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A Constant Flow of Oil, January 9
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive
branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out
of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what
these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two
anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Zechariah
4:12-14
.
The continual communication of the Holy Spirit to the church is rep-
resented by the prophet Zechariah under another figure, which contains a
wonderful lesson of encouragement for us. The prophet says: “The angel that
talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of
his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and
behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven
lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top
thereof: and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the
other upon the left side thereof.
“So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What
are these, my Lord? ... Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is
the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.... And I answered again, and said
unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden
pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? ... Then said he, These are
the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (
Zechariah
4:1-14
).
From the two olive trees, the golden oil was emptied through golden pipes
into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave
light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God’s presence,
His Spirit is imparted to human instrumentalities that are consecrated to His
service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate light and
power to God’s people. It is to receive blessing for us that they stand in God’s
presence. As the olive trees empty themselves into the golden pipes, so the
heavenly messengers seek to communicate all that they receive from God.
The whole heavenly treasure awaits our demand and reception; and as we
receive the blessing, we in our turn are to impart it. Thus it is that the holy
lamps are fed, and the church becomes a light-bearer in the world.—
The
Review and Herald, March 2, 1897
.
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