Sounds like familiar questions. Jesus made it possible to satisfy the death demands of law and justice while at the same time earning the legal right to pardon and save penitent sinners. Reformation and righteousness do not satisfy its death demands. By law death must happen in consequence of sin.


Another familiar theme. Some would say the "plague" would happen as a result of God withdrawing His protection. Others would say it would happen as a result of God inflicting them with a "plague".

The lesson for Tuesday speaks about the menorah, which represented both God's Word as a light, and God's people (the Church) as a light.

Zach 3
2 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;
3 and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof."
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?"
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said unto me, "Knowest thou not what these be?" And I said, "No, my lord."
6 Then he answered and spoke 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. ...
11 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?"
12 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?"
13 And he answered me and said, "Knowest thou not what these be?" And I said, "No, my lord."
14 Then said he, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

From the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate to God's people that heavenly grace which alone can make His Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." {RC 210.3}

I've understood the symbols as meaning:

The two olive trees – the holy beings surrounding God’s throne - Zach. 3:14

The anointed ones standing by the Lord of the whole earth have the position once given to Satan as covering cherub. By the holy beings surrounding His throne, the Lord keeps up a constant communication with the inhabitants of the earth.—RH, July 20, 1897.

The golden oil – The Holy Spirit and His work, and the grace He imparts, and the fruit He produces in the lives of God’s children, especially love; or the Word as made alive by the Spirit - Zach. 3:6

When the call shall come, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," those who have not received the holy oil, who have not cherished the grace of Christ in their hearts, will find, like the foolish virgins, that they are not ready to meet their Lord. They have not in themselves the power to obtain the oil, and their lives are wrecked. But if God's Spirit is asked for, if we plead, as did Moses, "Show me thy glory," the love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts. The golden oil will be given to us. {RH, February 3, 1903 par. 6}

The word itself must be as represented, the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. This is the baptism by the Holy Spirit with fire. This will open the soul of unbelievers to conviction. {16MR 297.1}

The golden pipes – prayer and the communications between heaven and earth

We may have long followed the narrow path, but it is not safe to take this as proof that we shall follow it to the end. If we have walked with God in fellowship of the Spirit, it is because we have sought him daily by faith. From the two olive-trees, the golden oil flowing through the golden pipes has been communicated to us. But those who do not cultivate the spirit and habit of prayer cannot expect to receive the golden oil of goodness, patience, long-suffering, gentleness, love. {RH, March 2, 1897 par. 11}

The bowl – the heart of those who are God’s instruments

These empty themselves into the golden bowls, which represent the hearts of the living messengers of God, who bear the word of the Lord to the people in warnings and entreaties. {16MR 297.1}

The lamps that give light – God’s Word and truth as lived by His children, which makes them also a light to the world (that is, the light of God's Word, shining in and through them, makes them a light) – Ps 119:105, Prov. 6:23, 13:9, Matt. 5:16, Isa. 60:1

We know that the lamps which give us light have no light in themselves. They cannot fill themselves. So the holy appointed ones must empty the golden oil into the golden tubes. And the heavenly fire, when applied, makes them burning and shining lights. Our hearts cannot shed light on others unless there is a vital connection with heaven. This alone can make them burn steadily with holy, unselfish love for Jesus and for all who are the purchase of his blood. And unless we are constantly replenished with the golden oil, the flame will die out. Unless the love of God is an abiding principle in our hearts, our light will cease. {RH, September 21, 1897 par. 4}