ZECHARIAH ~ CHAPTER FOUR

The 'Good and Comfortable Words' continue:

Chapter three was a vision showing God’s favor toward Joshua, the High Priest.
Chapter four is a vision showing his favor toward Zerrubbabel, the political leader or governor. Bible names often have a significant meaning and this man’s name is especially fitting for the job he is to do. It means ‘to flow away from Babylon'; his job is to reestablish the people in their land.
It took both him and Joshua to fully typify the work of Christ in the final restoration of Israel, and the establishing of the millennial reign.

V -1. Zech 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
What transpires is like a vivid dream, or like a real event that seems like a dream.

V -2,3. Zech 4:2 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:
Zech 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
The vision is described. We shall see that it is about the establishing of a literal kingdom under God.

V -4,5. Zech 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zech 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
As a representative of the people and a leader these are things he must understand but doesn't yet.

V - 6,9. Zech 4:6 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.
Zech 4:7 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.
Zech 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zech 4:9 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.
The first part of the vision is explained.
A. The candlestick is the Word of the Lord. God said it and He will do it!. Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Isa 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isa 46:12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
Isa 46:13 I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
B. This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might',
No great Army is needed.
C. 'nor by power', No great physical strength. Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
This was true of Their restoration following the captivity, as it will be when Christ returns.
D. 'But by my Spirit'. When the Spirit of God moves a people, there is no earthly power that can stand in their way. Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

V-7. When God orders the march, the great mountain {powerful governments] are as plains. Zerrubbabel's job WILL get done.
F. The headstone [capstone] The stone which completes the building.
There is no other stone but Christ. Deu 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
1.Rock of our salvation. Psa 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2.Foundation stone of the church.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3. He is the cornerstone of our faith. Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
When the capstone is in place, the work is done and the building completed.

V-9. Zerrubbabel will complete the work set before him, even as Christ will finish the task of bringing the Church and Israel into the kingdom together.

V -10. Zech 4:10 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.
A. Small things. Their enemies had laughed at their feeble efforts.
Neh 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
B. The plummet. This line is seen ( Chapter 2:1) in the hand of the angel. He measures Jerusalem with it. This is the plumb line used by builders to keep the walls straight and erect. It represents the word of the Lord and His plans for the building.
Some day the nations of the world will be judged by the same standard which had judged Israel and caused her destruction in the past.
Amos 7:7 Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
Amos 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
C. The eyes of the Lord. These are seen earlier in 3:9. God sees all and his standards will someday judge ALL people in the whole earth. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

V-11-13. Zech 4:11 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?
Zech 4:12 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?
Zech 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
A repeated question about something he did not understand.

V-14 . Zech 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
A .Primary meaning - Joshua and Zerrubbabel who are faced with jointly restoring the city and the Temple.
B. Looking to the future, these two represent the Two witnesses who shall preach the Gospel of the Kingdom during the Tribulation after the saints have been caught up to be with the Lord. Rev.11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.