THE  GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS AND 2 OLIVE TREES (2)

 

]Then the word of the Lord came to me:

[9]“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

[10]“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

Typical of other  visionary texts  in the bible these seven eyes of the Lord involve symbolism  that is left unexplained  Zechariah 3:9

[9]See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

Though it is often Suggested that the multiple eyes may signify wisdom or knowledge, uncertainty about such details reminds readers that God is transcendent  and his  ways are beyond human  understanding.

But Jesus Christ  explained the seven Golden  lampstand as the church Revelation 1:20 (NLT)  This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. We are God’s watch men in this world Revelation 5:6 (NLT)  Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.

Philippians 2:15 (NLT)  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

[11]Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

[12]Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

[13]He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said.

[14]So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Here are the image of the lampstand becomes even more otherworldly. Given the placement of this vision next to the proceedings one it is likely the two anointed ones within the context of this scripture two men of oil are Joshua and Zerubbabel.  In the broader picture they are  Moses and Elijah in  the mount of  transfiguration Matthew 17:1-3

[1]After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

[2]There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

[3]Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Revelation 11:4-13

[4]They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”

[5]If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

[6]They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

[7]Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

[8]Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.

[9]For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.

[10]The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

[11]But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

[12]Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

[13]At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

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