The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

symbolized by the two olive trees and the two candlesticks. That churches in the
Revelation are represented by candlesticks or lampstands, there can be no question, for the
reason that Christ Himself interprets such to represent churches: "The seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven Churches." (Rev. 1:20.) We therefore accept this Divine
interpretation as the basis of interpreting the other feature of this vision. The symbolism in
this vision, however, seems to be more complex--more than churches seem to be referred
to. In seeking to discover the full significance of the symbol, we note in the words, "These
are the two olive trees," etc., an evident reference to Zech. 4:2,3,11,14. There the Prophet
saw in a vision a candlestick or lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top, and seven
lights on its seven uprights, with seven branches for the lights. Two olive trees also stood,
one on the right side and the other on the left. Zechariah is represented as inquiring of the
Divine messenger who had been conversing with him what these two olive trees were, or
what they represented. The first reply of the messenger seems to be a general one, as
relating to the entire vision:
"This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel saying, Not by might, not
by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain?
before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain. . . . Moreover the word of the Lord came
unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his
hands shall also finish it."
The significance of this explanation seems to be that Zechariah was given the word of the
Lord to encourage Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest (his associate), in the work of
building the temple of the Lord. However, it seems manifest that Zechariah did not
understand this explanation to be a particular, a definite answer to his inquiry, for we read
that afterwards he repeated the question:
"And I answered [inquired] again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches
which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he
answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then
said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."--Zech.
4:1-14.
It seems evident that there is here a reference to the ceremony that was performed in the
anointing of priests and of others for their special work or service for the Lord. If we are
correct in our understanding, then it seems that the two olive trees or branches in this
vision of Zechariah represented Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest, who were clothed
with Divine power to act as instruments of God in superintending the work of building
the second temple; after the return from Babylon. This incident occurred in 520 BC.
In sackcloth of humiliation
Applying this explanation of the Divine messenger to the vision under consideration, we
understand it to signify that all through the long period of the twelve hundred and sixty
years of the treading down of the citadel of truth, and the defiling of the antitypical