As we continue to examine the symbolism, picture language and various Middle-Eastern idioms and metaphors which enrich the Bible, I would now like to consider the symbolism of the menorah and the olive tree.

The Menorah

Revelation 1:20 explains the symbolism of a menorah (or lampstand). In this verse we are told that a menorah represents an ‘ekklesia’. The Greek word ‘ekklesia’ is generally translated as ‘church’, but more specifically it means a group of people who are ‘called out’ by God. An ekklesia might refer to an assembly of believers, a congregation, a local church, or the whole world-wide Church. In the Septuagint (the earliest remaining Greek translation of the Old Testament), the word ‘ekklesia’ is used to refer to the congregation of Israel – and we know that a menorah is used as a national symbol for Israel today.

If we spend time in face-to-face intimacy with the Lord every day, allowing our High Priest to lift up our light, then collectively the whole world-wide Church can be the light to the nations that the Body of Christ is intended to be.

God himself chose the seven-branched menorah as a symbol for his chosen people – and God also specified the design (Exodus 25:31-40). Like everything else in the original tabernacle, God designed the menorah as a physical illustration of spiritual truths.

The menorah was to be fashioned from a single mass of pure gold (Exodus 25:31), indicating the intended unity of the people of the Lord. The individual lamps on the menorah represent individual believers. There are seven lamps in total, because seven is God’s number of completion. Seven lamps, therefore, represent everyone called out by God.

God was very specific as to how the menorah was to be maintained. In Numbers 8:3, the Hebrew text literally means that Aaron was to stand face-to-face with the lamps whenever he maintained them. In Exodus 30:7-8, it says in Hebrew: “And Aaron shall burn sweet incense on [the altar] every morning, when he improves the lamps … and when Aaron lifts up the lamps at sunset.”Menorah

Aaron was the High Priest, and he is an Old Testament ‘shadow’ (Hebrews 10:1) of our High Priest, Jesus. God intends that our High Priest should stand face-to-face with us every day, improving and lifting up our light. As Jesus works in our lives, he also “burns sweet incense” on the altar before the mercy-seat. Incense symbolises prayer (Psalm 141:2), and Jesus continues to intercede for us (Romans 8:34) every day – just as Aaron offered incense to God every day.

If we spend time in face-to-face intimacy with the Lord every day, allowing our High Priest to lift up our light, then collectively the whole world-wide Church can be the light to the nations that the Body of Christ is intended to be (Isaiah 49:6)

The Olive Tree

The olive tree is a symbol for Israel, which emphasises the religious benefits of Israel, and which pictures Israel as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Olive trees have always been cultivated primarily to supply olive oil, and oil is used to anoint priests. Oil also symbolises the Holy Spirit, and the true anointing is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Clearly the symbol of the olive tree is associated with the symbol of the menorah, because the menorah requires oil to burn in its lamps. If the people called out by God are faithful and obedient to the Lord, then they will be fruitful – and the olive tree will yield much oil. In turn, the constant supply of oil will provide the necessary fuel for the lamps on the menorah to burn brightly.

In Romans chapter 11, the apostle Paul describes two olive trees. The original cultivated olive tree represents Israel. The Messianic Jews are the healthy, fruit-bearing branches on this cultivated olive tree. The Jews who reject Jesus are branches which are lopped off the tree. The second tree represents the faithful Gentile Church – and this is described as a wild olive tree, which is grafted into the original cultivated olive tree (Romans 11:17).

Putting it all together

Revelation chapter 11 contains a description of God’s Two Witnesses. Revelation 11:4 states that these two witnesses are “the two olive trees and the two menorahs [or lampstands] that stand before the Lord of the earth.”

It never ceases to puzzle me why many learned Bible scholars cling to the misconception that God’s Two Witnesses are two individuals. Since these two witnesses are “two menorahs”, they are clearly two groups of people who have been called out by God. Since these two witnesses are also described as “two olive trees”, then Romans 11 informs us that the two groups of people must be the Messianic Jews and the faithful Gentile Church. (I will go into more detail about the timespan involved in part 4 of this series.)

In Old Testament times, before Jesus came to establish his Church, there was only one menorah – Israel. However, there were still two olive trees. Faithful Gentiles, like Rahab and Ruth, were adopted into the congregation of Israel. Thus, in Zechariah chapter 4, we have a picture of a single menorah (Israel) being supplied with oil (Holy Spirit) from two olive trees (Spirit-filled Jews and Spirit-filled Gentiles who accepted the Jewish faith).

How can this refer to me?

Revelation 11 seems to describe God’s Two Witnesses as ‘superheroes’, and I guess that many Christians might find it difficult to see themselves in this portrayal . However, we need to remember two things. First, the descriptions given in Revelation 11 use highly symbolic picture language. Second, the descriptions are of two groups of people, and one individual person is not expected to do everything on their own.

Revelation 11:5 says that “fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies.” Fire is symbolic of the Holy Spirit in action. When Holy Spirit oil is put to work it creates fire. I can testify of ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit and seeing God ‘devour’ (or overcome) our common spiritual enemies. Please remember that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of the darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

The Body of Christ is expected to understand, teach and preach the word of God like Moses, and we are also expected to minister in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Revelation 11:6 says that the two witnesses have the power to shut heaven, the power to turn waters to blood, and the power to strike the earth with plagues. If this sounds like Moses and Elijah rolled into one, then maybe that is exactly what is intended. The Body of Christ is expected to understand, teach and preach the word of God like Moses, and we are also expected to minister in the spirit and power of Elijah. Just as John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus two thousand years ago, and to “go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), so likewise we are expected to prepare the way for the return of Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Revelation 11:7 gives the grim news that God’s witnesses will be killed by “the beast”. Well, many millions of Christians have indeed died for their faith over the centuries, and maybe many more will be killed for their faith in the future. However, we also know that many Christians will not die a natural death, and that Jesus will eventually return on the clouds to whisk away His Bride at the ‘rapture of the saints’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Let us just trust God to give each one of us the strength (and whatever else we need) to do his will and to fulfil his plans for our lives.