Zechariah

Plan for the Future It is hard to plan for the future. Save for our college costs – lots of time yet Save for retirement – I am still young, lots of time Instead of planning for the future, we are mortgaging our future. Most of us live in the “here and now” - paycheck to paycheck – in the moment

Plan for the Future We do not worry about the future. Old ageDeathRetirement We do not plan or think about the future Drunk driver kills people – did not think about getting home safely when they got drunk Olympic athletes asked – Take performance enhancing drugs, win gold medal – even if caught later – more than 50% said YES.

Plan for the Future We do not worry about the future. Births out of wedlock – just live in the moment Many will not go to heaven – live for the moment, enjoy life, don't plan for the future.

Plan for the Future Planning for the future takes work in the present. Kids have dreams to be baseball player, doctor, teacher, nurse, lawyer, movie star Doctor without science – work in factory Athlete – without practice – sells used cars Better marriage – Get out of debt – Change habits – all require work now.

Zechariah - Background Longest of the minor prophets – 14 chapters Zechariah – common name, about 30 with this name mentioned in the Bible Zechariah means – Jehovah remembers Tradition says that Zechariah, Malachi and Haggai are the ones who started the synagogues in Israel. Tomb near Jerusalem Written November, 520 BC, 2 months after Haggai

Zechariah - Background Involved in collecting and preserving the inspired writings of the Old Testament Contains 8 visions Apocalyptic language – similar to Revelation Many prophecies of Christ Promises of doom for Jerusalem Theme of the book: BUILD FOR THE FUTURE TODAY!

Zechariah – The Book “Zechariah is the longest and most obscure of all twelve minor prophets.” (Adam Clarke) “It is the most difficult of any of the OT books to interpret.” (Homer Hailey) “No prophet of the entire OT is more concerned with the Messianic hope or give more specific predictions about the coming Messiah.” (Open Bible)

Christ talked about Zechariah Matthew 23: Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Zechariah – Lessons While this book is the most difficult to study – there are some lessons for us. 1.God keeps His promises. 2.God's chosen people are those in His church – not physical Israel. 3.God's kingdom is ruled by Jesus Christ – both king and high priest.

Dual Prophecies

As the diagram shows, many prophecies are “double barreled” statements. These are statements that have a dual fulfillment. There is an immediate part to the statement There is also a long range intent.

Examples Hosea 11:1 – "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. Israel came from Egypt at time of Moses. Jesus will come out of Egypt. Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Threat of Syria is short term Jesus will be born of a virgin

Examples Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

REMEMBER The thing to remember from the book of Zechariah is this: PLAN FOR THE FUTURE BY OBEYING GOD TODAY!