It’s clear that the prophecy described in this vision was partly fulfilled around the time the temple was completed during the period of post-Babylonian captivity in the Jews’ history. I also believe the prophecy was completely fulfilled centuries later when Christ’s church was established (Acts 2) and reached out to the Gentiles (Acts 10-11ff).… Read More Zechariah: God Will Dwell in Your Midst (The Third Vision)
Just as it takes blacksmiths and carpenters to craft horns out of metal or wood, those same blacksmiths and carpenters have the power to destroy what they had made. History has shown that nations who destroy other nations often find themselves being destroyed from within. This is all done according to the will of God. A few decades before Zechariah, God had warned Nebuchadnezzar that “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes” (Dan. 4:17). Nebuchadnezzar would not listen and had to learn that lesson the hard way (Dan. 4:1-37). Paul would later tell the Athenians that God has “determined (all nations’) appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). God certainly does determine the fates of nations. It would be wise for us to remember that today. … Read More Zechariah: God Determines the Fate of Nations (The Second Vision)
Zechariah’s purpose was to join the prophet Haggai in encouraging the Jews in their efforts to rebuild the temple (Ezra 4:1-5; 5:1-2; 6:14-15). Thus, this first vision’s message was to inform Judah that while everything appeared to be fine with the nations surrounding them, God would bring judgment on them while showing mercy to Jerusalem.… Read More Zechariah: Comfort From The Lord (The First Vision)
God wanted the Jews of Zechariah’s day to remember the calamities that had fallen upon their parents and grandparents. He wanted them to not make the same mistakes by remembering that God’s statutes and commands had “overtaken” their ancestors in the sense that they had been severely punished for their disobedience to God’s will.… Read More Zechariah: Repent and Return to God
The book of Zechariah is one of the most difficult books in the Old Testament to study and interpret. One of the reasons is due to the highly symbolic, apocalyptic style in which it is written. Any study of Zechariah should certainly be done with prayer and humility, and it is my hope that these next few articles will be of some help to you, the reader, in your efforts to become more familiar with this section of Scripture.… Read More Zechariah: Introductory Thoughts
Pre-Denominational Christianity 