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Night Visions… (3 things)
- 1st – Warning to Israel… vs. 1-6
- 1st – Zechariah received his first Word from the Lord… vs. 1-4
- In the 6th month – the work on the Temple had begun – Haggai 1:1
- In the 7th month – Haggai encouraged the people to BE STRONG and NOT FEAR – Haggai 2:4
- They had shown a willingness to listen to the prophet – and obey the Word of the Lord…
- But there was still concern they might turn away – follow in the example of their fathers
- So now in the 8th month (November) – God calls Zechariah to warn the people…
- God was VERY angry with their fathers – the nations of Israel and Judah…
- Angry meaning He decimated both nations with the Assyrians and Babylonians!
- Therefore do not be like your ancestors – to whom the FORMER PROPHETS preached…
- Warning the people to turn from their evil ways – BUT they did not listen!
- Simple choice – repeat the mistake of their ancestors – and receive the ANGER of the Lord…
- Or learn from their ancestors – listen to Zechariah / Haggai – and turn back to the Lord!
- One of the best ways to learn is by watching the mistakes of others…
- Parents tell your kids about the mistakes you made earlier in life – be transparent…
- Better they learn from your mistakes – then have to repeat them!
- Unfortunately sometimes we refuse to learn from the mistakes of others…
- We end up going through the school of hard knocks – and have to learn the hard way!
- Because the Lord promised them – if you turn to Me and I will turn to you!
- The Lord is never far away – but He is a gentleman and will wait for us…
- But the moment we turn around – He is always ready to receive us again…
- No matter how far we have run – or how many times we make mistakes!
- In the 6th month – the work on the Temple had begun – Haggai 1:1
- 2nd – The Word of the Lord is TRUE… vs. 5-6
- God predicted the argument that there was no benefit to obedience…
- He asks two questions – where are your fathers / where are the prophets…
- The assumed answer to both of these questions is – they are both dead…
- Since both are dead was there really any advantage to obeying the Word of the Lord!
- The world today lives by this motto – ‘carpe diem’ – seize the day…
- Eat – drink – and be merry for tomorrow we might die – and that is the end!
- But the problem is death is not the end – it is just the beginning…
- Both the fathers and the prophets died – but with VERY different fates!
- Life is a gift – with only one purpose – it gives us the opportunity to make a choice…
- Where will we go when our time here on earth is up – where will we spend eternity!
- God points out – His Word and Statues (commands) were TRUE…
- Everything He told the former prophets happened to their ancestors…
- So that even they turned and said – just as the Lord of Hosts determined – so it happened…
- According to our ways and deed – so He has dealt with us!
- Because the Word of the Lord is certain – His Word will never pass away!
- Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass dies, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
- Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, My words will by no means pass away.”
- But the question might be asked – when did the ancestors ‘turn’…
- Even the rich man called out to Father Abraham in Hell – Luke 16:24 – but it was too late!
- Ever knee will one day bow in submissions to Jesus – either in salvation / or submission…
- The key is make the choice to listen today – obey His Word now – before it is too late!
- Do not make the mistake of following the lies of the world – carpe diem!
- There is limited window to obey the Word – believe in Jesus – II Corinthians 6:2
- God predicted the argument that there was no benefit to obedience…
- 1st – Zechariah received his first Word from the Lord… vs. 1-4
- 2nd – First vision – the riders… vs. 7-17
- 1st – Night vision… vs. 7
- On the 24th day of the eleventh month (February) of 520 B.C. – the Word of the Lord came…
- In the 9th month God had spoken to Haggai – promising to bless Israel / finish the Temple…
- He promised to make Zerubbabel His signet ring – overthrow the nations – Haggai 2:22
- But the Temple would not be dedicated until 516 B.C. – Ezra 6:15
- And while Jerusalem still had no walls – Nehemiah would not arrive until 445 B.C.
- The Medo-Persian Empire looked as strong as ever – but God was working!
- Zechariah had a vision by night – 3 things to note…
- God can speak through dreams / visions…
- Joseph had two dreams he would rule over his brothers and family – Genesis 37:5
- Daniel interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2
- And it is not just limited to the men in the Bible – God says He will give us dreams…
- Joel 2:28 – “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”
- But we need to be careful of dreams – not mean all visions at night are from God…
- Ecclesiastes 5:7 – “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.”
- Your dream from last night might be from the Lord – or just to much TV…
- If the dream contradicts the Word of God in – reject it – it is not from the Lord…
- Before you make any rash decision based on dreams – make sure they are from God!
- There are 8 total night visions of Zechariah (all given in one night)…
- And the interpretation of portions these 8 prophesies are hotly disputed…
- Often because people read into the visions and seek to allegorize the symbology…
- But we will be very careful not to use allegory – looking for meaning in symbols!
- Because unfortunately allegory is a very dangerous way to interpret the Bible…
- Ignoring the plain interpretation / and point of a passage – seeking a ‘deeper meaning’
- It abandons boundaries – leaves the passage open to mean anything we want…
- This had led to many false teachings – heresies being taught in churches!
- Instead we will do our best to interpret them in accordance with scripture – II Peter 1:20
- There are many fulfilled prophecies of the Bible that we can be certain of…
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ – the rebirth of the nation of Israel to name a few…
- But there are W
- On the 24th day of the eleventh month (February) of 520 B.C. – the Word of the Lord came…
- 2nd – The men on horses… vs. 8-11
- Zechariah saw a vision of a man sitting on a red horse…
- He was standing among some MYRTLE trees in a small valley…
- Beside him were 3 other horses – red / speckled / white – presumably each with a rider…
- There was an angel next to Zechariah – so he asked the angel – what are these (riders)
- The angel replied – I will show you – and man who stood among the myrtle answered…
- These are the ones the Lord sends to and fro throughout the earth – (red / speckled / white)
- They answered the man on the red horse (Angel of the Lord) –all the earth is resting quietly!
- The obvious question becomes – who are the riders – and what are the myrtle trees…
- The common answer is to draw a parallel to Revelation 6 – 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Possible – but there are problems – first the colors of the horses do not match…
- Also the man riding the red horse is ‘the Angel of the Lord’ vs. 11 – some say Jesus Christ…
- There is also the difference in their purpose – in Revelation 6 they are sent to take peace…
- But here the horsemen are sent out to report – and they bring back news of peace!
- So the better answer is – we do not know for sure who they are…
- But we do know what they were upset about – the world was at peace…
- Everybody was doing great – except for the Jews – the people of God were devastated!
- Israel was scattered – Jerusalem in tatters – and the Temple in ruins!
- Zechariah saw a vision of a man sitting on a red horse…
- 3rd – The prayer of the Angel… vs. 12-17
- The Angel of the Lord – asked the Lord of Hosts…
- How long would Jerusalem not have mercy – He had already punished them for 70 years…
- Which is the point of the vision – how long – when would God do something!
- But the Lord spoke good and comforting words to the angel who was talking to Zechariah…
- I know I often want to cry out – how long Lord – we believe God is in control…
- But often nothing seems to change – good is evil and evil is good…
- Yet when we go to the Lord – we find He has GOOD and COMFORTING words for us!
- Then the angel shared those comforting words with Zechariah…
- Proclaim this – the Lord is zealous for Jerusalem and Zion…
- And exceedingly angry with the nations – who helped punish His people…
- But they did not do so with a heart for the Lord – they did it with evil intent!
- God used Assyria to punish Israel – begin the Diaspora in 722 B.C.
- Babylon was a tool in His hands – taking Judah captive for 70 years…
- But they took it to far – evil intent – so God would now turn His anger on them!
- Many assume they are ‘ok’ because God does not immediately punish them…
- They make mistake of interpreting God’s ‘patience’ for God’s ‘acceptance’…
- Just because God has not judged yet – does not mean God will not judge – Numbers 32:23!
- Therefore the Lord would return to Jerusalem in mercy…
- He would rebuild His Temple – Jerusalem would be resorted…
- And prosperity would one again overflow to the towns of Judah…
- God would comfort Zion – and He would again choose Jerusalem as His own!
- Literally fulfilled as the Temple was completed in 516 B.C. – and the wall rebuilt in 445 B.C.
- But likely also yet to be fulfilled – when God will one day again call Jerusalem home!
- At the end of the 7 years of Tribulation – Jesus will return – Revelation 19:11-21
- He will come riding in on a white horse – ‘King of Kings – and Lord of Lords’!
- All those who were raptured will return with Him from heaven – Jude 14
- He will face off against the armies of the Anti-Christ – Valley of Armageddon…
- With one word from his mouth He will destroy them all – II Thessalonians 2:8
- All of the Jews will see Jesus – realize He is their Messiah – and believe – Zechariah 12:10
- God will save the whole nations of Israel – all of them will receive Jesus – Romans 11:26
- And Jesus will build the 4th and final Millennial Temple – Ezekiel 40-47
- The Angel of the Lord – asked the Lord of Hosts…
It also gives us hope – because we see everything unfolds according to His plan!
3rd – Second vision – four horns… vs. 18-21
1st – Zechariah saw a vision of four horns… vs. 18-19
So he again asked the angel – what are these – and he was told…
They are the horns that have scattered Judah / Israel / and Jerusalem…
Horns in the Bible are a picture of power – usually a reference to a nation or a king…
Some say they reference the 4 winds – Israel just had trouble on all sides!
Or a reference to those who would scattered Israel and Judah all over the world!
The 4 metals of Daniel 2 / Beast of Daniel 7 – Babylon / Persia / Greece / Rome
What I like is that Zechariah had no idea what they were – so he asked!
‘What are these’ – is a phase that is repeated 8 times in the book of Zechariah!
The one who understand the Bible – does not know everything / or is the smartest…
It is the one who asks because he does not know – questions are GOOD!
If we have a hard time understanding the Word of God – ask questions!
God will take the time to explain His Word so that we do understand!
2nd – The 4 craftsmen… vs. 20-21
As the vision continued Zechariah saw four craftsmen (carvers)…
Zechariah asked what they were coming to do – what was their purpose…
The angel told him – the 4 horns had scattered Judah so no one could lift his head…
But the 4 craftsmen were coming to terrify the horns – cast them out!
Some suggest these refer to the key leaders of the nations that conquered kingdoms…
They were the architects of demise of one Empire – and the rise of another!
Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) – Cyrus (Persia) – Alexander (Greece) – Caesar (Rome)
But the point is that the Empires of Men were doomed not to last!
The Lord of Hosts – vs. 17 – was the real power!
The name of God – ‘Yahweh’ appears 102 times in the 211 verses of the book…
And the title for God – ‘Yahweh of hosts’ – occurs 46 times…
Zechariah mentions this title for God more than any book outside of Isaiah and Jeremiah…
The word ‘hosts’ is the Hebrew word ‘tsaba’ – literally meaning ‘the armies’…
Israel at this time had no army – and the Persian armies ruled the world with an iron fist…
But God is the commander of a greater army – reminding His people He was the real power!
A very encouraging thing to remember – our trust is not in the Kingdoms of men…
We put our faith in the Lord of Hosts – He is the one who holds all the true power!
He uses the horns for His purposes – and raises up craftsmen when the needed…
He is the one who orchestrates the Empires of the world – molding them to His will…
It gives great peace – because it means no matter how crazy things get – God is in control…
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