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Zechariah 4:1-14 (text); Revelation 11:1-13
September 11, 2011 • March 22, 2015
Introduction
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: When Jesus walked with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection, he finally opened their eyes, interpreting the whole Old Testament as about his life, death and resurrection to save his people from sin. He told them, “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).
This is why we study not only the New Testament, but also the Old Testament. And we focus not only on the most popular Old Testament books such as Genesis, Proverbs or Isaiah, but also “obscure” books like Numbers, Ecclesiastes or Zechariah. Zechariah is especially important, because it is often quoted in Revelation and other New Testament texts. For example, we will be able to better interpret the identity of Revelation 11’s two witnesses if we also studied Zechariah 4.
Chapter 4 follows a main outline. Verses 1-3 describes the lampstand and the two olive trees, and then interprets these symbols in verses 4-10. Two branches of the olive trees and their interpretation are added in verses 11-13. These two olive trees, the “two anointed ones,” will be instruments of the Holy Spirit in accomplishing his work for God’s people. Therefore, the whole vision turns on verse 6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Might often refers to military might, and power to human strength. Lastly, verse 14 serves as the conclusion, and connects with the key verse 6, as we shall see later.
So our theme today focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit in rebuilding the Temple, which points forward to Christ building his Church. We will answer three questions. First, Why is the Spirit is Needed?; second, What Will the Spirit Accomplish? and third, What Will the Spirit Empower the Two Witnesses to Do?
Why is the Spirit Needed?
Before we answer this question, let us first summarize this vision. After being shown the first four visions, Zechariah must have been tired. The interpreting angel had to wake him, as if from sleep. Visualizing the description of the golden lampstand (Heb. menorah) is difficult, so that many interpreters have sketched different designs. It was a golden lampstand, with “a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it” (verse 2). Zechariah had no difficulty in identifying it as a lampstand, so its basic design must have been familiar to him. What’s peculiar is that there seems to be seven lamps on the bowl, and each lamp has seven “lips” or “wicks,” a total of 49 lights. If this configuration is right, this must have been a unique and impressive lampstand!
Moreover, the seven lamps from the bowl reservoir represent “the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth” (verse 10). This means that the Lord, through the lampstand, keeps watch over the whole earth, just like the four horsemen (Zech 1:10, 6:7).
In the tabernacle, there was only one lampstand with seven lamps (Exo 25:37), while there were ten in Solomon’s temple (2 Chr 4:7). But in John’s Revelation, he saw in his vision seven lampstands (Rev 1:12).
How then is this vision related to the main theme of Zechariah? Zechariah’s ministry was to encourage Israel to complete the rebuilding of the house of God, the Jerusalem Temple destroyed by the Babylonians about 70 years before. There were many difficulties to be overcome. Even with provision from King Cyrus, Israel did not have enough resources to complete the project. The city of Jerusalem was in ruins, the walls had to be first rebuilt. The nation’s other cities and fields were in ruins, destroyed by the Babylonian invaders. When Israel came out of Egypt, there were 600,000 men, and with the women, there could have been 2 million who entered the Promised Land. This time, only a small remnant of 50,000 went back to Canaan, so there were not even enough human resources for the restoration of the nation.
The problems did not come only from within, but also from outside opposition. Before they were destroyed by Babylon, the Jews were constantly at war against their neighboring countries, and those nations did not want the restoration of their old enemies. The destruction of Israel meant one less headache for them.
With these great difficulties, discouragement had set in, so the Lord commissioned Zechariah in this fifth vision to preach a word of hope and encouragement to the people. It is not by their own might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that they will be able to rebuild the Temple, the city, and their own lives. If Israel relied on their own might and power, they will fall short of their goal, always.
Where is the connection between this lampstand and the Spirit of the Lord? We find it in verse 3, where there are also “two olive trees by it [the lampstand], one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” The words “by it” may mean that the olive tree branches are hovering over the lampstand. On two branches of the olive trees, two golden pipes are attached, which are connected to the bowl. These pipes serve as conduits to pour oil on the bowl to supply the 49 lamps (verse 12).
After having been shown the two olive trees, Zechariah asks the angel again, “what are these, my lord?” And the angel answered with our main text, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (verse 6). The two olive trees are then related to the Spirit.
What Will the Spirit Accomplish?
How? The following verses tell us. The angel addresses a mountain, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ”˜Grace, grace to it!’” (verse 7) What is this mountain, and who is Zerubbabel?
The “mountain” represents the “mountain” of difficulties and discouragement that the people face in the rebuilding project, from within and without. Seems impossible, insurmountable. Jer 51:25, Babylon is a “destroying mountain” which God will burn. In Isaiah 40:3, the Lord says “every hill and mountain shall be made low… and the rough places plain.” In returning his people from exile, mountains and rough places will be flattened by God for easy pilgrimage back to the Promised Land. God shall accomplish the impossible.
In completing the second temple, God shall again do the impossible. He will use his chosen men: Joshua the high priest to strengthen them spiritually, and Zerubbabel the governor from the line of King David, who will lead the rebuilding effort. Both these men – a priest and a “king – led the people out of exile back into the Promised Land, and rebuild the temple as well. Zerubbabel started with the foundation of the temple and he will finish it. At the completion of the temple, the top stone, the capstone, will be set in place. Then the people will praise God with songs of joy, for his grace and mercy, and for the beauty, the “grace,” of the completed temple.
Haggai 2:3 says that the people who had seen the former glorious temple built by King Solomon were not very positive about this project at its “small” beginnings. After the temple was rebuilt, they longed for the former temple and said, “Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” But Zechariah says that even the one who “has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel” (verse 10). Even with its small beginnings, the temple will be completed under Zechariah’s skillful and competent supervision.
With the completion of the temple, the Lord will have shown to his people that it will be himself, through the Holy Spirit, who will accomplish this “insurmountable” promise, just as he did in the days of old. Did he not tell Moses and the people that they were chosen by God not because they were mighty and powerful, but because of his promises to their father Abraham? (Deu 7:6-8) Did he not rescue them from slavery under the powerful Egyptians with mighty wonders? Did he not bring down the walls of Jericho? Did he not defeat thousands of Philistines with 300 men of Gideon? Did he not singlehandedly slay 180,000 Assyrians who surrounded Jerusalem? This is why the psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psa 20:7). He is “our help and our shield” (Psa 33:20).
Did not the Spirit hovered over the waters and filled and ordered the earth with his creation? (Gen 1:2) Did God not promise his sinful people that he will give them a new heart and put a new Spirit within them? (Ezk 36:25-27) Did he not promise to awaken his wicked people from spiritual death with the breath of the Spirit, so they may know that he is the Lord? (Ezk 37:6) Did the Spirit not overshadow Mary’s womb to do the “impossible” – bring Immanuel into the world to save his people from sin? (Luk 1:35) Did not the Spirit raise Jesus from the dead so we may also have eternal life? (Rom 8:11) Doesn’t the Spirit create faith and repentance in the elect (Gal 3:5), so that multitudes of people are welcomed into his kingdom on the last day? Doesn’t the Spirit enable us to obey God’s law, to show our love for God and neighbor with the fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23)? No, our salvation is not up to us or any creature, but only the Spirit can accomplish this “insurmountable” thing.
The Lord promises his temple will be completed by the Spirit, using two of his chosen “anointed ones.”
What Will the Spirit Empower the Two Witnesses to Do?
The first time Joshua asked what the two olive trees are, the angel answered with the promise about the Spirit. The second time Joshua asked, the angel finally answered, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (verse 14). The “two anointed ones” literally says in Hebrew, “two sons of oil,” which means that the two olive trees are full of oil.[ref]Most of the major English translations have “two anointed ones” instead of “two sons of oil” (KJV, NASB, NIV, RSV). But is “those who are anointed” the intended meaning of “sons of oil”? The LXX translates it as uioi tes piotetos (“sons of fatness”), which seems to correlate “oil” and “fatness.”Meredith Kline argues that the oil from the two olive trees does not refer to the oil used for anointing for two reasons: First, hayyitshar (“fresh olive oil”) is used instead of the usual shemen for anointing oil priests and kings (Lev. 8:12; |1 Sam. 16:13). Second, the formula “son of” can also signify a plentiful source of something, e.g., a fertile, lush hill is called ben-shemen “a son of fatness or oil” in Isaiah 5:1. Thus, Zechariah’s identification of the two olive trees as “two sons of oil” suggests that the olive trees are abundant sources of oil that feed the lampstand.[/ref] They are endless reservoirs of oil to light the lamps for eternity. They are translated as “two anointed ones” because oil was used to anoint prophets, priests and kings.
What this means is that the Holy Spirit is represented by the oil from the two olive trees (1 Sam 16:13; Psa 45:7; Isa 61:1). The Messianic King is anointed with oil (Psa 45:7), and the Spirit is “upon” this Messiah because of his anointing (Isa 61:1; 1 Sam 16:13). The Spirit is the source of unlimited might and power for God’s people. Most scholars say that these two olive trees represent the two leaders: Joshua the high priest, and Zerubbabel the governor from the ancestry of King David. In the Old Testament, this might as well be true. But John alludes to this vision in Revelation 11, as we see in this parallelism:
Zechariah 4:14: These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Revelation 11:3-4: These [two witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Who then are these two witnesses in Revelation 11?[ref]For a fuller treatment of Revelation 11, refer to my paper, “Will Moses and Elijah Come Back?”[/ref] Many people believe that these are Moses, who can bring plagues, and Elijah, who can bring drought upon the earth. But evidence from Scripture tells us that these two witnesses represent the Church. Also, Jesus said that John the Baptist fulfills Malachi’s prophecy about Elijah’s return (Matt 17:10-13; Mal 4:5).
Why are there two witnesses? First, they must conform to the law of two or three witnesses (Deu 17.6; 19.15; Matt 18:16; 2 Cor 13.1; 1 Tim 5.19) to confirm their testimony. When Jesus sent his disciples on a certain task, he usually sent two of them (Mark 11:1; 14:13). It is also notable that in sending out the 12 apostles and the 72 disciples as missionaries, he sent them out “two by two” (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1).
Again, since the seven lampstands represent the seven churches (Rev 1:20), the two witnesses then represent the church bearing the testimony of Jesus on earth. For John, the two olive trees and the two lampstands both represent the Church. Since the Holy Spirit indwells the Church, he is identified with the church (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16). And since the New Testament interprets the Old, Zechariah’s lampstand representing Israel is fulfilled in the New Testament as the Church, God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21).
After 3-1/2 years of preaching, they are killed by the Beast, the Antichrist, and the Church looks defeated by Satan. The Church is no more, so the wicked people of the world celebrate by giving gifts to one another. They think that this church will never torture them anymore with condemnation by the preaching of the gospel.
But on the third day, the Spirit of God breathed life into them (Gen 2:7; Ezk 37:10), and they ascend into heaven with all the world looking in horror. When all the believers are resurrected when Christ returns in glory from heaven, the building of the Church will finally be completed, and eternity follows.
This then is the main theme of this fifth vision: the Spirit of God will accomplish the rebuilding of the Temple. And this is a mere foretaste of the building of the Church throughout the earth, which Christ inaugurated in his first coming.
Dear Friends: Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the “king,” are the anointed ones. But Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, who is the only Priest-King, the fulfillment of Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Gen 14:18).
Christ promises that he will build his Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. No matter persecution, murder and terrorism by ISIS, Al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf, Bangsa Moro, and all of God’s enemies. No matter ridicule from without. No matter false teachings, false gospels, divisions, faithlessness and discouragement from within. This is why the psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psa 20:7). He is “our help and our shield” (Psa 33:20).
Our church had small beginnings, with only ten people attending our first worship service in 2008. There were times when we were greatly discouraged because there were only five or six worshipers. There have been times of distress because of divisions. But like a tiny mustard seed, the church will grow, mature and persevere, and will march triumphantly into the heavenly places on the last day.
This is because you are God’s temple. The Spirit of God indwells you, nourishes you, and protects you even in all your sinfulness. You don’t overcome sin with your own might, power, wisdom and knowledge. You overcome sin only through the Spirit within you. His sanctifying might, power and wisdom will never be spent till Christ returns on the last day.
Christ is our Temple, our Foundation, our Capstone, our Cornerstone. His Spirit dwells within us and within the Church. He is the Light shining in a dark world. Nothing is hidden from his light. And all who follow him “ shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). In the new heaven and new earth, Christ the Lamb will be the Light and the Temple who dwells with you his people (Rev 21:22-23).
Are you a light in this dark world? Are you a part of this Temple building by your witness to the world around you, in word and in deed? If you are not, and you reject the gospel preached by Christ through his Church, you are in darkness, and you will be cast forever into the “outer darkness.