1. November 8, 2015
January 15, 2017

6. November 8, 2015
Zechariah
Courier of Hope

9. Zechariah’s Eight Visions
Meaning
1. The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
(Zechariah 1:7-17)
God's anger against the nations and blessing on restored Israel.
2. The Four Horns and the Four Craftsmen (Zechariah 1:18-21)
God's judgment on the nations that afflict Israel.
3. The Surveyor with a Measuring Line
(Zechariah 2:1-12)
God's future blessing on restored Israel.

10. Zechariah’s Eight Visions
Meaning
4. The Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua, the High Priest
(Zechariah 3)
Israel's future cleansing from sin and reinstatement as a priestly nation.
5. The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Zechariah 4)
Israel as the light to the nations under Messiah, the King-Priest.
6. The Flying Scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4)
The severity and totality of divine judgment on sin in Israel.

11. Zechariah’s Eight Visions
Meaning
7. The Woman in a Basket (Zechariah 5:5-11)
The removal of national Israel's sin or rebellion against God.
8. Four Chariots (Zechariah 6:1-8)
Divine judgment on Gentile nations.

13. 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..”

14. 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.”

15. 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 – “20 it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar!”

16. 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

17. Now the Lord had said to Abram:… 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you
shall be a blessing.

18. 3 I 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

19. The Man Under the Myrtle

20. The Man Under the Myrtle
8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white.

21. The Man Under the Myrtle
9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?”
So the angel who talked with me
said to me, “I will show you what they are.”

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. The Man Under the Myrtle keeping watch over His own.
Even at this very moment, the Lord Jesus Christ is standing in the shadows,
keeping watch over His own.
Unknown

26. 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.”

27. The Man Under the Myrtle all the earth is resting quietly.”
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.”

28. 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?”

29. The Man Under the Myrtle ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts:
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:

30. The Man Under the Myrtle 16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD:
“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:

31. 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.”’

32. 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.”’”

33. Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
Zechariah 1;18-21

34. 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?”

35. So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah,
Four Horns
So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah,
Israel, and Jerusalem.”

36. Four Horns In prophecy, a horn is symbolic of invincible strength
It is also used to represent a Gentile king and his kingdom

37. Four Horns
The four horns represent Babylon, Media-Persia [past], Greece and Rome [future]
These empires would receive judgment for their oppression of Israel

38. Four Craftsmen
20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?”

39. Four Craftsmen
So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are 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.”

40. Four Craftsmen
The craftsmen represent succeeding empires used by God to destroy their immediately former empire

41. Four Craftsmen Offending Kingdom (Horn) Correcting Kingdom (Craftsman)
Babylon
Media- Persia

42. Four Craftsmen Offending Kingdom (Horn) Correcting Kingdom (Craftsman)
Babylon
Media- Persia
Media-Persia
Greece

43. Four Craftsmen Offending Kingdom (Horn) Correcting Kingdom (Craftsman)
Babylon
Media- Persia
Media-Persia
Greece
Rome

44. Four Craftsmen Offending Kingdom (Horn) Correcting Kingdom (Craftsman)
Bablyon
Media- Persia
Media-Persia
Greece
Rome
Messianic Kingdom

45. Four Craftsmen Offending Kingdom (Horn) Correcting Kingdom (Craftsman)
Bablyon
Media- Persia
Media-Persia
Greece
Rome
Messianic Kingdom

47. and it shall stand forever.
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

48. What Next?

49. had deserted His people.
What Next?
Circumstances in Zechariah’s time were discouraging. It seemed as if God
had deserted His people.

50. The LORD wanted them to know that He had not deserted them.
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.

51. What Next? ”Being confident in this very thing, that
He who has begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

52. What Next?
When the Lord Jesus came to earth the first time, He had the title of the
Carpenter of Nazareth.

53. He is coming again someday as a “craftsman”
What Next?
He is coming again someday as a “craftsman”
or carpenter to put down this world’s dictator and establish His kingdom here upon this earth with Jerusalem as its center.

54. What Next? Then let the world forbear their rage
The Church renounce her fear;
Israel must live through every age,
And be the Almighty’s care.
Unknown

55. What Next? God fulfilled, and is fulfilling, His promises to Israel
God fulfilled, and is fulfilling, His promises to us.

56. What Next?
When our situation appears to be hopeless we must remind ourselves that God identifies with our sufferings and is in charge of the future.

57. We are to repent, confess our sins,
What Next?
We are to repent, confess our sins,
give Him glory,
and believe His word.
He will work out
His perfect will for us

59. who alone has immortality, who dwells
He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells
in unapproachable light, whom no one
has ever seen or can see. To Him
be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:15b-16