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November 8, 2015. January 15, 2017. November 8, 2015. Zechariah Courier of Hope. Zechariah’s Eight Visions. Zechariah’s Eight Visions. Zechariah’s Eight Visions. The Angel of the Lord.
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November 8, 2015 January 15, 2017
November 8, 2015 Zechariah Courier of Hope
The Angel of the Lord • Hagar – fled from Sarai and was given the promise of a son Ishmael – “a wild man;His hand shall be against every man” • Abraham – provided a ram – “…now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me..”
The Angel of the Lord • Jacob – as he fled from Laban – “13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise… and return to the land of your family.” • Moses – at Midian - “2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.”
The Angel of the Lord • Gideon – on the winepress floor -12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!” • Samson’s parents – when they had made an offering – “20it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar!”
Zechariah’s Visions - Pattern • Introductory words • A description of the things seen • A question by Zechariah to the translating angel for the meaning • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” (James 1:5) • The explanation by the angel
Now the Lord had said to Abram:… 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless youand make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1b-3
The Man Under the Myrtle 8 I saw by night, and behold, a manriding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white.
The Man Under the Myrtle 9Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.”
The Man Under the Myrtle • The Myrtle is an important symbol to the Jews, being one of the 4 sacred plants used in the Feast of Booths • The Myrtle in the valley was also a symbol of the Jews that were under gentile persecution, but still cared for by God
The Man Under the Myrtle • It is also a symbol of righteousness and a reminder that actions, without faith and obedience, are empty • The most interesting thing about the myrtle bloom is that the blooms do not release their fragrance fully until they are crushed.
The Man Under the Myrtle Red speaks of blood and bloodshed…for this One who is riding the red horse, it speaks of His own blood that was to be shed. He is watching over this earth because He would die and shed His blood for the human family on this earth.
The Man Under the Myrtle Even at this very moment, the Lord Jesus Christ is standing in the shadows, keeping watch over His own. Unknown
The Man Under the Myrtle 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”
The Man Under the Myrtle 11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.”
The Man Under the Myrtle 12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”
The Man Under the Myrtle 13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts:
The Man Under the Myrtle “I am zealous for Jerusalem [His city]And for Zion [His people] with great zeal.15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry,and they helped—but with evil intent.” 16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD:
The Man Under the Myrtle “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts,“And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’
The Man Under the Myrtle 17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.”’”
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen Zechariah 1;18-21
Four Horns 18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?”
Four Horns So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
Four Horns • In prophecy, a horn is symbolic of invincible strength • It is also used to represent a Gentile king and his kingdom
Four Horns • The fourhorns represent Babylon, Media-Persia [past], Greece and Rome [future] • These empires would receive judgment for their oppression of Israel
Four Craftsmen 20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?”
Four Craftsmen So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmenare coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
Four Craftsmen • The craftsmen represent succeeding empires used by God to destroy their immediately former empire
44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44
What Next? Circumstances in Zechariah’s time were discouraging. It seemed as if God had deserted His people.
What Next? The LORD wanted them to know that He had not deserted them. The LORD wanted them to know that He had and eternal plan and purpose for them.
