Vision of the Golden Lampstand
Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. Zechariah 4:1
It's unclear to me if this is the first angel or the replacement angel, but it sounds like this is a new vision. Biblegateway.com has a side-by-side commentary now and they count this as the fifth vision.
I'm going to let Zechariah explain what he saw in his own words:
He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” Zechariah 4:2–3
I prompted Gemini AI make up an image to picture the lampstand, since I don't have a reference in my head. Here's what Gemini came up with:
I added some more prompts and got this:
Notice the sevens. We'll see a lot of that again in Revelation. I think olive trees represent life. We'll see if they explain it. (The Ryrie footnote explains that there are 7 pipes to each of the seven lamps. 49 conduits in all. 7 times 7. Absolute perfection symbolized.
Zechariah asks the angel what he's looking at and the angel seems surprised that Zechariah doesn't know. This is his response:
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.
‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” Zechariah 4: 6–7
For such a small passage it packs a seismic punch.
The Lord God of the universe sent a message to the governing leader of the Remnant through Zechariah. This Temple is going to get built and I'm going to be the one to make it happen. (Which we see that he did when building resumed and the local Karen Governor tried to shut it all down and ended up having to foot the bill and provide the resources.
God can move mountains for us when we are in His will doing His work. Amazing.
Jeshua was cleansed in the previous vision (spiritual cleansing of the people) and now the governmental leader is super-charged by the Holy Spirit. Not Egypt, not horses or chariots, not alliances with empires. By the Holy Spirit. Period.
Now the Remnant is cleansed and provisioned. The Temple will be built and the people will cry out for God's grade on it—not the world's power and protection.
What a beautiful moment. We know it isn't going to last. Which is sad. But it's such a postcard moment to capture and post in front of our eyes. This is how God works.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.
Then Zechariah gets another word from the Lord that the completion of the Temple will be the sign of the Lord of hosts. I'm guessing there is a near fulfillment and an end time fulfillment. That rebuilt Temple is going to bring many to the faith in knowing that only the Lord of hosts can get that built from under the Dome rock of the Islamic cult blocking it.
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.” Zechariah 4:10
People will feel something like despising when they see the smaller, less regal Temple, but they will also be glad that it's finished.
For this phrase: "these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth", reminds me of other verses that tell us that God's eyes are looking for the faithful:
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless[a] toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
and
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God. Psalm 14:2
He sees our hearts and looks for us to look to Him.
Next, Zechariah asks about the olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand. Then he has to ask a second time:
And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” Zechariah 4:11
The second time he asks it is more specific. I wonder if that's why the angel didn't answer the first time. If he wanted Zechariah to look closer and see what he could see for himself. The second time it isn't just two trees he sees. It's olive branches pouring oil directly into the two golden pipes. It's oil directly from heaven lighting the way for the Remnant. We have an eternal source of provision from heaven if we get plugged into His will and his way.
In response the angel sounds incredulous that Zechariah doesn't know what he's looking at. Then the angel answers the question:
Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:14
Ryrie footnotes explain that, in the near fulfillment, these two figures are Joshua (Jeshua) and Zerubabble–spiritual and civic leaders of the people. The priest and the crown. In the final fulfillment we will have the two figures who stand as witnesses in Revelation. But whether it was 500 BC or 10,000 AD, nothing will be done that is not done by the Holy Spirit. Humans need the oil from the source of all light.
Not by power or by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.
Amen.