The Meaning Behind the Name “Zechariah’s Hope”

By Carl Palinkas

I have been asked: “What is the meaning behind the name “Zechariah’s Hope”?  The ministry’s name in Hebrew is Tikva shel Zechariah, which means “the hope of Zechariah”. I would agree that his hope is also our hope. The most direct answer is that Yeshuah is the Hope of the nation of Israel and the Hope of the whole world.

Let me share more deeply by launching from a few key passages from the book of Zechariah, plus a few other key scriptures, why we have this name. This also highlights our fundamental approach to bless and support the land and people of Israel.

We Begin with the Vision of the Two Olive Trees:

Zechariah 4:2-3:  And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left."
Zechariah 4:12-14:  And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?"Then he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."So he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."
 
Upon reading the chapter you notice Zechariah asked three times what the Olive Trees represented, and two times his guide replied with a question “Do you not know what these are?” Finally, in verse 14 he gets his answer, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth”.

So we see they are people, and these two people stand next to the Lord of the whole earth. From these two people flow a supply of golden oil to the bowls that provide fuel for the seven lamps on the lampstand. The lampstand is a menorah.

It has been rightly said that all the keys to understanding the Book of Revelation are found in the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament).

Revelation 11:3-4:  And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:5-6:  And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
 These have the power to shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

Most of us are familiar with “the Two Witnesses” who appear during the Tribulation period and conduct their ministry in Jerusalem. They have miraculous powers, but they are then killed, and again resurrected and caught up to Heaven before a watching world. Note that these two men are identified as the Two Olive Trees (Revelation 11:4).

 Yes, they are also declared to be the Two Lampstands; thus we have two sources of illumination or revelation. Without naming these two witnesses, the passage lists an array of miraculous powers that directly correspond to miracles done by the Prophet Elijah, and the Lawgiver Moses, (1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:38, 2 Kings 1:12, and Exodus 7:20, Exodus 9:14).
But where or when do they stand before the Lord of the whole earth? They are found on the Mount of the Transfiguration:

Luk 9:30-31:  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

We have versions of the same event in Matthew 17 and Mark 9, but I appreciate that in Luke 9 Jesus's decease (or death) is an “exodus”. The word “decease” in the Greek is exodus.  His soon-coming death in Jerusalem is depicted as a goal fulfilled and a prophetic accomplishment.

Here is How This Most Fully Applies To Us:
 
We are to show love to the people of Israel. It is nothing less than the dual witness of the Law and the Prophets that will embody the divinely provided influence resulting in Israel’s illumination of the identity of the Messiah.
Yeshua Himself delivers a specific example with two sullen disciples right after His Resurrection:

Luke 24:27:  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Later that night they realized who they had been with:

Luke 24:31-32:  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

This model for sharing was largely carried out by the apostles throughout the Book of Acts up until the closing chapter with Paul in Rome:

Act 28:23:  So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

So we know and believe the Scriptures. That’s why we see the Jewish people as the apple of God’s Eye, His beloved people, to whom He gave His promises and covenants. From the influence of His Word, our hearts overflow with love for the Jewish people and Eretz Israel. We agree with the great Corey Ten Boom who linked loving God with loving the Jewish people.

We know for certain what will happen according to God’s plan.

Zechariah 12:10:  "And I will pour on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."

So any service in Israel we see as a privilege. Our presence there and any gift or gesture of support is considered a light burden and an easy yoke. We will keep going and giving as long as He allows us.