The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 4, Part 3

The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 4, Part 3

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, What do you see? So I said, I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.

LITERAL HEBREW INTERPRETATION TWO OLIVE TREES FULL OF RIPE OLIVES, FEEDING BASIN 7 TUBES FEEDING EACH OF 7 BRANCHES OF MENORAH GOLD BASIN OF OIL 7-BRANCH MENORAH FROM TEMPLE

Review Zechariah 4 1. Importance of menorah only light inside Temple, Light of the World, Light (Truth) to dispel darkness 2. Importance of oil in scripture (Holy Spirit and His works) menorah cannot shine without fuel 3. Differences between Temple menorah (Zechariah familiar with), and vision menorah: unending supply of pure oil (Holy Spirit), not dependent on man s refilling (as was Temple menorah) 4. Bottom line: this light will shine without man s involvement, God s will is done without man s help.

Difference between menorah in Temple, and what Zechariah saw: The menorah in this vision has its own supply of oil, not provided by human hands. The lampstand in the Temple was fed oil by the priests. This one here is automatic and unending. This lampstand has two olive trees, one on either side with a bountiful supply of olives to produce beautiful pure golden olive oil. This pictures an unending supply by God, not man.

Key understandings for this vision: Jesus: I am the Light of the World. It is the only I AM statement that He also applied to believers. YOU are the Light of the World. We are now living temples carrying His spirit and His light ( I am the vine, you are the branches ) to dispel the darkness. LIGHTS NEED FUEL!

4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, 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? And I said, No, my lord.

Zechariah did not understand this vision menorah because he did not understand the meanings behind the powerful symbols in the Temple. This menorah didn t look like the one in the Temple, at least not with the added features of a bowl, oil supply lines and the two olive trees. The angel indicates he should have known. This rebuke is true for many believers today. We should know scriptures (All! Old and new covenants) so well that we can understand these visions and more!

When we have an understanding of the scriptures, we can better understand difficult passages. God wants us to understand! Forget traditions, and embrace the truth and foundations of our faith. The Word becomes so much clearer and amazing! tradition TRUTH

We should view this vision with the same joy that Zechariah did. Not only would Elohim guarantee the rebuilding of the Temple, He guarantees that believers today can do the work He has ordained through His power and might, not their own efforts. He provides His Spirit (the oil in the lampstand) in unending quantities. Aside from the prophetic messages here, just this thought is one of the most basic truths of all scripture.

6 So he answered and 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 forth the capstone With shouts of Grace, grace to it!

This is the Word of YHVH to Zerubbabel Notice that this is God s message to Zerubbabel (it is largely to all Israel, but at this time Zerubbabel is the governor charged with rebuilding the Temple). He is serving as the civil head of Jerusalem (while Joshua is serving as the religious head). He was head of the tribe of Judah (the line of Messiah) at time of their return to Jerusalem after 70-year Babylonian captivity. He led the first group of his people back to their homeland, as described in the Book of Ezra.

Zerubbabel s great work was rebuilding the temple, but it was plagued by danger from the outside and discouragement from within. God gives this vision to strengthen Zerubbabel. It has real meaning for him, and also it contains a great (critical!) principle for you and me. We have to take into consideration the entire set of visions so far, and combine that with what was happening in real time in Israel. Just so we can fully understand all this, let s take a few minutes to look at them all in context

The people had been completely humbled and disciplined by God for their sins. They had just returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylon, but only a small remnant. Jerusalem was a mess! Through the prophets, Elohim directed them to rebuild the Temple, the City and their lives before Him. They were to become the Children of Israel (Bnei Yisrael) again under the direct headship of El Shaddai their maker.

Rebuilding the Temple was slow and full of problems both internally and externally. They just couldn t quite get it finished. Haggai chastised the people for not making the rebuilding of the Temple a top priority. They were also having problems internally. People were discouraged, had given up on Israel being the people of God. Daniel (in captivity) had foretold all about the mighty Gentile powers that would dominate Israel and the entire world. Bad news!

So what was the point? Israel had sinned grievously and lost her place as God s elect and chosen in the world. Right? Wrong! She was only disciplined, as a Father disciples His children. And right from the very beginning, before they even entered the land, Moses told them it would happen, AND that God would indeed restore them. The visions given to Zechariah were designed to progress from one thought to another, explaining the actions God would take to restore Israel.

1:7-17 The Rider Among the Myrtle Trees Chapter 1 Rider on red horse among the Myrtle Trees and Re-Con Angels Promised destruction of Israel s enemies and glory to be returned to Jerusalem, but it s not happening yet. The current world is at peace, not a good thing in Israel s eyes. God (Yeshua) is always watching over Israel. He is jealous over Israel.

1:18-19 The Four Horns The 4 Horns 4 Horns = 4 world powers. Gentile domination, Jews scattered. World powers will continue to dominate and scatter Israel.

Chapter 1 Sneak Peak The 4 Craftsmen 4 Craftsmen (Carpenters?) = each world power will destroy the one before it. Until final and ultimate world power (!!) another carpenter! 1:20-21 The Four Carpenters

Man with a Measuring Line Jerusalem expanded, no walls Prosperity to return, city and nation will flourish Chapter 2 2:1-2 Man with a Measuring Line in Jerusalem

The Wall of Fire Get out of Babylon! Second Coming prophesied (before the first!) City walls will not be necessary, God will be her protection (a ring of fire around her). Millennial Kingdom, people from all nations become God s people 2:5 The Wall of Fire

Zechariah 1 and 2 are a nutshell plan, stated in overview only. Remaining chapters detail this a bit more. Jerusalem will be greatly expanded (near, far, FAR-FAR!) beyond city walls. In the Millennium, Jerusalem will be God s throne, and many nations joined together as God s people.

The Dirty High Priest Joshua, High Priest, is excrement bespattered standing before Angel of YHVH (Jesus!); the accuser points out his filth (represents all Israel, all believers!) God provides clean clothes for priest, for each of us. 3:1-3 Chapter 3 Joshua Before the Angel of the Lord

Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua, High Priest (Chapter 3) Israel has sinned before God, but God has a plan for this, too. It does not involve anything Israel does. He will provide the perfect sacrifice to atone for her, and the entire world. Her priesthood will be re-established as holy and clean before God. Eventually the ultimate High Priest will also be crowned King of Kings, and He will claim a believing kingdom of priests to serve Him.

The Stone with 7 Eyes Messiah is coming (branch of Jesse) Wickedness abounds, awaiting judgment A stone (Messiah) with 7 eyes (all-seeing, knowing God, omniscient, omnipresent) Zechariah 4

Historically, what has happened to Israel prior to these visions? Where is she (the nation) and what is she doing at this time? (What is her situation?) What does God promise He will do for and with Israel in these visions?

And now we have The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Chapter 4) So what is the message here? Chapter 4

Here we encounter one of the most quoted verses in scripture, the true MESSAGE of this chapter: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says YHVH Tsavaot. THIS is how God will accomplish all the things He said He would do for Israel. This is also how everything He wills in our lives is accomplished!

In context of this vision, the rebuilding of Israel, the priesthood and the Temple are referenced. At this time, Israel is struggling to get the Temple rebuilt. And it is the rebuilding of the Temple that the angel references with these words, but it applies to ALL the visions and all the promises God has made. Hebrew for might = hayil, also means an army or host, representing the strength of many. This meant human strength and power of every kind (physical, mental, moral, spiritual, either as individuals or combined). None of these can do what God can and will do by His Holy Spirit.

The lampstand is a symbol for the Light of God, and also the fact that Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles, the rest of the world. It is one of the most powerful symbols in the Tabernacle, and today is the symbol for the restored state of Israel with deliberate reference to the visions of Zechariah. In this vision of an altered menorah, the biggest difference is the fact that this menorah does not require being filled by human hands with oil brought to the priests. It shines by God s power alone.

This menorah has its own unending and automatic supply of oil to burn for light. It is not by man s provision, but by God s Spirit this lampstand shines! The last vision was addressed to Joshua the filthy High Priest (chapter 3) who would be made clean again by an acceptable sacrifice provided by God Himself, not by their own works. Now in this chapter Elohim addresses the other head of Israel, the civil governor Zerubbabel. His work will not be completed in human power either.

We can almost hear the angel s exclamation that nothing, not even mountains, will stand in the way of the work God has ordained that Zerubbabel will undertake for Him. Addressing the mountain as who personifies this image. It is not a literal mountain in the way. The mountain represents a person, or multiple persons, in the way. From the beginning, the project was plagued by Israel s neighboring states who tried everything to stop this temple rebuilding project.

COMMENTARY: The mountain represents opposition. This vision encourages them to believe that Zerubbabel will be able to remove the mountain of opposition. The Lord Jesus used mountain in that sense. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matt. 17:20). I don t think our Lord was speaking of removing physical mountains we don t know of any physical mountains being moved in that day but the faith that removes mountains is the faith that removes obstacles and opposition to the work of God. And that is the picture this vision gives. God s temple will be rebuilt regardless of the seeming impossibilities. (Mc Gee)

The interpreting angel tells Zechariah that Elohim will give all that Zerubbabel needs to rebuild the Temple. It will be done in his lifetime. Nothing will prevent it. God has ordained it. Zerubbabel himself will set the capstone (final piece) in completion of the Temple. There will be shouts of grace (Hebrew chen [pronounced khane], (graciousness, kindness favor, beauty, pleasant) when that happens. People will shout their praises to Elohim because of his favor and grace to them.

We must also keep in mind the purpose of the menorah to provide light, and spiritually the light of God s truth that dispels the darkness. God will enable His Light to shine to all the world again. COMMENTARY: Now looking into the future, this will be especially true during the Millennium. Again, it will not be by brain or by brawn, but by my spirit, saith the LORD. David Baron has put it like this: It is in His light, and by means of the golden oil of His Spirit, which shall then be shed upon them abundantly, that Israel s candlestick shall yet shine with a sevenfold brilliancy for the illumination of all the nations of the earth. (McGee)