DECEMBER 23
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 4, 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 v. 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.
Vs. 6-7 This entire vision, with both
the trees and the lampstand, is summed up as the Word of the Lord. God uses
people, but it is His Word that makes us. This is how the Lord's work is done
and Zerubbabel allowed himself to be a conduit for the Spirit's working. This
is also a good word to us. Often we give lip-service to faith and following and
think that what happens is really because of us. God says that isn't so. Here
is something Jesus told His disciples repeatedly. It also has to do with
mountains and I can barely wrap my head and heart around this. Matthew 17:20, He said to them, “Because of your little
faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and
nothing will be impossible for you.”
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 These are the eyes of the Lord that go into all the earth to 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 v. 14, people have seen the ministry of the two witnesses in Revelation 11.
Apparently the work of those two witnesses in Revelation 11 will be momentous,
but we can't see it yet because it hasn't happened; and because, like Zerubbabel
and Joshua, they seem obscure and only occupy a few verses of Scripture. It is
God who gives them and their work importance.
That is the same with us and our
witness as disciples in the harvest. Our work, as small as it may seem, is
momentous in God's hands and His plan of salvation. And, our work is ordained
by His Word.
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.
The law reveals the sickness within us.
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, 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 17. We have no clue who the women with stork wings are. If
they are angels, they are a new brand of angel about which we know nothing,
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.
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.
Notice how many different angels are
mentioned in this chapter.
Vs. 1-5 In spite of the power of hell,
the 144,000 will win the day. I think these guys were already set into ministry
in the first 3.5 years, but are being shown in honor at this point because they
will endure to the end.
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 good 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.
Also, the seven years of the Tribulation will be pretty intense. Jesus said
there would be an end to "normal" life. I doubt that there will be
many marriages during that time, or an Olympics or normal seasons of sport
competitions.
Notice that their marching orders are to follow the Lamb. He will lead them into
some very dangerous places. Just think of this wording. They will follow the Lamb. That presupposes that
the Lamb is there going before them. For us too, this means that as we follow
the Lord every day, He is really going before us. When we are mistreated or
shunned for Him, they are really doing it to Him. We often feel bad for
ourselves, but we should really feel bad for the Lord because we know He's
great and doesn't deserve to be ignored or ridiculed. But again, we often feel
alone and sorry for ourselves, both of which are the wrong understanding of the
situation. We are following Him and experiencing how others are treating Him.
John 12:26 – If anyone
serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If
anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Luke 10:16 – The one
who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who
rejects me rejects him who sent me.
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 same message as good news.
V. 8 This, I think, is that nation of commerce and world
corruption being judged. Later it will say that it is the beast that destroys
Babylon, because apparently, this city’s/nation’s sinful influence was
independent of his. The object of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet
will be to have the worship of every person. They will allow no competition.
The destruction of Babylon will give hope to the people who
have to live on earth the final 3.5 years of the Tribulation. 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 chapter 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 refused to take the mark. Notice that taking
the mark is fatal.
V. 12 This is going to be hard for God's people to see those
who receive the mark boasting and being privileged during the Tribulation, but
their laughter will become wailing. This is the second time we've seen this
statement and this call to endurance. It means this will be extremely hard on
those believers living though the Tribulation. They will need to read this and
hold to it. If we have this written for us now, those who enter into the
Tribulation can read this and know beforehand that those who take the mark of
the beast will be in real trouble, even if that trouble doesn't come for a
couple of years. The life of faith is lived by patient trust in the Word of
God.
Matthew 24:9-14 - Then
they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be
hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and
betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and
lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many
will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
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 Though 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 Matthew 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. But again,
who knows. We are about to read about God turning all the waters of the world
into blood, as a sign against mankind for killing His followers.
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. See 2 Samuel
23:13ff.
Vs. 1-4 You can imagine that after
years of running and crying out, David wondered if it would ever end, if he
would ever be heard. Surely the people of Israel had forgotten him. Had the
Lord forgotten him?
Vs. 5-7 David had been anointed by God,
and although the road was long and hard, God was still protecting him. David
felt like he was in prison, but he never forgot that the Lord was his only
refuge and help.
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 or is intensely bitter of heart, 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
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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