Do not overlook the fact that Zechariah "turned" (figuratively, i.e. he considered as in "his wheels were turning") immediately after seeing the vision of the "two anointed ones" in the previous verse, the last verse of chapter four! This is important as it connects these next two visions with those two witnesses and the seven thousand of God's elect, i.e. the two candlesticks of Rev. 11 which are Smyrna and Philadelphia!Zech. 5:1
Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
What in the world is a "flying roll"? Well, I sure hope you do not have a Masters Degree or PhD of the type that will prevent you from seeing the simplicity of this, but a "roll" is simply a papyrus used for writing, i.e. a scroll or book, and this very large scroll written on both sides is "flying" like a big billboard... yes... as in flying through the air! Got the picture? In a moment we are going to learn exactly where this roll is flying! But first let us understand from the book of the "watchman", Ezekiel, that this "roll" is actually the Word of God.[2] And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
Take notice what is written "within and without", i.e. on both sides of the roll!Ezekiel 2:9
And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Ezekiel is instructed by God to "eat" the roll, as in consume and digest it thoroughly, and then go speak unto the house of Israel! Remember what we learned concerning the two witnesses who were "clothed in sackcloth"? To be "clothed in sack-cloth" is an expression, a figure of speech, denoting one who is mourning, i.e. lamenting and declaring the WOES, the curses to come upon those who do not turn to Him, to His Word![10] And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
You see, it is God's elect, His "watchmen" in this final generation, through whom He causes the roll to "goeth forth" over the face of the whole land. They, the "watchmen", the "eyes" of God, "eat the roll daily" asking for and receiving His daily bread, and so they are always diligently "being about their Father's business"!Ezekiel 3:1
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
To that end, it is also worth noting that the dimensions of this "roll" which was seen by Zechariah were 20 cubits by 10 cubits (30 feet x 15 feet) which is the exact size of the temple porch (1 Kings 6:3)! To wit, the temple porch was where the "law", the Word of God, was usually read!
Now let us see what this "flying roll" shall accomplish:
To "goeth forth" literally means to "go forth on business" and so it is that God is taking care of business executing His Word exactly as it written. Those who have eyes to see and ears hear know that the teaching of that "roll" does literally "fly" over the face of the whole land (eretz) upon the airwaves 24/7 into millions of homes.Zech. 5:3
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
But why is the "going forth" of the roll called a "curse"? It is a curse to the "thieves" and "false prophets" (liars) of God's Word who shall experience the "Woe" from our Father's hand for lying and building their own houses! Our Father does not like it one bit and they shall surely be cut off! Woe! Ezekiel 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?"
The Word of God (the roll) declares all the "curses" that come upon those who do not follow God's laws. Have you ever read Deut. 28 beginning with verse 15? Deut. 28:15 "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee." Yes, although the Word of God contains all the blessings for those who love the Lord, it also contains the lamentations, and mourning, and woe which shall come upon those who do not hearken unto His voice, and especially (meaning more severely) upon those who do NOT "eat the roll" but claim they are Christ's ministers and representatives.
"Woe" to those robbers of our people's vineyard and woe to those liars who take the name of the LORD in vain, i.e. swear falsely by His name! Their houses, their churches which they have built upon sand instead of upon the Rock , His Word, are ALL coming down and so they shall be removed from our midst when Yeshua returns. Christ clearly warned us of the "many who would come in His name" claiming to be Christian ministers and preachers, and would deceive many through teaching the traditions of men instead of teaching from the roll. Unfortunately, as a result of their "swearing falsely", teaching lies in the name of Christ, they will lead many (most) of our brothers and sisters to also swear falsely, as in worship the false messiah when he comes.Zech. 5:4
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
Note: If you would like to learn more about the thieves and robbers who do not enter into the sheepfold through the "door", the Word of God, then go to the 10th chapter of John. There are many thieves and liars who have built their own houses in the name of God and who teach our people that they are going to "fly to save their souls" (Ezek. 13:18-20), i.e. that they are going to be "taken up" in the clouds at any moment in a rapture of the church. Such lies by those thieves who have not entered into the sheepfold through the "door" shall be exposed by the "roll" at "roll call" and their houses shall come tumbling down.
OK, enough said! Let us move on to the 7th vision of Zechariah.John 10:1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.