The Lampstands

Zechariah 4 - the Temple in the Heavenly Realm

5 “Do you not know what those things mean?" asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, “No, my lord.” Zechariah 4:5 (Tanakh)

Contents:

Depiction
- The Heavenly Temple
Depictors:
Order of Melchizedek:
Addenda
- Assignments

Depiction

The Heavenly Temple

The Book of Zechariah contains a depiction of God's Temple in Heaven:

1 The angel who talked with me came back and woke me as a man is wakened from sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?" And I answered, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and thelamps above it have seven pipes; 3 and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.” 4 I, in turn, asked the angel who talked with me, “What do those things mean, my lord?" 5 “Do you not know what those things mean?" asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he explained to me as follows:
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the LORD of Hosts. 7 Whoever you are, O great mountain in the path of Zerubbabel, turn into level ground! For he shall produce that excellent stone; it shall be greeted with shouts of 'Beautiful! Beautiful!'" 8 And the word of the LORD came to me: 9 “Zerubbabel's hands have founded this House and Zerubbabel's hands shall complete it. Then you shall know that it was the LORD of Hosts who sent me to you. 10 Does anyone scorn a day of small beginnings? When they seethe stone of distinction in the hand of Zerubbabel, they shall rejoice.
“Those seven are the eyes of the LORD, ranging over the whole earth.” 11 “And what," I asked him, “are those two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand?" 12 And I further asked him, “What are the two tops of the olive trees that feed their gold through those two golden tubes?" 13 He asked me, “Don't you know what they are?" And I replied, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he explained, “They are the two anointed dignitaries who attend the Lord of all the earth.” (Zechariah 4 (Tanakh))

But more than that, this passage depicts the Temple in its wonderful setting within the Heavenly Realm.

The depiction is in the abstract at the Spiritual Level. But it is the realisation, the instantiation of the metaphor at the Physical Level, which brings the whole scene to life.

Are the Two Olive Trees merely concepts? Definitely not, for they have existential existence within the grounds of the estate. So, standing in the main entrance to the Temple and looking out, in front and to the right will be an olive tree; and in front and to the left will be another olive tree: these are the Two Olive Trees mentioned in the text, which stand before the Lord of all the Earth:

[4] These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Revelation 11:4 NIV)

Depictors

The complete metaphor is the result of a collage formed from the metaphors of several depictors.

The Menorah

The Menorah functions at several levels:

As God's logo.
As the representation of the Temple in Heaven.
As the representation of God's Church and, by extension, His Flock.
Because the Mosaic copy was introduced at the time the Judaic Covenant was signed, the logo is used to denote the Judaic Covenant and all its amendmenets.

The gold Menorah exists solely at the Spiritual Level. It is abstract. It is realised in the Heavenly Realm by God, His Temple, His Home, and the grounds of His Estate. Notice the parallel:

[16] "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' [17] You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? [18] You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' [19] You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? [20] Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. [21] And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. [22] And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it." (Matthew 23:16-22 NIV)

The [Mosaic] Sanctuary and its fittings - which includes the Lampstand (Ex. 25:31-46 T) - are to be made according to a pattern which is a mapping from the Heavenly Realm:

8 And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. 9 Exactly as I show you—the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishingss - so shall you make it. (Exodus 25:8-9 (Tanakh))

The almond motif

33 On one branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals, and on the next branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals; so for all six branches issuing from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals. (Exodus 25:33-34 (Tanakh))

The word 'watching' sounds like 'almond tree':

Hebrew for 'watching' sounds like 'almond tree'.

Hence the almond motif is a perpetual reminder that the Lord is keeping His eye on things. It reminds us, too, that He is no absent landlord!

The almond motif on each of the seven branches of the Mosaic Menorah, is a mapping from the attributes of the abstract Heavenly Menorah, as mentioned here:

[9] See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.' (Zechariah 3:9 NIV)

... and from the Lamb:

[6] Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6 NIV)

The Hall of Remembrance

The Menorah is a seven-branched lampstand. However, Scripture records individual - unbranched - lampstands:

[12] I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, [13] and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. (Revelation 1:12-13 NIV)

[1] "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: (Revelation 2:1 NIV)

If the seven-branched Menorah represents the whole of God's Church at the Spiritual Level, then the individual lampstand represents one of its existential member churches as commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance.

The Book of Revelation contains warnings that, if the individual lampstand standing in the Hall of Remembrance should disobey the Lord, then it will be removed and discarded:

[5] Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:5 NIV)

The Olive Tree

Olive tree and goat in the desert of Negev, Israel.

Olive Tree

References:

The Cypress

The funcionality of the Cypress in Scripture is explained in the Book of Isaiah:

13 ...Instead of the brier, a cypress shall rise... (Isaiah 55:13 (Tanakh))

This prophesy is a reminder that the Lord God will replace those worthless shepherds, the Levitical Priesthood, with Shepherds after His own heart, the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek. The sin and error of the worthless shepherds will be exposed and put to the Sword; and the Law will go out from Zion (Mic.4:1-2), educating and guiding the flock to the truth of the Covenant.

Jesus said that the path to redemption was narrow and difficult to find:

[13] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. [14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

And the Cypress - ie, the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek - will help people find the gateway and path to life, and stay on it.

Cypress

See: the Lawson cypress.

The symbolism of the Cypress speaks to me on several levels.

First and foremost, the Cypress appears tall, straight, upright, and true - overshadowing everything around it.

Secondly, these attributes remind me of the Plumb Line which, held in the hands of the Most High, reveals those things which are true; at the same time showing error for the evil it is, as well as showing the magnitude of error.

Finally, the Cypress maps to God's Law, as it is found in the Covenant:

[14] Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these [evil] words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes. (Jeremiah 5:14 NIV)
...
[29] "Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV)

Those words, faithfully repeated by the Lord Jesus, are they not like a sword proceeding from His mouth?

[15] Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords. (Revelation 19:15-16 NIV)

The context of Jeremiah 23:29 NIV - grain vs straw - points to the second level of symbolism of Cypress:

[28] Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:28 NIV)

Grain. Harvest. And, to change the metaphor, fruit!

Of course, those sinners who fail to bear fruit for the Lord will never gain entrance to the New Jerusalem:

[19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19 NIV)

Grain and fruit remind us of the need to harvest the crops, for what good is it to leave the crops dying and going to waste in the fields? But, if this is succeed, then the Lord will require staff, working under Him at His direction, who will sow the seed, tend the crop, and bring in the yield to the Lord's barn. If desired, one could replace this metaphor with one relating to sheep.

So, the matter becomes one of staffing. The problem is, who can measure up to the attributes of Cypress?

The Levitical Priesthood? Definitely not, since they have brought so much shame upon their Office that they were lucky to escape with demotion to the most menial level of service. Their Office must bear its shame through this life, and then through Eternity. To add to the shame heaped upon the Office, the lord has promised to appoint some Gentiles to the Office - something previously unheard of:

18 ...[The time] has come to gather all the nations and tongues; they shall come and behold My glory. 19 I will set a sign among them, and send from them survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud—that draw the bow—to Tubal, Javan, and the distant coasts, that have never heard My fame nor beheld My glory. They shall declare My glory among these nations. 20 And out of all the nations, said the LORD, they shall bring all your brothers on horses, in chariots and drays, on mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem My holy mountain as an offering to the LORD—just as the Israelites bring an offering in a pure vessel to the House of the LORD. 21 And from them likewise I will take some to be levitical priests, said the LORD. (Isaiah 66:18b-21 (Tanakh))

How about the new-covenant-church? Definitely not, because they have been put to the Sword for their defilement of the Covenant and for imputing sin and error to the Lord Spirit! Compare:

33 Further, O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and their blasphemies: Proclaim: O sword! O sword unsheathed for slaughter, polished to the utmost, to a flashing brilliance! 34 Because they have prophesied falsely about you and have divined deceitfully concerning you, you shall be wielded over the necks of the dishonored wicked ones, for their day has come, the time set for their punishment.
35 Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 36 I will pour out My indignation upon you, I will blow upon you with the fire of My wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of barbarians, craftsmen of destruction. 37 You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall sink into the earth, you shall not be remembered, for I the LORD have spoken. (Ezekiel 21:33-37 (Tanakh))

Who, then, is left? Who can measure up to the demands of Cypress?

The only group of people who can measure up, are the members of the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek. The Order takes its name from Melchizedek, who was the first priest mentioned in Scripture. Jesus is Great High Priest in the Order. So, if the Lord is to appoint the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek, He must appoint more Priests in the Order. This the Lord will do, for He has promised to replace the worthless shepherds with shepherds after His own heart:

15 And I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will pasture you with knowledge and skill. (Jeremiah 3:15 (Tanakh))

The Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek will take God's Law to the nations. Not only the Law, but also the Covenant Model.

The Myrtle

13 ...Instead of the nettle, a myrtle shall rise... (Isaiah 55:13 (Tanakh))

Common Myrtle

Lagerstroemia Indica (Crape Myrtles)

Order of Melchizedek

(The Differences between cedar and pine trees.)

The Cedar:

Cedars of Lebanon.

[22] " 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. [23] On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. [24] All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
" 'I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.'" (Ezekiel 17:22-24 NIV)

The cedar is a magnificent tree! One might also say it is a 'royal tree', because Solomon used cedar to clad the walls of the first Temple. For more detail regarding the use of cedar, see 1 Kings, chapter 6.

Ezekiel 17:22-24 NIV suggests that the the origin of the Priests appointed to the Order of Melchiedek, aka the Two Olive Trees, is associated with a shoot of the Royal Cedar taken and planted by the Lord on Mount Zion.

There is a sense here of the Lord bringing down the House of Desolation and their Covenant with Death, and of rebuilding and raising up David's fallen Tent to the heights of its former glory and beyond. Israel will walk away from the sin and error of the Synagogue of Satan and walk towards David's Rebuilt Tent. And as the prodigal returns home, borne on Gentile shoulders^†, mount and hill shall shout aloud and cheer them on (Isaiah 55:12 T).

[^† [22] This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. (Isaiah 49:22 NIV)]

Notice how the trees of the field recognise the work of the Sovereign Lord for what it is (Eze. 17:24 NIV). How this will work itself out in practise is, perhaps, unclear. The Lord, however, has everything in hand! He will raise up a Cypress Tree and a Myrtle Tree.

When the trees of the field see the Cypress and the Myrtle in action, they will clap their hands for joy!

As for the Cypress and the Myrtle, they shall stand as a testimony to the Lord and as an everlasting sign:

12 Yea, you shall leave in joy and be led home secure.
Before you, mount and hill shall shout aloud,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the brier, a cypress shall rise;
Instead of the nettle, a myrtle shall rise.
These shall stand as a testimony to the LORD,
As an everlasting sign that shall not perish. (Isaiah 55:12-13 (Tanakh))

Note that the Cypress and a Myrtle are specialisations within the Two Olive Trees.

This passage calls to mind some words spoken through Micah_8C:

1 In the days to come,
The Mount of the LORD's House shall stand
Firm above the mountains;
And it shall tower above the hills.
The peoples shall gaze on it with joy,
2 And the many nations shall go and shall say:
“Come,
Let us go up to the Mount of the LORD,
To the House of the God of Jacob;
That He may instruct us in His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For instruction shall come forth from Zion,
The word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1-2 (Tanakh))

In the Last Days ...
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic. 4:1-2 (NIV))

From the Covenant, rooted deep in Mount Zion, will go forth The Law. And God's Words will go out from Jerusalem.

Cedar (Cedrus libani)

Majestic cedar and pine trees at Cedars of God, Lebanon

Cedar trees, part of an old growth forest several kilometers uphill from Bcharre, Lebanon

The Lord's plans for Israel

The Call

The Lord's call to Israel at the time of Hosea_8C:

2 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
For you have fallen because of your sin.
3 Take words with you
And return to the LORD.
Say to Him:

“Forgive all guilt
And accept what is good;
Instead of bulls we will pay
[The offering of] our lips.
4 Assyria shall not save us,
No more will we ride on steeds;
Nor ever again will we call
Our handiwork our god,
Since in You alone orphans find pity!"

(Hosea 14:2-4 (Tanakh))

Never has such a call been more needed than it is now!

The Assurance

5 I will heal their affliction,
Generously will I take them back in love;
For My anger has turned away from them. ( Hosea 14:5 (Tanakh))

Between Hosea_8C and now, Israel - led by what passed for the 'Levitical Priesthood' - arraigned Jesus on bogus charges, and had Him executed by the Roman authorities.

[34] Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"... (Luke 23:34 KJVS)

Since Jesus can only say and do what His Father has commanded Him, His words on the cross are not a pronouncement of forgiveness of Israel - one need only to read around the subject to realise that Death would be the unavoidable consequence of their actions. His words are a request to His Father. One might paraphrase Jesus' words:

Father, [please] don't make their wrongdoing an unforgivable sin. Their sin is ever before them, written large in the Books of Record; but let it fall into the category of 'forgivable sin'. So that upon repentance they may find forgiveness, and may be enabled - by You - to carry out your work in a world racing headlong into exponential sin and error. In this way, the promises you made long ago will be safeguarded.(paraphrase, AEC)

The Response and Fruitfulness

With Israel's return:

6 I will be to Israel like dew;
He shall blossom like the lily,
He shall strike root like a Lebanon tree.
7 His boughs shall spread out far,
His beauty shall be like the olive tree's,
His fragrance like that of Lebanon.
8 They who sit in his shade shall be revived:
They shall bring to life new grain,
They shall blossom like the vine;
His scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
9 Ephraim [shall say]:

“What more have I to do with idols?
When I respond and look to Him,
I become like a verdant cypress.”

Your fruit is provided by Me.
10 He who is wise will consider these words,
He who is prudent will take note of them.
For the paths of the LORD are smooth;
The righteous can walk on them,
While sinners stumble on them. (Hosea 14:6-10 (Tanakh))

Two Olive Trees / Witnesses

Zechariah 4 - the Temple in the Heavenly Realm

God's Temple in Heaven

The Book of Zechariah provides the latest update to God's Temple in Heaven. Although the narrative provides the necessary detail at the Spiritual Level, the actual building, flanked by the Two Olive Trees, will be accessible from the New Jerusalem. With Jerusalem's ever open doors, people will be able to come and go as they wish, and see God's Temple flanked by two commerative Olive Trees, His home, and the grounds in which they stand. In particular, the Hall of Remembrance, within the Temple, will be open to view. The grounds will be a park where visitors can relax and interact with the various animals:

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard lie down with the kid;
The calf, the beast of prey, and the fatling together,
With a little boy to herd them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
Their young shall lie down together;
And the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw.
8 A babe shall play
Over a viper's hole,
And an infant pass his hand
Over an adder's den.
9 In all ofMy sacred mount
Nothing evil or vile shall be done;
For the land shall be filled with devotion to the LORD
As water covers the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9 (Tanak)

The Three Lampstands

To return to Zechariah 4:

[1] Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. [2] He asked me, "What do you see?"
I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. [3] Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
[4] I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
[5] He answered, "Do you not know what these are?"
"No, my lord," I replied. (Zechariah 4:1-5 NIV)

At first blush there appears to be the one, seven-branched lampstand. This, however, is an illusion which is, perhaps, a deliberate obfuscation. In fact, there are three lampstands:

the seven-branched lampstand representing the Trinity and the Temple in Heaven;
the single lampstand representing the Olive/Cypress; and
the single lampstand representing the Olive/Myrtle.

The evidence for the two additional single lampstands may be found here:

[3] And I will give power 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 NIV)

As for the two single lampstands, they do not stand in the Hall of Remembrance. They are existential associate members of the Heavenly Menorah because they are members of the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek, serving under Jesus the Order's Great High Priest, and who is a member of the Trinity as represented by the golden Menorah.

The Two Witnesses

[1] Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told,
"Come and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, [2] but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months. [3] And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth."
[4] These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Revelation 11:1-4 NRSV)

Note:

The Two Witnesses:

The context is the period of time following the rebuilding of David's fallent Tent, the release of the lord Satan from the abyss (Revelation 20:1-3 NIV^†), and the eventual End of the Age.
The Two Witnesses were appointed by Jesus, necessarily acting in the capacity of Great High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. The Two Witnesses are Priests in the Order of Melchizedek (confirmed in Zechariah 4).
Will warn, witness, and testify to the truth of Jesus and the Covenant.
They are not defenceless! They have authority to kill at the Spiritual Level.^‡
With the exponential rise in evil, the Two Witnesses are doomed to perish at the hands of the ungodly.^††
They belong to the Two Olive Trees who stand before the Lord.^‡‡

[^† [1] And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. [2] He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. [3] He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3 NIV)]

[^‡ [5] If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. (Revelation 11:5 NIV)]

[^†† [7] Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. [8] Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. [9] For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. [10] The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11:7-10 NIV)]

[^‡‡ [4] These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Revelation 11:4 NIV)]

Revelation 11:4 is a direct reference back to Zechariah, chapter 4. The Book of Revelation adds to our understanding of the passage in Zechariah, and the instantiation of the Lord's promise.

Revelation 11:4 maps the Two Witnesses as being branches of the Two Olive Trees:

[12] Again I asked him,
"What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
[13] He replied, "Do you not know what these are?"
"No, my lord," I said. [14]
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth." (Zechariah 4:12-14 NIV)

As branches, the Two Witnesses necessarily belong to the Two Olive Trees. Furthermore, it indicates that appointment to the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek is necessarily through inheritance.

Where does Melchizedek stand within the church hierarchy? Genesis 14:18-20 offers an insight:

[18] Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, [19] and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. [20] And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:18-20 NIV)

At the Spiritual Level, Melchizedek stands between God and Abram. First off, he blesses Abram, and therefore the Levitical Priests who are yet to be born. Then Melchizedek blesses God Most High for delivering Abram's enemies into Abram's hands.

Jesus is Melchizedek's boss, since he is Great High Priest in the Order which carries Melchiedek's name:

[4] The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4 NIV)

Jesus is the context for Psalm 110:4:

[1] The Lord says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."
[2] The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies. (Psalm 110:1-2 NIV)

Jesus clarifies David's words:

[41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. [43] He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, (Matthew 22:41-43 NIV)

[45] If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" (Matthew 22:45 NIV)

The Order of Melchiedek is everlasting:

[4] The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4 NIV)

Like Jesus, the Great High Priest, the priests themselves belong to an order which is everlasting.

The book of Leviticus sheds some light on the activities and authority of the Levitical Priesthood. Here, in this excerpt, is shown how the priest makes expiation on behalf of an official who has sinned unwittingly:

22 In case it is a chieftain who incurs guilt by doing unwittingly any of the things which by the commandment of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and he realizes his guilt—23 or the sin of which he is guilty is brought to his knowledge—he shall bring as his offering a male goat without blemish. 24 He shall lay his hand upon the goat's head, and it shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD; it is a sin offering. 25 The priest shall take with his finger some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 All its fat he shall turn into smoke on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of well-being. Thus the priest shall make expiation on his behalf for his sin, and he shall be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:22-26 (Tanakh))

However, the Office of Levitical Priesthood has been reduced to the rank of 'Shame', and been replaced by Shepherds after Jesus' own heart, namely the Office of the Priesthood of Melchiedek.

Just like Melchizedek, the Priesthood which bears his name operates entirely at the Spiritual Level.

When looking at Zechariah chapter 4, it is easy to see that the appointment of new priests to the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek, has been organised into two family trees.

Each family tree functions as an Olive Tree; but each has additional specialities. These specialisations complement each other, and are to be found in the metaphor of the Cypress and the Myrtle.

Having established the two family trees, appointment will then continue on the basis of inheritance.

Order of precedence prior to Calvary:

Jesus, Great High Priest Designate in the Order of Melchizedek
Melchizedek, priest in the Order bearing his name.
Levitical priests
Levitical servitors

Shepherding of the flock was in the hands of the Levitical Priesthood.

However, following Calvary, the Office of the Levitical Priesthood was reduced to the 'Office of Shame', and Shepherding was handed to the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek:

Order of precedence following Calvary:

Jesus, Great High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek
Priests in the Order of Melchizedek.

Worship is now at the Spiritual Level:

[21] Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. [22] You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21-24 NIV)

Cypress and Myrtle

The Cypress and Myrtle metaphor offers insight into the additional funcionality and specialisatio of the Two Olive Trees.

Olive Tree specialisations.

Isaiah 55:13 T shows the correspondence between both metaphors, for the Cypress and Myrtle shall stand as an everlasting testimony to the Lord which will never perish:

12 Yea, you shall leave in joy and be led home secure.
Before you, mount and hill shall shout aloud,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the brier, a cypress shall rise;
Instead of the nettle, a myrtle shall rise.
These shall stand as a testimony to the LORD,
As an everlasting sign that shall not perish. (Isaiah 55:12-13 (Tanakh))

But the Cypress and Myrtle will lead estranged Israel home (Isaiah 55:12 T). This amounts to correspondence with the rebuilding of David's fallen Tent and its testimony in the Last Days:

1 In the days to come,
The Mount of the LORD's House shall stand
Firm above the mountains;
And it shall tower above the hills.
The peoples shall gaze on it with joy,
2 And the many nations shall go and shall say:
“Come,
Let us go up to the Mount of the LORD,
To the House of the God of Jacob;
That He may instruct us in His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For instruction shall come forth from Zion,
The word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1-2 (Tanakh))

In the Last Days ...
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic. 4:1-2 (NIV))

Here, in Mic. 4:1-2, can be seen the two specialisations of the Two Olive Trees: one tree will specialise in the Covenant Law. Standing on the Spiritual walls of David's Rebuilt Tent^†, they will protect the flock from external attack and also from betrayal from within.

[^† [3] Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him [4] and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. [5] And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the Lord, 'and I will be its glory within.' (Zechariah 2:3-5 NIV)]

The other family tree will specialise in education and guidance, of providing an existential place where people may find refuge, support, food, shelter ... and a home.

Both families will proclaim God's words and warnings to a world racing towards self-destruction, as can be see in the Book of Revelation:

[3] And I will give power 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 NIV)

Addenda

Assignments

[Dissertation: God's Temple in Heaven.]

[Dissertation: The Olive Tree.]

[Dissertation: The Cypress.]

[Dissertation: The Myrtle.]

[Dissertation: The Cedar.]

[Dissertation: The Two Olive Trees.]

[Dissertation: The Cypress and the Myrtle.]

Version: 16-Feb-2024