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.