4 Then the messenger who was talking with me turned and woke me as if waking someone from their sleep. 2 “What do you see?” he asked me.

“Wow,” I said, “I see a lampstand made entirely of gold, with a bowl on top of it. It has seven lamps on the top with a tube feeding each one, 3 and two olive trees by it—one on each side of it.”[ref] 4 Then I asked the messenger who was talking with me, “What are those, my master?”

5 “Don’t you know what those things mean?” he asked me.

“No, my master,” I replied.

6 So he told me, “This is Yahweh’s message to Zerubavel: army commander Yahweh says it won’t be my strength or my power, but with my spirit.[ref] 7 What are you, big mountain? Before Zerubavel you will become a plain. Then he will bring out the top stone to shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it.’ ”

8 Then Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, 9 “Zerubavel’s hands have laid the foundation of this temple and his hands will bring it to completion.” Then you will have confirmation that army commander Yahweh has sent me to you. 10 Because who has mocked those who make a small difference? They will rejoice and will see Zerubavel holding a plumb line.

Those seven lamps are Yahweh’s eyes that roam over the whole world.

11 “What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” I asked the messenger.[ref] 12 “And what are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that have golden oil pouring out of them?”

13 Then he answered, “Don’t you know what those are?”

“No, my master,” I replied.

14 Then he said, “Those are the two anointed men[fn] who stand before the master of the whole world.”