Zechariah Chapter 4 Treasures From The Book of Zechariah

Zech 4: [1] And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, [2] And said unto me, What seest thou? 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: [3] And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

1. The Presentation of the Vision (1-3)

In Chapter 4 Zechariah is given the 5^th stage of an 8 stage vision concerning the restoration of Jerusalem.

Remember Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and carried the Jews away into captivity.

After 70 years the Jews were released to go home and upon their return they found the city in ruins.

As Zechariah has seen the first four stages of the vision, he is a man weary of spiritual exhaustion.

An angel comes and wakes Zechariah as a man that is waked out of sleep.

Not that he was asleep but that he is woken once more to the presence around him.

In verse 2, Zechariah is asked “what seest thou?” Remember Zechariah is awake to see around him.

Zechariah saw a golden candlestick or I will call it a golden lampstand. To the Jew it is a Menorah.

This lampstand has 7 lamps and 7 pipes that connect the lamps to each other and to a fuel source.

There is a bowl where the oil is stored. A priest is responsible for filling it.

I believe Zechariah is seeing a vision of the golden lampstand in the Temple, though it’s not built yet.

In verse 3, Zechariah saw 2 olive trees that stood beside the lampstand, one to the right and one to the left.

*The lampstand operates or is supplied not by a bowl filled by a priest but directly by the olive trees.

Zech 4:[4] So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
[5] Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

2. The Purpose of the Vision (4-5)

Zechariah saw the vision but didn’t understand what it meant.

Thus Zechariah asks, “what are these my lord?”

The angel answered “knowest thou not what these be?”

The Lord wants Zechariah to have understanding.

Zech 4:[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. [7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

3. The Presence of the Vision (6-7)

The angel answered “this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel.”

Zerubbabel is the governor or civil leader of a returned Israel.

He was of the lineage of King David (Luke 3:23-38). He is in the lineage of Jesus.

Zerubbabel had the responsibility of leading the people home and rebuilding the Temple.

He did lead 49,897 home to Jerusalem.

He led the building of the first altar and the laying of the foundation of the Temple.

But he became discouraged with the slanderous speeches and severe threats of the enemy.

He was discouraged by the depressing economic condition of the land which was in ruins and rubble.

Thus Zerubbabel and the people halted the work for 15 years.

Zerubbabel as the leader of the people needs to be encouraged to get back to work.

Zerubbabel also needs resources. Not the resources of human might or power, but the resources of God.

Might is collective strength from a group.

Power is individual strength.

God is saying that this project will be completed not by human resources of many or one BUT by God’s Spirit.

The Temple will not be rebuilt by ability, talent or physical strength.

Thus the Temple will be rebuilt by the Spirit of God.

· When we trust our resources we can’t enjoy the full supply of the Spirit of God.

How can the Temple be rebuilt by the Spirit?

Remember the Spirit worked in creation. Gen 1:2

The Spirit worked in restoration Ezekiel 37:1-4

The Spirit worked in witnessing Acts 1:8 & 4:31

God is saying that the Spirit will supply Zerubbabel.

Just as the Olive Trees supplied fresh flowing oil to the lampstand, God will supply Zerubbabel.

Oil represents The Sprit

A. Healing It serves as a medicinal aid (Ps 23:5 thou anointest my head with oil)

(Luke 10:34 & James 5:14).

B. Illuminates In my darkness, the Spirit came and brought light. Where the Spirit is there is light.

C. Warms Oil provided fuel for a flame. The warmth and comfort of the Spirit.

D. Lubricates Oil stops friction and wear.

E. Polishes Oil shines metal and smoothes the rough edges.

F. Perfume Oil is a type of perfume and makes us pleasant to be around.

In verse 7, the work of rebuilding the Temple, was so massive it was like a great mountain to the Jews.

God says by the Spirit, the mountain will be level into a plain.

Then Zerubbabel will lead the Jews to complete the Temple.

Zerubbabel will bring forth the headstone (capstone which is the final stone of completion).

When this stone is placed it marks the completion of the project; Zerubbabel will shout “Grace, grace unto it.”

Zerubbabel will shout out that the Temple is a work of grace!

If the Temple is built by might and power, then man will take the credit.

But when the work is done by the continual supply of the Spirit the God Gets the Glory!

Zech 4: [8] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. [10] For who hath 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.

4. The Plan of the Vision (8-10)

Zerubbabel began this work and God will bless Zerubbabels hands to finish it.

In verse 10, Zechariah is told to ash “who hath despised the day of small things?”

The Jews despised the shame and reproach brought on by ruin and rubble and the scorn of the enemy.

Those tough days were days of shaping, molding and preparation.

Those tough days are not days of punishment or mistake.

God will bring great things out of small things.

The Temple was smaller than Solomon’s Temple. The older generation was discouraged.

BUT GOD is not discouraged.

The seven eyes of the Lord represent the all seeing and all knowing eyes of the Lord.

The Lord is rejoicing to see Zerubbabel with a plumb line in his hand.

The Lord is rejoicing that Zerubbabel is leading the people to build.

GOD is well pleased to see Zerubbabel at work.

Be careful do not despise what God rejoices over.

Zech 4: [11] Then 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? [12] And 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? [13] And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. [14] Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

5. The Promise of the Vision (11-14)

Zechariah understood this message was to serve as a message of encouragement to Zerubbabel.

Zechariah wanted to know more about the olive trees that are on the right and left of the lampstand.

Zechariah wanted to know about the olive branches that are connected to supply the oil to the lampstand.

The angel said Zechariah do you understand?

These 2 branches are the two anointed ones. They are 2 golden pipes emptying themselves out.

“Anointed ones” means “sons of oil.”

These 2 branches are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

These branches are Zerubbabel, the governor and Joshua, the High Priest.

God often sends men out two by two:

Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, Elijah and Elisha, Peter and John, Paul and Barnabas.

Now Zerubbabel and Joshua, but one day prophetically GOD will have two witnesses to stand & preach.

Revelation 11:3-13

A. The ministry of the 2 witnesses (Rev 11:3-4)

[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

B. The miracles of the 2 witnesses (Rev 11:5-6)

[5] And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
[6] These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

C. The martyrdom of the 2 witnesses (Rev 11:7-9)

[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
[8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
[9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

D. The mockery of the 2 witnesses (Rev 11:10)

[10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

E. The mystery of the 2 witnesses (Rev 11:11-13)

[11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
[12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
[13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

In conclusion, we see the light of the Spirit in the witnesses and where is the light now?

Matt 5:14 ye are the light of the world

Luke 12:35 keep your lamps burning

Eph 5:8 ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye the lights of the world

Phil 2:15 among whom ye shine as lights in the world

The only way your light will shine is by the oil of the Spirit.

It is not about you individually, or the church collectively, it is by the Spirit of God!