rd

Zechariah 4

The vision of the golden candelsticke, and the exposition thereof.
1.And the Angel that talked with me, came again and waked me, as a man that is raised out of his sleep,
2.And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a acandelsticke all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps therein, and seven pipes to the blamps, which were upon the top thereof.
3.And two olive trees over 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 cZerubbabél, saying, Neither by dan army nor strength, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hostes.
7.Who art thou, ô great mountain, before Zerubbabél? thou shalt be a plain, and fhe shall bring forth the head stone thereof, with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8.Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
9.The hands of Zerubbabél have laid the fundacion of this house: his hands shal also finish it, and gthou shalt know that the Lord of hostes hath sent me unto you.
10.For who hath despised the day of the hsmale things? but they shal rejoyce, and shal se the stone of itinne in the hand of Zerubbabél: kthese seven are the eyes of the Lord, which go through the whole world.
11.Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right and upon the left side thereof?
12.And I spake moreover, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes empty them selves into the gold?
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 lolive branches, that stand with the ruler of the whole earth.

Notes

2-a.
Which was ever in the middes of the Temple, signifying that the graces of God’s Spirit should shine there in most abundance, and in all perfection (see illustration Ex. 15.31).
2-b.
Which converted the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never failed: and this vision was to confirm the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promises to pass, though he had no help of man.
6-c.
Who was a figure of Christ and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members.
6-d.
He shows that God’s power only is sufficient to preserve his Church, though he use not man’s help thereunto.
7-f.
Though the enemies think to stay this building, yet Zerubbabel shall lay the highest stone thereof, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly shall rejoice, and pray unto God that he would continue his grace, and favour toward the Temple.
9-g.
Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent of my Father for the building, and preservation of my spiritual Temple.
10-h.
Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and poor begin- nings of the Temple.
10-i.
Whereby he signifies the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel which represented Christ, should go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world be against him, and though his for a while be discouraged, because they see not things pleasant to the eye.
10-k.
That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the world can go about or bring anything to pass to hinder his work, Ch. 3.9.
14-l.
Which were ever green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and indue it still with abundance and perfection of graces.