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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 11:4

These are the two olive-trees - These are represented by the two olive-trees, or these are what are symbolized by the two olive-trees. There can be little doubt that there is an allusion here to Zechariah 4:3, Zechariah 4:11, Zechariah 4:14, though the imagery is in some respects changed. The prophet Zechariah 4:2-3 saw in vision “a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which were upon the top thereof; and two... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 11:3-6

Revelation 11:3-6 . And I will give power unto my two witnesses Here God promises to raise up some true and faithful witnesses to preach and protest against the innovations and inventions which he foresaw would corrupt Christianity, especially in the western parts of Europe. “Of these witnesses,” says Bishop Newton, “there should be, though but a small, yet a competent number; and it was a sufficient reason for making them two witnesses, because that is the number required by the law,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 11:1-14

Two witnesses (11:1-14)In Daniel 9:24-27 there is a prophecy that the enemies of the Jews would corrupt their city and their temple for three and a half years (which is the same as forty-two months, or 1260 days). This happened in 167-164 BC, when the ruler of the Syrian sector of the Greek Empire, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, conquered Jerusalem, killed Jews by the thousand and tried by every means to destroy their religion. His supreme expression of hate for God’s people was to set up a Greek idol... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 11:4

are. i.e. represent. two olive trees. Compare Zechariah 4:3 , Zechariah 4:11 , Zechariah 4:14 , where by the same Figure of speech ( Metaphor ) two persons are represented. standing. The texts read "which stand". God. The texts read "Lord". of the earth. App-129 . See Joshua 3:11 , Joshua 3:13 .Zechariah 6:6 , and compare Psalms 115:18 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 11:4

These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks ... This pinpoints the vision of Zechariah 4:2-6, which contains a vision of the same seven candlesticks, representing the Lord's churches, with which this prophecy began (Revelation 1:12f); but John needed a "two" here instead of a "seven"; so he fastened upon "the two olive trees" of the same vision. These were also said by the angel of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 11:4

4. standing before the God of the earth—A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read "Lord" for "God": so :-. Ministering to (Luke 1:19), and as in the sight of Him, who, though now so widely disowned on "earth," is its rightful King, and shall at last be openly recognized as such (Revelation 11:15). The phrase alludes to Zechariah 4:10; Zechariah 4:14, "the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The article "the" marks this allusion. They are "the two... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:1-14

F. Supplementary revelation of the two witnesses in the Great Tribulation 11:1-14John recorded the revelation dealing with the two witnesses to inform his readers of the ministries of these important individuals during the Great Tribulation. This section continues the parenthetical revelation begun in Revelation 10:1. It is one of the more difficult chapters to interpret, and students of the book have proposed many different explanations. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:3-6

2. The ministry of the two witnesses 11:3-6Even though believing Jews will suffer persecution at this time, God will still get His message out. Two witnesses will be especially significant at this time. Valid testimony required two witnesses under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 19:15), and both Jesus and the early church sent out emissaries in pairs (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:2; Acts 13:2; Acts 15:39-40). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:4

The ministry of these two witnesses resembles that of Zerubbabel and Joshua who sought to restore Israel after a previous exile (Zechariah 4:2-3; Zechariah 4:11-14). There is only one lampstand in the Zechariah passage, but there are two here representing each of the two witnesses. In the Zechariah passage it is the Holy Spirit who empowered Zerubbabel and Joshua (Zechariah 4:14), and the comparison strongly suggests that these latter-day witnesses will also receive power from Him (cf.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 11:1-19

The Two Witnesses. The Seventh Trumpet1-14. Second episode. There is much difference of opinion as to the meaning of this vision. Perhaps the key may be found in the parallelism of the book. There were two episodical visions after the sixth seal (see on Revelation 7), the first signifying that Christ’s people were separated and preserved from God’s judgments, the second that they were preserved not from but through death. The same meaning may be found here.1, 2. The sanctuary and altar of... read more

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