THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH
God’s Judgment Makes Way for
the Messiah
3/20/11 SCC Zechariah 6
INTRODUCTION:
You might do this with a
recipe. Or you might do it with your education. You could do it with a resume’
or exercise or even planting a garden. In each case you are preparing the way
for an outcome. That might be dinner, or a career. It could be a job, health,
or the bounty of your garden. It includes gathering ingredients and passing
exams. It involves experience, dieting, and sweat. It means tilling soil,
getting dirty, and pulling weeds. All with the outcome in mind! Zechariahs last vision of chariots and crowns reveals God’s
exertions toward an ultimate outcome for His people and nation. The first part
of the vision shows God clearing the way and the second part toward the
ultimate outcome he has planned for His nation, and the universe. In essence,
we can understand God’s worldview.
GOD’S
JUDGMENT PRECIPITATES HIS UNIVERSAL DOMINION 1-8
1.
Here we have four chariots that come from between the two mountains of bronze v
1. “Coming forth” and “going forth” are mentioned eight times in this part of
the vision related to these chariots (1, 5, 6, 7, and 8). This suggests that
whatever these chariots and riders are up to it is expressed by a flurry of
activity reaching a climax in vs 8. There we learn
that the intense movements in this vision of God’s chariot servants is
occasioned by God’s work of renewal and redemption of His people which ends in
a peaceful conclusion as His sovereign control is established in Zechariah’s
day.
2. The
four chariots come forth from between two bronze mountains. Within Zechariah
are two other references to Mountains. In 4:7 is a mountain used as a metaphor
for difficulty related to building the temple that would be leveled to a plain
so the building could be completed. Another mountain is spoken of in Zechariah
14:4 referring specifically to the Mt of Olives with God standing on it and it
splitting in two with a valley in between creating two large mountains through
which God’s people escape a besieged Jerusalem during the Tribulation. Later it
serves as a conduit for waters to flow down to the Dead Sea when Christ reigns.
These three images convey a common symbolism—God sends forth His powerful
servants to reclaim the earth for His sovereign rule against difficulties and
opposition bringing peace to Jerusalem and the entire earth.
3. Four
chariots mark Gods dominion countering all resistance. (1) These
chariots are pulled by various kinds of colored horses. These are unique colors
not matching other prophetic colors in other places—similar to the horse vision
of Rev 6:1-8. (2) Black horses and white ones go north and the spotted
ones south v 6—all of these called ‘strong ones’ in v 7. The geography of
Israel necessitates travel north and south and not east and west because of
mountain ranges. They are on a mission on God’s behalf v 5 that will end in
God’s wrath resting v 8. (3) That mission is to appease God’s wrath in
the north v 8. In Zechariah’s day this resting of God’s wrath is
Babylon’s destruction by Persia. God is in charge of the conspiracies and
stratagems of nations all throughout history and even today. These chariots
could symbolize the Persians whom God used even though they could not realize
it to bring peace to the region and salvation to His people. This subjugation
of Babylon has been achieved by Persia. Persia and Cyrus the King are spoken of
as God’s willing servants (Isa 44:28; 45:1-2; 2 Chron
36:22-23; Ezra 6:6-12, 22; 7:6, 11-26; 9:9; Neh 2:8;
11:23) consistently attesting to the favor of the Persian Kings toward the go
Jews. In the future, being apocalyptic literature, this will be a final
judgment at Jesus Second Coming that brings the peace of Jerusalem and
universal peace to the world while Christ reigns.
Lesson: The
reason for judgment is always to appease the wrath of God. For instance, Jesus
is the propitiation of our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole
world. Jesus appeased God’s wrath against sin when He died on the cross. The
Great White Throne judgment will appease God’s wrath toward unbelievers in
eternal torment. The character of God is justice so there needs to be a judgment
to offset that wrath. Sin is never overlooked. We should be eager for God’s
wrath to run its course in light of the outcome it will bring. This is what is
going to happen in the Tribulation period—it is going to be punishment because
God’s justice has to. The scales will be balanced. This will be that one final
and universal dominion by God over His creation!
JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHES GOD’S FINAL AND UNIVERSAL DOMINION 9-15
1.
There is a crown made for Joshua the High Priest v 11. The crown is fashioned
with offerings of silver and gold from visitors who came from Babylon v 9-10.
Following the peace established in the first part of the vision is now the
possibility of a person being placed as a ruler in the quieted realm. In
addition, the building of the Temple demands cessation from turmoil,
opposition, and hostility for its successful conclusion. Here is a priest being
crowned with a royal diadem. This is unusual because priests, though crowned,
were not crowned as king. There was a separation between the Levitical priesthood and the kings. The priests were from
the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron. The kings were from the tribe of Judah
and the family of David. There is more going on here and being communicated
here through this vision. So the crowing of the priest has regal implications
for him but also for the remnant and the future of Israel.
2.
Zechariah’s next word is directly to Joshua in v 12. ‘Say to him’ ‘a man whose
name is Branch will build the Temple of the Lord’. V 13 repeats this ‘Yes it is
He who will build the temple of the Lord…’ We had reference to this Branch
already in Zech 3:8 identified as the servant of the Lord—in line of David,
Jesus Christ. But we also know that Zerubbabel is
presently handed the responsibility to rebuild the Temple. He has been named
the Temple builder 4:7-10. As a direct offspring of the line of David he is
well qualified to sit on the royal throne of Judah v 13. It also says he will
sprout out from where he is v 12. Zerubbabel will not
be this branch but he symbolizes this branch that will rule. It will not happen
in his day but when the Branch predicted to come His
realm will encompass a throne and priesthood.
2. So
in this vision we have two rulers, one a priest, and one a king. They will
converge in one—Jesus Christ who will bring both of these offices together v
13. That will happen in the future. Jesus is a priest from the order of
Melchizedek not Aaron (Gen 14; Heb 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:1-17) that is called a
better priesthood. The Levitical priesthood was in
submission to the Melchizedek priesthood because Abraham paid tithes to
Melchizedek and Levi was the great-grandson of Abraham. The Messiah is also a
king form the family of David.
3. The
crowning of Zerubbabel and Joshua will serve as a
magnet attracting the far-flung exiles back to Jerusalem to participate in the
Temple re-construction and kingdom restoration for the people v 14. Subsequent
returnees under Ezra and Nehemiah came encouraged with a renewed hope v 15. The
entire community would have to confess the fact that Zechariah’s declarations
made him a true prophet of God. But the fulfillment was not automatic. It would
require responsible obedience to ensure its outcome v 15. Joshua and Zerubbabel are signs whose messianic significance is unmistakable.
They both point toward something far more remarkable and transcendent than even
they could have envisioned. Their historical importance heralds the coming of
Christ who will set all things straight renewing, redeeming, and
re-establishing his people when he reigns.
Lesson: God
Himself will bring about the future of the earth and His kingdom so that He and
His Messiah will get the glory for all things. Beginning with David there was
anticipation of a merging of the royal and priestly rule in one individual, a
descendent of David’s house. He will be a universal ruler of all the nations (Psa 2:2-8). He would also be a priest from the line of
Melchizedek (Ps 110:2-4). This one is identified as Jesus Christ making both
Joshua and Zerubabbel messianic forerunners
prototypes of that One to come.
A. 1. So
what one thinks and believes about Jesus Christ determines their destiny
forever. One cannot be cavalier about this. It is not just terribly
important—it is supremely significant.
B. 2. All
events today precipitate the prophecy of Zechariah 6. God is converging all
regional, national, and global events toward this end—God’s final and universal
dominion rule in Jesus Christ. That includes all political, economic, military,
and social happenings.
C. 3. As God
orchestrates His plan, you can decide to participate with God in it. You can
begin by acknowledging Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Then you can
follow Christ and participate in that Kingdom living today as His faithful
disciple.