Two Olive Trees -Revelation 11:4-6

Revelation 11:4-6 ESV
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

Zechariah 4:3-7
And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it! ’”


Zechariah 4:12-14
And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

The ESV has a note associated with "ones" which refers to the Hebrew "two sons of new oil". Olive oil is a symbol of the Spirit. It was used to anoint sacred things in the past and it is the Spirit by which Jesus was anointed and raised. We too share of the same Spirit and anointing as children of the living God.

Romans 11:17-18
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

An olive tree was often a symbol of Israel. In the above passage from Romans, we see Gentile believers referred to wild olive branches grafted in. Both the cultivated and wild olives are supported by the same root. These trees may also be a sign of the people of two covenants which give witness to the Father and Son. The same might be said of the two lamp-stands.
It could be two individuals, or it might be symbolic of the covenants of the two peoples of God, both bearing witness of the same God. Both could be true. Olive trees were on either side of the doorway into the Holy of Holies.
No rain may speak to the withdrawal of God's mercy while the witnesses prophesy. Rain no longer falls on both the righteous and unrighteous. Gone are the early and late rains of God's provision.
Not only do they prophesy, but they have the power to invoke plagues upon the earth. This is the last appeal and call before the seventh trumpet is blown. Moses called a number of plagues on Egypt before the firstborn were slain, the last plague before the Israelites were freed.