The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #1104

Zechariah chapter 4

One of the more commonly asked questions students of God's Word ask and discuss is, "Who are the two witnesses of Revelation chapter eleven?" In so far as most of what is written in the Book of Revelation, the book of the "unveiling", is not new but rather a graphic summary of that which is already written in the prophets, so likewise an in-depth understanding of who the two witnesses are comes from understanding the dreams and visions of the prophets and in particular the "5th vision" of the prophet Zechariah which we are about to "see"!

As we proceed to "see" the vision by allowing Jesus Christ, the Word of God, to "awaken us" to His truth, keep in mind what we learned from our introductory study, that this Book of Zechariah (along with the)Live Link to>) Book of Haggai) concerns the "spirit of Elijah" ministry and the builders of the temple that would come before the second advent to prepare the way before the Day of the Vengeance, the Day of the Lord. You see, Jesus Christ returns at the second advent not as a Lamb to be slain but rather as the King of kings and Lord of lords to "shake the nations" and execute justice (His righteousness) in ALL "four corners" of the earth and to establish the kingdom of God (thy kingdom come) upon Mount Zion with His saints who shall rule and reign with Him for a thousand years!

Rev. 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Live Link to->>  Kings and Priests
Remember also that we discussed the office of "priest" as being that of teacher and the office of "king" as judge or ruler. Thus we have Haggai and Zechariah prophesying to BOTH Zerubbabel the "ruler" (king) and Joshua the "high priest". In other words we have the "civil" and the "ecclesiastical" which shall both soon be under ONE, even the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yes, there shall be NO separation of "church and state", meaning NO separation of God and state (the true agenda of the "left"), for God's people shall fulfill their eternal destiny of becoming "One Nation Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!" May God help us until that great day when the Prince of Peace comes!

Therefore, in preface this study let us review the purpose of the two advents as it is written in the 61st chapter of the great Book of Isaiah, the text from which Jesus read when He stood up in the temple as it is written in Luke chapter four.

THE FIRST ADVENT

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

The name "Christ" means "anointed" and it was the Anointed One, Jesus Christ, who stood up in the temple and read this passage of Isaiah 61 right up to the middle of the second verse where He deliberately stopped reading and closed the book. Luke 4:20-21 "And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. [21] And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Christ came at His first advent to preach good tidings and bring salvation to ALL who will receive Him, thus fulfilling the first half of Isa. 61:2. The second half of Isa. 61:2 is yet to be fulfilled at His second advent (when He returns).

THE SECOND ADVENT

[2 ...continued] and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
We have read and studied much about the soon coming Day of Vengeance, also known as the Day of the Lord, in these Minor Prophets. Let us take a moment and look just a bit closer at who these are "that mourn". Here is Strong's definition of "mourn":
mourn = 'abel, aw-bale', Hebrew 57; from Hebrew 56 ('abal); lamenting :- mourn (-er, -ing).
Those who mourn are those who teach His truth and "decry the injustice" in Zion (see vs. 3). You see, just before Christ's return the Beast of Rev. 13:1, the New World Order brought forth by the Four Hidden Dynasties of Politics, Education, Economics, and Religion, those "Four Horns" which are the four earthly powers Zechariah saw in His first vision, will have taken away both the sovereignty of the nations and the freedoms of God's people. Wake up! Hello! And it is written concerning the two witnesses that they shall teach God's Word, His truth, "lamenting" the injustice, the oppression, and the deception. In other words, they shall decry the evils of the Beast, all four rudiments of it! Remember too, that God's "carpenters" are going to dismantle those powers with His Spirit, His truth, and the walls of Babylon the great shall come tumbling down at their "shout". Yes, God's two witnesses shall mourn as they "decry the injustice" of the "wicked one" and "his ways" as they teach truth and announce the soon coming King of kings and Lord of lords at the sound of the 7th Trump.
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.
To be "clothed in sack-cloth" is simply an expression, a figure of speech, denoting one who is mourning, i.e. lamenting and declaring the WOES!
sackcloth = sakkos, sak'-kos, Greek 4526; of Hebrew origin [Hebrew 8242 (saq)]; "sack"-cloth, i.e. mohair (the material or garments made of it, worn as a sign of grief) :- sackcloth
By the way, the two witnesses will end up giving a whole lot of "grief" to the false messiah (Satan) and his beast, his one world system (Rev. 11:7).
sack = saq, sak, Hebrew 8242; from Hebrew 8264 (shaqaq); properly a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence a bag (for grain, etc.) :- sack (-cloth, -clothes).
Have you never noticed what was written in the "roll" given to the "watchman" for this final generation? Ezekiel 2:9-10 "And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; [10] And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe." God's elect tell it like it is! And there is to be both a witness and a warning given unto all nations before that great day! Joel 2:1 "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand."

Do you have a purpose and a destiny? It is written in Mark 13, Mat. 24, and Luke 21 that some of God's elect shall be delivered up for Christ's sake and give witness as "testimony" before kings and rulers!

Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
So much for the escape-the-trib "Rapture Theory"! These strong, "rich" folks (Rev. 2:9) are true Christian soldiers in the service of their King who not only "take a stand" against the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6), they "take the stand" for His sake!
[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
It might help some to know that "councils" (also "synagogues" in Greek) and "witness" and "testimony" are legal terms used in a court of law where justice is being executed? Just wait until we get to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Yahveh judges)! I guarantee you everyone will be "wakened" on that day! Joel 3:12 "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about."
[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

In as much as the witness and testimony will be to all nations, i.e. those of a strange language (see Ezek. 3:6), the Holy Spirit will speak through His elect just as He did on that first Pentecost Day following the resurrection as recorded in Acts chapter two. And that language which was spoken by His servants needed no interpreter for it was clearly understood in the native tongue (language) by all those who were present.

Let us continue in Isaiah 61 concerning the second advent.

Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.
And He SHALL be glorified at His coming when EVERY KNEE shall bow to the King of kings and Lord of lords! Now notice what the "trees of righteousness" do:
[4] And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
That's a lot of WORK, a lot of rebuilding and repairing, which is quite different from the concept many Christians have of sitting around on their "cloud nine" flapping their harpers, isn't it?
[5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

[6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Do not overlook that BOTH "Priests" and "Ministers" are mentioned just as it is written in Rev. 5:10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." Do you understand the two offices in the kingdom under the King of kings and Lords of lords! If you do, you have reached the first step in understanding the purpose of the "two" witnesses of the final generation.

OK, it is now time to "wake up" and "see" Zechariah's 5th vision!



#5 of Zechariah's Eight Visions "The Golden Lampstand"
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,
It is written in Romans chapter 11 that our people do "slumber" unto this day, as in wander in a stupor for they do not "know" nor are they able to "see" the visions of the prophets. To them, the words of the prophets are but mysteries shrouded in symbolism for they have no shepherd to teach them. Come out of that slumber and let Him, through His Word, open up your eyes to "see"!
Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
God's elect have "eyes to see"! The rest cannot see for the traditions of men (taught in most of their churches) have blinded them to His truth!
[8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Only Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, the only One found worthy to open the seals (Rev. 5:5), can remove the "sleep" from your eyes that keep them from opening and seeing clearly the things that are written. Therefore, go to Him, to His Word, seeking His truth while asking for understanding, i.e. asking for eyes to see and ears to hear.
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:
The question to Zechariah is "What do you see?" Put yourself in the place of the prophet and ask yourself that same question. Then let's dig into the Word starting with the word "candlestick" which is translated from the Hebrew word "menorah". One can more fully understand the meaning and purpose of the candlestick, i.e. how it is that the light "is given unto all that are in the house" (Mat. 5:15), if he or she digs down a little and looks at the root of the word in Hebrew.
candlestick = menowrah, men-o-raw', Hebrew 4501; or menorah, men-o-raw'; feminine of Hebrew 4500 (manowr) (in the original sense of Hebrew 5216 (niyr)); a chandelier :- candlestick.

manowr, maw-nore', Hebrew 4500; from Hebrew 5214 (niyr); a yoke (properly for ploughing), i.e. the frame of a loom :- beam.

And so it is that God's elect keep on ploughing as they carry the light of His truth into a world filled with darkness!

Now we shall complete this fourth chapter of Zechariah and come to really "see" how that not by might nor by power are the nations shaken and brought down to their foundations, but by the Spirit of Almighty God through His servants, living "trees of righteousness", who have been called forth out of Babylon to take and inherit the kingdom when Messiah returns.

Note: It is a well established fact that most people absorb and remember infinitely more of what they see than what they hear or read. To that end, the Word of God is filled with many explicit and graphic analogies and symbolic illustrations that the Holy Spirit uses to paint images and pictures (i.e. visions) in our mind's eye. However, the use of symbolism works to the extreme in opposite directions. In other words, if a person is given to understand what the symbols used in an analogy represent then the picture they "see" makes very clear the "understanding" of what is being communicated. On the other hand, if a person does not know what the symbols used in an analogy represent then the vision they see either makes no sense at all and remains a mystery unto them or it takes on an entirely different nature when substitute meanings of the symbols are inserted. (That holds true for many of the ministers manning the pulpits in our Christian churches.)

Therefore, symbols themselves and parables using symbols can be used effectively and simultaneously to BOTH "hide" and make "clear" the meaning of something. Again, it all depends on whether or not the one listening to the parable has been given to understand what the symbols mean! We shall see that this is precisely the basis of WHY Jesus Christ always spoke to the multitude in parables!
Matthew 13:34
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them:
His disciples came to Him seeking to know why He always spoke in parables.
Matthew 13:10
And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Here is part of the answer He gave them:
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
One obvious reason why it wasn't given unto them (the multitude) to know what the parables meant was they never came and asked Him. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" They just "left church" when Christ dismissed them and went about their business perhaps remarking to one another "Wasn't that a beautiful sermon today?" The disciples on the other hand, who hungered and thirsted for truth and knowledge, always came to Him, i.e. they went to the Word of God (Jesus) and asked questions and sought the explanation of His parables.
Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
And so... because the disciples wanted to know and came seeking Him, Christ explained to them what the symbols meant! Therefore... it was given unto them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven!

This is important for us in this final generation to understand so let's read the rest of the answer Christ gave unto His disciples when they asked of Him concerning why He spoke in parables
:
Matthew 13:12
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
If you have the desire, the hunger and thirst for truth and knowledge, Christ shall feed you with such abundance you will be filled to the full! Otherwise your lack of knowledge and wisdom will cause your light to go out and you will even lose your belief in the true Messiah as you fall before Satan, when he comes to earth as the false-christ, in your ignorance.
[13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
The unfortunate fact is that the majority (the multitude) of our beloved brothers and sisters in this nation are Biblically illiterate. Therefore they are clueless about the parables and visions of the prophets for they have not eyes to see nor ears to hear. That is why it is so easy for "many" to come in Christ's name, i.e. as Christian preachers, ministers, priests, pastors, etc. claiming to be His representatives, and deceive the Biblically illiterate (and therefore blind) Christians just as Christ said WOULD surely happened in this final generation (Mat. 24:5, Mark 13:6).
[14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Why are they Biblically illiterate without eyes to see and ears to hear? Next verse!
[15] For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
They are thick headed* even because of their prosperity and they simply do not care nor see the need to rely on Christ. And it is by their own actions they show they do not hunger and thirst nor seek after Him.
*waxed gross = pachuno, pakh-oo'-no, Greek 3975; from a derivative of Greek 4078 (pegnumi) (meaning thick); to thicken, i.e. (by implication) to fatten (figurative stupefy or render callous) :- wax gross.
Understand that it is during times of tragedy and war and great disasters that people will turn to God, "Oh Lord, help us!" But when they are fat and happy and prosperity abounds (you've heard the phrase "it's the economy stupid", that is when they forsake their Father and His instructions, "Don't need nor have time for you right now, Dad!" Therefore peace and prosperity is the greater test of one's love for God, is it not? Perhaps this helps in understanding the "great tribulation" for the "waxing gross" is part of the story of these end times as outlined in the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 32.

 (Jeshurun in the following verse is used figuratively for Israel, even our people.)
Deut. 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
But you who love studying your Father's Word are blessed indeed! Why? Because He gives you answers and understanding to "see the visions" and know exactly what is happening in our world at this present time!
[16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Have you ever considered just how blessed you are for studying His Word and allowing Him to open your eyes?
[17] For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
That's right! You and I are privileged to see and hear and understand more than the prophets themselves did. You see, they all wanted to know what it would like in our generation and to even know the meaning of the very words they wrote for you and me who live in this "time of the end", but alas they did not: Daniel 12:9 "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Therefore, you are the envy (righteously speaking) of the prophets, not the other way around!

So let us go to the Word of God and continue to seek an understanding of the visions Zechariah saw! Remember, we saw that Zechariah was awakened and he looked and "behold" he saw a pure "gold candlestick".

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:
What we are being shown through the eyes of Zechariah in this graphic illustration is the manner in which God will pour out His Spirit, His truth, in these last days when "darkness" comes upon the land. You see, it is through this golden candlestick that the precious "oil" flows from the "fountain above" (bowl upon the top) which produces the "light" of "his seven lamps". Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit which is why it is used for anointing!
1 Samuel 16:12
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

[13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Now, "What are these seven 'lamps'?" (We go to Him, His Word, for the answer.)
Rev. 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Make note of the location here "round about the throne" where the elders are seated.
Rev. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The lamps of fire (spirit) are the seven Spirits of God! What are the seven Spirits of God? (Again, we go to Him for the answer.)
Rev. 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
This is the same location as we saw in chapter 4, i.e. "round about the throne" where the elders are seated! And they are saying...
[12] Saying, Amen: (1) Blessing, and (2) glory, and (3) wisdom, and (4) thanksgiving, and (5) honour, and (6) power, and (7) might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Now pause and think about this! When a person opens his or her mouth and speaks words he or she sends along with those words a "spirit", call it an "attitude" if you like! It could be the spirit of anger or hate or an attitude of jealousy, etc. But you know what? We just read what spirits come out of the mouths of His servants. They are the Seven Spirits of God: Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, and might! We should think about them the next time we open our mouths!

Now understand that these "lamps" which give "light" unto the world must be continuously supplied with the "oil" from above which produces the light! ALL of those seven spirits of God come from His Word! How are you doing with your seven lamps? Is your wisdom filled from the knowledge of His Word? All true wisdom comes from God! From whence do get your power?

You see, as wise Christians in these last days (virgins waiting for the TRUE bridegroom) we are to FILL our lamps with the "oil" from above, i.e. from His fountain, the Word of God!

Matthew 25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

[2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

[3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Hey, are you a "fat cat", i.e. "waxen fat"? Do you take the time to seek first the kingdom of God, to study His Word and fill your spirit, your intellect and attitude, with the "oil" from above? Or are you too busy, Concerned about things of the Flesh? You can't take any physical thing with you when you die the "Shadow Death"; Except your RIGHTEOUS ACTS!
[4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
What do the wise do that the unwise do not? They study their Father's Word and absorb His truth! They fill their lamps daily from the fountain of truth.
[5] While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
To help you better understand the sentence structure used here, place a pair of parentheses around verse four because the subject carried forth into verse five is the "foolish virgins". The "wise" virgins do NOT sleep during the night which Paul documents for us! 1 Thes. 5:6-7 "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night."
[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
You better be pumping some oil into your lamps during the 11th hour because at midnight (when Christ returns) it's too late! And it is real late right now!
[7] Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
You better believe there will be some attitude adjustments made when Christ returns!
[8] And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Yep, that's our people. Gimme, gimme, gimme! They seek the easier softer way! They will sit on their "pews" and listen to some windbag, from the pulpit, tell them to just believe and have faith and wait for the Rapturemobile to come take them to cloud nine! Sorry fool, this "ain't no entitlement program" where you sit around and live off your hard working brothers and sisters! You have to "wake up" and "git up" and go to work and dig for your own oil. 2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
[9] But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Each Christian must fill his or her own lamps from His Word! Here is what Christ says to the church of Laodicea, the church of the "fat cats" (waxen fat), one of the five churches which SLEPT (#1 Sardis, #2 Laodicea, #3 Ephesus, #4 Pergamos, and #5 Thyatira):
Rev. 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Yep, "waxen fat" Christians indeed!
[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Better go to the "fountain" now because you see it is getting really dark out there in the world at this time! Really dark!
Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

[11] Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

[12] But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Do you know what it is these Christians are going to say to Christ when He returns and the door to the wedding feast is closed to them?
Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
They are going to say they taught in His name. The only problem is they taught the traditions of men and not His Word line by line and verse by verse. They therefore took His name (Christ, i.e. Christian) and used it in VAIN! That is what the 3rd Commandment is all about, i.e. taking the Lord's name in vain! Do NOT use His name to teach men's traditions or you are going to get the door slammed in your face!

They will also claim that they should be able to cash in all the wonderful works they did in His name. Again, the problem is they just never quite got around to doing what He wanted them to do! Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

So He will say to them:

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Ready to return to Zechariah? Here is what he "sees" next:
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.
We are going to learn that what Zechariah is being shown in this vision is exactly how it is that Almighty God shall pour out His Spirit in these last days. Students of God's Word know that "Trees" are used symbolically from Genesis to Revelation to represent men, i.e. people! In fact, that is one of the first "eye opening" things God's elect learn when Jesus Christ removes the "blindness" from their eyes.

Do you "see" both MIRACLES CHRIST PERFORMED HERE in these verses?! First Miracle in Verse 24 The Second Miracle in Verse 25! Of course it's the First One that is important to your understanding of the Bible!
Mark 8:23
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when He had spit on His eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw ought.

[24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

[25] After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

 Did you "see" both Miracles? If not read and re-read the following pamphlet until you "SEE" !!!!!
 
Live Link to->>> "The Blind Man From Bethsaida" 

Your Eternal Life may well depend on it !!!!

One thing is for sure! You must "see" this to understand what happened in the "Garden of Eden" cause Eve didn't physically eat a APPLE !!!!

Do you know what she did?

Therefore these two "olive" trees are indeed men of God and we are going to see what it is they do in this final generation. For it is written that they are not only two "see""anointed ones" who "empty the golden oil" out of themselves but they are also referred to as (Zech. 4:12),"witnesses" in Rev. 11:3. Witnesses are those who give "testimony", aren't they? And they will give and will "finish" their testimony (Rev. 11:7)!

Let us also look at the origin of the word "olive" used of these two "olive" trees in Rev. 11:

olive = elaia, el-ah'-yah, Greek 1636; feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; anolive (the tree or the fruit) :- olive (berry, tree).
Notice the names of God, "El" and "Yah" which make up "olive". How fitting indeed the oil of the olive is used to represent His Spirit!

So Zechariah wants to know who the two olive trees are:

Zech. 4:4
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Question, questions! God's servants are so hungry to know!
[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.
It is worth noting in light of what we have discussed in this study that Zechariah did NOT guess nor give his opinion about who these two olive trees are. He simply said he did not know! However, the angel did answer his question and in doing so told him exactly how the beast, the New World Order is going to be leveled flat as a pancake... shaken to its very foundations!

Next we shall see how and by whom that is accomplished!

The Kings of kings and Lord of lords, the "LORD of the whole earth" (Zech. 4:14), is soon returning to establish His eternal kingdom upon Mount Zion. However, in the last days before that great day of the Lord's arrival it is written that God will pour out His spirit on His servants and handmaidens (Acts 2) and they shall teach and give witness (1) unto His people, their brothers and sisters of the House of Israel. Then shall some be delivered up and the "fire" of His Holy Spirit shall speak through them to give witness (2) and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom unto ALL the nations of the earth. That proclamation will be the good news, except to the kings and rulers who receive the witness, announcing that the 7th Trump is about to sound and the King of kings and Lord of lords is coming to "take their crowns" from them and set up His kingdom to rule ALL nations with a rod of iron. We read of that proclamation to the gentiles [nations] in the great Book of Joel:

Joel 3:9
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles [nations]; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
It is written in Luke 21 that God's elect are NOT to premeditate nor script what they shall say when they are delivered up before the kings and rulers of this earth. And as we noted in the opening paragraph of this study, some SHALL BE delivered up to give witness: Mark 13:9 "... and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them". The reason they are not to premeditate is that the Holy Spirit shall speak through them at that time and their testimony shall "be a witness" unto all nations and shall bring to pass the prophecy in Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel [good news] of the kingdom [the coming King and His dominion] shall be preached [Gr. #2784 = "to herald"] in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then [after that witness] shall the end come."

Joel continues with the proclamation to be given unto the nations...

[10] Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
The nations had better gather everyone, the disabled, the feeble, etc, and everything within their reach to try and defend their satanic system. Why? Because the "mighty ones" of God, His elect, are moving in and taking over Dodge and nothing and no one will be able to stop them.
[11] Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

[12] Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Everyone, including all the nations of the world, will "wake-up" when Jesus Christ returns for as it is written "... every eye shall see Him... (Rev. 1:7). means "Jeshoshaphat" "Yahveh judges" and so it shall be when Christ returns to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Let us now continue with the 4th chapter of Zechariah. Remember the question Zechariah asked earlier, which is now being addressed and answered by the angel, was "Who are the two olive trees standing upon the right side and the left side of the "bowl" filled with the golden oil!"

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.
Understand that these are NOT the words of men but rather the divine word of the LORD given unto Zerubbabel who was a "type", a forerunner of those who have been called forth out of Babylon to rebuild the temple, the many membered body of Jesus Christ in these last days. What is said in this verse is that it shall NOT be by (man's) might nor by (man's) power, but by His spirit, which is that "golden oil" of truth and wisdom and power and might which flows from the "bowl" through that candlestick which is the light before His throne that burns brightly (Rev. 4:5).

Exactly what is He talking about that happens "by His spirit" and what do the two olive trees have to do with it? Open your eyes, as in "look up", and understand this 5th vision of Zechariah for it has to do with not only the teaching and the witnessing in these last days but also the "fraying" of the Four Horns, the "fall of Babylon the great", the demise of the New World Order, and the establishing of the kings and priests of God upon Mount Zion who rule with Christ for a thousand years.

[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.
Mountains are symbolic of "nations" and this "great mountain" which stands in the way of Zerubbabel (see note in the Companion Bible) is none other than the New World Order, that nation of nations which is going to be leveled, i.e. it is "coming down"! Remember the vision Zechariah saw in the first chapter when he first "lifted up his eyes", the vision which set the time period of His prophecies? It was the vision of the Four Horns (Zech. 1:18), those four earthly powers we call the Four Hidden Dynasties that would combine globally (i.e. extend to the four corners of the earth) in the final generation and bring about the 1st Beast of Rev. 13:1 (the NWO) whose power structure is outlined there. That "beast" rises up out of the sea (symbolic of people) and becomes so big and powerful (even already has) that the question is asked in Rev. 13:4 "Who is able to make war against him?"
Rev. 13:4
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
The answer to the question is "Jesus Christ is able to make war with him!" And He SHALL! So "Proclaim War!" You see, it is written that God's elect are able to and shall stand against the beast, though NOT with the power of the arm but rather with the Gospel Armor (Eph. 6) on and in place, even as that little shepherd boy, David, who once fought against the "bear" and the "lion", would have no fear of stepping forward to face what "appeared" to his frightfully intimidated brothers to be his certain death! Yet he went forward to battle armed with "Grace", i.e. "5" smooth stones (5 is the number of "grace"), and took a valiant stand against the giant beast Goliath (the pride of the "wanderers", i.e. the Philistines). And what did the small lad do? He PROCLAIMED right to the face of the beast, Goliath, which was witnessed by all the people who were assembled on the "mountains" on either side of the plain (1 Sam. 17:3), that he (the beast) was "coming down"! BUT NOT by (man's) power and (man's) might, but rather in the name of and by the power of Almighty God, the God of Israel! "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47).

Do you want to know how the one world system, the beast, the New World Order, is going to be shaken to its foundations and leveled to the ground? It shall be by the "hand" of Almighty God through His elect who have been called forth out of Babylon to build the temple in these last days. That's right! The great mountain, that "nation" set up by the kenites through the four horns Zechariah saw, which again are the Four Hidden Dynasties of Politics, Education, Economics and Religion, will become a "plain" as flat as a pancake.That nation shall not only "quake" from the "shoutings" of God's elect, but its walls shall come tumbling down through the power and might of the Holy Spirit, NOT by the might and power of men. Do you remember how Jericho was taken? Not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit when the priests of God marched around that city and blew the final sound of the last trump at which point they all "shouted"!

Let us read the next verse and then discuss the bringing forth of the "headstone" we read about in Zech. 4:7.

Zech. 4:8
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[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 temple SHALL be finished, even the sealing of the 144,000 in Rev. 7 (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of His house), by those called out ones, those "born in" but "called out" of "confusion" (Babylon) to build-up the many membered body of Jesus Christ in these last days. Then shall that "cornerstone" which was rejected by the builders, even the "capstone" (headstone), be brought forth to the temple. Grace, grace indeed, for that headstone is Jesus Christ Himself!
Psalm 118:21
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

[22] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

[23] This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

God is going to finish the work, His way, by His spirit.
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 "plummet" is a simple carpenter's tool, a piece of zinc or other metal which hangs on a line and is held "straight up" and "true" by the natural force of God's gravity! You see, when the plummet, symbolic of God's Word, is used as a guide with which to build a house or temple it guarantees "trueness", i.e. truth. And what of the day of small things? Just always remember from the ensamples of His Word (1 Cor. 10:11), that when the hand of Almighty God is involved, though it may be only upon a shepherd lad, it is "no small thing" for it can fell a beast and shake and move a "great mountain"! Do you recall what Christ said in Matthew 17:20?
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And that "mountain" shall be removed hence... leveled flat as a pancake to become a "plain"! It shall be by those "seven" pairs of "eyes" upon the "stone" which Zechariah spoke of in the last chapter. They are the watchmen (eyes), the 7,000 symbolic of God's elect who continually fill their lamps with the "golden oil" from above! So NEVER think that a small handful of God's elect cannot bring down the beast of Rev. 13! It is coming down!
Zech. 3:9
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Perhaps this will give you a better understanding of the words of Daniel the prophet concerning the stone cut out without (men's) hands, i.e. engraved by God Himself! It brought down the "beast" envisioned by Nebuchadnezzar who was a "type" of the king of Babylon of Revelation, i.e. Satan.
Daniel 2:34
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

[35] Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

The power and wealth and might of the great beast shall be "frayed" by God's carpenters, "broken to pieces" by His 7,000, God's elect!

Here it is again:
Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

[45] Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

OK, so we "see" how things are going down in this final generation. God's elect are going to take part in causing a great shaking of all the nations, an earthquake indeed. And these seven eyes do not go to sleep but stay awake as watchmen carrying the light of their lamps through the dark hour! "Who then are these two olive trees?", Zechariah asks again!
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?
Zechariah still did not understand who these two olive trees were. However, the groundwork laid by the angel in the previous verses now gives us the foundation for understanding.
[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?
It is written: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:17). Have you ever wondered how God does that, i.e. pours out His spirit? I mean, does He take a pitcher of His spirit and pour it out like one does Kool Aid into a glass?

No sir! He "pours it out", i.e. empties it out, through His two which is what"sons of oil" "anointed ones" means in verse 14! Remember that the "golden oil" is symbolic of His Spirit which flows from the "bowl" above to give light! That is what the two olives trees are anointed with, i.e. filled with! Check out the word "empty" in Zech. 4:12:

empty = cruwq, rook, Hebrew 7324; a primitive root; to pour out (literal or figurative), i.e. empty :- × arm, cast out, draw (out), (make) empty, pour forth (out).
The spirit and truth and wisdom and power of God, His Word, flow from the "Oil" in the candlestick above through His "two olive trees", His two servants, His two "anointed ones, His two "sons of oil", His two witnesses (Rev. 11), and is emptied out through the two golden pipes to the two churches here on earth of Philadelphia and Smyrna found in Rev. 2 & 3. You see, those two out of the seven churches, the seven of which are symbolized by seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20), are the wise "sons and daughters" of God in this final generation who fill their lamps with the oil from above!
[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 anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
That's right! The two olive trees are two living men here on earth who stand by the LORD of the whole earth! They are simply two "anointed ones", which means "sons of oil", i.e. sons who are filled from above with the "Oil"! And they pipe that oil, pouring out His spirit to the two golden candlesticks, the brothers and sisters of God who love studying His Word and filling their lamps with that "oil"! You see, they go before the great day of the Lord and "prepare the way" for the bringing forth of "the headstone" which is the second advent of Jesus Christ.
Rev. 11:4
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev. 11:3-12 speaks of the two witnesses in this final generation who are these two olive trees who are used as vessels to pipe the oil from above which ignites the flames of the two golden candlesticks of the brothers and sisters that they may continue to burn brightly until that great day when the King of king and Lord of lords returns with all power and glory!

AWS Note: If we are correctly understanding the Holy Spirit's instructions the "Two Witnesses" are not two individuals, but two groups off individuals, one group from the end time church of Philadelphia and the second group from the end time church of Smyrna. See Revelations 2:9 and 3:9, paying close attention to, what the one thing was, these two end time churches, that Jesus Christ found no fault with, had in common. That's what they were teaching, that caused Satan to disobey a direct order from God, and kill them!

How precious indeed is the Word of God!

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