Presents
Pamphlet #1103
Zechariah chapter 3
Zechariah chapter 3
"Lift up your eyes" and get ready to "see" and "understand" the profound and astounding words of comfort and wisdom contained in the third chapter of the great Book of Zechariah. The prophet whose name means "Remembered of Yahveh" is about to be given the fourth of "eight" visions, all of which must be "seen", as in understood, by God's elect in this final generation of the fig tree, the generation that shall witness the dawning of a new age. It is even fitting that number of the visions in this book, the number "8", denotes "resurrection" or "new beginning" in Biblical numerics (see appendix 10 in the Companion Bible).
The reason these "eight" visions are essential knowledge for "His just ones" in these last days is because it is God's elect who go forth before the day of the Lord to teach and give witness and to prepare the way for His second advent. They are the "kings and priests" of God who shall reign in the kingdom during the Millennium with the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. Rev. 5:10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
We have also seen that these eight "visions" begin and are given for the time just preceding the second advent, the season when the Four Horns, aka the Four Hidden Dynasties, have all come together to exercise their power over the people, "power" which is able to "keep their heads from lifting up" (Zech. 1:21). It was also revealed in the "visions" that God's carpenters shall come from the four corners of the earth to "fray" and dismantle those earthly dynasties and replace them by establishing the house of God on Mount Zion, which house is being built even at this time. And remember... we learned in our last study that it is God's Plan, His purpose, to bring forth out of Babylon, out of the land of confusion, as many who will heed His call through His servants who speak His words after the manner of "thus saith the LORD". You see, our Father is very patient at this time even as He has ordained the holding back of the Four Winds of Rev. 7:1 to allow not only for the completion of the sealing of the 144,000 in His house but to allow for any and all who will to "turn unto Him" and come and dwell in the House of God. Were we not shown in chapter 2 by the angel with the measuring line that there is plenty of room within the boundless walls of His protection?
Of course, it is also written that there shall come a time when His longsuffering will end and He shall come forth from His habitation and shake both the heavens and earth as we learned in closing verses of Haggai.
Yes, it is written that He is coming to overthrow all the kingdoms and nations and powers of the earth.Haggai 2:21
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
And then shall the authority of the kingdom be given unto His chosen ones, God's elect, i.e. the saints of the most high (Dan. 7:27) whom HE both "chose" and "called" out of Babylon to rebuild the temple, the many membered body of Jesus Christ in these last days.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.
In order to prepare one's mind and to be able to better place this study in proper context, it would be most helpful if one has read with understanding the great Book of Haggai. The reason is because Haggai (meaning "feast" or "festival") and Zechariah ("remembered of Yahveh") prophesied together for a time unto Zerubbabel and Joshua and the remnant of the people and when taken together they give us much insight into the duties of the "kings" and "priests". You could even say that the short Book of Haggai sets the stage for the lengthier Book of Zechariah which, if you recall, covers a 7 year period even as a type of the final 7 year period, the 70th week of Daniel.Haggai 2:23
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.
Let us now understand the vision of Zechariah concerning the priesthood of God's elect! This vision, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, will not only show you the condition of "grace" of His elect in these last days, but also their relationship to and how they are to handle the adversary (SATAN), the accuser of the brethren!The very meanings of the names in this verse give us a foundation of understanding for God does not waste words nor use "fillers" in His Holy Word.Haggai 1:1
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,Zerub-babel means "sown in Babel" or "born in Babel". Babel of course means "confusion", out of which Zerubbabel came, just like God's elect in this final generation whose eyes and ears have been opened and who have come out of Babylon, i.e. religious confusion! Zerubbabel's father's name "Shealtiel" means "I have asked God", i.e. inquired of Him. Joshua on the other hand means "Yah's savior" of whom Joshua was a type, this Joshua as well as the one who led our forefathers "across the river" and "into the promised land". Also, "Jo-sedech" is "Yah's-zadok" in Hebrew which means "God's just", His righteous ones, i.e. His elect!
So what do we have here? We have "two servants" of God whose fathers are of the "kingship" line of Judah and the "priesthood" line of Levi. That's right, servants of the King of kings and Lord of lords! And we shall learn in this Book of Haggai that the spirit of those two servants along with the remnant of His people shall be stirred up by the LORD, i.e. by His spirit, to complete the temple, the many membered body of Christ, a work that must be complete before He shakes the heavens and the earth (Rev. 7:1-4).
Note: Those who understand Romans chapter 8 concerning
the predestination of God's elect whom He knew before the "foundation of
this world" (Eph. 1:4), i.e. the choosing, calling, justification and glorification
of God's elect, will have little if any difficulty with this 3rd chapter
of Zechariah. However, there is nothing like a graphic illustration, a
"picture" to make things clear in one's mind.
Got this picture? You had better know right up front that if you are one of God's elect trying to do His will in this final generation that you have an ADVERSARY (Satan) who will try to "resist" you. Of course God's elect know only too well what sinners they are in the flesh and old Satan the accuser will use every means he can to try and discredit them and accuse them.Zech. 3:1
And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Learn a great lesson from this "vision". Do NOT argue nor bargain with the adversary, Satan, the devil, because one simply does not negotiate nor make deals with murderers and terrorists and Satan is both, even the father of both. The LORD, the One with all power in both heaven and earth who is soon returning to the city He has chosen to reign in for all eternity, even Jerusalem, shall rebuke Satan. Again, the LORD, NOT you nor me, shall rebuke Him... and rebuke him He SHALL. "See" the vision and also know that even Michael the archangel does not discuss policy nor strategy nor even bring railing accusations against old slimeball slick Satan, but simply says "The Lord rebuke thee!"Zech. 3:2
And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Then too, know and understand that Satan cannot "burn" God's elect for they are protected by the Gospel Armor (Eph. 6). Remember that Nebuchanezzar the king of Babylon, who was a type of the king of Babylon of the end times, tried to "burn" God's servants Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo but it didn't work, did it? In fact, the "fire" did not even singe their hair, as in "not an hair of their heads perished" (Luke 21:18), nor did even the smell of smoke from the pit cling to their "garments"!Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
So let Satan try to resist and let him make all the accusations He wants. You know where he stands! And you also know where you stand with the Lord, don't you? You do if you are one of His elect chosen before the foundation of this world (Eph. 1:4).
Here is what Paul says regarding those who have a destiny, a "job to do" in this final generation:
God's elect who have been predestinated to serve Him have been justified and glorified, even from the first earth age if you have the wisdom to know!Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The Lord takes care of His own.[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
If Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, justifies someone who can override His decision? Answer: No one! God help those who come against and interfere and try to stop His children from doing His will in fulfilling His plan. Woe![32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Again, the Lord takes care of His own. Now let's continue with the vision Zechariah sees of the priesthood, i.e. God's elect.[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Yep, I'm sure that God's elect recognize this as a proper and fitting spiritual portrait of themselves! Of course it can be easily argued that these filthy garments are the transgressions of the people if one considers the duties of the high priest. Nevertheless, whether collectively or individually we do know that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags".Zech. 3:3
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Now notice what happens next!Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Look at that! Did you "see" what just happened? Christ took away Joshua's filthy rags and caused his iniquity to go "bye bye"! Then He said He would clothe him with a "change of raiment" which you can be sure is clean and white just like a wedding garment! In other words, Christ took away Joshua's filthy garments and clothed him with salvation.Zech. 3:4
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Notice what Joshua receives next!
To understand this verse one needs to know what a fair mitre is. Here is Dr. Smith's definition:Zech. 3:5
And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
Do you see the picture? Christ took Joshua, set him aside as a brand plucked from the fire, as one protected from the accusations of Satan, took away his filthy garments (his iniquity), clothed him in His righteousness, and set a mitre upon his head making "him a priest unto our God" (Rev. 5:10), even with His name written upon his forehead! Wow, what a picture of God's elect! Christ will do that for you too; Just believe, and invite Him into your heart!Mitre(something rolled around the head), the turban or headdress of the high priest, made of fine linen cloth, eight yards long, folded around the head. On the front was a gold plate on which was inscribed Holiness to the Lord .(Smith's Bible Dictionary)
The word "protested" in this verse means to "solemnly testify", not to "protest" against something like we use it today. The LORD is simply giving His solemn word to Joshua that if he "stays in His ways", stays in His Word, and "keeps His charge", i.e. His commands, by doing the work of the priest which is to teach and build up the temple of the Lord, then he shall indeed judge and rule and have free reign in His house... even forever![6] And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Those who were standing by when Zechariah saw this vision were angels, weren't they?[7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Men who "are wondered at" are men who are for a "sign", even a "sign", a witness, to this generation who go before He brings forth the BRANCH, Jesus Christ, at the second advent![8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
The word "stone" used here is the same word translated "plummet" in the next chapter which we shall see (i.e. the plummet) "in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven". However, do not miss in this verse that the LORD of hosts has declared that He will remove the iniquity of the land. In other words, there shall be a great cleansing of the land, even of the whole earth, "in one day" on THE DAY when Jesus Christ returns to the city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, in chapter 4 we are going to learn the details concerning the "plummet" and those "seven eyes"... so keep "your eyes" open![9] For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
"In that day", i.e. in the day that Jesus Christ cleanses the land, every "you shall call""man" and his "neighbor" to the feast of the LORD, which is what the figure of speech "call under the vine and under the fig tree" means.[10] In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
To that end, when the days of the prophecies of Haggai (feast) and Zechariah (Yahveh has remembered) are fulfilled it shall truly be said that "Yahveh has remembered the feast"!
Read chapter 4 next.
Live Link to> Zechariah chapter 4
Zechariah's Visions(click pamphlet number to read)
#3 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Measuring Line"
Live Link to> #1102
Zechariah
Chapter 2
#4 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Branch"
Live Link to> #1103
Zechariah
Chapter 3
#5 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Golden Lampstand"
Live Link to> #1104
Zechariah
Chapter 4
#6 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Flying Scroll"
#7 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Ephah"
Live Link to> #1105
Zechariah
Chapter 5
#8 of Zechariah's
Eight Visions "The Four Chariots"
Live Link to> #1106
Zechariah
Chapter 6
Live Link to> #1108
Zechariah Chapter 8
Zechariah prophesied
what shall happen to the New World Order and her wicked "would-be" king
of kings!
Live Link to> #1109 Zechariah
Chapter 9
Zechariah prophesied
how God will sow His elect, His mighty ones, among the people to teach
His sons and daughters, to give them hope, and in that day His people shall
turn again, which means they will return to Him!
Live Link to> #1110 Zechariah
Chapter 10
Zechariah prophesied
that the whole world, including the majority of Christianity with the exception
of God's elect, will believe Satan to be the real shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Live Link to> #1111 Zechariah
Chapter 11
Zechariah prophesied
that many people shall "wake up" when Christ returns and find they have
actually been serving and worshipping the false messiah, even Satan, as
God.
Live Link to> #1112
Zechariah
Chapter 12
Zechariah prophesied
that our preachers shall be utterly ashamed at Christ's return for having
taught man's traditions in church instead of God's Word.
Live Link to> #1113 Zechariah
Chapter 13
Charter 14 "The Spiritual Earthquake"
Zechariah prophesied
concerning Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
Live Link to> #1114 Zechariah
Chapter 14
is
Published by:
Rhine
Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net
If you would like to have your essay
published
as part of the American Wisdom
Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine
Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration,
or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home
page.
Click
Here to Return to
"The American Wisdom Series" home
page.