DECEMBER 21
Just a few more days before Christmas. Today in beginning
Zechariah it will be like getting Revelation in stereo. Both books zero in on
the last days of this tragic earthly history we are following Christ through.
What is interesting is that both books will talk about some of the same things,
but each will provide unique details. Both books end with the glory of God and
with humanity safe and sound with the Savior, and that is a great way to end
the year.
Zechariah
1
In talking about Haggai, I mentioned
that both he and Zechariah showed up at the same time. The time was when the
returned exiles had been in Jerusalem about 18 years and they were stalled in
building the temple. There must have been something very crucial going on at
this time that you don't see explained in the history that Ezra shares. Just
knowing this time frame and the sudden arrival of these two prophets should
give us a greater appreciation for these books, and for God coming through in
the clutch and motivating the people to action to save them. In Haggai, God
gave Zerubbabel and Joshua a shot of motivation, and then He gave them a look
at the future to show them that their work would not be in vain. Zechariah
continues this look at the future and is like a little book of Revelation in
the OT. It will also be good for us to think about why God is giving them these
visions of the future. Maybe we need that too.
Take a
look at the chart at the end of these notes titled, “Dates of Key Events in
Haggai's and Zechariah's Time.”
V. 1 If you compare the date of this
message with the messages of Haggai, you'll see that Zechariah began speaking
about a month after Haggai's second message.
Vs. 2-6 This message is very much like
what Haggai was saying and, miracle of miracles, the people obeyed. Notice the
illustration given here. Although their fathers died and although the prophets
died, the Word continued and was fulfilled. This was true of the past judgment
and it would be true of the future glory promised to Israel.
Now, Zechariah is given eight night
visions. The chart of the same name is located at the end of this document and
it may be helpful to look at. One thing to note here is that he will see these
all in one night. What a night.
Vs. 7-17 The vision of the riders.
V. 7 Notice that this vision was three
months after his first message. Haggai had stopped preaching by now.
Notice that these angels patrol the
earth. We saw something like this in Job 1:6-8. These angels seem to have a special
commission from the Lord. It is interesting to think that even though God is
omniscient, He still gives angels responsibilities. It is also interesting to
think that angels are still on patrol, as we speak.
Vs. 8-12 Read this carefully. I have
missed this every time. The rider of the red
horse is very important. Notice that He is standing while the other riders
are on their horses. Apparently He is the leader. In v. 9 Zechariah speaks to
another angel who is with him. In v. 10 Zechariah is answered by the rider of
the red horse. In v. 11 this angel rider of the red horse is addressed as the angel of the Lord. This is the
pre-incarnate Jesus. You'll see this when we get to Zechariah 3:4 where this
angel takes away the sin of Joshua the high priest. Only God has that
authority.
V. 12 Notice that the world is at rest,
but Jerusalem is not. The focus here is Jerusalem. The question asked in v. 12
launches the visions dealing with the city and the people. This is very similar
to Daniel's question regarding the city. Daniel received the vision of the 70
weeks. Here, Zerubbabel and Joshua receive these visions through Zechariah.
Since their lives have been focused on the temple, the worship and the city,
God will encourage them regarding the future of these.
Notice that this is the only place in
Scripture where the angel of the Lord
intercedes and pleads to the Father, the Lord
of hosts. The Son is still making intercession today.
Vs. 13-17 As a result of this request,
God, who is very jealous for Jerusalem, promises to restore Jerusalem, the
fulfillment of which will be in the Millennial Kingdom. Still, for Zerubbabel
and Joshua and all the people, God's favor on Jerusalem would be good to know.
In spite of the challenges they were facing, God confirmed and encouraged them
that He would comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.
Vs. 18-21 The vision of the horns.
V. 19 These horns do not seem to stand
for animals or kings, but rather for the power or pride of nations. Horns might
be like a threat of strength or pain, like weapons. If you look at 1 Kings
22:11, you'll see a false prophet make iron horns. Things like this might have
been put on shields or wagons. If actual nations are in view here, they might
be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. At that moment in history, neither
Greece nor Rome had risen as a threat to Jerusalem and Judah or scattered the
people. Generally, it might just be referring to the pride of any nations that
seek to persecute Israel. Toward the end of Zechariah we will see a very unique
insight into the persecution Jerusalem will be enduring the very minute the
Lord returns.
Vs. 20-21 Since the horns are
manufactured, the craftsmen can destroy them. These angels will work to humble
the nations that rise against Israel. Again, that is a promise that the godly
leaders of Israel can depend on.
Zerubbabel and Joshua had endured many
years of oppression by the Persian government and by the surrounding nations.
This vision showed them that God would destroy this opposition. In God's hands
Israel was secure. That's a good thing to know, especially reading Revelation
12.
Revelation
12
This is a great chapter of Revelation
and it describes more fully the mystery of the victory God will secure over
Satan and the world through the suffering of His people.
Vs. 1-2 The woman is Israel. Israel has
always been "pregnant" with the Savior of the world, as promised to
Abraham. The sun and moon sounds like something that Joseph dreamed, and the
twelve stars are the sons of Jacob. Joseph was the first visual
"type" or hint of a savior coming from Israel.
The deeper imagery here is from Genesis
3. There is the dragon (serpent, v. 15), the woman and the male child.
Vs. 3-4 This is interesting
information. Satan has always known that the Savior was to come from Israel and
therefore Israel has suffered so much. In corrupting Israel, Satan (in his
mind) has held back salvation from the world. Getting Israel to crucify their
Messiah was his master work, which fell back on him because he never realized
that God was incarnate or that the sacrifice of Jesus could work salvation for
all mankind through faith.
Notice that Satan took a third of the
angelic world with him in his rebellion.
V. 5 The child was Jesus. Jesus’ entire
life, ministry, sacrifice and resurrection is summed up with Jesus seated at
the Father’s right hand.
V. 6 This is the Tribulation as shown
in the 1260 days or 3.5 years. I think that toward the end of the first 3.5
years of peace in Israel, the army of the north (Ezekiel 39:6) will come to
loot Israel; but God will destroy them with fire or some other miracle
(probably through the witnesses). The antichrist will arrive, maybe to save
Israel, but the glory of this salvation by God will cause him to lose his mind.
(And a mind is a terrible thing to lose.) In heaven the decree is given to
allow the "little horn" to wage war with the saints and prevail
(Daniel 8:24-26). The antichrist kills the two witnesses, desecrates the temple
(Matt. 24:15) and begins a great persecution of the Jews, and then any
believers he can get his hands on. This begins the "Great
Tribulation."
But Israel will hide in the mountains
around the Dead Sea and live off of the supplies of the destroyed army. Since the
world is wrecked and primitive, it will be easy for God to hide them 3.5 years.
Actually, for God, it would always be easy to hide them anyway, but having
wrecked the world, He was preparing for this event.
Vs. 7-9 During this time, there is a
battle in heaven and Satan loses. You might wonder why this didn't happen
before, but I think that the slaughter of Christ's followers is already
underway and is a key factor in Michael's victory.
Vs. 10-11 Notice that v. 11 is written
in the past tense as if it has already been going on. This, I think, is what
gave Michael and his forces the power they needed. I think this victory of the
saints through their testimony and deaths is what Satan never saw coming, the
mystery. It brings judgment and wrath upon him and gives power to the angelic
forces defending Israel. These two verses hold amazingly deep spiritual truth.
Notice that although there is a
declaration made in v. 10, the battle is not over. Also, notice that this
declaration seems very similar to the declaration made in Revelation 11:15.
V. 12 This is wonderful for those in
heaven, to have the neighborhood finally cleaned up; but now Satan and his
angels are defeated and earthbound. Isn't it interesting that he knows his time
is short? This shows the psychotic nature of Satan's evil and sin in general.
Why does he keep destroying? He will not rule in hell. Those he deceives do not
become his slaves in some fiery underworld cartoon. Satan will be tormented and
punished just as all men will. In hell, all are utterly incapacitated in pain.
There are no card games and parties. There is nothing for Satan to gain by
destroying more people, except the satisfaction it gives him to vent his hate
toward God and to see men damned by God.
Vs. 13-17 God protects those who obeyed
Him and fled to the wilderness. Whatever this flood was, an army or actual
waters, God will so visibly protect them that Satan knows it is useless to
pursue them. God will protect them for 3.5 years. The only danger to them is
being fooled into thinking that the Lord has appeared, and going out to visit
the many impostors who will appear. (Matt. 24:26) Toward the end of this 3.5
years something will happen that brings the Jews (believing and unbelieving)
out of hiding and back into Jerusalem.
V. 13 Read Genesis 3:14-15. You have
the woman, the serpent and the male child.
Satan then turns his anger to rounding
up Christians all over the world. He will slaughter many, but the more he hurts
them, the more he weakens himself. And, there will be many from all nations
who, on seeing the persecution of Jewish and Gentile believers, will awaken to
faith and help them.
I'm not sure what the
sand really is, but the first thing that comes to mind is the promise to
Abraham in Genesis 22:16-18, By
myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not
withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as
the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring
shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because you have obeyed my voice.
Satan can stand on the sand (the
Jews/believers), but the sand will defeat him and become a blessing to all
nations. Knowing what these future disciples will endure and how they will
defeat the enemy should encourage us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily
and follow Him into the harvest.
27But God chose what is foolish in the
world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the
strong; 28God
chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring
to nothing things that are. (1
Cor. 1:27-28)
Psalm
140
It is easy to read a
psalm like this and not really read it at all. We need to sense the despair and
trouble and anxiousness David felt. You know how you can have one good day and
seem to have all the stress under control, and the next day you are a mess?
This is what David lived through for 10 years on the run from Saul. Anxiousness
and trouble are not our downfall. Our downfall is not having this habit of
life, living close to the heart of God, in His Word, crying out to Him.
Vs. 1-5 Not only was
David asking for deliverance and protection from these very real dangers, but
there is the sense that the poison of this was close to entering his heart and
mind.
Vs. 6-8 The
protection of David's head, like the helmet of salvation, was actually
confidence and protection of his heart and thoughts. That protection is found
in knowing God's heart and knowing He is our salvation. It is found in the Word
and obeying the Word in faith.
Vs. 9-11 This is a
call for justice in kind. As they have done, let it be done to them. But
notice, David is not wanting to dispense justice. That is the Lord's job.
Vs. 12-13 David's
strength was found in resting on the Lord. Verses 6-7 and 12-13 are the things
David learned in the ebb and flow of his emotions. God is a rock. Our emotions
move. The creation, the sun, the sea are always there. They are visual aids
that God's love and faithfulness never change. It takes hopelessness to reveal
this to us, but then, only if God is our hope and our foundation.
Proverbs 30:17
How should one figuratively understand the second half of
this verse? This could just be a common curse people gave at that time, or it
could be referring to a warning about what happens to our understanding when we
ignore what God says. Jesus told His disciples, and then the people, that if your
eye turns away from receiving what God says, it results in darkness. Take a
look at Matthew 6:22-23 and Luke 11:34-36.
I guess the safest thing to do is just to obey the first
half of the verse and honor God by honoring our parents.
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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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 comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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