CHAPTER 4

(519 B.C.)

THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK AND THE OLIVE TREES

¹And the Angel Who talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep (the Angel is Jehovah and is the same One in this Vision as in the previous; it is not known how long it was between the previous Vision and this Vision; Wakened out of his sleep, shows that this was not a Dream, but rather a Vision),

²And said unto me, What seest you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a Candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and His Seven Lamps thereon, and Seven Pipes to the Seven Lamps, which are upon the top thereof (the Vision consists of a Candlestick with its Seven Lamps fed to two Olive Trees; the Prophet is told to describe it. The Candlestick all of gold describes Christ, with gold symbolizing His Deity, even though He will be Incarnate. In other words, even though He became Very Man, He never, even for a moment, ceased to be Very God. He was 100% Man and 100% God [Phil. 2:8].

With a bowl upon the top of it, signifies the Holy Spirit. In other words, Christ and what He would do at the Cross would make it possible for there to be an uninterrupted supply of the Holy Spirit to the Believer [Jn. 14:16-17; 16:7-15].

And His Seven Lamps thereon, pertains to perfect illumination, which the Holy Spirit Alone can give. This is meant to illuminate the Word to Gods People, which most definitely will be done, that is, if Believers will humble themselves and tremble at Gods Word [Isa. 11:1-2; 66:2].

The phrase, And Seven Pipes to the Seven Lamps, which are upon the top thereof, pertains to a total supply of the Holy Spirit to the Spirit-filled Believer, symbolized by the number seven, all made possible by the Cross [I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2]):

³And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. (And two Olive Trees by it, picture, at least in this instance, Zerubbabel and Joshua in the work of restoring the Temple and the nation of Judah after the Babylonian activity. However, the Vision reaches on to Rev., Chpt. 11, for two other representatives appear, but with this difference: they themselves are Lampstands and Olive Trees.

These two Olive Trees, as representative of all are, in effect, told to carefully observe Gods method of the supply of Spiritual energy, for this is what it represents. It is so easy for man to get his eyes on other than that which is the True Source, Who is Christ, and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, with all made possible by the Cross.

As one was on either side of the Candlestick, the idea is: just as the Holy Spirit was the Source of Power for Israel of old, likewise, He is for the modern Church, as well. God has not changed His Methods.)

⁴So I answered and spoke to the Angel Who talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord? (The question, What are these, my Lord?, is meant to speak of the entirety of the Vision. Even though he plainly observed it, he was not sure if he understood what it all meant. In reply to his question, the answer is forthcoming.)

ZERUBBABEL ANOINTED WITH THE SPIRIT AND POWER

⁵Then the Angel Who talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? and I said, No, my Lord. (The reply of the Lord in the form of a question was not meant to point out the Prophets slowness of comprehension, but instead to call attention to the answer that is about to be given.)

⁶Then He answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the Word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. (The Message of the Vision to Zerubbabel and also to all others, at least according to the need, was: not by military might, nor by political power, but by Spiritual energy, he would certainly complete the building of the Temple.

Not by [human] might, nor by [human] power, but by My Spirit, presents Gods Method of accomplishing His Work. Everything that has ever been done on this Earth, as it regards the Godhead, has been done by the Holy Spirit, with the exception of Christ and His Crucifixion; however, the Holy Spirit even superintended that from beginning to end [Lk. 4:18-19].

If it is claimed to be for the Lord, whatever is being done must be done by the Moving, Operation, Power, and Person of the Holy Spirit through Believers. Otherwise, it will not be recognized by God; in fact, it will be constituted as a work of the flesh [Rom. 8:1].

Says the LORD of Hosts, presents Gods Supreme Personal Power over everything in the material and Spiritual universe. All is organized under His Command. As well, the word Hosts, as used here, is associated with warfare and relates to the word armies. In other words, He is the LORD of Armies.)

⁷Who are you O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. (The question, Who are you O great mountain?, is meant to refer to Hystapes, king of the mighty Medo-Persian Empire, who made a decree that the work on the Temple should cease [Ezra, Chpt. 4]. Cyrus, who in fact was Esthers son, had, some 16 years earlier, made the decree that the Temple should be rebuilt. This was in 536 B.C. [Ezra 1:1-2]. He reigned for nine years; his son, Cambyses, reigned seven years; and then Hystapes followed him. He is the one who gave the order that no Temple was to be built in Jerusalem, countermanding, in effect, the order given by Cyrus.

The question, Who are you O great mountain?, is asked in sarcasm by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit is saying, Who do you think you are, attempting to stop the Work of God?

Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, means that the Lord will shave the face of this empire, with this king being totally removed. In fact, this was fulfilled in totality; this man was executed by Darius I. He was, in fact, removed because of his efforts to hinder the Work of God.

And he [Zerubbabel] shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it, refers to the Ministry of Christ, which would ultimately come, in which all of this played its part [Jn. 1:17].)

THE RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE TO BE FINISHED BY ZERUBBABEL

⁸Moreover the Word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

⁹The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me unto you. (The first phrase refers back to the beginning of the foundation of the Temple some 16 years earlier, and now hes finishing it, even in the face of tremendous opposition. However, the greater meaning pertains to Christ; the Lord laid the foundation of the House, and the Lord will finish it. Paul said, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone [Eph. 2:20-21].

The pronoun me refers to the Prophet Zechariah being sent by the Lord with this all-important Message.)

¹⁰For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the Eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole Earth. (The question, For who has despised the day of small things?, has to do with the leaders of returned Israel, who had little regard for this new Temple, at least in comparison to the Temple of old. It was humble, with no costly ornamentation, and seemed, at least in their eyes, unworthy of the Lord. However, the Lord was to give them several assurances respecting the situation.

The phrase, For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, signifies that the Temple will be completed. The short phrase, With those seven, speaks of the Eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole Earth. This refers to the absolute and Perfect Knowledge and Illumination of the Lord. Those Eyes being all-seeing and all-understanding, they could well provide for and defend Zerubbabel.)

EXPLANATION OF THE OLIVE TREES

¹¹Then answered I, and said unto Him, What are these two Olive Trees upon the right side of the Candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

¹²And I answered again, and said unto Him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? (As the Lord had two witnesses, Zerubbabel and Joshua, after the restoration from Babylon, He will likewise have His two witnesses in the future Restoration of Israel. They are comparable now, and will be comparable then, to Olive Trees and Lampstands.)

¹³And He answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. (In fact, there was no way that Zechariah could know what all of this meant without a proper explanation from the Lord, which is now given.)

¹⁴Then said He, These are the two anoint ed ones, who stand by the LORD of the whole Earth. (Israel was designed to be, and will yet be, a Golden Lampstand gold representing Divine relationship which will enlighten the whole world Christ, as King and Priest, ministering the Holy Spirit as the Oil to nourish the Light. This will happen in the coming Kingdom Age.

The two anointed ones will be Elijah and Enoch, who will come on the scene for the last three and a half years of the coming Great Tribulation. These two men have never died, but rather were translated. They will contend with the Antichrist and do great things for three and a half years. Then the Lord will allow them to be killed [Rev. 11:3-12]; and then they will be shortly resurrected.)