Zechariah 01

Zechariah’s Eight Visions 1. The Horsemen 1:8 - 11 A. Man among the myrtle trees on red horse = Christ (Theophanies). Red for the blood of redemption at His first coming, for war at second coming. B. Other horsemen = angelic patrol scouts ascertaining the condition of earth. C. Myrtle trees = God’s covenant people D. v. 9-12, comfort, Israel’s great tribulation not to be yet
II. Four Horns, Four Craftsmen 1:18-21 A. Four Horns = Four great powers of times of Gentiles. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece & Rome B. Four Craftsmen = Four kingdoms used by God to cast down persecutors of Israel. Babylon, Medo-Persia,Greece & Rome, but Christ’s Kingdom will overthrow the 10 nation confederacy of Daniel 2:4-13
III. The Surveyor 2: 1-13 A. v.1-3 Man with measuring line = Christ B. Measuring line = preparation for Millennial temple, Ezekiel 40:3-5, and indicates restoration of Israel , v.4-13
IV Joshua the High Priest 3: 1-10 A. Angel of the Lord = Christ B. v.2 Branch plucked from fire = worthless Israel rescued by God C v.3 Joshua pictures defiled Israel needing restoration D. Satan was Israel’s adversary, is ours too, but Christ can over rule Satan E. Branch = Christ, whose type was Joshua, see Zech. 6;10-12 F. v.9 One stone = Christ the Messiah G. Seven eyes = the seven Spirits of God. Isa. 11:2; Rev. 1:4 V. Golden Lamp stand (Candlestick) 4: 1-7 A. v2 Lamp stand pure gold = Deity - Christ the Light of the world B. Seven lamps = the sevenfold spirit of God C. v.3-13 Two Olive trees with tubes to bowl & it’s tubes to lamps provided constant oil. Joshua as priest and Zerubbabel as king = Christ the coming King - Priest D.
V. 14 Also they represent the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3-4 (Moses, Elijah?)
VI. The Flying Scroll 5:1-4 A. Flying = God’s law going throughout the world in judgment B. Messiah will rule world with rod of iron
VII . Ephah and women 5:1-11 A. Large basket = wicked commercial Babylon of last days B. Woman = Ecclesiastical Babylon (one world church) and sits enjoying commercial wickedness. Wants to get out to escape coming fate, but lead ( heavy weight of commercial desire holds her in and all the idolatry and corruption is carried back to Babylon where it originated and where it will be destroyed at end of tribulation
VIII. The Four Chariots 6.1-7 A. Two bronze mountains = judgment coming from Mts. Olivet & Zion B. Red (bay) horses, war & bloodshed, Rev. 6:4: black horses, famine and starvation, Rev 6:5,6; white horses,. victory and conquest (false peace of Rev. 6:2); dappled (grizzled) or pale horses, death, Rev. 6:8. All these are four spirits, angels of heaven going as chariots to judge all parts of the earth. the horses are the judgments.

PROPHETS	PROPHESIED TO OR ABOUT	KINGS WHO RULED DURING PROPHET'S TIME	APPROX DATES (B.C.)
Zechariah	Returned Remnant of Judah	Governor Zerubbabel	After Southern Kingdom of Judah Captivity (520-518)

KING JAMES BIBLE

1 IN the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
2 The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
12 Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
13 And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
20 And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.
21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

KING JAMES 1611

1In the eight moneth, in the seconde yeere of Darius, came the word of the Lord vnto Zechariah, the sonne of Barachiah, the sonne of Iddo the Prophet, saying,

2The Lord hath bene sore displeased with your fathers.

3Therefore say thou vnto them, Thus saith the Lord of hostes; Turne ye vnto me, saith the Lord of hostes, and I will turne vnto you, saith the Lord of hostes.

4Be ye not as your fathers, vnto whom the former Prophets haue cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hostes, Turne ye now from your euill wayes, and from your euil doings: but they did not heare, nor hearken vnto me, saith the Lord.

5Your fathers, where are they? and the Prophets, doe they liue for euer?

6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my seruants the Prophets, did they not take holde of your fathers? and they returned and saide; Like as the Lord of hostes thought to doe vnto vs, according to our wayes, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with vs.

7 Upon the foure and twentieth day of the eleuenth moneth, which is the moneth Sebat, in the second yere of Darius, came the word of the Lord vnto Zechariah, the sonne of Barachiah, the sonne of Iddo the Prophet, saying:

8I saw by night, and behold a man riding vpon a red horse, and he stood among the mirtle trees that were in the bottome, and behinde him were there red horses, speckled and white.

9Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? And the Angel that talked with me, said vnto me, I wil shew thee what these be.

10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered, and said, These are they, whom the Lord hath sent to walke to and fro through the earth.

11And they answered the Angel of the Lord that stood among the mirtle trees, and said, Wee haue walked to and fro through the earth: and behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered, and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not haue mercie on Ierusalem, and on the cities of Iudah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten yeeres?

13And the Lord answered the Angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words.

14So the Angel that communed with me, said vnto me; Cry thou, saying; Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I am iealous for Ierusalem, and for Zion, with a great iealousie.

15And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

16Therefore thus saith the Lord, I am returned to Ierusalem with mercies: my house shall bee built in it, saith the Lord of hostes, and a line shalbe stretched forth vpon Ierusalem.

17Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hostes, My cities through prosperitie shall yet be spread abroad, and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Ierusalem.

18 Then lift I vp mine eyes, and saw, and behold foure hornes.

19And I said vnto the Angel that talked with me; What be these? and he answered mee, These are the hornes which haue scattered Iudah, Israel, and Ierusalem.

20And the Lord shewed mee foure carpenters.

21Then said I, What come these to doe? And hee spake, saying, These are the hornes which haue scattered Iudah, so that no man did lift vp his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles, which lift vp their horne ouer the land of Iudah to scatter it.

Compare Verses to Verses

I == Ezra 4:24 ; 5:1 ; Hag 1:1 ; Matt 23:35

III == Jer 25:5 ; 35:15 ; Mic 7:19 ; Mal 3:7 ; Luke 15:20 ; James 4:8

IV == 2nd Chr 36:15-16 ' Isa 31:6 ; Jer 3:12 ; 18:11 ; Ezek 18:30 ; Hos 14:1

VI == Isa 55:1 ; Lam 1:18 ; 2:17

VIII == Josh 5:13 ; Zech 6:2-7 ; Rev 6:4

X == Heb 1:14

XI == Ps 103:20-21

XII == Ps 102:13 ; Jer 25:11-12 ; Jer 25:11-12 ; Dan 9:2 ; Zech 7:5 ; Rev 6:10

XIII == Jer 29:10

XIV == Joel 2:18 ; Zech 8:2

XV == Isa 47:6

XVI == Isa 12:1 ; 54:8 ; Zech 2:1-2 , 10 ; 8:3 ;

XVII == Isa 14:1 ; 51:3 ; Zech 2:12 ; 3:2

XIX == Ezra 4:1 , 4 , 7 ; 5:3

XXI == Ps 75:4

THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE

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

2 The LORD was indeed angry with your fathers. . .

3 and say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.

4 Be not like your fathers whom the former prophets warned: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn from your evil ways and from your wicked deeds. But they would not listen or pay attention to me, says the LORD.

5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, can they live forever?

6 But my words and my decrees, which I entrusted to my servants the prophets, did not these overtake your fathers? Then they repented and admitted: "The LORD of hosts has treated us according to our ways and deeds, just as he had determined he would."

7 In the second year of Darius, on the twenty-fourth day of Shebat, the eleventh month, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, in the following way:

8 I had a vision during the night. There appeared the driver of a red horse, standing among myrtle trees in a shady place, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 Then I asked, "What are these, my lord?"; and the angel who spoke with me answered me, "I will show you what these are."

10 The man who was standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said, "These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth."

11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, "We have patrolled the earth; see, the whole earth is tranquil and at rest!"

12 Then the angel of the Lord spoke out and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you be without mercy for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that have felt your anger these seventy years?"

13 To the angel who spoke with me, the LORD replied with comforting words.

14 And the angel who spoke with me said to me, Proclaim: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am deeply moved for the sake of Jerusalem and Zion,

15 and I am exceedingly angry with the complacent nations; whereas I was but a little angry, they added to the harm.

16 Therefore, says the LORD: I will turn to Jerusalem in mercy; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a measuring line shall be stretched over Jerusalem.

17 Proclaim further: Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion, and again choose Jerusalem.

COMMENTARIE

v 1. The prophet Zechariah was also a priest, being the grandson of Iddo a priest. His name means “God remembers”. Many have said that his book is most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic, and the most eschatological of all the books of the Old Testament. Most prophecies of Israel, Christ and nations in a short space. Called the Revelation of the OT. He encouraged the people to spiritual revival and motivated rebuilding the temple. This Levite was born in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem with about 50,000 other exiles. Zechariah came on the prophetic scene Oct. - Nov. 520 BC, two months after Haggai, an older man who probably saw the original temple.

v 2-6 The Lord was angry with the fathers of the people and destroyed the temple for their sins, but the delay in rebuilding was the sin of these people. They were not to just return to the land, but return unto God. In spite of many prophets, the fathers had not paid attention to the Lord and were dead. Some of them finally realized their error, others truly repented, so now a complete return to the Lord will bring His blessing.

v 7,8. [1] Vision of rider on a red horse: Exactly 2 months after Haggai’s last prophecy of the destruction of world powers before the Millennium, Zechariah saw eight visions during one night. The first was of a man astride a red horse concealed in the myrtle trees along a stream, either Euphrates or probably Kidron valley SE of Jerusalem, and riders behind him were on red, sorrel and white horses. Red would denote war, white victory and sorrel a mixed condition.

v 9-11. Zechariah asks an interpreting angel, but the answer from the rider in the myrtle trees proves to be the angel of the Lord, or Christ in theophanies. The other angels have searched the earth and found it peaceful while Israel was still dominated.

v 12. Christ intercedes to the Father for Jerusalem and other cities who have been under Gentile rule for 70 years and needing to be rebuilt.

v 13-17. The Lord’s reply was that He loved Israel greatly, but He was displeased with the nations for their excess of chastening. So the Lord promises six blessings to Israel:

a. His presence in Jerusalem in mercy;
b. The temple to be rebuilt;
c. The city to be rebuilt (the measuring line);
d. Prosperity in the cities;
e. Inhabitants of area will be comforted;
f. God renews His choice of Jerusalem now as when they came from Egypt.

[2] Vision of four horns and four craftsmen:
Zechariah saw four horns, which the interpreting angel identified as four Gentile powers that scattered Israel. Though not all agree, I take this to mean Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, from Dan. 2 and 7. In the short term for Israel’s immediate problem, the craftsmen might be Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra and Nehemiah, the ones who saw that Jerusalem was rebuilt. For the longer period of world domination, they are not so easily identified. Whatever the persecuting nation, God has someone who He designates to overcome that persecutor. We have seen how each of the four great world powers succeeding overcame the preceding until Christ comes and overthrows all segments of the last, or Roman empire. Perhaps that is the solution.