ZECHARIAH 7-8 - INTERMISSION WITH QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

TWO YEARS PASS BY ON HISTORY'S STAGE
BEFORE THE NEXT PROPHETIC PAGE
REVEALED GOD'S COSMIC MYSTERY PLAN
FOR ISRAEL IN THEIR PROMISED LAND.

THE INTERMISSION TIME WAS SPENT
WITH QUESTIONS BETHELITES HAD SENT
ABOUT IMPORTANT DAYS TO FAST
THAT CALLED FOR MOURNING FROM THE PAST.

THE PROPHET SOUGHT AN ANSWER CLEAR
FOR SCATTERED JEWS BOTH FAR AND NEAR
WHO WERE RELEASED FROM BABYLON'S HAND
AND GIVEN BACK THEIR CONQUERED LAND.

BUT SPECIAL DAYS TO MOURN AND WEEP
HAD TURNED THEIR FAST FOR FOOD TO EAT
THE CALL FOR JUSTICE, LOVE AND GRACE
WAS ABSENT FROM THE HEBREW RACE.

A STRONG REBUKE FROM YAHWEH CAME
BECAUSE OF ALL THEIR SIN AND SHAME
THEY WOULD NOT TURN AND DO HIS WILL
UNTIL HIS JUDGMENT DID FULFILL.

YET IN THE MIDST OF THEIR DISTRESS
THE PROMISES OF PEACE AND REST
TURNED ISRAEL'S NIGHT OF GLOOM AND PAIN
TO LASTING PRAISE THROUGH YAHWEH'S NAME.

THE LORD ALMIGHTY SPOKE IN LOVE
ASSURING JUDAH FROM ABOVE
THEIR TEMPLE SOON WOULD BE COMPLETE
AND ALL OPPOSED WOULD FACE DEFEAT.

BUT THEN HE LEAPS THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
WHERE FEAST AND DANCE WILL THEN COMBINE
AS KING MESSIAH CLAIMS HIS THRONE
THE SOVEREIGN LORD WILL REIGN ALONE.
---B. PENT

ZECHARIAH 6:9-15 - THE CROWNING OF JOSHUA

THE HIGH PRIEST WITH A CROWN OF GOLD
DEFIES ALL LOGIC AS TO BOLD!
THERE WAS NO PRESCIENCE BEFORE
AND ISRAEL'S KING REIGNED THERE NO MORE.

SO WHY DO PRIEST AND KING COMBINE
IN THIS LAST ACT TO INTERTWINE?
THE PROPS WERE SET TO ILLUSTRATE
GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE UNHEARD OF YET.

AS ZECHARIAH WALKS ON STAGE
THE LORD INVITES HIM TO ENGAGE
THE BAND OF POST EXILIC MEN
WITH GIFTS OF GOLD THE TEMPLE MEND.

GOD DRAWS A PICTURE OF THE TWO
THE HIGH PRIEST REPRESENTS THE JEW
THE KING IS CROWNED AS SOVEREIGN HEAD
OF BOTH THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

THE CROWN ON JOSHUA WAS A SIGN
THE BRANCH FROM DAVID'S ROYAL LINE
WILL RULE THE WORLD FROM ZION'S HILL
AS KING OF KINGS VICTORIOUS STILL.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. AS YOU COMPARE JOSHUA IN CHAPTER 3 WITH THIS CHAPTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD WAS TRYING TO TEACH? WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?
2. WHY WAS THE GOLD CROWN PLACED ON JOSHUA INSTEAD OF GOVERNOR ZERUBABBEL? WASN'T THIS A CONTRADICTION OF JEWISH LAW? EXPLAIN!
3. THE TEXT IS FURTHER WRAPPED IN MYSTERY BY STATING THAT HE WOULD BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. EARLIER WE WERE TOLD THAT ZERUBABBEL WOULD DO IT (4:8-10)? HOW SHOULD WE RESOLVE THIS SEEMING CONTRADICTION?
4. VERSE 13 IDENTIFIES JOSHUA AS "THE BRANCH." WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOL REPRESENT (NOTE 3:8-9)? CAN YOU NOW BEGIN TO SEE WHERE THIS IS LEADING AND WHY THIS "BRANCH" CAN ASSUME THE TITLE OF BOTH HIGH PRIEST AND KING?
5. IN VERSES 14 AND 15, THE CROWN IS TO BE PLACED IN THE TEMPLE AS A MEMORIAL! HOW WOULD THE JEWS UNDERSTAND THIS REQUEST? WHAT FUTURE PROPHETIC VIEW WAS INTENDED AND WHEN WILL IT BE FULFILLED?

ZECHARIAH 6:1-8 - THE FOUR CHARIOTS

THE FINAL ACT UPON LIFE'S STAGE
THAT SATISFIED GOD'S HOLY RAGE
DESCRIBE FOUR CHARIOTS ON THEIR WAY
DISPLAYING VENGEANCE ON THEIR PREY.

WHO ARE THESE MIGHTY-SPIRIT BEINGS
BEHIND THESE COLOR-PAINTED STEEDS?
THEY ARE MESSIAH'S MESSENGERS
DESTROYING JUDAH'S PREDATORS.

THE PLAN OF YAHWEH ON DISPLAY
WAS VIEWED IN PERSIA'S MIGHT THAT DAY
DESTROYING BABYLON'S WILLFUL PRIDE
WITH SOVEREIGN JUSTICE SATISFIED.

YET STRETCHED BEYOND THIS PRESENT SCENE
ARE VISIONS THAT FOUR HORSEMEN BRING
AS TRIBULATION WRATH TAKES PLACE
POURED OUT UPON THE HUMAN RACE.

THESE REVELATION COLORED STEEDS
PORTRAY GOD'S WRATH ON EVIL DEEDS
AS ARMAGEDDON FORCES MEET
GOD'S GLORIOUS PLAN WILL BE COMPLETE.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. THE PROPHET SEES FOUR CHARIOTS COMING FROM BETWEEN TWO BRONZE MOUNTAINS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT INDICATE?
2. WHAT DO THESE FOUR CHARIOTS REPRESENT (V.5)? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT DIRECTIONS ARE THEY HEADING AND WHY?
3. SINCE THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THESE COLORED CHARIOTS, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE COLORED HORSES OF REVELATION 6:1-8? IS THERE A POSSIBLE CONNECTION OR PARALLEL?
4. VERSE 8 INDICATES THAT HIS "SPIRIT IS AT REST IN THE LAND OF THE NORTH." WHAT PRESENT AND FUTURE FULFILLMENT MIGHT THIS BE SPEAKING ABOUT? CAN YOU SEE WHERE THIS DRAMA IS HEADING AND HOW GOD IS PREPARING ISRAEL FOR ARMAGEDDON AND MESSIAH'S FUTURE REIGN?

Zechariah 5:5-11 - THE WOMAN IN A BASKET

THE ANGEL CALLED TO LOOK ON HIGH
TO VIEW SOME OBJECT IN THE SKY
A BASKET WHERE A WOMAN LAY
WAS USED TO PICTURE SIN THAT DAY.

THE PROPHET COULD NOT COMPREHEND
WHAT THIS ODD PICTURE WOULD PORTEND
SO WHEN HE ASKED TO PLEASE EXPLAIN
THE SIN OF BABEL WAS MADE PLAIN.

WAY BACK IN SHINAR'S FERTILE CREST
WHERE MAN REFUSED GOD'S ONE REQUEST
A TOWER OF CONFUSION CAME
AND BABYLON'S PRIDE GAVE BIRTH TO SHAME

THE SIN THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS
IS MAN'S REBELLIOUS WICKEDNESS
THAT SPREAD THROUGH ISRAEL'S HOLY LAND
REPLACING YAHWEH'S MIGHTY HAND.

BUT SOMETHING STRANGE COMES INTO SIGHT
TWO STORK-LIKE BEINGS APPEAR IN FLIGHT
AND TAKES THIS BASKET MADE OF LED
BACK TO THE SERPENT'S EVIL HEAD.

THE FUTURE WHERE THIS DRAMA ENDS
IS FOUND IN JUDGMENT YAHWEH SENDS
WHEN BABYLON IS FOREVER CRUSHED
AND SATAN'S PRIDE IS TURNED TO DUST.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. SINCE THE FLYING SCROLL REVEALED GOD'S HOLINESS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE MOSAIC LAW, WHAT DOES THE WOMAN IN A BASKET REPRESENT?
2. WHAT MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN THE ANGEL "PUSHED THE WOMAN INTO THE BASKET AND THE LED COVER OVER ITS MOUTH?
3. WHEN THERE IS TRUE CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE, HOW DOES GOD TREAT OUR SIN AS PICTURED IN CLOSING THE LED TOP OVER THE WOMAN?
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MEANT BY THE TWO WOMEN WITH STORK-LIKE WINGS TAKING THE BASKED TO BABYLON?
5. WHERE DID SIN ORIGINATE AND WHY IS WICKEDNESS TAKEN BACK TO BABYLON? DOES THE EXPLANATION OF VERSES 7-11 SEEM TO BE FULFILLED IN REVELATION 17-18? WHY OR WHY NOT?

Zechariah 5:1-4 - THE FLYING SCROLL

THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH SAW
THE STRANGEST SYMBOLS OF THEM ALL
TWO END TIME SIGNS IN CRYPTIC FORM
REVEALING JUDGMENT'S FUTURE STORM.

A FLYING SCROLL OF PARCHMENT STRENGTH
FROM FIFTEEN FEET BY THIRTY LENGTH
WITH ONE COMMANDMENT ON EACH SIDE
THE LAW OF STEALING AND FALSE PRIDE.

THE TWO STONE TABLETS OF THE LAW
GOD GAVE TO ISRAEL AS A GUIDE
WAS LIKE A TUTOR THAT WOULD SHOW
THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BELOW.

BUT DISOBEDIENCE TURNED THEIR HEART
AND NATIONAL ISRAEL FELL APART
FOR WHEN GOD'S GLORY LEFT ITS PLACE
THE GENTILE NATIONS FILLED THEIR SPACE.

MAN'S GUILT CAN NEVER BE ERASED
THE BROKEN LAW IN VIEW IS TRACED
BUT ONLY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE
CAN THROUGH REPENTANT GRACE ATONE.

A FUTURE DAY IS HERE IN VIEW
WHEN GOD AGAIN GRAFTS IN THE JEW
A NATION TORN BY DEEP DISTRESS
WILL FIND IN HIM TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. AS YAHWEH CONTINUES PREPARING HIS PEOPLE, WHAT WOULD THE VISION OF A FLYING SCROLL COMMUNICATE TO THEM? WHAT MESSAGE SHOULD THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD WITH ONLY 2 COMMANDMENTS VISIBLE?

2. WHEN JESUS SUMMARIZED THE LAW, WHAT TWO COMMANDMENTS DID HE QUOTE AND WHY? CAN YOU SEE ANY PARALLEL BETWEEN THESE AND THE TWO ON THE FLYING SCROLL? WHAT MIGHT THEY REVEAL?

3. PETER REMINDS US THAT WE TOO ARE "A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD, THAT WE MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT" (1 PETER 2:9). SO HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE TO SERVE HIM? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS SCRIPTURE REMINDS US TO DO IN PREPARATION?

ZECHARIAH 4:1-14 - THE GOLDEN LAMP STAND & OLIVE TREES

THE SECOND SCENE BEGAN THAT DAY
WITH SEVERAL SYMBOLS ON DISPLAY
A SHROUD OF MYSTERY DULLED HIS MIND
LIKE TRYING TO SEE WHEN ALMOST BLIND.

A LAMP STAND WITH A BOWL ON TOP
WAS SEEN WITH SEVEN LIGHTS ABLAZE
AND FROM EACH SIDE AN OLIVE TREE
SUPPLIED THE OIL SO ALL COULD SEE.

I ASKED THE ANGEL TO EXPLAIN
IN WORDS THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND.
HE POINTED TO JEHOVAH'S MIGHT
WITH HIS ANOINTING OIL FOR LIGHT.

THE FRAME THIS PICTURE DID EMBRACE
WAS ISRAEL'S PRESENT BUILDING BASE
WITH DETAILED PLANS HE HAD IN VIEW
FOR JUDAH'S TEMPLE BUILDING CREW.

THEN FROM THE RUINS OF THE PAST
THE SHOUTS OF PRAISES COULD BE HEARD
AS TEMPLE WALLS FELL INTO PLACE
AND HOLY WORSHIP FILLED ITS SPACE.

THERE IS ONE OTHER SECRET THREAD
TWO "SONS OF OIL" RISE FROM THE DEAD
TO STAND ON ISRAEL'S HOLY LAND
BEFORE THIS COSMIC STORY ENDS.

THESE "OLIVE TREES" ST. JOHN DESCRIBED
ARE THOSE THE PROPHET SAW DISGUISED
AS MEN ANOINTED TO PROCLAIM
MESSIAH'S COMING BACK TO REIGN.
--B. PENT

ZECHARIAH 4:1-14 - THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND & OLIVE TREES

1. AS ZACHARIAH ENCOURAGES THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE, GOD IS PREPARING A HOLY PRIESTHOOD TO SERVE HIM. LOOKING OVER THE 1ST FIVE VISIONS, WHAT PICTURE DO YOU SEE EMERGING FROM A REPENTANT PRIESTHOOD AND CULMINATING IN A CHANGE OF GARMENTS? HOW WOULD THAT PARALLEL THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19?
2. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE LAMPSTANT (MANORAH) IN THE TEMPLE? WHO DOES IT REPRESENT? WHAT IS THE OIL A SYMBOL OF AND WHAT WAS GOD TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE?
3. THERE WAS A PRESENT APPLICATION FULFILLED IN ZERUBBABEL (VS.5-10) AND A FUTURE IMPLIED IN VERSES 11-14 WHERE THE PROPHET ASKS: "WHAT ARE THESE 2 OLIVE TREES?" WITH THE THE ANSWER: "THESE ARE THE 2 WHO ARE ANOINTED TO SERVE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH." IN THE LIGHT OF REVELATION 11:3-12, WHO MIGHT HE BE SPEAKING ABOUT AND WHEN?