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Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Not by might nor by power, But By MY SPIRIT










Zechariah 4:1-14 NIV









The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees







1Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 


2He asked me, “What do you see?”



I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”







4I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.


6So he said to me, 


“This Is The WORD of The LORD to Zerubbabel:



‘Not by might nor by power, but By MY 
SPIRIT,’ 

Says The LORD ALMIGHTY.







7“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 


GOD Bless it! GOD Bless it!’ ”



8Then The WORD of The LORD Came to me: 


9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this Temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that The LORD ALMIGHTY Has Sent ME to you.


10“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the Seven Eyes of The LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstonea in the hand of Zerubbabel?”



11Then I asked the angel, 


“What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”


12Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”


13He replied, 


“Do you not know what these are?”


“No, my lord,” I said.


14So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve The LORD of all the earth.”














Zechariah 4






Zechariah saw a vision of a solid gold lampstand with seven lights with a bowl on top of it. On both sides are two olive trees. The mystery of vision is about the identities of the seven lights, the two olive trees. The central message of the vision to Israel through Zerubbabel is the popular wise saying, 



'Not by might nor by power, but By MY SPIRIT.'




The vision mentioned Zerubbabel, the appointed governor of Judah under the Persian rule. During that time, Cyrus was the king of Persia. He conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from seventy years of captivity. Read Ezra 1:1-4. The Jews returned to Judah led by Zerubbabel and other elders (Ezra 2:1-3). Zerubbabel eventually became Judah's governor (Hag 1:1) and initiated the difficult task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Holy Temple. 



The amazing part is, King Cyrus was also prophesied by Isaiah, about hundred and twenty years before he freed the Jews. Cyrus was not even born then and he was already identified by name by the prophet Isaiah as the liberator of the Jews and to rebuild Jerusalem! Read Isaiah 44:28; 45:1,13.



The central message is also telling Zerubbabel that the difficult task of rebuilding Jerusalem is only possible through faith in GOD. He met a lot of opposition to rebuild the Holy Temple and the walls of the city. Unlike King Solomon who was very wealthy and powerful, Zerubbabel had to start with practically nothing.



And yet it was GOD'S Power that he was able to accomplish GOD'S Plan purely by his faith. Zerubbabel was a governor and yet he did start the work by his own hands to inspire the people--'Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.' Likewise, the message is for modern Israel not to rely on weapons or physical might but on GOD Alone. Today, there is so much dependence on military power for protection but the Bible says, this will fail. All nations that rely on might and power will fall.




But there will come a time that GOD Will Fight For HIS people and that will only happen in the last days when people will start to seek GOD. Therefore, GOD Also Emphasized to Zerubbabel, being the governor of Judah not to rebuild Judah to become a military power but simply a nation who fears GOD. They were given instruction by GOD that the golden days of King David and King Solomon are gone when they reigned supreme over all nations. Then, they became a subject of Persian rule, having no king of their own but under the direction of the Persian king.




Judah had to put their trust in GOD and not on their own power or might and they will be in Good Hands of GOD. Thus, started the rebirth of "Israel" that we know today. Israel of the modern age has her beginning with Zerubbabel with only the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and some Levites (Ezra 1:5). They do not represent the whole twelve tribes of Israel. Read also Israel, The Divided House. Israel, though only a tiny nation today being surrounded by her enemies only survives through GOD'S Protection.





Who are the two olive trees?





The rest of the vision concerns about the last days. The seven lights are already revealed to be the seven Eyes of The LORD (verse 10). The seven lights or lamps are also the seven SPIRITS of GOD (Revelation 4:5). 


The seven lights of the lampstand are being fueled by golden oil directly fed from the two olive trees through seven tubes or channels (verse 2). This is a very meaningful passage meant for the last days. Now, the angel said that the two olive trees are

 "...are the two who are anointed to serve The LORD of all the earth." 


Who are the two anointed? Fast forward now to the Book of Revelation which reveals the two.






Revelation 11:3-6






3 And I Will Give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 


These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand Before The LORD of the earth. 

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.










 6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.










During the tribulation proper or the 1,260 days reign of the Antichrist, GOD Will Send the Two Witnesses. As their title implies, they shall be witnesses or eyes for GOD and to bring testimony to all peoples, warn people of their sins and repent just as John the Baptist did. 



Who are these men who have great powers? Observe their abilities in verse 6 in the above passage.



There is only one person in the Bible who was given that power to shut up the sky so that it would not rain for years and he is Elijah (1 Ki 17:1). And indeed it never rained for a period of three years (1Ki 18:1).



Just as there was only one man in the Bible who was given the power to send plagues just as turning water into blood in full view of all people and he is Moses (Ex 7:19).










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