The Prophet Zechariah

The Prophet Zechariah – The Lord Remembers

Zechariah 1:1-21, Zechariah 2:1-12 The Lord was very angry with the forefathers of the Israelites for their sins and apostasy. They experienced the fulfilment of His threats and decrees against them and were punished as their deeds deserved¹. But now, if you turn to Him, He will turn again to you. Do not be like your ancestors who failed to heed the prophets.

The Lord says: I am very concerned for Jerusalem and the holy Land and now I am exceedingly angry with those nations who have harmed My people and encroached upon their heritage². They have caused distress and harm far beyond what I had planned for them. For they are My chosen flock and it is My holy Land.

The Lord has sent me on a glorious mission to those peoples who have injured His people and plundered His Land.  The Lord will shake His Right hand over His enemies³ and they, in turn will be injured and plundered.

Be silent before the Lord; all of humanity, for He comes out now from His dwelling place in heaven, to judge the nations⁴ and punish all His enemies. Four destroyers will come against the four empires that scattered Israel and Judah⁵ and those peoples who destroyed Jerusalem will in turn be destroyed.

Therefore I will come back to Zion with mercy and compassion. My House will be built again in Jerusalem⁶ and the Land will brim with prosperity⁷, for I will bless My righteous people and give them peace. Very soon Jerusalem will become so populated⁸, it will be too big for walls to surround it, but the Lord will be like a fire of protection around it and His glory will come back to the new Temple⁹. Many nations will be joined with the Lord and will become His people.

Rejoice now, My people, for I am coming to rescue you and My spirit will rest upon you¹⁰. Judah will be My special portion and I will make Jerusalem My choice.

Ref: REB, CJB, NIV. Some verses abridged and paraphrased.

1/ Both Israel and Judah were conquered and taken into exile as decreed: Eze. 4:4-6, Leviticus 26:18-28, Isaiah 9:11-13, Jeremiah 32:21-23

2/ All the unrighteous now living in all of the holy Land: Jer. 12-14, Isaiah 63:18

3/ God’s Right hand – the Lord Jesus: Psalm 2:7-9, Isaiah 41:10, Luke 3:22

4/ The judgement/punishment of the nations: Hab. 3:12, Psalms 59:5, Rev. 6:12-17

5/ The four Empires: Assyria, Babylon, Rome and now Islam. Isa. 54:16 The Lord used other nations to destroy the first three, the fourth- He will destroy. Ezekiel 30:1-5, Psalm  83, Isaiah 13:9-13, Zephaniah 3:8, Deuteronomy 32:22 & 34-35

6/ The third Temple, built by the New Israelites: Ezekiel 40 – 44, Zech. 6:15

7/ All the holy Land from the Nile to the Euphrates will be regenerated and become fertile and productive. Eze. 36:8, Isaiah 35:1-2

8/ By the millions who love the Lord and keep His Laws: Isa. 49:19-20, Eze. 37:26

9/ The Shekinah Glory will again reside in the Holy of Holies: Eze. 43:2, 2 Thess. 1:10

10/ The Lord will pour out His spirit upon His people: Eze 39:29, Isa. 59:21, Eze. 36:26

Hosea 14:9 Israel will again dwell in My shadow, they will grow and flourish like a vine. ‘in My shadow’,  in the same way as He did for ancient Israel. This will happen before the glorious Return of Jesus for His Millennium reign.

Isaiah 25:9 On that Day, the people will say: See this is our God, we waited for Him and He will deliver us. This is the Lord in whom we trusted, let us rejoice and exult in His deliverance.