Next comes the _stone laid before Joshua_, and upon the stone seven eyes, and engraving is seen on it. Generally this stone is interpreted as meaning Christ. One of the names of Christ is--a stone, a rejected stone, corner stone, a precious stone, etc. The true believers are likewise termed stones, living stones. The stone in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, falling out of heaven, smashing the image and becoming a great mountain which filled the entire earth, is both Christ and His kingdom, which is not of this earth (it is and comes from above). However, it seems to us that the only correct interpretation of the stone upon which are the seven eyes is that it means Israel restored, and as such, the nucleus of the kingdom of God and His Christ in this earth. The seven eyes speak of the sevenfold Spirit which will be upon Israel; the engraving of the stone stands for the beauty and glory with which God will bless His covenant people. That this interpretation is the only correct one becomes at once evident when we reach the closing sentence of the ninth verse, _and I will remove the iniquity of that land one day._ What land? It is Israel's land, and therefore the whole vision must stand in vital connection with His people. The one day, of course, in the first line, must be that day when Christ died for our sins and Israel's sins as well, when the veil was rent. But alas, the Jews cried then, "His blood be upon us and upon our children!" How terribly this awful prayer has been answered! Truly the blood has been upon them and their children. But soon--oh may it be very soon--another day will come when the blood shall be once more upon them and their children--when the blood shall cleanse and wash away Israel's sin--one day when Calvary's blood, the blood of the Son of God, will remove the iniquity of that land and its inhabitants. All is waiting for that. There can be no kingdom of God in the earth, no conversion of the world, no millennium before Israel has been cleansed, redeemed, restored, and the iniquity of the land is removed. This all-important truth is likewise mentioned in a few words at the close of this, the fourth night vision of the prophet: _In that day, saith the Lord of Hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree._ This is the picture of prosperity, peace and love. No prosperity and peace till the millennium has come, no millennium until Israel is restored; no true restoration of Israel until the Lord comes with His saints. What Zechariah hears about that blessed time of peace Micah and other prophets received also from God, "Every man shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid" (Micah iv: 4). CHAPTER IV. _The fifth vision.--The candlestick and the two olive trees.--The great mountain becoming a plain.--Zerubbabel the prince finishing the house of the Lord._