The passage we take this chapter in our series is in Zechariah chapter 4. Many quote the verse; “Its not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” They quote out of context when you take the whole chapter in its real context. The context is how God is to establish a foundation for a eternal sanctuary, not only that pointing to the Sanctuary of Zerrubabel and Joshua high priests after the time of the restoration of the Captives to their land.
There are many aspects that God speaks into with Zechariah, a prophet, contemporary to Haggai, and Malachi. These prophets spoke against the surrender to the will of those so opposed to the work of God at that time. It is said that 20 years passed between the original building, the Temple left as a foundation whilst letters against the leaders of the reformed Israel, to the King of Persia. So the work was stopped by order of the king. The people who led the rebuilding works obeyed the order without question, and these prophets exhorted the leaders to contend against the accusations. It is the prophetic that leads the restoration work, to not fear, put priorities in their place, and obey the original edict, return to the land and rebuild the House of God.
I remember receiving this word in March 2020 when the first lockdown came because of the pandemic. God had warned me then of an impending war. When we receive such words we do not know the timeframe. It was strong that the Church had to put restoration in its top priority, and am not sure if that was heeded. We have come more than 5 years from then. We are now seeing 2 wars, Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran. They both have the potential to extend to global conflicts because of the interests of the bigger nations. Despite the warnings given by so called prophetic voices, I have the conviction that things are out of control because like the generations that allowed 20 years to pass without building the new Temple, so the life in the land, restored to them began to fall into poverty and famine again. Haggai in his book tells the people that their lack of putting God first and taking hold of the opportunities then, brought poverty and famine. The enemies had virtually shut down the restoration work, spiritually and physically.
It seems that within the Church walls a “mixed seed” for which we have already seen in the shape of Sanballat and Tobiah had influenced government to intervene. Right now there are pockets of spiritual revival happening now, but for the most part we are beholden to mixed interests which have nothing to do with the Word of God. They lobby governments who interfere in God’s work. We must see that God’s discipline is to be feared more than government sanctions.
Zechariah 4 charts a way to go forward to cause the work to go forward and prosper even though the enemy would rise up.
Two Olive Trees and the Oil
The first symbol we see in Zechariah 4 are the olive trees that pour down oil to the Lampstand. This is put first because the olive tree is the source for the oil for the Lampstand.
The olive trees symbolise the Covenants God makes for which are a platform for God’s spiritual work in and through His people. It is a framework through which God works for us and in us, then through us. The covenant was the platform for transition of Abraham, from one man, to family, family to nation, nation to kingdom. That is why the Church is a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and makes up elements of the Kingdom. The covenants bring us closer to full fellowship with God. Here we see them as the source for what was to come. They are the only means by which the promises of God are fulfilled and manifest to us, and in us.
The Lampstand
The letter of Jesus to the Ephesian church threatens the removal this same lampstand. It is the witness to the covenant. It is the light of revelation that comes from the oil. The oil is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that brings spiritual life. It is a witness to the covenant. Where the Lampstand is, Jesus is also. It is vital in these days that this Lampstand is present wherever we congregate. It gives the Church the power to be a witness displaying the signs and wonders. It gives longevity also, through the legitimacy of its leadership. It is evident that the Ephesian church must have lost this Lampstand as it seems that the Church no longer exists….maybe not a fact, but I surmise this happened. Without the Lampstand connection to the covenant ceases to be a reality.
The Plumbline
The plumbline is a necessary tool for the builder.
It makes sure that the true balance and level is kept. In the Word we must face two flows of Jesus’ role as King and Priest, not heavily lean on the priestly side. Whilst this plumbline is at work in the hands of the builder so there were shouts of “Grace, Grace to it” says Zechariah 4. Grace is the capacity to be enabled by the covenant, the anointing to see laid a foundation. The “prophetic plumbline” must see what is being built is being built according to Jesus’ directives. As the modern day Church needs the plumbline to make sure what is built is built according to the spirit and measure of Jesus’ Word. We are so fixated in entertaining people that we do not preach the Word about Jesus, His Kingly being, His programme for eternity, His Work on the Cross that we shy away from this preaching what people want to hear. No eternal foundation can be built this way. The plumbline provides the framework for this to happen.
The Foundation
No building is as strong as its foundation. The foundations when they are weak won’t protect the building from the passage of time with its climate and tectonic changes. The congregations must prepare the saints for what is ahead, even more so now. The manipulations of society have made it that reading the Word a rare luxury. So that when false teachers and prophets bring sensations all without the Biblical foundation will believe it to be God when these are self centred and self serving. Deceived people will not attain heaven. Those who are deceived have not constructed a full foundation. It is said that Jesus warns the very elect, who also can fall into deception. The Word can give us the discernment needed to detect falsehood. Here in chapter 4, once the covenant is revealed, so the Lampstand is given, so that the plumbline can be applied for a new foundation. These elements are all interconnected. Our foundation is eternity with Jesus through our perseverance in God’s word through obedience.
Sons of Oil
Right at the end of chapter 4 we see God interpret the 2 olive trees for Zechariah. They are called “sons of oil” not because of position but relationship. God is making His people sons of oil when we have a foundation to build His Temple upon the Earth, under the shadow of His Lampstand. The sons of oil we meet once again in Revelation 11. We see the “two witnesses” who bring terror to the earth. They bring terror because they look like David, and Jesus, with great authority over nature, reproducing the wonders of Egypt in the end times. They are not an elect that is elitist, but rather in such relationship with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus that they walk in fullness of their “maturia“, which we have dealt with here in this site, and I have written a book, which deals with the Marturia, or rather the Witness. This “marturia” is not a power, but the life given for walking in God’s ways and purposes with relationship. A modern type of Enoch who walked with God. These sons of oil walk in a relational covenant, and the covenant of Grace is based on the relationship to Christ through the Spirit.
These sons of oil are the final manifestation of God’s people before wrath is poured out on the end time unbelievers who will not repent even for the abundant signs, simply hardening their hearts and much righteous blood will be spilled.
Conclusion
Zechariah 4 is a pattern for restoration. We must embrace covenant, receive His Lampstand, exercise the plumbline and build a foundation .This way we will push through all opposition in the end days. We will discern when deception tries to come our way. As we overcome we will become the “sons of oil” so that the restoration we come into does not pass away but is eternal.
Maranatha!!!!
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