Zechariah-The Temple WILL Be Built, Says God

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 4

From Zechariah's Journal

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An angel of the Lord visited me in a vision. It happened at night when I was alone.  Actually the angel ended up showing me several visions. This is the fifth vision. You can scroll down to past posts to read the other visions.

The first vision happened while I was in Jerusalem. We were rebuilding the temple. Darius was in his second year of reign in Babylon. The second, third, and fourth followed, all in the same night. This is the fifth vision I saw:

I had apparently fallen asleep. The information, seeing the angels, and everything else in the vision had overwhelmed me. I think the angel let me sleep a bit before waking me. When he woke me, I didn't understand where I was.

The angel said, "What do you see?"

That is when I really looked around and remembered I was seeing a vision. 

I blinked and let my eyes focus before answering. "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. On each side of the lampstand is an olive tree, one on the right and the other on its left.

I asked the angel, "What are these my lord?"

He answered, "Do you know what these are?"

I know, I had asked already, but I had just woken from a deep sleep and maybe missed something. I looked again and answered, "No, my lord."

The angel said, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel."

Yes, now I understand. This message is to be given to Zerubbabel, the one in charge of the rebuilding of the Temple. 

The angel continued with the Lord's message, "'The temple will not be finished by might, nor by power, but by My spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." The angel pointed to where the temple was being built. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!"

At that moment God explained the meaning to me. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple. His hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

"Don't be afraid of those who try to stop the work. Keep building. The men of Jerusalem will rejoice when they see the level in the hand of Zerubbabel.

The seven lights on top of the lamp stand are the seven eyes of the Lord. They see everywhere throughout the earth.

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?"

He didn't answer me.

I asked again, "What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?

The angel said, "Don't you know?"

I really didn't. I lowered my head a bit and said, "No, my lord."

The angel said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."

Author's note: In time, scholars learned that the lampstand represented those who believed in Jesus. The Olive Branch was Christ who died for our sins, giving us life as the fire of the candle had life. The Holy Spirit was the second Olive tree, sent to be the comforter.

God showed Zechariah a few more visions. Come back next time to see the rest of the story.

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source: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000.

1.  Who was Zachariah? 
2.  What did Zachariah see in this vision?
3.  What did the lampstand refer to?
4.  What did the two olive trees refer to?
5.  Who was Zerubbabel?
6.  What message was to be given to Zerubbabel? 

Ezra-The Day the Enemy Infiltrated

By Mary Vee
Ezra 4

From Ezra's Journal

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My name is Ezra. Our seventy years of captivity in Babylon has ended. King Cyrus gave us permission to return to Jerusalem. 

We've settled into our homes, offered sacrifices, and are moving forward to rebuild the temple of God. 

Behind our backs, our enemies met together and devised evil plots against us.

One day, our enemies asked to meet with Zerubbabel, the priest, and the heads of the families. They said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we are searching for your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here."

They were lying. Oooo. They were lying. 

Zerrubabbel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel said, "No. We don't want your help in building a temple to our God. We and our Hebrew brothers will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.

Our enemies left the meeting, but they were not defeated. Their plan was to destroy us by preventing the temple from being completed. 

These enemies brought their families and hung around Jerusalem. They spoke with Hebrews weaving doubtful thoughts into their minds. "If you continue building the temple, your enemies will band together and attack. This work you are doing will be destroyed by your enemies and you will be taken away as slaves again. Wouldn't you rather just leave everything as it is? You don't need the temple."

Our enemies then hired counselors to give input for the building plans. They tried to frustrate those working out the details. Wherever we turned our enemies stood talking with Hebrews, trying to convince them to stop building the temple.

For years we struggled throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia even to the reign of Darius, king of Persia.

This has become such a difficult task. Not one day of peace. 

We walked like a person stuck in a bog.

Our spirits fell.

Our energy zapped.

In truth, we were afraid.

I received word that Daniel, who still lived in Babylon as a slave, had another vision. One that showed all our struggles would have an end. One of victory.

Next time, Daniel will tell you about this vision. You'll want to read it. The message is for you, too.

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1.  Who wanted to speak to the priest and heads of the Hebrew families?
2.  What did they want?
3.  What did the leaders say?
4.  What plot did they try next?
5.  How did the people of Jerusalem feel?
6.  What news did Ezra receive?