What do Zechariah’s visions and the Book of Revelation’s prophecies have in common?
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ
- The lamp stand/the Lord’s church and the two olive trees/the two witnesses
- Judgment against the nations
- Judgment against the wicked of the world
- Wickedness and Satan are imprisoned in Shinar/Babylonia/Hades (all same thing)
- The saints receive their garments of fine linen
- The peace, quiet and joy of the Millennium
- The Lord will dwell in Zion/Jerusalem for eternity
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The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
This section concentrates on Zechariah’s ten visions. They have been reorganized into a more chronological order, with a brief explanation of each (the full text is written further down):
Vision One:
- Zechariah 3:8-10 – ‘The Branch’/‘The Eyes of the Lord’ – the Lord Jesus Christ
Vision Two: - Zechariah 6:9-15 – ‘A Crown for Joshua’ – the Lord Jesus Christ – “a priest upon His throne”
Vision Three: - Zechariah 4:1-14 – ‘The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees’ – the lampstand symbolizes the church, the Lord Jesus Christ’s church;
the two olive trees are the Lord’s two witnesses;
Vision Four: - Zechariah 1:18-21 – ‘Four Horns and Four Craftsmen’ – judgment against the four powers which conquered and scattered Israel: Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome
Vision Five: - Zechariah 5:1-4 – ‘The Flying Scroll’ – Judgment against the whole world:
- two curses:
- every thief – one who tries to enter heaven by any way other than through the Lord Jesus Christ – John 10:7 – “I am the door” – John 10:1 – “ ‘ “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.’ ”;
A theft is also one who doesn’t tithe – Malachi 3:8-10 – “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…”. - everyone who swears falsely (everyone who denies that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, Son of God), will be banished – 1 John 2:22-23 – “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
Vision Six: - Zechariah 5:5-11 – ‘The Woman in a Basket’ – Wickedness – like the Whore of Babylon of Revelation 17 – sent to Hades/Sheol/Babylonia/Shinar;
Revelation 18:2 – “Babylon becomes a prison for every evil spirit”;
Vision Seven: - Zechariah 3:1-7 – ‘Clean Garments for the High Priest’ – filthy clothes (a metaphor for sin and inquities) exchanged for clean garments meaning: salvation is through Jesus Christ – “I have taken away your sin” – Zechariah 3:4.
We will all be priests. 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…”; Revelation 1:6 – “and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father”; Revelation 5:10 – “ “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” ”;
Zechariah 3:6-7 – “And the angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.”
Jesus – the Branch – is the sinless high priest; the only priest who can forgive you of your sins;
Satan can’t hinder the blessings from the Branch – the Lord is always the One in control;
The name Joshua has a double meaning – one: a typology for Jesus Christ, two: was Israel’s high priest after the return to Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity.
Vision Eight: - Zechariah 6:1-8 – ‘Four Chariots’ – the eighth and ninth visions are both parts of the same prophecy of peace and rest which will exist during the Millennium (following the Tribulation) – here the horses and riders are being sent out to patrol the whole world
Vision Nine: - Zechariah 1:7-17 – horsemen – peace, prosperity – the four horses and riders return, after being sent out throughout the earth; this is during the Millennium
Vision Ten: - Zechariah 2:1-13 – ‘A Man with a Measuring Line’ – future promise of Zion – God has not, nor ever will forget Israel. In fact it states in Zechariah 2:5-10 – “I will be its glory within…I will live among you…”
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This section draws the parallels between Zechariah’s visions and the Book of Revelation’s prophecies:
Visions One and Two:
- the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ – The Branch – The Eyes of the Lord – the High Priest – like Revelation 12:1-5
Vision Three: - the lampstand (Christ’s church); Revelation 1:13 reads about Jesus walking among the lampstands, symbols of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3
- the two olive trees are the two witnesses – Zechariah 4:12-14 – “ “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes…These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.” ”; Revelation 11:3-4 – “I will grant authority to my two witnesses…4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”
Vision Four: - judgment against Israel’s enemies:
Assyria: Isaiah 14:24-25 – “…just as I have planned so it will stand, to break Assyria in My land…”;
Babylon: Jeremiah 50:45 – “Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Babylon, and His purposes which He has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans…”;
Greece: Zechariah 9:13 – “And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece…”;
Rome: Revelation 17:17 – “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose…”;
Vision Five: - the flying scroll/two curses: thieves, liars: judgment – the wrath of God – against the wicked of the whole earth occur with the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments in the Book of Revelation, ultimately ending with all the unrepentant being cast into the Lake of Fire, for eternity
Vision Six: - The woman in the basket is very similar to the Whore of Babylon of Revelation 17;
In Zechariah, ‘Wickedness’ will be imprisoned in Shinar/Babylonia/Hades;
In Revelation 18:2 – “And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.” ”;
Vision Seven: - the saints receive their garments of fine linen – like the wedding celebration in Revelation 19:8 – “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
IF they maintain their faith, IF they keep the Word of God, and IF they overcome – Revelation 6:9 – “the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained”; Revelation 12:11 – “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”;
Zechariah 3:6 – “If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service”
Visions Eight and Nine: - the four chariots and the horsemen – peace – in the Millennium – Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”;
Isaiah 14:7 – “The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy.”
Isaiah 55:12 – “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”;
Ezekiel 37:26-27 “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
The colours of the four horses are identical to the horses in the ‘Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ – Revelation 6:1-8: red, white, black, dappled/ashen (depending on the Bible version)
Vision Ten: - measuring line – Zion – Jerusalem – a promising future – inhabited and prosperous forever;
Psalm 132:13-15 – “For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. 14 This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.”;
Revelation 21:2 – “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
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Chapters 1 – 6 in a more chronological order (this is the full text – NASB, Literal Word)
A Call to Repentance/A Call to Return to the Lord
1:1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, 2 “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD. 5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”
The Branch/The Eyes of the Lord
3:8 Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you–indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. 9 For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 ‘In that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’”
The Symbolic Crowns/A Crown for Joshua
6:9 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, 10 “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.
6:11 Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”’ 14 Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the LORD to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the LORD.” Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the LORD your God.
The Golden Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
4:1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” 4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
4:8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel–these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
4:11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lamp stand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
1:18 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns. 19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”
The Flying Scroll
5:1 Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears will be purged away according to the writing on the other side. 4 I will make it go forth,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones.”
The Woman in a Basket
5:5 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” 6 I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land 7 (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” 8 Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening. 9 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens. 10 I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?” 11 Then he said to me, “To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”
Joshua, the High Priest/Clean Garments for the High Priest
3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
3:6 And the angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.
The Four Chariots
6:1 Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. 2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses. 4 Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, 6 with one of which the black horses are going forth to the north country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country. 7 When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth.” And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”
The Man Among the Myrtle Trees/Patrol of the Earth
1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows: 8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” 11 So they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet.”
1:12 Then the angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?” 13 The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words. 14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.” 16 Therefore thus says the LORD, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.” ’ 17 Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”
God’s Favor to Zion/A Man With a Measuring Line
2:1 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
2:6 “Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD. 7 “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. 10 Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
2:13 “Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”
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