perhaps Enoch and Elijah? This has been a subject of speculations for literally thousands of years and still no firm answer, merely speculations. This too may be more speculation but in this case there is an element missed by most. This element is recognizing the Holy Name of our Savior and our Heavenly Father. This information initially brought to my attention by my brother Ron, really made my spiritual ears click open, but not at first. He had come across something he wanted me to look at. I was not all that excited, first, after all, this issue had been looked at by so many others before. One thing my brother and I agreed had to be the truth – the two witnesses were actual individual servants of YaHshua, not symbolic (more on that later). My brother finally got me to look at what he had turned up and I must say, it is spectacular and well worth consideration. I have added to his discovery expanding his finding with research of my own, but in the end it is all from one source – the truth.

Here is the discovery right up front followed by other supporting evidence. You may not follow this if you are still undecided about the importance of our Savior’s true identity, His birth name and the Name of our Heavenly Father. On the other hand, this can be seen as another building block pointing the importance of His Name and that of His and our Heavenly Father.

(Rev 11:4)These are the two olive trees (G1636), and the two candlesticks (G3087) standing before the God of the earth.

Discovery #1 – The word “tree” is assumed by the translators but are not found in the original text of Rev 11:4. In Strong’s we do find a couple of words for "tree", G1186, (tree), and G2565 (cultured olive tree) neither of which is not found in this verse but is found in other verses, Matthew 7:18, Romans 11:17, 24.

Discovery #2 – The word “olive” is unlike the word used to indicate an “olive tree”: Strong’s G1636, (olive berry). To translate G1636 as an "olive tree", the word "tree" has to be assumed and only translatable according to the context of use -- it would have to be a very plain "tree" is meant as there are better choices meaning a precisely " a tree" (G1186, G2565 - precisely "a good olive tree").

Discovery #3 – The word for “olive berry” is a singular reference, not to a tree, or a branch but of a single “olive berry”: Strong’s G1636 “elaia” (El-ah- Yah). Now we get to the astounding revelation dilivered to us by the name used for a single "olive berry" in the revelation of our Creator's Name and what appears to be a direct reference to God, the God of Elijah (El-a-Yah, according to Strong's). What would be the difference between pronouncing “Eliyah” and “Elayah”, the connection is clear. This is more than reference to “two olives”.

Discovery #4 -- The word for "olive", according the the Strong's Greek Dictionary, contains the Name of our Creator and of our Heavenly Father, YaH. Strong's G1636, "elaia", (el-ah-yah). We see this same use of our Heavenly Father's Name in the KJV use of Alleluiah (Halleluyah), a praise we hear vocalized throughout the Christian communities. In the Greek tranlations "ia" and "iah" are used in reference to the God of Israel throughout Old and New Testaments but is ignored by modern (most) translators.

Discovery #5 -- The word for "candlestick" also contains the Holy Name of our God. Strong's G3087, "luchnia" (lookh-nee-ah). Please note in the Strong's Dictionary the last part of this word, "ah" is the same as found in the word for "olive" (ia) and is pronounced as, "yah", and should be the same here in this word for "candle stick". Following the rule for the pronounciation of "olive" (yah) then the same should be true for "luchnia" and be pronounced as "lookh-nee-yah". The word "candlestick" is translated by some as "lamp stand", indicating the "candlestick" is not a "stick of candle" but a stick, or peice of wood a candle is mounted on. Thus, we have, the "two stick of YaH", also called the "two El-a-Yah". Hardly coincidence, in my opinion, entirely missed by the translators due to their rejection of our Creator and "Savior's true identity.

To get a clear view at what we are looking at it might help to look examine an example from scripture where three terms for "olive tree", or tree, are used but mean something else in a symbolic use:

(Rom 11:24) For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree (G65) which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree (G2565): how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree (G1636)? KJV

This verse is quite good as it contains all three of the references used by the Greeks in communicating an idea or ideas to convey a thought on a subject. And, in this case, we have the thoughts of Paul being transmitted to us by this picture language from His original tongue of Aramaic. Remember, Paul is speaking not to the Jews but to Gentiles (verse 13). In verse 24 Paul saying if a “wild branch” is cut out of a “wild tree”, contrary to nature, is grafted into a “cultured” tree then how much more likely is it the natural branches will be grafted back into their own “tree”.

It is plain He is speaking of Gentiles warning them against an attitude of superiority toward the Jews as they to can be grafted, and much easier, back into the truth. Notice the various uses of the words used for “olive tree”. Here is the break down of what He has just said:

Strong’s G65, the “wild olive tree” – Gentiles

Strong’s G2565, the “cultured tree” -- Jews

Strong’s G1636, the “olive” can be the “tree” or the “berry”

The context demonstrates the use of the “olive tree” and the “olive branch” and the “olive berry” as symbols to demonstrate what can and has happened. Our concern, however, in this brief study, is the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11 and how this works into what is being said about them. First you will see the symbolic nature of the “two witnesses” being referred to as “candle sticks” (lamp stands) and as “olive trees”. You should already have seen the word play concerning the word used for “olive” to be “elaia” (Eil-ah-yah) and should understand the implications of this word choice. Had the symbolic term were really to mean tree then the term for tree was available and could have been used, as we have seen in Romans 11:24 (G2565, a cultured tree). It is clear there is a choice for meaning a “tree” and do not see this used but instead a word so closely to the NAME of Eliyah as to be astounding in its implications. Certainly some have speculated Elijah, or the spirit of Elijah will be one of the two witnesses but with this new understanding concerning the term used we can now translate this verse to mean, and to be saying, the “the two Elijah”. Who, then, are the “two Elijah”?

We all know of the Elijah (Eli-YaH), some have called the prophet of fire, and we know of his battle with the false priest of the Baal (the Lord), but just who is this second Elijah. Please note, it is very likely the name Elijah may be more of a title of purpose as much as a Name of a leading prophet. In this name we have the definition, “my God is YaH”, or El-I-YaH. The other Elijah, the other witness to be doing battle against the false Lords of the end days is John the Baptist. Our Savior tells his disciples and us the identity of the Elijah, the other Elijah that was to come (Matthew 11:14). The “two olives”, the “two Elijah” will be of the same spirit as the first two original Elijahs with the same message of repentance toward the one God, YaH.

There is still something else in support of this view. These two are also called “candle sticks” in the KJV and when we check with Strong’s we see this can also be “lamp stands” as the NIV has it. Strong’s G3087, luchnia (lookh-nee-ah). This is very interesting when considering the Strong’s term for “olive” in this verse ends the same as “candle sticks” with the “ia” which Strong’s itself recognizes, in “elaia” the same as in “luchnia”. Strong’s give the spelling for “elaia” as “Eliyah” and the same should be true for “candle sticks”, or “luchnyah”. This connects the “candle sticks” standing before the God of all creation with His Holy Identity and their mission of proclaiming repentance under their “God is YaH” (Eli-YaH).

It will not be Enoch, it will not be Moses, it will not be the spirit of any other but the spirit of YaH and this is the message His two witnesses will be operating under. The will be declaring YH as their God and the God of their authority just as the original Elijah did and their massage of repenting just as the original John the Baptists did. Repent and be baptized into the Name of YaHshua for He is near.

As far as the “two witnesses” being a symbolic reference of the Church, or the Christians and the Jews this cannot be as there is nowhere in the scriptures where a man, or groups of men are ever used as symbolic. The two witnesses will most definitely be two individuals with a dual message, one complimenting the other. Look at the context of the matter: They are killed and lay in the street for three days and then hear the voice of the coming Savior and stand upon their feet, alive, renewed, resurrected. Does this sound like the Christians and Jews of the world? Hardly, it sounds just like it sounds, two individuals brought back to life after being killed, to meet out Lord YaHshua in the air at His return. So, when is the Messiah returning? Answer: When the two witnesses stand up. They will have a mission of 3 ½ years with power to cause the weather patterns of the earth to change and the world will hate them. They will not be rich and will not be heads of great Christian works. No, like Elijah before, and like John before, they are poor in appearance, plain men, dressed in plain clothing, just like the two Elijahs before. Both men before lived independent with small following and owed no man anything. They lived off the land and at times were see alone, on their own. These will be two men unlike what we see today passing for men of God.

Their presence proves the “rapture” doctrine is wrong as they are on this earth and not in heaven. But that is not much of a consideration as our Savior told us plainly that NO ONE CAN GO TO HEAVEN EXCEPT FOR THOSE FROM HEAVEN and that is only our Savior! Read it for yourself and be done with that false teaching (John 1:18) – to suggest any other thing is to call our Savior a liar.

What this study should have shown is what the “two witnesses” are not. They are not , Moses and Aaron, not Christians and Jews, not the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church, not two brothers, not the missing Enoch, not any self-proclaimed person, not someone named Elijah, not someone taking the name EliYah to themselves, not any group. Like false Christ there are many false Elijah. As amazing, or amusing, as it may seem there are some groups claiming their dead founders as the Elijah. I know of one groups whose head man claimed himself and his brother as the two witnesses, then his brother died but he still holds to this and apparently his followers do to. On the internet you can find an Elijah here and an Elijah over there, Elijah everywhere. Some are pretty brazen in their false claims and none of them, not one, demonstrates anything close to what the original Elijah did and none have the impact John the Baptist had on his surroundings. Imagine, people from all over going to a wild man in the desert, repenting of their sins, being baptized in a free flowing river. No, the false Elijah of today are weak little sniveling alarmist, making proclamations any idiot could make, claiming every storm that comes along is a punishment of God. Listen, when the time comes, and the two witnesses are here, there will have been some thing that will have occurred as to make these fake Elijahs as nothing, less than nothing.

But Wait, there is More:

(James 3:12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries (G1636)? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. KJV Strong's G1636, "elaia" (el-ah-yah), olive, berry

Here we see in James the translators choose "berries" instead of "tree". By definition "berry" is the more accurate of the two choices. The primary difinition is "berry" or "fruit", not a "tree". The word for "tree" is not found in this verse. From the Strong's Greek Dictionary we can see ther are better choices for "tree":

Strong's G1186, dendron (den-dron), tree

Strong's G3586, xulon (xoo-lon), stick, wooden article, timber.

Strong's G4808, suke (soo-kay), fig tree

Strong's G4809, sukomraia (soo-kow-o-rah-yah), sycamore tree -- [another example of the Holy Name used within a word, or definition]

What is demonstrated is the choice of words for tree or type of tree. In revelation 11:4, however, a choice is not made in favor of any word choice defining a tree. The word "tree" is merely added with not authority for it. When using the Strong's numbering system and doing a word search for "tree" it is immediately noticed this word appears in several verses, used as symbolic or allegorical (Matthew 3:10 G1186), and also in reference to the object our Savior had been hung on (crucified on, Acts 5:30 G3586).

There is no reason for adding the word "tree" when speaking of the the "two witnesses". When it is considered the term used and tranlated "olive" is akin to calling the "two witnesses" Eliyah we can see the "two Eliyah" are going to be just that.

What's Ahead?

Before the two witnesses come on the scene there will be an "earthquake" so huge the whole world will reel and men will think the end of all things has occurred. See my article on the Great Quake. There will be many things happening before the "two witnesses" come on the scene. If you are alive when the "two witnesses" are on the job you will have most likely survived the 'Great Quake" and the "Asteriod" hit that kills a third of everything in the ocean and the "Comet" that pollutes the fresh waters of the world, and that will not be all, but know this, if you know the "two witnesses" continue to hang in there as the "Return of our Lord YaHshua" is at hand.

Peace, in His Name, your servant, Dan

Email: servant@yahshuaservant.com