Study Desk

The angel who was speaking with me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep.

He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a solid gold lampstand there with a bowl on its top. It has seven lamps on it and seven channels for each of^[a] the lamps on its top.

There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."

Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these, my lord?"

"Don't you know what they are?" replied the angel who was speaking with me. I said, "No, my lord."

So he answered me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,'^(a) says the Lord of Hosts.

‘What are you, great mountain?^(b) Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain.^(c) And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!'"

Then the word of the Lord came to me:^(d)

"Zerubbabel's hands have laid the foundation of this house,^(e) and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.

For who scorns the day of small things?^(f) These seven eyes of the Lord , which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line^[b] in Zerubbabel's hand."^(g)

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

And I questioned him further, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which golden oil pours out?"

Then he inquired of me, "Don't you know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.

"These are the two anointed ones,"^[c](h) he said, "who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."⁽ⁱ⁾