at stand by the Lord of the whole earth," _Ib._ v.
14. And this expression, corresponding with that in Rev. 11:4, shows that
this vision of Zechariah is the one referred to, and that it is
explanatory of the witnesses.

The Scriptures, as well as the church, testify of Christ: "Search the
Scriptures," said the Saviour, speaking of those then written; "they are
they which _testify_ [or bear witness] of me," (John 5:39); and of the New
Testament, he said: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a _witness_ unto all nations," Matt. 24:4. Like two
olive-trees supplying the candlesticks with oil, the Scriptures of the
Old, and of the New Testament give light to the church, and testify of
Christ. They stand on either side of him,--the one beginning with the
creation and pointing to a Messiah to come, testifying of him by types and
shadows; and the other looking back to the death and resurrection of
Christ, and cheering the heart of the believer by the evidence of his
second coming at the end of the world. Thus stood within the oracle of the
temple the two cherubim, which Solomon made "of _olive-tree_," and whose
wings met over the ark of the covenant: "He set the cherubim within the
inner house, and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that
the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub
touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst
of the house," 1 Kings 6, 27. Thus symbolized, the Scriptures and the
church are Christ's two witnesses.

To prophesy, is to make known the truths of God. Thus, at the epoch of the
Reformation, they were to prophesy _again_ before many peoples, and
nations, and tongues and kings, 10:11. It was to enable the witnesses to
do this, that the necessary power was to be given them.

Sackcloth, is a symbol of humiliation and sorrow; and the witnesses being
thus clothed, indicates that during the time specified, they should be in
a despised and oppressed condition.

The one thousand two hundred and sixty days, symbolize years. God said to
Israel, after the evil report of the twelve spies: "Your children shall
wander in the wilderness forty _years_ ... after the number of the _days_
which ye searched the land," Num. 14:33, 34. And to Ezekiel, "This shall
be a sign to the house of Israel: Lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the
iniquity of the house of Israel upon it, ... for I have laid upon thee the
years of