_The fifth vision.--The candlestick and the two olive trees.--The
great mountain becoming a plain.--Zerubbabel the prince finishing the
house of the Lord._
The first three chapters of Zechariah are the foundation of the
entire book. The events in these chapters are again and again touched
upon in the following visions and prophecies of Zechariah. For this
reason have we paid special attention to these three chapters, which
speak so clearly of the time of Israel's restoration, the restoration
itself and the different events connected with it, and much which
might be said on the visions of the prophet which now follow can be
omitted, as the reader has the key to the situation in the studies
made.
There was a rest for the prophet between the fourth and fifth night
vision. He had fallen into a deep sleep. He may have been overcome by
the grand and important visions, and is now awakened by the angel
with the question, "What seest thou?" The new vision is a very
striking one. A golden candlestick appears before the seer. An oil
receiver is seen on top, from which the oil flows to the seven lamps
of the candlestick through seven pipes. Two olive trees stand
alongside of the candlestick and hang their fruit-laden branches over
the golden bowl, filling it with oil, which flows through the seven
pipes into the seven lamps. The question of the prophet, "What are
these, my Lord?" is answered by the angel with this statement, "This
is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might and not by
power but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts. Who art thou, oh
great mountain, before Zerubbabel? Be a plain! He shall bring forth
the topstone with shoutings of grace, grace unto it. The hands of
Zerubbabel who have laid the foundation shall also finish it, and
they shall rejoice and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel
--even the seven. The eyes of the Lord shall run to and fro through
the entire earth." For the third time the prophet asks for information
about the two olive trees and receives the answer: "These are the two
sons of oil, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
The vision of the candlestick and the two olive trees is one of the
most difficult in the Bible and needs prayerful and thoughtful study.
The general interpretation is that the golden candlestick represents
the Church, that she is the golden light-bearer, so valuable and
precious. She is the light in the dark world. The oil and the seven
pipes are the Holy Spirit who fills the lamps of the candlestick; the
two olive trees, Joshua and Zerubbabel, Priest and King. The victory
which the Church is to gain is one not by power or might but by His
Spirit, etc. This interpretation seems to fit in with a number of
passages in the New Testament, the seven candlesticks in Revelation
first chapter and the teaching of the New Testament about the Holy
Spirit and His work. However, it is hardly a satisfactory
explanation. We do not doubt for a moment that the Church is
represented by a candlestick, especially the Churches; or rather, the
Church in her seven periods. Of course the Holy Spirit's type is oil,
and He is the one who accomplishes the work, etc. All this we do not
and cannot doubt for a moment, but after considering it all it does
not satisfy us, and we feel that we must look for a better and a
deeper meaning of the fifth night vision. If its fullest meaning is
the Church and the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, how could
it be then harmonized with the first night visions of Israel's
restoration? The above interpretation seems to us overlooks entirely
the fact that the vision of the candlestick being given with the
others in one night, must be connected with them in some way. In
other words, the vision of the golden candlestick must have some
relation to the restoration of Israel.
We desire to call attention to the fact that the vision is one which
speaks of perfection, completion, fullness. The perfect and divine
number seven is found three times in the vision, seven lamps, seven
pipes, and seven eyes. The seven lamps are united to one stem, this
is union, and above it, is a golden bowl. The Spirit conquers, and
not power or might does it, but His power. The great mountain becomes
a plain. The topstone is brought forth and crowns the building which
is finished by Zerubbabel. Shoutings, "Grace, grace, unto it," are
heard, and the seven eyes run to and fro the whole earth. It is a
vision of fullness and accomplishment. The candlestick shines and
sheds its glorious light, its pure gold glitters and reflects the
light of the seven lamps. The bowl is filled with oil, and the two
olive trees give a continual supply. The high mountain removed, the
temple finished, joy and victory abound. The candlestick in the
vision is exactly like the one in the tabernacle, only the two olive
trees are something new. The candlestick in the tabernacle represents
Christ, the Light of the world, and is likewise a type of the Jewish
theocracy. Theocracy, the government of this earth by the immediate
direction of God, is once to be established, and when it is, it will
be like a bright and glorious candlestick shedding light and
dispersing the darkness. We think the _Yalkut_ on Zechariah (a Hebrew
commentary), is not so very far out of the way when it says, "The
golden candlestick is Israel." It seems to us very clear that the
vision represents the Jewish theocracy restored, Israel in their
glorious inheritance as the light of the world. But what about the
Church as a candlestick? The Lord is seen in Revelation to walk among
_seven_ candlesticks, which represent the seven Churches and
prophetically the seven periods of this dispensation, ending with
Laodicea. The end of this age will not be a bright and glorious
candlestick, filled with oil, conquest and glory, but it will be
failure and the removal of the candlestick which failed in giving the
light. The nominal Church is far from being the light of the world,
and Christendom nears rapidly a dark and dreary night. The true
believer, who is filled with the Spirit, of course, is the light of
the world as an individual, he reflects the light and glory of His
Master, and thus every child of God is a light. But the home of the
true Church, the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, is not the earth, to
remain here permanently, but her home is the Father's house, her
destination, union with her glorified Head and sharing His glory.
Israel and Gentiles will be left in the earth, while the Church is
with her Lord. When He appears, the King of Israel and King of Glory,
it will not be to re-establish the Church in the earth, for she is to
sit with Him in heavenly places, but Israel, His beloved people, will
become the light-bearer, the light which is to enlighten the Gentiles
and fulfill its original calling. It is a true saying, whatever is
spoken of Christ is also spoken of His Church, and it is just as
true, whatever is spoken of Christ is also spoken of Israel. Of the
coming Messiah, we read in Isaiah xlix., "I will give thee for a
light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end
of the earth," but this is likewise true of his brethren according to
the flesh, Israel will be a light to the Gentiles.
The candlestick of pure gold, precious, and uniting seven lamps
filled with oil, represents Israel's glorious fullness. All will be
united under one Head, and no longer seven candlesticks and confusion
of religions teachings, but there will be one Shepherd and one fold.
This will be accomplished not by power or might but by His Spirit. He
will accomplish God's blessed purpose in Israel by the wonderful
outpouring which is promised through Joel, and which was only
partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, and never
since. The Jew feels still in some degree his mission, and what else
is this awakened national life as it is now known by the name of
Zionism, than a reaching out for it. But there is still the blinding,
money, political powers, in reality their enemies, different
influences and combinations are looked upon by them as the means to
bring about that which is born into every Jewish heart--supremacy and
rule. It is not by power or might, but by the Spirit. He will come
yet upon the nation and fill them with His blessed power as He filled
once their own rejected Brother Jesus, and what He was Israel will be
for the nations left in the earth. Zerubbabel, who is now mentioned,
was Israel's prince at the time of Zechariah. A mountain is seen
which is before him, a mighty obstacle, but it sinks and falls,
becomes a plain. The Hebrew has it in the form of a command--"Be a
plain!" The mountain represents a kingdom, a power, and seems to
stand here for anti-Christ and His power. Zerubbabel as prince is the
type of the Prince of Peace, Israel's King. His hands have laid the
foundation, just as Zerubbabel had laid the foundation of the temple,
and just as Zerubbabel finished it, bringing forth the headstone
which crowns the new house of the Lord, thus Jesus of Nazareth, the
King of the Jews, who has laid the foundation and who is the
foundation, the precious stone, He will finish it. He is the Author
and Finisher, and it is all grace. When the foundation of the temple
was laid there were mighty shoutings, and likewise when it was
finished. The priests and the Levites sang one to another in praising
and giving thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy
endureth forever toward Israel, and all the people shouted with a
great shout (Ezra iii: 11). What shoutings there will be when at last
the fullness of the Gentiles is come in and all Israel is saved, when
the headstone will be brought forth, what mighty hallelujahs will be
heard in the heavens and in the earth, praising--grace--all of grace.
Without pointing out the other details of this vision which are now
easily understood, we desire to make a few remarks on the two olive
trees standing at the right and at the left of the candlestick
supplying the same with oil. There can be no doubt that these sons of
oil, as they are called, represented Joshua and Zerubbabel, living at
the time of Zechariah, the one the priest and the other the king.
What deeper meaning is here? It is probably the easiest explanation
to say that these two olive trees are types of Him who is a Priest
upon His throne and whose blessed Person will supply the candlestick
with the oil, His own Spirit!
These two olive trees are likewise seen in Revelation, the eleventh
chapter. Here they are the two witnesses who give their testimony
during the great tribulation in Jerusalem, and who stand in direct
relation to that theocracy which is then about to be established in
Israel. We believe that these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah, the
same who appeared with our Lord upon the mountain of transfiguration.