The Book of Zechariah
Lesson 41
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The Book:
From the time of Zachariah and Haggai, the priesthood takes the lead in the nation. The history of God’s people falls into three main periods:
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From Moses to Samuel- Israel under Judges
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From Saul to Zedekiah- Israel under Kings
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From Jeshua to 70 A.D.- Israel under Priests
2. Its Prophecies:
There are more prophecies of Christ in Zechariah than in any other prophetic Book except the Book of Isaiah.
Prophecy of Christ Fulfillment
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Servant- 3:8 Matthew 12:18
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Branch-3:8, 6:12 Luke 1:78
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King-Priest 6:13 Hebrews 6:20. 7:1
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Lowly King-9:9-10 Matthew 21:4-5
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Betrayed- 11:12-13 Matthew 27:9
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Hands Pierced-12:10 John 19:37
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Smitten Shepherd-13:7-9 Matthew 26:31
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Second Coming-14:4, 9 Yet to be
3. The Central Truth:
“I am jealous for Jerusalem” 1:14, 8:1
4. The Structure of the Book:
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The Night Visions- Chapters 1-6
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Four Messages-Chapters 7-8
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The Prophetic Burdens-Chapters 9-14
5. The Night Visions: Chapter 1-6
Some students say there are seven visions, some say eight and others ten. I think one can remember them best if we separate the visions and when we do, there are ten. We shall have time to briefly look at each vision.
A. The Rider on the Red Horse: 1:8-17
The meaning is, God is jealous for Jerusalem and Judgment is to fall upon the nations for abuse of His covenant people.
B. The Four Horns: 1:18
The four horns are the four nations that had scattered Israel namely, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
C. The Four Carpenters: 1:20-21
These are the instruments of judgment upon the four nations Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
D. The Man with the Measuring Line: 2:1-13
Jerusalem is not measured as man would measure, but the Lord Himself shall be a wall around the glorious city.
E. Joshua the High Priest: 3:1-10
This vision pictures the removing of iniquity and future glory for Israel. (Filthy garments removed and a mitre (elaborate headdress) placed on the head and clean clothes.)
F. The Golden Candlestick and Two Olive Trees: 4:1-14
God shall rebuild His temple and shall witness in power. (4:6)
G. The Flying Scroll: 5:1-4
When God builds His temple (as in the last vision), His Word goes forth to judge. The scroll is the Word of God.
H. The Ephah: 5:5-11
The woman in the ephah, a measuring container and a symbol of trade, teaches that all corruption, all against God, should go to Babylon, the city of sin.
I. The Four Chariots: 6:1-8
These picture the judgments of the Lord upon the nations.
J. The Symbolic Crowning of Joshua: 6:9-15
This is a vision of the second coming of Christ.
6. Four Messengers: Chapters 7 and 8
These four messages found in 7:1-7, 7:8-14, 8:1-7, and 8:18-23 support the Central Message of Zechariah. God’s purpose for Jerusalem is unchanged by any ritual or form. He was and is “a jealous God with Great Jealousy” for His people. These are messages which teach that worship is a matter of the heart.
7. The Prophetic Burdens: Chapters 9-14
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First Burden: Chapters 9-11
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9:9- First coming of Christ
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9:10-17 Second Coming of Christ
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Chapter 10- picture of the covenant people scattered and finally restore in their land.
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Chapter 11- Rejection and despised at his first coming.
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Second Burden: Chapters 12-14
These chapters form one prophecy. The theme is the return of Christ and the establishment of the kingdom on earth.
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The siege of Jerusalem- 12:1-3
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The battle of Armageddon-12:4-9
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The grace of God and revelation of Christ to House of David-12:10
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Godly sorrow for rejecting Messiah at 1st advent-12:11-14
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The “cleansing foundation” opened to Israel-13:1
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The summary of these events in Chapters 13-14 (note 14:4)