The Minor Prophets: Zechariah The Coming King

Lesson 11 22 April 2012

Introduction to Zechariah
Zechariahs name means: God has remembered A member of the priestly line Son of Berechiah (blessing of God); Son of Iddo (timely) Time period of service: 520 BC ca. 515 BC? Key Event: Rebuilding the Temple Theme: The Coming King

722 BC 586 BC

537 BC

536 BC

520 BC

516 BC

400 BC

Fall of Samaria

Fall of Jerusalem

Cyrus Decree

Remnant Returns

Begin Rebuilding the Temple

The Temple is completed

The End of the Old Testament

Introduction to Zechariah
Apocalyptic Literature
Apocalypse: Revealing that which is hidden Apocalyptic Literature: 2nd Half of Daniel, Zechariah and the Book of the Revelation; there are other examples in the Apocrypha and extra-Biblical literature Characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature
An angelic being assists the author in interpreting the vision Focuses on the future with application to the immediate circumstances of the people of Israel A call for faithfulness to God under pressure to compromise Focuses on the divine nature of the Messiah Highly symbolic language making it more difficult to interpret Highlights the kingdom of God

Zechariah 1:1 - 6
1st Prophesy November 520 BC
Reinforces the call of Haggai to build the Temple vs. 2-4: A call to be faithful to God
A call to remember their history the failure of their forefathers A call to draw near to God

vs. 5: A reminder of the truth of the Word of the Lord

Gods Word is always true and will come to pass Our timing is not Gods timing Gods judgment of sin is real

vs. 6: The people respond

The people of repent of their sins (cf. Haggai and Ezra) The people get to work on the Temple

Zechariah 1: 7 6:15
Zechariahs Visions 23 February 519 BC
A total of nine visions during the night First vision The Lords Cavalry
The myrtle trees are symbolic of Israel

Second vision Four horns and four craftsmen four kingdoms: Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Rome Third vision the measuring line the people return Fourth vision the cleansing of the priesthood Fifth vision solid gold lampstands Spirit foretold Sixth vision the flying scroll the Word of God Seventh vision the basket with the woman wickedness Eighth vision The four chariots cf. Revelation Ninth vision crown for Joshua prophet, priest, king

Zechariah 7: 1 8:23
Zechariahs 2nd Prophesy - 2 December 516 BC
The Temple is complete and sacrifices have resumed The question of rituals arise Gods view of the rituals
Were they for themselves or for God

Gods order: obedience first, ritual second

Echos Micah 6:8 The penalty for failing to follow Gods commands

The Rebuilding to the Temple Praised The Promise of Blessing from Jerusalem All the nations blessed through the Jews
The promise of the Messiah

Zechariah 9: 1 11:17
Zechariahs 1st Oracle - Unknown time
The Foretelling of Alexander the Great and his conquests The Arrival of the True King
The triumphal entry The proclamation of peace

vs. 9:13 10:8 : The Macabbean Revolt

The Rise of Antiochus IV and the defilement of the Temple The Restoration of the Temple the festival of lights

The restoration of Israel is promised vs. 11:4 17: The Two Shepherds
The first Shepherd is rejected for 30 pieces of silver In response, God raises a false shepherd foreshadows the AntiChrist

Zechariah 12: 1 14:21

Zechariahs 2nd Oracle - Unknown time
In Martin Luthers Commentary on Zechariah stops at Chapter 14 and says he has no idea what this means The attack against Jerusalem
Most commentators state that this is the Fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 AD foreshadows the time of the Gentiles Remorse for rejecting the Messiah

The Fountain that cleanses from all sin The prophesy of the Garden The Day of the Lord is coming
The final battle of good and evil Armaggedon The 2nd coming of Christ The judgment against those who oppose the Lord The security of Jerusalem The holiness of God reigns supreme

References
The TANAKH. The Book of Haggai pp. 1083 1099 The NIV. The Book of Haggai The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order. The Prophecies of Zechariah pp. 1247 -1276 Bill T. and Beyer, Brian E. Encountering the Old Testament pp. 465 - 469 Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets vol. 2 pp. 485 - 567 Unger, Merrill F. Ungers Commentary on the Old Testament pp. 1957 - 2062