Zechariah 4:11-14 Then answered I, and said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick and on the left side thereof?… The prophet manifests great concern to understand what is meant by these two olive trees. I. THE UNIVERSAL DOMINION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. "The Lord of the whole earth." Not to be understood in an abstract, but in a relative sense. The Lord Jesus is the last Adam, and He came and acquired universal dominion on behalf of His people. He obtained universal dominion by prevailing with God. This He did by His obedient life. Whatever perfection — whether of love, or holiness, or wisdom, or integrity — you may name, the Saviour possessed them all. And "the Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake." This righteousness, this obedient life of the Lord Jesus, hath prevailed with God's law, hath prevailed with justice. This is one step towards the Saviour's universal dominion, God's unexceptional approbation of His righteousness, God's deep and eternal interest in His righteousness. When the Saviour came to die, was there in the whole universal Church one sin that He did not conquer? Was there one demand of justice that He did not meet? See some of the symptoms of this dominion while the Saviour was in the world. He cast out devils, — there is power over hell. Need I remind you of sin? Why, He pardoned one and another. Then diseases, — what disease was ever too hard for Him? Then the sea, — He walks on it. Whatever dominion He possesses, He will give to you. II. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES. The two anointed ones. In the Book of Revelation called the "two witnesses." These represent the Old Testament Church and the New Testament Church. In this passage, then, is given Christ's entire dominion; the river of the Gospel; the Old and New Testament Churches sweetly united in the same theme; a clear note of time when these wonders were to be mediatorially accomplished; and the faithfulness of the Old and of the New Testament Churches. (James Wells.). Parallel Verses KJV: Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? |
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