Presents
Pamphlet #1101
Zechariah chapter 1
Zechariah chapter 1
We live in the most exciting "Bible Times" in the history
of mankind, bar none! We live in the "time of the end" that the prophet
Daniel wrote of and spoke of and desired to "see", a time when "many would
run to and fro" and "knowledge would be increased" and the "seals" of the
great book, God's Word, would be opened and "unveiled" by the Lamb of God
(Rev. 6:1) to "the wise", who are
simply those who sincerely study His
Word and hear His voice.
Again, the words of the prophet were to be closed up and sealed until the time of the end.Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Then the wise in "the time of the end", aka "the last days", would understand what was written concerning the events of the final generation.Daniel 12:9
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Consider now the times! Think about the incredible technological age of increased knowledge and information and global communications in which we live! Even the "scoffers" (2 Pet. 3:3) MUST admit there has NEVER been a time like this in the history of mankind! Never! And you see, it is this generation that the majority of the prophecy in God's Word was written for and to, the time when half the souls to ever "walk under the sun" are presently alive in the flesh and will soon face the glistening one Satan who as the great dragon drew one third of God's children (Rev. 12:4) away from the mercy seat of His truth and justice in "the world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6). That "rebellion" to His ways caused our Father to pour out His wrath upon that world, that first earth age, and "by His fierce anger" it did PERISH! That's right, the Word of God declares that this beautiful earth "became" utterly void and desolate, without form, and water covered the now dark surface of the whole planet (Gen. 1:2)! You can read all about that destruction in the 4th chapter of Jeremiah, verses 19-27, and you can see the physical evidence of that destruction in the layers of the earth's crust and in the fossil records contained therein.[10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
To wit, the "time of the end" spoken of by Daniel has arrived, the time Joel the prophet called "the last days", the time when the "wise" sons and daughters, God's servants and handmaidens would come to "see and understand" the visions and the dreams of the prophets and begin to teach (prophesy) to their brothers and sisters, i.e. they would teach the now "unsealed" visions of the prophets to their brothers and sisters.
Here are the words of Joel as quoted by the apostle Peter on that first Pentecost Day following the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
All the events that shall happen in and unto this final generation were prophesied long, long ago, even as Jesus said in Mark 13:23 "...behold, I have foretold you all things". In fact, our heavenly Father made a covenant of immutable promises to our Father Abraham and confirmed that covenant with Isaac and Jacob whose name He changed to Israel. God promised Abraham that his children would become as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sand of the sea and in his seed "shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" because he had obeyed His voice (Genesis 22:18).Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
That brings us to this great Book of Zechariah, written by the prophet whose name means "Yahveh has Remembered" or "Remembered of Yah"! You see, unlike man, our Father NEVER forgets His promises, nor His covenants, nor His beloved children whom He promised to save and redeem. He also promised to send them His "messenger" before BOTH of His advents, the fulfillment of the first of which is now documented History. To that end, and as part of the introductory to the Book of Zechariah, let us read the "prophecy" of the Zechariah who brought forth the "messenger" to prepare the way of the first advent! I speak of Zacharias (Greek for Zechariah), the father of John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord.
If you are familiar with this account in Luke up to this point, you will recall that Zacharias could not speak until now, until it was time for God to loosen His tongue*!Luke 1:67
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
This is what he then said to Zacharias :
[68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people,[69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
[70] As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
[71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
This verse pretty much sums up the name "Zechariah" and even what the Book of Zechariah is all about. You see, the second advent is about to take place and God has prepared His messengers to bring forth His Word to prepare the way before the second advent, that great Day of the Lord's return![72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;
Do you not think that oath, that covenant "He sware to our father Abraham", still stands? Yes it does! Our people may have forgotten God, but thankfully He has not forgotten them![73] The oath which He sware to our father Abraham,
We shall learn in the fourth chapter of the Book of Zechariah how our Father brings forth that "light" of saving knowledge and truth through His two candlesticks in the dark hour of this final generation. Yes, though we walk through the valley of (spiritually) dry bones (Ezek. 37), through the valley of "the shadow of death", we "serve Him without fear", i.e. "we shall fear no evil" (Ps. 23), for He is with us and we know He remembers His people and His promises to them and to us! We also know the truth that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is that "way of peace".[74] That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear,[75] In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
[76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
[77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
[78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
[79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And so it is in this final generation as well that His children, His messengers to this generation, grow strong in His Word day by day for they eat that "daily bread" which gives them strength (Ezk. 3:1). (Note: A desert is a wilderness).[80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
To complete our introductory, let us review some historical facts. Zechariah began his prophecy in 410 BC shortly after his contemporary, the prophet Haggai, inspired Zerubbabel and Joshua and the remnant of the people to resume work on rebuilding and finishing the temple. They were instructed to build the House of God upon the foundation that was already laid, which foundation is our Rock. You could even say that they were rebuilding the house of Israel for is it not written in Rev. 7 that 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel would be sealed with the knowledge of His Word before the consummation of the final events in this generation take place? Nevertheless, Haggai's prophecy covered a period of only four months while Zechariah's prophecy covered a full "7 year period" from the second year of Darius the king until the eighth year of his reign, which was from 410-403 BC. (See notes in the Companion Bible, pg. 1280.) By the way, "Darius" means "the restrainer" or according to Professor Sayce "the Maintainer".
Let us begin this marvelous work of Zechariah.
"Berechiah" means "Blessed of Yah" while "Iddo" means "timely"! How fitting for those who have just been instructed by Haggai to consider their ways and consider the time!Zech. 1:1
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
Knowing the tremendous love our Father has for His children, this is surely an understatement of fact.[2] The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Three times we are REMINDED that it is "the LORD of hosts" speaking which is "Yahveh Zeboath" in Hebrew, an emphatic title declaring that God is LORD of ALL the hosts of BOTH heaven and earth! This title occurs fifty-three times in Zechariah and is characteristic of this wondrous book. Also, the number three in Biblical numerics denotes "Divine perfection and completeness". You see, this statement by our Father is what it is all about![3] Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
Why do you suppose "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me" is the very first instruction given in this book? Because that is the work of the Elijah ministry before the great and dreadful day of the LORD!
This speaks of the 2nd advent, the great and dreadful day of the LORD, not the first advent.Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Again, this is the mission of the "spirit and power of Elijah" ministry.[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
This is the same message the witness, the bearer of the Light, preached before the first advent:Zech. 1:4
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
This of course was John the Baptist, son of Zacharias, saying "Turn ye now from your evil ways!"John 1:6
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Matthew 3:1
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Now a question from the LORD of hosts:Luke 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
This is in contrast with the words of God which DO live forever. And His words come to pass exactly as they are written both positively and negatively depending on the decisions His children make, i.e. the path, the "ways", they choose to follow.Zech. 1:5
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
And guess what? Our fathers found out the hard way that the "cursings" are just as sure to come as the "blessings"!Deut. 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
You see, the good news in all this is that God is faithful to His promises! This you can learn by being blessed according to His promises or by being cursed according to His promises. But I will tell you this with certitude in the manner of "Thus saith the Lord"! He wants His children to "Return unto Him" and repent and be blessed! The love of His children is foremost on His mind and for that reason He is longsuffering to us-ward, and if His children will "Turn unto Him" He will surely "Turn unto them" (Zech 1:3)!Zech. 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.
We are going to learn that the knowledge of the Four Hidden Dynasties, the first four seals of Revelation 6, is a requirement for those would have part in the building of the temple, the sealing of God's people in these last days. Stay with us in this study of Zechariah! It is a work you will always REMEMBER!2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Zechariah began his prophecy shortly after Haggai began his, in the second year of the reign of Darius the king, and to the same leaders and remnant of God's people who had come forth out of Babylon to rebuild the temple, the House of God, in Jerusalem. Therefore as a contemporary and even forerunner to Zechariah, it is important that we have read and understood the words of Haggai. To that end, and as a preface to this study, let us recall Haggai's final prophecy concerning the return of Jesus Christ at the end of this flesh age once the building of the temple, His many membered body, is complete!
Make no mistake about it! There is a GREAT SHAKING coming when Jesus Christ returns at the second advent as the world ruling King of kings and Lord of lords. Call it an "earthquake" or even a "Great Shakeup" if you like, for the present order of things (which sure is confusion) shall be turned upside down by Yeshua Messiah and His Zadok when the kingdom of God, the government of God, is established upon Mount Zion.Haggai 2:20
And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,[21] Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" That's right! You can read all about that coming "earthquake" right now because we actually have tomorrow's newspaper in hand, today! And we will read all about it when we come to section Z-14, i.e. the 14th section of "The Zechariah Post". Right now, let's continue with the factual, non-editorial, no-spin news (NSN), from "The Haggai Gazette" which accurately quotes in the first person exactly what it is Christ is going to do to the nations when He returns?
[Haggai 2:22] And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
However, that system SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN by Jesus Christ and His saints! You see, it is WRITTEN that "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord (Rev. 11:15)", i.e. they shall all be overthrown and shall be replaced with the temple which is being built right NOW by the remnant of God's people, those Zerubbabels who were born in Babel (confusion) and whom God has chosen and called forth out of that confusion to do His Will, His Work. That work is to build His house (Temple), i.e. the many membered body of Jesus Christ, and they shall be given His authority to carry His rod of iron throughout the Millennium, even as His signet (the seal of authority of the King).
[23] In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
Remember the admonition from Haggai who urged us five times to "consider" things, e.g. our ways, what we are building, and even what time it is? And now we have been given this great Book of Zechariah which truly is a "Timely" (Iddo) message from the LORD to those who are "Blessed of Yah" (Bechariah).Zech. 1:7
Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
Also, in relation to the time and subject matter of Zechariah it is worth noting that the number "24" in Biblical numerics represents the "priesthood" and the number represents "11""judgment" (see appendix 10 in the Companion Bible).
[8] I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
One more note concerning the myrtle trees in verse 8. Myrtle trees were small fragrant trees that grew in the mountains near Jerusalem and it was from the sweet smelling myrtle branches that booths were made at the Feast of Tabernacles. However, the major point is (as your Companion Bible will document) the location where this is standing is between the "two mountains" of "man"(Neh. 8:15). Zech. 6:1 where we shall once again meet up with the four "colored horses".
Questions, questions, questions! God's servants always have so many questions! They just seem to hunger and thirst after righteousness, i.e. truth and the knowledge of His Word. Of course they are so blessed for it: Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." To wit, you will always find that whenever the disciples came and asked Jesus Christ a question, which they so often did, He always answered them! On the other hand, the multitudes who listened to Him speak always went their way after He was finished, probably smiling at each other and saying "Wasn't that a lovely sermon?"[9] Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
The great scholar Dr. Bullinger calls these whom the LORD hath sent "invisible agencies", which is a fair enough description for they are indeed "scouts" whom the LORD hath sent to bring back a report (vs. 10) about the status of things on the earth. In other words they are His watchmen who see and monitor, as in measure, the level of the activities of the earthly dynasties throughout the earth, which we know are those Four Hidden Dynasties symbolized by the colored horses.[10] And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
Therefore, having just returned from their commissioned assignments, let us listen in and hear them give their latest report to Jesus Christ:
Here is a question for you: Do you understand and agree with this report, i.e. as to its present accuracy and timeliness? God's elect, those who have come out of Babylon of whom Zerubbabel was a type, and who also hold fast to the plumbline of God's Word in the building of the walls of His house, do also run to and fro through the earth as His "eyes", i.e. as watchmen. Consequently, they should also be able to discern the activity level of the earthly dynasties and know the TIMES and the SEASONS!Zech. 1:11
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
By the way, the word "Behold" used Zech. 1:11 is a figure of speech called an "Asterismos", which is a word used to draw special attention to some particular point or subject. The point of emphasis here is that the time being spoken of is the "time of stillness and rest" when everyone is spiritually asleep. In other words it is that time of night (spiritual darkness) when they cry peace and safety, i.e. still and at rest! Here it is as reported by Paul, the New Testament editor and correspondent of good news paper, "The Thessalonian Times":Zech. 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
1 Thes. 5:1
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
Thieves come unexpectedly at night when everyone is peacefully sleeping safe and sound, as snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug![2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Be sure to read the rest of Paul's report because it documents that God's elect, His children, will not be surprised. Why not? Because they are the children of LIGHT and know how it is all "going down" in this final generation![3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
You "see", as "eyes", as "watchmen", we "see" (understand) what is going on behind the scenes! So keep up the good work!1 Thes. 5:4-5
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Paul then gives us some very, very, comforting words of knowledge and wisdom in verses 7-10, e.g. "God has not appointed us to wrath", which means we shall not be "shakees" but rather "shake-ers" with Him! Read these words of comfort for yourself and share them with others![6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
The next question to be answered is as follows:1 Thes. 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
This has to remind students of God's Word of the question His servants asked Him in Rev. 6:10, those servants whom the apostle John saw in his spiritual trip to the Day of the Lord (Rev. 1:10). Rev. 6:10: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge* our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (We shall discuss these 70 years in-depth in a subsequent lesson.)Zech. 1:12
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
God is not angry at His children who love and serve Him and therefore they have nothing to fear concerning the terror and darkness of this final generation. It is such a comfort to know the plan of God and to know the answers to questions concerning what is going on in the world behind the scenes, in the shadows of darkness by the powers that be. That knowledge and wisdom from our Father's Word sets us free and dispels all fears and truly comforts us by giving us peace of mind. You see, people only fear the unknown, that which they cannot "see"! That is why they are afraid of walking alone at night, in the dark. But as Paul so eloquently explained in 1 Thes. 5, God's servants do not walk in darkness and therefore they do NOT scare nor fear evil (Ps. 23:4)![13] And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
Now, since the question concerning Christ's return to Jerusalem was brought up in Zech. 1:12, let's see what is going on concerning the holy city. Before we do though, let us be reminded from His Word that when Jesus Christ returns, the "temple" which is built and being built there now (i.e. in Jerusalem), shall be pulverized to the point that not one stone shall be left standing atop another. Luke 21:5-6 "And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, [6] As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." That is because when He returns He shall be quite angry with what is going on in that city in which our Lord was crucified.
Our Father has chosen the city of Jerusalem as His favorite location in all the world! Did you know that? Read Ezekiel chapter 16 and you will discover that He actually "took her to wife" and someday she will completely fulfill her destiny to be His beautiful bride: Rev. 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." No wonder Jerusalem has been the bloodiest city and seen more wars than any other city in the history of mankind. Satan wants it for his own![14] So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
To that end when Jesus Christ returns He will find standing in that city, and "sitting in the temple of God (2 Thes. 2:4)", the abomination of all abominations, the son of perdition himself, Satan claiming that he is the bridegroom, i.e. that he is Jesus Christ. And that false messiah will have deceived and spiritually seduced the whole world and the majority of Christians who were to remain virgins throughout the night and wait for the true Bridegroom. That is why Christ said in Matthew 24:19 "WOE unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" He wasn't talking about natural, physical pregnancy but about "spiritual seduction", spiritual impregnation, i.e. about His virgin bride being the first one "taken in the field" by the false messiah.
Why is God so jealous for Jerusalem? Wouldn't you be if you went away and came back expecting to marry your virgin bride and you discovered that she had been in bed with someone else? Woe, indeed!
And as for the heathen who have run roughshod all over God's people, here is how our Father feels about them:
In other words, our Father used the heathen as a rod of correction upon His children but they went far and above what they were supposed to and became extremely oppressive in their affliction of His children. To be sure, Father is NOT happy with the heathen! Therefore the shaking shall be great indeed and their "house" (temple) shall be destroyed and He will set His "house" upon Mt. Zion, which house is His temple, the many membered body of Christ which is now being built!Zech. 1:15
And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
From thenceforth that kingdom of true peace and true prosperity shall fill the earth![16] Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
This is what the books of Haggai and Zechariah are all about, the building of His house to be established on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem! Here is a picture of His house now being built (Rev. 7:1-4) standing on Mount Zion![17] Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
His name is being sealed in their foreheads at this very moment. Is it not written in Rev. 7:1-8 that His temple, 144,000 from His house, even from the whole house of Israel (i.e. 12,000 from each tribe), must be sealed in their foreheads before the Four Winds are released, before the Great Shaking takes place and this flesh age comes to a close? Yes, it is written there! Go read it!Rev. 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
These "kings and priests" we see standing on Mount Zion shall rule and reign on earth instead of the heathen, for they remained virgins throughout the night having kept their lamps filled to the full with the oil, the Holy Spirit of the Truth of His Word (see parable in Mat. 25:1-12). They are His firstfruits.[2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:[3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
[4] These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Let's continue now with the remainder of the first chapter
of Zechariah.
Zech. 1:18
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
These have the power to "scatter" our people, even the whole House of Israel, i.e. both the house of Judah AND the house of Israel! As part of the sealing in one's forehead, he or she MUST know who and where the house of Judah is and who and where the 10 Tribes of the House of true Israel are and dwell this very day![19] And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Yes, as it is written, the holy people of God of both the houses of Israel and Judah have been spiritually scattered in these last days just as they were physically scattered by the Assyrian and the king of Babylon. In fact, when it comes to God's Word one could say our people are a bunch of "scatter brains" for they not only do not know who they are, they also cannot see the "Four Hidden Dynasties", these Four Horns, which now hold them captive (as in Egypt) and have taken them to Babylon (as in the land of confusion).
Let's examine the word "scatter".
Here is the Hebrew word "zoor" (#2114) that Dr. Strong references to help us understand "scatter":scatter = äøˆæˆzaòraòhzaw-raw' H2219
A primitive root (compare H2114); to toss about; by implication to diffuse, winnow:—cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter (away), spread, strew, winnow.
You see, the powers of the Four Horns have grown strong (waxed great) in this final generation through having incrementally, much as a locust and a liberal chews away little by little, caused our people to be drawn away from the truth of God's Word.øeæzuòrzoor H2114
A primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commitadultery:—(come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange (-r, thing, woman).
Thank God though for the builders of His temple! You see, those Four Horns shall be destroyed and replaced by the House of God and the POWER of His Word!
Remember that Zechariah is prophesying to the builders of the temple and he obviously knows what carpenters are as evidenced by the fact he does not ask the LORD what they are, just what they have come to do (vs. 21). Here is the definition of the Hebrew word translated "carpenter":[20] And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
Now here is the definition of the Greek word for "carpenter", the word used in Mark 6:3 to describe Christ's vocation:carpenter = Løˆç˜ chaòraòshkhaw-rawsh' H2796
From H2790; a fabricator of any material:—artificer, (+) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.
Now read these words of the apostle Paul in section C-3 of the "Corinthian Chronicle":carpenter = ôÝêôùítektoôntek'-tone G5045
From the base of G5098; an artificer (as producer of fabrics), that is, (specifically) a craftsman in wood:—carpenter.
If you have studied the Book of Haggai you should know the difference between a "wise" builder and a "foolish" one. Remember Haggai told us to "consider" carefully our ways, i.e. what and how we are building. Here is the definition of "masterbuilder" which comes from the words "arche" and "tekton" (#5045), which is "carpenter":1 Cor. 3:9
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
A "wise" person builds his or her house upon the ROCK, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, right? (Matthew 7:24 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.")masterbuilder = Pñ÷éôÝêôùíarchitektoônar-khee-tek'-tone G753
From G746 and G5045; a chief constructor, that is, "architect":— masterbuilder.
Now back to the four carpenters! Understand that "four" in Biblical numerics denotes "earth" as in the four points of the compass, which are the four corners or four wind directions of the earth, i.e. NSEW, and you will understand who these "four" carpenters are. They are simply God's elect whom we already "saw" (through the eyes of John) standing on Mount Zion with the King of kings (Rev. 14:1)! You see, when He comes to this earth at the sound of the 7th Trump, He gathers them from the four winds, i.e. from all directions![11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Here is what the carpenters, God's elect, are going to do!Matthew 24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.winds = Tíåìïò anemos an'-em-os G417
From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth):—wind.
The four horns have "scattered" our people, but the four carpenters shall come and tear down the power of the four horns which have held down the heads of our people for so long! These carpenters are going to "fray" those horns which is to shatter and shake the living daylights out of them! And having been delivered, our people will then "lift up their heads" to Mount Zion!Zech. 1:21
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
So what shall we say to conclude this study? How about: Let us all get our heads out of "the sand" and look up to the "mountain" of God, to His Word! His saints are soon taking over Mount Zion to rule and reign on this earth with the King of kings and Lord of lords for a thousand years! "Yes... oppression, bondage, fear, and the confusion of nations shall soon be replaced with Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, for the "Desire of all nations" shall soon come to Mount Zion (Hag. 2:7). Amen."
Hope to see you standing there on that Mountain!
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