INTRODUCTION
The mission of Zechariah was to incite the people of his day to complete
the work on the Temple of God.
Zechariah lived and prophesied around 520 B.C.
The book of Zechariah has been called the Apocalypse of the Old Testament.
This book is made up of visions and series of prophetic utterances.
Like Revelation, the book of Zechariah is filled with of symbols of prophecy.
In the visions are many figures: horses, horns, smiths, measuring Jerusalem, filthy garments, the candlestick, two olive trees, etc. These symbols have their meanings - some of them in the time of Zechariah, some in the more immediate or distant future.
Zechariah brings Israel is in the foreground and the Gentile nations in the background, In the book of Revelation, Gentile nations are in the foreground and the thread that binds them is Israel.
The name Zechariah was a common name among the Jews. It means, "the Lord remembers", or, "God remembers".
Berechiah, his father's name, means "God blesses". His grandfather's name Iddo, means "At the appointed time."
This the theme of Zechariah. It is a book of encouragement to the people of Israel.
Zechariah was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo, who a priests who came back to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel.
Nehemiah 12:4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
He was of the priestly office and of the family of Levi.
He may have become the chief priest upon the death of his grandfather, Iddo.
The people had begun to look for a lot of immediate rewards now that they had taken up the plan of rebuilding.
Zechariah was contemporary with Haggai, a prophet who ministered to the remnant who had returned from Babylon captivity.
The exiles had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, and the city.
The prophet informed them that they had a long road to travel before they could be at ease. But, glorious days were ahead.
The Jews were still subjects of Babylon, which was controlled by the Persians. The Jews were still ruled by Gentile nations.
Because of these circumstances they did not have much hope for the future.
This was a discouraging, depressing time, and pessimism gripped the people.
Zechariah comes in the midst of their depression, with an announcement even in his name and ancestry: Jehovah blesses, and Jehovah remembers at the appointed time.
What an important reminder these names must have been.
The Jews who returned form Babylonian captivity have ceased their work of rebuilding the temple and the city.
Opposition had been voiced to the Persian king by the enemies of the Jews. The Samaritans opposition resulted in discouragement and stoppage of work.
Sixteen years passed with little interest and no activity.
Zechariah and Haggai rebuked the workers and insisted that they get
back to the job of rebuilding the temple and the walls
of the city.
The prophecy of Zechariah may be divided into three major parts.
The first part consists of a series of vision.
The second division of the book deals with some Jewish fasts.
The third division or section speaks of the problems of the people and
coming victory of Messiah.
EIGHT VISIONS AND CROWNING OF HIGH PRIEST ZECHARIAH 1:1-6:15
The word of God came to Zechariah
Zech. 1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,
came the word of Jehovah
unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
The nation was warned to not follow the example of their fathers in turning away from God and disregarding his word.
The first 6 verses are a brief summary of God's quarrel with his people. They are displease him, as seen all through the Old Testament.
God is always displeased when his people turn from him, whether we are looking at God's people of Israel or God's people of the church.
Zech. 1:2-6 Jehovah was sore displeased with your fathers.
Therefore
say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto
me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith
Jehovah of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the
former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts,
Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings:
but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah. Your
fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants
the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned
and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according
to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Beginning in verse 7, a remarkable vision was given to Zechariah.
The visions all came to the prophet in one night.
The vision covers all the time from Zechariah's day through the present, clear on to the coming of the Lord.
In the first vision: a horsemen appears in a myrtle grove.
Zech. 1::7-17 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh
month,
which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius,
came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah,
the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying, I saw in the night, and, behold,
a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees
that were in the bottom; and behind him there were horses, red, sorrel,
and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the
angel
that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these are.
And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said,
These are they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk to and fro through
the earth. And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood
among
the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth,
and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Then the
angel of
Jehovah answered and said, O Jehovah of hosts, how long wilt thou not
have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou
hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? And Jehovah
answered
the angel that talked with me with good words, even comfortable words.
So
the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus
saith Jehovah
of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
And I am
very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a
little displeased,
and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith
Jehovah: I am returned
to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah
of hosts, and
a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem. Cry yet again,
saying, Thus saith
Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity; and Jehovah
shall
yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
.
The nations were at peace and completely unaware of the gathering storm
clouds of war..
Jehovah was angry with the nations, probably because of moral corruption.
It is important to finish the house of the Lord because it is to influence the world for good.
Second vision: four horns and four carpenters.
Zech. 1:18-21 And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and,
behold, four horns.
And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these?
And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered
Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And Jehovah showed me four smiths.
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These
are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his
head; but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of
the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter
it.
This second vision of Zechariah shows four smiths, or workmen who are actually, carpenters.
There was a vision of four horns and four smiths. This is interpreted to the prophet.
The riders in the vision before, these are divine agents, angels perhaps, who are sent out to terrify the nations.
So we see that this is a picture of the desperate need of Israel to return to God.
The four horns had broken and scattered Judah. Four carpenters were to rebuild the nation.
Israel was discouraged at the display of the powers and forces in opposition
against them. But what they did not see
was the resources. They were unconscious of the divine agents that
were there to move on their behalf and that is what God
revealed to them.
The next thing Zechariah sees is a vision of a man with a measuring line in his hand who went out to measure the city of Jerusalem and as he did this, the interpreting angel said to the prophet.
Zechariah and the people were to do the work of restoring a destroyed
nation.
Third vision: the man with a measuring line.
Zech 2:1-13 And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold,
a man with
a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou?
And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the
breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the
angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out
to meet him, and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man,
saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, by
reason of the multitude of men and cattle therein. For I, saith Jehovah,
will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in
the
midst of her. Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north, saith Jehovah; for
I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, saith Jehovah.
Ho Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: After glory hath he sent me unto the nations
which plundered you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his
eye.
For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall be a spoil
to
those that served them; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent
me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell
in the midst of thee, saith Jehovah. And many nations shall join themselves
to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the
midst
of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts has sent me unto thee.
And Jehovah shall inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and shall
yet
choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah; for he is waked
up out
of his holy habitation.
The man was sent to measure Jerusalem to find out how long and how wide it is. The measuring-man was told to stop because Jehovah would be a wall round about Jerusalem and would be its glory.
The scattered people were now being recalled.
The peaceful empire was the Persians, that had ordered the stoppage
of the work of rebuilding. The Persians would be punished by rise
of the Grecian empire. Alexander would defeat and completely conquer
Persia.
The Jews could rejoice because they were again chosen by Jehovah.
Jehovah to inherit Judah.
Now there is five more visions. Zechariah shows the way to return to God, in these visions.
Joshua the high priest is revealed, standing before God. Opposed to Joshua is Satan, the adversary.
The people could see the adversary. They knew that Satan was against them. But what they could not see was the advocate, the one who stood on their behalf and who ministered for them.
In this vision, Joshua is cleansed; his filthy garments are taken off and he is clad in new, clean garments and the statement is made that God would do this because he chose to do so.
"I have chosen Jerusalem," Why does he bless us? Because he has chosen to do so.
Then in the latter part of this chapter 3 is a wonderful vision that looks forward to the work of Christ upon the cross .
The building of the Temple is to be done by one in David's family, the Branch.
Zech 3:8-9 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and
thy fellows that sit before thee;
for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant
the
Branch. For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one
stone
are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Jehovah
of
hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
This is a marvelous prophecy of the coming of the one who would be Jehovah's
servant, the Branch. One who would have the
marks of the crucifixion and who would be the instrument by which the
guilt of the land was removed in a single day.
In that day blessing would flow out as God's manifestation of his right to cleanse the sinner without charging him, accusing him, or condemning him. Cleansing is the first step in the way back.
Joshua, the high priest, the angel of the Lord, and Satan is the 4th vision..
Zech. 3:1-10 And he showed me Joshua the high priest
standing before
the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to
be his adversary. And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke
thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:
is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed
with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. And
he
answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying,
Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold,
I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee
with rich apparel. And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head.
So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments;
and the angel of Jehovah was standing by. And the angel of Jehovah
protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou
wilt
walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt
judge
my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of
access
among these that stand by. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and
thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for,
behold,
I will bring forth my servant the Branch. For, behold, the stone
that I have set
before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the
graving
thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that
land in one
day. In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall ye invite every
man his neighbor
under the vine and under the fig-tree.
Satan is rebuked and not allowed to destroy Israel.
Joshua the priest is first clothed in filthy clothes. The filthy rags are then taken away and replaced with a clean turban, or mitre, and clean clothes.
Jehovah's servant, the Branch is to come forth. An unpolished stone is watched over by the seven eyes of God.
The gold candlestick which holds seven lamps is the 5th vision..
Zech 4:1-14 And the angel that talked with me came again,
and waked me, as a man that is
wakened out of his sleep. And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said,
I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon
the top
of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the
lamps,
which are upon the top thereof; and two olive-trees by it, one upon
the right
side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. And I
answered and
spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Then
the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not
what
these are? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me,
saying,
This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor
by power,
but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain?
before
Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the
top stone with
shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it. Moreover the word of Jehovah
came unto me,
saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of
this house; his hands
shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent
me unto you.
For who hath despised the day of small things? for
these seven shall rejoice, and
shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; these are the eyes
of Jehovah,
which run to and fro through the whole earth. Then answered I, and
said unto
him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick
and
upon the left side thereof? And I answered the second time,
and said unto him,
What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts,
that
empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered
me and said, Knowest
thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These
are the
two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
The candlestick has seven lamps. The candlestick has a bowl on its top with pipes leading the seven lamps.
To keep the candlestick burning required no human agency, but oil was perpetually supplied by olive trees on both sides of the candlestick.
This represented the provision of God and the lack of need for human power and might. God will accomplish his purpose.
We see what follows the cleansing of God in the vision of the lampstand and the olive tree.
Zerubbabel was of the family of David, and he is connected with the building of the second Temple.
Zech. 4: 6-9 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,
This is the word of Jehovah
unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,
saith
Jehovah of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou
shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings
of
Grace, grace, unto it. Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto
me, saying,
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands
shall
also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me
unto you.
What wonderful symbolism of the fact that the Lord is constantly supplying that which strengthens, and makes possible for his people to burn brightly as light in the midst of a dark generation.
Phil. 2:15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children
of God without
blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
ye are seen as lights in the world,
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
Zerubbabel had laid the foundation for the temple and would live to see the work finished.
The olive trees represented the two powers that serve the interest of Jehovah. The priests and kings interest would bend to the will of the Lord.
The flying roll is in reality a gigantic scroll with scriptures written on both sides, this is the 6th vision.
Zech 5:1-4 Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and,
behold, a flying roll.
And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying
roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten
cubits.
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face
of the
whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side
according
to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according
to it.
I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter
into the house
of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name;
and it
shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber
thereof and the stones thereof.
Zechariah sees a flying roll filled with curses against thieves and the blasphemers among the people.
This vision represents the judgment of Israel, and the going forth of the law in the midst of corruption.
They can see the corruption but the people could not see the law.
This is God's encouragement in the hour of darkness when all they could see was corruption, and everything going to pieces. What they could not see was God's power working to bring a curse upon that lawlessness . God's judgment would bring the evil to an end.
The flying roll represented the moral law of God. The immoral people will be punished severely.
The woman in the ephah. is the 7th vision
Zech 5:5-11 Then the angel that talked with me went forth,
and said unto
me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah that goeth
forth. He said moreover, This is their appearance in all the land
and, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead; and this is a woman
sitting in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is Wickedness:
and he cast her down into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the
weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine
eyes,
and saw, and, behold, there came forth two women, and the wind
was in their wings; now they had wings like the wings of a stork; and
they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven. Then said I to the
angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said
unto me, To build her a house in the land of Shinar: and when it is prepared,
she shall be set there in her own place.
Zechariah sees a woman in an ephah. An ephah is similiar to a bushel basket, while the prophet and the angel watch, wings were given to this basket and it flew away to the land of Babylon.
This is a powerful vision given to Zechariah. Zechariah can understand it because it contains terms that used elsewhere in the Scriptures.
This woman appears symbolically in scripture, she woman represents wickedness. Something is wrong in the realm of religion.
This is the picture of the judgment of God upon hypocritical religion, false faith, and spiritual complacency.
A woman is in an ephah with a lead cover. The woman pushed back the container and the leaden lid is replaced.
Two winged-women lifted up the ephah. The ephah is carried to its house in Shinar.
Evil is to be banished from Israel and will take residence in another place, namely Babylon.
The vision now pictures four chariots.
In this final scene, the prophet sees four chariots which rode out upon the earth.
This reminds us of the of the four horsemen in the book of Revelation. The horsemen ride and bring judgment upon the world.
God sends us the powerful message symbolized in these visions. First there would be cleansing, then by the God would make provision for his people. Evil would be put away in its various forms, and finally judgment would cover of the entire earth as God brings the evil of men to the seat of judgment.
Zech 6:1-8 And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and,
behold, there came four
chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were
mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the
second chariot black horses; and in the third chariot white horses;
and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses. Then I answered
and
said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
And
the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven,
which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The
chariot
wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and
the
white went forth after them; and the grizzled went forth toward the south
country. And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might
walk
to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro
through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried
he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north
country have quieted my spirit in the north country
Four chariots, drawn by four horses, come from two brass mountains.
The chariots and their horses represented the four spirits of God.
The Chariots and horses go to the north country and then throughout the earth.
The spirit of Jehovah becomes still and quiet, then the north country will be at rest.
The crowning of the high priest
There is a spiritual temple to be constructed and that is the one that the "Branch" is to build.
Zechariah 6: 12
Zech 6:9-15 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
Take
of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and
of Jedaiah; and come thou the same day, and go into the
house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, whither they are come
from Babylon; yea, take of them silver and gold, and
make
crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak,
the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah
of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he
shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah;
even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory,
and
shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne;
and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And the crowns
shall
be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah,
for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah. And they that are far off
shall come
and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts
hath
sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey
the voice
of Jehovah your God.
The crowning of Joshua, the high priest, in made in the presence of the men from Babylon.
We have a near and far prophecy, the branch is representative of Joshua, the high priest, but also points forward to the coming of the Savior.
The Branch is to build the temple of the Lord. The Branch will sit and rule upon his mighty throne.
The Branch is to be a "priest upon his throne." The one who is the branch, is to be a prophet, priest and king.
The crown will be taken from Joshua's head and kept in the restored temple as a reminder of this prophecy of God.
The temple will be built and refurbished by those who come from far off in Babylon.
God gives answers to the questions about the fasts of the people.
SOLEMN FEASTS AND DIRECT ADDRESS OF ZECHARIAH 7:1-8:17
In the 7th chapter we mark a new division in the book and from this chapter, we will find God speaking in a different way.
God will no longer use visions but will make his word known by speaking to the prophet in a direct address.
The main thrust of this division or section is the prophet's announcement.
Zech .7:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king
Darius, that the word of
Jehovah came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even
in Chislev.
Shall the weeping and fasting of the fifth month be continued
Zech 7:1-3 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king
Darius, that the word
of Jehovah came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month,
even in Chislev. Now they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech,
and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to speak unto
the priests
of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I
weep in
the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
The Jews held feasts to commemorate victories and fasts to remember tragedy.
The fast of the fifth month was in memory of the destruction of the temple.
Zech 7:4-14 Then came the word of Jehovah of hosts
unto me, saying, Speak unto
all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted
and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy
years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye eat, and
when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
Should ye not hear the words which Jehovah cried by the former
prophets,
when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof
round
about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited? And
the word of
Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken,
saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man
to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the
sojourner,
nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your
heart.
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped
their
ears, that they might not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an
adamant stone,
lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had
sent by
his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from
Jehovah
of hosts. And it is come to pass that, as he cried, and they
would not hear, so
they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts;
but I will scatter them
with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus
the land
was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned: for
they laid
the pleasant land desolate.
The answer is that fasting is valuable only when those who observe the fasts have clean hands, and the right attitude toward Jehovah.
Zechariah Reminds them of their rebellion against God which resulted in their exile.
God's love for the Jews will fill Jerusalem with great joy and happiness.
Zech 8:3 Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and
will dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain
of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain.
Zechariah pictures God as dwelling in the midst of his people.
The return of Jerusalem to Jewish control has prepared the way for the rebuilding of the temple on its old site.
The temple of Herod was standing in beauty for Christ and his apostles to appraise.
Matthew 24:21-22 And Jesus went out from the temple, and
was going on his way;
and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the
temple. But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all
these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left
here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The church of Christ is God's kingdom. In the church he dwells among his people.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them,
saying, All authority
hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore,
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am
with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, let us have
grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with
reverence and awe:
Through Christ we as christians have God in the midst of us. Just as God inhabited the tabernacle and temple so does he in a spiritual way dwell among his church.
Chapters 7 and 8 brings the plea of God for the people to be honest and open before him.
God again rehearses their failures in his sight and then gives a reminder that while he is unfailing in his mercy and grace, he is unchanging in his standards. He always supplies what is necessary but he never lowers the standards.
The people react as people often do, in these three ways; first they pretend not to hear.
Zech 7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder,
and stopped their ears,
that they might not hear.
Secondly, the people will deliberately disobey the word of Jehovah and his law.
Zech 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone,
lest they should hear the
law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the
former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.
The people will go through the motions and began to play the hypocrite.
Zech 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest
they should hear the
law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the
former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.
The chapter opened with a question from the people, "Shall we keep on with these feasts that we began in Babylon?"
God's answer and word to them is, "Why are you doing it?
Were they celebrating these feasts, because they wanted to worship,
or for a religious show and ceremony?
How accurately this catches up the false and deceitful inclination
of the human race.
God points out that the result will be a blindness to truth; that ultimately,
they will lose the ability to see and
hear.
Zech 8:1-8 And the word of Jehovah of hosts came to me,
saying, Thus saith Jehovah
of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for
her
with great wrath. Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and
will dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth;
and
the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain. Thus saith
Jehovah of
hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem,
every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets
of the city
shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith
Jehovah
of hosts: If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people
in those days,
should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts.
Thus saith
Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country,
and from
the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem;
and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
The people are instructed and told to rejoice. God offers them a conditional blessing.
Zech 8:9-17 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your
hands be strong, ye that hear in
these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the
day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even
the temple, that it might be built. For before those days there was no
hire
for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that
went
out or came in, because of the adversary: for I set all men every one against
his
neighbor. But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people
as in the former
days, saith Jehovah of hosts. For there shall be the seed of
peace; the vine shall
give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens
shall give their
dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
And it
shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house
of Judah and
house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing. Fear not,
but let your
hands be strong. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: As I thought to
do evil unto you,
when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I repented
not;
so again have I thought in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to
the house of
Judah: fear ye not. These are the things that ye shall do: speak
ye every man the truth
with his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;
and let none
of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false
oath: for all these
are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.
Zechariah reveals that it was God's purpose now to restore the nation and prosper the people.
The fasting of the past would be turned to joyful feasting. Salvation is of the Jews.
THE FUTURE FOR ISRAEL AND EARTH, CHAPTERS 9-10
This brings us to chapters 9 and 10. The book shows the picture of blindness in the people.
Zechariah unfolds through divine revelation first of many amazingly accurate presentations of the coming Christ or Messiah.
Zech 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout,
O daughter of
Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and
having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a
colt the foal of an ass.
The historical and minute accuracy of God's word is clearly revealed in the prophecy of Zechariah.
We recall how this prophecy was literally fulfilled in the New Testament
This was precisely what happened when Jesus sent his disciples to find a colt and an ass.
Jesus mounted the ass and rode in triumph in the streets of Jerusalem
with the people going before and shouting
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord!"
Matt. 21:9 And the multitudes that went before him, and
that followed, cried,
saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus the Christ and Messiah exactly fulfilled this prophecy of Zechariah.
The Jews having this exact prophecy still did not know him or recognize Jesus when he came in this remarkable way.
And as he drew near to Jerusalem, he wept as he looked out over the sinful city and said,
Luke 19:42 saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even
thou, the things which belong
unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Zech. 9:1 The burden of the word of Jehovah upon
the land of Hadrach, and
Damascus shall be its resting-place (for the eye of man and of all the
tribes of Israel is toward Jehovah);
The nations are going to be punished but Israel is going to be safe.
Zech. 9:1-8 The burden of the word of Jehovah upon the land of
Hadrach, and
Damascus shall be its resting-place (for the eye of man and of all the
tribes of Israel is toward Jehovah); and Hamath, also, which bordereth
thereon; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. And Tyre did
build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine
gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will dispossess
her,
and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with
fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be sore pained;
and Ekron, for her expectation shall be put to shame; and the king shall
perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard
shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
And I
will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between
his teeth; and he also shall be a remnant for our God; and he shall be
as a
chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. And I will encamp about
my
house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor
shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
This is a prophecy of the conquest of Alexander of Macedonian. Israel will be at peace as war rages in the conquests of Alexander.
The coming Prince will bring peace and cut off the battle- bow. Notice the prophesy fulfilled in Jesus triumphant entry in Jerusalem
Zech. 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout,
O daughter of
Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and
having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a
colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off;
and he shall speak peace unto the nations: and his dominion shall be
from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Israel will not suffer defeat from the Greek invasions throughout Europe to India.
Zech. 9:11-17 As for thee also, because of the blood of
thy covenant I have
set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water. Turn
you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I
declare that I will render double unto thee. For I have bent Judah
for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up thy sons,
O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and will make thee as the
sword of a mighty man. And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and
his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah will
blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south. Jehovah
of hosts will defend them; and they shall devour, and shall tread down
the sling-stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine;
and they shall be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.
And Jehovah
their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they
shall be
as the stones of a crown, lifted on high over his land. For how great
is his
goodness, and how great is his beauty! grain shall make the young men flourish,
and new wine the virgins.
Condition of safety is that they seek Jehovah and not idols
Zech. 10:1-12 Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the
latter rain, even of
Jehovah that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers
of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the teraphim have
spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have
told false dreams, they comfort in vain: therefore they go their
way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.
Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the
he-goats; for Jehovah of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of
Judah, and will make them as his goodly horse in the battle. From
him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him
the battle bow, from him every ruler together. And they shall be
as
mighty men, treading down their enemies in the mire of the streets in
the battle; and they shall fight, because Jehovah is with them; and the
riders on horses shall be confounded. And I will strengthen the house
of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them
back; for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had
not cast them off: for I am Jehovah their God, and I will hear them.
And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall
rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and rejoice;
their
heart shall be glad in Jehovah. I will hiss for them, and gather
them; for
I have redeemed them; and they shall increase as they have increased.
And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in
far countries; and they shall live with their children, and shall return.
I will
bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of
Assyria;
and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall
not be
found for them. And he will pass through the sea of affliction, and
will smite the
waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up; and the
pride of
Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart.
And I will
strengthen them in Jehovah; and they shall walk up and down in his name,
saith Jehovah.
THE LEADERS ARE EXAMINED GOD RECONCILES WITH HIS PEOPLE
CHAPTER 11:1-14:21
Faithless shepherds, the leaders of Israel anger Jehovah. Only trusting Jehovah will bring peace and prosperity.
Good and bad leaders are contrasted.
Zech 11:1-7 Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire
may devour thy cedars.
Wail, O fir-tree, for the cedar is fallen, because the goodly ones are
destroyed: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest is come
down. A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! for their glory is
destroyed:
a voice of the roaring of young lions! for the pride of the Jordan is laid
waste.
Thus said Jehovah my God: Feed the flock of slaughter; whose possessors
slay
them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed
be
Jehovah, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not. For
I will no
more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver
the
men every one into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king;
and they
shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
So I fed the
flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two
staves;
the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
Disaster can come if God is not honored. Jehovah hates bad leaders.
The Messiah and his reception by the people is taught again by the word of the prophet.
Zech 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give
me my hire; and if not, forbear.
So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.
Judas received the price of a slave when he betrayed Jesus Christ to the chief priests and leaders of the Jews.
The price was exact and was thirty shekels of silver.
If a slave was gored by an ox, the man who owned the ox could settle the whole matter by paying his neighbor thirty shekels of silver.
Judas Iscariot and the Jewish leaders weighed out Jesus for the price of a slave, they paid the price of thirty shekels of silver.
Jesus came to his people and they sold him for execution on the cross of Calvary. The leaders of the people sold their Messiah and crucified him.
Zechariah said, the blood-sealed covenant will be broken.
God's favor was sold for 30 pieces of silver.
If a nation or people refuse the true shepherd, God will allow you to have a false shepherd.
Zech 11:15-17 And Jehovah said unto me, Take unto thee yet again
the
instruments of a foolish shepherd. For, lo, I will raise up
a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those that are cut
off, neither will seek those that are scattered, nor heal that
which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat
the flesh of the fat sheep, and will tear their hoofs in pieces.
Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! the
sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm
shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
Jesus condemned the leaders of the people who had mislead the people.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive
me not: if another shall
come in his own name, him ye will receive.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.
Jesus came as the Messiah and deliverer but was rejected and was not received as the Messiah.
Israel and Judah to be rejected.
Judah was to be a terror to the enemies of Jehovah.
Zechariah gives us this beautiful picture of God finding a way to come back into the lives of his people.
Zech 12:2-3 behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling
unto all the peoples round
about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a
burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with
it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered
together against it.
According to the Scriptures, the darkest days for Jerusalem are ahead.
Judah shall become a burden to the nations, a grievous stone of stumbling.
The gospel of Jesus of Jesus stone is a stumbling back to damnation to the unbeliever. The rock of ages will break those who reject and fight against him to pieces.
Dan. 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was
cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay,
the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what
shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation
thereof sure.
I Peter 2:6-9 Because it is contained in scripture,
Behold, I lay in Zion
a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth
on him shall not be put to shame. For you therefore that believe
is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which
the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble
at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
You either stand on the gospel of Christ, or reject him and stumble over the rock of ages.
Judah was to be blessed, and from the tribe of Judah came the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Zech. 12:8-9 In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants
of Jerusalem: and
he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the
house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all
the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah tells us that God will not be forgotten or ignored. God vows that he will break through into the life of human consciousness.
Zech. 12:9-10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that
I will seek to destroy all
the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of
grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they
have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his
only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness
for his first-born.
Judah's rejection of God's mercy is tragic and sad.
Zech. 12:10-14 And I will pour upon the house of David,
and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication;
and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they
shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall
be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning
of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn,
every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives
apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
the
family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of
the
Shimeites apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain,
every
family apart, and their wives apart.
They shall look on him whom they pierced. There shall be great mourning.
The good shepherd and his treatment from humanity is shameful.
Zech. 13:1-5 In that day there shall be a fountain opened
to the house of David and
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. And
it
shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut
off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be
remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit
to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass that, when any
shall
yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto
him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of Jehovah;
and
his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when
he
prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets
shall
be ashamed every one of his vision, when he prophesieth; neither shall
they
wear a hairy mantle to deceive: but he shall say, I am no prophet,
I am a tiller
of the ground; for I have been made a bondman from my youth.
Isn't that amazing? Israel in its blindness refused her Messiah,
refusing to recognize the one God sent, never realizing that the
one whom they pierced is coming again.
When he comes, he will speak these words. The prophecy was fullfilled when the disciples left Jesus at his arrest.
Zech. 13:6-9 And one shall say unto him, What are
these wounds between
thine arms? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded
in the house of my friends. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the
shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon
the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land,
saith Jehovah,
two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left
therein.
And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as
silver is
refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name,
and
I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah
is my God.
From Jesus sacrifice we have a cleansing fountain.
Family battles and feuds will result. The good shepherd will receive his wounds in the house of his friend.
Only a small fraction of the people will respond to God's offer of mercy and grace.
Jehovah's universal reign is foretold in symbolic language by Zechariah.
Zech. 14:1-4 Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when thy spoil
shall be divided
in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against
Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled,
and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity,
and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then shall
Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in
the
day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,
which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be
cleft
in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall
be a
very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north,
and
half of it toward the south
Jerusalem is going to be plundered once again. There will be a new war for minds and souls.
This battle will be fought by the one whose feet will stand upon the mount of Olives.
You remember this was the place that Jesus stood as he ascended from earth.
Acts 1:11 who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
looking into heaven?
this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come
in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
Zech 14:4-5 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount
of Olives, which is
before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in
the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall
be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the
north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee by the valley
of my
mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea,
ye shall
flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah
king of
Judah; and Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee
Israel had seen her Messiah and killed him. One day they will stand before him and mourn for the one whom they pierced.
This rejected Messiah will judge all mankind when he returns and the dead rise and the earth melts away.
Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye
shall see him, and they
that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him.
Even so, Amen.
Israel and all the world will recognize with great mourning that it turned its back on the one sent of God.
Zech 14:8-9 And it shall come to pass in that day,
that living waters shall go out
from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them
toward the western sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And
Jehovah
shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and
his
name one.
Healing waters will flow from Jerusalem. Jehovah will prevail.
The gospel proclaimed the water of life on the day of Pentecost and spread throughout the world.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit
is come upon you: and
ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 8:4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went
about preaching
the word.
Col. 1:23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded
and stedfast, and not moved
away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in
all
creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
Those who reject the good shepherd or Messiah will rot in their decay of sin.
"Holiness to the Lord" shall be written on the bells of the horses and upon the cooking pots.
All the wicked and impure will be excluded.
Zech 14:20-21 In that day shall there be upon the bells
of the horses, HOLY UNTO
JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovah's house shall be like the bowls
before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy
unto Jehovah of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take
of
them, and boil therein: and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite
in the house of Jehovah of hosts.
The book closes with beautiful words of reconciliation and the promiseed fellowship of holiness.
CONCLUSION
Believe Jesus to be the son of God, John 8:24
Repent of sins, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10
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