“… the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole …”
(Zech. 4:10, NKJV)
We have already discussed nineteen distinguishing characteristics of the corporate spirit or mantle of Zerubbabel, and in this teaching we aim to speak about the twentieth characteristic. This is found in Zech. 4:10: “For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
We’ve already dealt with the first phrase “For who has despised the day of small things?” This verse thus still contains two phrases to think about. The next strange phrase is: “For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” Different paraphrasing translations offer this complex section in somewhat simpler terms:
- “These seven lights are the eyes of the Lord which go quickly up and down through all the earth.” (BBE)
- “Those seven lamps represent my eyes–the eyes of the LORD–and they see everything on this earth.” (CEV)
- “Now the seven sides of the stone you saw represent the eyes of the LORD looking in every direction. They see everything on earth.” (ERV)
- “The seven lamps are the eyes of GOD probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.” (MSG)
Simply put, it can be presented as follows – Believers! Do not lose courage over what seems like small and worthless efforts to rebuild the temple. Know for sure that God has seen the keystone of the completed temple! That final sign that the temple is complete, the keystone, bears seven eyes that burn like lamps and with which God searches the entire earth (to support those whose undivided hearts are directed toward Him) [so that He can empower them to do the work].
This sounds much more clear! But the reader paying attention will immediately realise that despite the syntax that has been changed, this includes two additions that are not included in Zech 4:10 (each in a different type of parenthesis). This is not just done for no reason, but because the text requires it! There is another Scripture that links, in an almost verbatim manner, to this verse in Zechariah, and that contains the key for a better understanding of it. Firstly the words of the seer Hanani to Asa, the king of Judah, which he said to him during the building (!) of the cities Geba and Mizpah: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chr. 16:6 & 9).
The second set of parenthesis actually contain important information from the complimentary book of Zechariah, namely Haggai, and also 1:14: “So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God …”
Rewritten in this way it becomes a wondrous prophetic promise to the people of God that He is already seeing the completed rebuilt temple, through positioning His seven-fold Spirit on the keystone of the temple, which searches the entire earth, “that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3).
There are few promises like this one, especially if one considers how despondent one can at times become because of “the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb. 12:12) amongst the people of God. Rest assured: “the eternal God of Israel isn’t a human being. He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind” (1 Sam. 15:29, CEV). 2 Cor. 1:20 indeed stands secure: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
Part of the wondrous mantle of Zerubbabel is thus that He provides this for us even though not much has yet been built! In fact – it is a gift (1 Cor. 1:7-8) of faith to manifest this functioning of the spiritual man, calling “those things which do not exist as though they did” (Rom. 4:17).
Zech. 4:10’s seven eyes that burn lamps (according to the different paraphrases), urge any reader of Scripture to declare this at the hand of two other Scriptures, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament:
- “For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says the Lord of hosts …” (Zech. 4:9)
- “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (Rev. 5:6)
We do not have to speak about the first Scripture in detail, and in the case of the second Scripture there are many non-relevant elements we will not consider right now. It is however important to know that the four beings are symbolic of the four guises of kingship of the sons of God that reign the earth as kings. The eyes are – like everything in John’s visions on Patmos – symbolic in nature. Here the eyes point to the superior vision and supernatural perspective of the Christ. Everyone in the Bride or Body possess multiple “eyes of … understanding” (Eph. 1:18), eyes that witness of the insight of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17) might bring. The chosen ones receive these seven-fold spirits of God, which is sent, according to Rev. 5:6, into the earth. The eyes of the Spirit are the fullness or perception (meaning of the number 7) of the salvation of the Spirit of God. Obviously they then also see on a level that others cannot. The vision-relationship that Jesus has with his Father, as it is presented in John 5:19-20, forms the foundation on which the Bride also needs to be seen: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does …’”
Please remember what we argued in the previous teaching – to see in this way means merely to understand as God understands, possessing the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16, ACV).
The even spirits of God are not seven separate spirits. Like the menorah, the golden chandelier of the second dimension that explains the seven spirits, is cast in one piece (Ex. 25:31), but has seven parts, there is only one Spirit (Eph. 4:4), but seven specific manifestations of it (please read the teaching of Day 65 again for an explanation of this).
With this then the twentieth characteristic of the corporate spirit or mantle of Zerubbabel.
- Selah: Explain the concept “seven eyes” to someone.
- Read: 9-13
- Memorise: 9:8c – “You have performed Your words, for You are righteous.”
