Zechariah's Vision of the Lampstand and Olive TreesBible World
4:14Zechariah 4:14
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
The two anointed ones are the two olive trees and the two olive branches that stand in God's presence by the Lord of the whole earth. They are holy, heaven-appointed ministers and witnesses who keep constant communication between heaven and earth and supply golden oil to the churches and to preachers so they can minister to others. The golden oil they supply is the Holy Spirit in the heart, including His baptism with fire, His richest impartation, and the transforming energy by which satanic agencies are overcome. God's work is accomplished not by human might, power, talent or ability, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts working behind the human agent. God's servants must first receive this heavenly supply before they can give spiritual life to others, and receiving is increased by continually giving it out in words and actions to meet the needs of others.
Vision Setting and Symbols
The visions were given when the Jews were anxious that permission to rebuild the temple might be withdrawn, to sustain and encourage them in advancing God's work and to reveal His compassion and love. Chapters 3 and 4 contain what is essential for the last days and will become a living reality in the time of the final conflict when people in high places may obstruct God's work. Chapter 4 is to be read with chapter 3 about Joshua the high priest, the taking away of filthy garments and iniquity, the promise to bring forth My Servant the BRANCH, iniquity removed in one day, and every man calling his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.
The vision concerns Zerubbabel's work and shows an all-gold candlestick with its seven lamps, a bowl, two olive trees and two olive branches, and two golden pipes feeding the lamps for a bright, continuous light. The two olive trees stand on the right and left of the candlestick, and the two olive branches empty golden oil out of themselves through the two golden pipes into the bowl, from which the lamps of the sanctuary are fed. The lamps have no light of their own but burn and shine by heavenly fire when supplied with oil, showing that hearts can reflect light only through living connection with heaven and continual replenishment, and without abiding love their light goes out.
The golden bowls represent the hearts of God's living messengers and His churches, and the burning lamps represent His churches. The golden tubes represent God's servants, every believing soul appointed not merely to sermonize but to minister to others by precept and example, and the oil flows out of the anointed ones into the golden bowls and then forth into the lamps, which are the churches, so that the light shines forth in glorious brightness and in distinct rays to the world. This imparting is the work of every true devoted servant, and chosen vessels at the heart of the work receive that golden oil in partnership with Christ and then communicate light from the burning lamps to others so the regions of darkness may hear the saving message. Without it words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, the sheep starve for the bread of life, hearts are not touched and broken, and the transforming energy needed in every institution is shut out.
The chapter rebukes thinking much of self and selfish interests while neglecting to arise and build or building on hired money without donating to free church buildings from debt. It applies to churches burdened with debt and to churches that neglect the work of building and maintaining their houses of worship. It calls for sacrifice to lessen debt year by year instead of letting interest swallow the means that should pay the principal.
Identity of Anointed Ones
The two anointed ones are the two olive trees and also the two olive branches that stand in God's presence by the Lord of the whole earth. They belong to the vision given about Zerubbabel's work, in which they empty golden oil out of themselves through two golden pipes into the bowl of the all-gold candlestick with its seven lamps, and from that bowl the lamps of the sanctuary are fed to give a bright, continuous light. From those who stand in God's presence the fullness of divine light and love and power is imparted to His people so they may impart light and joy and refreshing to others, and those thus enriched are to enrich others with the treasure of God's love. The oil they supply represents the Holy Spirit, sacred truth, and heavenly grace, by which God's ministers are continually supplied to serve the church and by which God's Word guides and enlightens His people as a lamp to their feet, so that victory comes not by human might or power but by God's Spirit and requires inward purity, cleanness of heart, and holiness.
They are holy ones, heaven-appointed ministers, heavenly messengers and witnesses standing before God's throne and around it, urgently needed now. They keep constant communication between God and earth, and there is an open connection between heaven and earth through them, with all heaven waiting for consecrated human channels through whom the holy oil can be poured to be a joy and blessing to others. When they empty themselves through the golden pipes, the golden oil flows out of them into the golden bowls and tubes and then forth into the lamps, which are the churches, and this imparting is the work of every true, devoted servant of the living God. Without that supply words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, the sheep starve for the bread of life, hearts are not touched and broken, and God cannot approve what is preached. The oil is heavenly, vital communication from God, bestowed on those whose sins are blotted out when they come as penitent believers accepting Jesus, who with His own blood appears in God's presence as perpetual Intercessor and Advocate claiming acceptance for their prayers, and it is given to every soul emptied of self to be given forth again as a consecrated channel so it flows to others.
It must be received through soul consecration, with the work purified from all selfishness, pride, and impurity, and this connection with divine influences makes every worker a living channel of light, faithful stewardship, and direct connection with the Lord's work. Each consecrated vessel is to receive the holy oil daily in order to empty it out into other vessels, working after Christ's order and the order and similitude of heaven, putting self out of sight, consecrating all to Christ, and tracing the plainest truths against the mystery of iniquity with a pen dipped in this oil. Where this is done Jesus is glorified, His prayer for His followers to be one with Him and with one another is answered, and the world sees that God sent His Son, while humble, consecrated people are empowered to carry spiritual light and make others fellow workers with God. Beyond presenting them as the source of the golden oil flowing through the pipes to the lamps, the verse leaves them unidentified.
They mean two influences that must not be separated, preaching the news of the kingdom of God together with power to heal the sick and cast out devils in the name of Jesus, as when the twelve apostles and afterward the seventy were sent out. The strength of God's people is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, who makes His own combinations and arrangements when He is let in, and the Lord's people are to be one with no separation in His work, not absorbing time and means by carrying one line too earnestly in one direction beyond God's appointment. God's commandment-keeping people must stay one in this united work against Satan's devices to break up and separate them, while the work is done under the eyes of the heavenly host with a Watcher inspecting all that is planned and carried on. They are a symbol of living in constant communion with God.
Meaning of Golden Oil
The golden oil emptied from the two anointed ones through the golden pipes into the bowl to feed the lamps is the Holy Spirit in the heart. It is the richest impartation of the Spirit, to burn with holy radiance upon the altar of the soul and sanctify ambition so that it brings glory to God. It is also the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire, whose work brings unbelievers to conviction, which human effort alone cannot satisfy. It is the transforming energy needed in every institution, by whom satanic agencies are overcome and the work is carried forward to completion despite powerful opposition, not by human might, power, talent or ability.
The same oil is sacred truth, the word of the Lord flowing to the hearts of living messengers to be carried to the people in warnings and appeals. It is precious spiritual resources and untold resources of precious truth, including the gracious utterances of the Word and the light of present truth. It is gained not by skimming over the surface but by careful and thorough digging and study of Scripture and by conscientiously practicing the truth under all circumstances, and it is given to be poured forth to enrich others.
The oil is heavenly grace communicated with God's Spirit to consecrated servants, so that the Word becomes a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. It is power and efficiency received from a higher source, the fullness of divine light and love and power imparted to enrich others with the treasure of God's love, with light and joy and refreshing. It is heavenly vital communication and holy communication from heaven, the holy oil bestowed on penitent believers emptied of self whose sins are blotted out through the perpetual intercession that claims acceptance for their prayers, poured into clean, pure vessels so it can be passed on to others. It is the treasure of God's love and the oil of gladness poured into the heart, representing divine communication and rich blessings kept in constant communication between God and earth.
It is the softness of the Spirit of God, more of Christ and much less of self, that clothes words with melody and softness and makes them smooth as oil. It takes away hardness, sharpness and cross words, especially in those who stand in the desk, and keeps speech to children gentle and never raised to a loud harsh key in home and business, showing a converted, happy, sunny disposition instead of a bound-up, cross, peevish, sour one. It is the oil the wise virgins had in their vessels with their lamps and the foolish virgins did not have, which everyone may have and must have, for character is not transferable. Without this inward work of the Spirit purifying the soul by love and shining through good works, lamps go or have gone out as faith and love and knowledge of God and the truth leave like water leaving a leaky vessel, and those who follow the impulses of their own natural temperament are left without it.
Work by Spirit Not Might
The two olive trees beside the lampstand are the two anointed ones standing by the Lord of the whole earth, emptying golden oil out of themselves through two golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick and thence into the lamps that give light to the sanctuary. That oil is the Holy Spirit, by whom ministers are continually supplied to serve the church, and also the sacred truth which the Lord's messengers receive and present to others. The light of the lampstand therefore depends not on human might or power or talent or any man's ability to keep up interest, but on the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. When He is let in He makes His own combinations and arrangements, working behind the human agent by His Spirit to make the impression on the people, taking the things of God and showing them to men. His unction is given to cleansed and prepared human vessels, requiring inward purity, cleanness of heart and holiness, and those entrusted with teaching spiritual things serve as representatives of Christ witnessing through His Spirit.
By His power and grace and care the work entrusted to Zerubbabel moves forward and continues against its foes and despite powerful opposition until it is completed in victory and perfection. It advances through humble cooperation with God, working with fear and trembling, and through faithfulness in following God's directions rather than mere hurry and activity, so that soul-purification and the cause of God advance unto perfection.
Christ is the source of this oil of grace, having emptied Himself of His glory to fill His believing ones with His Spirit for power and efficiency. The work of the two branches represents the richest impartation of the Holy Spirit, and the holy oil coming from them is to burn with holy radiance upon the altar of the soul. There it sanctifies ambition by the Holy Spirit so that it brings glory to God, enabling those in responsible positions and those with a special work to do to speak guardedly, wisely and advisedly with wisdom, courage and zeal in Christ's lines and with victory over self.
Success in preaching therefore gives no glory to self or to any man but to God, and ministers are to blend their talents and give fellow workers room to preach instead of wearing out physical, mental and moral power by carrying the work alone.
Receiving and Sharing Supply
There is an open connection between heaven and earth, and from the holy ones standing in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to consecrated human instrumentalities. God's servants must first receive this heavenly supply before they can give spiritual life to others, for without it preaching lacks heaven's blessing. Without it words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, hearts are not touched and broken, and the sheep starve for the bread of life. The two anointed ones are heaven-appointed ministers and channels of the holy oil, which is the grace of the Spirit of God, ministering to preachers so they can minister to others and empowering humble consecrated people to carry spiritual light and make others fellow workers with God. Their mission is to communicate that heavenly grace to God's people, which alone can make His Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, and as the golden oil was emptied from the two olive trees through the golden pipes into the bowl and thence into the lamps that gave light to the sanctuary, so His Spirit is imparted to human instrumentalities consecrated to His service. Those with a special work for God need a large supply of this oil to be a strength to the church, giving wisdom, courage and zeal to work in Christ's lines with victory over self, for Christ emptied Himself of His glory to fill His believing ones with His Spirit for power and efficiency.
Continual receiving and imparting are joined, and receiving is increased by giving out in words and actions to meet other people's needs. Divine fullness flows through consecrated people to bless those they help, and those who seek to enrich needy souls become channels for heavenly grace and are themselves enriched as they share it. Those who impart to others the riches of heaven's grace are themselves enriched, and ministering angels wait longing for such channels through which to communicate the treasures of heaven. The treasure cannot be diminished by sharing, and the more others are enlightened the brighter the light shines, with truth and grace passed from one worker to another as willing hearts receive the golden oil.
Character is not transferable, and the oil cannot be passed from one person to another; each person must prepare their own soul and first receive the oil so it can then be shared. It is the Holy Spirit, the oil the wise virgins had in their vessels with their lamps and the foolish virgins did not have, and everyone may have it and must have it, for when lamps are going or gone out faith and love and knowledge of God and the truth have left like water leaving a leaky vessel. The two olive trees and branches take the Holy Spirit and pour holy oil into souls that are clean, pure, sanctified and ready to receive it through humility, taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him. Receiving it enables cooperation with God and fulfillment of His covenant through repentance and faith.
The supply flows through golden pipes and tubes into the bowl and then to the lamps, and the emptying from receiving to communicating is continual. It takes place through human agents who show Christ's character and love by spoken words, by unconscious influence surrounding the soul that is felt even when no words are meant, by a word spoken as seed sown, by reasoning from house to house, and by the giving of a tract or paper that makes the reader thirst for the water of life. God's Spirit and grace are to reach people through such agents who represent Christ's Spirit and character and make the Savior's love known, bringing joy and blessing to human hearts. They supply living agencies with the golden oil of the Spirit, so purified people emptied of self can receive truth with its light, comfort, hope and love for people in need and impart these gifts to others in work with Christ.
Each consecrated vessel daily receives the holy oil in order to empty it out into other vessels. When counsel of God is sought and dependence on human wisdom is laid aside, the human agent becomes the channel for the olive branches, and the golden oil supplies the vacuum in all who are emptied of self. When those who bear the vessels of the Lord are clean and self-seeking gives place to unselfish love and labor, the vessels, Christ's workers connected with His institutions, have lives that become an exposition of the sacred truths of Christ's Word. Then the fear of God and sense of His goodness and holiness circulate through every institution, love and peace pervade every department, Christ abides in humanity and humanity abides in Christ, and not the character of finite men but the character of the infinite God appears in all the work. The divine influence imparts a fragrant influence through holy angels to minds brought in contact with the workers, builds a goodly fabric of character that receives light and glory from heaven and stands as a witness pointing to the throne of the living God, gives new efficiency and solidity and double strength so the work moves forward, teaches the reconciliation from iniquity the Messiah brought by His sacrifice, and gives the last message of warning and salvation with mighty power until the earth is lightened with the glory of God before the soon coming of the Lord and Saviour in power and glory. Those who receive the oil become living channels through which God communicates the treasures of His grace and the unsearchable riches of Christ, giving life to the church, making hearts burn with confessions of Christ that reveal blessed experience, so that when God's people occupy that position light shines forth to the world.
While events on earth are critically watched in heaven as human beings are tested and proved, all who are brought into connection with God receive the holy oil from the heavenly messengers and impart it to their fellow men, and every soul must hear the Word of the Lord and do it with exactitude, with no haphazard religion, to be pure and holy and receive the seal of the living God. The golden oil is imparted to God's people for their perfection as they press steadily forward in the way to heaven under the watch of holy angels and press forward to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Each person must be emptied of all self and supplied with this golden oil, having been chosen from eternity to be obedient children sanctified through obedience to the truth, cleansed from littleness and cheapness of self, controlled by the Holy Spirit, conformed to His image, and made lights to the world in Christlike character. God's love shines as light in the morning in the midst of the church militant, feeding each lamp with the golden oil of His grace and love for His commandment-keeping people precious as the apple of His eye, who have a distinct living connection with God, know their privileges, and wait and watch for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven with the Lord as their shield, strength and sufficiency and God in their midst so they shall not be moved. When God's servants recognize and cooperate with the Holy Spirit and present Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, longing for the salvation of those ready to perish, the Holy Spirit empties itself of the holy oil, which is received by these human channels and conveyed as light to the world till all are tested and proved.
The soul's lamp must be kept trimmed and burning by replenishing it with holy oil, as part of readiness for the Lord's coming. The heart needs this holy oil every day, and as the heart receives it and looks to Jesus and the light of His righteousness, speech turns to praise and character is changed. The holy oil from the two olive trees is to fill believers' hearts every day, helping them reflect Jesus' righteousness, develop a loving Christian character, and praise God.
Preparation to Receive Oil
Receiving the golden oil requires inward purity, cleanness of heart and holiness, with vessels cleansed and prepared to receive it. Soul consecration purifies the work from all selfishness, pride and impurity, making each worker a living channel of light. The way is prepared by humbling the heart before God, confessing sins and errors, and emptying the heart of everything not in harmony with the principles of truth. Receiving the anointing requires cleansing heart and life from what defiles, including putting away harmful, empty talk, and giving place to Christ rather than self. To press forward to the high calling in Christ, each person must be emptied of all self and supplied with this oil, being sanctified through obedience to the truth, cleansed, controlled by the Holy Spirit, conformed to His image and made a light to the world.
Receiving means practicing the truth and not merely claiming to know it, for without this inward work of the Spirit purifying the soul by love a person lacks the oil of the wise virgins. Each person must prepare his own soul through humility, taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him, since character is not transferable. The holy oil is bestowed on those whose sins are blotted out when they come as penitent believers accepting Jesus, who with His own blood appears in God's presence as perpetual Intercessor and Advocate claiming acceptance for their prayers. It is received through sincere, believing prayer, through seeking God's counsel, and through thorough digging in Scripture with conscientious practice of truth under all circumstances in whole dependence on God and daily conversion.
The oil must be received continually and the channel of the heart kept unobstructed until saturated, the heart being emptied into it every day. Hearts can reflect light only through living connection with heaven and continual replenishment, and without God's abiding love their light goes out. When lamps are going or gone out, faith and love and knowledge of God have left like water leaving a leaky vessel, and those who follow the impulses of their own natural temperament will find themselves without the holy oil. The heart needs this holy oil every day, and as it receives it and looks to Jesus and the light of His righteousness, deformity and sullenness are removed, speech turns to praise, and character becomes consistent, loving and lovable.
Those given great light and privilege who walk away from the light into forbidden paths and separate themselves from God cannot be used as channels for the oil to flow through to keep the lamp burning to enlighten the world. What God has prepared is beyond the sight of those whose service to Satan, unbelief and earthliness darken their view of God and heaven. For this reason the vision calls for looking beyond earthly shadows to discern heavenly realities.
The oil supplies the inner lamp, representing the converted and consecrated heart with right motives, so that heavenly communication is not sent in vain but service bears sound fruit acceptable to God. It nourishes the truth of Jesus when planted in the heart. It is imparted to people consecrated to His service and to workers who submit to God for their service. Believers must be ready to receive it from God.
Life Transformed for Mission
The oil kindled by the Lord in the inner chambers of the soul shines outward to the world through good works and heartfelt service. It is conveyed by holy messengers from before the throne to those united by faith, who receive heavenly power and pass its light on to bless others and bring light and truth to those in darkness, error and sin. This supply keeps the lamps of the churches burning bright and clear instead of going out, sending shining light to penetrate moral darkness covering the world like a funeral pall. It is received through sincere believing prayer and flows through tubes into bowls to keep the church lamps burning and enlighten others. So supplied, each believer gives clear light to sinners on the path of salvation.
The same oil saturates the heart until it makes a consistent Christian who wears the beauty of heavenly character in the home life. A loving, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument for the truth, and when the heart is filled the tongue speaks forth praise to God. By looking to Jesus and catching the light of His countenance and righteousness, deformity and sullenness of character are removed and faulty speech is turned into sound words. It is the softness of the Spirit, more of Christ and much less of self, clothing words with melody and softness and making them smooth as oil, taking away hardness, sharpness and cross words, especially in those who stand in the desk. Brought into every home and business and into the hearts of fathers and mothers, it keeps speech to children gentle and never raised to a loud harsh key, and shows a converted, happy, sunny disposition instead of a bound-up, cross, peevish, sour one.
Hearts receiving heavenly inspiration flow out in words that reform without exasperating, with force and power supplied through the Spirit of Jesus. Eternal principles of truth advocated by pen or voice need this oil emptied from the two olive branches into the heart, and then it flows forth in words that reform but do not exasperate. Words and writing presenting eternal truth are to be guided and empowered by God, so that careless speech does not hinder truth from reaching people in need. Speech and writing must be cautious, harmless, wise and Spirit-guided, because an unwise word can stir violent passions and obstruct the spread of truth.
Those with a special work need a large supply to be a strength to the church, giving wisdom, courage and zeal to work in Christ's lines and to speak guardedly, wisely and advisedly with victory over self. God's people need this Spirit-given power for their work, and the olive branches supply holy oil for the lamps representing the Spirit of God's power needed for effective labor. Workers laboring from house to house, reasoning from the Word and explaining Scripture line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, with earnest travail for souls in darkness of error, receive this oil while they teach. As they attempt to explain Scripture the Holy Spirit works with mind and heart, giving inspiration, endurance under taxation and labor, and ever clearer understanding, so that wholly dependent, daily converted workers supplied with golden oil find success and infinite consolation as laborers together with God. Received through golden pipes, it then sends them out to save those ready to die, in a missionary work carried out by workers with different gifts and methods.
There is an open connection between heaven and earth, with heaven waiting for consecrated human channels through whom the holy oil can be poured to be a joy and blessing to others. Where those in responsible positions work after Christ's order and the order and similitude of heaven, putting self out of sight and consecrating all they have and are to Christ, Jesus is glorified and His prayer for His followers to be one with Him and with one another is answered, so the world sees that God sent His Son. This light is connected with the Spirit's work when Christ's people serve in unity, and the holy ones are willing to pour it into vessels prepared to receive it. The influence works in heart, words, mind and character, helping the work proceed with less friction and leading workers to share kindness, tenderness, love and encouragement. It enables workers to cooperate with God and show kindness, tenderness, encouragement and love in voice and character.
The oil communicates heavenly grace and the Spirit to consecrated people, which alone makes the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. Flowing through golden pipes into the bowl that feeds the sanctuary lamp, it is the picture of the Spirit enabling spiritual sight and discernment. God must anoint the eyes and fill the heart so understanding is enlightened to know God and the power of His calling.
The golden oil keeps the lamp burning, and it is effective as its light is shared with others, connecting worship with devoted service and ministry to people in need. The lamp must be supplied with holy oil, and its value is shown as it gives light to others. Through golden pipes into cleansed vessels emptied of self, it supplies light, comfort, hope and love for people in need, and as they work with Christ He supplies them so they can impart these gifts to others.
The two anointed ones are the two olive trees and the two olive branches that stand in God's presence by the Lord of the whole earth. They are holy, heaven-appointed ministers and witnesses who keep constant communication between heaven and earth and supply golden oil to the churches and to preachers so they can minister to others. The golden oil they supply is the Holy Spirit in the heart, including His baptism with fire, His richest impartation, and the transforming energy by which satanic agencies are overcome. God's work is accomplished not by human might, power, talent or ability, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts working behind the human agent. God's servants must first receive this heavenly supply before they can give spiritual life to others, and receiving is increased by continually giving it out in words and actions to meet the needs of others.
Vision Setting and Symbols
The visions were given when the Jews were anxious that permission to rebuild the temple might be withdrawn, to sustain and encourage them in advancing God's work and to reveal His compassion and love. Chapters 3 and 4 contain what is essential for the last days and will become a living reality in the time of the final conflict when people in high places may obstruct God's work. Chapter 4 is to be read with chapter 3 about Joshua the high priest, the taking away of filthy garments and iniquity, the promise to bring forth My Servant the BRANCH, iniquity removed in one day, and every man calling his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.
The vision concerns Zerubbabel's work and shows an all-gold candlestick with its seven lamps, a bowl, two olive trees and two olive branches, and two golden pipes feeding the lamps for a bright, continuous light. The two olive trees stand on the right and left of the candlestick, and the two olive branches empty golden oil out of themselves through the two golden pipes into the bowl, from which the lamps of the sanctuary are fed. The lamps have no light of their own but burn and shine by heavenly fire when supplied with oil, showing that hearts can reflect light only through living connection with heaven and continual replenishment, and without abiding love their light goes out.
The golden bowls represent the hearts of God's living messengers and His churches, and the burning lamps represent His churches. The golden tubes represent God's servants, every believing soul appointed not merely to sermonize but to minister to others by precept and example, and the oil flows out of the anointed ones into the golden bowls and then forth into the lamps, which are the churches, so that the light shines forth in glorious brightness and in distinct rays to the world. This imparting is the work of every true devoted servant, and chosen vessels at the heart of the work receive that golden oil in partnership with Christ and then communicate light from the burning lamps to others so the regions of darkness may hear the saving message. Without it words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, the sheep starve for the bread of life, hearts are not touched and broken, and the transforming energy needed in every institution is shut out.
The chapter rebukes thinking much of self and selfish interests while neglecting to arise and build or building on hired money without donating to free church buildings from debt. It applies to churches burdened with debt and to churches that neglect the work of building and maintaining their houses of worship. It calls for sacrifice to lessen debt year by year instead of letting interest swallow the means that should pay the principal.
Identity of Anointed Ones
The two anointed ones are the two olive trees and also the two olive branches that stand in God's presence by the Lord of the whole earth. They belong to the vision given about Zerubbabel's work, in which they empty golden oil out of themselves through two golden pipes into the bowl of the all-gold candlestick with its seven lamps, and from that bowl the lamps of the sanctuary are fed to give a bright, continuous light. From those who stand in God's presence the fullness of divine light and love and power is imparted to His people so they may impart light and joy and refreshing to others, and those thus enriched are to enrich others with the treasure of God's love. The oil they supply represents the Holy Spirit, sacred truth, and heavenly grace, by which God's ministers are continually supplied to serve the church and by which God's Word guides and enlightens His people as a lamp to their feet, so that victory comes not by human might or power but by God's Spirit and requires inward purity, cleanness of heart, and holiness.
They are holy ones, heaven-appointed ministers, heavenly messengers and witnesses standing before God's throne and around it, urgently needed now. They keep constant communication between God and earth, and there is an open connection between heaven and earth through them, with all heaven waiting for consecrated human channels through whom the holy oil can be poured to be a joy and blessing to others. When they empty themselves through the golden pipes, the golden oil flows out of them into the golden bowls and tubes and then forth into the lamps, which are the churches, and this imparting is the work of every true, devoted servant of the living God. Without that supply words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, the sheep starve for the bread of life, hearts are not touched and broken, and God cannot approve what is preached. The oil is heavenly, vital communication from God, bestowed on those whose sins are blotted out when they come as penitent believers accepting Jesus, who with His own blood appears in God's presence as perpetual Intercessor and Advocate claiming acceptance for their prayers, and it is given to every soul emptied of self to be given forth again as a consecrated channel so it flows to others.
It must be received through soul consecration, with the work purified from all selfishness, pride, and impurity, and this connection with divine influences makes every worker a living channel of light, faithful stewardship, and direct connection with the Lord's work. Each consecrated vessel is to receive the holy oil daily in order to empty it out into other vessels, working after Christ's order and the order and similitude of heaven, putting self out of sight, consecrating all to Christ, and tracing the plainest truths against the mystery of iniquity with a pen dipped in this oil. Where this is done Jesus is glorified, His prayer for His followers to be one with Him and with one another is answered, and the world sees that God sent His Son, while humble, consecrated people are empowered to carry spiritual light and make others fellow workers with God. Beyond presenting them as the source of the golden oil flowing through the pipes to the lamps, the verse leaves them unidentified.
They mean two influences that must not be separated, preaching the news of the kingdom of God together with power to heal the sick and cast out devils in the name of Jesus, as when the twelve apostles and afterward the seventy were sent out. The strength of God's people is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, who makes His own combinations and arrangements when He is let in, and the Lord's people are to be one with no separation in His work, not absorbing time and means by carrying one line too earnestly in one direction beyond God's appointment. God's commandment-keeping people must stay one in this united work against Satan's devices to break up and separate them, while the work is done under the eyes of the heavenly host with a Watcher inspecting all that is planned and carried on. They are a symbol of living in constant communion with God.
Meaning of Golden Oil
The golden oil emptied from the two anointed ones through the golden pipes into the bowl to feed the lamps is the Holy Spirit in the heart. It is the richest impartation of the Spirit, to burn with holy radiance upon the altar of the soul and sanctify ambition so that it brings glory to God. It is also the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire, whose work brings unbelievers to conviction, which human effort alone cannot satisfy. It is the transforming energy needed in every institution, by whom satanic agencies are overcome and the work is carried forward to completion despite powerful opposition, not by human might, power, talent or ability.
The same oil is sacred truth, the word of the Lord flowing to the hearts of living messengers to be carried to the people in warnings and appeals. It is precious spiritual resources and untold resources of precious truth, including the gracious utterances of the Word and the light of present truth. It is gained not by skimming over the surface but by careful and thorough digging and study of Scripture and by conscientiously practicing the truth under all circumstances, and it is given to be poured forth to enrich others.
The oil is heavenly grace communicated with God's Spirit to consecrated servants, so that the Word becomes a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. It is power and efficiency received from a higher source, the fullness of divine light and love and power imparted to enrich others with the treasure of God's love, with light and joy and refreshing. It is heavenly vital communication and holy communication from heaven, the holy oil bestowed on penitent believers emptied of self whose sins are blotted out through the perpetual intercession that claims acceptance for their prayers, poured into clean, pure vessels so it can be passed on to others. It is the treasure of God's love and the oil of gladness poured into the heart, representing divine communication and rich blessings kept in constant communication between God and earth.
It is the softness of the Spirit of God, more of Christ and much less of self, that clothes words with melody and softness and makes them smooth as oil. It takes away hardness, sharpness and cross words, especially in those who stand in the desk, and keeps speech to children gentle and never raised to a loud harsh key in home and business, showing a converted, happy, sunny disposition instead of a bound-up, cross, peevish, sour one. It is the oil the wise virgins had in their vessels with their lamps and the foolish virgins did not have, which everyone may have and must have, for character is not transferable. Without this inward work of the Spirit purifying the soul by love and shining through good works, lamps go or have gone out as faith and love and knowledge of God and the truth leave like water leaving a leaky vessel, and those who follow the impulses of their own natural temperament are left without it.
Work by Spirit Not Might
The two olive trees beside the lampstand are the two anointed ones standing by the Lord of the whole earth, emptying golden oil out of themselves through two golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick and thence into the lamps that give light to the sanctuary. That oil is the Holy Spirit, by whom ministers are continually supplied to serve the church, and also the sacred truth which the Lord's messengers receive and present to others. The light of the lampstand therefore depends not on human might or power or talent or any man's ability to keep up interest, but on the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. When He is let in He makes His own combinations and arrangements, working behind the human agent by His Spirit to make the impression on the people, taking the things of God and showing them to men. His unction is given to cleansed and prepared human vessels, requiring inward purity, cleanness of heart and holiness, and those entrusted with teaching spiritual things serve as representatives of Christ witnessing through His Spirit.
By His power and grace and care the work entrusted to Zerubbabel moves forward and continues against its foes and despite powerful opposition until it is completed in victory and perfection. It advances through humble cooperation with God, working with fear and trembling, and through faithfulness in following God's directions rather than mere hurry and activity, so that soul-purification and the cause of God advance unto perfection.
Christ is the source of this oil of grace, having emptied Himself of His glory to fill His believing ones with His Spirit for power and efficiency. The work of the two branches represents the richest impartation of the Holy Spirit, and the holy oil coming from them is to burn with holy radiance upon the altar of the soul. There it sanctifies ambition by the Holy Spirit so that it brings glory to God, enabling those in responsible positions and those with a special work to do to speak guardedly, wisely and advisedly with wisdom, courage and zeal in Christ's lines and with victory over self.
Success in preaching therefore gives no glory to self or to any man but to God, and ministers are to blend their talents and give fellow workers room to preach instead of wearing out physical, mental and moral power by carrying the work alone.
Receiving and Sharing Supply
There is an open connection between heaven and earth, and from the holy ones standing in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to consecrated human instrumentalities. God's servants must first receive this heavenly supply before they can give spiritual life to others, for without it preaching lacks heaven's blessing. Without it words from the pulpit are destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, hearts are not touched and broken, and the sheep starve for the bread of life. The two anointed ones are heaven-appointed ministers and channels of the holy oil, which is the grace of the Spirit of God, ministering to preachers so they can minister to others and empowering humble consecrated people to carry spiritual light and make others fellow workers with God. Their mission is to communicate that heavenly grace to God's people, which alone can make His Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path, and as the golden oil was emptied from the two olive trees through the golden pipes into the bowl and thence into the lamps that gave light to the sanctuary, so His Spirit is imparted to human instrumentalities consecrated to His service. Those with a special work for God need a large supply of this oil to be a strength to the church, giving wisdom, courage and zeal to work in Christ's lines with victory over self, for Christ emptied Himself of His glory to fill His believing ones with His Spirit for power and efficiency.
Continual receiving and imparting are joined, and receiving is increased by giving out in words and actions to meet other people's needs. Divine fullness flows through consecrated people to bless those they help, and those who seek to enrich needy souls become channels for heavenly grace and are themselves enriched as they share it. Those who impart to others the riches of heaven's grace are themselves enriched, and ministering angels wait longing for such channels through which to communicate the treasures of heaven. The treasure cannot be diminished by sharing, and the more others are enlightened the brighter the light shines, with truth and grace passed from one worker to another as willing hearts receive the golden oil.
Character is not transferable, and the oil cannot be passed from one person to another; each person must prepare their own soul and first receive the oil so it can then be shared. It is the Holy Spirit, the oil the wise virgins had in their vessels with their lamps and the foolish virgins did not have, and everyone may have it and must have it, for when lamps are going or gone out faith and love and knowledge of God and the truth have left like water leaving a leaky vessel. The two olive trees and branches take the Holy Spirit and pour holy oil into souls that are clean, pure, sanctified and ready to receive it through humility, taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him. Receiving it enables cooperation with God and fulfillment of His covenant through repentance and faith.
The supply flows through golden pipes and tubes into the bowl and then to the lamps, and the emptying from receiving to communicating is continual. It takes place through human agents who show Christ's character and love by spoken words, by unconscious influence surrounding the soul that is felt even when no words are meant, by a word spoken as seed sown, by reasoning from house to house, and by the giving of a tract or paper that makes the reader thirst for the water of life. God's Spirit and grace are to reach people through such agents who represent Christ's Spirit and character and make the Savior's love known, bringing joy and blessing to human hearts. They supply living agencies with the golden oil of the Spirit, so purified people emptied of self can receive truth with its light, comfort, hope and love for people in need and impart these gifts to others in work with Christ.
Each consecrated vessel daily receives the holy oil in order to empty it out into other vessels. When counsel of God is sought and dependence on human wisdom is laid aside, the human agent becomes the channel for the olive branches, and the golden oil supplies the vacuum in all who are emptied of self. When those who bear the vessels of the Lord are clean and self-seeking gives place to unselfish love and labor, the vessels, Christ's workers connected with His institutions, have lives that become an exposition of the sacred truths of Christ's Word. Then the fear of God and sense of His goodness and holiness circulate through every institution, love and peace pervade every department, Christ abides in humanity and humanity abides in Christ, and not the character of finite men but the character of the infinite God appears in all the work. The divine influence imparts a fragrant influence through holy angels to minds brought in contact with the workers, builds a goodly fabric of character that receives light and glory from heaven and stands as a witness pointing to the throne of the living God, gives new efficiency and solidity and double strength so the work moves forward, teaches the reconciliation from iniquity the Messiah brought by His sacrifice, and gives the last message of warning and salvation with mighty power until the earth is lightened with the glory of God before the soon coming of the Lord and Saviour in power and glory. Those who receive the oil become living channels through which God communicates the treasures of His grace and the unsearchable riches of Christ, giving life to the church, making hearts burn with confessions of Christ that reveal blessed experience, so that when God's people occupy that position light shines forth to the world.
While events on earth are critically watched in heaven as human beings are tested and proved, all who are brought into connection with God receive the holy oil from the heavenly messengers and impart it to their fellow men, and every soul must hear the Word of the Lord and do it with exactitude, with no haphazard religion, to be pure and holy and receive the seal of the living God. The golden oil is imparted to God's people for their perfection as they press steadily forward in the way to heaven under the watch of holy angels and press forward to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Each person must be emptied of all self and supplied with this golden oil, having been chosen from eternity to be obedient children sanctified through obedience to the truth, cleansed from littleness and cheapness of self, controlled by the Holy Spirit, conformed to His image, and made lights to the world in Christlike character. God's love shines as light in the morning in the midst of the church militant, feeding each lamp with the golden oil of His grace and love for His commandment-keeping people precious as the apple of His eye, who have a distinct living connection with God, know their privileges, and wait and watch for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven with the Lord as their shield, strength and sufficiency and God in their midst so they shall not be moved. When God's servants recognize and cooperate with the Holy Spirit and present Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, longing for the salvation of those ready to perish, the Holy Spirit empties itself of the holy oil, which is received by these human channels and conveyed as light to the world till all are tested and proved.
The soul's lamp must be kept trimmed and burning by replenishing it with holy oil, as part of readiness for the Lord's coming. The heart needs this holy oil every day, and as the heart receives it and looks to Jesus and the light of His righteousness, speech turns to praise and character is changed. The holy oil from the two olive trees is to fill believers' hearts every day, helping them reflect Jesus' righteousness, develop a loving Christian character, and praise God.
Preparation to Receive Oil
Receiving the golden oil requires inward purity, cleanness of heart and holiness, with vessels cleansed and prepared to receive it. Soul consecration purifies the work from all selfishness, pride and impurity, making each worker a living channel of light. The way is prepared by humbling the heart before God, confessing sins and errors, and emptying the heart of everything not in harmony with the principles of truth. Receiving the anointing requires cleansing heart and life from what defiles, including putting away harmful, empty talk, and giving place to Christ rather than self. To press forward to the high calling in Christ, each person must be emptied of all self and supplied with this oil, being sanctified through obedience to the truth, cleansed, controlled by the Holy Spirit, conformed to His image and made a light to the world.
Receiving means practicing the truth and not merely claiming to know it, for without this inward work of the Spirit purifying the soul by love a person lacks the oil of the wise virgins. Each person must prepare his own soul through humility, taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him, since character is not transferable. The holy oil is bestowed on those whose sins are blotted out when they come as penitent believers accepting Jesus, who with His own blood appears in God's presence as perpetual Intercessor and Advocate claiming acceptance for their prayers. It is received through sincere, believing prayer, through seeking God's counsel, and through thorough digging in Scripture with conscientious practice of truth under all circumstances in whole dependence on God and daily conversion.
The oil must be received continually and the channel of the heart kept unobstructed until saturated, the heart being emptied into it every day. Hearts can reflect light only through living connection with heaven and continual replenishment, and without God's abiding love their light goes out. When lamps are going or gone out, faith and love and knowledge of God have left like water leaving a leaky vessel, and those who follow the impulses of their own natural temperament will find themselves without the holy oil. The heart needs this holy oil every day, and as it receives it and looks to Jesus and the light of His righteousness, deformity and sullenness are removed, speech turns to praise, and character becomes consistent, loving and lovable.
Those given great light and privilege who walk away from the light into forbidden paths and separate themselves from God cannot be used as channels for the oil to flow through to keep the lamp burning to enlighten the world. What God has prepared is beyond the sight of those whose service to Satan, unbelief and earthliness darken their view of God and heaven. For this reason the vision calls for looking beyond earthly shadows to discern heavenly realities.
The oil supplies the inner lamp, representing the converted and consecrated heart with right motives, so that heavenly communication is not sent in vain but service bears sound fruit acceptable to God. It nourishes the truth of Jesus when planted in the heart. It is imparted to people consecrated to His service and to workers who submit to God for their service. Believers must be ready to receive it from God.
Life Transformed for Mission
The oil kindled by the Lord in the inner chambers of the soul shines outward to the world through good works and heartfelt service. It is conveyed by holy messengers from before the throne to those united by faith, who receive heavenly power and pass its light on to bless others and bring light and truth to those in darkness, error and sin. This supply keeps the lamps of the churches burning bright and clear instead of going out, sending shining light to penetrate moral darkness covering the world like a funeral pall. It is received through sincere believing prayer and flows through tubes into bowls to keep the church lamps burning and enlighten others. So supplied, each believer gives clear light to sinners on the path of salvation.
The same oil saturates the heart until it makes a consistent Christian who wears the beauty of heavenly character in the home life. A loving, lovable Christian is the most powerful argument for the truth, and when the heart is filled the tongue speaks forth praise to God. By looking to Jesus and catching the light of His countenance and righteousness, deformity and sullenness of character are removed and faulty speech is turned into sound words. It is the softness of the Spirit, more of Christ and much less of self, clothing words with melody and softness and making them smooth as oil, taking away hardness, sharpness and cross words, especially in those who stand in the desk. Brought into every home and business and into the hearts of fathers and mothers, it keeps speech to children gentle and never raised to a loud harsh key, and shows a converted, happy, sunny disposition instead of a bound-up, cross, peevish, sour one.
Hearts receiving heavenly inspiration flow out in words that reform without exasperating, with force and power supplied through the Spirit of Jesus. Eternal principles of truth advocated by pen or voice need this oil emptied from the two olive branches into the heart, and then it flows forth in words that reform but do not exasperate. Words and writing presenting eternal truth are to be guided and empowered by God, so that careless speech does not hinder truth from reaching people in need. Speech and writing must be cautious, harmless, wise and Spirit-guided, because an unwise word can stir violent passions and obstruct the spread of truth.
Those with a special work need a large supply to be a strength to the church, giving wisdom, courage and zeal to work in Christ's lines and to speak guardedly, wisely and advisedly with victory over self. God's people need this Spirit-given power for their work, and the olive branches supply holy oil for the lamps representing the Spirit of God's power needed for effective labor. Workers laboring from house to house, reasoning from the Word and explaining Scripture line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, with earnest travail for souls in darkness of error, receive this oil while they teach. As they attempt to explain Scripture the Holy Spirit works with mind and heart, giving inspiration, endurance under taxation and labor, and ever clearer understanding, so that wholly dependent, daily converted workers supplied with golden oil find success and infinite consolation as laborers together with God. Received through golden pipes, it then sends them out to save those ready to die, in a missionary work carried out by workers with different gifts and methods.
There is an open connection between heaven and earth, with heaven waiting for consecrated human channels through whom the holy oil can be poured to be a joy and blessing to others. Where those in responsible positions work after Christ's order and the order and similitude of heaven, putting self out of sight and consecrating all they have and are to Christ, Jesus is glorified and His prayer for His followers to be one with Him and with one another is answered, so the world sees that God sent His Son. This light is connected with the Spirit's work when Christ's people serve in unity, and the holy ones are willing to pour it into vessels prepared to receive it. The influence works in heart, words, mind and character, helping the work proceed with less friction and leading workers to share kindness, tenderness, love and encouragement. It enables workers to cooperate with God and show kindness, tenderness, encouragement and love in voice and character.
The oil communicates heavenly grace and the Spirit to consecrated people, which alone makes the Word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. Flowing through golden pipes into the bowl that feeds the sanctuary lamp, it is the picture of the Spirit enabling spiritual sight and discernment. God must anoint the eyes and fill the heart so understanding is enlightened to know God and the power of His calling.
The golden oil keeps the lamp burning, and it is effective as its light is shared with others, connecting worship with devoted service and ministry to people in need. The lamp must be supplied with holy oil, and its value is shown as it gives light to others. Through golden pipes into cleansed vessels emptied of self, it supplies light, comfort, hope and love for people in need, and as they work with Christ He supplies them so they can impart these gifts to others.