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The Good News

  T he only good news that we ought to know and remember is that Jesus Christ had already won the war against sin and death.  He has made it possible for us to join Him in the afterlife.  All we need now to do is accept Him as He is.  God is alive today and it may be sometimes be difficult to see this.  The world and its demonic nature has still made it look like that only worldly things matter and that the ultimate goal of each one is to achieve their own personal happiness.  This is the biggest lie of all, that we should do all to make us happy. Individual happiness at the expense of someone else is the biggest deception of all. The truth is, our lives are never really about us.  It is ultimately about God and about others.  It is about how you can provide and give joy even at our own expense. This is the model of ultimate and genuine love that Jesus shown us at the cross. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s frie...

The Book of Zecharia: Prophecies and VIsions

 The Book of Zechariah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, part of the Twelve Minor Prophets. It's attributed to the prophet Zechariah, who, along with Haggai, encouraged the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem after their return from exile in Babylon.

Historical Context:

Zechariah prophesied during a crucial period in Jewish history, around 520-518 BC. The first wave of exiles had returned to Judah from Babylon following Cyrus the Great's decree in 538 BC. While they had laid the foundation for the Second Temple, work had stalled due to opposition and a lack of motivation among the people. Zechariah's prophecies, along with Haggai's, were instrumental in rekindling their commitment to the rebuilding project. He also offered hope for the future restoration and glory of Jerusalem.

Key Themes and Structure:

The book can be broadly divided into two main sections:

  1. Chapters 1-8: Eight Night Visions and Messages of Encouragement

    • This section begins with a call to repentance and a reminder of God's past judgments (Zechariah 1:1-6).

    • The Eight Night Visions: These visions are highly symbolic and provide a panoramic view of God's plan for Jerusalem and the nations.

      • Vision 1: The Horsemen (1:7-17): God's watchful eye over the earth and His promise to comfort Jerusalem.

      • Vision 2: Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (1:18-21): The nations that scattered Judah will be judged.

      • Vision 3: The Measuring Line (2:1-13): Jerusalem will be rebuilt and God's presence will be within it, making walls unnecessary. "For I," declares the Lord, "will be a wall of fire around it, and I will be its glory within." (Zechariah 2:5)

      • Vision 4: Joshua the High Priest (3:1-10): Satan accuses Joshua, but God cleanses him and promises a Branch (the Messiah).

      • Vision 5: The Gold Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (4:1-14): Zerubbabel will complete the Temple, empowered by the Spirit. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)

      • Vision 6: The Flying Scroll (5:1-4): Judgment against thieves and false swearers.

      • Vision 7: The Woman in a Basket (5:5-11): Wickedness is removed from the land.

      • Vision 8: Four Chariots (6:1-8): God's Spirit goes forth to bring judgment and peace.

    • The Crowning of Joshua (6:9-15): This act symbolizes the coming Messiah, the Branch, who will build the true temple and rule as both king and priest.

    • Messages on Fasting (7:1-8:23): God clarifies that true worship involves justice, mercy, and compassion, not just ritual fasting. He promises future blessings and prosperity for Judah.

  2. Chapters 9-14: Oracles Concerning the Future and Messianic Prophecies

    • This section is often called "Zechariah's Apocalypse" due to its highly symbolic and eschatological nature, focusing on God's future dealings with Israel and the nations.

    • First Oracle (9-11):

      • Judgment on surrounding nations and the coming of a humble King to Jerusalem. "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

      • God will save His people and restore their fortunes.

      • The rejection of the good shepherd (prophecy of Jesus' betrayal for 30 pieces of silver). "Then I said to them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' So they paid me thirty pieces of silver." (Zechariah 11:12)



    • Second Oracle (12-14):

      • Jerusalem's deliverance and the future conversion of Judah. "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (Zechariah 12:10) This is a significant prophecy referring to Christ's crucifixion.

      • The cleansing of sin and idolatry from the land.

      • The day of the Lord, when all nations will gather against Jerusalem, but the Lord will fight for it.

      • The establishment of God's universal kingdom, with the Lord as King over all the earth. "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." (Zechariah 14:9)

Notable Quotes and Verses:

  • "Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 1:3)

  • "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)

  • "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

  • "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (Zechariah 12:10)

  • "On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter." (Zechariah 14:8)

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