Zechariah

Zechariah is a book that starts off with a call of the returning exiles of the Babylonian Captivity to return to the Lord.  Zechariah tells of how the Lord was angry with the forefathers of the nation of Israel.  He reminds the people of how they persecuted the prophets of which the Lord was speaking through.  He then proceeds forth to speak in various symbolic allusions and visions about the rebuilding of the temple.  During the night he has a vision of a man among the myrtle trees riding a red horse.  behind him were red brown and white horses.  Zechariah ask the angel of the Lord what these are.  The angel replies that these are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.  The man among the myrtle trees is Jesus Christ who commissions the work of evangelism for every Christian to participate in.  Through this vision, the Lord promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy and to watch over the people.  He speaks of how towns will overflow with prosperity.  Zechariah then has a vision of four horns and four craftsmen.  These horns scattred Judah and Israel.  Thse are representative of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and Medo-Persia.  Zechariah chapter two begins with a vision of a man wiith a measuring line that says Jerusalem has no walls.  This vision is probably in reference to the millenium when the only walls of the city are the people and the hovering over the city by God himself.  In chapter 3, Zechariah has a vision of satan and the high priest Joshua with Satan accusing Joshua.  The Lord rebukes Satan for his prosecution attempt as Joshua is dressed in filthy clothes but the angel of the Lord promises Joshua the high priest that there will be a servant called the Branch that will emerge forth.  He then speaks of how the sin will be removed from the land in a single day.  Zechariah then has  a vision of a gold lampstand and two olive trees.  These represent Joshua and Zerubbabel who are to stand before the Lord in the temple and in the nation of Israel of which the lampstand signifies.  Chapter five presents a flying scroll and a woman in a baset.  The flying scroll symbolizes the judgment of God to come upon sinners in Israel, The woman in the basket represents the sin and immorality of Israel.  The wicked among God's people had to be removed from the land much in the same way that the wicked need to be removed out of having control in the church today.  Chapter 6, then speaks of four chariots .  One with red horses, then one with black, then white, and then powerful dappled horses.  The red horses symbolize war.  The black horses symbolize famine and death, the dappled horses signify pestilence while the white horse represents the glorious victory of God's agents of judgment.  In chapter 6 a crown is given to Joshua whose name is the Branch.  This passage is referring to Jesus Christ whose name is Joshua and the Branch.  This signifies the fact that Christ would come and build the temple of God that would never ever be destroyed.  In chapter seven, Zechariah stresses the importance of justice and mercy rather than fasting.  Then he moves into promises of the Lord to bless Jerusalem which then goes on to promise that judgment will come upon the enemies of Israel.  In chapter 9, he writes a Messianic Prophecy about the coming of Zion's King.  He then proceeds to talk about how the Lord will appear and that he will care for the people of Judah.  In chapter 11, he talks about two shepherds .  One shepherd carries a staff and reporesents the Messiah. This deonstration is carried out by Zechariah.  The staff represents God's favor towards all his chosen people which are all those who struggle with him both Jew and Christian.  In chapter 11, verse 10 Zechariah prophesies the desturction of the Jewish temple in 70 AD as God removes his hand from protection of Israel.  In chapter twelve he shifts back to referring to the destruction of Jerusalem's enemies.  He  then goes on talking about how the Jews will mourn for one they pierced when he comes in glory and power at his Second Coming to set up his reign as king over all the earth.  He speaks of how during that day a fountain from the hose of David will be there to cleanse all sin.  He then says that the people all have their eyes on the Shepherd and want the Shepherds to do everything for them but when the Shepherd is struck, the flock will be scattered.  Chapter fourteen refers to the Second Coming of Christ when he sets his feet down upon the Mount of Olives.  This passage refers to the Lord as king over all the earth.  He prophesies that Jerusalem  will remian.  He then speaks of how the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will worship the King year after year and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.  In this prophesy is contained a curse that those who do not do such will have no rain.  This passage is believed to be in reference to the Millenial reign of Christ.  Zechraiah offers hope to us all that though we go through tragedy and times of persecution in which it seems that God has forsaken us, the Lord is soon to return and restore our fortunes.  Zechraiah prophesies that there will come a time when no Canaanite will be in the house of the Lord.  Canaanite is symbolic of immorality and wickedness. If we endure and do not turn aside to other gods when the rest of the world does as the New Age Movement invades America, then God will restore us.  We have not even been tested of our faith yet. in comparison to what those before us have.  The real test will come during the time of the tribulation when the Antichrist sets up his Kingdom and persecutes Jews and Christians alike.  That could be as soon as tomorrow, but it could be as far away as thousands of years from now.  Whatever the case, we have the promised of God that he will restore our fortunes if we do not turn aside to follow after other gods and that he will bring us out of exile and into our Promised Land.