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CHAPTER 38 – Zechariah: 520 B.C.-Eden Restored

Zechariah is the thirty-eighth book of the Bible. The title of the book in the Hebrew Bible is Zekaryah meaning “Yahweh remembers” or “Yahweh has remembered.” The English title comes from the Septuagint which has the title Zacharias, “Zechariah”.

Authorship

The prophet Zechariah is the author of the book of Zechariah. The book was perhaps written during his prophetic ministry which lasted from approximately 520 B.C. to about 518 B.C.

Summary

The book of Zechariah covers the period from about 520 B.C. to the future time when the earth is restored to the beauty of the garden of Eden. It consists of Zechariah’s messages from God to the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem and the surrounding cities, given over a period of two years from about October, 520 B.C. to November, 518 B.C.

God appeals to the people through Zechariah to turn to God and says that God will then turn to them. Next, Zechariah describes eight visions from God.

In the first vision, Zechariah sees a man seated on a red horse in a grove of myrtle trees and other horses behind the man. God is asked, “How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem?” God answers that He is jealous of Jerusalem and Zion (the Jewish people) and very displeased with the other nations. But now God is returned to Jerusalem with mercies and my house (Temple), God says, will be rebuilt in the city.

In the second vision, Zechariah sees four horns symbolising the nations that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. He also sees four carpenters which God says He will use to cast out the horns (powers) of the Gentiles (non-Jewish nations).

In the third vision, Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line who sets out to measure Jerusalem. God then says that the city, Jerusalem, is to be inhabited again and God will protect it from all enemies. And God will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and many nations shall be joined to the Lord God in that day.

In the fourth vision, Zechariah sees Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord God in filthy garments. Satan accuses Joshua before God and God rebukes Satan. God then promises Joshua a change of raiment (clothing) if Joshua will walk in God’s ways of love. God next says that His servant, the Branch (Christ), will come and the Jews will dwell in peace.

In the fifth vision, Zechariah sees a golden candlestick with a bowl and seven lamps on it and two olive trees providing oil for the lamps. God says to Zerubbabel that whatever is accomplished is not by might, nor by power, but by God’s Holy Spirit and that Zerubbabel’s hands will finish the Temple. Also, God says, Zerubbabel’s time is a day of small things but God who is all-knowing and present everywhere will be with him.

In the sixth vision, Zechariah sees a flying roll or curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth to put to death all those who do evil. In the seventh vision, Zechariah sees a container of the capacity of an ephah with a cover of lead and a woman inside. Zechariah is told that this represents wickedness which is symbolically carried to the land of Shinar (Babylon).

In the eighth vision, Zechariah sees four chariots pulled by four kinds of horses which go forth from standing before the Lord God of all the earth to walk to and fro through the earth.

After this, God instructs Zechariah to make silver and gold crowns for Joshua, the high priest, and to proclaim to Joshua the coming of the Branch (Christ) who will be a royal priest. Also, people that are far off will come and build in the Temple of the Lord God if the Jews diligently obey God.

God then tells Zechariah to denounce certain hypocritical religious practices of the Jews. He is to declare that what God desires of them is justice and mercy of every man to his brother. And for the lack of these things, God had scattered His people among the nations.

But God says that He is jealous for Zion (the Jewish people) and is returned to Zion. Therefore, God commands the people to speak truth to their fellow human being, execute the judgment of truth and peace, not to think evil against others in their hearts, nor swear falsely, for these things God hates. Then, God says, many people shall go speedily to pray to God and to seek God.

Zechariah then gives a burden (prophecy) from God saying that the neighbouring nations will be destroyed. The Jews are to rejoice for their King (Christ) cometh, as One who is lowly and having salvation. This King (Christ) will speak peace to the non-Jewish nations and His dominion will be even to the ends of the earth.

According to the prophecy, the Jews are to ask God for rain and God will give them showers of rain, and the Jews shall be as though God had not cast them off. God then gives a solemn warning to the false shepherds, the evil leaders of the Jews, for not leading the people in God’s ways of love.

Lastly, Zechariah gives a burden (prophecy) from God saying that all the people of the earth shall come against the Jews, but God will defend them and destroy all these nations. God will then pour His Holy Spirit upon the Jews and purify them from sin, idols, and false shepherds.

According to the prophecy, there is One (Christ) who was wounded in the house of his friends. God’s Shepherd (Christ) is struck and the sheep (the people) are scattered. Two-thirds of all the people in the land are cut off and they die, and God brings one-third through the fire, refining them so that they say that the Lord is my God.

In this prophecy, God then goes forth to fight against nations that attack Jerusalem. After this, God descends upon the Mount of Olives to the east of Jerusalem, and the mountain splits apart making a very great valley. In that day, living waters go out from Jerusalem and God is King over all the earth which then has one Lord. Jerusalem will then be safely inhabited.

God will then send a plague among the people that fought against Jerusalem and these people will fight against each other. Then everyone remaining of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, from year to year. For God will send a plague upon all the families of the earth which come not up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts. Thus, in that day there shall be no more Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.

Themes

• A call for repentance.
• Judgments from God on people and nations for their sins.
• Protection from God against one’s enemies.
• Satan accusing God’s people before God.
• Visions and prophecies from God.
• Hypocrisy in the worship of God.
• Forgiveness and cleansing from sins by God.
• Encouragement from God in God’s work on earth.
• A coming King (Christ) to the earth.
• The conversion of unbelievers to God.
• False shepherds (leaders) who lead people away from God.
• The destruction of the enemies of God’s people.
• The work of the Holy Spirit.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God rebukes Satan for his accusations against God’s people.
• God who gives visions.
• God who gives prophecies of the future.
• God who converts unbelievers to Himself.
• God who destroys the enemies of His people.
• God who is aware of the sins of all humanity.
• God who forgives people and cleanses them from their sins.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

Zechariah was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. The book of Zechariah makes reference to the first, second, and third coming of Christ to the earth.

Christ first came to the earth in 5 B.C. when He was born as a baby boy named “Jesus.” Matthew 1:21. After a public ministry for three and a half years, “they crucified him” (Matthew 27:35) in 31 A.D. Crucifixion was a most cruel way to die for Christ’s hands and feet were nailed to a t-shaped wooden structure known as a cross.

“Him [Jesus Christ] God raised up [from the dead] the third day [after His death].” Acts 10:40. “He [Christ] shewed himself alive after his passion [His suffering and death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them [His disciples] forty days.” Acts 1:3. “And… [it happened that] while they [His disciples] beheld, he [Christ] was taken up [into heaven].” Acts 1:9.

The second coming of Christ will occur “when he [Christ] shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26) to take the saints to heaven. At that time all the wicked among humanity die and “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan… [shall be symbolically] bound [on earth]…a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2) without any human being alive on earth.

At Christ’s third coming “when the thousand years are expired” (Revelation 20:7), “the holy city, new Jerusalem…[comes] down from God out of heaven.” Revelation 21:2. “And…Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations [of the wicked who were resurrected by God]…to gather them together to battle” (Revelation 20:7, 8) against God and the holy city.

So, Satan and all the wicked “went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed [surrounded] the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.” Revelation 20:9. “And I saw the dead [among humanity], small and great, stand before God…the dead were judged…according to their works.” Revelation 20:12. For Satan and his evil angels, “God…[had already] reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

“And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [Satan, his evil angels, and all the wicked people].” Revelation 20:9. God then creates “a new heaven and a new earth.” Revelation 21:1. “And…behold, the tabernacle [dwelling place] of God is with men [with the righteous among humanity], and…God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Know that you cannot accomplish anything in the work of God without the Holy Spirit working in your life.
• Know that God is willing to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you from them.
• If you are faithful to God, He will rebuke Satan on your behalf.
• Do not be hypocritical in your worship of God.
• Be godly and your example will convert unbelievers to God.

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