THE CROWNING OF JOSHUA

                                Zechariah 6:9-15

      The last act on the prophetic stage introduces us to the dramatic crowning of Joshua who is later identified as The Man who is The Branch.   Note the golden thread weaved through this vision!  It begins with (1) the Horse and the Rider (1:7-17)standing among the myrtle trees as the pre-incarnate Christ to comfort and aid His returning remnant. (2) The four Horns (1:18-19) represents the empires that oppressed Judah: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian and Roman Empires. However, God ordained that these same empires would ultimately be destroyed. (3) The Four Workmen (1:20-21)are God's agents sent to destroy these empires: Persia destroyed Babylon; Greece destroyed Persia; Rome destroyed Greece (Rome was never destroyed from without); Daniel 2 indicates that at Christ's return, the Rock would not only destroy Revived-Rome but crush the entire world system. (4) The Man with the Measuring Line (2:1-13) pictures Israel’s future restoration and deliverance when Christ returns and becomes the wall around Zion. (5) The Re-clothing of Joshua (3:1-10) sees Israel’s filthy past cleansed when “they look upon Him whom they pierced.” (Zach.12:10) and are given the holy garments of Messiah’s righteousness. (6) The Candlestick and two Olive Trees (4:1-14) symbolic of Christ, the Light of the world, also pictures Israel’s witness during the Tribulation period. (7) The Flying Scroll (5:1-4) pictures God’s perfect Law, broken and trampled on by Israel. (8) The Woman in a Basket (5:5-11) is a dramatic illustration of lawlessness and godlessness that had it roots in ancient Babylon, where it must ultimately be taken and destroyed. (9) The Four War Chariots (6:1-8) represent God’s apocalyptic Agents sent to bring judgment upon a God-rejecting world (Revelation 6-18). The final vision involves Zechariah who is asked to take part in fulfilling the last scene: The Crowning Of Joshua.

      Verses 9-11: The Word of the Lord came to me: “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.”

      There are three men who had recently arrived from Babylon who were part of those who wanted to stay behind because of the comforts and riches gained through their lucrative business dealings. We are not told what prompted these men to come except they had silver and gold as a possible offering for the Temple.

     Zechariah was told to take the silver and gold from these men, “make a crown and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak”. The word crown is in the plural, suggesting more than one crown but most likely consisting of a number of gold and silver strands woven together into a crown (Rev.19:12). This was indeed a strange request since the office of priest and king were never united. As James Boice states: “In Israel the priestly and kingly offices were kept separate. The king never performed the priestly functions. Yet here a crown is placed upon the head of Joshua, not Zerubbabel, pointing forward to the one who should be both king and priest. It is said that 'he will be a priest on his throne'(v.13)” (The Minor Prophets, Vol.1, p.514). Why place a crown on Joshua instead of Zerubabbel who would more likely qualify coming from the Davidic line? McComiskey concludes, “As the high priest stands crowned before us, we are aware that this event has a significance that transcends the traditional order of things in ancient Israel” (The Minor Prophets, p.1113). There is no mention whatever of Zerubabbel in this passage, neither was a silver or gold crown ever worn by a high priest. However, as we shall discover in a moment, Joshua is a type of Christ who is our High Priest (Heb.4:14).

      J. Vernon McGee weaves a beautiful triad of the ministry of Christ as our Prophet, Priest and king. “The first time span in His ministry as God’s PROPHET was when he came to this earth over nineteen hundred years ago. He came down here to speak for God....he revealed the love of God by dying upon the cross for your sins and my sins. He was God’s Prophet. The day in which you and I live, He is God’s PRIEST ....He ascended into heaven, presented His own blood for our sins (and) today He is there to make intercessions for us....as our High Priest. One day in the future He will be coming again. The Book of Revelation makes it very clear that he will come as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, p.933).

      Though this elaborate silver/gold crown was placed on the head of Joshua, the High Priest, the act served as a symbol of that future crowning of Messiah, THE BRANCH, upon Whom the three offices of Prophet, Priest and King unite.

      Verses 12-15: "...this is what the Lord Almighty says, here is the man whose name is the Branch, he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two” The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jediah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your god.”

      The Messiah is spoken of again as The Branch. Only this time he is referred to as The Man. The Branch is not the name of Joshua but a prophetic name for the Messiah. He was the “root out of dry ground” (Isa.53:2), springing from the root of Jesse, the family of David. As promised, Zerubbabel did rebuild the Temple (4:9-10). However, the building of this Temple, is the Messianic Temple promised to a repentant and prepared people (Isa.2:2-4; Ezek.40-43; Hag.2:6-9).

      The crown did not remain on the head of the high priest nor did it become his possession. It was to reside in the Temple as a symbolic diadem to be place upon the head of The Branch who would return to earth as the Priest-King, prophesied in Psalm 110:4, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”’ and further explained in Hebrews (Heb.5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1,10-11,15,17,21). He is the one the Apostle John saw on the Isle of Patmos as coming in clouds with power and great glory. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.....on his head are many crowns...out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. On His robe and on his thighs he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev.19).

        

      THE  CROWNING OF JOSHUA

        THE HIGH PRIEST WITH A CROWN OF GOLD

        DEFIES ALL LOGIC AS TOO BOLD

        THERE WAS NO PRESCIENCE BEFORE

        SINCE ISRAEL’S KING REIGNED THERE NO MORE.

        SO WHY DO PRIEST AND KING COMBINE

        IN THIS LAST ACT TO INTERTWINE?

        THE PLOT WAS MEANT TO ILLUSTRATE

        GOD’S MYSTERY PLAN 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.

                                        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 WRAPED IN MYSTERY BY STATING THAT HE WOULD BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. EARLIER IT WAS STATED THAT ZERUBABBEL WOULD DO IT? HOW SHOULD WE RESOLVE THIS SEEMING DISCREPANCY?
   
   
4. VERSE 13 IDENTIFIES JOSHUA AS “THE BRANCH.” WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOL REPRESENT? 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?

THE PHANTOM OF VALENTINE

I saw you walk away one day
It seemed so subtle at the start
But I could see that in your eyes
A phantom-dream tugged at your heart.

While spring was young and innocent
We danced together in the rain
Time had so little meaning then
Did not that phantom call in vain?

But love built castles in the sand
No wave could wipe its memory clean
Except that through the setting sun
The phantom's shadow could be seen.

The winter's breeze began to blow
Its blazing embers once so bright
Refused the warmth of its embrace
And chose the phantom's foolish flight.

But dreams are never true to life
And phantoms only follow dreams
So lets wake up to life's new day
And drink from Love's eternal springs.
--B. Pent

THE FOUR CHARIOTS

            Zechariah 6:1-8

          In Zechariah 6, the prophet sees his last two visions: the four chariots (v.1-8) and the crowning of Joshua (v.9-15). The first vision is interpreted in verses 5 and 6. It speaks of apocalyptic agents pouring judgment upon world powers. Coleman Luke makes an interesting observation between the four horsemen in chapter 1:7-17 and four charioteers: “at the beginning of this unforgettable night the prophet saw angel riders, led by the pre-incarnate Christ, appearing to give their reports to Jehovah after riding to and from through the earth. Their report that wicked nations were at rest while God's people were sorely distressed greatly displeased the Lord. Now in the present vision, shown to Zechariah just before the break of dawn, the angels are seen going forth...to execute God's judgment upon the nations. This judgment falls on them especially because of their treatment of His ancient people, whom God has not cast away in spite of their failures” (Zechariah, p.62).

          Verses 1-3: Now I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses.”

          The first thing that captures our attention in this vision are “the four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze”. These chariots are drawn by horses of various colors: Red, black, white, and dappled. Though we are not told what these colors represent, Scripture often symbolizes the red as war, the black as famine or death, the white as victory or conquest, and the dappled or speckled as pestilence (Revelation 6:1-8). The drivers of these chariots are not mentioned until the prophet asks for their explanation: “these are the four spirits of heaven” (v.4-5). The context seems to link them with the four angels of Revelation 7:3, “the four angels that have been given power to harm the land and the sea” and, therefore, could not be the four world empires of Daniel 2 or 7 as some contend. Most likely these charioteers are the same as the ones in Zechariah 1:8, symbolizing God’s angelic agents swiftly carrying out His judgments on the nations prior to the establishment of his messianic kingdom. As Dr. McComiskey explains: “The chariot-winds are under the supervision of God, for according to Zechariah, they present themselves to God before going into the world. They comprise a complex symbol representing forces active in the world that God uses to his own ends” (The Minor Prophets, p.1107). Angels are in charge of the judgments which will be coming upon the gentile nations described in the Revelation 6-18.

          These four chariots are said to come from between “two bronze mountains”. Brass/bronze is often used in Scripture to symbolize “judgment”. John MacArthur states that these two bronze mountains: “Represent the reality of God’s judgment on the nations who attack Israel, the two mountains are probably Mt. Zion and the Mt. Of Olives, where the Lord will return and judge (Joel 3:2,12,14; Zach.14:4). This valley, called Jehoshaphat (Jehovah judges) could refer to the Kidron Valley between these two mountains. Jews, Christians, and even Muslims have long taught that the last judgment will be there. The bronze has a symbolic relationship to judgment as in the case of the bronze serpent (Num.21: 9) and/or the bronze altar (Ex.27: 2) where sin was dealt with by God” (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1345).

          Verses 4-8: Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, the one with the black horses is going forth to the North Country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country. “When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth” And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.” (New American Standard Bible)

          As the chariots and their riders “go out from standing in the presence of the Lord”, we see the black and white horses going toward the north country while the dapple or speckled horses toward the south. Only the red horse remains unaccounted for and no further explanation is given. Those to the north represent BABYLON and those toward the south represent EGYPT, the two principle nations that oppressed Israel. As mentioned before, Zechariah’s visions were to comfort and encourage the rebuilding of the Temple since there was a time of peace throughout the Persian kingdom. However, the distant future is also implied as Revelation 17 and 18 seems to indicate.

          No nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Babylon. The names used in the Bible for this north country is Babylon, the land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means “between two rivers” which is the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq means country with deep roots and that is what Babylon has been. Consider some of the significant events of this region:

1. The Garden of Eden (Gen.2:10-14)

2. Adam and Eve were created (Gen.2:7-8)

3. Satan made his first recorded appearance here (Gen.3:1-6)

4. Nimrod established Babylon where the Tower of Babel was built (Gen.10_8-9; 11:1-4)

5. The confusion of languages (Gen.11:5-11)

6. Abraham came from a city in Iraq (Gen.11:31; Acts 7:2-4)

7. Isaac’s bride came from Iraq (Gen.24:3-4,10)

8. Jacob spent over 20 years in Iraq (Gen.27: 42-45; 31:38)

9. The first world empire was in Iraq (Dan.1:1-2; 2:36-38)

10. Jonah was sent to Nineveh, which is in Iraq (Jonah 3)

11. The events of Esther took place in Iraq (The Book of Esther)

12. Nahum prophesied against Nineveh, a city in Iraq (the Book of Nahum)

13. Revelation 17 and 18 are prophecies against Babylon

          God introduced monotheism in the Garden of Eden where He intended to continually walk with man. But sin ended that relationship when Adam and Eve obeyed the Serpent instead of the Lord. Since that time there has been continual enmity between God and Satan. Not too long into the Genesis account, we read of a large Tower being erected. It was this Tower where polytheism was introduced and from Babylon it proliferated throughout the world introducing a religious system that ultimately ends in the worship of Satan (Revelation 13). That is why Babylon stands so prominently throughout Scripture as God’s ultimate target for judgment and complete annihilation. Only when religious Babylon (Rev.17) and commercial Babylon (Rev.18) are destroyed will His word be fulfilled: “Look, those going toward the North Country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north” (v.8).

          David Baron explains this end-time drama: “We may, therefore, say with confidence that we are on the eve of the most solemn events in the world’s history, and are very fast approaching ‘the day’ not only of our own final and complete ‘redemption’ as believers at the manifestation of Christ, but the ‘set time.’ When God shall again arise and have mercy upon Zion, and when, through the restoration and blessing of Israel, ‘the nations shall fear the Name of Jehovah, and all kings of the earth His glory.” (Visions of Zechariah p183).

         THE FOUR CHARIOTEERS

              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.

                                    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 DIRECTION ARE THEY HEADING AND WHY?

3. SINCE THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THESE COLORED STEED/CHARIOTS, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE COLORED HORSES OF REVELATION 6:1-8? WHY DO YOU THINK THERE MAY BE 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 HE BE SPEAKING ABOUT? CAN YOU SEE WHERE THIS DRAMA IS HEADING AND HOW GOD IS PREPARING ISRAEL FOR ARMAGEDDON AND MESSIAH’S FUTURE REIGN? 

THE WOMAN IN A BASKET

                                             Zechariah 5:5-11

The Lord had warned Israel over and over again about their sin and idolatrous behavior. But they refused to listen! So He sent Nebuchadnezzar to destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple and Judah became their slaves for 70 years. Ultimately, we reap what we sow! Or as someone put it: “sin will take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; cost you more than you want to pay.” Under Cyrus, Judah was finally able to return. The returning remnant under Joshua the High Priest and Zerubabbel the governor demonstrated obedience by returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple. So Yahweh showed His grace and compassion by comforting them through His prophet Zechariah. This ten-fold vision was a promise He would never forsake His covenant people. The Lampstand was a reminded that He was the Light of the world! That Light exposes sin as revealed in the Flying Scroll. The present vision demonstrated the importance of not only exposing sin but removing it. It has a present warning with a future fulfillment (Ezekiel 20:33-38).

Verses 5-6: Then the angel that who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what this is that is appearing.” I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “It is a measuring basket” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.”

Zechariah may still have been pondering the full meaning of the earlier vision or just tired of looking up when the angel broke in: “Look up and see what this is that is appearing.” It appeared to be some kind of flying object! The appearance was of a basket with a woman inside. Strange indeed! His curiosity was immediately aroused as he asked: “What is it?” The basket seemed to be moving, anticipating its removal to a distant location. The angel then identifies the “measuring basket” as “the iniquity of the people throughout the land.” The “land” in scripture refers to the land of Israel. But there is something even more mysterious that captures his attention. There is a lead cover over it and when it is removed, suddenly a woman appears!

Verses 7-11: Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, “This is wickedness.” And he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover over its mouth. Then I looked up -- and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied, “To the country of Babylon to build a house for it. When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”

Many of us can remember the day Alan Shepherd made that historic flight into space. He was the first American in space. Well, here is a woman in space and Zechariah is mesmerized by the sight! While the prophet watched, he saw “a lead cover over its mouth.” When the cover was removed, “there in the basket sat a woman.” In Scripture, a woman was often used symbolically to represent religious apostasy. The angel identified her: “this is wickedness” meaning this woman represented evil (Matthew 13:33;I Timothy 2:12;Revelation 17:3-5).

As Zechariah continued to observe, something further took place: the basket cover was raised, a woman sat up, and two women with wings like a stork, carried the basket away. Since storks were unclean birds (Lev.11:10,20), these women were probably demonic agents of evil. When the prophet sought information concerning their destination the angel explained they were going: “to the country of Babylon to build a house for it.” The ultimate destination of this basket was Babylon. Babylon was the place where evil had its headquarters. The Tower of Babel was the place man sought to remove God. So He scattered them throughout the world.

While the returning remnant may not have understood the full meaning of this vision, they knew that somehow God had removed the iniquity that had previously driven

them into exile. The vision would have been meaningless to the builders of the Temple if its perspective was only future. Now they could work encouraged by the assurance that their past sins would not hinder their present efforts.

When the angel “pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover over its mouth” it not only indicated Yahweh was “covering” over their sin but revealed a future day when it would be completely removed and taken to its origin of evil:“Babylon.” Revelation 17 and 18 describes the two end time Babylons: one religious; one commercial. When Antichrist enters the world stage he will use religion to unite the world under his control: “the lawless one will be revealed....in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing”

(2 Thess.2:9-10) He will become the religious and commercial dictator of the world. Then in the middle of the Tribulation he will destroy the religious system, set himself up in the Temple at Jerusalem and demand universal worship (2 Thess.2:4; Revelation 13:4,8). But when Messiah-King comes (Revelation 19:11) the wickedness of Babylon will not only be fully revealed but completely removed and destroyed: “whom the Lord Jesus will overthrows with the breath of his mouth and destroys him by the splendor of his coming” (2 Thess.2:8).

                 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 LEAD
               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.

                   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? PICTURED IN CLOSING THE LED TOP OVER THE WOMAN?

3. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MEANT BY THE TWO WOMEN WITH STORK-LIKE WINGS TAKING THE BASKED TO BABYLON?


4. 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?

WHAT IN HELL IS GOING ON?

I woke up in Hell a few moments ago
Silent screams pouring out of my terror-filled soul
The doctors had promised that all would go well
So why all this torment of demons from Hell?

I noticed my family in stark unbelief
As news reached their ears of my sudden decease
No plans for the future had ever been made
Now only wild flowers grow over my grave.

I lived for the good things in life to be had
And really didn't think I was doing too bad
Repentance from sin was an old fashion trick
The Church had in mind to disturb me when sick.

But now only memories are left to reflect
The voices of warning are haunting me yet
Across from this chasm the knock still is heard
As Jesus still pleads to respond to His Word.

I have an appointment before the White Throne
There's no second chance for my sin to atone
The debt of my guilt Christ had offered to pay
Are tormenting chains I must carry for aye.
--B. Pent

THE FLYING SCROLL

                                ZECHARIAH 5:1-4

The visions Zechariah saw are interconnected! God had chosen Israel to be a holy nation! He makes that clear in Amos 3:2, “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” He promised to come as their Messiah-King and one day rule from Jerusalem! His chosen people were to be a kingdom of priests sent forth to be a “light to the Gentiles.” But they turned their backs on Yahweh by serving the gods of the Gentiles, heaping up judgment which led to their captivity. Yet God in mercy was again bringing the remnant back to fulfill that role. However, sin had to be dealt with first. James Boise explains: “The first five of Zechariah's visions are extremely encouraging, for they point out days of blessing and prosperity for Israel. They tell of the renewed presence of God with his people; the raising up of leaders equal to every threat against the reestablished nation; the prosperity and growth of Jerusalem; the purification of the people symbolized by the purification of Joshua, their representative; and finally, the role of Zerubbabel in completing the temple, leading to a vision of the great Priest-King, the Messiah” (The Minor Prophets,Vol.2, p.511). Yet stone and mortar was not the ultimate goal! God wanted His Temple not only to be holy but His people to be a holy priesthood! So these visions are extremely personal and poignant. The lampstand in the holy place, represents Christ the Light of the world. But also points to the need of letting that Light shine forth (Matt.5:16). Psalm 119:105 states, “your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

       The seventh vision goes a step further. Light exposes darkness! The flying scroll paints an awful picture of sin and its consequence! Sin must be dealt with and exterminated!

Verses 1-4 I looked again - and there before me was a flying scroll! He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide.” And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished. The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.’”

        Zechariah’s attention is immediately focused on a flying object rushing through the air to some unknown destination. It does not say if he could see or understand what it was all about or what it said. The only thing he could tell was the size of the scroll: 30 feet long by 15 feet wide. The great expanse of this parchment probably awed the prophet. Unable to answer the angel’s query, the response came: “this is the curse that is going out over the whole land.” The “Land” is a reference to Israel. Before full blessing can be given, sin has to be purged. And only then will “the curse” be removed. Here is what Thomas MacComiskey says about this Hebrew word “curse:” “The word 'ala' may refer to an oath in the sense of a sworn agreement as well as to the penalties or curses inherent in the oath... It is clear the 'ala' in Zechariah refers to the Mosaic law because verse 4 cites two of its legal proscriptions: stealing and false swearing” (The Minor Prophets, p.1095). This flying scroll was a summary of the Mosaic law given on Mount Sinai and later placed under the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. The flying scroll was the exact measurement of the holy place in the Tabernacle where God's presence dwelt.

        Verse 3 indicates there is writing on both sides of the scroll. Two of the commandments are especially singled out: “the thief “(the 8th commandment) and “the one who swears falsely” (the third commandment). These two, form the middle commandment on either side of the Mosaic stone tablets. Thus, the two sides of the scroll represent the two tables of the law, the first having to do with man’s relationship to God (swear falsely), the other with his relationship to his fellow man (every thief). The first is God-ward; the second is man-ward. Jesus sums up the Law in Luke 10:27, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

        The Lord Almighty then speaks in verse 5: “I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name.” The Lord was making it clear that He was going to deal with all sin and ultimately remove it from the Land before He returns. Chapter 13 describes this time of cleansing: “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (13:1) He then proceeds to explain the cleansing process in preparation for Messiah’s reign. The assurance that Yahweh will cleanse His people in this way would have encouraged the builders of the Temple, for it meant that God had not abandoned his people to their sin. The day of ultimate cleansing will dawn when “They will look on me, the one they have pierced” (12:10). That day still lies in the future. David Baron's application to both Israel and the Christian is poignant: “there is only one way by which we can escape the curse of a broken law, and that is, instead of being 'cleansed away' with our sins by God's wrath into perdition, to be cleansed from our sins in that fountain which God has opened in the pierced side of Messiah for sin and uncleanness, and which makes the vilest 'whiter than snow'...”Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is he that hangeth on a tree” (The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah, p.150-151

                             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. 

                                      Thought questions

AS YAHWEH CONTINUES TO PREPARE HIS PEOPLE, HOW WOULD THE VISION OF A FLYING SCROLL IMPACT THEM? WHAT MESSAGE SHOULD THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD WITH ONLY TWO COMMANDMENTS VISIBLE? WHAT ARE THE TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS?


PETER REMINDS US THAT WE TOO ARE “A CHOSE GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD, THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT” (1 PETER 2:9). SO HOW THEN SHOULD WE DRAW STRENGTH AND LIGHT AS WE PREPARE TO SERVE?

               

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE COMING ANTICHRIST

1. Inconspicuous beginning - Daniel 7:8,24

2. Makes a treaty with the Jews for seven years - Daniel 9:27;Isaiah 28:15,18

3. Overcomes some resistance in uniting Europe - Daniel 7:8,20,24

4. Becomes head of the ten nation EU confederacy - Revelation 13:1; 17:12-13

5. Possibly attacked by kings of the South and North and presumed dead - Daniel 11:40-43

6. His deadly wound is healed - Revelation 13:1; 12:14

7. He becomes the world ruler - Revelation 13:7b; 17:9,11-14,17-18; 18:2,10,16

8. He breaks his treaty with Israel and stops Temple sacrifices - Daniel 9:27

9. Kills the two witnesses - Revelation 11:3-7

10. Demands complete worship of himself - 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15

11. Tries to destroy every living Jew on earth - Daniel 7:21-22,25

12. He will destroy the world church - Revelation 17:16-17

13. He will be defeated at Armageddon by Christ - 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 17:14; 19:19

14. He will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire - Revelation 19:20; 20:10