The Lantern

Zechariah4

The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees

And the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, like a man who is roused from his sleep.

And he said to me, What do you see? And I said, I have looked, and see — a lampstand all of gold, and a bowl on its top, and its seven lamps on it, seven and seven pipes to the lamps that are on its top;

and two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.

And I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

And the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

And he answered and said to me, saying: This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying: Not by army and not by strength, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel — a plain! And he will bring out the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace to it!

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

The hands of Zerubbabel founded this house, and his hands will finish it; and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

For who has despised the day of small things? And they will be glad and will see the tin stone in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD; they range through all the earth.

And I answered and said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?

And I answered a second time and said to him, What are the two branches of the olive trees that are beside the two golden pipes emptying the gold from themselves?

And he said to me, saying, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

And he said, These are the two sons of fresh oil, standing by the Lord of all the earth.