December 27th
Zechariah, 4
1: And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 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 spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5: Then the angel that 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 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. 7: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 8: Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 9: The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10: For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 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, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
Zechariah, 5
1: Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. 2: And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3: Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4: I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. 5: Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6: And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7: And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8: And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 9: Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10: Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11: And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Zechariah records in our Daily Bible reading three more unusual visions. The first is of a candlestick made of gold with a bowl on top of it that has seven pipes leading to seven lamps. Standing next to it there are two olive trees, one on either side. The prophet asked the man what these things mean and he said don’t you know!. Then the answer he received was not by might or by power but by my spirit says the Lord. Oil in scripture signifies the Holy Spirit and the angel of the Lord seems to be indicating that the light and the service of Israel will be not by human might or strength but by the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Then he says Who are you O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. The head stone of the mountain will be brought forth with shouts of joy and they will cry Grace, grace. It will be by Gods grace that he will enable Israel. Then the Lord revealed to Zechariah that Zerubbabel will begin the house of the Lord and he will finish it. All men will know that the Lord has done it all. And who are those who despise the day of small things? The Messianic kingdom may have a small beginning but like a grain of mustard seed it will have a great end. Zechariah asks what the two olive trees mean and he is told that they represent the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth. In the next vision he sees a scroll that flies. It’s about 30 feet long and about 15 feet wide. The Lord explains that the scroll is the curse of God that goes out on the face of all the earth. It will be the means of the judgment of men. Next Zechariah sees another vision. Some of these visions are very unusual indeed. This time he sees what can only be understood to be a large bowl that stores an ephah of volume. The weight of it seemed to be the weight of a talent of lead. A woman seems to be sitting in the bowl. The weight of lead is thrown against the pouring place of the bowl and there seemed to come out two women! Both women had wings like a stork and the carried the bowl to Babylon so that it might become a house. I have not heard any explanation for these things. Maybe these are the things that will be closed up until the end times.
Steve
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