Zechariah 4:3  “Two olive trees are by it…”
Reference the two witnesses of Revelation 11.

NOTE:  Have to read the entire chapter to understand what is being done and said.  At first it doesn’t appear that Zechariah’s question is answered, and he actually asks it a second time.  But if you look at the whole chapter and especially the last verse, it begins to make sense.

4  “…What are these, my lord?”
First time question is asked about the trees and the lampstand.

6-10  The angel’s reply which doesn’t seem to answer the question.

6  “…‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts…”
The temple would not be built by strength of men, but by the Spirit of God.  He would enable the men to complete the task.

7  “…he shall bring forth the capstone…”
Assurance that it would be completed.

9  “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it.  Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.”
Further assurance of God’s help.  We sometimes don’t get assurance before or during, but the fact that we even make it through trials and tribulations is proof that God is with us.  He told Moses the sign that what He was telling him about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt was true was that afterwards he would stand before God on that mountain.  We have a hard time looking forward, but not back.  God tells us we will be able to look back and see what He has done and that what He told us has come to pass.

10  “…who has despised the day of small things…”
Seemingly small things done in obedience to and for the Lord have great significance.  All the power is His.  We just have to be faithful to what He asks of us.  The people may have thought the building of the temple was too great a task, but all they had to do was what God told them, no matter how small it seemed, and He would supply the power to get the job done.  Not by might or power, but by His Spirit.

11  “Then I answered and said…What are these two olive trees…”
Seems Zechariah doesn’t think his question has been answered so he asks again.

14  “…These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
Two olive trees standing on either side of a golden lampstand, providing oil for the lamps.  The anointed ones standing beside the Lord of the whole earth.  So the lampstand represents Christ, the Lord.  The anointed ones, as olive trees, may be representative of the Jews which produced Christ and serve Him.  The angel’s first answer was what the vision meant, not the specifics of what was who.  The answer was that the Lord of the whole earth was the supply of power for building the temple, completing the task.  And by implication, the foundation for the spiritual temple, our spiritual condition.  All provided by Christ.  Furthermore, the reference in Revelation 11, that the two witnesses are the two trees standing before the Lord, repeat this message.  Those witnesses will prophesy for three and a half years to the Lordship of Christ to a world dominated by the Antichrist.  But while it may appear that the Antichrist has won, the real Christ will still be in control.  All things will be done according to His will, not by any other.  Joshua the spiritual leader and Zerubbabel the civil leader, both serve Christ and point to Him as the ultimate head as do the two witnesses during the Tribulation.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.