The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11

By Dan Baxley & Ron Baxley

YaHshua is our Savior and Creator of all things.  YaHshua delivers a message to John, a message from His, and our Father in Heaven.  The source of the book of Revelation is our Heavenly Father being passed on to John from YaHshua and from YaHshua's Angel.  The book of Revelation is not the revelation of John.  John is shown what is to happen and commissioned to write what is revealed to him for the benefit of those believers that will witness the events to occur before our Savior's return.  Before YaHshua can return there is going to be a Great Quake  that will change the political face of the earth, pushing mountains and islands around the world over.  Then, sometime after the Great Quake, the Two Witnesses will come on the scene.  They are not symbolic but real, men, just as other prophets were men of faith operating under the Spirit of God.  Like Moses and Elijah bu the will not be Moses and Elijah. 

This study, I hope, will give you some information and help get a better balance in the word of truth.  These two prophets are identified using our knowledge that names mean something and are improtant. 

Revelatiom 11 -- Two Olive Trees?

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.  What I write here may be more speculation too, but in this view I want to present an element missed by most, in fact, missed by everyone, from what I can see.  This element is recognizing the Holy Name of our Savior and our Heavenly Father and seeing the connection between this and the Two Witnesses to come on the scene just prior to our Savior's return. 

  This information was initially brought to my attention by my brother Ron, and 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, if you do, 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 Dictionary 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, for example.   

  Discovery #2 – The word “olive” is unlike the word used to indicate an “olive tree”:  Strong’s G1636, (olive berry -- not, tree).  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  be a very plain "tree" is meant as there are better choices of meaning to indicate, precisely " a tree" (G1186, G2565 - precisely means, "a good olive tree", not found in this verse).

  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 delivered 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 our Father -- 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”, the two Ela-Yah.

  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 without understanding.  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, or lookh-nee-Yah).  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 piece of wood that a candle is mounted on.  Thus, we have, the "two sticks 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) at 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 into Greek.  Remember, Paul is speaking not to the Jews but to Gentiles (verse 13).  In verse 24 Paul is 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 back in, and much easier too. (grafted 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”, in other words, the fruit.

  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.  If 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 of words meaning a “tree”, but we do not see this used, instead a word so closely to the NAME of Eliyah (Elijah) is used and this of itself is 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 terms used and not used, we can now translate this verse true meaning -- the “the two Elijah” -- the Two EliYahs.  Who, then, are the “Two Elijah”? 

  We all know of the Elijah (Eli-YaH) of the Old Testament, some have called the prophet of fire, and we know of his battle with the false priest of the Baal (the Lord worshippers), 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, or at least, the spirit of 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 Elijahs” will be of the same spirit as the first two original Elijahs with the same message of repentance toward the one God, YaH.  A Name our Savior came in and was given at birth.

  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” as used in this verse, both end in "ia" or "YaH". Candle sticks, with the “ia”, which Strong’s itself recognizes, in “elaia”, we see the same in “luchn-ia”.  Strong’s give the spelling for “elaia” as “Eliyah” and the same should be true for “candle sticks”, or “luchn-yah”, to be consistant.  This connects the “candle sticks” standing before the God of all creation with His Holy Identity and their mission of proclaiming repentance in their message -- “God is YaH” (Eli-YaH).

 Not Enoch, Not Moses

 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, they will be working under the same Spirit of influence and power the original EliJah worked, just as John the Baptisit did (Luke 1:17)  They will be declaring YaH as their God and the God of their authority just as the original Elijah did and their massage of repentance will be just as the original John the Baptists did.  John the baptist, the second Elijah and He came before our Lord.  See the beauty of this?  The Two Witnesses are not literally, physically, the orginal Elijah, nor the orginal John the Baptist but two individuals operating under and by the same Spirit that drove, guided and gave power to the past Elijahs (Eli-Yah).  Read for yourself the whole account of John's birth and mission and notice there is no need for interpretation, read it --

Here is proof it is by the "Spirit and power of Eli-YaH" not the actual, resurrected, long dead Elijah or John.  Two Witnesses, two Eli-YaH.  And their message will be -- "Repent and be baptized into the Name of YaHshua for He is near" and, "His is the Kingdom and all the Kingdoms of the Earth will be His". 

  As far as the “two witnesses” being a symbolic reference of the Church, or the Christians and the Jews it cannot be for nowhere in the scripture is a man, or groups of men ever used as symbolic without direct reference -- in other words, Jacob, later named Israel, was a representative of the peoples Israel but Jacob existed as an individual, an actual person.  The two witnesses will most definitely be two individuals with a dual message, one complimenting the other. No one would suggest John the baptist was a symbolic representation and did not actually exsist but was a symbol for  a bunch of religious people.  There was only one man, John, preparing the way for our Lord, YaHshua, not many, not a church or some religious organization.  Scripture tell us plainly, John was born to do a particular thing, carry our a particular mission and he did and we are told he did it by the "Spirit and the pwoer of EliJah", not that he was Elijah.  

Our Savior, YaHshua, tell the disciples, after seeing a vision of YaHshua standing with EliJah and Moses and the disciples ask a questions --