The Golden Candlesticks and Olive Trees
– Zechariah Four –
These visions were coming to Zechariah one after another during the same night. The prophet was awakened from his sleep by the angel with this vision. It may be that some of us need to be awakened so that God can speak to us through the Bible. The purpose of this vision was to assure the prophet that the work of building the Temple would be completed. It was a very difficult work but with God's help it was finished. The difficulty of the task was pictured as a great mountain. The prophet was told concerning Zerubbabel’s work, "that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground." "The Lord spoke unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." God helps us in dealing with our mountains of difficulty also.
The odds were great against the people of God. The people God used were feeble in number. They were weak when compared to the task before them. Some despaired at the thought of every finishing the Temple. They "despised the day of small things." They would rejoice to see Zerubbabel giving directions concerning what to do, and taking care that the work be done. They would rejoice at the completion of the building. Zechariah understood that the candlestick was representative of God giving His light and providence to this work. He also desired to know about the two olive trees. Zerubbabel and Joshua were the two men sent from God to bring both courage and light to the people. They were great instruments in the work and service of God. Our two olive trees are the Old Testament and the New Testament. These two covenants are the source of our spiritual light.
A vision of a candlestick -- Zechariah 4:1-5: In the beginning of the book Zechariah told us that these were night visions. "I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white." (Zechariah 1:8) All the visions seem to have come in that same night. The prophet may have been in a slumber as he thought about the earlier visions. Now his attention was aroused to another vision. The angel asked Zechariah "What do you see?" The prophet saw a gold lampstand with an oil container. On the candlestick he saw seven lamps, each with seven flames. These were things that pertained to the service of the tabernacle under the Mosaic Law. (Exodus 25:31-40)
There were two olive trees; one olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container. The oil that was used in the lamps would be olive oil. The olive oil burns to give light. Zechariah said, "Sir, what do these mean?" Near the close of the chapter he will ask again about the olive trees. Zechariah said he did not understand what the olive trees were. In Zechariah 4:14 it will be explained.
An explanation of the vision -- Zechariah 4:6-7: The vision was stated in Zechariah 4:1-5. It will be explained in Zechariah 4:11-14. The verses in between provide some information about Zerubbabel, the political leader of the people. Zechariah 3 provided some information about Joshua, the high pries, the religious leader of the Jews. God wanted it understood that this thing would happen. The new Temple would be built. The Temple would not be built by human strength or by political power. The message was "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6) Zerubbabel would face great obstacles in the rebuilding process. These obstacles were pictures as a great mountain. The work was difficult and the local enemies tried to make that mountain even higher. God had chosen Zerubbabel to lead in the reconstruction. (Ezra 2:2, Ezra 3:2) However, the Temple would be rebuilt but it would be completed by the power of the Spirit of God and not by the might of men. There were many problems for Zerubbabel to overcome. These problems seem like a great mountain. But God promised that this that seemed like a mountain in front of Zerubbabel would be leveled to the ground. Zerubbabel had put that headstone or the foundation stone in place about 15 years earlier. Now God promised that Zerubbabel would finish the building. It would be finished with the shout of "Grace, grace unto it." Grace was especially upon it because the Messiah would enter that Temple. Grace and truth are also ours through Jesus, the Messiah.
The Temple will be completed -- Zechariah 4:8-10: We are reminded several times that this Bible book is inspired of God. This reminder is seen in the statement, "The Lord spoke to me again and said." The work on the Temple was started with excitement. Sadly, the work was hindered and finally stopped. The enemies seemed just too strong. Two verses from Ezra four tell that sad story. First, "Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel." (Ezra 4:1) The enemies heard of the work on the Temple and they got busy to stop it. Then we read, "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia." (Ezra 4:24) Now the Lord assured the people that the work on the Temple would be completed. "Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple, and he will complete it." The result of the Temple being completed was that everyone could see that the All-powerful Lord was in control. The rebuilding of the Temple was looked upon as the day of small beginnings. Some of the older people wept when they saw the small beginning. (Ezra 3:12) This might have been for joy, but more than likely for grief. They should never have despised the day of small beginning because the Lord would bring it to completion. Those seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord and they see everything on earth and He is always involved in the lives and work of His people.
An explanation of the olive trees -- Zechariah 4:11-14: Now we go back to the question that was first asked in Zechariah 4:5, "What about the olive trees on each side of the lampstand? What do they represent?" The prophet asked this question three times. (Zechariah 4:4, Zechariah 4:11, Zechariah 4:12) He first called them olive trees and later he calls them branches. The two olive trees refer to Joshua and Zerubbabel. God has always sent men to be strong leaders among His people. Together Joshua and Zerubbabel offer leadership in two essential areas of life. Joshua was the high priest. He offered leadership in spiritual matters. Zerubbabel took the lead in helping to restore the Jews politically and in the building of the Temple. Today we have two witnesses, the Old Testament and the New Testament from which we receive God's light. This may be a secondary meaning of this prophecy but Joshua and Zerubbabel are primarily meant. When the question concerning the two olive trees was asked the third time a few more details were added. "What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?" The olive oil had a color like gold. This indicates that the Lord's work on rebuilding the Temple was being done through various agencies. This has to be a picture of God's grace. Things of this nature could never be if it was not the Lord’s doing. It is of interest to note that some Bible call Joshua and Zerubbabel "sons of oil." The meaning is that they were anointed to do this work for God. Today we have the two anointed ones, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Those that serve God are blessed and those that rebel are punished. Is it your desire to honor God? If so it is time to become a Christian now! To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) After baptism follow Jesus in faithfulness as He leads you home to heaven. (Revelation 2:10)