Once again Zechariah "lifts up his eyes" and is able to "see" the visions of God! We must do the same! In other words, as servants of God, as His sons and daughters in this final generation, we must also have opened eyes (eyes to see) in order to "see" and understand the visions the prophets saw (Acts 2). Notice in this third vision Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line in his hand who shall go forth to measure Jerusalem for the express purpose of determining what its breadth and length are. That means he is going to determine its boundaries to see how many can dwell there!Zech. 2:1
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Also remember to whom it is Zechariah and Haggai give their prophecies! It is to the contractors and construction crew of the temple, those who are called forth out of Babylon to rebuild the house of God which represents in type the many membered body of Jesus Christ in these last days. To that end, there is a question being addressed and answered here, which is this: "Is there a limit to the size of God's house that is being built in these last days?" Some might even ask: "Are there only 144,000 out of the House of Israel who shall be saved?" Open your eyes, lift them up, and understand this vision of Zechariah![2] Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
[3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
There is a logical "Ellipses" that needs to be supplied in this verse "saying [Stop!]", for as Dr. Bullinger points out in the Companion Bible, "the reason given implies that measuring will be useless, owing to the overflow of inhabitants". This should answer the question "Are there only 144,000 saved?" The answer is NO! There shall be a great multitude of people from all nations who shall come out of the great tribulation, a multitude "which no man can number". John documents it for us in Rev. 7 just following the listing of the 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel.[4] And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
Consider that the reason no man could number them is not because the multitude is too great to number, but because quite frankly that number has yet to be determined, i.e. because of the "free will" of the people who must individually and on their own make their choices to (or not to) "turn unto Him"! And just who are these people?Rev. 7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
So let us keep up the good work of building His house upon the foundation which is already laid, for as it is written in the beginning of this great Book of Zechariah, "Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts." This means ALL, i.e. anyone of any race, color, or creed who will turn unto Him can dwell in His house! You see, He loves all of His children and it is will, His desire, that none of them perish! Therefore there is much work to do and much building to yet accomplish while there is still some sand left in the hourglass. 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."Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This is simply our Father, who is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29), saying that He shall warm and give comfort and protect ALL those who come and dwell within the walls of His house. Isaiah wrote of that same comforting and protecting glory who shall come to dwell on Mt. Zion. By the way, it is same glory who protected our forefathers when they came out of Egypt:Zech. 2:5
For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
Therefore, let EVERYONE hear and take heed to the following message:Isaiah 4:5
And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
The "land of the north" is Babylon, the lon or land of Babel which means "confusion" in Hebrew. In other words, it is "the state of mind" to where God's people have been spread (scattered) "by" the four winds of heaven. We read the same urgent message to "flee", as in "escape", from Babylon in the Book of Revelation!Zech. 2:6
Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
Come out of religious confusion and STOP following the traditions of men perpetuated by churchianity! Turn to God, to His Word and dwell with Him and He will come dwell with you!Rev. 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Jerusalem is and shall continue to be the "headquarters" of Babylon of these last days right up until the King of kings returns. It is Jerusalem where the false Messiah, the son of perdition, the little horn, the vile person, Satan, shall stand as the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet and deceive the whole world into believing he is in fact God, i.e. Jesus Christ who has come to rapture them away.Zech. 2:7
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
It is not "after the glory" but rather "For His own glory" that He shall come forth out of His habitation (vs. 13) and lay his hand upon (next verse) and SHAKE the nations which have spoiled (as in the spoiling of war) His children! For you see, those who have taken advantage of and touched (laid their oppressive hand upon) those who love and serve the LORD have "touched" His beloved children who are the "apple of His eye". As you know, the pupil (apple) is the most sensitive part of the eye which is why the expression the "apple of my eye" refers to that which is precious in our sight and for which we quickly and instinctively raise our hands to protect.[8] For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
This verse refers in part to the Song of Moses (Deut. 32) that the house of God now being built will be singing when the LORD comes to dwell in the midst of His children on Mount Zion (See Rev. 15:3-4).
The House of Israel (Jacob) is His "portion" and the lot of His inheritance. They are the "apple of His eye"... so precious in His sight.Deut. 32:9
For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Where did He find you? In a desert land... and in the waste howling wilderness. Oh, He found you at the "Desert Inn", even at "The Wilderness Cafe and Lounge"? You may laugh, but all I can say it is a "good thing" He has kept an eye on some of His "apple dumplings", isn't it? One thing is for sure though, when God protects His own and keeps His "eagle eye" on them, it is like the great eagle who "fluttereth over her young" and "spreads abroad her protecting wings"![10] He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.
But as for those who have touched the apple of His eye, WOE![11] As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
When Almighty God lays His hand upon someone, he or she is in big trouble! And the nations are going to feel His shaking! Remember Haggai, Zechariah's contemporary, was prophesying this same thing?Zech 2:9
For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
The "good news" is that justice and righteous shall be served and executed upon the earth, even forevermore! Won't that be a joyful and glorious time when the Prince of Peace comes to this earth to dwell in the midst of His children?Haggai 2:21
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;[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.
And sing they shall, even as we them standing on Mount Zion singing (Rev. 14:1-3). We even know what song it is that the overcomers shall be singing:Zech. 2:10
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
That's right! Every knee shall bow and all nations shall come and worship before the King of kings and Lord of lords.Rev. 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.[4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
What a house! All who wish to join themselves unto the house of the Lord now may do so. There is plenty of room!Zech. 2:11
And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
It is written in Ezekiel 16 that our Father chose Jerusalem, even as one takes a wife, to be His dwelling place for all eternity. Thus shall Jerusalem "yet" fulfill her chosen destiny to be His when He comes to her! And remember we read in the Song of Moses that it is His people who are "His portion"? They are the lot of His inheritance and they shall be established in the "holy land".[12] And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Therefore...Deut. 32:9
For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
When He comes forth from His holy habitation ALL the earth shall "be silent", i.e. shall hold her peace, for the Prince of Peace and His saints of the Kingdom of God shall take over the reigns of government upon the earth and we shall finally have peace on earth.Zech. 2:13
Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
What do we say then? We say hear the words of your Father: "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."
So turn to Him and seek Him now! Seek Him daily through His Word and come out of confusion, come out of Babylon, and enter into His rest now! Else you can continue to follow the traditions of men and become part of the new "Silent Majority", those silenced by the shaking of His hand when He pours out His Wrath upon the world of the ungodly.
The choice is yours!