The Bible In Paintings, #222: Prelude – TRIBUTES TO ZECHARIAH

Bing Images | c.2,200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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CH. 1	TRIBUTES TO ZECHARIAH
Ch. 1-3	Zechariah's First Four Visions
Ch. 4	Gold Lampstand & Olive Trees
Ch. 5-6	Zechariah's Final Four Visions
Ch.	Prophecies of Jesus

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P r e l u d e –

T R I B U T E S

T O

ZECHARIAH

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ZECHARIAH 1

New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible


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C L I C K :

To read ZECHARIAH 1 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
HIGHLY recommended by Maudeen!
To see an ANIMATION of Zechariah

5 2 0
B. C.
Bible Timeline

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There are four prominent men named "ZECHARIAH" who are mentioned in the Bible. Chronologically, they are:

Zechariah the priest of the 9^th Century BC, who as Jesus noted was "murdered between the temple and the altar." (see 2 Chronicles 24, and Matthew 23/Luke 11)

Zechariah the king of Israel in the 8^th Century BC, who was assassinated after just six months on the throne
(see 2 Kings 15)

Zechariah the prophet of the 6^th Century BC—our hero here

Zechariah the priest of the 1^st Century AD, the husband of Elizabeth, uncle of Mary, and father of John the Baptist
(see Luke 1)

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CHAPTER 1

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

2 “The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?

“Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MICHELANGELO
"Prophet Zechariah"

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by NOVGOROD SCHOOL
"The Holy Prophet Zacharias"

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN VAN EYCK, 1432
"Prophet Zacharias"
Ghent Altarpiece, St Bavo's Cathedral,
Ghent, Belgium

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOSEF KEPPLINGER, 1883
"Prophet Zacharias"
Gramastetten, Upper Austria, Austria \

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MELOZZO DA FORLÌ
"Profeta Zaccaria"

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
" Zacharias "
Church of the Mercy of Esposende, Portugal

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BERNHARD STRIGEL
"Der Prophet Sachaja"

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAMES TISSOT, 1899
" Zechariah "

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
in Bible of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, Portugal, 1220
"Zecharias with Book"

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN VAN DER STRAET
"The Prophet Zechariah"

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JACK BAUMGARTNER
"Zechariah"

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
ZECHARIAH'S FIRST
FOUR VISIONS

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

A r t Q u a l i t y

The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." Indeed, occasionally photographs actually illustrate the text. So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.

Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

T e x t S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I am treating synoptically. Now, onward!

P a c i n g

The pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).

Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?

The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

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Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan
'55 '59 '63 '65 '81 '88 '20

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[Hebrews 11:6]

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LINKS TO ALL PAST EPISODES
The Bible in Paintings

THE OLD TESTAMENT

GENESIS GOD CREATING ADAM GOD CREATING EVE THE TEMPTATION OF ADAM & EVE ADAM & EVE HIDING FROM GOD GOD BANISHES ADAM & EVE CAIN AND ABEL GOD'S FLOOD & NOAH'S ARK THE TOWER OF BABEL GOD CALLS ABRAM ABRAM RESCUES LOT; MELCHIZIDEK SARAI, HAGAR & ISHMAEL ISAAC, THE SON OF THE PROMISE SODOM AND GOMORRAH GOD TESTS ABRAHAM ABRAHAM FINDS ISAAC A WIFE! JACOB & ESAU, Part 1 JACOB & ESAU, Part 2 JACOB & ESAU, Part 3 JOSEPH – DREAMS, AND REALITY JOSEPH – EGYPT, OR BUST! JOSEPH AIDS PHARAOH JOSEPH AIDS HIS BROTHERS EXODUS GOD PREPARES MOSES LET MY PEOPLE GO! PASSOVER! EXODUS! STAINED GLASS INTERLUDE - AMIENS STAINED GLASS INTERLUDE – CHARTRES PARTING THE RED SEA REJOICING IN SONG! MANNA! WATER FROM THE ROCK! Mt. Sinai #1 – GOD SHOWS OFF Mt. Sinai #2 – MOSES CLIMBS Mt. Sinai #3 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #4 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #5 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #6 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! THE GOLDEN CALF, Part 1 THE GOLDEN CALF, Part 2 GOD SHOWS MOSES HIS GLORY MISCELLANY THE ARK OF THE COVENANT THE TABERNACLE LEVITICUS AARON’S CONSECRATION NADAB & ABIHU, TOASTED THIS & THAT NUMBERS Want PLAGUE with Your QUAIL? A SPY STORY KORAH’S SINKING FEELING AARON’S FINAL ADVENTURES THE BRONZE SNAKE, & THE CROSS JESUS EXPLAINS THE BRONZE SNAKE “GREATEST HITS” BALAAM AND HIS TALKING DONKEY MOSES ENTERS REAL PROMISED LAND JOSHUA RAHAB AND THE TWO SPIES ISRAELCROSSES THE JORDAN RIVER ISRAEL MARCHING AROUND JERICHO GOD FLATTENS JERICHO PAINTED BIBLES!!! – THE BOOK OF KELLS PAINTED BIBLES! LINDISFARNE GOSPELS PAINTED BIBLES!!! – HODGEPODGE SPECIAL EDITION – BEST COMMENTS! JUDGES THE SUN STANDS STILL! DEBORAH AND BARAK WIN A WAR JAEL'S TENT-PEG THRU NOGGIN TRICK GIDEON 1: ANGEL, ALTAR, FLEECE GIDEON 2-CHOICE TRUMPETS TRIUMPH GOD PROMISES SAMSON’S BIRTH SAMSON’S LION SAMSON GETS A WIFE: MARRIED LIFE! SAMSON LOSES WIFE, GETS REVENGE SAMSON’S TROPHIES SAMSON AND DELILAH, Part 1 SAMSON AND DELILAH, Part 2 SAMSON’S FINAL REVENGE MISCELLANY 2 MISCELLANY 3

RUTH RUTH, Chapter 1 RUTH CLINGS TO NAOMI RUTH GLEANS BOAZ CARES FOR RUTH RUTH PROPOSES, BOAZ ACCEPTS! BOAZ REDEEMS & WEDS RUTH: OBED! RUTH ART “SPECIALTIES” 1st SAMUEL HANNAH’S MISERY, AND HER PRAYER HANNAH’S MIRACLE SON, SAMUEL SAMUEL IN THE LORD’S HOUSE WITH ELI MISCELLANY 4 ARK, ARK — WHO’S GOT THE ARK? ARK, ARK — ISRAEL’S GOT THE ARK! STAINED GLASS EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Part 1 STAINED GLASS EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Part 2 ISRAEL DEMANDS A KING, GETS SAUL GOD REJECTS ISRAEL’S NEW KING SAMUEL MEETS DAVID SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID AS KING SAUL HIRES A HARPIST DAVID AND GOLIATH DAVID OR GOLIATH DAVID'S BIG, FAT HEAD SAUL ATTACKS DAVID DAVID RUNS FOR HIS LIFE DAVID SPARES SAUL’S LIFE – TWICE! DAVID, ABIGAIL, AND NABAL THE FOOL FEARFUL SAUL CONSULTS A WITCH SAUL DIES, JUST AS FORETOLD 2nd SAMUEL DAVID, THE NEW KING DAVID JOYOUSLY RETRIEVES THE ARK DAVID AND BATHSHEBA – & URIAH DAVID MURDERS TO COVER ADULTERY AMNON RAPES HIS SISTER TAMAR ABSOLOM MURDERS AMNON ABSALOM OVERTHROWS DAVID ABSALOM’S DEATH 1st KINGS WHO SUCCEEDS DAVID AS KING? DAVID IN STAINED GLASS MISCELLANY 5 GREATEST HITS! Volume 2 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 1 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 2 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 3 SOLOMON BEGINS GOD’S TEMPLE SOLOMON CONTINUES GOD’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHES GOD’S TEMPLE THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 1 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 2 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 3 REVIEW, GENESIS THRU SAMUEL, Part 1 REVIEW, GENESIS THRU SAMUEL, Part 2 SOLOMON’S 700 WIVES, ETC., ETC., ETC. ISRAEL DIVIDES FROM JUDAH GOD SENDS RAVENS TO FEED ELIJAH 1 GOD SENDS RAVENS TO FEED ELIJAH 2 A GENTILE WIDOW FEEDS ELIJAH ELIJAH RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON ELIJAH vs. BAAL’S 450 PROPHETS ELIJAH, RAINING AND RUNNING Part 1 ELIJAH, RAINING AND RUNNING Part 2 THE LORD APPEARS TO ELIJAH 2nd KINGS ELIJAH'S CHARIOT OF FIRE, Part 1 ELIJAH'S FIERY CHARIOT-RIDE, Part 2 ELIJAH'S FIERY CHARIOT-RIDE, Part 3 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 1 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 2 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 3 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 4 KING JEHU & JEZEBEL'S DEATH BLOODY KING JEHU & QUEEN ATHALIA BOY KING JOASH, DEAD QUEEN ATHALIA ISRAEL REJECTS GOD, GETS BANISHED ASSYRIANS vs KING HEZEKIAH HEZEKIAH'S ILLNESS & FOLLY KING JOSIAH FINDS GOD & HIS WORD BABYLON CONQUERS JUDAH

1st CHRONICLES DAVID & HIS MIGHTY MEN "PRAISE THE LORD IN THIS MANNER" EZRA THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 1 THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 2 NEHEMIAH THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 3 CHRISTMAS PROPHECIES THE CHARACTERS OF CHRISTMAS ESTHER THE KING CHECKMATES THE QUEEN ESTHER - IN THE HAREM, IN THE BED ESTHER, THE NEW QUEEN MORDECAI, HERO AND GOAT ESTHER – "IF I PERISH, I PERISH", Part 1 ESTHER – "IF I PERISH, I PERISH", Part 2 MORDECAI'S TRIUMPH ESTHER'S BANQUETS ESTHER FAINTS JOB GOD'S MAIN MAN: JOB JOB SUFFERS MRS. JOB MOCKS HIM JOB STILL HAS "FRIENDS" FRIENDS ACCUSE, JOB DEFENDS GOD INTERVENES, QUIZZES JOB PSALMS #8—HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME! #19–HEAVENS DECLARE GOD'S GLORY #22—"WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" #23–THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD #65—PRAISE AWAITS YOU, OUR GOD #69–SAVE ME, O GOD #104-PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL #105-GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD #136-HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER #147-SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD #148-PRAISE THE LORD PROVERBS SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 1-4 SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 6-24 SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 24-31 ECCLESIASTES A TIME FOR EVERYTHING SONG OF SONGS SONG OF SONGS—THE TEXT SONG OF SONGS—THE ART, 1 SONG OF SONGS—THE ART, 2 SONG OF SONGS—THE "ART", 3 ISAIAH THE DAY OF THE LORD "HERE AM I, SEND ME!" EZEKIEL Prelude–TRIBUTES TO EZEKIEL EZEKIEL'S FIRST VISION OF GOD THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES EZEKIEL'S VISION OF DRY BONES, 1 EZEKIEL'S VISION OF DRY BONES, 2 DANIEL Prelude - TRIBUTES TO DANIEL DANIEL & NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, 1 INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, 2 GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD KING HANDWRITING ON THE WALL DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 1 DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 2 DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 3 DANIEL'S VISION OF FOUR BEASTS DANIEL'S VISION OF RAM & GOAT JONAH Prelude – TRIBUTES TO JONAH ANGRY JONAH COOLS OFF WITH A SWIM WHEN SWALLOWED, REPENT AND PRAY!!! GOD COMPLETES JONAH'S RESCUE JONAH PREACHES, NINEVEH REPENTS! THE "MINOR" PROPHETS THE TWELVE "MINOR" PROPHETS

Coming very soon…
THE NEW TESTAMENT

THE FOUR GOSPELS HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS JESUS' BIRTH & YOUTH JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY JESUS' CRUCIFIXION JESUS' RESURRECTION

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES THE EPISTLES REVELATION OF JOHN

PLEASE NOTE: All images are "hot-linked" from their source websites,
and such links sometimes disappear over time, leaving blank spaces.

[Hebrews 11:6]

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P r e s e n t e d . . F o r . . Y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

[Red Badger]

ZECHARIAH looked a lot like Robin Hood!................

[left that other site]

I LOVE Zechariah! :-)

((((When you get to the Lampstand part, you are going to find some AWESOME images.

Trust Me On This.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Do you want to play Little John, or shall I? And who can we get for Maid Marian?

[etabeta]

Beautiful compilation! #12! From the stupendous polyptych created by Huber and Jan van Eyck, outer panels, just above the Angel of the Annunciation. You made my day! Thank you!

[left that other site]

I’ll be the Maid but I don’t do windows.

I have a Mac.

[Red Badger]

[Hebrews 11:6]

Found them ten days ago....If you look at my table of contents up-top, you see that Zechariah's first four visions, and his last four, are each lumped together into single posts; but the olive trees and lampstand vision stands alone, because I found so many AWESOME images!

John specifically referenced that prophecy in Revelation 11:4, which my pastor preached on yesterday. As he did, I was wishing I could show my pictures on the screen behind him. I do not know why no preacher ever seems to do that. I suppose they would consider it a distraction.

[Hebrews 11:6]

While composing this thread, I was absolutely certain you would love seeing that one.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Stop spinning my friend Daffy!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Post o’ the day, LOL!

[left that other site]

My (very personal) interpretation of the Menorah with the two bowls of oil providing nourishment has to do with the only two witnesses left to the One True God in the last Days (Believing Jews and Christians) who support Israel.

I know, it may be a stretch, but as I said, it’s personal.

During the 11 years of the J-Thread, we have explored Zechariah more than once.

[left that other site]

My Mac is 10 years old and still works.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. :-)

[Red Badger]

[Hebrews 11:6]

Leave my boy alone!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, it’s also now public. The Two Witnesses are specifically cross-referenced to the olive trees and lampstand in Revelation 11, as being the exact fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. Are you asserting that you accept that but also hold that God had a second meaning in mind, as He often does?

[left that other site]

Absolutely!

His mind is Omniscient, so there are probably other layers of meaning as well!

[Cronos]

The two witnesses as seen in Apoc 11:3-6 are references to Zechariah 4:1-6 and then Zec 4:14

The two witnesses are those who have been given the power to “stop the rain”, “turn water into bloods” and bring forward “plagues” - these images are associated with Moses and Elijah Num 16:35, 2 Kings 1:12 and 1 Kings 17:1

Moses and Elijah symbolize (note: symbolize, the book of the Apocalypse is about symoblism, not literalism) the Law and the Prophets.

Furthermore about the two witnesses, what do we read in Apoc 11:7-10? And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends form teh bottomless pit will make war upon them and conquer them and kill them.

8. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is allegorically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified"

As shown, the harlot-city is Jerusalem.

[Cronos]

God's wrath was visible when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians and also, as prophesied in the book of the Apocalypse which talks about when the harlot-city, Jerusalem, was destroyed by the 10th Legion

The verses in the book of the Apocalypse says

Apoc 13:11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb’s but spoke like a dragon.

12 It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

13 It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of everyone.

14 It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and revived.

15 It was then permitted to breathe life into the beast’s image, so that the beast’s image could speak and [could] have anyone who did not worship it put to death.

16 It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads,

17 so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast’s name or the number that stood for its name.

18 [b]Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.

This beast with two horns "like a lamb" but which "spoken like a dragon" is Satan's parody of the lamb.

A key note is the difference between where the beasts arise -- the first beast arises out of the sea - the sea indicates gentile nations.

This parody of the Lamb represents corrupt leaders within Jerusalem. This parody is later identified by John as the "false prophet" in Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

As the "false prophet" this parody sets itself up against God's prophets in the days leading to 69 AD.

The false religious leaders who led the persecution of the Christ-sect of Jews in the days leading up to the destruction of the temple in 69 AD are indicated here

The mark of the beast is again a parody of the SIGN on the believers as we read in the letter to the Philadelphians -- the SIGN or Tau being the Hebrew letter which looks like a cross - so the sign of the cross as the christians did was the sign of God

The mark of the beast is linked to the number of the beast - as "wisdom is needed here... it stands for a person..." -- to reveal the identity of the beast to the Christians while hiding it from outsiders, St john used Gematria, the rabbinic numering system for names. When the Gematrian numbers of Nero's official name in Hebrew are added together (50 + 200 + 6+50 + 100 + 60 + 200) they total 666. The Christians KNew that 666 is the number of Nero

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Remember back to the Mark of the Lamb alluded to in the 6th letter to the churches, to the Philadelphians - God's mark is mentioned specifically in the sixth seal of the initial vision (7:3). In Heaven God's faithful "servants shall worship Him; they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads"..22:4

The mark of the beast is Satan's parody of the sign of the cross. The sign on the forehead talks of loyalty and that on the hand of what we do with the loyalty

We see the same in 14:9 "anyone who worships the beast and its image" is shown as "receiving a mark on his forehead or on his hand"

Nero is the human whose symbol is 666, who demanded worship of himself.

This is the only time in history when the Church was persecuted by both the beast (the Roman empire) and the harlot (Jerusalem authorities)

ST John twice pauses to say "here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints" (13:10, 14:12). The first time, this is following a statement about not being in armed conflict against the beast "if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain" (13:10)

The second time is not to have the mark of the beast -- to be clear the admonition agians thte mark of the beast is "do not worship the earthly power of the roman empire - THAT is the mark of the beast