Iron Range Christian Center
The Wednesday Notes
Zechariah, the prophet

May 29, 2002, "Preparing for a Prophet," Part 1
June 5, 2002, "Preparing for the Prophetic," Part 2
June 12, 2002, "A Prophet Starts," Part 3
June 19, 2002, "Visions of Horses," Part 4
June 26, 2002, "Visions of Horns," Part 5

July 3, 2002, Canceled, no part 6

July 10, 2002, "Measuring Line" Zech 2:1-9, Part 7

July 17, 2002, "I Am Coming", Zech 2:10-13, Part 8

July 24, 2002, "Joshua the High Priest," Zech 3, Part 9

July 31, 2002, "Lampstands and Olive Trees," Zech 4,  Part 10

August 7, 2002, "Scroll & Basket," Zech 5, Part 11

August 14, 2002,  "Four Chariots," Zech 6, Part 12

August 21, 2002, "Should I Fast, Now?," Zech 7, Part 13

August 28, 2002, "God is in Jerusalem," Zech 8, Part 14

September 4, 2002, Canceled

September 11, 2002, "An Oracle", Zech 9, Part 15

September 18, 2002, "An Oracle Continues," Zech 10,. Part 16

September 25, 2002, "Worthless Shepherds"  Zech 11, Part 17

October 2, 2002, "Jerusalem - a Center of Worship for all" Zech 12, Part 18

October 9, 2002, "On That Day," Zech 13, Part 19

October 16, 2002, "A Day of the Lord " Zech 14, Part 20

October 23, 2002, "The  Lord Will Be King", Zech 14 b, Part 21

 

Introduction
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
Without the prophetic, we as a church are woefully lacking in knowing the plans of God.  Much emphasis is placed on the end-time prophecies while ignoring the Gift and the gifts to the church.   This study in Zechariah is intended to look at both, using the prophecies of Zechariah as a mentoring/teaching/textbook for the prophetic today as well as end-times--which might very well be later today. The concept that prophets are no longer in the church ignores church history and the scriptures that supposedly eliminate the need for prophets and prophecy.


May 29, 2002 – Part 1

PREPARING FOR A PROPHET

Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

THE PLAN OF GOD IS REVEALED TO MAN THROUGH HIS PROPHETS
Jonah told the Ninevites –“40 more days” (Jonah 3:3-4)
Isaiah told Hezekiah –“Put your house in order” (2 Kings 20:1)
John told about Jesus -“He will baptize...with fire” (Matt 3:11)
Agabus told Paul - “Jews will bind” (Acts 21:11)

We have been blessed to have been visited by several prophets.  However, historically, we have not always known what to do about what they have said.  Sometimes, some very stupid things have been done just because a "prophet" said something.  That was usually accompanied by a lack of "weighing the prophecy" because of a fear of questioning the "thus saith the Lord."

God reveals His plans to the servant-prophets, but Nineveh repented (things changed), Hezekiah prayed the "God Help Me" prayer (things changed), and Paul said, "Yeh, I know."

GOD HAS APPOINTED, SECOND, PROPHETS
1 Cor 12:27-29  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

JESUS GAVE SOME TO BE PROPHETS
Eph 4:11-13  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
• Prepare for works
• Unity in faith and knowledge
• Mature–fullness of Christ

HOLY SPIRIT GIVES GIFT OF PROPHECY AS HE DETERMINES
1 Cor 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Cor 12:10 ..., to another prophecy, ...

Many churches today effectively despise the prophets and the prophetic and opt for the argument that now the canon is complete and God does not use prophets anymore.  This has a ring of comfort to it because then the pastor can control things more easily.  A problem is that the pastor is not the ultimate authority in the church body.  The structure is clearly listed as First Apostle, Second Prophet--then the breakdown occurs accounting for the additional servants of evangelists, pastors, teachers.

One way of practice around this is the pastor declaring himself to be the "prophet."  And others take on the name "Apostle" instead of just "Pastor."  But then the second part is forgotten--the part of weighing the prophecy.  "Either it is my way or the highway" becomes a hard reality.  There should be serious doubt as to that person's "prophecy."

Though scripture does not specifically state it and there is enough room for other opinions, it seems that there are two different type of prophet functions.  One is a gift that comes upon a person under the power of the Holy Spirit like in Acts and 1 Cor.  But another is as if God made a being called a "prophet" and that person cannot change their spots.  It is almost as if will is gone.  "You will stand up," God says to Ezekiel.  This kind of prophet also has the gift of prophecy, but the gift seems to always be there and always be "on."

Sometimes I wonder about seers, fortune tellers, legitimate witches, and people like Balaam who knew the plans of God but still planned and did evil.  Are there legitimate psychics that should have been prophets?  Or did Balaam bless the Israelites by the "power of Satan."

God appointed some to be prophets;  Jesus gave gifts that are prophets;  Holy Spirit gives gifts of prophecy severally as He wills--as He determines.

GIFT OF PROPHECY NEEDS TO BE EAGERLY “DESIRED”
1 Cor 12:31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Cor 14:1  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Cor 14:39  Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

ALL CAN PROPHESY, BUT PROPHECIES ARE WEIGHED
1 Cor 14:29-32  Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.  [That is another reason for the “weighing”.  “Weighing” is not as much “judging” (stone the prophet) as it is comparing with other prophecies and scripture for correct understanding.]

The Gift of Prophecy should be the desire of every Christian.  Unfortunately, most fear it because they are afraid they will be wrong.  But prophecy should be more eagerly desired than tongues.  "Weighing" should be the comfort factor for everyone in the body of Christ.  This is not judging so that the sacramental stones are brought out, but a comparison of what was said, seen, and heard to other things said, seen, or heard including the final authority of the Bible.  But it is important that all the "words" be voiced or how can the puzzle be put together.  And I do liken God's plan to sometimes be like a puzzle and each individual prophet only has pieces.

The weighing needs to be done supernaturally with the other gifts of the Spirit functioning.  We, as a body of Christ, cannot trust a prophecy or a prophet without the gifts of discernment, wisdom, and knowledge--and they must be supernatural, not just some sage-like elder or preacher.  Show me healing to get my attention and I will listen to your prophecy, but I will confirm it by the wisdom, knowledge and discernment of people gifted by Holy Spirit--not their gene pool.

The weighing also reduces the "prophet" who is self-proclaimed to a position that is judged equal to the body, rather than exalted above the body.  If a prophet is not willing to have his/her words weighed, there is no reason to accept them.

PREPARING FOR THE PROPHET
The Ninevite pattern (Jonah 3):
 A.  Believe the message is from God
 B.  Repent
 C.  Take Action; actually do something

When Jonah visited Nineveh, there had not been three years of fasting and prayer to prepare the people--at least there is no record of it.  Instead, immediately, they believed the begrudging word of God from the reluctant prophet and acted on that word.  There action was one of desperation because what if the prophet was right and was speaking the word of God--again, belief.  They changed their society in hopes that God's plan could be changed.

1 Cor 14:23-25 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

It should be scary to be within a Spirit-filled, fully functional church because the secrets of your heart will be laid bare before the prophets.  Nothing is hidden.  Transparency has a new meaning.  Confession booths have a different understanding. The prophets will know what you did, why you did it, and what you are going to do--and can tell you without judgment because they also know themselves.  No wonder the church does not like to have prophets around.  They can be kind of intimidating.  But that is also why Paul talked so much about love.  The prophet that beats up people has forgotten himself and the purpose of prophecy--edification.

2 Sam 12:   Nathan the prophet and David

Everything David had done in secret had been revealed to Nathan.  Nathan then told everything to David in a manner--using God's words--whereby David could respond.  And David did.  Psalm 51 shows the level of repentance David had.

But everyone does not respond to the prophetic word no matter how precise, pointed, and harsh it might be.

The Israelite pattern (Zech 1:5-6):
 A.  Do not believe–do not listen; kill the prophets
 B.  God implements His plan
 C.  “We deserved it” and then repent.

Do we know of people or are we ourselves this way.  We know what God has said but would rather kill the messenger and ignore the words.  There are those who prefer the judgment of God.  Afterwards, there might be repentance and sacrifices--but the scars seem to be preferred.

The Cornelius pattern (Acts 10): [Matt 8:5-13 Centurion]
 A.  Worship, prayer, generosity
 B.  Vision with instructions
 C.  Acts on those instructions
 D.  Gift of Holy Spirit

Another gentile example of great faith and great humility.  As a result, healing and power.

Prophets and the gift of prophecy can be formidable because they know things that only you should know--it is like mind-reading in a way.  But it is the Spirit of God that knows you and me better than we know ourselves communicating directly with a third independent person.  Privacy has a  different understanding.  And the prophet or prophecy is not God.

Some want to "work up" the spirit of Prophecy through music, prayer and fasting, dreams and visions, hollering at people, declaration, "now I am going to prophecy" or using code words in a funny voice, "Thus saith the Lord."  Or quote passages of scripture and claim they are prophesying.  (They are really only reading scripture publically--which is good if kept within context.)

• Frequently, the PROPHET is suddenly upon you and you have had no time to prepare. [Jonah and Ninevites; Nathan and David; Isaiah and Hezekiah; Samuel and Bethlehem (1 Sam 16:4)]

All of a sudden, without you expecting it, you will be face-to-face with the prophet.  You will not have had time to prepare your heart for the message because it will come as a surprise to you that he/she knew that information.  Even if you were anticipating meeting the prophet, the surprise will be there because of the supernatural information revealed--and the specificity.  The prophecy will suddenly be upon you and what are you to do?

• Usually, the PROPHET has been told much information of which some is specific to you. [Peter and Cornelius; Agabus and Paul; Peter and Ananias/Saphira]  – “secrets laid bare”

Since prophecy by definition must be supernatural, you should be amazed at the amount of information and the level of detail of the past, the future, the present, the motivation, the consequences and even how God feels about it. The prophet is probably not even able to tell everything known just because of language limitations.  And be patient and forgiving about words used.  The prophet is in control of the words and sometimes the thoughts he/she knows don't translate well into his normal language he is trying to use--and he also has information overload--and how do you organize it into a logical presentation:  speech.

• Sometimes, what the PROPHET knows is sealed for a time and questions needs to be asked –inquiry–to release the words of God.. [Micaiah (1 Kings 22)] 1 Sam 9:9; Is 8:19

Inquiring of the Lord is something the church doesn't seem to do very well.  It used to be that you would go to a seer--a recognized prophet.  Now we tend to interpret that as going into our own prayer closet and agonizing to find the will of God.  Prophets and those with the Gift of Prophecy should have access to the mind of God and the plans of God.  We should be asking them--plural--and weighing what they say (another puzzle piece) and adding it to our own spiritual insight and scriptural study.  But we need to ask.

We have asked special speakers who have these gifts to come and minister.  That is the first step in asking--being where we know they are.  But those words must be weighed by others, so even when we have a "professional prophet in the pulpit," the words must be weighed by us simple, uneducated, in-experienced layfolk sitting in the chairs filled with the Holy Spirit.

WHAT MUST WE DO?
Inquire -> Listen -> Believe -> Weigh -> Repent -> Act ->Inquire again

It is worthwhile recording--writing down--prophecies.  That is more complete listening:  Easier to compare and weigh;  Easier to organize the pieces of the puzzle; Easier to communicate to others; Easier to remember.

In the cycle, we must believe we are hearing from God even as we weigh what we believe is God speaking.  That is not lack of faith but simple obedience to His word.  A common question to prophecies in scripture is "how long?"  This also is not lack of faith but a sincere prayer for complete fulfillment of God's word.  Should we not inquire again--how long?


June 5, 2002 – Part 2

PREPARING FOR THE PROPHETIC

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7


 

PROPHETIC WORDS AND PROPHETIC ACTS ARE PRECISE AND SPECIFIC WHILE BEING BROAD AND SWEEPING
This is obviously contradictory language but seems to be part of the enigma of the prophetic.  Each word means something and each phrase means something--and then there is the sentence before and after.  Some will reason that certain things happen repeatedly and that is why a specific word will apply to many different situations.  Following are just a sampling of some scriptural prophecies that have been interpreted for us by scripture.

Pentecost
Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

Joel 2:28 Notice the word "afterward" which makes us look at the verses before. What is the sequence of events?

Ezekiel 39:29; Zechariah 12:10 might be telling the same event.

In Acts 2, we have the events now known as Pentecost and the birth of the church.  This was apparently what Christ was talking about when He said stay in Jerusalem until you get power.  This was also what John the Baptist was apparently talking about when he said one is coming greater who will baptize you with fire.  But Peter doesn't explain using those "recent" prophecies but instead goes back to Joel.

What he quoted from Joel explains:

And Peter continues Peter's use of this prophecy and the work of Holy Spirit brought in 3000 believers.  The prophecy did not explain tongues (glossalia) or the fire on the heads, or the wind.  And Peter was trying to justify what some thought was drunkeness.

But he (an Apostle taught by the Son of God), declared that this "drunken" activity fulfilled Joel's prophecy.  If that is the case, then were the preceding events in the prophecy of Joel fulfilled?  Joel 2:28 states clearly that the portion of scripture used by Peter is "afterward" of something and the "afterwards" is stated in the verses before.

Joel 2:27 Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

Has this happened yet?  Most Jews have rejected Jesus.

Joel 2:26  You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.

For 1900 years the Jews weren't even a nation?  "Never again shamed"?

Joel 2:25 'I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm- my great army that I sent among you.

I don't think I have seen that "great army" yet.

Joel 2:24  The threshing floors will be filled with grain;  the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

This may have started to occur since 1948.

Joel 2:23  Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Some claim that this is now happening--a climatic change--or is it only symbolic of the coming of the Holy Spirit who is frequently symbolized by water or rain?

Most interpret Joel 2:23 through 27 as the restoration of Israel and the last-days Israel at that just because of the "never shame" concept.  There will be shame in tribulation?  And the "abomination that causes desolation" is not some kind of shame?  SO WOULDN'T THIS RESTORATION BE AFTER THAT SUCH AS DURING THE MILLENIUM?  But then Peter's sermon indicates that he--at his time--is in the last days.  THE ENIGMA OF PROPHECY.

Bethlehem

Matt 2:5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

Mic 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Did Herod understand "origins are from of old"?

It seems like the advisors to Herod--a very secular and sinful person--had a clear and correct understanding of prophecy as it related to the King of Israel.  Interestingly enough, they were not camped out in Bethlehem waiting.
 

Rachael weeping for her children

Matt 2:16-17 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted ...

Jer 31:15 This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."

But look at the very next verse.
 
 

Strike the shepherd

Matt 26:31 [Mark 14:27] Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

Zech 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

But what is the "I will turn my hand against the little ones"?

"little ones" Num 16:27; Deut 1:39; 2 Chron 20:13, 31:18; Job 21:11; Jer 48:4; Hos 13:16; Zech 13:7; Matt 10:42; Matt 18:6, 10, 14; Matt 18:10, 14; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2
 
 

EXACTLY CORRECT BUT NOT RECOGNIZABLE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT–AWARENESS

Matthew 4:16 & Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

 This is only understood after Jesus walks in Galilee and is recognized as the great light.

WTC

Monday evening September 10, 2001-- I had a dream of a large hill covered with what appeared to be white ash, and very deep. Atop this hill were 2 very tall trees, that had the tops taken off as well as all the branches, and limbs. In front of one of the trees stood a person wearing red clothing. His hands were up in front of his face covering his eyes and mouth. Then, the 2 trees toppled over with one of the trees coming down on top of the man.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked planes and destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York Center.

YES, this dream was seen by one of us at IRCC.  But notice how it only made sense after the event.  Then we could see the symbols and how ti became to true.

EXACTLY CORRECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY RECOGNIZABLE AS THE EVENT WAS TO OCCUR–WARNING

Zedekiah

Ezek 12:12-14 ...I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. ...

2 Kings 25:4-7 ...Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

Peter
Luke 22:34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Luke 22:60-62 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. [Matt 26:75; Mark 14:72; John 18:27]
 Peter was warned and did not heed the warning.

Local church
1993 "Great adultery at the piano"

The events prophecized were realized several years after a new preacher came--and it continued even after the imorality was confronted.  The "worship leader" continued the immorality even after marriage.  His father was eventually forced out of the church after most people left. The immoral behavior continues.

CAUSE AND EFFECT–IF THIS, THEN THAT

Deut 28:15-68 Moses warned about coming exiles, IF...
With hindsight it is easy to see the Babylonian captivity and even the Roman occupation

Jonah 3 Nineveh responded to Jonah and averted the prophecy
But the Ninevites listened to Jonah's message and averted disaster for about 150 years--many generations.  And even now there is a tel with the name "Prophet Jonah" and the Muslims have built a shrine there.

WHEN YOU SEE...

Josh 3:3 ..."When you see... you are to move ...
The ark was the presence of God and also a symbol of the presence of God.  When God moved, it was time for them to move--but not before.  When the light is green, GO.

Endtimes prophecy interpretation sometimes forget that basic principle based upon favorite theories based upon snippets of scripture rather than all scripture.  And sometimes the "when you see" has assumptions added to it that are not specifically stated.

Matthew 24:15 [Mark 13:14] "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand-
"Let the reader understand" looks like code language to go read the Old Testament or maybe go look at history or use your own ability to reason things out.  Daniel's "abomination" is frequently  interpreted as the sacrifice of a pig on the altar.

Dan 9:27  He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

Dan 11:31-32  "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

Dan 12:11  "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Whatever the abomination is, it causes desolation.
Dan 8:13  Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled-the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"


Matthew 24:33 [Mark 13:29] Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Luke 21:20 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

Luke 21:31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

June 12, 2002 –  Zechariah 1 - Part 3
 A PROPHET STARTS:

1:1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS
• Ezra (4:24) (6:14)
• Nehemiah (12:4)
• Daniel (6:31)
• Haggai (1:1)

There are numerous:  Darius the Mede, Darius I,

I. Brief Timeline based on the reign on the Persian Kings
A.  In 539 B.C. Cyrus II of Persia conquered Babylon.
      1.Daniel 5:31 identifies the conqueror of Babylon as Darius the Mede.
      2.It may be that Cyrus and Darius the Mede are one in the same person.
      3.Or it may be that Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Mede were in alliance, with Cyrus as the
superior of the two.
      4.If the later is the case, then Cyrus, though the declared ruler of Babylon, left Darius the Mede
 in charge of Babylon so that he could continue his military conquests.
      5.This Darius, then would be the Darius of Daniel and the lions den fame.
      6.It was Cyrus who ordered the return of the Jews to Jerusalem shortly after capturing Babylon.
B. Cyrus reigned until 530 B.C. and the Persian Cambyses took his place in Babylon until 521 B.C.
C. Darius I (not to be confused with Darius the Mede) reigned from 520-486 B.C. During the reign
     of Darius I, the temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt.
D. Following Darius I, Xerxes reigned from 486-465. Xerxes is the Persian King in the story of
    Esther.
E. Artaxerxes I reigns from 464-424. During his reign, Ezra leads another band of exiles back to Jerusalem and Nehemiah follows 20 years later. Also, the city walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt.

 518   Jeremiah's prophecies begin in Josiah's thirteenth year.
 497   Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem.
 496   Jehoiakim's fourth year, Nebuchadnezzar's first, Daniel taken to Babylon.
 495   Jehoiakim burns the roll.
 494   Nebuchadnezzar's second year. His dream of the Great Image. Daniel     interprets.
 489   Jehoiachin, 3 months. Captivity begins [Judah's] in Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year (second siege).
 488   Zedekiah, 11 years.
 484   Ezekiel's prophecies begin.
 478   Nebuchadnezzar's third siege of Jerusalem begins. Jerusalem taken and Temple destroyed in Nebuchadnezzar' s nineteenth year.  Jeremiah ends.
 473   Punishment for the murder of Gedaliah (Jer.52.30).
 462   Ezekiel's last dated prophecy.
 461   Nebuchadnezzar's seven years of madness.
 454   Twentieth year of Asteiages (Artaxerxes). The commandment to rebuild Jerusalem.  See (chart 50vi, vim. 5, 12) Nehemiah's first visit to Jerusalem.
 452   Nebuchadnezzar d. after forty-four years' reign.
 429   Belshazzar, 3 years. (Belshazzar slain. "Darius the Median" (Asteiages) take the kingdom.  Cyrus (Asteiages' son) issues the
 426   Decree to rebuild the Temple. Daniel's vision of the "70 sevens" The "7 sevens " begin. Foundation of the Temple laid. Nehemiah's second visit to Jerusalem.
 421   Cyrus ends.
 418   Cambyses makes Nehemiah governor. Nehemiah's third visit to Jerusalem.
 411   Darius Hystaspis re-enacts the decree of Cyrus.
 410   Haggai and Zechariah begin. The Temple superstructure commenced and carried on to completion, from the second to the sixth year of Darius.
 408   Zechariah's last date.

Zech 1:2-6   "The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.'

2 Kings 17:13  The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways.

Jeremiah 18:11 ...Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'

Jeremiah 23:22  But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.

Jeremiah 25:5  They said, "Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the LORD gave to you and your fathers for ever and ever.

Judges 2:19 ...They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Deut 28:15-68   Moses warned about coming exiles, IF...

Zech 1:2-6   Continued
But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? "Then they repented and said, 'The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.'"

Consider the prayers of Daniel (9:1) for repentance. [See Lev 26:18 for what happens without repentance]

Was Daniel the fullfillment of the requirement for repentence?  Can one person repent for a nation, a town, a church, a family?


June 19, 2002 –  Zechariah 1:7-17 - Part 4

VISION OF HORSES

If God is talking through His servants the prophets, would He not use the same language, symbols, symbolism, parables, analogies, context, as He has used in the past? In other words, since we use scripture to interpret scripture, maybe we should be using scripture to understand and weigh dreams, visions, and prophecies we receive today? Also, by learning better the language of the prophetic, maybe we will be more receptive to the prophetic voice when He talks to and through us with dreams, visions, and prophecies. But this will never limit an infinite God in telling His plans to His servants.

But now we also have the risk factor of everybody suddenly having dreams and visions of horses.  The prophetic must still be supernatural or we reject it through the word of wisdom and knowledge.  But by learning about horses and prophecies and how the scripture interprets those prophecies, our prophetic vocabulary can increase.

THE VISION: RED HORSE IN MYRTLE TREES

Zech 1:7-21 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

Haggai, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubabel are all around.  Part of Zechariah's work is to stimulate the rebuilding of the temple.  Haggai is worth reading in this context--and then see how Zechariah's prophecies are reinforcing the "got to work" message.

8 During the night I had a vision-and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

Red horse

Rev 6:3-4 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

From Revelation, we learn about a fiery red horse whose rider has the power and authority to remove peace from the earth.  This is a war making power that causes or allows or facilitates bloodshed.   Examples:  2 Kings 19:35 Sennacherib; 1 Chron 21:15 angel destroying Jerusalem because of David.

White horse

Zech 6:5-6 The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south."

Is this the same vision again with chariots added?  Or another event?  They are going throughout the earth again.  In verse 8, the one going to the north is bringing peace which is different from the riders in the first vision which are taking peace.  White seems to imply justice or judgment--at least purity.  The rider of the single white horse in Revelation is clearly understood to be Jesus in Victory--but also in war.

Rev 6:1-2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

Rev 19:14-15 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Much heated discussion on who are riding these white horses.  "Armies of heaven" indicate at least they came from heaven--so they were there.  "White and clean" suggest purity.  "Fine linen" is frequently understood to be that robe that is received by saints (Rev 6:11; 7:9; 7:13-14).  Rev 3:4-5 "he who overcomes will be dressed in white.

Pharaoh put fine linen on Joseph (Gen 41:42). "Fine linen" was used to make the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the priestly garments (Ex 28, 35, 38, 39). David wore fine linen when he went to get the ark and danced (1 Chron 15:27). Musicians at the temple wore fine linen (2 Chron 5:12).  Mordecai wore fine linen (Ester 8:15). The wise woman in Proverbs 31 wears fine linen.  Ezekiel 16 suggests Israel was clothed in fine linen by God and they rejected God.  The rich man in Luke 16:19 wore fine linen.  Babylon traffics in fine linen in Rev 18.  The Bride of Christ is given fine linen, bright and clean, to wear (Rev 19:8).  "Fine linen" stands for the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:8).

Ezekiel 9:2-3; and 10:2 has a man clothed in linen. Daniel 12:6-7 also has a man in linen.

Mark 9:3 at Christ's transfiguration, his clothes became dazzling white (Matt 17:2). At His resurrection (Matt 28:3)
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  And angels were dressed in white in Mark 16:5, John 20:12; Acts 1:10.

Eccl 9:8 says to always be clothed in white.

Other colored horses  Revelation 6 also has a black horse and a pale horse. And a dappled horse in Zech 6.

Myrtle trees - It has dark green, scented leaves, delicate starry white flowers and dark-colored berries, which are eaten. Can be a bush in harsh conditions and a tree in ideal.

In poor conditions, the myrtle is a bush, in good growing conditions, it is a tree.  This situation indicates the tree has plenty of water and is healthy. A nice tree to have around and the angel is standing around it--pleasant conditions.

Myrtle - Feast of Tabernacles

Neh 8:15 ... and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths"-as it is written.

Interesting that myrtles are included in the Feast of Tabernacles--and that the angel is standing among the myrtles when asking "how long?" about justice for Jerusalem.  Some suggest the feasts are the calendar of God.

Myrtle - haddac - A choice plant

Isa 41:19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive....

Myrtle - Hadassah a Jewish name or Esther

Est 2:7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

Esther was in the place where she was so that she could intercede for the Jews.  "Lovely in form and features" there seems to be a link between the angel/man standing among the myrtles reporting peace for all the nations that opposed Jerusalem--and no the peace will be taken.  The gallows will be used for the enemy of the Jews.

Ravine: bottom–as in bottom of a river bed or valley

AND NOW–THE INTERPRETATION.

9 I asked, "What are these, my lord?"

The angel who was talking with me answered, "I will show you what they are."

10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth."

Horses seem to indicate a larger or global impact.  When the angels came to Sodom.  They have the power and their color seems to indicate what is going to happen.

11 And they reported to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace."

12 Then the angel of the LORD said, "LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?" 13 So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.'

16 "Therefore, this is what the LORD says:

17 "Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says:


HORSES GO THROUGHOUT THE EARTH

RIDERS HAVE SPECIFIC POWERS THAT AFFECT EARTH

Jerusalem will be rebuilt and occupied.  Those who came against her will have peace taken from them.  We understand about Babylon and the time of Zechariah, but Rome has now destroyed, Rome has been destroyed--or has it.  Israel is back in existence but is not at peace (are the myrtle trees in the ravine?)
 
 

June 26, 2002 – Zechariah 1:18-23 - Part 5

FOUR HORNS

Zech 1:18 Then I looked up-and there before me were four horns! 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these?"

He answered me, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem."

Who scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem?  Usually we think of Babylon.  And then after Jesus, Rome destroyed Israel and they have been scattered since:  a people without a homeland until 1948.  And that was a British, UN, United States solution of sorts.  Did Germany and Communism do more scattering?  What about Islam since 1948?

HORNS REFERS TO POWER

Ps 75:4-5 To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak with outstretched neck.'"

Ps 75:10 I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

Horns seem to always represent power:  good and evil.  In the same way that rams butt heads to establish their territory, we lift our own horns against other powers.

FOUR SPIRITUAL HORNS THAT DESTROY

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Paul teaches that our warfare is not against Rome, but against four entities:  rulers, authorities, powers of the dark, spiritual forces in the heavenlies.  Being as there have not been four distinct "horns" that scattered Judah, maybe what we struggle with is the same.  Maybe Babylon (Rome) means the same four horns of evil.  And these are the same ones coming against Israel today.

ALTAR HORNS

Ex 27:1-2 "Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.

Ex 30:2-3 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high--its horns of one piece with it. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.

There is always a physical representation of the spiritual and we should first look at Israel to understand what is happening in the spiritual world.  God told Moses to make two distintly different altars with horns.  If horns represent power (good or evil) and they are part of the style of the altar, that physical entity probably has some spiritual information for us.

Both altars have four horns.  Four usually signifies all the earth as in north, south, east, and west--all geographic directions--it applies to everything or everybody.  The horses went all directions.  Angels go all directions and cover the earth.  The altars represent universal power and spiritual authority.

BLOOD IS APPLIED TO THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR

The priest applies a finger or thumb print of sacrified blood on the horns of the altar.  This sanctifies the altar for the current.  In the past, an anointing oil was used to make the altars and other implements holy.  Both altars receive the "bloodprint."

Lev 4:7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 4:25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

The power in the horns of the altar of burnt offering is the sacrifice.
Animals are sacrificed and burned as an offering to cover sin.  The sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God is the complete removal of sin.  The altar for burnt offering is a representation of what must be done in the spiritual to restore man to a correct relationship to God.  There is always power in blood sacrifice--the pagans know this--and practice this.  We should consider the real reason abortion is "required" by those who tend to fight God.  So sacrifice by itself is for power.  Sanctified sacrifice for power has the mark of blood on the horns of the altar--the blood applied by the finger of the priest who is anointed by oil--filled with the Spirit of God.  There we have a marked difference.

The power in the horns of the altar of incense is prayer.
The incense represents the prayers of the people, but even prayer needs to be sanctified by the imprint of sacrifical blood applied by an anointed priest.  The horns of power are great in prayer--it is a golden altar.

The blood is put on the horns of the altar by the priests
A priest has been anointed to be priest, set apart as being holy.  With that anointing, he applies a fingerprint of blood to the horns of the altar thereby sanctifying that power.  The power is in the horns whether it is sanctified or not.  But sanctified power is what we need for our sacrifices to be of any value and for our prayers to have eternal consequences to the good of the Kingdom of God.

Our high priest is Jesus.  Without His blood imprint upon our power--without His fingerprint in our lives--our power is a destroyng power.

OIL IN THE HORN ANOINTS WITH POWER

1 Sam 16:1 ... Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

1 Sam 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

1 Kings 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. ...

Another representation of the power in a horn is the horn of oil that had the anointing oil in it.  Oil frequently represents Holy Spirit.  Before use, tabernacle equipment including the altars were made holy by anointing.  Before priests could function, they had oil poured on them.  The apostles were told to wait until Holy Spirit gave them power.  James instructs us to anoint the sick with oil.  The oil sets apart for sacred use

ANOINTING OIL from the HORN OF OIL Psalm 45:7-8, Ex 30:22-29
The anointing oil was of a special formula that God declared to be used only for specific purposes.  Do we offend God by profaning the sacred?

FOUR CRAFTSMEN

Zech 1:20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. I asked, "What are these coming to do?"

He answered, "These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people."

Craftsmen build–sometimes religions--carpenters, builders
Someone who bulds up, lifts up, encourages, teaches, blesses would seem to be a craftsmen.  We have lots of people who build institutions, governments, kingdoms, power structures.  Builders work in the human spirit and the physical.  Church programs are built by people--and sometimes they are even inspired.  But these craftsmen in Zechariah terrify the four horns that scattered Judah.

Who terrified Babylon?  Who terrified Rome?  Who terrifies Islam?

WHO TERRIFIES

God Does

Job 23:15-16 That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

Psalms 2:5; Psalms 83:15; Psalms 90:7; Psalms 104:29

Jesus Does

Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.

Matthew 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

Matthew 27:54 ... guarding Jesus saw ...all that had happened, they were terrified, ...

Mark 4:41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind ..."

Mark 6:50 because they all saw him and were terrified. ...

Luke 2:9 ...the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

John 6:19 ...they saw Jesus ...walking on the water; and they were terrified.

A functioning church SHOULD terrify–should cause great fear.

Acts 5:11-14 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.

A church functioning completely in the Gifts of the Spirit should terrify everybody for there would no longer be any secret sin.  The power of a functioning church cancels the destroying power of this world.  The gift of faith moves destroying mountains to the sea.  But how can a church get to that point?  Who builds the church?  Who are the craftsmen?

APOSTLE, PROPHET, EVANGELIST, PASTOR/TEACHER ARE FOUR CRAFTSMEN
As some scholars point out, pastor/teacher is one function so I find it interesting that four craftsmen in the church are the ones who....

Eph 4:12 ...to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...

Equipping the church to make war–against what has scattered Judah?

What is Babylon? What is Rome? What is Germany? What is Communism? What is Islam?.

The church is to make spiritual war against the rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces in this world.  They scattered Judah.  They desire to scatter humanity.

THE CHURCH IS IN WAR AGAINST THE FOUR HORNS

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

There is some scriptural evidence that suggests Jesus will rebuild the Temple.  Much speculation and many books about this topic.  But maybe since the church has the craftsmen to build up to make war against "Babylon," maybe functioning as the body of Christ on earth, the church is actively involved in the physical restoration of the Temple.
 

July 3, 2002 - Part 6 

 

July 10, 2002 - Part 7

Zech 2:1-9

Measuring Line

1 Then I looked up-- and there before me was a man with a measuring line in

his hand!

MEASURING LINE

II Ki 21:13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used

against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will

wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside

down.

Job 38:5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a

measuring line across it? (NIV)

Isa 28:17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the

plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will

overflow your hiding place. (NIV)

Isa 34:11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and

the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line

of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.

Jer 31:39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill

of Gareb and then turn to Goah. (NIV)

Lam 2:8 The LORD determined to tear down the wall around the Daughter of

Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withhold his hand from

destroying. He made ramparts and walls lament; together they wasted away.

(NIV)

Ezek 40:3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like

bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod

in his hand.

Ezek 42

Ezek 47:3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he

measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was

ankle-deep. (NIV)

Rev 11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and

measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there.

(NIV)

Rev 21:15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to

measure the city, its gates and its walls. (NIV)

2 I asked, "Where are you going?" He answered me, "To measure Jerusalem, to

find out how wide and how long it is."

3 Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet

him

4 and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city

without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it.

5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I

will be its glory within.'

FIRE

Exod 13:21-22 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to

guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light,

so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by

day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Rev 21:22-25 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God

Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the

moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is

its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth

will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut,

for there will be no night there.

Acts 2 TONGUES OF FIRE

FLEE FROM THE NORTH

6 "Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north," declares the LORD, "for I

have scattered you to the four winds of heaven," declares the LORD.

Where is north? Jer 1:13, 25:26; Zech 6; Dan 11; Zeph 2:13,

7 "Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!"

8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has

sent me against the nations that have plundered you-- for whoever touches

you touches the apple of his eye-

When?

- After he has honored me.

- After he has sent me against the nations plundered you.

9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder

them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.

Who?

- the one whom the LORD Almighty has sent.

 

 

 

July 17, 2002 - Part 8

Zech 2:10-13

I am coming

 

Zech 2:10                 "Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD.

 

The celebration is over the coming of the Son of God, Jesus, the one the LORD Almighty has sent.  And He did come as indicated in the Gospels.  But is this to be His only coming?  There is no evidence that the Son of God is living among us today unless we take a totally spiritual/abstract interpretation of the words.  The church is the body of Christ, therefore, He is living among us.  Christ is in us therefore, He is living among us.  The Pope is Christ living among us.  He said “I will never leave you” therefore, He must be with us and since we don’t see him–can’t go to His office–He must be with us spiritually.  But He also said He was coming back.

 


HE CAME ONCE  - the Gospels

The gospels are a record of His first walk on earth in humanity.  He was among us and while here, was able to offer Himself as a sacrifice that met the plan of God.  Because of that, all authority has been given to Him.

  

Jesus came and was “honored” – resurrected  – all authority has been given to Him.   Matt 28:18  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 

The follow-on to this gives us the authority to make disciples–we don’t save–we make disciples of all nations.  And timing suggests that because the plunderers have not been destroyed–they are referenced in the New Testament.  Therefore, He will walk among us again.  And we will be able to make an appointment and speak eye-to-eye with the Son of God.  (What will you ask?)

 

He has not yet destroyed plunderers as indicated in Zech 2:8-9.

 

Who are the plunderers?  Obviously Babylon–and Rome is referred to as “Babylon.”  And there is Nineveh (Assyrians).  Maybe the “plunderers” refer to all who have ever and ever will plunder Israel.  What side of the fence should we be about Israel?   

 

AND IS COMING SOON

John 14:28  "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

 

Rev 3:11  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Rev 22:7  "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

Rev 22:12  "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Rev 22:20  He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“Soon” is an interesting word that seems to mean almost 2000 years so far.  The promise is that He will return.  The hard reality is that any single person is within a heartbeat of that “soon.”

 

How long is a “soon” compared to God’s calendar?  How long is a thousand generations: 24,000 to 34,000 years!  We are only at 6,000 years.


Exod 20:6  but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Deut 5:10  but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Deut 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

1 Chr 16:15‑16  He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

Ps 105:8‑9  He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.


 

These five verses don’t seem to be discussed in end-time novels.  Where is the Millenium in a thousand generations?  Where are the seven years–Daniel’s lost 70th week?  What happens after thousand generations?

 


MANY NATIONS

Zech 2:11a                "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people.

 

Jesus sent the apostles to all nations–Paul was spent specifically to the Gentiles and was very successful.  Gentiles quickly outnumbered Jews as Christians.  The language “in that day” suggests there is a time in the future where all of this happens:   the return of Jesus.  


 

Gen 18:18  Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.

 

Jesus is the promise to Abraham that blesses all the earth.

 

Ps 72:11  All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

 

Today, all nations do not serve Him and all kings do not bow down.  This must be yet in the future–but it will happen because it is in scripture.

 

Isa 66:18   "And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory.

 

“I” seems to refer to God or Jesus who is going to do the gathering.  And the gathering has to do with all nations.  They will be gathered to see His glory.

 

Jer 3:17  At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

 

Jerusalem is the center where the Lord is honored.  This is not true today so this apparently has not yet happened.  And it’s a sure thing the “evil hearts” are still being followed.

 

Rom 16:26                but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him–

 

This is the opportunity for all nations to recognize Jesus.

 

Rev 15:4   Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."


 

LIVE AMONG YOU

Zech 2:11b                I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

 


Matt 1:23   "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"‑‑ which means, "God with us."

 

1Thes 4:17   After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.

 

Rapture and resurrection language reveals we will be changed to be like Jesus and forever be with Him–wherever that is.

 


INHERIT JUDAH

Zech 2:12                The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

 


Ezek 48:7-8  "Judah will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.  Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.


 

Right next to the sanctuary (temple).

 


Isaiah 60-61

 

Isa 60  has not happened yet–but will.

Isa 61:1‑7

1              The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2              to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3              and provide for those who grieve in Zion‑‑ to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

4              They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

5              Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6              And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

7              Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

 

This is fulfilled by Jesus and continues to be fulfilled and will be fulfilled.

 

 

Luke 4:17‑21 ... "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. ... and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

 


BE STILL

Zech 2:13                Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."


 

Nehemiah 6:6-12 be still...

Exod 14:14  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

 

This is God being roused and when He is roused, it is to make war against evil.  We need to be still.  We do not make war because the LORD will fight for us.

 

But what about our armor?  The offensive weapon we have is the sword of the Word–and that is God’s prophecies and law.

 

What about our battle with principalities? We need to stand.

Eph 6:12‑18

12           For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13                Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14           Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15           and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16           In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17           Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18           And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

 

Col 2:15  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 

Psalm 44

Ps 59:5  O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. Selah

Isa 28:21  The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon‑‑ to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task.

 

 

 

July 24, 2002 - Part 9

 Zech 3 

Joshua the high priest

 

THE ACCUSER

Zech 3:1-2 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the

angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The

LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!

Joshua is the priest at the time of the restoration of the Temple: a

specific person in history. The prophet was being shown what was happening

spiritually. This spiritual activity was shown for the person who would be

considered the "most religious" of the day. If this was happening to him,

how much more for everyone else?

Our accuser, Satan, is always ready to accuse us. Consider Job.

Job 1:6-8 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD,

and Satan also came with them. ... "Have you not put a hedge around him and

his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands,

so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out

your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your

face."

Rev 12:10-12 ...For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our

God day and night, has been hurled down. ...

At what point in time/history does this event occur? Do we need to know?

When is-or was-Satan thrown out of heaven? Apparently not during Job's

time. One hint might be Luke 10:18-but is that past, present, or future? It

seemed to be in response to the disciples coming back with their exciting

missions report. Isaiah 14:12 tells more about Satan falling (read around

it), and Ezekiel 28:17 describes another falling (read around it). "But woe

to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you!" Rev 12:12.

Past, present, or future? Read what follows. Where is Satan now? Is there

greater Satanic activity now then in the past? Will it be worse in the

future?

Isa 50:7-9 ... Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign

LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out

like a garment; the moths will eat them up.

Our accuser has a limited time of operation-he will "wear out." He is a

created being.

This is the picture of our salvation. Satan stands at our side accusing and

the LORD rebukes Satan-not an angel and not us. God tells Satan what we

are, a burning stick ...

 

SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE

Zech 4:2b Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"

Start sniffing. Do you smell something burning? Each of us has barely

escaped hell fire. We have been rescued from that fire not by what we have

done, but by what Jesus has done. A stick cannot rescue itself from the

fire. Someone must pull it out. The LORD rebukes Satan by telling him that

He, the LORD, has taken this stick out of hell-"Satan, your accusations are

immaterial."

Amos 4:11 "I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You

were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned

to me," declares the LORD.

Judg 6:9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all

your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.

We earned and deserved hell fire and were taken out. Not by our works but

by the hand of God who "chose Jerusalem." This is the gift of God provided

through Jesus Christ.

It is not that the accusations of Satan are wrong-they are probably right.

The point is that the stick has willfully been removed through an act of the

LORD and Satan's accusations don't matter.

But Joshua still needed a clothes change.

 

THE CLEANSING

Zech 3:3-5 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the

angel.

The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy

clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I

will put rich garments on you."

Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on

his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.

The most righteous man in Jerusalem still wore spiritually filthy clothing.

He could not clean himself. And the clothing needed to be changed. When we

are saved, the LORD will have our clothes changed-he will also change our

turban-"a renewing of our mind" as Paul said. This is not something we do,

but, He does. Holy Spirit comes in and takes over changing us from the

inside out.

Isa 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our

righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like

the wind our sins sweep us away.

Cleansing is not done by Joshua, himself. Without the correct clean robe,

we are cast out.

Matt 22:11-13 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a

man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did

you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the

king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside,

into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Rom 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do

not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Rev 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and

keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully

exposed."

What clothing should we be wearing? Can clothing become soiled? Who will

cleanse that?

 

IF/THEN

Zech 3:6-7 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what

the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my

requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts,

and I will give you a place among these standing here.

Once clean, there are certain responsibilities. There are privileges and

duties. "If you love me, keep my commandments." But also, "we have an

advocate with the Father."

 

SYMBOLS OF THINGS TO COME

Zech 3:8 "'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before

you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant,

the Branch.

Zechariah speaks to his day about the Branch coming. We know that to be

Jesus from many earlier prophecies. The cleansing that Joshua went through

indicates what the Branch is doing spiritually for all people.

Isa 4:2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious,

and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in

Israel.

Isa 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a

Branch will bear fruit.

Jer 23:5, Jer 33:15 "'In those days and at that time I will make a

righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right

in the land.

 

AN INSCRIPTION

Zech 3:9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes

on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD

Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

"Single day" of Jesus death removed all sin for all mankind. Is there

another day coming when sin will be removed from Israel-all sin in one day.

This has not happened yet because homicide bombing is sin. Maybe the day

will come-like a Tuesday-when everyone in Israel hollers out, "Jesus is Lord

of my life."

Rev 2:17 ...I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on

it, known only to him who receives it.

And our names are written in the book of life.

 

INVITE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Zech 3:10 "'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under

his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."

This is the gospel. Go and tell everyone. We can have clean clothes, new

turbans, and our accuser is rebuked.

And eventually, we will be able to join our friends in Israel and sit under

their fig trees in peace.

Matt 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, ...

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and

you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth."

 

 

July 31, 2002 - Part 10

Zech 4

Lampstands and Olive Trees

 

LAMPSTAND

1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is

wakened from his sleep.

2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand

with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the

lights.

Exod 25 and 37 Description of the Lampstand

Exod 25:37 "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they

light the space in front of it.

Exod 35:14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and

oil for the light;

Rev 1:12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when

I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of

the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the

seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand

before the Lord of the earth.

 

BOWL

Eccl 12:6 Remember him-- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden

bowl is broken;..

Rev 5:8 ...Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of

incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels

seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and

ever.

 

SEVEN LIGHTS and SEVEN CHANNELS

channels - like irrigation ditches -- flowing Job 6:17; Job 38:25; Isa

8:7; Ezek 31:4

 

REMOVING A LAMPSTAND

Rev 2:5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the

things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove

your lampstand from its place.

 

OLIVE TREES

3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the

other on its left."

4 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

5 He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.

6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by

might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

 

GOLD LAMPSTAND WITH BOWL AND TWO OLIVE TREES ARE THE WORD OF THE LORD: "NOT

BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT"

MIGHTY MOUNTAIN

7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level

ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God

bless it!'"

"Mighty Mountain" is the destroying mountain, Babylon. Jer 51:24-25

Ps 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7 

JESUS IS THE

CAPSTONE

 

SEVEN EYES

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me:

9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his

hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has

sent me to you.

10 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the

plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the LORD,

which range throughout the earth.)"

Rev 5:6 ... He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits

of God sent out into all the earth.

 

OLIVE BRANCHES

11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and

the left of the lampstand?"

12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold

pipes that pour out golden oil?"

13 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.

14 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all

the earth."

Rev 11:3-12 And I will give power to my TWO WITNESSES, and they will

prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."

4 These are the TWO OLIVE TREES AND THE TWO LAMPSTANDS that stand before the

Lord of the earth.

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours

their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

6 These MEN have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during

the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into

blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they

want.

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from

the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is

figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and

nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.

10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by

sending each other gifts, because these TWO PROPHETS had tormented those who

live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered

them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here."

And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

 

 

August 7, 2002 - Part 11

Zech 5

Scroll & Basket

 

FLYING SCROLL

1              I looked again‑‑ and there before me was a flying scroll!

2              He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide."

3              And he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.

4              The LORD Almighty declares, 'I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.'"

 

SCROLL

Exod 17:14  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

 

Num 5:23  "'The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water.

 

TWENTY CUBITS (Thirty feet)

IKing 6:3  The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple extended the width of the temple, that is twenty cubits (thirty feet), and projected ten cubits (fifteen feet) from the front of the temple.

 

WITNESSES: stones

Luke 19:40  "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Hab 2:11  The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

Josh 4:7...tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Gen 31:46  He said to his relatives, "Gather some stones." So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

 

Books

Dan 7:10  A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

  

MEASURING BASKET

5              Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what this is that is appearing."

6              I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a measuring basket." And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land."

7              Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman!

8              He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth.

9              Then I looked up‑‑ and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10           "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

11           He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place."

 

MEASURING BASKET - like a bushel basket, a tool for measuring quantity

The measure of wickedness is limited–it is in a measured basket with a weighty cover.

Righteousness is unlimited/wickedness is limited.

Wickedness is identified as a woman.

Eccl 7:28  while I was still searching but not finding‑‑ I found one [upright] man among a thousand, but not one [upright] woman among them all.

 

STORK - an unclean bird

Lev 11:19, Deu 14:18 ... the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

 

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH

1 Chr 21:16  David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

 

BABYLON

Rev 14:8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

Rev 16:19  The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.

Revelation 18 BABYLON

Ps 137:8‑9  O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us‑‑he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

Gen 10:10  The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh, in Shinar.

Gen 11:1-9 Tower of Babel

 

WHEN IT IS READY

Rev 6:11  Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers wh

 

 

August 14, 2002 - Part 12

Zech 6,

Four Chariots

 

BRONZE MOUNTAINS

1 I looked up again-- and there before me were four chariots coming out from

between two mountains-- mountains of bronze!

Rev 2:18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words

of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like

burnished bronze.

Jer 15:20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of

bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with

you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.

 

RED HORSES - war

BLACK HORSES - famine

WHITE HORSES - conquering

DAPPLED HORSES - death

 

2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,

3 the third white, and the fourth dappled-- all of them powerful.

Rev 6:1-8 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I

heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"

2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and

he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature

say, "Come!"

4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to

take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given

a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature

say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was

holding a pair of scales in his hand.

6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,

saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for

a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth

living creature say, "Come!"

8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death,

and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a

fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild

beasts of the earth.

 

FOUR SPIRITS

4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my lord?"

5 The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out

from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.

 

FOUR ANGELS WITH POWER TO HARM THE LAND...

Rev 7:1-3 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the

earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from

blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the

living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been

given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea

or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our

God." SEAL: removal and escape or protection?

[Rev 9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or

tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their

foreheads.

2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.

He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our

hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Rev 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.]

 

NORTH (Babylon), SOUTH (Egypt), WEST

6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one

with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses

toward the south."

7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout

the earth. And he said, "Go throughout the earth!" So they went throughout

the earth.

8 Then he called to me, "Look, those going toward the north country have

given my Spirit rest in the land of the north." Babylon already under

judgment? But Rev. 18.

 

THE PROPHETIC ACT - MAKE A CROWN WITH GOLD AND SILVER FROM EXILES

9 The word of the LORD came to me:

10 "Take [silver and gold] from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who

have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of

Zephaniah.

11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the

high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. Joshua represents Messiah / Christ.

 

PRIEST AND KING - ONE PERSON - JESUS

12 Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name

is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of

the LORD.

13 It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed

with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on

his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'

Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix

your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

 

CROWN STAY WITH JEWS UNTIL THAT TIME - The time is yet to come

14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of

Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD.

The crown (authority) -- priest and king - is with the Jews. NOT THE CHURCH

Rom 11:29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the

LORD, and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. This will

happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God." The promise of the temple

is present at that time, Zerubbabel's, and future-the one Jesus will

apparently build (Zech 6:13).

 

 

August 21, 2002 - Part 13

Zech 7

Should I Fast, Now?
 
A PROPHETIC REPORT - Who?, What?, Why?,When?, Where?, How?
1 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.
2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men, to entreat the LORD
3 by asking the priests of the house of the LORD Almighty and the prophets, "Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?"

 

If the gift of prophecy is running through you, document what the Spirit of God is telling you--and include the date, time, location, and other pertinent information.  The writing of the prophecy is so that it can be correctly weighed by the rest of the body of Christ working in the gifts of the spirit.  This record should not be considered a compromise of anything and it is not questioning whether what you heard is of God or not.  It is simply following instructions that we--the body of Christ--judge the spirits involved.  Anyone who is unwilling to submit their "prophecies" to Christian scrutiny should be ignored.

 

ANSWERS WITH A QUESTION
4 Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me:
5 "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?

 

ABOUT FASTING
Matt 6:16-18  "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

Our concept of fasting sometimes leaves out scriptural teaching about it.  Yes, fasting is not eating food and may include not drinking fluids.  But it is more than that--and it seems one of the bigger issues (Matt 6) is the secrecy involved to it to be beneficial.  YES--FAST.  But don't bother with the trumpets announcing it.  And consider what else a fast should encompass.

 

6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?

 

ABOUT FEASTING.
Gen 21:8; Gen 26:30; Gen 29:22; Gen 40:20
Exod 12:17 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.  
Exod 23:16  "Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. "Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.  
Exod 34:22  "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.  

 

Feasting is also unto the Lord.  But both old and new testament had troubles with feasting.  It was not unto the Lord.  We pray for our meals, but do we celebrate God in and through our feasts?  Should we not honor God through our feast?  When was the last time you "toasted" God rather than plead "bless this food for our use"?  Is it our desire to enjoy the beauty, flavor, and variety God has given us to enjoy as food--to feast before Him?  Or to thank Him and dismiss Him?

 

7 Are these not the words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills were settled?'"
The problem is, they were only fasting and feasting for themselves even when it was the Lord who declared the fast or the feast.

 

COMPARE LORD’S SUPPER
1 Cor 11:17-22  In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.  When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!

 

REAL FASTING
8 And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah:
9 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'
11 "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears.

 

Isa 58:3-7  'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?  "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

 

12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.
13 "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty.

 

WHEN GOD DOES NOT LISTEN
1 John 4:6; Amos 5:23; Ezekiel 20:8; Ezekiel 8:18; Jer 14:12; Is 1:15

 

There seem to be several situations where God closes His ears besides just fighting with your wife.  Those scriptures just listed some of them. 

 

14 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land was left so desolate behind them that no one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'"

 

THE RISK OF NOT LISTENING TO THE PROPHETS
When you shut down the voices of the prophets, either by forbidding them or ignoring them:
• God will not listen to you
• Scattering will happen to you, your family, your friends, your “community”
• Land is desolate–what you had that was good becomes a mess–“no one can come or go”

 

It is dangerous to ignore the prophet.  Remember, there are 5 gifts to the church and they should be servants, not bosses or dictators.  The lowest level of servant is the teacher, or the pastor-who-is-teacher.  The next level is Evangelist.  Some would argue that the Evangelist also has the role of a Pastor.  Above that is the prophet.  The role of a prophet as a gift to the church is different from the gift of prophecy which is severally divided.  A pastor is not a prophet;  but a prophet might be an evangelist or a pastor.  (Probably rather harsh.)

 

Churches or pastors that shut down the prophetic are at risk of not discovering the plan of God and being scattered.  And leaving a trail of Christian ruins behind them.  3rd and 4th generation abandon Christianity--and they have heard the message--and may have seen the power of God.

 

 

 

August 28, 2002 - Part 14

Zech 8

God is in Jerusalem

 

GOD WILL DWELL IN JERUSALEM

1 Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.

2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."

3 This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."

Rev 21:2-3 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

 

JERUSALEM WILL BE OCCUPIED BY YOUNG AND OLD

4 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age.

5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."

Ezek 36:38 So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Isa 66:20-21 And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD--on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the LORD. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels.

 

REMNANT MARVELS

6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?" declares the LORD Almighty.

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.

8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."

1 King 8:34; 2 Chr 6:25; Jer 23:3; Jer 24:6; Jer 27:22; Jer 31:9; Jer 31:23; Jer 32:37; Jer 34:22; Ezek 37:21; Zech 10:10

 

BE STRONG

9 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.

10 Before that time there were no wages for man or beast. No one could go about his business safely because of his enemy, for I had turned every man against his neighbor.

11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past," declares the LORD Almighty.

12 "The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.

Lev 25:19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.

OPPOSITE Hag 1:10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.

 

CURSING AND BLESSING

13 As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong."

14 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me," says the LORD Almighty,

15 "so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.

Rom 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

 

BEHAVIOR

16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;

17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.

Matt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 

FASTS ARE NOW HAPPY FESTIVALS

18 Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."

Mark 2:19 [Luke 5:34] Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.

 

NATIONS

20 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,

21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.'

22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him."

23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

Isa 2:3-4 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

 

 

September 11, 2002, Part 15 – Zechariah 9, 

An Oracle - 

A DIVINE ANNOUNCEMENT

9:1 An Oracle

The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus- for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD- 2 and upon Hamath too, which borders on it, and upon Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful. 3 Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. 4 But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire. 5 Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted. 6 Foreigners will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become leaders in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. 8 But I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.

“Never again” suggests that since the “house” (Jerusalem, Judah, Israel) has had an oppressor up until at least 1948, this could not have been fulfilled until our time. And the Muslim nations surrounding Israel seem to correspond with those nations and city states listed above–who are still “oppressing” Israel.

YOUR KING RIDING ON A COLT

This is always quoted in fulfillment on Psalm Sunday. Matt 21:5; Mark 11; Luke 19:28-38.

But, the following verses were not fulfilled at that time. His rule does not now extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth unless we spiritualize things–but then should we spiritualize the donkey too?

9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

War is not yet gone from the Jerusalem so this has not yet happened.. We are also taught that anti-christ (ruler who will come - Dan 9:26) will bring peace to that region for a short time: “covenant” in Dan 9:27.

Dan 8:23-25 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

WATERLESS PIT

11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

There is no water in Sheol. The teaching is that Jesus, while 3 days in the earth, lead captivity free in that he took all those held in the bosom of Abraham to be with Him.

Luke 16:22-24 Parable of the rich man and Lazarus

22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

Ps 68:18 When you ascended on high, / you led captives in your train;

you received gifts from men, / even from the rebellious--

that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.

Eph 4:7-10 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

CALL TO RETURN TO ISRAEL

[Is 43:5-6; Is 49:5; Is 56:8; Jer 23:3; Jer 29:14; Jer 31:8-10; Jer 32:37; Ezek 11:17; Ezek 20:34; Ezek 34:13; Zeph 3:20; Matt 24:31; Mark 13:27]

12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. 13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword.

This looks like war between Israel and Greece. Alexander the Greek conquered the known world after Zechariah’s time, but the oracle suggests that Israel is victor over whatever “Greece” is. And “twice” will be restored: twice the land?; twice the power? When has Zion triumphed over Greece? Or the Greek empire? Greco-Rome is the empire today?

LIGHTNING AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Luke 17:24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. [Rev. 16:18-19]

14 Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, 15 and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. 17 How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.

September 18, 2002 – Part 16,  Zechariah 10, 

Oracle Continues

RAIN IN THE SPRINGTIME

Zech 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. 2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.

The LORD is the source of rain–this should be obvious. Literal physical rain and spiritual rain. Frequently the Holy Spirit is likened to rain. Some say that the spring rain is the initial coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts. Others claim that the springtime rain is Azusa Street Revival and now is a "latter rain". A new work.

Consider the "idols speak deceit." Idols are always connected with false religion, however, there are a few realities:

idols speak –what they speak is deceit–but they still speak

diviners see visions –the visions are a lie–but they still have visions

there are dreams –false dreams–but they are still dreams

apparently idols try to give comfort -it is in vain–but "comfort" is still given.

How do we separate our speech, visions, dreams, and comfort from that of the idol’s? Just stating that "ours are true" is only a claim that the idol will also make.

EARLY AND LATTER RAIN

Deut 11:14; Job 29:23; Prov 16:15; Jer 3:3; Jer 5:24; Hos 6:3; Joel 2:23; James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

LACK OF A SHEPHERD

Zech 10: 2 ...Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

There are false leaders. There are false religions. There are false prophets. There are lying wonders.

2 Peter 2; Matthew 23; Ezekiel 34

Zech 10: 3 "My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.

"THE LORD ALMIGHTY WILL CARE FOR HIS FLOCK"

This suggests that Jesus will do it Himself–not an under-shepherd. What then is the role of pastor (shepherd)? Eph 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Zech 10: 4 From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.

Jesus is the CORNERSTONE - Eph 2:19-22 Consequently, you are no long4er foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5-6 [Isa 28:16] For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

From HIM, the tent peg - tent pegs were made of bronze (Ex 38:20)

Jael in Judg 4 used a tent peg to kill an enemy

Isaiah 22:20 - Eliakim is established as a firm peg–but it gives way

From HIM, the battle bow - machines to make war

From HIM, every ruler - Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Zech 10:5 Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the LORD is with them, they will fight and overthrow the horsemen.

Jesus is making mighty men–making "tent pegs", "battle bow", "rulers."

Hos 1:7 Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them-not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God."

I WILL RESTORE THEM

Zech 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. 7 The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD. 8 I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. 9 Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. 10 I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them. 11 They will pass through the sea of trouble; [Jer 30:7] the surging sea will be subdued [Exodus 15:8; Psalms 46:3; Psalms 89:9; Jeremiah 46:7-8]

and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away. 12 I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk," declares the LORD.

The exiles will be returned by direct action of the Lord. WHEN? WHICH RETURN?

September 25, 2002 – Zechariah 11, - Part 17

Worthless Shepherds 

FINISHING THE ORACLE

Zech 11:1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! 2 Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! 3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

When we look at the landscape of the Middle East, it is devoid of trees and looks like an undesirable wilderness. But apparently, at one time it was a land flowing with "milk and honey" and was desirable. Lebanon had great cedars to make the Temple. Now it is dust and rocks.

EXAMPLE OF DOING AND BEING A PROPHET

There is more to being a prophet than just saying or writing words. Pentecostal practices seem to have limited the gift of prophecy to standing up in church and saying some words–frequently critical–and everyone is supposed to be impressed that they have been blessed by a word from the Lord. It may be. Frequently, it is merely a series of partial scriptures quoted out of context but sounds good at the time. But that does not seem to be the example of what a prophet does in either the New or Old Testament. A prophet–particularly the office of prophet–tends to DO and BE more than just talk. Consider what Zechariah was told by Holy Spirit to do. He took the job of shepherding sheep on the way to slaughter. His actions were the prophecy.

Zech 11:4 This is what the LORD my God says: "Pasture the flock marked for slaughter. 5 Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, I am rich!' Their own shepherds do not spare them. 6 For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land," declares the LORD. "I will hand everyone over to his neighbor and his king. They will oppress the land, and I will not rescue them from their hands."

Zechariah was shepherd of the condemned. There was no hope for them. These sheep were going to die. And he identified these sheep with the "people of the land." That was the prophecy. We would tend to call it an object lesson.

PASTURED THE FLOCK MARKED FOR SLAUGHTER

Zech11:7 So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 9 and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

Zechariah, as he took over the "position" of shepherd, got rid of three shepherds. What three shepherds?

Num 3:17 These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

- Kohathites - take care of the most holy things.

- Merarites - took care of the structure of tabernacle

- Gershonites - took care of the coverings

LEGITIMATE RELIGION IS MADE TO LEAVE. JUDAISM IS LEGITIMATE.

BROKE "FAVOR"

Zech11:10 Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11 It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the LORD.

Zechariah was working the sheep with two staffs and he prophetically broke the covenant with all nations by breaking one of them. What covenant? The symbolism was understood by those who watched.

Abraham (Gen 18:18; 22:18) and Isaac (Gen 26:4) had covenants with God that applied to all nations. Abel (Gen 4:4) and Noah (Gen 6:8) found "favor" with God. Abraham (Gen 18:3) and Lot (Gen 19:19) found favor in the Sodom situation. Joseph found favor with Potiphar (Gen 39:4). Moses sought the favor of God (Ex 32:11) and got favor (Ex 33:12-13). "Favor" seems to be the opposite of "judgment." When there is no favor, judgment is near. Are "favor" and "covenant" the same?

THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER

We recognize immediately the relationship to Judas–betrayer of Jesus (Matt 27:3-10).

Zech11:12 I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"-the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.

Zechariah prophetically demonstrated what was going to happen. Judas, besides being a tragic figure–son of perdition-- also was a type of the betrayal by the covenant people. Judas is the sign that "Favor" was broken. The "covenant" was lost. And in 70 AD, Israel was destroyed. Judas was the sign of prophecy of which judgment was about to be fulfilled. Zechariah acted out the sign ahead of time–by example–by being the "shepherd" who broke the staff..

BROKE "UNION"

As a result, the restoration of Judah and Israel after the Babylonian captivity would "forever" be destroyed–at least in the "brotherhood" category. There are supposedly the lost 10 tribes. There are the Samaritans. Judah (David’s household plus some) is distinct from Israel (the remainder of the tribes after Solomon’s kingdom is divided). And this is apparently not going to be corrected from Zechariah’s prophetic viewpoint.

Zech 11:14 Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

RESULT: FOOLISH SHEPHERD

With broken "favor" and broken "union" the world is subjected to the worthless shepherd: false religion, false prophets, false church, even anti-christ.

Zech 11:15 Then the LORD said to me, "Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs.

The prophet describes false religion by describing what false religion does:

- leadership that is indifferent to the lost

- leadership that ignores or defiles the young

- leadership that will not heal or try to heal (Purpose of healing–show Jesus has authority to forgive sin)

- leadership that will not feed the healthy

- leadership that devours the best sheep–destroys them–makes them of no worth

17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!"

Zechariah’s prophetic judgment is clear:

- arm withered (arm represents strength and authority)

- right eye blinded (ability to see clearly in correctness is ruined)

As example, we learn that Zechariah, the prophet, acted out what the nation of Judah/Israel was going to do: lose favor, break union, end up with false religion. We could dismiss Zechariah then as being completed at the fall of Jerusalem. However, we have the example of the worthless shepherd and the description of how he operates.

When we discover a worthless shepherd in the church with the description of function and with the resulting judgment, should we not look for the cause? We have the effect. And Peter and Paul and Jesus made it clear that there will be false prophets.

CAUSE

First, three shepherds were chased away:

- those who handle the most holy things

- those who take care of the coverings

- those who take care of the structure

Second, favor was broken. Favor is something that is sought. Seeking left.

Third, union is broken: "One accord?" Where did it go?

EFFECT

Judgment is the worthless shepherd. You can recognize him because there is no spiritual authority, he has a withered arm. And his eye is blinded–the truth of doctrine, teaching, knowing God–is not there. The eyes of the prophet who knows the plan of God (Amos 3:7) have been shut down. It is an incomplete Gospel.

Is it fair to say that a church with a worthless shepherd is a church under judgment?

THIS IS WHY WE NEED PROPHETIC ACTS TODAY.

Zechariah told the nations beforehand what was going to happen to Israel and he told it with enough specificity that there was no doubt which judgment was coming down. Judas was the sign.

When we look at the church today, for the most part, its arm is withered and its eye is blind. Power and authority are not there. Miracles are not happening. Healing is about as close to non-existence as can be–and few are seeking it. And the eye of the church–the prophet–has been blinded. "There are no prophets today." Some churches have made edicts that apostles and prophets are not around today. Some have even "forbid" the laying on of hands as if to try to control Holy Spirit.

Prophecy is a gift we are all suppose to seek–like favor from God.

1 Cor 14:1-2 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

From the examples of the prophets, prophecy is more than talk–it is actually doing something that is prophetically symbolic in some way. What the prophet does on this planet has something to do with what happens in the Kingdom of God. BUT IT MUST BE HOLY SPIRIT DRIVEN.

Zechariah:

- took the job of a shepherd of condemned sheep

- chased three shepherds away

- irritated the sheep

- broke a staff he named FAVOR

- broke another staff he name UNION

- despised the sheep

- would not take care of them

Where Zechariah was and what he did was as much a part of the prophecy as the words of explanation.

October 2, 2002 – Zechariah 12, - Part 18

Jerusalem – Center of Worship for All 

FIRST, WHICH GOD IS TALKING IN THESE THINGS?

Zech 12:1 An Oracle. This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares:

- the one who stretches out the heavens

- the one who lays the foundation of the earth

- the one who forms the spirit of man within him

Sometimes we need to clarify which God is speaking. Zechariah is quoting the one that we who are not against creeds identify as GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, just in case there was a question. This creator seems to be actively involved in the creative process. "Stretches," "lays," and "forms," are active words that seem to require active involvement. A rubberband does not "stretch" itself. Did the heavens?

JERUSALEM IS A CUP – BLESSING OR CURSE

Zech 12: 2 "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.

"Cup" implies something that is going to be done to you. Refreshing beverage is in a cup and so is poison. "Cup" in scripture frequently seems to refer to something very unpleasant that will be taken or drunk. Understand it in the context of Jesus and the cup he bore and his disciples bore..

(Matthew 20:22-23); Mark 10:38-39 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

John 18:11 Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; ..."

Ps 16:5; Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15-16 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them."

WHEN? WHEN THE NATIONS HAVE GATHERED AGAINST JERUSALEM

Zech 12: 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.

Does "all" mean "all"? [Zech 14:2; Luke 21:20-24; Rev 20:9]

What is an "immovable rock? It is explained by the next sentence, "will injure themselves" if they try to move it. That is plainly understood.

Jerusalem will survive: As a city? As a religious center? As the center of worship? Why will all the nations gather to make war against one city? God will defend Jerusalem and Judah.

AT THAT TIME–JUDAH IS STRONG BECAUSE THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS THEIR GOD

Zech 12: 4-5 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'

- God will: horse with panic ["horse" is strength and power in war]

- God will: rider with madness [rider directs the horse; rider is mad–armies against go insane]

- God will: leaders are a firepot / torch among sheaves; the unquenchable starter of fire

Zech 12: 6 "On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

Judah is an unquenchable fire. Jerusalem stands secure. Could this verse apply today? After Zechariah, Jerusalem was run over by the Romans–temple destroyed in 70 AD.

Zech 12: 7-9 "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them. On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

- nations who attack Jerusalem will be destroyed by God [Zech 14:12]

"House of David like God" – Jesus is of the House of David and is God. He will return.

AND THEY SEE JESUS - AND RECOGNIZE HIM – THE ONE THEY PIERCED

Zech 12: 10a "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.

"supplication" 1 Kings 8: 30, 33; 2 Chron 6:24

"grace" John 1:17 ... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

"Spirit of grace" Heb 10:28-30 "...insulted the Spirit of grace?"

Zech 12: 10b-14 They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives.

Grieving is ALL of Israel–all will recognize Jesus as the one crucified for them, for example:

David (king); Nathan (prophet); Levi (priest); Shimei (the Davidic antagonist, 2 Sam 16) OR

Nathan and Shimei had foreign wives they sent away to correct things [Ezra 10:33, 39, 44] OR

"The family of the house of David and the family of the house of Nathan" represent the highest and lowest of the royal order; as "the family of the house of Levi and the family of Shimei" represent the highest and lowest of the priestly order." ("NATHAN," from Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998 by Biblesoft)

October 9, 2002 – Zechariah 13,  - Part 19

"On that day"

There are 10 "on that day" phrases in Zechariah 13-14. "On that day" seems to mean the time that Christ is returning–a description of what things are going to be like on that day. What is a "day"? Like Monday or Tuesday–24 hours? Or a period of time defined by events?

Zechariah 13: 1 "ON THAT DAY a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

This fountain cleanses from sin and impurity. And it is for the house of David and Jerusalem.

Zechariah 13: 2 "ON THAT DAY, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3 And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother, to whom he was born, will say to him, 'You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD's name.' When he prophesies, his own parents will stab him.

Idols are eliminated from the land–I understand idols were never again a problem with Jews.

PROPHETS are gone; Spirit of impurity are gone. Are these opposites?

The church has done a wonderful job of eliminating the prophet so maybe we are already in that day. Most Evangelicals do not accept the prophetic; major Pentecostal denominations declared prophets don’t exist because they are "wildfire" (they’re invented term). However, it is supposed to be the parents problem, not the church. If there are still prophets, this day is not yet here.

Zechariah 13: 4 "ON THAT DAY every prophet will be ashamed of his prophetic vision. He will not put on a prophet's garment of hair in order to deceive. 5 He will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.' 6 If someone asks him, 'What are these wounds on your body?' he will answer, 'The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.'

Prophets go into hiding. Notice that prophets are wounded. We will be able to recognize this specific day (24-hours or period of time) when the known prophets–the ones who have been wounded because they have been prophets–deny that they are prophets.

SIDEBAR – description of a prophet continues:

- a prophet wears a prophet’s garment of hair

- a prophet has wounds

 

PROPHECY FOR MESSIAH–EXPLAINED BY JESUS

Matt 26:31 [Mark 14:7] Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Zechariah 13: 7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty.

"Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Luke 19:41-44; Jeremiah 7:4-14; Mark 13:1-23

TWO-THIRDS STRUCK DOWN

Zechariah 13: 8 In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. 9 This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"

In 70 AD, the Roman Army, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, to suppress an uprising of the Jews. According to the historian Josephus, about 1.1 million Jews were killed. Others were taken as slaves.
The following is a description of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, according to Josephus, a Jewish historian who was living in Jerusalem at that time, in 70 AD:

" And as for those that are already dead in the war, it is reasonable we should esteem them blessed, for they are dead in defending, and not in betraying their liberty; but as to the multitude of those that are now under the Romans, who would not pity their condition? and who would not make haste to die, before he would suffer the same miseries with them? Some of them have been put upon the rack, and tortured with fire and whippings, and so died. Some have been half devoured by wild beasts, and yet have been reserved alive to be devoured by them a second time, in order to afford laughter and sport to our enemies; and such of those as are alive still are to be looked on as the most miserable, who, being so desirous of death, could not come at it. And where is now that great city, the metropolis of the Jewish nation, which vas fortified by so many walls round about, which had so many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many ten thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was believed to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished to the very foundations, and hath nothing but that monument of it preserved, I mean the camp of those that hath destroyed it, which still dwells upon its ruins; some unfortunate old men also lie upon the ashes of the temple, and a few women are there preserved alive by the enemy, for our bitter shame and reproach. Now who is there that revolves these things in his mind, and yet is able to bear the sight of the sun, though he might live out of danger? Who is there so much his country's enemy, or so unmanly, and so desirous of living, as not to repent that he is still alive? And I cannot but wish that we had all died before we had seen that holy city demolished by the hands of our enemies, or the foundations of our holy temple dug up after so profane a manner. "


Source: The quoted material above is an excerpt from "The Wars Of The Jews" Or "The History Of The Destruction Of Jerusalem", Book VII, Chapter 8, Section 7, written by the ancient historian Josephus. The text is from the "The Works of Flavius Josephus", translated by William Whiston.

HOWEVER–they have not yet called on the name of the Lord.

THIS IS NOT DONE.

October 16, 2002 – Zechariah 14,  - Part 20

"A Day of the Lord"

PLUNDER

Zechariah 14: 1 A DAY OF THE LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. Ezek 39:9-10... And they will plunder those who plundered them...

ALL NATIONS FIGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM

- City is captured

- Half the city into exile

- The LORD will fight against those nations

Zechariah 14:2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.

DAY OF BATTLE

Zechariah 14:3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle.

The LORD does not fight a battle the same way as men.

- trumpets Num 10:8-9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.

- not weapons 1 Sam 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

- "naturally" 1 Sam 26:10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.

Psalm 24; Psalm 140

MOUNT OF OLIVES SPLITS

- David prayed there. 2 Sam 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot.

- Jesus prayed there. Matt 26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39]

- Jesus ascended from there. Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.

Zechariah 14: 4 ON THAT DAY his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Chain of events seems to be: feet of Jesus on Mount and then the mountain splits forming a valley which will be an escape route. Then, suggesting afterwards, Jesus will come with the holy ones–is this then the rapture? Or return of Christ as in Rev 19.

Holy Ones: Deut 33:2-3; Psalm 89:5, 7; Is 13:3; Dan 4:17; 1 Thes 3:13; Jude 14.

UNIQUE DAY

Zechariah 14:6 ON THAT DAY there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime-a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.

Other odd days in scripture:

Gen 1:3-5 The day light was created had light without source–the sun came on day 4.

Josh 10:13 Sun stood still for Joshua.

2 Kings 20:11 Hezekiah and the shadow on the steps.

AND

Rev 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Rev 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

EXAMPLES

Ex 13:21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Ex 24:17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

Lev 9:23-24 Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Numbers 6:25; Psalm 4:6; Psalm 80:1-3 "shine"

Acts 2:3 Tongues of fire

LIVING WATER

Zechariah 14:8 ON THAT DAY living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

John 7:38-39 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Rev 22:1-3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

October 23, 2002 – Zechariah 14,  Part 21

"The Lord will be King" 

THE LORD WILL BE KING

9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. ON THAT DAY there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but the Lord is NOT king over the whole earth right now. He is not even King over most churches. But the promise is that He WILL BE. Therefore, it will become obvious at some point in time that the whole world will acknowledge and recognize who the LORD is. This sounds and smells like revival of a proportion not yet ever seen. A king does not require a vote or an opinion and only the denial of the very stupid would result a king not being recognized. No matter how much Gore or Democrats holler and complain, Bush is President and controls the nuke button. The time is coming when the LORD will be king over the whole earth in spite of Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Pentecostals with their programs and declarations–his name the ONLY NAME. Either submit to the king or you will be consciously opposed to that same king. THERE WILL NOT BE "ALTERNATIVE RELIGIOUS OPINIONS"

10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah.

ARABAH (ar'-a-ba), (a-ra'-ba) ha-`arabhah, "the Arabah"): This word indicates in general a barren district, but is specifically applied in whole or in part to the depression of the Jordan valley, extending from Mount Hermon to the Gulf of Akabah.

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)

But Jerusalem will be different--

But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. 11 It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.

Again, Zechariah is before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Is there yet another destruction?

12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Until the advent of modern warfare, this could not be taken literally. Now we know that several weapons of man are capable of doing this. Or it could be simply God–or "spiritually speaking"?

"melt" Isaiah 13; 14:31; Ezekiel 21:7, 15; 22:20; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:4; 2:10; 2 Peter 3:12

PANIC

13 ON THAT DAY men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other.

1 Sam 5:9; 7:10; 14:15; Zechariah 12:4; Ezekiel 7:7; Jer 49:24

14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected-great quantities of gold and silver and clothing.

Nahum 2:9; Ezek 39:9-10;

15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

Ex 9:1-4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, 3 the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field--on your horses and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats. 4 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'"

ANNUAL WORSHIP

16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

Isa 27:13 And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Rev 21:22-24 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

Rev 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

20 ON THAT DAY HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them.

Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Exodus 28:36 "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.

Exodus 39:30 They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.

"Holy to the Lord": Ex 30:10, Ex 30:37, Ex 31:15, Lev 19:8, Lev 27:14, Lev 27:23, Lev 27:28, Lev 27:30, Lev 27:32, Deut 7:6, Deut 14:2, Deut 14:21, Deut 26:19, Jer 2:3, 31:40, Ezek 48:14

And ON THAT DAY there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty. Lev 18:24. Canaan is a son of Ham (Gen 10:6). Esau married Canaanite women (Gen 28:8-9). "Hebrew (faith) was continually in peril of contamination from the lewd nature worship with immoral gods, prostitute goddesses, serpents, cultic doves, and bulls."


But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV

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