The Church as a Prophetic Community
Revelation 11, the narrative regarding the two witnesses, has often been misread with a literal interpretation, suggesting that Moses and Elijah will return in the last days. But academic scholarship provides us with a more appropriate and informative interpretation. In this lesson, we explore the two witnesses as a symbol of the church in its prophetic witness. Revelation 1:1 says that this revelation is "to show his servants what must take place." "Show" in the Greek is signify, the root word being "sign," suggesting that what follows are symbols that must be interpreted, setting aside a literal interpretation. That there are two witnesses coincides with Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6d84sx0kY&t=1155s] demanding that there be two witnesses for capital punishment. God is about to exercise capital punishment upon the world, thus the symbol of two witnesses. That they are said to be the two olive trees and the two lampstands, an allusion to Zechariah 4, further informs the interpretation of the two witnesses as being the church in its prophetic witness. The lampstand has already been interpreted as the church in Revelation 1 where Christ is among the seven golden lampstands as the High Priest who is among his church to trim their wicks and replenish their oil, as seen in his critique of the seven churches which follows (Chs. 3-4). The two olive trees suggest an endless supply of oil, aka anointing. God has supplied his church with everything she needs to be effective in the mission of God to the world. The fire comes out of the mouths of the two witnesses is indicative of how they make war. (Whatever is coming out of someone's mouth in the Apocalypse indicates how they make war (e.g. 1:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6d84sx0kY&t=76s] - out of Jesus' mouth is a double edge sword, whereby he cuts down lies, falsehood, and propaganda 9:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6d84sx0kY&t=557s] - the demonic calvary with smoke, sulfur, and fire coming from their mouths, suggesting deceit, falsehood; 12:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6d84sx0kY&t=735s] - the dragon with a river of water coming from his mouth, suggesting a river of lies and propaganda. The role of the church is to proclaim the gospel. Yet, within the assignment of the proclamation of Christ, is also the assignment to speak to and renounce the toxic culture, expose lies, propaganda, and corruption, and to call a wayward society by the God. It is the duty of the church to speak out against sensitive issues in our culture such as abortion, CRT, sexualizing our children, Marxism and communism, etc. This requires three things 1) Courage, 2) Boldness, 3) Truthtelling. Revelation 11 depicts the church engaging society, being the watchmen on the wall (Isaiah 21:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6d84sx0kY&t=1271s]-12). Revelation 11 is such a beautiful passage when interpreted correctly. That the church is depicted through these two powerful witnesses that resemble Moses and Elijah makes this such an astonishing and beautiful literary narrative. It depicts the church in its prophetic function boldly speaking to the culture of its day, calling, informing, and awakening society to the consciousness of God.
