B. SCENE 2 --THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND & OLIVE TREES(4:1-14)

Halfway through his vision, Zechariah becomes exhausted and confused by what he sees! There is too little time to digest the magnitude and far reaching implications that are flashing before him. No break is even suggested between each scene! It finally takes an angel to get him back on track! He probably understood the first few verses as an encouragement for Zerubbabel to finishing building the Temple. But something puzzled him: “what are those two olive trees doing there and whom do they represent?” It was something he had never notice before so he had a lot of questions on his mind.

     The Golden Lampstand &The Two Olive Trees 

Verse 1: Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep.

The interpreting angel comes to the prophet to awaken him from what appeared to be mental or spiritual exhaustion. It seems evident this was not from physical sleep since he speaks of himself being awakened: “the angel awakened me as a man is wakened from his sleep.”

In the first five visions, God was trying to show Israel the importance of getting back to her roots: they were called to be His Chosen, Holy people! But spiritual idolatry drove them from their Land. The Shekinah glory had departed! Nebuchadnezzar destroyed their City and Temple and for 70 years they were his captives. Under King Cyrus, royal permission was given to rebuilt the Temple. Yet, 18 years later and all they had to show for their efforts was only the foundation and the Brazen Altar. So the Lord sent Haggai and Zechariah to encourage them to finish building the Temple and renew their commitment to being His Holy People. The symbol of new garments for Joshua was given for that purpose! If I was part of the audience that night, I would be dumbfounded by this kind of interplay! An angel steps out of the screen and speaks to Zechariah as if to help keep him keep awake or to stimulate his thinking.

Verses 2-3 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

The angel asks: “what do you see?” The picture of a large Lampstand would immediately remind him of the seven pronged golden menorah found in the Temple. This lighted candlestick represented what Israel was intended to be: a shining light for God to the rest of the world. The oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit making that Light possible. In John 8 Jesus identified Himself as this candlestick when He stated: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5) Revelation also pictures Him as walking in the midst of the lampstand or candlestick representing the seven churches of Asia Minor. They were warned that if they didn’t repent He would remove them. In modern Turkey today none of these churches exist. They lie in ruin! Their lamp stands have been removed!

To the right and left sides of the lampstand can be seen two olive trees. Olive oil was used to fuel the lamps. The two olive trees supplied oil to the bowl at the top of it in order to maintain an abundant supply of oil which was carried through golden pipes to each of the seven burning lamps. The picture is of a limitless supply of oil automatically flowing from the trees down to the bowl and into the lamps without human agency. Zachariah is still puzzled! So he asks for further explanation.

Verses 4-10: I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.  So 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 Almighty. What are you, O

mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “(These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth).”

The primary focus of these verses was to encourage Zerubbabel (Judah's governor) to finish building the Temple and to assure him of God’s divine enablement. Neither human effort, wealth, or physical might was sufficient to complete the task. Almost 18 years and the Temple was still not finished! Too many enemies and obstacles were in the way! So this Candlestick scene with an abundance of oil was to illustrate that nothing can be accomplished without the power of God through His Holy Spirit: “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit!” Only an abundant supply of the Holy Spirit's power would enable him to complete the work. The immediate fulfillment came when the capstone was laid with shouts of joy and thanksgiving as recorded in Ezra 3:11-13. Many of the older Jews remembered the beautiful Temple Solomon built before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it and they wept (Ezra 3:12). But they are told that God was watching over the present building program and though it was not as majestic, it nevertheless pleased Him. So “don’t despise the day of small things,” because one day there will be a Temple He will superintend that will make all others pale by contrast (Ezek.40-48).

Verses 11-14: Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Two unanswered questions troubled the prophet at this point: “what are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lamp stand?” And “what are these two olive branches?” There seems to be a definite difference between the “two olive trees” and the “two olive branches.” The “branches” are connected to the “trees” but are not identical! Some see them both representing the priestly and kingly offices in Israel, pointing to Joshua and Zerubbabel as their fulfillment. Others prefer to identify them as referring to Christ Who is both High Priest and King.

The symbol of the “two olive branches” seem most clearly fulfilled in Joshua and Zerubbabel. However, the “two olive trees anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth” seems to focus on Israel's future.

Revelation 11:3-12 describes “two witnesses” who become God’s agents during the Great Tribulation. Verse 4 states: “These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” These “two witnesses” are not identified . Speculation surrounding their identity have included two different groups, Enoch and Elijah, two Spirit-filled individuals, and Moses and Elijah. It is interesting to note that Moses and Elijah were the two who ministered to the Lord Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration. Malachi 4:5 likewise states that, “I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Then, during the 70th week of Daniel (the Great Tribulation) these two “olive trees” will “have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain, to turn the water into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague” (Rev.11:6). These are some of the very miracles Elijah and Moses performed during their prophetic ministries. If you've ever wondered who might be able to identify the 144,000 Jews with 12,000 from each Tribe? Certainly Moses would have no trouble since he divided them in the first place at Sinai. While my preference is obviously biased toward Moses and Elijah, the mystery will be revealed in His time.

The same Power, giving Israel success in completing the Temple and later rebuilding the walls, flows through His Church today. Zechariah 4:6 makes it clear: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” He is the Olive Oil flowing to the Lampstand that lights the world. To the Church, Jesus stated in Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...” The plan for Israel is still incomplete. They will one day be restored to full spiritual blessings. The Church’s task is still incomplete. Yet while we wait His return we are admonished to “let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt.5:16).

               THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND & TWO OLIVE TREES 

                              THE SECOND SCENE BEGAN THAT DAY
                              WITH SEVERAL SYMBOLS ON DISPLAY
                              A SHROUD OF MYSTERY DULLED HIS MIND
                              LIKE TRYING TO SEE WHEN ALMOST BLIND.

                             A LAMPSTAND WITH A BOWL ON TOP
                             WAS SEEN WITH SEVEN LIGHTS ABLAZE
                             AND FROM EACH SIDE AN OLIVE TREE
                             SUPPLIED THE OIL FOR ALL TO SEE.

                              I ASKED THE ANGEL TO EXPLAIN
                              IN WORDS THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND
                              HE POINTED TO JEHOVAH’S MIGHT
                              WITH HIS ANOINTING OIL FOR LIGHT.

                              THE FRAME THIS PICTURE DID EMBRACE 

                              WAS ISRAEL’S PRESENT BUILDING BASE
                              WITH DETAILED PLANS HE HAD IN VIEW
                               FOR JUDAH’S TEMPLE BUILDING CREW.

                              THEN FROM THE RUINS OF THE PAST
                              THE SHOUTS OF PRAISES COULD BE HEARD
                              AS TEMPLE WALLS FELL INTO PLACE
                              AND HOLY WORSHIP FILLED ITS SPACE.

                              THERE IS ONE OTHER SECRET THREAD
                              TWO “SONS OF OIL” RISE FROM THE DEAD
                              TO STAND ON ISRAEL’S HOLY LAND
                              BEFORE THIS COSMIC STORY ENDS.

                              THESE “OLIVE TREES” ST. JOHN DESCRIBED
                              ARE THOSE THE PROPHET SAW DISGUISED
                              AS MEN ANOINTED TO PROCLAIM
                              MESSIAH’S COMING BACK TO REIGN 

                                       THOUGHT QUESTIONS 

1. AS ZECHARIAH ENCOURAGES THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE, GOD IS PREPARING A HOLY PRIESTHOOD TO SERVE HIM. LOOKING OVER THE 1ST FIVE VISIONS, WHAT PICTURE DO YOU SEE EMERGING FROM A REPENTANT PRIESTHOOD AND CULMINATING IN A CHANGE OF GARMENTS? HOW WOULD THAT PARALLEL THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF 1 Cor.6:19?

2. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE LAMPSTAND (MANORAH) IN THE TEMPLE? WHO DOES IT REPRESENT? WHAT IS THE OIL A SYMBOL OF AND WHAT WAS GOD TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE?

3. THERE WAS A PRESENT APPLICATION FULFILLED IN ZERUBBABEL(VS.5-10) AND A FUTURE IMPLIED IN VERSES 11-14 WHERE THE PROPHET ASKS: “WHAT ARE THESE 2 OLIVE TREES?” WITH THE ANSWER: “THESE ARE THE 2 WHO ARE ANOINTED TO SERVE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH.” IN THE LIGHT OF REVELATION 11:3-12 WHO MIGHT HE BE SPEAKING ABOUT AND WHEN?