ZECHARIAH LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Zechariah 4:1 "And the angel that
talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out
of his sleep,"
It appears, that Zechariah had gone to sleep, after his last
vision, and the angel comes and awakens him. Zechariah is about to
have his fifth vision.
Zechariah 4:2 "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:"
This "candlestick of gold" symbolizes the container for the Light
of the world. It was made of pure gold, because it was in the presence
of God. The church shines the Light to the world. Jesus is the Light.
Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in
my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are
the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which
thou sawest are the seven churches." We have already mentioned that
seven means complete. We must note, from the Scripture in Revelation
above, there was a candlestick in each church. The Light of Jesus is
in all the denominations who believe Jesus to be the Light of the
world. The seven is speaking of perfection. There is nothing wrong
with the Light. The "seven pipes" speak of a perpetual burning of the
Light. Revelation 4:5 "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and
thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning
before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." All of this
about the candlesticks and the lamps, have to do with the Light of God
and the Spirit of God in the churches.
Zechariah 4:3 "And two olive trees by it, one upon the right
[side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [side] thereof."
We will see from the following Scriptures, that the "two olive
trees" are the natural branch {physical Israel} and the grafted in
branch {spiritual Israel} the church. Romans 11:24 "For if thou wert
cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed
contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these,
which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive
tree?" Revelation 11:4 "These are the two olive trees, and the two
candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
Zechariah 4:4 "So I answered and spake to the angel that talked
with me, saying, What [are] these, my lord?"
He is saying, "What are the two olive trees"?
Zechariah 4:5 "Then the angel that talked with me answered and
said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my
lord."
It is as if the angel thought that Zechariah should have known
who they were.
Zechariah 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."
The power is in the Spirit of God. Zerubbabel will not be able to
win by worldly power or might, but by the Spirit of God within him.
The work of Zerubbabel {whom we discovered was a type and shadow of
Jesus} is through grace, not through personal effort.
Zechariah 4:7 "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."
The problems that faced Zerubbabel looked as high as a mountain,
but with the help of the Spirit of God working through him, they could
be flattened out as a plain. Matthew 21:21 "Jesus answered and said
unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye
shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye
shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into
the sea; it shall be done." Jesus is the head of the church. He is
the stone that the builders rejected, that became the chief corner
stone. I believe this headstone is speaking of Jesus. It is by grace
you are saved. Matthew 21:42 "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read
in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is
marvellous in our eyes?" Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
his grace;"
Zechariah 4:8 "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying,"
This is a break in the previous message.
Zechariah 4:9 "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."
The temple being built under such adverse circumstances
symbolizes the establishment of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God promises Zerubbabel he will see it finished. It is several years
in the building. This encourages me. God will see us through to the
finish on the things we have started for Him. The Spirit that God
places within us seems a liitle thing, and our talent to do the job
seems even smaller, but God can, and will, make great things of that
small beginning. The church, that we know today, began with just Jesus
and 12 apostles.
Zechariah 4:10 "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."
God is the all-seeing eye. There is not one thing on this earth
that happens that He is not aware of. Zerubbabel and these people
thought they could not finish the temple nice enough to please God.
They did not realize that God was not so interested in the expensive
things of the temple, as He was in their faithfulness to build it.
Little is much when God is in it. God made something very beautiful
out of their humble beginnings.
Zechariah 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?"
These "two olive trees" were the physical and spiritual house of
Israel.
Zechariah 4:12 "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?"
The "golden oil" symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which is distributed
to those churches we mentioned earlier. The church carries the Holy
Spirit of God to the unsaved world.
Zechariah 4:13 "And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not
what these [be]? And I said, No, my lord."
The purpose in this question is to show that wisdom, and the
ability to interpret parables, comes from God.
Zechariah 4:14 Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones,
that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
There are several things the two anointed ones could be. It could
symbolize the Old and New Testament. It could, also, symbolize the
spoken and written Word. One other thing that it could mean, is the
physical and spiritual house of God. All are anointed of God. All are
in the near presence of the Lord. Standing by His side means that
these "two anointed ones" will judge with Him.
Zechariah 4 Questions
1. What had Zechariah done after his last vision?
2. What did Zechariah see?
3. What does the "candlestick of gold" symbolize?
4. Why was it made of pure gold?
5. ___________ is the Light.
6. Quote Revelation chapter 1 verse 20.
7. There was a candlestick in _________ church.
8. Which churches have the Light of Jesus?
9. The "seven pipes" speak of the perpetual __________ of the Light.
10. What were the 7 lamps of fire burning before the throne?
11. What were the "two olive trees"?
12. Quote Romans chapter 11 verse 24.
13. Quote Revelation chapter 11 verse 4.
14. What question did the angel ask him in verse 5?
15. Quote Zechariah chapter 4 verse 6.
16. The power is in the ________ of God.
17. Who is a type and shadow of Jesus?
18. His victory is through _________, not through _________ ______.
19. Quote Matthew chapter 21 verse 21.
20. ________ is the head of the church.
21. Quote Matthew chapter 21 verse 42.
22. Quote Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7.
23. Whose hands had started the foundation of the house?
24. What does the temple being built in such adverse circumstances
symbolize?
25. The Spirit that God places within us seems such a little ______.
26. Our own _________ seems even a smaller thing.
27. The church that we know today, began with whom?
28. Who is the all-seeing eye?
29. Little is ________ when God is in it.
30. What were the "two olive trees"?
31. The "golden oil" symbolizes the _________ ________.
32. What is the purpose in the question in verse 13?
33. Who, or what, could the "two anointed ones" be?
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