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Minor Prophets, Part 3: Persian Period and Restoration

  1. Lesson One
    Obadiah
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Haggai
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Zechariah
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Malachi
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    OT Wrap-Up (Psalm 119)
    15 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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In the ancient world, olive oil was commonly used as fuel for lighting lamps. These trees represent olives that would have been the source of lighting oil. In his vision, Zechariah asks God twice what these two olive trees represent:

Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my LORD.” Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth.” 
Zechariah 4:11-14 ESV

The “two anointed ones” Zechariah refers to in this passage are Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. Why are these men represented by olive trees beside the golden lampstand? 

Very simply, these are the anointed men who will “fuel” the light of YHWH and the return of the people to YHWH in the years to come.