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Read below of Zechariah’s vision of two olive trees that feed a single lampstand.
And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.
Zechariah 4:1-3 ESV
This vision is in contrast to John’s vision in Revelation 11:4, where two lampstands are lit by the same two olive trees. In other words, in Zechariah, two olive trees feed a single lampstand, while in Revelation, the same two olive trees now feed two lampstands.
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Revelation 11:3-4 ESV
This gives us a clue as to the identity of these Olive Tree/Lampstand symbols. From Rev 1:20, Christ tells John that the lampstands represent churches or groupings of God’s people. In Zechariah, we will read that the Olive Trees and their branches that feed the lampstands are two anointed ones who stand by God. The identity of these Olive Trees (and respective branches) do not seem to be specific to one particular person, but rather a particular role. The role of the two olive trees is that of prince and priest respectively. Or high ruler, and high priest. Within Israel, these roles are filled by various persons throughout history. There seems to always be one who guides the people, and one who acts to helps facilitate absolution of sins. For example, Moses the ruler had Aaron the high priest. This prince/priest dualism continued through the tribes of Israel, as various kings ruled and various high priests held their positions within the Levitical Priesthood. These two roles continued in Zechariah’s day with Zerubbabel the prince, and Joshua the high priest. Zerubbabel and Joshua are central to the rebuilding of the 2nd temple.
Again, take note as we read Zechariah that there is only one lampstand lit, for only one aspect of God’s people, the House of Judah, had returned at that time to rebuild the Temple after the exile to Babylon. So we only have the House of Judah lit by the two olive trees in the final scriptures of the 1st covenant Old Testament, but we have the House of Israel lit in addition to the House of Judah in the final scriptures of the 2nd covenant New Testament. In Revelations, both lampstands are fed by the two olive trees (both houses have both ruler and high priest).
Lampstands and lamp’s are instruments that carry God’s light to the world, while the olive trees give them fuel and sustain them. Recall from 1 Kings 11:35-36, that God promised to keep a lamp lit for the sake of David, despite Solomon’s rebellion and subsequent dissolution of Israel. In other words, the line of David, the tribe of Judah, will be maintained.
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel.
1 Kings 11:35-37 ESV
Also note, the importance of the 7 channels emanating from the lampstand (see the stone with 7 eyes), just as we have the 7 churches of Israel present in the right hand of Christ that are guided by 7 spirits of God which range throughout the earth (Rev 1:20), and the establishment of 7 safe passages for the return of the remnant during the 2nd exodus (Zech 3:8-10, Is 11:15, Rev 5:3-6).
In essence, we have two roles, that of Prince and Priest, which guide mankind and aid forgiveness of sin respectively. These roles are represented by two Olive Trees. And we have Lampstands, which represent major groupings of God’s people, each emanating 7 spirits of God which range throughout earth and act as safe passage for the return of God’s people from their captivity. In this way, great mountains of separation are made low and build God’s saving highway from the plain by first establishing God’s chief cornerstone, who is Christ.
Let’s now read of Zechariah’s vision in more detail and confirm the identity of the lampstands and olive trees:
And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil[a] is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones[b] who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Zechariah 4:1-14 ESV
I will not speculate on the identity or characteristics of the 7 spirits that emanate from God’s lampstands. In the time of Zechariah, the single lampstand represents the House of Judah, for the House of Israel is not present. In Revelation 11:3-4, both houses are seemingly present as the two witnesses, for two lampstands are lit. In the same passage, we also read that these two witnesses embody the two roles of the Olive trees (that of prince and priest). The Olive trees are composed of many branches, and Zech 6:11 tells us that at his time, one of the branches was personified by the High Priest, Joshua. So the Olive trees represent the roles of prince and priest, and the many branches that compose the tree and feed the lampstands are specific persons that have filled these two roles throughout time. In the time of Zechariah, the ruler role (civil authority) is represented by the branch of Zerubabbel. And the high priest role (eccelesiastical authority) is represented by the branch of Joshua (see JFB commentary). We know that the most important branch, is Christ. He is The Branch that unites the two houses. But at the time of Zechariah, we have a priestly branch and a ruler branch, and peace existed between them, and they were united in purpose to rebuild the temple for the House of Judah exiles in Babylon.
11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there[b] shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Zechariah 6:11-15 ESV
Yet in Christ, we know there is one unifying branch (Is 4:2-6, 11:1-3,9-16 Ez 37:15-28, Jer 23:3-8, 33:14-18), and it is He who builds the temple of the Lord and establishes a counsel of peace between the royal prince and priestly roles in later times. In other words, He becomes the unifying branch which mediates both roles. We are told in the book of Hebrews, that the precedent for this relationship was established through the order of Melchizedek, who acted as both Ruler (King/Prince) and Priest to his people. We first read of Melchizedek in Genesis 14, where he blesses Abraham after Abraham rescued Lot from enemy kings. Note that he is both King of Salem AND Priest.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor[b] of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:18-20 ESV
We read in a Psalm of David, that an individual identified as David’s Lord, who receives instruction from God in the role of Messiah, is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, both ruler and priest.
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power,
in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.[c]
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalms 110:1-4 ESV
Christ echoes this passage in Psalms in Matthew 22, when the Pharisees are asked to ponder the identity of the Messiah as it relates to David.
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Matthew 22:44 41-46 ESV
The book of Hebrews discuses the role of Christ as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. In chapter 5, the author quotes Ps 2:7 and Ps 110:4, identifying Him in this role.
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:5-10 ESV
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Hebrews 7:1-3,14-15,20-23 ESV
So the two Olive trees are the two roles, Prince and Priest, (see Zechariah 4). These two roles are satisfied in a single person through Christ, who reigns as both Ruler and Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. At different times throughout history, different branches of each Olive tree (or role) have fed God’s lampstands with oil as Prince and/or Priest personified. But after Christ, the two roles were unified in Him. In other words, Christ becomes the two olive trees as the unifying branch.
The two lampstands of Revelation 11:3-4 which are fed by the two olive trees (Christ, ruler and priest) are the two divisions of God’s people, Israel, the House of Judah and the House of Israel. These two divisions bear witness to His unifying power after their scattering and division. And just as various persons have become branches within the Prince and Priest structure throughout time, so too may the two witnesses be personified in the last days. These scriptures are yet to be fulfilled to completion, as Christ has not returned, for we know the fullness of the Gentiles must first come in (Romans 11:25).
Let’s look again at Revelation 11:3-4. The two witnesses (the two lampstands – the House of Israel and House of Judah) are fed by Christ, fulfilling both roles of the two olive trees (ruler and priest). It is Christ who sustains the two houses in both roles, just as the olive tree sustains the lampstand. The two witnesses are therefore the two lampstands fed by the two olive trees.
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Revelation 11:3-4 ESV
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