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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!
    • 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
  • 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
  • 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!
  • 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

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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