1. Revelation 11:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why are the two witnesses identified as olive trees and lampstands?

Revelation 11:4 (ESV)

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

These witnesses, representing the believers, are themselves carriers of divine light in a dark world. The lights on a lampstand need repeated replenishment as their fuel burns up. But these two witnesses are self-sufficient in their supply of oil inasmuch as they are also olive trees. No matter how they’re trampled underfoot, they continue to carry the light of Jesus Christ (John 8:12) into this world.