Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Olive Trees

4 The angel who explained the visions woke me from what seemed like sleep. ² Then he asked, “What do you see?”

“A solid gold lampstand with an oil container above it,” I answered. “On the stand are seven lamps, each with seven flames. ^3 (A) One olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container. ⁴ But, sir, what do these mean?”

⁵ Then he asked, “Don't you know?”

“No sir,” I replied.

^6 (B) So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel:^[a]

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. ⁷ Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple's most important stone and shout, “God has been very kind.”^[b]

⁸ The Lord spoke to me again and said:

⁹ Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple, and he will complete it. Then everyone will know that you were sent by me, the Lord All-Powerful. ^10 (C) Those who have made fun of this day of small beginnings will celebrate when they see Zerubbabel holding this important stone.^[c]

Those seven lamps represent my eyes—the eyes of the Lord—and they see everything on this earth.

^11 (D) Then I asked the angel, “What about the olive trees on each side of the lampstand? What do they represent? ¹² And what is the meaning of the two branches from which golden olive oil^[d] flows through the two gold pipes?”

¹³ “Don't you know?” he asked.

“No sir, I don't,” was my answer.

¹⁴ Then he told me, “These branches are the two chosen leaders^[e] who stand beside the Lord of all the earth.”