STUDY THE BIBLE 31 (STB 31)

The main theme of the prophets – NATIONAL DISASTERS AS THE RESULT OF DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD.

In this case Zechariah says their captivity was due to disobedience by turning a deaf ear toward God.

 They wouldn’t listen to the prophets.

Prophets were chosen of God, to tell the certain future before it happened, with prophecy. They would not predict the future, as this would imply guesswork on the part of the prophet. God simply used these messengers, to tell what WOULD be happening. No guessing needed!

The books of the prophets, Isaiah to Malachi, cover about 400 years, 830-430BC approximately, when the            Hebrew nation was in decline.

THEIR MISSION AND MESSAGE

To try and save the Hebrew nation from IDOLATRY and wickedness.

Failing this, to announce to the nation, that they will be destroyed.

But not completely destroyed, as a remnant (a few left) will be saved.

Out of this remnant will come a Person who will bring all nations to God.

That person will be a great man who will one day arise out of the family tree of David. The prophets  called him THE BRANCH. This family tree of David, once the most powerful family in the world, was cut down in the days of the prophets, and disappeared. But the family would come back with this man

called THE BRANCH - THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev19:16)

Not even understanding the full meaning and importance of their words, the prophets were obedient.

There are three prophets whose mission were to other nations other than Israel (ten Northern tribes)   and Judah (two Southern tribes), and these were JONAH to Assyria (Nineveh), OBADIAH to Edom  (Esau) and NAHUM to Assyria (Nineveh).

16 PROPHETS IN FOUR GROUPS

NORTHERN KINGDOM CALLED ISRAEL had the ten tribes, and lasted about 210 years, and the  prophets during this period were Amos, Hosea.

The destruction and captivity Northern kingdom went from 734-721BC. They were taken to Assyria have simply disappeared from the face of the earth.

SOUTHERN KINGDOM CALLED JUDAH had the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and lasted about

320 years, and the prophets during this period were Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah.

The destruction and captivity of the Southern kingdom, went from 606-586BC. Taken to Babylon. Invading armies didn’t kill and destroy everything at once, but slowly strangled their captive nations, with  taxes, slaves and goods. Under their rule, they then left the very poorest in the land to struggle on.

RESTORATION OF THE NATION made up of only Judah and Benjamin, NOW CALLED ISRAEL, happened from 536-444BC, and the prophets during this period were Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

OTHER NATIONS were ASSYRIA (Nineveh) with the prophets Jonah and Nahum

and EDOM (Esau) with the prophet Obadiah

 

THE 16 PROPHETS ARE GROUPED AS FOLLOWS

 

Northern - ISRAEL	Southern - JUDAH	Other Nations
Amos	Before captivity	Ninevah
Hosea	Joel	Jonah
	Isaiah	Nahum
	Micah
	Jeremiah	Edom (Esau)
	Habakkuk	Obadiah
	Zephaniah
	Before & to Babylon
	Daniel
	Captives in Babylon
	Ezekiel
	Return from Captivity
	Haggai
	Zechariah
	Malachi

TABLE OF KINGS AND PROPHETS

 

ZECHARIAH

Israel had returned from captivity in Babylon, building the temple had started but had stopped. The two  prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, stir up the people and get the temple finished.

 

THE BASIC TIME LINE

606 – 536 BC: 70 years captivity in Babylon

536   BC: Altar built for sacrifices and the temple work started

536 – 520 BC: 16 years of no work on the temple

520 – 516 BC: 4 years Haggai and Zechariah get the temple finished

THEIR MESSAGE

Zechariah and Haggai worked together. Haggai had been preaching for 2 months and the work on the temple    has started, when Zechariah began. Haggai’s ministry lasted about 4 months while Zechariah’s was about 2  years, but they were both present for the 4 years while the temple was being completed. Their message was Rebuilding the temple

Prophecy of a grand and future temple (being Jesus Christ)  Visions of the coming Messiah

His Universal Kingdom

A DETAILED TIMELINE

536 BC   50,000 Jews, under Zerubbabel, return to Jerusalem. (Read Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther).  536 BC 7th month, they build and altar and offer sacrifice.

535 BC  2nd month, work on the temple begins and is stopped.

520 BC   6th month (September), 1st day, Haggai’s 1st call to build. (Haggai 1:2, 3-11) 6th month, 24th day, building begins (Haggai 1:14)

7th month (October), 21st day, Haggai’s 2nd call to build (Haggai 2:1-9) 8th month (November), Zechariah’s 1st address (Zech 1:3-6)

9th month (December), 24th day, Haggai’s 3rd & 4th call to build (Haggai 2:18, 20) 11th month (February), 24th day, Zechariah’s visions (Zech 1:7-6:15)

518 BC 9th month (December), 4th day, Zechariah & fasting and compassion (Zech 7:1-14) 516 BC 12th month (March), 3rd day, the temple is completed (Exra 6:15)

515 BC  1st month (April), 14th – 21st days, a very joyful Passover. 457 BC Ezra comes to Jerusalem and makes certain reforms.

444 BC  Nehemiah rebuilds the wall 75 years later. This is then the period of Malachi.

 

THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

Chapter 1:1-6 The captivity was due to disobedience

Zechariah’s opening message comes between Haggai’s 2nd and 3rd message, and between the two verses of Haggai 2:9-10, when work on the temple was a little over a month along. The people had become disheartened. He warns them about returning to the ways of their disobedient fathers. He then encourages them with visions that God had given him for a wonderful future.

 

MEANINGS of the NINE VISIONS

Israel the light of the world	(1 vision)	Candlestick & two olive trees (#5)
Israel will be everlasting	(1 vision)	Horses (#1)
Other nations will be judged and destroyed	(2 visions)	Carpenters (#2) Four war chariots (#8)
The world will also be judged	(1 vision)	Flying roll (#6)
The BRANCH (Jesus Christ) will come	(2 visions)	Joshua (#4) Joshua coronation (#9)
Babylon (Rome) will be defeated	(1 vision)	Flying ephah (#7)
Nations will join Israel	(1 vision)	Measuring line (#3)

 

THE NINE VISIONS IN ORDER

HORSES – WAR. Israel was in captivity but will survive and prosper forever. The heathen are at ease and have afflicted Israel. Eyes of the Lord are watching and waiting, and he is displeased. (Zech 1:7-17). God is ready for war.

CARPENTERS - God DESTROYS other nations (Zech 1:18-21)

MEASURING LINE – other nations will JOIN Jerusalem (Zech 2)

JOSHUA HIGH PRIEST – the BRANCH Jesus (Zech 3)

CANDLESTICK & TWO OLIVE TREES – Israel is a LIGHT of the world, Christ will be the light to the world    will triumph and can’t be killed. ELIJAH & MOSES in the Tribulation (Zech 4)

FLYING ROLL – the CURSE of the law that will judge the whole earth (Zech 5:1-4)

FLYING EPHAH – ROME and Babylon (Zech 5:5-10)

FOUR WAR CHARIOTS – WAR and judgment on the world (Zech 6:1-8)

CORONATION OF JOSHUA - the BRANCH Jesus (Zech 6:9-15)

 

Chapter Zech 1:7-17 VISION OF THE HORSES (number 1 of 9)

Zec 1:8 I saw by 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 were there red horses, speckled, and white.

Zec 1:9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew    thee what these be.

Zec 1:10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD    hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

Zec 1:11 And they answered the angel of the LORD 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.

Zec 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD 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?

Zec 1:13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.

Zec 1:14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I   am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

Zec 1:15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little  displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Zec 1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in  it, saith the LORD of  hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

Zec 1:17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread  abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

 

By night God comes as a thief in the night (1Thess 5:2) when man doesn’t expect it. It is the time when he asleep. Zechariah is a as man awakened out of his sleep (Zech 4:1)

A man God’s operations will be down here on earth. When events happen in heaven, men are not mentioned   Riding represents a greater distance that can be covered. A walking man covers small distance and he can become tired. This horse, and the others mentioned, will be going great distances covering the earth, and not   be tiring.

Red horse represents power to get men on earth to kill each other, as God will not be doing the killing. and  also to take peace from the earth. This horse, and man, has a great sword, which he doesn’t necessarily use  It’s God’s horse ready for war (Rev 6:4). Christ came on an ass, a symbol of peace and not war. This time God comes is a man of war and ready for killing, on a horse. Israel were told not to go into Egypt for the horses (Deut 17:16) as Egypt was a war-like nation. Israel was not to have the war symbols of horses. Why?  God would do their fighting for them. God kills Egypt horses showing that God is more powerful than the war  machine of the pursuing Egyptian army and chariots (Deut 11:4)

Myrtle stands for permanence and a sign that Israel will be everlasting (Is 55:13).

Trees – there are many here. One tree would be enough, but God wants to show his overwhelming and    abundant love and promise to Israel with many ‘everlasting’ trees. It’s a sign to Israel that it stands for everlasting, everlasting and everlasting and so on. As stated, one ‘everlasting’ would be enough.

Behind him. The man on the red horse is the main character here with power to induce killing, and to kill, and take peace away from the earth. The other horses behind him are God’s spirits that will walk and search out, and indeed survey, all parts of the earth.

In the bottom represents hid from sight (Amos 9:3). God is hidden from the sight of Israel. They are asking “Where are you God? How long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem? We have suffered for 70 years in captivity!” (Zech 1:12). God is waiting and will not be pushed into action against his own will.

Horses represent God’s four spirits of the heavens (Zech 6:2-3, 5) that go into the four corners of the  earth.

Red horses stand for war, killing, no peace. The question is asked: “But why does the Lord Jesus Christ comes on a white horse? Shouldn’t he be on a red horse (Rev 19:11)? No. The white horse shows he is God  himself as he is light and in him is no darkness at all (1John 1:5). However his clothes are soaked in blood meaning he is WAR HIMSELF PERSONIFIED.

Speckled horses represents Jacob wages and inheritance (Jeremiah 12:9, Laban may have robbed Jacob of   wages, and indeed, the world may rob Israel, but Israel’s inheritance will be the world. The speckled horse says “The world is mine. It is Jacob’s. It is God’s. I am Jacob”.

White horses represents the righteousness of Christ, God himself, on a white horse, to judge and make war  (Rev 19:11). White horses represent fine linen, white and clean, and these are what the righteous saints wear (Rev 19:14).

The angel – God’s dealing with Israel and the Hebrews nation in the Old Testament, involves angels. Angels are next to God in importance. The Jew listened, talked to and believed angels when they appeared.

The man – this is another man, different from the one riding the red horse

Walk to and fro through the earth represents God searching for those who have a heart toward him (2Chron 16:9). God is not running, he is patient and waiting, as he is biding his time for the right moment. The angel of the LORD - is Gabriel who helps men understand visions (Jude 1:9; Rev 12:7). The red, speckled and white horses have returned and tell Gabriel what they have seen.

All the earth sitteth still and is at rest – this is explained in verse 15 as “the heathen are at ease” meaning they don’t care about the things of God and Israel.

How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem Then Gabriel asks the question of God as to when he  will show mercy to Israel as they were in captivity for 70 years. And indeed God gave them his anger, scorn  and contempt.

Zion – Zion is God’s physical place here on earth, generally represented as physical Jerusalem.

My house – God’s temple at Jerusalem. God will be merciful, he will make Jerusalem and other cities  prosperous as he will choose Israel to be everlasting.

A line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem – this is explained in Zech 2:1-2. God is an exact God and has already determined the tiniest dimensions of Jerusalem and he will bring this to pass (Rev 11:1; 2; 21:15)

 

Chapter Zec 1:18-21 VISION OF THE HORNS AND CARPENTERS (number 2 of 9)

Zec 1:18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

Zec 1:19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

Zec 1:20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

Zec 1:21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered  Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

 

Four horns – Horns represent the power of a nation. There is the true horn of God (Ps 18:2) and then there  are the false horns are the other nations that have scattered the Jews around the world.

Carpenters are the builders that will rip to shreds, terrify and frighten (fray) and cast out the other nations. Carpenters will also build David a house (2Sam 5:11)

Four - Christ comes from the 4th tribe of Judah. Four also represents the four corners of the earth.

 

Chapter 2 VISION OF THE MEASURING LINE (number 3 of 9)

Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zec 2:2 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.

Zec 2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 2:4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

Zec 2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the  midst of her.

Zec 2:6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you    abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you:    for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Zec 2:9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye  shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the  LORD.

Zec 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Zec 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.   Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Towns without walls – God is exact (see Zech 1:16) but Israel will not need to defend itself like other     nation’s cities, as God will defend them (Ex14:24)

The land of the north is Russia Gog of Magog (Ezek 38:2; Rev 20:8)

I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven – Jews are in every nation of the world. God  dispersed them everywhere after 70 AD.

Apple of his eye – an apple is the most nourishing of fruit. As the saying goes “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Good nutrition will keep you healthy. Other fruit is good nutrition, but apples are the best. Israel is not the banana of God’s eye, as the pupil in the eye is not curved but round – just like an apple. Babylon represents captivity. Jerusalem is measured and has no walls, but God will be its wall. God will protect    them.

They shall be a spoil to their servants – Babylon was used by God to capture Israel but Babylon will be  destroyed and all those nations that serve her. This will be Rome which is the whore of Babylon (Rev 17:1, 15, 16; 19:2)

Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day - Other nations will come and join the Lord in  Jerusalem (Rev 2:24).

 

Chapter 3 VISION OF JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST (number 4 of 9)

Zec 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing     at his right hand to resist him.

Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen      Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will      clothe thee with change of raiment.

Zec 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and      clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

Zec 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

Zec 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then      thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men      wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I  will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Zec 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

 

This is the pre-vison of Christ coming out of the line of Israel’s Levite priesthood, with Joshua (not the Joshua      with Moses) being the high priest. The tribe of Levi was the 3rd tribe but Christ comes out of the 4th, and this means the sinful garments of the earthly priesthood, and indeed, the sins of the people, are taken away and replaced by the clean garments of Christ. It is a picture of the time when the sins of Israel will eventually be taken away (Zech 12:10) and before then, with the appearance of Christ, at his first coming, on earth.

The pure mitre is made like a close fitting butcher’s cap or turban or headband, that covers the head and hair, and is made up of fine linen (Ex 39:28). As salvation is of the head (Eph 6:17), a fine, white and pure  head covering symbolizes the pure and righteous salvation that can only be found with Christ.

The BRANCH is Christ to come

The stone represents Christ as is a stone of stumbling (Is 8:14)

Seven eyes of the Lord search and survey the earth (Zech 4:10) with great speed – they are running.

The vine Christ is the vine

The fig tree is the covering of Christ’s righteousness

 

Chapter 4 VISION OF A CANDLESTICK AND THE TWO OLIVE TREES (number 5 of 9)

Zec 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his  sleep.

Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which     are upon the top thereof:

Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

Zec 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

Zec 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring       forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and     thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the   whole earth.

Zec 4:11 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?

Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two  golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

 

As a man that is wakened out of his sleep - It’s at night (Zech 1:7)

Candlestick represents Israel bringing light into the world and Christ is the great light (Is 9:2).

The candlestick has 7 lamps and 7 pipes as seven is one of the perfect numbers in the scriptures and stands   for God. Although the physical candlestick

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit

God fought Israel’s battles and it was not of their power. Headstone Christ is the headstone and the corner stone and the stone that the builders rejected, but NEVER  the capstone.

Two olive trees are Moses and Elijah (Rev 11:3-4). Olive trees can’t be killed. They survive for centuries and are forever sprouting. Olive oil is taken from olive trees and is the perfect oil for light.

Zerubbabel started to build the temple when they first returned from Babylon (Ezra 5:2)

The plummet – used in building to get vertical and upright structures. It’s a weight on the string.

The seven eyes of the Lord, along with the plummet, run to and fro, in the world looking for righteous and      upright people.

Moses and Elijah are anointed with the oil of God. Christians today are also anointed.

Golden stands for God and the deity of God.

Pipes signify that the oil flows from God into the lamps and the anointed ones Moses and Elijah.

 

Chapter Zec 5:1-4 VISION OF THE FLYING ROLL (number 6 of 9)

Zec 5:1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

Zec 5:2 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.

Zec 5:3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.

Zec 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD 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 remain in the midst of his house, and shall  consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

 

Lifted up God is above and is in heaven. Men must lift their eyes to God. God looks down.

Roll is God’s law Ezra 6:2; Isaiah 8:1; Jer 36:2; Ezek 3:1-3

A roll represents the roll upon which the name Mahershalalhashbaz which means Samaria, the northern tribes, will be taken away by Assyria (Isaiah 8:1). It represents the wrath of God.

A roll also represents words that are written down against Israel (Jer 36:2)  Flying things are an abomination and a curse (Lev 11:21; Is 14:29; Rev 8:13)  Flying roll is something that circles the earth.

The flying roll represents the porch before the temple of the house (1 Kin 6:34) which was twenty cubits  length and ten cubits wide. On either side of the porch were two pillars – the right side was Jachin, which was son of the tribe of Simeon and the left side was Boaz, who was a son of Abraham. Now Simeon was called an instrument of cruelty and represents wrath and revenge of God as restored the honour of their sister Dinah (Gen 34:25; 49:5), Simeon was also taken and bound by Joseph, being a type of Jesus (Gen 42:24) Boaz was in the godly line of Jesus (Matt 1:5).

So on both sides of the entry into the temple, people were reminded of the wrath of Christ and the future   eternal salvation to be found in him.

Curse – the flying roll is a curse as it is God’s law and the earth is being judged according to God’s laws. 10x20 cubits = holy measurements ie 1Kings 6:3 measurement of Solomon’s temple porch; 2Chron 4:1 size of the altar of brass; Ezek 41:2 holy measurements of a door in the Millenial temple. Altar of brass (2Chron 4:1). Brass represents a curse and it represents the law for those that steal and swear false oaths Stealing and swearing – ‘stealing’ from God and swearing false oaths (not swearing as in ‘dirty’ words and  talk). Thou shalt not steal from God or others.

 

Chapter Zec 5:5-11 VISION OF THE FLYING EPHAH (number 7 of 9)

Zec 5:5 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.

Zec 5:6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their
resemblance through all the earth.

Zec 5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.

Zec 5:8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight                of lead upon the mouth thereof.

Zec 5:9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

Zec 5:10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?

Zec 5:11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

 

Ephah represents a symbol of measurement in commerce. A basket that carries grain.

Resemblance This basket represents the earth

Lead is not gold or silver but worthless; heavy, and represents sin

Cast the weight of the lead upon the mouth means the woman can’t get out of the basket.

Storks are unclean birds Lev 11:19, and a stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times (Jer 8:7). It’s now
time for Babylon (Rome) to be revealed who she really is, as she returns to her home in Babylon.

Birds represent sin

Woman is not a virgin, wife or bride. Represent a sinful system. Represents Babylon and modern day Roman Catholicism that came out of Babylon. Called the whore of Babylon (Rev 17:1, 5, 15) 16; 19:2)

Three women stands for triple Babylon – triple the whore of Babylon.

Shinar is Babylon Gen 10:10 Nimrod’s land (Dan 1:1-2). It’s Nebuchadnezzar’s land, the king of Babylon, the    land of Shinar. The beginning of the kingdom of Babel was in the land Shinar (Gen 10:10)

Satan (indeed Judas) has his own place Acts 1:25

Her own base is in Babylon This is where she came from and returns to. A base from which to operate.   Israel has her own place in Jerusalem (Zech 12:6; Rev 12:14).

 

Chapter Zec 6:1-8 VISION OF THE FOUR WAR CHARIOTS (number 8 of 9)

Zec 6:1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

Zec 6:2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

Zec 6:3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

Zec 6:5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth    from standing before the LORD of all the earth.

Zec 6:6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

Zec 6:7 And the bay 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.

Zec 6:8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

Chariots represent war

Four chariots will go to all corners of the earth, the four corners of the earth

Two mountains in the Old testament were Gerizim and Ebal (Deut 11:29) with blessings and cursings. It’s
gone beyond Israel now, with just cursings for the world. There are no blessings to be had.

Brass represents judgment (Judges 16:21 where Samson is bound in fetters of brass).

Ringstraked, speckled and grisled are Jacob’s wages (Gen 31:10,12) Jacob’s (Israel’s) rewards. These  horses will now take the world for Israel.

Bay is a reddish brown colour.

Black horse to North represents famine (Rev 6:5)

Quieted my spirit means God is now pleased with the work of the bay horse.

Chapter Zec 6:9-15 VISION OF THE CORONATION OF HIGH PRIEST JOSHUA (number 9 of 9)

Zec 6:9 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Zec 6:10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from  Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

Zec 6:11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD 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 the LORD:

Zec 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; 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.

Zec 6:14 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 the LORD.

Zec 6:15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Heldai one of the 12 captains that served David     Tobijah one of the chief Levites (2Chron 17:8) Jedaiah one of the priests

The BRANCH is Jesus Christ and he will build his temple, and indeed, he is the temple.

Helem 1Chron 7:35 mighty man of valour

Hen son of the prophet Zephaniah

They that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD are those saved nations coming to  worship in Jerusalem (Rev 21:24; 22:2)

Chapters 7, 8 Questions about fasting

Fasting has become a mere pretence for Israel. He tells of the future where the fast will not be burden but a joyful feast (Zec 8:19). God paints a picture where Zion’s streets will be full of happy boys and girls along with old men and women (Zec 8:3-5). All nations will be coming to the Jews to learn of their God (Zec 8:22-23, and Zec 1:17; Zec 2:4,11; 14:8, 16).

Chapters 9, 10, 11 God’s judgements on neighbour nations

Chapter 9 – prophecy of Judah’s struggle with Greece and Alexander the Great when he invaded Palestine (332 BC). He conquered Tyrus (Read Ezekiel chapter 26) and other cities (v1-7) but he spared Jerusalem (v8).   He prophesizes about Jesus Christ to come (v9-10).

Chapter 10 – is s prophecy for “the latter rain time” (Joel 2:23-32)

Chapter 11 – Cedar trees represent Israel’s righteousness, and these trees will be burnt.

God’s anger against false shepherds (v3-6)

The ark of the covenant (Heb 9:4) which contained the ten commandments (the two tables of the law), Aaron’s budded rod (Aaron’s rod represents the law, and out of the law comes Christ) and the manna (Christ which feeds Israel in the desert) was carried on either side by two poles or sticks covered with gold. One is  called Beauty and the other Bands, with the former representing God’s covenant with Israel, and the latter   being the relationship or the brotherhood between the Northern tribes and the Southern tribes.

God breaks both, to signify that the ungodly line of the northern kings is finished, when they were carried off  to Assyria, and the godly line with the Southern kings is also broken, with the book of Malachi being God’s last   words to Israel for about 400 years. His total support for Israel will stop and collapse (v10, 14)

God presents Christ (v12-13) and the idol shepherd, the antichrist (v14-17). There will be the true shepherd, Jesus Christ (v12-13)

There will be an idol shepherd, the antichrist (v15-17)

Now God says “Israel, what do you think Christ is worth?” (v12a)     They reply “Thirty pieces of silver!” (v12b).

They continue “We would rather have the foolish shepherd, that will not feed us, he will tear us apart, and
then leave us!” (v15-17).

God says “I will not feed you, and you will eat each other for food.” (v9).

WHO WERE THE THREE SHEPHERDS?

Three shepherds also I CUT OFF in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. Zechariah 11:8. These three shepherds are Eli and his sons Hophni, Phineas.

One month

From the time of the prophecy against Eli (1Sam 3:12-13), to the time of two deaths in battle (Hophni and Phineas), and the third death ending with Eli falling backwards (1San4:17-18), was one month.

They were false shepherds

Eli, the high priest, and his sons were false shepherds to the people, by not feeding the sheep. And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there    was no open vision. 1 Samuel 3:1

The sins of Hophni, Phineas

The sins of Hophni, Phineas, the sons of Belial, were false sacrifices (1Sam 2:12,17); losing the ark in battle (1Sam 4:4, 11, 17), and laying with women at the door of the tabernacle (1Sam 2:22). But it was to  Eli, that God had said “… I will CUT OFF thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.” (1 Samuel 2:31)

The prophesied sin of Eli

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I   will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he   knoweth; because his SONS (Hophni and Phineas) MADE THEMSELVES VILE (sacrifices and women), and HE RESTRAINED THEM NOT. 1 Samuel 3:12-13

The end result

These three shepherds were CUT OFF. And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni   and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his (Eli) neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 1Samuel 4:17-18

Child named Ichabod

And his (Eli) daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by   her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she  named the child ICHABOD, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel:  for the ark of God is taken. 1 Samuel 4:19-22.

Chapters 12, 13, 14 Vision of Israel’s future

Three chapters about the tribulation leading up to the battle of Armageddon.

ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

The two books of Haggai and Zechariah are about the temple being completed. They contain many prophecies about Jesus Christ who is also called the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11)

His atoning death for the removal of sin (Zec 3:8-9; 13:1)

As a builder of the house of God (Zec 6:12-13)

His universal reign as King and Priest (Zec 6:13; Zec 9:10)

Triumphal entry (Zec 9:9, quoted in Matt 21:5; John 12:15)

Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zec 11:12; quoted in Matt 27:9,10)

His deity (Zec 12:8)

His hands pierced (Zec 12:10; Zec 13:6, quoted in John 19:37)

A smitten shepherd (Zec 13:7, quoted in Matt 26:31, Mark 14:27)

 

In summary ZECHARIAH 520-516BC

THE COMING KING AND HIS HOUSE AND HIS KINGDOM

Worked with Haggai for 4 years on temple rebuilding.

Ch 1-6 Visions of horses, horns & smiths; measuring line; Joshua the priest; candlestick, two olive trees; flying roll & ephah; four war chariots, coronation

Ch 7-8 Fasting