Zechariah’s Fifth Vision

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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In Zechariah 4, the prophet sees his 5th vision, this one containing images of two olive trees and a lampstand. This 5th vision focuses on Zerubbabel, the governor and the chapter itself contains the following information:

• the vision itself (vv. 1-5)
• two oracles concerning Zerubbabel (vv. 6-10), and
• the interpretation of the vision (vv. 11-14)

The chapter also presents Israel as the light of the world under Messiah, her king-priest.

We see an angel rousing Zechariah from sleep (v. 1). Understandably, Zechariah had a “woozy” feeling as though wakened from deep sleep. Zechariah saw the golden lampstand in a vision from God.

Since Zerubbabel was to oversee building of Temple, it makes sense that God provided images of what the rebuilt temple contained and would look like.

The lampstands are there along with two olive trees that continually supplied the seven lamps with oil through seven pipes. These olive trees were not part of the original Temple/Tabernacle. The work of keeping lampstands filled with oil in the Temple was often tedious and done by the priests who ministered at and in the temple in shifts. These seven lamps w/seven pipes allowed for a continuous flow of oil to the seven lamps. The oil would flow from the two olive trees on a continual basis eliminating need for human intervention. This was unlike the actual care of the temple by the priests whose job it was to ensure that there was always oil in the lamps so the lamps would not go out. There is something supernatural about these two olive trees and seven lamps that point ultimately to our Lord and His supernatural ability to accomplish things in a world opposed to Him.

Though Zechariah saw the visions he did not understand their full meaning. Zechariah asks, “What are these, my lord?” (v. 4; also 12-13). The two Olive trees represent Joshua and Zerubbabel, who are the prototype of the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3-12 and it is also important to understand that only as human beings, Joshua or Zerubbabel represent Jesus – the true Priest-King – that a person is able to fulfill this vision at all. Ultimately, in their fullest sense, the “two olive trees” represents Christ, the Lord’s Priest-King (cf. Ps. 110:4).

Zerubbabel played a key role in the rebuilding of the Temple. Notice the angel relates that God would work in and through Zerubbabel to accomplish His purposes (v 6). Ultimately, God’s purposes are done through the empowering of His Holy Spirit in and through those submitted to His purposes (v 7). This was a word of encouragement to Zerubbabel through Zechariah.

A good question for us to ask is: what might you and I be holding onto in life that may keep God from completing His purposes in and through us? We all need to ask that question daily.

The work to rebuild the Temple would succeed because of God’s supernatural grace and His purposes. No obstacle will stand in Zerubbabel’s way (v 7). God guaranteed that Zerubbabel would start and finish the Temple (v 9).

Construction began on the foundation of the temple in 536 B.C., and the last stone went in place in 515 B.C. People would be ashamed that they despised the rebuilding of the Temple (v 10). God Himself would be pleased with this because He was leading and guiding the process. “these seven” refer to God’s omniscient eyes surveying everything at once.

In verses 11-12 Zechariah wanted to know exactly what the olive trees represented. He also wanted to know meaning of the two branches of those trees. They emptied the olive oil into two golden pipes (spouts) and this carried the oil into the bowl on top of the lampstand.

The term “anointed ones” signifies “sons of oil” and Sons of God anointed as divinely appointed leaders (kings & priests). The oil is ultimately symbolic of the work and presence of the Holy Spirit. Zerubbabel and Joshua point ultimately to Messiah (Jesus), who combined offices of king/priest into one role. This was not something that any human could do even though King Saul tried to do just that, which is why God fully rejected him as king (cf 1 Samuel 13).

The point of this vision is to show the Lord’s ability to bring a seemingly impossible project to completion, using His anointed servants, and supernatural enablement. When the Lord decrees to bring something about, it happens and this applies to any project that the Lord calls His people to execute (including within the Church).

Bible history is literally a record of God using “small” (weak) things to accomplish his purposes:

• The Great Flood – Noah
• Shepherd boy to defeat Goliath
• Salvation – started with baby Jesus
• Too often we Christians measure success by size
  • Big churches
  • Big events
  • Large crusades, etc
• God often works quietly in the small things
• In this instance, God works through the two Olive Trees = “anointed servants” – literally, “sons of oil” in their relationship to God

God’s will marches forward and there is nothing that humanity or angelic beings can do to thwart God and His purposes. This is a lesson for us in helping us know and understand that when God is behind something, it will come to pass. We can either join God in His purposes or stand against Him. By doing the former, we grow in our faith. By doing the latter, we fall in our faith.

We will deal with the vision of the flying scroll of Zechariah 5 in our next installment.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2024/10/21/zechariahs-fifth-vision/