Zechariah 4-5
This first part of Zechariah has had one main question; that is, how long will it be until the Lord shows mercy to Jerusalem? The book has also had two main men: Zerubbabel and Joshua. God is not only encouraging these men to lead the people and keep their eyes on the future that He has determined for Israel, but God is using them as symbols. In chapter 3 God blessed Joshua and used him as a symbol for the future cleansing of Israel. Now in chapter four, God does a similar thing with Zerubbabel.
Zechariah 4
Vs. 1-3 There are many ideas of what this all means. To summarize, you have two olive trees through which the oil flows through pipes to a bowl above a lampstand. From the bowl the oil flows through channels to the lamp pods. It seems that the olive trees are Zerubbabel and Joshua through whom the Spirit is "flowing," and the lampstand is the nation and its testimony, giving light to the world. When we get to verse 14 the imagery shifts a little and some think the two anointed ones are the two witnesses of Revelation.
Vs. 4-10 It seems that Zerubbabel is being honored for his leadership in laying the foundation for the temple. God is saying he would finish it. This rebuilding is a shadow of the future temple, and so Zerubbabel's work will carry a lasting honor to it.
V. 6 This is how the Lord's work is done and Zerubbabel allowed himself to be a conduit for the Spirit's working.
V. 10 In some people's eyes, the temple foundation was a sad thing, in no way comparable to what Solomon had built; but it was really just a small beginning that will end in the Millennium. Here at least, Zerubbabel will finish it as God's workman. And there would be rejoicing.
Vs. 10-14 The eyes of the Lord that go into all the earth give light and see or reveal. The olive trees are giving oil to the lampstand, acting as conduits for the Spirit's work. Again, in verse 14, people have seen the ministry of the two witnesses in Revelation eleven.
Zechariah 5
In the answer to the question regarding when God will have mercy on Jerusalem, we have seen God preparing Jerusalem and Israel for the Millennial Kingdom. Now the sin of the people needs to be removed.
Vs. 1-4 This flying scroll is exactly the size of the tabernacle in the wilderness. It has two sides just as the law was inscribed on two tablets. It is representative of the entire law. God said the people would be cursed if they didn't hold to the laws. Not only that, the entire world will be judged by the ten commandments. Paul says as much in Romans 2. It appears that the sin dealt with here is the sin of our depravity; that is, the sickness in our hearts that rebels against God. This is the innate root of the original sin. This is what we would do if it was just God and another person in the room.
Vs. 5-11 In this judgment on sin, the sin of Israel is being removed and stored in a building in Babylon. As to who the woman is, what the nature of this iniquity is, and why it is stored in Babylon, sneak ahead and read Revelation 17. This is the kind of sin that a person would be enticed to enjoy in Walmart or Las Vegas. The judgment on this sin is being kept for Revelation 18. We have no clue who the women with stork wings are. If they are angels, they are a new brand we know nothing of since all angels are usually referred to as men.
It is one thing to think of cleansing one person of sin and evil, but God will do it to an entire nation. In fact, those seven years we're reading about in Revelation will be so intense that the physical hardship and spiritual harassment of those times will "cleanse" many people and it will persuade them to be part of God's plan.
With all the sin being flown away, it made me think of how far our sin is removed from us, as far as the east is from the west.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy4ytwKfjBI
Revelation 14
At this point, having described the incredible allowance given to Satan and the two beasts to wreak havoc on the people of God, a bunch of calming, future visions are given. They are future in that God is showing them to John now, but they will be fulfilled in the future chronology of events yet to come in the tribulation. God is showing them now to give hope that will offset the darkness that has just been revealed.
Vs. 1-5 In spite of the power of hell, the 144,000 will win the day.
V. 1 Some people think this is a vision of the day of Christ's return, that all 144,000 will be alive and come to Jerusalem as the Antichrist and his army march north to the battle of Armageddon.
V. 3 This song is particular only to them, like a ribbon a soldier gets for fighting in a particular battle.
Vs. 4-5 Since they come to faith in the tribulation, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:26, "I think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to remain as he is," they do remain as they are. You might wonder where God is going to find this many people, but remember that at the beginning of the tribulation there will be 7+billion people and 144,000 is only three football stadiums full of people.
Notice that their marching orders are to follow the Lamb.
Notice too that their testimony is their faith and their lives lived for Jesus. It doesn't say that any of them are preachers, but they will bear witness to the light. You don't have to be a preacher to tell someone where the exit is in a burning building.
Vs. 6-7 This angel may be the one empowering the 144,000. Important to note is that everyone on earth will hear the gospel. Some people think this is a pretty grim gospel, but you can find instances of John the Baptist and Jesus giving this message as good news.
V. 8 This, I think, is that nation of the beast being judged. That will give hope to the people who have to live on earth the 3.5 years that this nation rules. This destruction is announced here, but it won't happen until after chapter 16 and the seventh bowl. This is an important event we will read about in ch. 17. I think it is connected to our reading in Zechariah today regarding the sin that was removed to Babylon.
Vs. 9-11 This is the judgment on all those who take the mark of the beast. This will give hope to those who suffer because they refuse to take the mark.
V. 12 This is going to be hard for God's people to see those who receive the mark boasting and privileged during the tribulation, but their laughter will become wailing. This is the second time we've seen this statement and it means that this will be extremely hard on those believers living though the tribulation. They will need to read this and hold to it.
V. 13 Again, this is an encouragement to the saints. They should not be terrorized by the threat of death, but calmly give up testimony as they die. Read Luke 12:4-11 to see what Jesus said to His disciples. Notice that "blessed" is promised twice in this verse.
Vs. 14-16 Still future in the tribulation, the saints are encouraged by this vision of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. How about that, a vision of the future in a vision of the future. Mathematically, that is Hope, to the second power.
Vs. 17-20 Jesus spoke of this harvest in the parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matt. 13:36-43. It sounds a lot like this. Notice that the angel comes from the altar. Under that altar are the martyrs.
V. 20 It doesn't seem that this can be literal since 1600 Stadia is about 185 miles. Whatever this means, something like this will happen and it won't be pretty.
I find it interesting that as God reveals some very difficult things for His people, He also shows them a vision of hope in the not so distant future. I think part of the message for us as disciples in the harvest is that we need to keep a vision of the future, good and bad, before our eyes to inspire our passion and hope. We need to remember why it is important to reach the lost and make disciples who make disciples.
Psalm 142
The only cave we know of that David ran to was the cave of Adullam. These were hard days for David. David wrote and sang this psalm then. I'll bet no one danced, but they learned what it was to pour their hearts out before the Lord. What is interesting is that as David prayed so naturally and deeply to God, it inspired the people around him. How do I know that? There is a famous event in David's life that takes place in that cave, that won the hearts of his men and became a legend. 2 Sam. 23:13
This is a great Reuben Morgan song (the lead singer in this video) with the lyrics below if you hit "show more." It expresses a simple love for Christ and it begins in a "cave."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1YwfuZMX9c
Proverbs 30:21-23
I think we get the drift of all of these except for the "unloved woman." The word "unloved" literally means, "hated." I think the idea here is that she earned the hate, and so what she brings into the marriage is an incredible bitterness and unrest. She definitely needs Jesus.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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