Zechariah sees the vision of the golden candlestick and the two olive trees. The olive oil is a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit. God accomplishes His work, not by might or by power, but by the working of His Spirit. The entire vision centers on this truth.

Zechariah prophesied at the same time as Haggai. He spoke to the Israelites who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. The message of this book is one of encouragement. It looks forward to the restoration of Israel and the coming of the Messiah. The visions recorded in Zechariah are often thought to be difficult to understand. Do not worry over understanding everything about them at once. Enjoy learning what God has in them. This passage introduces you to the first of Zechariah

Though the Israelites had become unclean, yet by their obedience to the Lord in building the temple they will bring blessings upon themselves both in the near future and in the time to come.

The prophet Haggai encourages the Israelites who have returned from Babylonian captivity as they build the temple