Posted By: Godsloveandlaw
Zechariah 4, the Lesson of God's method of Interpretation (part 1) - 08/23/14 08:09 AM
Zechariah 4:1-6 --
"And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 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:
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?'Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, 'Knowest thou not what these be?' And I said, 'No, my lord.'
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.'
Zechariah 4:11-14 --
"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?' 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?'
And he answered me and said, 'Knowest thou not what these be?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then said he, 'These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.'
*************************************************************
Thus the word of God is represented by these symbols. Therefore, the interpretation of them is to reveal the manner of communicating the Word of God to Zerubbabel. Not to the Zerubbabel that was engaged in building the typical temple, for he was orally instructed by the prophets Zechariah and Haggai.
Therefore, as the significance of these prophetic symbols were not understood by them, they must be applicable to those who are to be engaged in building the antitypical, or spiritual temple (church), as it was previously explained.
Each one of these symbols must be separately deciphered by uncontradictory evidence, and their significance must constitute the method by which God is to communicate His Word to His servants. It has been previously stated that all the books of the Bible meet, and end in the book of Revelation. Therefore, the revelation of Zechariah's prophecy must be found there also.
We quote: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Rev. 1:20.) It will be noticed that the messages to the seven churches are not addressed to the candlesticks (the church as a body), but to the angels, saying, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write." (Rev. 3:14.) This angel is not a heavenly angel, for he is at fault -- under condemnation and about to be spued out, except he repent. It is this angel who has charge of the candlestick (church). Therefore, the seven angels denote the leadership of the seven churches, and the candlesticks are the symbols of the seven churches. Thus, the churches in this instance are symbolized by candlesticks. Therefore, the candlestick in Zechariah's vision denotes the church as a body.
The revelation of the olive trees is found in the eleventh chapter and the fourth verse: "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The olive trees and the two candlesticks are the two witnesses. (See Rev. 11:3.) Zechariah also states that "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zech. 4:14.) Therefore, these two olive trees, and two candlesticks are inseparable, for they both "stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The two candlesticks in this instance represent God's church in two sections, and each one has an olive tree. The angel interpreted them to Zechariah as the Word of God to Zerubbabel. Therefore, the two candlesticks represent the Old and New Testament churches (Jewish and Christian). And the two olive trees are symbols of the Old and New Testament Bible (the Word of God to Zerubbabel). These two witnesses "shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days (from 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D.) clothed in sackcloth." (Rev. 11:3.) "The two Witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament." -- "The Great Controversy," p. 267. (SRod,vol.2, p.283-284)
"And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 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:
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?'Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, 'Knowest thou not what these be?' And I said, 'No, my lord.'
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.'
Zechariah 4:11-14 --
"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?' 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?'
And he answered me and said, 'Knowest thou not what these be?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then said he, 'These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.'
*************************************************************
Thus the word of God is represented by these symbols. Therefore, the interpretation of them is to reveal the manner of communicating the Word of God to Zerubbabel. Not to the Zerubbabel that was engaged in building the typical temple, for he was orally instructed by the prophets Zechariah and Haggai.
Therefore, as the significance of these prophetic symbols were not understood by them, they must be applicable to those who are to be engaged in building the antitypical, or spiritual temple (church), as it was previously explained.
Each one of these symbols must be separately deciphered by uncontradictory evidence, and their significance must constitute the method by which God is to communicate His Word to His servants. It has been previously stated that all the books of the Bible meet, and end in the book of Revelation. Therefore, the revelation of Zechariah's prophecy must be found there also.
We quote: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Rev. 1:20.) It will be noticed that the messages to the seven churches are not addressed to the candlesticks (the church as a body), but to the angels, saying, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write." (Rev. 3:14.) This angel is not a heavenly angel, for he is at fault -- under condemnation and about to be spued out, except he repent. It is this angel who has charge of the candlestick (church). Therefore, the seven angels denote the leadership of the seven churches, and the candlesticks are the symbols of the seven churches. Thus, the churches in this instance are symbolized by candlesticks. Therefore, the candlestick in Zechariah's vision denotes the church as a body.
The revelation of the olive trees is found in the eleventh chapter and the fourth verse: "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The olive trees and the two candlesticks are the two witnesses. (See Rev. 11:3.) Zechariah also states that "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zech. 4:14.) Therefore, these two olive trees, and two candlesticks are inseparable, for they both "stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The two candlesticks in this instance represent God's church in two sections, and each one has an olive tree. The angel interpreted them to Zechariah as the Word of God to Zerubbabel. Therefore, the two candlesticks represent the Old and New Testament churches (Jewish and Christian). And the two olive trees are symbols of the Old and New Testament Bible (the Word of God to Zerubbabel). These two witnesses "shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days (from 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D.) clothed in sackcloth." (Rev. 11:3.) "The two Witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament." -- "The Great Controversy," p. 267. (SRod,vol.2, p.283-284)