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We had six for Wordlisteners tonight, and we finished up Zechariah. We discussed the notes for chapter 10, which we read last week. Then read and discussed Chapters 11-14. The blindness that occurs and confusion to the army that attacks Jerusalem can be quite plausibly explained by having technology currently not work. We all look forward to God being among us and on the throne in Jerusalem.
Our next meeting will be May 8th starting Leviticus.
Hearts on Fire will be from March 13- April 17- we hope many people will come out.
Zechariah 10
In Chapter ten it says ask the Lord for rain, and He will give it. Anything we
need we should ask of Him. After that is the example of asking teraphim
(household idols) and people which cause us to wander like sheep without
direction. The Lords anger is kindled against those who are supposed to be
leading the people because they have become to interested in their own selves.
The Lord Himself will visit Judah and from there will come what the flock needs
and He will be with them. He (the Lord) will call them together, and when He
the Lord scatters them they will remember Him, and He will bring them back.
After Jesus, the Jews did end up being scattered, and now again have their own
land.
He brings them back until no room can be found. A forecast of the return of
scattered people on a greater magnitude than what had returned in Zechariah's
day. A very crowded grouping of Jews - more than the nation of Israel can
literally hold?
Then they will pass through the sea of distress, but God will be with them, and
they will walk with Him.
Zechariah 11
Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter, some will be enslaved, the Lord will
allow some men to fall into another's power, and He will not deliver them. The
shepherd of the doomed flock (also called afflicted) took two staffs. Favor
and Union were the names of the staffs. To realize affliction is to know of
ones' condition before God.
This seems to be pointing back to the original selection of Israel by God, He
gave them His favor and unity (all twelve tribes). It could also apply to the
returning nation from exile a singleness of people and His favor required to
rebuild the temple.
Then the annihilation of three shepherds in one month, has this happened? Who
are the three? Could it be Jesus and the two witnesses at the end of the age?
They could all three die in the same month, they are all sent from God to give
a message to His people. God became impatient waiting, and His people did not
show any interest in truly following His ways.
What is to die -let die, what is to be annihilated (killed) -let that happen,
and those who are left will eat each other during famine. This is similar to
what was predicted for the fall of Jerusalem, but it was written after the
fall, and after the exile.
The Lord takes away his favor which allows the Jews (His people) to be put
under the control of kings- which appear to be end times. Although until the
UN decided to create them a nation, they had been under the rule of kings, so
maybe God's favor was taken away at the crucifixion of Jesus?
The afflicted of the flock - those that know they need God saw the crucifixion
and realized it was God's plan? 30 pieces of silver was the price Judas was
given to betray Jesus, the value of a woman of His age in Leviticus 27:3-4.
The price given for Jesus was given to the potter.
The Union staff is broken, the breaking up of the tribes, and particularly
Judah off from the kingdom. The initial kingdom under Soloman was ultimately
split after his death, and since they were considered one nation returning from
exile, it seems to say it will happen again.
Any people can have different factions, and since the next sentence talks about
a shepherd that does not care for the flock, but only himself. This could
point to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem after the Jesus crucifixion, and
also seems to point to the anti-christ (of a revived Roman empire). Blind and
with a withered arm? The physical imparities are not mentioned in Jeremiah.
The arm is a symbol of military might, and the eye is a symbol of intellect, so
the worthless shepherd will have a focus on his available military might and
his intellect.
Zechariah 12
The Lord will bring the focus of the world to Jerusalem, and it will cause it
to be sieged. All the nations will be gathered against it. When that happens
He will strike those attacking with blindness. Those in Judah will realize the
Lord is helping them.
A couple observations- a worldwide turning by Christians to Christ, and
proclaiming as Jesus did that He is the only way to the Father (Creator God)
will readily focus the world's attention on Jerusalem (His city). Those who
want their own way and not God's will then attack - because they deny the
truth, and don't want to hear truth.
Judah and not Israel is mentioned so it may be plausible to expect Jewish
factions. Striking the attackers with blindness, either physically each
soldier or in terms of not being informed of current battlefield information
would definitely even seemingly overwhelming odds. It points more toward
blindness, it could also be that even though the kings sent soldiers to
annihilate Judah, the soldiers question, and choose to look out for their own
interests. Technology is definitely an idol, and the "eyes" if you will of
those who depend on it. Rendering it useless in battle would make people blind.
Judah will recognize it as God's help and be saved, this is end times for sure.
They will mourn Jesus, and realize a poor choice was made by people at the time
Jesus first came. Back in Ch 11 the Lord grew impatient waiting on us (people)
to choose Him, and so He acted. He has been ready to act since the fall of
man, but longed for us to reach out to Him and welcome Him into our hearts.
The nations that attack Jerusalem will be destroyed, which may not be all
nations, but a significant force for sure. People from nations will be
destroyed, but not all the people from a nation as we will see later. Mourning
nationwide will happen as they accept the reality that we are fallen, and God's
ways are best in all cases.
The families mourning separate from the wives?? Husbands and wives support
each other, they are often a crutch we lean on to get us through difficult
times, maybe in this mourning each will have to face it completely alone, as
individuals internally contemplating their own choices. The only support is a
turning to and realizing God.
Zechariah 13
End times fountain opened in Jerusalem for sin and impurity- an end to sin.
The idols in the land will be cut off and remembered no more. The prophets and
unclean spirits will be removed too, there will be no need for a prophet of
God. Those that continue to prophesy (speak for God allegedly) will be pierced
through. Those that continue are false prophets, and these prophets will be
ashamed of their visions (because they won't happen), and when they are pierced
they will have a clear mark of their deeds.
Strike Jesus, and scatter the sheep. Happened at the crucifixion. Of the
scattered, two parts of the scattered sheep will be cut off and perish. The
third part He will refine them and bring to Himself. They will call on Him and
He will answer. These people will claim the Lord is their God.
6 million Jews in Israel currently, I wonder how many were scattered?
Zecharaiah 14
Spoil taken from the Jews will be divided among them. Nations gathered against
Jerusalem city captured, and houses plundered, and half the city into exile,
the other half not cut off. Could this have been Rome when the destroyed
Jerusalem or was that a foreshadow of what has yet to happen? The Lord will
fight against the nations that plundered Jerusalem and sent people to exile.
As part of this the Mount of Olives will be split in a such that part moves
north and another part south. It will be like a great earthquake and people
will flee. There will be no light, darkness as in Egypt. There will be light
in the evening, the Lord will be the light. Living water will flow from
Jerusalem to the east and the west.
The Lord will be king of all the earth, the only one. The land will be a plain
and people with live in it and there will be no curse, Jerusalem will be secure.
The plague of those that go to war against Jerusalem (prior to this it appears)
is that their flesh will rot while they stand, eyes rot in their sockets, and
tongue will rot in their mouths. This plague will also apply to the animals of
those who come up against Jerusalem.
In the end times there will be panic, and each will raise their hand against
another. Sounds like anarchy, and crisis brings anarchy really quick.
Judah will fight at Jerusalem and gather great wealth from the surrounding
nations.
The people who attack Jerusalem will not be everyone, and those that are left
when the Lord is reigning will go up for the Feast of Booths and to worship the
Lord. Those who don't face drought and the plague mentioned earlier.
The Feast of Booths commemorates the wandering of Israel after the Lord
delivered them from Egypt. All men are to bring an offering to the Lord. The
Lord delivered His people from the worthless shepherd. He saved them, redeemed
them, are the people grateful? When the Lord's kingdom does come, are you
ready to honor Him as King? Are you ready to sacrifice of yourself to honor
Him? Why not start now?
Jerusalem is His, and all the vessels are for our use in honoring Him. The
Canaanites will no longer be in the house of the Lord. In Judges 1:27 on the
Canaanites are recorded as still being in the land after the conquest by
Joshua. The Lord promised the land to the Israelis, and He brings it to pass.
He also promised to be their God, and He is. He also promised to dwell among
them (He is within us), and now physically among us as well.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Feb 20th 2011- Zechariah 6-10
We had four for Wordlisteners on the 20th, and we discussed Zechariah 6-9 and read Zechariah Chapter 10. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
We also discussed the next book we intend to study. It was decided to study Leviticus. One important thing to read Leviticus in light of is how the commands of God to His people foreshadow the coming of Christ. Also the intent of the sacrifices and rules for living as they pertain to us living as Christians today. What was the intent?
It should be a very interesting study, and it will begin in Late April. After this Sunday (2/27), group is taking off the next seven weeks as our church does Praise and worship, followed by Hearts on Fire. Hearts on Fire is when the lay speakers of the church will speak each Sunday night leading up to Easter.
Notes Chapter 6-9
Zechariah 6
Four war chariots patrolling the earth executing God's judgments. They have
been in the presence of God. God sends them out Himself. The ones going north
The black ones have appeased God's wrath in the northern lands.
The coronation of Joshua is a symbolic merging of the house of David
(leadership of the people) with the priestly line. This is done by the Branch
or Messiah (Jesus). Ruler and priest. Jesus will build the temple of the
Lord. Leviticus 26:11-12 Is this a physical temple? Possibly, but our bodies
are temples of the Holy Spirit. For God to make His dwelling among us could
and probably does mean within us. As other Christians allow God to shine forth
through them, we will see God walking among us.
Those from far off will come and build the Temple of the Lord. Physical
building or those people as part of the Church being in a remote location from
Jerusalem letting God's light shine through them. This will only happen if
they completely obey the Lord their God. We as Christians need to move toward
Him, develop our relationships continuously, and go deeper, or we may never see
this.
Zechariah 7
Time stamp, forth year of Darius. A question about fasting during the fifth
month which they did in exile, mourning the loss of the temple. As the temple
is getting rebuilt they question to continue the practice. The Lord's response
was to question their intention of the fast. Were they really seeking to draw
closer to Him or had become a ritual? A similar chapter exists in Isaiah (58)
We eat for self, to give that up is to practice denying self.
What God intended was for it to draw us closer to Him. Denying self creates a
void we should be filling with God. It can however feed selfishness through
pride when we marvel at what we are able to accomplish. At that point fasting
becomes a ritual of self exaltation, and actually feeds our selfishness.
Dispense true justice, practice kindness and compassion. These are selfless
traits that should be developed through the practice of fasting and truly
drawing nearer to God. So are not oppressing the widow, orphan, stranger, or
poor and not devising evil against another.
The people before the exile were warned- multiple multiple times, and closed
their ears. Seemingly not hearing. In our minds we are quick to rationalize
that not hearing the Lord means we don't have to obey Him, we can then do the
selfish things we want to do, causing almost assuredly the hurting of another.
In our hearts we know what God wants, and He knows us better than we know
ourselves, and we do hear from Him whether we deny it or not. Furthermore He
knows we have heard Him whether we acknowledge it or not. Do we want to stand
before Him at the end of the age and deny we heard something from Him that He
both knows He told us and knows that we heard?
From the this life standpoint God knows we heard Him, and He knows we are
falsely denying that we did, and thus are disobedient. Through the course of
our selfish actions God lets things happen to us that will cause us to cry out
to Him. Which He acknowledges He hears, but then He pretends He does not hear.
Now it follows that our selfish actions cause unpleasant circumstances, and God
knows how to get our attention. This in no way means that bad circumstances
are the result of selfish actions- which is the lessen of Job. Someone in bad
circumstances may be there as a result of pretending not to hear God (selfish),
or may be in bad circumstances because the Lord is wanting them to come into a
deeper relationship with Him, and bad circumstances often get our attention and
our focus on God.
Zechariah 8
The Lord is jealous for Jerusalem and will return to Zion and dwell there.
This sounds physical, but part of it also means He will dwell in the hearts of
His people. Old women and old Men, and children playing represent a city at
peace and secure. The remnant of His people may have a hard time seeing this,
and the thought of God actually dwelling in Jerusalem - based on all our
experiences does seem unrealistic from our standpoint, but not too difficult or
unrealistic for Him, the creator of it all and us all.
God will pull the remnant of His people back to Jerusalem, and will be their
God. Therefore let your hands be strong, we should be expecting and planning
and building the temple in preparation for the Lord's return. If we wait on
Him, He may further delay because He is waiting for us to act in faith- whether
we realistically can see it or not.
God will again bless His people and make them blessing to the world. Just like
their disobedience brought about wrath, He looked ahead to the day He was to do
good for them. He instructs them to act: speaking the truth, judging with
truth, don't devise evil against others, do not love perjury. Hate what He
hates.
The Lord says the days of fasts will become days of feasts. People will seek
the Lord and will so love truth and peace. They will seek the Lord at this
time, and as His people we should start now. The Lord will bless these
relationships and that will draw even more people into desiring to know God.
Isn't this what He wants.
Zechariah 9
This chapter seems to forecast the Greek invasion by Alexander the great, which
happened 200 years later. The cities referred to fell in the order listed.
Tyre was partially destroyed by the Babylonians - the part that was on the
mainland. The Babylonians gave up, and Alexander the great took the rubble
from the destroyed land city, and built a bridge to the island city and
destroyed it. Even though Alexander invaded Palestine, he did not conquer
Jerusalem. He camped around His house, protecting it.
Then a vision of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Which happened prior to his
betrayal and crucifixion (which will be referred to in a future chapter). It
also shows Him setting up His kingdom at the end of the age, which hasn't
happened yet.
The Lord runs all these things together several times. Is He waiting for His
people to walk in His ways, at least start, and will then come. If His people
truly do walk in His ways then people will have to make a clear choice, which
would lead to desparation on the part of those that refuse to follow Christ.
Those that so don't believe they would be willing to attack the people of God
in order to protect themselves. They too however are created by God and He has
given them a choice. They like us have taken not listening to God as a reason
to do their own thing.
We also discussed the next book we intend to study. It was decided to study Leviticus. One important thing to read Leviticus in light of is how the commands of God to His people foreshadow the coming of Christ. Also the intent of the sacrifices and rules for living as they pertain to us living as Christians today. What was the intent?
It should be a very interesting study, and it will begin in Late April. After this Sunday (2/27), group is taking off the next seven weeks as our church does Praise and worship, followed by Hearts on Fire. Hearts on Fire is when the lay speakers of the church will speak each Sunday night leading up to Easter.
Notes Chapter 6-9
Zechariah 6
Four war chariots patrolling the earth executing God's judgments. They have
been in the presence of God. God sends them out Himself. The ones going north
The black ones have appeased God's wrath in the northern lands.
The coronation of Joshua is a symbolic merging of the house of David
(leadership of the people) with the priestly line. This is done by the Branch
or Messiah (Jesus). Ruler and priest. Jesus will build the temple of the
Lord. Leviticus 26:11-12 Is this a physical temple? Possibly, but our bodies
are temples of the Holy Spirit. For God to make His dwelling among us could
and probably does mean within us. As other Christians allow God to shine forth
through them, we will see God walking among us.
Those from far off will come and build the Temple of the Lord. Physical
building or those people as part of the Church being in a remote location from
Jerusalem letting God's light shine through them. This will only happen if
they completely obey the Lord their God. We as Christians need to move toward
Him, develop our relationships continuously, and go deeper, or we may never see
this.
Zechariah 7
Time stamp, forth year of Darius. A question about fasting during the fifth
month which they did in exile, mourning the loss of the temple. As the temple
is getting rebuilt they question to continue the practice. The Lord's response
was to question their intention of the fast. Were they really seeking to draw
closer to Him or had become a ritual? A similar chapter exists in Isaiah (58)
We eat for self, to give that up is to practice denying self.
What God intended was for it to draw us closer to Him. Denying self creates a
void we should be filling with God. It can however feed selfishness through
pride when we marvel at what we are able to accomplish. At that point fasting
becomes a ritual of self exaltation, and actually feeds our selfishness.
Dispense true justice, practice kindness and compassion. These are selfless
traits that should be developed through the practice of fasting and truly
drawing nearer to God. So are not oppressing the widow, orphan, stranger, or
poor and not devising evil against another.
The people before the exile were warned- multiple multiple times, and closed
their ears. Seemingly not hearing. In our minds we are quick to rationalize
that not hearing the Lord means we don't have to obey Him, we can then do the
selfish things we want to do, causing almost assuredly the hurting of another.
In our hearts we know what God wants, and He knows us better than we know
ourselves, and we do hear from Him whether we deny it or not. Furthermore He
knows we have heard Him whether we acknowledge it or not. Do we want to stand
before Him at the end of the age and deny we heard something from Him that He
both knows He told us and knows that we heard?
From the this life standpoint God knows we heard Him, and He knows we are
falsely denying that we did, and thus are disobedient. Through the course of
our selfish actions God lets things happen to us that will cause us to cry out
to Him. Which He acknowledges He hears, but then He pretends He does not hear.
Now it follows that our selfish actions cause unpleasant circumstances, and God
knows how to get our attention. This in no way means that bad circumstances
are the result of selfish actions- which is the lessen of Job. Someone in bad
circumstances may be there as a result of pretending not to hear God (selfish),
or may be in bad circumstances because the Lord is wanting them to come into a
deeper relationship with Him, and bad circumstances often get our attention and
our focus on God.
Zechariah 8
The Lord is jealous for Jerusalem and will return to Zion and dwell there.
This sounds physical, but part of it also means He will dwell in the hearts of
His people. Old women and old Men, and children playing represent a city at
peace and secure. The remnant of His people may have a hard time seeing this,
and the thought of God actually dwelling in Jerusalem - based on all our
experiences does seem unrealistic from our standpoint, but not too difficult or
unrealistic for Him, the creator of it all and us all.
God will pull the remnant of His people back to Jerusalem, and will be their
God. Therefore let your hands be strong, we should be expecting and planning
and building the temple in preparation for the Lord's return. If we wait on
Him, He may further delay because He is waiting for us to act in faith- whether
we realistically can see it or not.
God will again bless His people and make them blessing to the world. Just like
their disobedience brought about wrath, He looked ahead to the day He was to do
good for them. He instructs them to act: speaking the truth, judging with
truth, don't devise evil against others, do not love perjury. Hate what He
hates.
The Lord says the days of fasts will become days of feasts. People will seek
the Lord and will so love truth and peace. They will seek the Lord at this
time, and as His people we should start now. The Lord will bless these
relationships and that will draw even more people into desiring to know God.
Isn't this what He wants.
Zechariah 9
This chapter seems to forecast the Greek invasion by Alexander the great, which
happened 200 years later. The cities referred to fell in the order listed.
Tyre was partially destroyed by the Babylonians - the part that was on the
mainland. The Babylonians gave up, and Alexander the great took the rubble
from the destroyed land city, and built a bridge to the island city and
destroyed it. Even though Alexander invaded Palestine, he did not conquer
Jerusalem. He camped around His house, protecting it.
Then a vision of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Which happened prior to his
betrayal and crucifixion (which will be referred to in a future chapter). It
also shows Him setting up His kingdom at the end of the age, which hasn't
happened yet.
The Lord runs all these things together several times. Is He waiting for His
people to walk in His ways, at least start, and will then come. If His people
truly do walk in His ways then people will have to make a clear choice, which
would lead to desparation on the part of those that refuse to follow Christ.
Those that so don't believe they would be willing to attack the people of God
in order to protect themselves. They too however are created by God and He has
given them a choice. They like us have taken not listening to God as a reason
to do their own thing.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Feb 13th- Daniel 12, Zechariah 1-5
Wordlisteners met tonight and we had six in attendance. We finished up Daniel
chapter 12 and started Zechariah, completing the first five chapters.
Our next meeting is next week, and with Hearts on Fire coming up for 6
weeks, we will probably mot meet after the 27th of February for 6 more
weeks.
My notes are attached:
Daniel Chapter 12
As bad a chapter eleven was and the Jewish people had endured two kings (Syria
and Egypt) fighting for generations, the end will be far more distressing.
Everyone in the book (book of life?) will be rescued. The dead will come back
to life, judgement will happen. People will have the insight of God and shine
brightly.
Seal up the book until the end time, when knowledge increases and many go back
and forth (travel?). How long until the end - time, times and half a time.
The power of the Holy people must be shattered before the events are completed.
Many will be purged, others will be refined and purified. 1290 days from
abomination of desolation, at 1335 days blessing will occur- the millenial
reign.
Daniel is going to enter rest (die), but arise for his portion at the end of
the age.
The group discussed after this that as men gain more knowledge they feel they
need God even less- having the answers. Being in the end times is highly likely.
The we switched to Zechariah.
Zechariah was a younger contemporary of Haggai. They both returned from exile
and were part of the process of rebuilding the temple. The book was written
over about a 2 year period of time.
Zechariah 1
This was after initially returning from exile and beginning the work of
rebuilding the temple. As with any great undertaking time must be spent and
the wondering about the insignificance of their effort was starting to get down
the workers. Zechariah reminds them where they had been as a people- exile-
separated from God, and why. Through disobedience, and not listening, and the
Words God gave as a warning for disobedience caught up to them. He is
imploring them not to let it happen again.
Zechariah's vision were from angels talking rather than the moving of God's
spirit in the prophet's mind. The whole world was at rest - God regularly
patrols it. Maybe then under the rule of Persia allowing for Jerusalem to be
rebuilt. Maybe in the future under the rule of the Messiah allowing Jerusalem
to fulfill its mission.
Four horns are regarded as the nations that destroyed Israel and Judah. But
God would send craftsmen to destroy those that try and destroy His people.
Zechariah 2
A forecast of Jerusalem so populous it will overflow its walls- end times when
the city attains its purpose established by God. God will be in Jerusalem.
When God is in Jerusalem many nations will join Him and become His people.
Zechariah 3
Joshua the high priest - dirty (sinful man) but made clean (by God) in one day.
A foreshadowing of the work of Jesus on the cross. If the high priest will
walk in God's ways and perform His service (this is obedience- doing things
God's way, and not as we think or in a way that helps us).
The Branch is coming, iniquity will be removed in one day, and we'll all invite
our neighbors to sit under our fig trees. How well do we know our neighbors,
and is it such that we would invite ALL of them to gather with us?
Zechariah 4
Zechariah is asked by the angel what he sees. He sees lamps and asks the angel
of their meaning. Lamps or candlesticks are the light bearing qualities of
God's house. First we see this in the Tabernacle, then the temple, then later
represented by the Church. The two olive trees represent a priestly line
(Joshua) and a leadership line (Zerubbabel), similar to the two witnesses in
Revelation. Witnesses for God at the end of the age.
The message to Zerubbabel is not by might or power but by the Spirit.
Zerubbabel is of the line of David beginning the work after exile that will be
repeated in great grandeur later by another in the line of David. His work is
a foundation block to the work of God.
We must seek God individually to gain the strength to promote Him thoroughly,
running and not getting weary of the work He has laid before us. He's not done
so we can't be either.
Zechariah 5
Zechariah is asked again what he sees, and this time it is a flying scroll
going throughout the land removing sin by destroying sinners. Oaths are part
of this- whether for good or bad- God is not in favor of us making them.
Leviticus(5:4), a thoughtless oath for good or bad is sin.
Then Zechariah sees an Ephah which is considered another representation of the
removal of sin. In this, sin is represented by a woman, but by women it is
removed signifying possibly that Messiah (or the Branch), who would remove sin
in one day, would be brought into the world through woman without help of man.
This sinful basket is taken to Babylon (Shinar)and held up.
chapter 12 and started Zechariah, completing the first five chapters.
Our next meeting is next week, and with Hearts on Fire coming up for 6
weeks, we will probably mot meet after the 27th of February for 6 more
weeks.
My notes are attached:
Daniel Chapter 12
As bad a chapter eleven was and the Jewish people had endured two kings (Syria
and Egypt) fighting for generations, the end will be far more distressing.
Everyone in the book (book of life?) will be rescued. The dead will come back
to life, judgement will happen. People will have the insight of God and shine
brightly.
Seal up the book until the end time, when knowledge increases and many go back
and forth (travel?). How long until the end - time, times and half a time.
The power of the Holy people must be shattered before the events are completed.
Many will be purged, others will be refined and purified. 1290 days from
abomination of desolation, at 1335 days blessing will occur- the millenial
reign.
Daniel is going to enter rest (die), but arise for his portion at the end of
the age.
The group discussed after this that as men gain more knowledge they feel they
need God even less- having the answers. Being in the end times is highly likely.
The we switched to Zechariah.
Zechariah was a younger contemporary of Haggai. They both returned from exile
and were part of the process of rebuilding the temple. The book was written
over about a 2 year period of time.
Zechariah 1
This was after initially returning from exile and beginning the work of
rebuilding the temple. As with any great undertaking time must be spent and
the wondering about the insignificance of their effort was starting to get down
the workers. Zechariah reminds them where they had been as a people- exile-
separated from God, and why. Through disobedience, and not listening, and the
Words God gave as a warning for disobedience caught up to them. He is
imploring them not to let it happen again.
Zechariah's vision were from angels talking rather than the moving of God's
spirit in the prophet's mind. The whole world was at rest - God regularly
patrols it. Maybe then under the rule of Persia allowing for Jerusalem to be
rebuilt. Maybe in the future under the rule of the Messiah allowing Jerusalem
to fulfill its mission.
Four horns are regarded as the nations that destroyed Israel and Judah. But
God would send craftsmen to destroy those that try and destroy His people.
Zechariah 2
A forecast of Jerusalem so populous it will overflow its walls- end times when
the city attains its purpose established by God. God will be in Jerusalem.
When God is in Jerusalem many nations will join Him and become His people.
Zechariah 3
Joshua the high priest - dirty (sinful man) but made clean (by God) in one day.
A foreshadowing of the work of Jesus on the cross. If the high priest will
walk in God's ways and perform His service (this is obedience- doing things
God's way, and not as we think or in a way that helps us).
The Branch is coming, iniquity will be removed in one day, and we'll all invite
our neighbors to sit under our fig trees. How well do we know our neighbors,
and is it such that we would invite ALL of them to gather with us?
Zechariah 4
Zechariah is asked by the angel what he sees. He sees lamps and asks the angel
of their meaning. Lamps or candlesticks are the light bearing qualities of
God's house. First we see this in the Tabernacle, then the temple, then later
represented by the Church. The two olive trees represent a priestly line
(Joshua) and a leadership line (Zerubbabel), similar to the two witnesses in
Revelation. Witnesses for God at the end of the age.
The message to Zerubbabel is not by might or power but by the Spirit.
Zerubbabel is of the line of David beginning the work after exile that will be
repeated in great grandeur later by another in the line of David. His work is
a foundation block to the work of God.
We must seek God individually to gain the strength to promote Him thoroughly,
running and not getting weary of the work He has laid before us. He's not done
so we can't be either.
Zechariah 5
Zechariah is asked again what he sees, and this time it is a flying scroll
going throughout the land removing sin by destroying sinners. Oaths are part
of this- whether for good or bad- God is not in favor of us making them.
Leviticus(5:4), a thoughtless oath for good or bad is sin.
Then Zechariah sees an Ephah which is considered another representation of the
removal of sin. In this, sin is represented by a woman, but by women it is
removed signifying possibly that Messiah (or the Branch), who would remove sin
in one day, would be brought into the world through woman without help of man.
This sinful basket is taken to Babylon (Shinar)and held up.
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