Comfortable Words from God thru Zechariah (1:13)

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Zechariah is full of good and comforting words to the nation of Israel. Of course we can make equal application to our lives as Christians as the God of Israel is our God also. Thus you can see that I see Israel and the Church as two distinct and different bodies of believers. Not everyone holds to that I know. Feel free to offer your opinion, or correction, or debate.

The 70 year exile has ended. It has been about 18 years since the declaration from Darius giving the remnant opportunity to return to Jerusalem. The work on rebuilding the Temple had begun but then stalled.

The words given to the prophet Zechariah are to comfort and encourage Israel. This is in contrast to the prophet Haggai who came to the remnant who had returned and rebuked them for slowing down to a stop in rebuilding the Temple. (Haggai 1:2) At the time Haggai got the remnant going again in rebuilding the Temple, God raised up Zecharaiah. They were contempory with each other. (Ez. 5:1) Haggai is focused on the outward physical Temple to be built. Zechariah is focused more on the spiritual condition of the individual.

How interesting it is that God first says in (Zech. 1:3), "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts." He is speaking to the Remnant that had 'returned'. They returned to rebuild the Temple. But God says, don't just return to Jerusalem, return to Me. And he further individualizes it when He promises that He will turn to you.

It is not just a religion, it is God and me. The outward things are important but only as far as they contribute to my personal relationship with God, and Christ. And when my personal relationship, my spiritual relationship, with God is not good, then the outward things start to crumble. God is a Person, who feels just like we feel. He promises to all to return to Him and He will turn to you.

I believe these are good and comforting words.

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Rom 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

2 Cor 1;20 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

 

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Some three months later God gives to Zechariah a series of visions. These directly concern the nation of Israel, as to its present and future state. Remember, the 70 year judgement of Babylon is up, but Israel is still in the 70 weeks of years of being set aside by God. This time period is known as the times of the Gentiles.

The first vision can be called the Holy Riders of God. It is given in (Zech. 1:7-11) and explained in (12-17). Zechariah is shown these angelic riders of God among whom is the Angel of the LORD. (1:8,11) They are among myrtle trees upon red horses. (1:8) What is their purpose? "These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and from through the earth" (1:10)

Doesn't that verse sound familiar? Who else is walking to and fro throughout the earth? (Job 1:7) "And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
satan is going about seeking to destroy who and what he can. (1 Peter 5:8)

But here in the book of (Zechariah) we see God has His angels also roaming the earth, keeping watch on both satans activities and the people of God. Are not these good words from God. satan does not roam alone. God's angels are on his trail.

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[NayborBear]

Zechariah 1

10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.


2 Timothy 2

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2 Timothy 3
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

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Still concerning the first vision, the Holy riders of God have walked to and fro upon the earth and report that the earth is at rest. (Ez. 1:11) That is, all the nations except Israel. For Israel has been through 70 years of hell and is still under the 70 week judgement from God. Israel is not at rest as Israel is not in the position God created her for.

This condition of Israel weighs heavy upon the angel of the LORD. So much so that He asks the LORD, "...O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?" (Zech. 1:12)

Note here again, we are talking about Israel. Not the Church, not spiritutal Israel, but Israel. The same Israel that has endured the 70 year judgement.

God replies to the angel of the LORD saying He is very jealous for Israel. In other words He has not forgotten her. And He also says He is 'very displeased' with the nations that are at rest. (Zech 1:14-15) Contrast that to what He said of Israel in being a 'little displeased'. (1:15) So, look at the 70 year judgement Israel faced from God when he was 'a little displeased'. What should the Gentile nations expect from Him when He is 'very displeased'?

The Gentile nations helped further the affliction of God upon Israel when He brought her into judgement. But these nations did not do it because they were wanting to obey God. They did it because they hated Israel. And behind them was satan encouraging their hatred and destruction. And where God always shows mercy in the midst of judgement, the nations and man does not. See also (Is. 10:5-7)

None of this goes unnoticed by the LORD. Thus the LORD says He has returned to Jerusalem with mercies. (1:16) What Jerusalem is that? It is the literal Jerusalem that He departed from. It is not some 'spiritual Jerusalem'. It is the Jerusalem located in the geographical area of Israel. And He gives the promise that His house will be built in Jerusalem. (1:16) And He promises that He will comfort Zion, and will choose Jerusalem. The Zion that has not received mercy from the Gentiles. The Jerusalem that has been rejected by the Gentiles, He will choose. He will be faithful to His promises.

These are good and comforting words to the nation of Israel, to the city of Jerusalem, to the people whose God is the LORD. (1:13) Even in judgement, God does not abandon His people. Though He will turn away and gives His people to judgement, He watches over them at that time also.

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Following the first vision, Zechariah is given another. It is addressing the same subject matter in the first vision. See. (1:15) God was a little displeased with Israel, but with the nations used to judge Israel, He is very displeased.

In (1:18-21) is the vision of the 4 horns and 4 carpenters. And just like the other, the vision is given as well as the interpretation.

The 4 horns are the nations God has used against Israel. (1:19) These are they whom God is very displeased with. The 4 carpenters are following close behind each nation sent by God that have judged Israel. A carpenter for a nation, in succession. And they judge and destroy that nation that has judged Israel. (1:21)

Why would God do that? Because God still loves His people Israel. He is still jealous for Israel. These are good words of hope for the people of Israel. They will one day take them to heart.

Note here that in the interpretations given there is no need to spiritualize the text. No reason to make Israel the Church here. Israel is Israel here and the nations are the Gentile nations here.

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[LPT]

Matt 8
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

 

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Immediately following the second vision, Zechariah is given a third. It involves a man with a measuring line for Jerusalem. (Zech. 2:1-13). It is clear that this Jerusalem to be measured is the Jerusalem of the Millennial Kingdom as it is one without walls and many nations will be joined to the Lord. (2:4) "...Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls..." (2:11) "And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people:"

Of particular interest in this vision is the declaration that at this time God will be dwelling in the midst of Jerusalem, and thus dwelling in the midst of Israel. (Zech. 2:5) "For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." (2:10) "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion" for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD." (2:11) "...and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee."

It has always been the purpose of God to dwell in the midst of His people, Israel. (Ex. 25:8) "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." See also (Ex. 29:45-46) And this tabernacle would be located in the midst of all the tribes of Israel. (Num. 1:53), (Num. 2:2), and (Num. 2:17)

But then in (Ex. 32-34) Israel sinned with the golden calf. God was very displeased and told Moses to continue to lead this people to the promised land, but He would no longer be in their midst. (Ex. 33:1-3) "And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham...for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way."

The Israelites were grieved when they were told this. (Ex. 33:4-6) Now, due to God no longer being in the midst of Israel, the tabernacle was moved outside the camp. And everyone who sought the LORD would have to go outside the camp. (Ex. 33:7-11) These terms should sound familiar to most Christians.

This helps explain (Luke 17:21) where Christ said to the Pharisees, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo here! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The Kingdom of God was within Israel once again because the King, Jesus Christ, was in Israel. For a brief time God was once again in the midst of Israel. Yet Israel rejected her King and God. And Jesus is killed 'outside the camp'. And so God is now at this time to be found 'outside the camp' of Israel, no longer in Israel's midst. (Heb. 13:10-14)

But, as we have seen in this vision of (Zechariah) of the man with the line to measure Jerusalem, there will be a future day when God will once again return to Israel and be found in her midst and no longer located outside the camp.

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[Hevosmies]

Church is the people of God today, made up for both jews and gentiles. All the promises are in Christ. Those who are outside of Christ have NO promises, jew or gentile.

Great series of articles here

"The link with Ezekiel is confirmed from the parallel in Rev. 21:3, where Ezek. 37:27 is quoted more fully and is immediately followed in 21:4,6b by the same OT allusions found in 7:16-17. Yet again, the innumerable multitudes of redeemed in the church are viewed as the fulfillment of a prophecy concerning Israel’s latter-day restoration. The application of Ezek. 37:27 to the church is striking because Ezekiel emphasizes that when this prophecy takes place the immediate result will be that ‘the nations will recognize that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst’ (37:28). Therefore, Ezekiel 37 was a prophecy uniquely applicable to ethnic or theocratic Israel in contrast to the nations, yet now John understands it as fulfilled in the church"

"As if that were not enough, another prophetic promise tied to Israel’s restoration is appended to this list of blessings now applied to the church: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 7:17). There seems to be no escaping the fact that John sees the OT hope of Israel’s restoration and all its attendant blessings fulfilled in the salvation of the Christian multitudes who comprise the church, both believing Jews and Gentiles."

"In Acts 15:14-18, James interprets the prophecy of Amos 9 that describes the rebuilding of David’s tabernacle as finding its fulfillment in the calling out of Gentiles and the progressive formation of the Christian Church. "

"In Romans 9:25-26, Paul cites two passages in Hosea (2:23 and 1:10) that were addressed to the 10 apostate northern tribes of Israel before the Assyrian exile in 722-21 b.c. They describe both the rebellious condition of Israel ("not my people" / "not beloved") and her prophesied future restoration ("my people" / "beloved" / "sons of the living God")."

"In Revelation 2:17, John (quoting Jesus) promises to overcomers (i.e., the Church) a “new name” that “no one knows except the one who receives it.” This is a clear reference to the prophecy in Isa. 62:2 (“And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will designate”) and 65:15 (“but My servants will be called by another name”) about Israel’s future kingly status and restoration to Yahweh, both of which are now applied to individuals within the church."

Its just all over the place.

SALVATION BY GRACE, NOT SALVATION BY RACE! (PS: in the Bible the jews were mistaken to be egyptians both in the NT and OT (Moses and Paul for example)) [Acts 21:38]

 

[Hevosmies]

Matt 8
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Im not Jesus nor do I claim to be.
But when I was homeless I was reminded of this verse!

 

[Quantrill]

Church is the people of God today, made up for both jews and gentiles. All the promises are in Christ. Those who are outside of Christ have NO promises, jew or gentile.

Great series of articles here

"The link with Ezekiel is confirmed from the parallel in Rev. 21:3, where Ezek. 37:27 is quoted more fully and is immediately followed in 21:4,6b by the same OT allusions found in 7:16-17. Yet again, the innumerable multitudes of redeemed in the church are viewed as the fulfillment of a prophecy concerning Israel’s latter-day restoration. The application of Ezek. 37:27 to the church is striking because Ezekiel emphasizes that when this prophecy takes place the immediate result will be that ‘the nations will recognize that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst’ (37:28). Therefore, Ezekiel 37 was a prophecy uniquely applicable to ethnic or theocratic Israel in contrast to the nations, yet now John understands it as fulfilled in the church"

"As if that were not enough, another prophetic promise tied to Israel’s restoration is appended to this list of blessings now applied to the church: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 7:17). There seems to be no escaping the fact that John sees the OT hope of Israel’s restoration and all its attendant blessings fulfilled in the salvation of the Christian multitudes who comprise the church, both believing Jews and Gentiles."

"In Acts 15:14-18, James interprets the prophecy of Amos 9 that describes the rebuilding of David’s tabernacle as finding its fulfillment in the calling out of Gentiles and the progressive formation of the Christian Church. "

"In Romans 9:25-26, Paul cites two passages in Hosea (2:23 and 1:10) that were addressed to the 10 apostate northern tribes of Israel before the Assyrian exile in 722-21 b.c. They describe both the rebellious condition of Israel ("not my people" / "not beloved") and her prophesied future restoration ("my people" / "beloved" / "sons of the living God")."

"In Revelation 2:17, John (quoting Jesus) promises to overcomers (i.e., the Church) a “new name” that “no one knows except the one who receives it.” This is a clear reference to the prophecy in Isa. 62:2 (“And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will designate”) and 65:15 (“but My servants will be called by another name”) about Israel’s future kingly status and restoration to Yahweh, both of which are now applied to individuals within the church."

Its just all over the place.

SALVATION BY GRACE, NOT SALVATION BY RACE! (PS: in the Bible the jews were mistaken to be egyptians both in the NT and OT (Moses and Paul for example)) [Acts 21:38]

What is all over the place?

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[Hevosmies]

What is all over the place?

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Its just quotes from the article i linked.

 

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Its just quotes from the article i linked.

Yes, but what do you mean? You present an article and then say it is all over the place. What is all over the place? Do 'you' know what the article said?

If you know what the article said and agree with it, you should be able to prove what it is that you and the article are saying. So, what do you mean when you say it is all over the place?

It's easy to provide a link and depend on anothers labor in study without doing the labor yourself. The only problem is, when the questions come, it finds you empty handed.

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