And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
The angel who had been speaking came again and roused him as a man roused from sleep, then asked what he saw to prepare him to receive, inquire about, and tell the vision and its meaning. What he was shown was a golden lampstand with a bowl on top, seven lamps and seven pipes, and two olive trees standing by it, one on the right and one on the left, feeding the lamps so they would shine continually. The golden oil is the Holy Spirit, the oil of grace and divine love and power, and the central truth is that healing, success, and advance come not by human might or power but by right relation to God and accomplishment by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. The two olive trees are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and they empty themselves through two golden pipes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps, which are the churches, by whom the Lord keeps constant communication with earth. The lamps shine with steady, unselfish love only by continual supply through vital connection with heaven, and without it evil controls men and the light burns dimly and goes out. Those who minister must first be ministered to and continually replenished by soul consecration, earnest prayer, and faith in Christ, in order to impart light, joy, and truth to others and to be ready for the Bridegroom's coming like the wise virgins with oil in their vessels.
Awakening and Historical Setting
The angel who had been talking with Zechariah came again and wakened him as a man wakened out of sleep, rousing him from sleep to receive the vision of the fourth chapter. Having awakened him, the angel asked what he saw, and the awakening prepared him to receive and inquire about the vision of the golden lampstand and its lamps, and then to describe the vision and its explanation.
The verse belongs to a series of symbolic visions given when the returned exiles and the Jews faced uncertainty about whether they could continue rebuilding, meant to encourage and sustain God's people as they advanced the work. In that setting it gives Zerubbabel a personal message of encouragement that the temple would be completed through God's Spirit and not by human might or power. That same assurance teaches that God's work should not be despised when it begins small.
The verse continues the lesson of Zechariah 3:8-10, where Joshua the high priest has his filthy garments removed and his iniquity pardoned. At the same time Satan and unrepentant men seek to reproach and condemn those who have repented, humbled themselves before God, and confessed their sins to the sin-pardoning Saviour. That experience recorded in Zechariah 3 and continued in Zechariah 4 is now being acted over while professed believers refuse to humble the heart and confess their sins.
The chapter is to be studied carefully verse by verse because it plainly sets forth the features of the work in which God's people are engaged. The portion in Zechariah 3 and 4 is essential for the last days and is to be carefully studied. It faintly describes coming realities when evil breaks forth and forces oppose God's work. It shows what God has prepared for His people, calling for spiritual sight to perceive heavenly realities and glory beyond the shadows that obscure them. It will be understood at the time the lost face judgment and are told to depart, when the mystery of godliness and the consequences of rebellion are made clear.
Lampstand Oil and Supply
What Zechariah was waked to see was a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, its seven lamps with seven pipes to the lamps, and two olive trees by the bowl, one upon the right side and the other upon the left, feeding the lamps of the sanctuary so that they shine continuously. The two olive branches empty the golden oil out of themselves to keep the lamps burning by heaven, and the whole arrangement pictures how God keeps believers supplied. The vision gives the strength of every child of God and the privilege of the church in every age.
The golden oil is the Holy Spirit, the oil of grace, even the grace of Christ. It is divine light and love and power, the fullness of divine light, love, and power imparted to God's people, God's love in the midst of the church militant. It is a transforming energy that revives a Christlike principle, overcomes satanic agencies, and keeps faith and patience and love increasing through vital connection with the Light of the world. Hearts can shine with steady, unselfish love only through that vital connection with heaven and continual replenishment by God's love.
The two olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth, standing in His presence. They are God's witnesses and heavenly messengers, holy ones that stand in God's presence, who empty the golden oil out of themselves. The oil flows from God's anointed ones to His people.
From the two olive trees the oil is emptied through two golden pipes or tubes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps that give light to the sanctuary. The golden tubes convey it into golden bowls representing the churches, that the churches may let the light shine forth in glorious brightness, and the lamps are the churches. By holy beings surrounding His throne the Lord keeps up constant communication with inhabitants of earth, pouring the holy oil from heaven in the messages of His Spirit to supply the lamps of believers. With Christ as the source, the Spirit is thus imparted from the holy ones to human instrumentalities consecrated to His service, filling believing workers with His Spirit.
The central truth taught is that power and efficiency are not in human selves, nor by might nor by power, but are received from a higher source, for God's work is accomplished by His Spirit. Healing, success in human plans, and advance come only by being placed in right relation to God and putting trust in Him. Spiritual light does not come from human strength, and victories come not by mere outward manifestations but by inward purity, cleanness of soul, heart piety, and holiness which is wholeness to God.
The lamps need that continual supply, for without it agencies of evil would have entire control over men. Every church needs this golden oil, for their lamps are going out when they should be bright and clear with shining light to penetrate the moral darkness covering the world. Where the supply is refused the light burns dimly and goes out, while those joined to God by faith keep shining as lights and are enabled to share truth and serve others through good works.
Receiving and Sharing Light
Ministers must grasp the vision opened by the awakening in order to meet the great need and longing of souls wrestling with doubt, almost in despair and almost hopeless. Those who minister to others must first themselves be ministered to by the anointed ones standing in the presence of God, receiving the golden oil through golden pipes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps which are the churches. They must be continually replenished from that heavenly supply of truth and spiritual life so that they in turn impart greater strength and efficiency to the church. Shepherds who have not been thus ministered to leave the sheep starving for the bread of life, and their words are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven and cannot impart spiritual life. When the vision is understood and received it produces an advance, forward and upward work for those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, with lamps made bright and clear to penetrate the moral darkness covering the world.
The supply is received through soul consecration purified from all selfishness, pride, impurity, self-sufficiency, and ambitious devising, with workers controlled by the Holy Spirit. It is to be sought by earnest prayer and received by faith in Christ as the source, by looking to God for wisdom, by opening the heart to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and by cooperation of the angels of heaven against the angels of Satan, while mistakes come from failing to place a proper estimate on this divine supply and continuing in unbelief. This connection with divine influence makes every worker a living channel of light, a faithful steward of grace brought into direct connection with the Lord's work, and a laborer together with God working away from self-serving. Those who bear burdens and do a special work need a large supply of this holy oil to soften and subdue the spirit and to give wisdom and courage and zeal, power and efficiency. That supply enables them to speak guardedly and wisely, to gain victories over self, to work in Christ's lines, and to be a strength to the church.
Those who receive from heavenly agencies are to impart to others, for the oil of divine light, love, and power flowing from the anointed ones to the people is to be shared as light, joy, and refreshment with the world. They are to pass on these gifts as channels of love, bringing light, joy, and refreshment, carrying new truths from the divine altar to people in darkness and doing good works. The message calls the church to advance in carrying the gospel to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, feeding each lamp with grace and love in the midst of the church militant. Christlike life depends on receiving in order to give, with a living connection with God and faith in Him while waiting and watching.
Readiness to meet the Lord depends on being sustained by the Spirit through vital connection with the Light of the world, by which faith and patience and love keep increasing. By holy beings surrounding His throne constant communication is kept up with inhabitants of earth, pouring the holy oil from heaven in the messages of the Spirit to supply the lamps of believers, without which agencies of evil would have entire control over men and lamps would burn dimly and go out. Receiving those communications pours the oil into the soul to be communicated to those in darkness and makes ready to meet the Lord when the Bridegroom comes, like the five wise virgins who took the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps. Refusing them dishonors God, leaves no power to obtain the oil, and leaves the life wrecked like the foolish virgins. This is the strength of every child of God and the privilege of the church in every age while watching for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven, for healing, success in human plans, and advance come only by right relation to God and trust in Him.
When received, the vision gives victories not by mere outward manifestations but by inward purity, cleanness of soul, heart piety, and holiness which is wholeness to God in dependence upon grace. It applies to churches neglecting the work of building and maintaining houses of worship, especially when selfish interests, borrowed money, and failure to sacrifice leave buildings burdened with debt, and it is to be read and studied prayerfully as a call to advance.
The angel who had been speaking came again and roused him as a man roused from sleep, then asked what he saw to prepare him to receive, inquire about, and tell the vision and its meaning.
What he was shown was a golden lampstand with a bowl on top, seven lamps and seven pipes, and two olive trees standing by it, one on the right and one on the left, feeding the lamps so they would shine continually.
The golden oil is the Holy Spirit, the oil of grace and divine love and power, and the central truth is that healing, success, and advance come not by human might or power but by right relation to God and accomplishment by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts.
The two olive trees are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and they empty themselves through two golden pipes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps, which are the churches, by whom the Lord keeps constant communication with earth.
The lamps shine with steady, unselfish love only by continual supply through vital connection with heaven, and without it evil controls men and the light burns dimly and goes out.
Those who minister must first be ministered to and continually replenished by soul consecration, earnest prayer, and faith in Christ, in order to impart light, joy, and truth to others and to be ready for the Bridegroom's coming like the wise virgins with oil in their vessels.
Awakening and Historical Setting
The angel who had been talking with Zechariah came again and wakened him as a man wakened out of sleep, rousing him from sleep to receive the vision of the fourth chapter. Having awakened him, the angel asked what he saw, and the awakening prepared him to receive and inquire about the vision of the golden lampstand and its lamps, and then to describe the vision and its explanation.
The verse belongs to a series of symbolic visions given when the returned exiles and the Jews faced uncertainty about whether they could continue rebuilding, meant to encourage and sustain God's people as they advanced the work. In that setting it gives Zerubbabel a personal message of encouragement that the temple would be completed through God's Spirit and not by human might or power. That same assurance teaches that God's work should not be despised when it begins small.
The verse continues the lesson of Zechariah 3:8-10, where Joshua the high priest has his filthy garments removed and his iniquity pardoned. At the same time Satan and unrepentant men seek to reproach and condemn those who have repented, humbled themselves before God, and confessed their sins to the sin-pardoning Saviour. That experience recorded in Zechariah 3 and continued in Zechariah 4 is now being acted over while professed believers refuse to humble the heart and confess their sins.
The chapter is to be studied carefully verse by verse because it plainly sets forth the features of the work in which God's people are engaged. The portion in Zechariah 3 and 4 is essential for the last days and is to be carefully studied. It faintly describes coming realities when evil breaks forth and forces oppose God's work. It shows what God has prepared for His people, calling for spiritual sight to perceive heavenly realities and glory beyond the shadows that obscure them. It will be understood at the time the lost face judgment and are told to depart, when the mystery of godliness and the consequences of rebellion are made clear.
Lampstand Oil and Supply
What Zechariah was waked to see was a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, its seven lamps with seven pipes to the lamps, and two olive trees by the bowl, one upon the right side and the other upon the left, feeding the lamps of the sanctuary so that they shine continuously. The two olive branches empty the golden oil out of themselves to keep the lamps burning by heaven, and the whole arrangement pictures how God keeps believers supplied. The vision gives the strength of every child of God and the privilege of the church in every age.
The golden oil is the Holy Spirit, the oil of grace, even the grace of Christ. It is divine light and love and power, the fullness of divine light, love, and power imparted to God's people, God's love in the midst of the church militant. It is a transforming energy that revives a Christlike principle, overcomes satanic agencies, and keeps faith and patience and love increasing through vital connection with the Light of the world. Hearts can shine with steady, unselfish love only through that vital connection with heaven and continual replenishment by God's love.
The two olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth, standing in His presence. They are God's witnesses and heavenly messengers, holy ones that stand in God's presence, who empty the golden oil out of themselves. The oil flows from God's anointed ones to His people.
From the two olive trees the oil is emptied through two golden pipes or tubes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps that give light to the sanctuary. The golden tubes convey it into golden bowls representing the churches, that the churches may let the light shine forth in glorious brightness, and the lamps are the churches. By holy beings surrounding His throne the Lord keeps up constant communication with inhabitants of earth, pouring the holy oil from heaven in the messages of His Spirit to supply the lamps of believers. With Christ as the source, the Spirit is thus imparted from the holy ones to human instrumentalities consecrated to His service, filling believing workers with His Spirit.
The central truth taught is that power and efficiency are not in human selves, nor by might nor by power, but are received from a higher source, for God's work is accomplished by His Spirit. Healing, success in human plans, and advance come only by being placed in right relation to God and putting trust in Him. Spiritual light does not come from human strength, and victories come not by mere outward manifestations but by inward purity, cleanness of soul, heart piety, and holiness which is wholeness to God.
The lamps need that continual supply, for without it agencies of evil would have entire control over men. Every church needs this golden oil, for their lamps are going out when they should be bright and clear with shining light to penetrate the moral darkness covering the world. Where the supply is refused the light burns dimly and goes out, while those joined to God by faith keep shining as lights and are enabled to share truth and serve others through good works.
Receiving and Sharing Light
Ministers must grasp the vision opened by the awakening in order to meet the great need and longing of souls wrestling with doubt, almost in despair and almost hopeless. Those who minister to others must first themselves be ministered to by the anointed ones standing in the presence of God, receiving the golden oil through golden pipes into the golden bowl and thence into the lamps which are the churches. They must be continually replenished from that heavenly supply of truth and spiritual life so that they in turn impart greater strength and efficiency to the church. Shepherds who have not been thus ministered to leave the sheep starving for the bread of life, and their words are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven and cannot impart spiritual life. When the vision is understood and received it produces an advance, forward and upward work for those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, with lamps made bright and clear to penetrate the moral darkness covering the world.
The supply is received through soul consecration purified from all selfishness, pride, impurity, self-sufficiency, and ambitious devising, with workers controlled by the Holy Spirit. It is to be sought by earnest prayer and received by faith in Christ as the source, by looking to God for wisdom, by opening the heart to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and by cooperation of the angels of heaven against the angels of Satan, while mistakes come from failing to place a proper estimate on this divine supply and continuing in unbelief. This connection with divine influence makes every worker a living channel of light, a faithful steward of grace brought into direct connection with the Lord's work, and a laborer together with God working away from self-serving. Those who bear burdens and do a special work need a large supply of this holy oil to soften and subdue the spirit and to give wisdom and courage and zeal, power and efficiency. That supply enables them to speak guardedly and wisely, to gain victories over self, to work in Christ's lines, and to be a strength to the church.
Those who receive from heavenly agencies are to impart to others, for the oil of divine light, love, and power flowing from the anointed ones to the people is to be shared as light, joy, and refreshment with the world. They are to pass on these gifts as channels of love, bringing light, joy, and refreshment, carrying new truths from the divine altar to people in darkness and doing good works. The message calls the church to advance in carrying the gospel to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, feeding each lamp with grace and love in the midst of the church militant. Christlike life depends on receiving in order to give, with a living connection with God and faith in Him while waiting and watching.
Readiness to meet the Lord depends on being sustained by the Spirit through vital connection with the Light of the world, by which faith and patience and love keep increasing. By holy beings surrounding His throne constant communication is kept up with inhabitants of earth, pouring the holy oil from heaven in the messages of the Spirit to supply the lamps of believers, without which agencies of evil would have entire control over men and lamps would burn dimly and go out. Receiving those communications pours the oil into the soul to be communicated to those in darkness and makes ready to meet the Lord when the Bridegroom comes, like the five wise virgins who took the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps. Refusing them dishonors God, leaves no power to obtain the oil, and leaves the life wrecked like the foolish virgins. This is the strength of every child of God and the privilege of the church in every age while watching for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven, for healing, success in human plans, and advance come only by right relation to God and trust in Him.
When received, the vision gives victories not by mere outward manifestations but by inward purity, cleanness of soul, heart piety, and holiness which is wholeness to God in dependence upon grace. It applies to churches neglecting the work of building and maintaining houses of worship, especially when selfish interests, borrowed money, and failure to sacrifice leave buildings burdened with debt, and it is to be read and studied prayerfully as a call to advance.