The Two Anointed Ones
Part 5 of the Two Witnesses Series
Going back to our verses in Revelation 11, we are told who the two witnesses are.
Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
This is a reference to the book of Zechariah chapter four.
In Haggai and Zechariah’s day, there were two leaders who oversaw the rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. They were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.
Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
Zechariah chapter three says that Joshua, the high priest, was clothed with filthy garments. The angel of the Lord had the filthy garments removed and had Joshua clothed with festal robes. His iniquity was removed. Joshua represents the church which is sinful people who have had their iniquity removed by the blood of the Lamb. These people are a priesthood unto God. They serve as priests. Joshua is a foreshadow of this priesthood and is one of the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.
I Peter 2:5 You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Zechariah chapter four talks about Zerubbabel the governor.
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” 8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
Zerubbabel was not clothed with filthy garments. He has no iniquity. He is the king (governor in this picture). Zerubbabel represents Jesus as the King.
There is another principal presented here going all the way back to Melchizedek in Genesis.
Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Psalms 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek was both king and priest. He was the king of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. Kings rule and priests serve. Most scholars agree that Melchizedek was actually Jesus appearing in the Old Testament. Jesus is both king and priest. He is our King and our High Priest. Melchizedek is a foreshadow of the two witnesses.
The only two people mentioned in Zechariah three and four are Zerubbabel and Joshua. They are the two anointed ones. The context in Zechariah is preparing a habitation for God, the building of the literal temple in Jerusalem.
In Revelation 11, following this same pattern, the two anointed ones are the Holy Spirit and the church. Messiah (Christ) means anointed. The church is anointed with the Holy Spirit. Messiah is the King. The church is the priesthood. This is the continuation of the Melchizedek ministry and the ministry of Jesus.
The two anointed ones (the Holy Spirit, and the company of two witnesses) are in the sanctuary. The menorah is in the sanctuary. The menorah is Jesus or the Holy Spirit as the light of the world. The worshipers are in the sanctuary. They have gone from the outer court into the sanctuary. They are the overcomers. They are ministering to the Lord with their anointed worship. This worship goes on for three and a half years during the great tribulation. There is no oil or anointing in the outer court. It is trodden under foot for three and a half years. The context in Revelation 11, just like the context in Zechariah 4, is preparing a habitation for God. The habitation of God is His bride, the church.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.
Following the tribulation, the Kingdom will be established on the earth and Jesus will be married to His pure and spotless bride. The marriage supper of the Lamb will last for 1000 years!
