1And the angel who talked with me came again, and woke me, like someone awakened out of his sleep,
2And said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I have looked and saw a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, with seven lamps on it, and seven pipes leading to the seven lamps, which are on the top of it,
3And two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it”.
4So I answered the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5Then the angel who talked with me answered to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I replied, “No, my lord.” Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin, king of Judah (1 Chron. 3:17) and a descendant of David. He was born in Babylon during the exile (between 587 and 539 BC), and he came to Judah after King Cyrus II allowed the Judean captives to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4; 6:3–5, 8–10). The prophet Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the governor of Judah after the exile (Haggai 1:1; 2:2, 21). He is also listed in the Bible as an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:12–13; Luke 3:27).
6Then he answered by saying, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.
7”What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forth the headstone of it with shouts of “Grace, God’ grace on it.’”
8Moreover, this word of the LORD came to me,
9”The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it, and you shall know that the LORD Almighty has sent Me to you”.
10“For who dares to despise the day of small things? For the seven eyes of the LORD that range to and fro throughout the whole earth shall rejoice when they shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel”.
11Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and left sides of the lampstand?”
12And I also asked him, “What are these two olive branches which empty the golden oil through the two golden pipes?”
13And he replied, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
14Then he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the LORD of the entire earth.” Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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