Zechariah Chapters 5 & 6 Introduction

• Series of 8 visions all in one night • Not random • Historical and chronological sequence • Literary pattern Introduction – The Prophecy

• Vision one – Horses • Vision two – Four horns • Vision Three – Surveyor • Vision Four – Cleaning of Joshua • Vision Five - Empowering of • Vision Six – Flying Scroll • Vision Seven – Ephah of grain • Vision Eight – Four chariots Read Chapter 6:1-4 Introduction

• Comparison to Vision three: – is a major player in the restoration of the nation – Particular individual involved – Measurements involved – Movement is involved The scroll

• Typical scroll: – Leather or parchment – Single sheets sewn end to end – Rolled around wooden rollers at either end – Writing inside – Brief description / notation outside • Dimensions (30 ft x 15 ft) probably refer to a rolled up scroll • Exaggerated dimension The scroll

• “Curse” – part of the covenant God had with • Represents the whole law – Towards fellow man - stealing – Towards God – swearing in vain • Clear mission – to demolish the house (timber and stone) – utter devastation The scroll

• Contrast to Vision Three: – Surveyor was involved in the building of the temple – Law is involved in destroying those who violate the covenant Application

1. God does not take sin lightly Application

1. God does not take sin lightly – Temptation to compromise because punishment is not immediate – We tend to feel God is unjust in allowing people to continue in their sin – God is patient and gracious Application

• Five warnings of Hebrews: – Danger of drifting (Heb. 2) – Danger of doubting (Heb. 3 & 4) – Danger of deformity (Heb. 4 – 6) – Danger of despising (Heb. 10) – Danger of denying (Heb. 12)

Application

• Am I taking sin lightly in my life? • Am I breaking the covenant I have made with God through the Lord Jesus Christ? • For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10: 30 & 31 Application

1. God does not take sin lightly 2. I must leave all judgment into the hands of God Application

• Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 Cor. 12:17-21 Application

1. God does not take sin lightly 2. I must leave all judgment into the hands of God 3. The local church must judge her members in keeping with God’s standard of holiness, mercy and grace Read Chapter 6:5-11 Ephah

• Ephah - Basket/barrel • Used to measure solid/liquid • About 5 gallons/20 liters • ‘eye throughout all the earth’ probably a reference to the dominion of evil across the world • Woman inside personifies wickedness • ‘lead cover’ – raised to reveal the woman, closed to contain her inside the ephah

Ephah

• Ephah is carried by two women with wings of a stork • Going to Babylon (Shinar) to be placed in a temple there • Feminine flavor to the whole vision – Ephah is feminine noun – Woman inside the ephah – Two women transporting the ephah

Babylon

• ‘wind beneath their wings’ perhaps a reference to the work of the Holy Spirit • Ezek. 8 – vision of wickedness inside , inside the very temple of God • Shinar – reference to Babylon – Always anti-theocratic – Representing everything that stands against God and His purposes

Babylon

• Babylon – Tower of Babel – Amraphel, King of Shinar came against Canaan and Abraham – Nabopolassar, Founder of the Babylonian empire that eventually came against Judah – Referred to by Isaiah and Jeremiah in the feminine gender ‘virgin daughter’, ‘mistress’, ‘daughter of Babylon’ Babylon

• Zechariah sees Babylon’s role in the future • Babylon in Revelation: – “she who made the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” Rev. 14:8 – “the great harlot” Rev. 17:1 – “mother of all harlots”, Rev. 17:5 – “that great city”, Rev. 17:18 – Destroyed in one day

Babylon

• God will remove wickedness from the land • Return and restrict it to the land it came from • Final disposal is not addressed here • Revelation 20:7-10 – End to Satan and his evil perpetrations Application

• There is an end to evil and wickedness – in society - 2 Pet 2:5 & 6 – in the church - Mat. 3:12, Mat. 13:40 & 41, 1 Pet. 4:17, – in my personal life – Rev. 21:4 Read Chapter 6:1-8 The vision

• Comparison to Vision 1: – Four objects – Servants of God, sent to do His bidding – God’s universal dominance – Reference to a valley – ‘through the earth’ repeated in Vision 1 & 8

The vision

• Four chariots coming from between two mountains • Mountains are made of bronze • Horses are colored differently – not in keeping with Vision 1 or in Revelation • Three chariots travel throughout the earth • Peace is established, particularly north of Israel – maybe Persia overpowering Babylon Application

• God is in sovereign control of the world we live in – He sets up and pulls down kings and kingdoms – His greatest mission & ultimate goal is the expansion of His kingdom Read Chapter 6:9-15 The Oracle of response

• Conclusion to the whole series of visions • Three men were to go to the fourth person’s house • Make regal crown(s) • Investiture of Joshua as High Priest • Joshua is told about ‘The Branch’ – most likely to be Zerubbabel The Oracle of response

• ‘sprout up from his place’ – rise from low & insignificant status – revival of the Davidic dynasty • These two will work together • Crowns will be placed as memorial • Will probably attract exiles back to Jerusalem to build the temple once again • Conditional to obedience to the Lord Messianic tones

• Messiah would unite the office of Priest and King • Man was created to rule the earth and also to stand between God and His creation • Messiah would be King – Psalm 2:2, 6-8 • Messiah would be Priest – Psalm 110:2,4 • Christ is that Messiah – Heb 5:1-10, 7:1-25 Application

1. God’s revelation demands a response in action Application

1. God’s revelation demands a response in action • 2 Peter 3:11 - Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness • Do I allow God’s word to move me into action Application

1. God’s revelation demands a response in action 2. It is God who specifically appoints, confirms and empowers people for His tasks Application

2. It is God who specifically appoints, confirms and empowers people for His tasks • Its not our job to ‘elect’ or ‘select’, only to ‘recognize’ • I must be careful not to overstep the job God has prepared for me THANK YOU