"The Two Anointed Ones"

The title of this study is found in Zechariah 4:14. This verse is the culmination of a wonderfully encouraging prophecy which God had given to Zerubbabel through his prophet Zechariah. Who are these two anointed ones? and what encouragement was there for Zerub­babel in knowing of their existence? The mar­ginal reading calls them "sons of oil." Uriah Smith defines them as the Old and New Testa­ments. (See "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," p. 511, Review and Herald edition.) It is illuminating to observe that Mrs. E. G. White says:

The same writer says again:

"I entreat of you to read the third and fourth chapters of Zechariah, If these chapters are understood, if they are received, a work will be done for those who are hungering and thirst­ing for righteousness, a work that means to the church, 'Go forward and upward.' "—"Testi­monies," Vol. VI, p. 296.

These two quotations are sufficient to warrant writing upon this subject; but who are "the two anointed ones"? In "Christ's Object Les­sons," pages 406, 407, the servant of the Lord states:

"By the lamps is represented the word of God. The psalmist says, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Spirit is represented in the prophecy of Zecha­riah."

Quoting further from "Christ's Object Les­sons," page 408, Mrs. White says:

"From the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to the human instru­mentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to com­municate to God's people that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' "

In the parable of the ten virgins all had lamps —the word; but not all had oil—the Holy Spirit. The foregoing quotation is sufficient answer to the question, "Who are the two anointed ones?" They are the two beings who stand in God's presence. They are the "sons of oil," and the oil which they emit through the golden pipes, as represented in symbol, is God's Spirit—heavenly grace. (See above.) This oil was emptied into the golden bowl. Now what is this bowl? In answer, I will quote from "Tes­timonies to Ministers," page 188:

The two olive trees empty the golden oil out of themselves through the golden pipes into the golden bowl, from which the lamps of the sanctuary are fed. The golden oil represents the Holy Spirit. With this oil God's ministers are to be constantly supplied, that they, in turn, may impart it to the church."

I learn from this that God's church is meant to be a great reservoir of heavenly grace (oil of the Spirit), with which the whole world is to lighted.

We have now to ask further about the golden pipes, What are they? In answer, we read from "Testimonies to Ministers," page 388:

"Let every man who enters the pulpit know that he has angels from heaven in his audience. And when these angels empty from themselves the golden oil of truth into the heart of him who is teaching the word, then the application of the truth will be a solemn, serious matter. . . . The Holy Spirit is doing its work on the hearts. But if the ministers have not first received their message from heaven, if they • have not drawn their own supplies from the refreshing, life-giving stream, how can they let that flow forth which they have not received?

"What a thought, that hungry, thirsty souls are sent away empty! A man may lavish all the treasures of his learning, he may exhaust the moral energies of his nature, and yet ac­complish nothing, because he himself has not received the golden oil from the heavenly mes­sengers; therefore it cannot flow forth from him, imparting spiritual life to the needy. . . . If the Christian minister receives the golden oil, he has life; and where there is life, there is no stagnation, no dwarfed experience. There is constant growth to the full stature of Christ Jesus."

In the same book pages 336, 337, Mrs. White further says:

"There are men who stand in the pulpits as shepherds, professing to feed the flock, while the sheep are starving for the bread of life. There are long-drawn-out discourses, largely made up of the relation of anecdotes; but the hearts of the hearers are not touched. The feelings of some may be moved, they may shed a few tears, but their hearts are not broken.

"The Lord Jesus has been present when they have been presenting that which was called sermons, but their words were destitute of the dew and rain of heaven. They evidenced that the anointed ones described by Zechariah (see chapter 4) had not ministered to them that they might minister to others. When the anointed ones empty themselves through the golden pipes, the golden oil flows out of them­selves into the golden bowls, to flow forth into the lamps, the churches. . . .

"The Lord God of heaven cannot approve much that is brought into the pulpit by those who are professedly speaking the word of the Lord. They do not inculcate ideas that will be a blessing to those who hear. There is cheap, very cheap fodder placed before the people."

This latter kind of teaching, the messenger of the Lord calls "strange fire." In the same connection, page 339, she says:

"Some who stand in the pulpit make the heavenly messengers in the audience ashamed of them. The precious gospel, which it has cost so much to bring to the world, is abused. There is common, cheap talk; grotesque atti­tudes and workings of the features. . . . Everyone who ministers before the people should feel it a solemn duty to take himself in hand. He should first give himself to the Lord in com­plete self-renunciation, determined that he will have none of self, but all of Jesus."

Remember that it is said of the Holy Spirit, "He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak." "He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." John 16:13, 14.

From the foregoing quotations and texts we are now prepared for the lesson of Zechariah 4:14. Some may think from the quotations given that there is a difference of opinion be­tween Uriah Smith and Mrs. White. There is beautiful harmony when they are properly understood. "The two anointed ones . . . stand by the Lord of the whole earth," whose name is called "The Word of God." Rev. 19:13; John 1:1-3. The word of God is the "sword of the Spirit." Eph. 6:17. With this explained, a summary is in order.

This chapter must be understood in the light of the sanctuary, wherein dwell God and Christ upon the throne. Two holy beings (anointed ones) stand in their presence. These receive the oil (heavenly grace, truth, knowledge of the word, etc.), and convey it by means of the angels to the church (the golden bowl), and by the same golden pipes (the angels) from the church to the ministers (the candlesticks), and from them the world is lighted. This is God's provision, and all power in heaven and in earth is employed in it and in support of it. In the vision we behold God emptying Himself and heaven, the angels of His presence empty­ing themselves, the associate angels emptying themselves, the golden bowl emptying itself, that we, His ministers, may be full. Shall not we, His ministers, empty ourselves, that the whole world may be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord and be lightened with the glory of that mighty angel of Revelation 18:1?

Washington, D. C.