Here is a detailed description of the word of the Lord to one of the 2 witnesses. This explains where one of them is found in the scriptures. The first message is found in Zechariah 4. To give an understanding of who Zechariah 4 is Actually directed to, let's first look at Zechariah 3:8
8‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.
Notice here how it mentions Joshua and the friends who sit in front of him are a symbol. Joshua is a symbol of the Branch, who represents the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1.
1Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Jeremiah 33:15-16
15‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 16‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’
As Zechariah 3:8 stated Joshua is a Symbol of the Branch. His office and duties typified that of Christ. He was the High Priest. So is Christ Ours! His name is Yeshua or Jehovah saves, so is Jesus name!He is crowned as King in Zechariah 6:11-15 and the 2 offices join together. Impossible for a high priest on earth. Not impossible for Christ.
Zechariah 6:11-15
11“Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12“Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. 13“Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices"
Notice here, how symbolically the 2 offices come together. High priest and King exactly as Christ is. Ruling with The counsel of peace between the 2.
.”’ 14“Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the LORD to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah.15“Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the LORD.” Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the LORD your God
Jesus as well as the others from afar will build this temple. However, this is not speaking of a physical temple. It is speaking of a spiritual temple.
20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
And again in 1 Peter 1:2-4
4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, APRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BEDISAPPOINTED.”
Described here as well as in other places Ephesians 2:20-22
However, before I get to deep I want to focus on the witness. Remember what Zechariah 3:8 says
8 Now Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch..
Here it states that there were also friends (plural), that sit before Joshua. Furthermore, that they are also a symbol, just like Joshua the high priest... Well, Who was one of Joshua's main associates and likely friends during the second temple era? One of the main leaders, with Joshua during that era? If you guessed Zerubbabel, you were right! It obviously not coincidence, that 3 verses after Zechariah 3:8 during the same encounter, with the same angel,
And the same prophet is roused from a sleep like state to a vision. Found in Zechariah 4...
1Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.2He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”
Notice that in the vision Zechariah is shown several objects. These objects represent the word of God to Zerubbabel. All the objects here also directly pertain to the 2 witnesses. These objects in this vision CAN NOT be separated from Zerubbabel. Remember this is the Word of God to Zerubbabel. Right here Zerubbabel is merely a Symbol of the witness, just as Joshua is a symbol of the Branch.
4Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Notice as I stated these objects represent the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel. Also he is told it is not his power but the Spirit of the Lord that will carry him through. Zerubbabel is merely a vessel to be used by the Lord. (Lampstand)
7‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10“For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
First we must understand that this is Not speaking of physical building. This is something only the Eyes of the Lord see. As a matter of fact there is Nothing in Zechariah 4 which pertains to the second temple era, nor to the Zerubbabel of that era. Remember Zerubbabel is merely a symbol of the witness.
First of all, the bible tells us Zerubbabel did NOT lay the foundation of the second temple. So we can safely conclude this is not speaking of the second temple foundation.
Ezra 5:16
16‘Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not
The only thing Zerubbabel did was to appoint Levites 20 years and older to oversee the work. Now he, along with EVERY OTHER returned exile did this. That's right EVERY OTHER returned exile.
Ezra 3:8
8Now in the second year after their coming the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the LORD.
Just so there is no confusion that Zechariah 4:9 is Not speaking of the second temple foundation, he is separated from even having any sort of supervisory role. Totally distanced from even supervising, let alone building!
LORD. 9And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.
And Whoosh! Gone everyone of the leaders except Zerubbabel present in supervising.
Ezra 3:10
10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
Again the builders...but NO Zerubbabel!
Now the bible in Ezra (scribe) has no reservations about accrediting Zerubbabel with building the altar in Ezra 3:2 just a few verses prior.
2Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
Nor was Zerubbabel excluded from working on the temple structure. We see this in Ezra 5:2
2then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.
Just absolutely and utterly removed from any involvement in the laying of the foundation. So us, in this day and age, would know without a shadow of a doubt. That Zechariah 4:9 isn't speaking of physical building.
But just to cement that fact in order. When we closely consider (examine) Zechariah 4:9 very closely, we see that the word for foundation in the original language does not suggest an action at all. Why, it is a NOUN! A feminine noun derived from the word Yesudah H3248.
◄ 3248. yesudah ►
Strong's Concordance
yesudah: foundation
Original Word: יְסוּדַת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: yesudah
Phonetic Spelling: (yes-oo-daw')
Short Definition: foundation
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
As a matter of fact, it only has one other occurrence. Psalms 87:1
Englishman's Concordance
Strong's Hebrew 3248
2 Occurrences
yə·sū·ḏā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
yis·sə·ḏū — 1 Occ.
Psalm 87:1
HEB: מִזְמ֣וֹר שִׁ֑יר יְ֝סוּדָת֗וֹ בְּהַרְרֵי־ קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
NAS: A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song. His foundation is in the holy
KJV: His foundation [is] in the holy
INT: Psalm Song his foundationmountains the holy
Zechariah 4:9
HEB: יְדֵ֣י זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יִסְּד֛וּ הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה
INT: the hands of Zerubbabel foundationhouse of this
2 Occurrences
Psalms 87:1
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Folks this is Not speaking of physical building. But, rather a spiritual beginning (figuratively, a spiritual foundation). The feminine Noun suggests something spiritual, whereas the masculine noun would suggest a physical beginning (figurative foundation).
Here is the masculine noun yesud. Which denotes a physical beginning
◄ 3246. yesud ►
Strong's Concordance
yesud: foundation, beginning
Original Word: יְסֻד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yesud
Phonetic Spelling: (yes-ood')
Short Definition: began
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yasad
Definition
foundation, beginning
NASB Translation
began (1).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries
Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation
All rights reserved Lockman.org
Brown-Driver-Briggs
יְסֻד noun [masculine] foundation, beginning, Ezra 7:9 יְסֻד הַמַּעֲלָה, but read rather, with ᵐ5, יָסַד (הוּא = Ezra subject), see Ry.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
began
From yacad; a foundation (figuratively, i.e. Beginning) -- X began.
see HEBREW yacad
Forms and Transliterations
יְסֻ֔ד יסד yə·suḏ yeSud yəsuḏ
Links
Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Strong's Hebrew 3246
1 Occurrence
yə·suḏ — 1 Occ.
Ezra 7:9
HEB: הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל
NAS: month he began to go
KJV: month began he to go up
INT: of the first he began to go Babylon
1 Occurrence
Yesudah is the feminine form of this noun, which is used in Zechariah 4:9. Which denotes a spiritual beginning (figurative foundation).
Notice how the masculine form of this noun denotes a physical beginning ( figurative foundation). Whereas, the feminine form is used to express to same meaning...a beginning but, A spiritual beginning. A figurative foundation.
It is the same when the Holy Spirit, or a spirit is expressed in the original Hebrew. It is expressed through a feminine noun.
7307. ruach ►
Strong's Concordance
ruach: breath, wind, spirit
Original Word: ר֫וּחַ
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ruach
Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh)
Let me backtrack to Zechariah 4:7
7‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10“For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
What this is speaking of is 2 spiritual demonic attacks which this man endured. Wherein, he resisted/ denied the attacks of the devil. There is no physical capstone. But the spiritual house was completed with these words. It was actually the words themselves that completed the spiritual "house". The exact words are found in the living bible, which is where it became realized to him. This just so happened to have been the bible he owned at that time.
Zechariah 4:7 TLB
7 Therefore no mountain, however high, can stand before Zerubbabel! For it will flatten out before him! And Zerubbabel will finish building this Temple with mighty shouts of thanksgiving for God’s mercy, declaring that all was done by grace alone.”*
These are the EXACT WORDS, that were yelled out by this individual, in the midst of a long drawn out spiritually demonic attack upon him.
It is something only the Eyes of spiritual beings can realize.
In there eyes, it is a day of small beginnings. Again, this is not speaking of a physical foundation and there is NO contradiction between Ezra 3:10 Ezra 5:16 and Zechariah 4:9 they are referring to 2 entirely different things!
Zechariah 4:11
11Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
It is here that the angel answers a question that Zechariah presents. It helps us to understand the meaning of some of the objects in the vision from Zechariah 4:2-3. First we must absolutely remember that ZERUBBABEL CAN NOT BE SEPARATED FROM THESE OBJECTS. This is the word of the Lord to him and him alone. However, just as Zechariah 3:8 states this "friend" of Joshua is a symbol. A symbol of the witness as Zechariah 3:8 says!
8‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch
Now, I want to cover the objects in Zechariah 4:2-3. Those objects that represent the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel.
Now the olive trees, lampstand, olive branches and golden oil represent the 2 witnesses and the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon them . Again Zechariah 4:11-14
11Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
And their clear interpretation in Revelation 11:2-3. And the description of who they represent.
3“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
There are also 7 lamps on the Lampstand. We're told these are the Eyes of the Lord in Zechariah 4:10
10“For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
The 7 eyes represent the 7 Spirits as described in Revelation. There are also sent out into all the earth. 5:6
6And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
And the lamps described again as the 7 Spirits in Revelation 4:5
5Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Do you remember what the message was? Zechariah 4:6
6Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Yes, the Lamps the Spirit of God, the oil the anointing. The olive trees, lampstand and olive branches the 2 witnesses! Zerubbabel's message... we can't separate him from these objects.
Just as Zechariah 3:8 states, he is a symbol. Actually to the point of, where the things that Zerubbabel of the second temple era did typify what this spiritual Zerubbabel will do. Example- his Spiritual name is Zerubbabel likely meaning sower of seed in Babylon, which denotes a land figuratively captive to sin.
Zera ( to sow or scatter seed) Babel (figurative for a land captive to sin) Babylon
The seed signifying the word of God according to Luke 8:11 in the parable of the sower
11“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Now just as Zerubbabel was a physical builder this Zerubbabel will be a Spiritual builder. Building a spiritual temple according to Ephesians 2:20-22
20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
And again in 1 Peter 1:2-4
4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, APRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BEDISAPPOINTED.”
That Zerubbabel was governor of Judah. This Zerubbabel will likely be Governor of Judah in the MILLENIAL Kingdom.
That Zerubbabel was born the son of Pedaiah and physically adopted by Shealtiel.
1 Chronicles 3:19
19The sons of Pedaiah wereZerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister;
