"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord]. And He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And He said to [Joshua], Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.

And I [Zechariah] said, Let them put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich]garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] protested and affirmed to Joshua, saying,

Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here.

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues who [usually] sit before you -for they are men who are a sign or omen [types of what is to come] -for behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch.

For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon that one stone are seven eyes or facets [the all-embracing providence of God and the sevenfold radiations of the Spirit of God]. I will carve upon it its transcription, says the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity and guilt of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:3-9)

Jeremiah 50:20 says, “In those days and at that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel will be sought, but there will be none , and the sins of Judah [will be sought], but none will be found, for I will pardon those whom I cause to remain as a remnant (the preserved ones who come forth after a long tribulation).

As the scripture in Zechariah 3:3-9 notes, Joshua is a sign that points to what is to come. Removing of his filthy garments and replacing them with ones that are clean speaks of the power of Jesus to remove iniquity. This moment has came forth in Jesus. In a moment of faith as one looks to Him, inequity is removed and one is completely cleansed.

Commentary notes, “The cleansing of Joshua was not complete with the removal of his sin-soiled garments. God replaced the dirty clothes, dressing Joshua in clean garments that represented the gift of God’s righteousness. As sin is removed by the work of Christ, so His righteousness is placed in the believer’s account (see Rom. 5:18, 19; 2 Cor. 5:21). We are clothed in the garments of Christ’s righteousness. The fact that Joshua had no part in his cleansing indicates that this work was totally by God’s grace.” [1]

Another commentary notes that Joshua was a wondrous sign. And notes, “...Unger elaborates:

... men of prophetic portent, men who in their official position shadow forth coming events. ... Through Christ, Israel will be redeemed and restored and constituted a high-priestly nation, which Joshua and his associate priests prefigure."[3]

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

And this moment of total cleansing and transformation when we put on new garments will come forth fully when he returns. Commentary notes, “Just as Joshua was cleansed and restored, so Israel will be cleansed and restored when Messiah comes to reign (vv. 9–10; 12:10–13:1).” [2]

Paul says in Philippians 3:20-21, “But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.”

And 1 Corinthians 15:52-57 says,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As a witness, Joshua points toward Jesus. The Branch referred to in Zechariah 3:3-9 is Jesus. And Jesus is also the stone with seven eyes that is set before Joshua as a witness to the promise that He will remove iniquity in a single day. As a witness, it was not was Joshua was doing but what God was doing through him and in his transformation. Also Joshua is a shadow of Jesus as a High Priest.  His name means "the Lord is salvation."

In the same way that Joshua is a sign and witness to Christ, Zerubbabel is also a sign and witness that points to Jesus. And Zerubbabel is a shadow of Jesus as King/Ruler. Haggai prophesies in Hag. 2:21-23, “Speak to Zerubbabel [the representative of the Davidic monarchy and covenant and in direct line of the ancestry of Jesus Christ] governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

And I will [in the distant future] overthrow the throne of kingdoms and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the [ungodly] nations, and I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them, and the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.

In that day, says the Lord of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and will make you [through the Messiah, your descendant] My signet right; for I have chosen you [as the one with whom to renew My covenant to David's line], says the Lord of hosts.”

Both Zerubbabel and Joshua were involved in the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai 1:4 says, “And the Lord aroused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, so that they came and labored on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God."

Zerubbabel is also spoken of (and Joshua implied) as witnesses in Zechariah 4. They are the two sons of oil who stand before the Lord. Zechariah 4:1-14 says, “And the angel who talked with me came again and awakened me, like a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And said to me, what do you see? I said, I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of it and its seven pipes to each of the seven lamps which are upon the tip of it.

And there are two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side of it [feeding it continuously with oil]. So I asked the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? Then the angel who talked with me answered me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit for Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts.

For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple, before him,] you shall become a plain [a mere molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it!

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house; his hands shall also finish it. Then you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger] to you.

Who [with reason] despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice when they see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. [These seven] are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth.

Then I said to him [the angel who talked with me], What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it? And a second time I said to him, What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden tubes or spouts by which the golden oil is emptied out?

And he answered me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two sons of oil [Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince of Judah the two anointed ones] who stand before the Lord of the who stand before the Lord of the whole earth [as His anointed instruments].”

The lampstand, as noted in other places, typically represents the church. And the oil is a symbol of the Spirit of God. Commentary notes, “the oil used in anointing symbolizes the Holy Spirit.” As noted previously, Joshua and Zerubbabel are shadows/signs that point to Jesus. They are the two witnesses. Jesus is the servant the “Branch.” Commentary goes on to note, “The combination of priest [Joshua] and ruler [Zerubbabel] points ultimately to the Messianic Priest-King.” [4]

Zechariah 6:12-13 says, “And say to him [Joshua], thus the the Lord of hosts: '[You Joshua] behold (look at, keep in sight, watch) the Man [the Messiah] whose name is the Branch, for He shall grow up in His place and He shall build the [true] temple of the Lord. Yes, [you are building a temple of the Lord, but] it is He who shall build the [true] temple of the Lord and He shall bear the honor and glory [as the only begotten of the Father] and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And He shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two [offices -Priest and King].”

Other verses that speak of two witnesses, lampstands and olive trees are in Revelation 11. Revelation 11:3-4 says, “And I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth. These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.”

These verses are different in that the two witnesses are both the lampstands and the olive trees. As the lampstands typically represent the church of Christ, these two witnesses appear to potentially represent the body of Christ, the spirit of Moses and Elijah as the two prophets in man, the books of the Law and Prophets or two specific prophets rather than Christ Himself.

The Wikipedia notes, “Some theologians believe that the two olive trees represent the peace that the witnesses try to bring to the sinful Earth and the two lampstands represent the light that they shine for Christ.” [5]

Revelation 11:5 goes on to say about these two witnesses, "And if anyone attempts to injure them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their enemies;  If anyone should attempt to harm them, thus he is doomed to be slain."

Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Jeremiah the prophet poured forth fire.  The Lord says in Jeremiah 5:14, "Because you [the poeple] have spoken this work, bhold, I will make My words fire in your mouth [Jeremiah] and this people wood, and it will devour them."

In another place the Wikipedia notes that some believe the two witnesses to represent the spirit of Elijah and Moses (The two witnesses that were on the mountain with Jesus when He was transfigured before the disciples during prayer in Luke 9:28-36).[6]

Revelation 11:6 goes on to say, “These [two witnesses] have power to shut up the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying (their prediction of events relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph) [shutting up the heavens for 3 ½ years was performed by Elijah]; and they also have power to turn the waters into blood and to smite and scourge the earth will all manner of plagues as often as they choose [performed by Moses].”

Whether these olive trees and lampstands are Elijah and Moses, their spirits, the books of the Law and Prophets in the mouths of His poeople, or the body of Christ, this versus appear to refer to the Spirit of God upon and inside man rather than God Himself as in the first set of witnesses.  And their purpose as witnesses is to point to Christ and make Him evident. A witness is a sign of His goodness and points people to Christ by who they are.

As Jesus is the Priest-King, His body is also called to imitate Him as priests and kings and be His witnesses that point to Him. Revelation 5:10 says, “and You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!”

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says to His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Witnesses used in both Revelation and Acts is the Greek word Martus, Strongs #3144. It means “those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.” [7]

It is through continually putting to death to our flesh that we become like Christ. It is in loving our enemies and blessing those who persecute us that we grow in His likeness and demonstrate His love.

The purpose of the witnesses is to point to Jesus by who they are and in all they do. It does not necessarily mean the function of evangelizing the lost. However, someone who points to Jesus by who they are will naturally draw others to see Christ.

“I want to see beauty, real beauty” sings in the background.

The Lord tells what a true witness looks like in Zechariah 7:9-10, "Thus has the Lord of hosts spoken:  Execute true judgment and show mercy and kindness and tender compassion, every man to his brother;  And oppress not the widow or the fatherless, the temporary resident or the poor, and let none of you devise or imagine or think evil against his brother in your heart."

Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

This is the way that Jesus walked on the earth- humbly, acting justly and loving mercy.   He cared for the widow and fatherless and met the needs of the poor, freeing them from oppression.

As we are called to be a witness for Jesus, Jesus is a witness to the Father.  Jesus says in John 14:9b-11a, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?   What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continuall in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power).   Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me."

Jean Vanier writes, "Jesus is showing a simple way to union with God, a way of compassion, love, service and humility that is for all people: not just for the strong, the clever, the capable and the virtuous, but also for the weak and humble. All Jesus asks is that we come to him with humble and trusting hearts. He will lead us little by little into greater union with the Father, who is compassion and forgiveness. This is the journey that we followers of Jesus are called to make." [8]

Just as the Father is in Jesus making Him a witness, Jesus is in us, making us His witness.  In John 17:21-23 Jesus prays for all believers, "That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be on [even] as We are one:  I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me."

Jesus, thank you that we don't have to go out and work hard at being your witnesses so that others may come to know you.   As we look to You, trust in You and depend upon You, You make us effective witnesses.   We are your witnesses by nature of our relationship with You.  You are inside of us testifying of Yourself!   Let the way we live our lives, love others and seek after You point others clearly to You.

1. Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Zec 3:4

2. Wiersbe, Warren W.: With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1991, S. Zec 3:1

3. MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Zec 3:8
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4. Commentary. The Amplified Bible. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. 1987.

5-6. Wikipedia. Two Witnesses. Located at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_witnesses. Last Accessed: 5/4/12

7. Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G3144

8. Vanier, Jean. Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John. Paulist Press, New York. NJ. 2004.