EIGHT VISIONS, | FOUR MESSAGES, | TWO BURDENS, |
Introduction: | Introduction: | 1. Against the nations, |
1. Horses, | 1. Why did you fast? | The Lord will defend Judah, |
2. Horns, | 2. Exile explained, | Your King is coming, |
3. Measuring line, | 3. Promise of restoration, | The Lord will save His people, |
4 High priest, | 4. Fasts to feasts, | The rejection of the Shepherd-King, |
5. Lampstand, | 2. Against Israel, | |
6. Flying scroll, | The nations gather against Jerusalem, | |
7. Woman in basket, | False religion removed, | |
8. Four chariots, | Day of the Lord, | |
High priest crowned, | Millennial kingdom, |
Major Characters #
- Zechariah (“Yahweh remembers”), son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. He was a Levite born in Babylon (Neh. 12:1, 16).
- Zerubbabel, governor of Judah
- Joshua, the high priest
Major words/phrases #
- Lord of hosts (46x)
- Angel of the Lord (6x)
- Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you, 2:9, 11; 4:9; 6:15
- Word of the Lord (13x)
- Thus says the Lord [of hosts] (21x)
- in that day (20x – 17x in ch. 12-14)
- I will (54x)
- Jerusalem (42x)
Major themes #
- Restoration
- Messianic Kingdom
The Visions Explained #
- Horses – God sees & knows conditions on earth & will intervene
- Horns & craftsmen – God will judge the Gentile world powers
- Measuring line – Jerusalem will be rebuilt & inhabited
- High priest – Restoration of priestly office, ultimately through the Branch
- Lampstand – Israel will be a light to the nations
- Flying scroll – Judgement by the Law fully implemented
- Woman in a basket – Removal of “idolatrous and mercenary religion” back to Babylon
- Four chariots – Divine judgement on the Gentile nations
Christ in all the Scriptures #
- The Branch, 3:8; 6:12
- The Angel of the Lord, 1:11-12; 3:1-6
- The Shepherd, 11:1-17; 13:7-9
- The King, 14:1-21
- Triumphal entry, 9:9
- The betrayal by Judas, 10:12-13
