The 144,000 – Parts 12-14

Empowered by Two Witnesses

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Ok, let’s summarize three key points in this vision:  

 

1.   The Lord rebuked Satan’s criticism of redeeming Israel.

 

Because Jesus Himself would pay the price of sin, He commanded that Joshua’s [Israel’s] guilt and filthy clothes be removed and He clothed him with a rich garment that was not his own. God granted Joshua/Israel grace. By clothing the high priest with rich clothing God signified that He had forgiven Israel. He was no longer hostile toward His people.

 

[Point:   God is never hostile toward ignorant people. God is ever hostile toward defiant people because their attitudes and actions are harmful to others.]

2.   Then, the Lord told Joshua, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these [eternal beings] standing here.”

 

God’s original covenant with Israel was renewed with the exiles. [The covenant is conditional in nature – IF you will be my people, IF You will walk in my ways, I will be your God…. IF you rebel, I will have to destroy you because of your rebellion – not because you offended me [which is true], but because you will have rebelled against everything that is good and wholesome.]

 

3.   Then, the Lord placed “a stone” with seven eyes on it as a witness of His promise to Joshua/Israel. Setting up stones as a witness was not unusual in Bible times. (a witness can be an inanimate object – such as a stone or two lamp stands!)

 

Genesis 31:44   [Laban said] Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witnessbetween us.”

 

Genesis 31:45   So Jacob took a stone and made it into a pillar.

 

Genesis 31:46   He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

 

Genesis 31:48   Laban said, “this heap is a witness [that we have entered into a covenant between us] between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed.”   

 

Now that the vision of Joshua the high priest has been examined, let’s look at the second object lesson pertaining to the nation of Israel. This lesson involves king Zerubbabel. [In case you are wondering, we are still studying the Two Witnesses. Don’t forget, the stone – an inanimate object – was set up as a witness to God’s covenant with Israel.   

 

Zechariah 4:1   Then the angel who talked with me returned and awakened me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.

 

Zechariah 4:2   He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp standwith a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights.

 

Zechariah 4:3   Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

 

Zechariah 4:4   I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these [items all about], my lord?” [first request]

 

Zechariah 4:5   He answered, “Do you [a priest of the living God] not know what these are?” “No my lord,” I replied.

 

Zechariah 4:6   So he said unto me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by [human] might nor by [human] power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

 

[This response is actually the answer to his question, but it is not the direct answer that Zechariah was seeking – The angel answered his question saying that the rebuilding of the city and the temple cannot be accomplished by human ability, but it will be accomplished through God’s Spirit.]

 

Zechariah 4:7   “What are you, O mighty mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone [the final stone that completes the rebuilding of the temple] to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

 

Zechariah 4:8   Then the word of the LORD came to me:

 

Zechariah 4:9   “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you [exiles] will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

 

Zechariah 4:10   “Who despises the day of small things? [Who complains when troubles are few? No one! Then rejoice at what I, God, have promised to do!] Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line [the measuring rod] in the hand of Zerubbabel [because the temple and the alter will be rebuilt and they will function again. And yes,].” (These seven [eyes on the stone that serves as a witness] are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth [to see who will honor My covenant] .).

 

Zechariah 4:11   Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lam stand?” [second request for a direct answer]

 

Zechariah 4:12   [After a few moments of silence] Again I asked him, “What are these two olives branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” [third request for a direct answer]

 

Zechariah 4:13   He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said.

 

Zechariah 4:14   So he said, “these [the two olive trees and the golden lamp stands] are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

 

Since the beginning, God has had Two Witnesses serving His interests throughout the Earth. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God are given to Adam and Eve. And the Holy Spirit has influenced every generation since then. Think about this: What substitute is there for the Word of God? The Holy Spirit is not a substitute for the Word of God.

 

In fact, the Holy Spirit exalts the Word – truth about God and His ways.

 

 

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