16.12 | Priestly Dreams
Revelation 11
‘“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.’
Revelation 11:3-4
On the night of 15th February, 519BC, in the ruined city of Jerusalem, a man named Zechariah was having an elaborate dream.
Zechariah was a priest, and a prophet. He had returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem, in the wake of Jerusalem being destroyed by the Babylonians. The walls had been broken down. Houses had been devastated. The temple was in ruins. And the people were caught between the promises of restoration (as given to them by the prophet Jeremiah) and the realities of rubble in which they lived.
In this dream, Zechariah saw many things. He saw four horsemen on different coloured horses, going out to patrol the earth1 and four horns—symbols of powerful foreign empires that had scattered Jerusalem, now themselves being defeated and scattered.2 He saw a man with a measuring line, measuring the city of Jerusalem, promising its flourishing and fulfilment.3 He saw the high priest—Joshua4—standing in filthy garments and being accused by Satan, and then being clothed in white with a promise of ruling and as a sign of God’s coming servant (the ‘Branch’—a messianic name).5
And he saw a golden lamp stand with seven lamps, being fed with oil by two olive trees.6 The olive trees were named to him as the ‘two anointed ones’—a description of them as God’s anointed priest, and God’s anointed king. They represented the ‘kingdom of priests’ (of Exodus 19:5-6), or, as Peter later put it, the ‘royal priesthood’ of God’s people (1 Peter 2:9). And God declared that upon these two His might and strength would be seen, speaking these words upon them:
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.7
The dream went on (a flying scroll around the city, a woman named Wickedness in a basket, being carried away, and four more horses, this time pulling chariots.8
The dream was bizarre. But the word was clear:
The reality of the people looked like rubble and destruction and defeat. And yet, God was giving a heavenly perspective upon their circumstances—which is what prophecy does. He was showing them that the anointed of God can stand with power and purity in their moment, for they cannot be accused by their Accuser. They are dressed in robes of white. And their means of strength now comes from another place. Not military might, nor political power, but the presence of the Spirit of God within them.
We’re about ready for our reading today. For the imagery is familiar, and the imagery is giving a similar message. That in this time—when God’s city is overrun—God’s anointed would stand and prophetically declare a new way of being. In the power of His Spirit, they would demonstrate in signs and wonders the greater reality of God’s true Kingdom. They would be persecuted, and even killed, and yet not even death could hold them, for they would be raised in glory.
And the final trumpet would sound. And the kingdom of the world would become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, who would reign forever and ever.
Hear the depth of the backstory, my friends. For Zechariah’s dreaming being brought to a greater fulfilment in John’s vision and in our very lives. These images are meant to speak deeply into our hearts. For we may feel like we live in cities of ruins, with lives that look like defeat and rubble and opposition. And yet, God speaks a word upon us—of a people anointed—witnessing to an age that is coming in words and deeds, living not in the strength of violence or human influence, but in the power of God’s own Spirit. And not even death can steal what God has established in us, or the surety of the Kingdom of the Lord we serve, which is oh so very soon to come.
Reflect:
Take your feelings of dissatisfaction with the world as it is right now. Consider that in these feelings may be hidden your yearnings for the inbreaking Kingdom of Jesus. Allow this to permeate further into your soul, as you turn it to prayer.
Pray:
Father,
I lean in—
For these moments feel like intermission moments,
As a world of disorder
Retains memories
Of the intended peace
That awaits.
Father,
I lean in—
To see and feel and think
In alignment with eternity realities,
Where present challenges are temporary,
And the life that I yearn for,
For me and this world,
Is so close.
Father,
I lean in—
To see this age with heavenly eyes,
Not to be dragged to despondency,
But to step up and step on,
With your promises engraved in my heart
As I am engraved on your hands.
Father,
I lean in.
Awaken such hope in me today.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Old Testament:
For those also reading the Old Testament this year, your additional readings are here:
Micah 1-3 | Psalm 145:1-13
Zechariah 1:7-17
Zechariah 1:18-21
Zechariah 2
In Hebrew, Jeshua, the Hebraic form of the name Jesus.
Zechariah 3
Zechariah 4
Zechariah 4:6
See Zechariah 5-6