Zechariah 5:5-11

 

Zechariah 5:5-11

The Great Rebellion

 

Zec 5:5  Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 

Zec 5:6  And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 

Zec 5:7  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 

Zec 5:8  And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 

Zec 5:9  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 

Zec 5:10  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 

Zec 5:11  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base. 

 

          1.     Zechariah Receives His 7^th Vision – vs. 5

a.     This vision that Zechariah is given is one of foreboding and of woe

          2.     Zechariah Sees an Ephah that has a Likeness Throughout the Earth – vs. 6

a.     An Ephah is a basket for the holding and transporting of grain. It would be a very common symbol of trade and commerce. Much like the Roman Amphora or the modern-day cardboard box.

b.     An Ephah is equal to 1.05 bushels or 9 gallons of grain

c.     The Ephah might seem like an innocent enough symbol, because it was so common. Unfortunately, in the time of Zechariah some were becoming greedy with the new economic opportunities and taking advantage of the poor.

                                               i.     Nehemiah 5:1-13 

d.     We also need to be cautious of a love of money

                                               i.     1 Timothy 6:10  

          3.     The Angel Interpreter Opens a Sealed Ephah and Zachariah Sees a Woman Sitting Inside of It –               vs. 7

a.     The Ephah was sealed with a lead lid. Symbolizing the toxic nature of its contents.

b.     When Zechariah looks inside the basket to see its contents, he may have though a woman inside seemed innocent enough, but this tiny woman is symbolic of great evil to come.

                                               i.     We receive more information about the woman in Revelation. Where we are told that she is the harlot who rides the powers of the earth to do the biding of Satan.

1.     Revelation 17:1-6 

               4.     The Angel Interpreter Warns Zechariah of What He is Looking at and Then Seals the Woman                       Up – vs. 8

a.     God restrains evil while the Church is present on the earth

                                               i.     2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 

b.     We do not need to fear Satan because we live in victory over him

                                               i.     1 John 4:4 

              5.     Zechariah Sees Two More Women with Stork Like Wings, Coming to Take Away the Ephah –                 vs. 9

a.     Storks in Bible times were seen as unclean

                                               i.     Deuteronomy 14:2-3 

                                             ii.     A few verses later in the list of unclean birds we find the stork

1.     Deuteronomy 14:18 

b.     Satan is caught in the space between heaven and earth, the prince of the power of the air

                                               i.     Ephesians 2:2 

6.     Zechariah Asks the Angel Interpreter, Where the Women Taking the Ephah – vs. 10

a.     Although the Holy Spirit still restrains evil in our day and age, it is not completely gone, and in the last days it will rise again for one final rebellion.

                                               i.     2 Timothy 3:1 

           7.     The Angel Interpreter Reveals the Epicenter of Kingdom of Darkness and the Beginning of the                  Final Rebellion – vs. 11

a.     We know from Revelation that someday there will be an establishment of Satan’s reign on earth and a counter claim to Zion the City of God, that will be Babylon.

                                               i.     Revelation 18:2-5 

b.     Yet we are also told that this rise of evil will be cut off and destroyed

                                               i.     Revelation 18:10-13 

c.     What are we to do in the meantime?

                                                              i.      2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 

Zechariah 5:1-4

 

Zechariah 5:1-4

Escape the Wrath that is to Come!

Zec 5:1  Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. 

Zec 5:2  And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 

Zec 5:3  Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 

Zec 5:4  I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. 

 

           1.     Zechariah Receives his 6^th Vision, that of a Flying Scroll – vs. 1

a.     The Scroll represents God’s reveal will, through written revelation

                                               i.     Old Testament scriptures were primarily written on scrolls of paper

1.     Ezekiel 2:9-10 

                                             ii.     God’s word never returns void

1.     Isaiah 55:11 

                                           iii.     God’s word is swift to reach her targeted audience

1.     Psalm 147:15 

                                            iv.     God’s word pierces the heart of man

1.     Hebrews 4:12 

           2.     Zechariah Describes the Dimensions of the Flying Scroll – vs. 2

a.     The dimensions tie together with the actual location in the temple, from where the scriptures were read.

                                               i.     1 Kings 6:2-3 

            3.     Zechariah Receives the Meaning of His Vision – vs. 3-4

a.     The meaning of the vision is a curse

                                               i.     God hates sin

1.     Psalm 5:4-6 

                                             ii.     God does not stand by and do nothing when evil is practiced

1.     Habakkuk 1:12-13 

b.     The whole earth is affected by the curse

                                               i.     The blessing and cursing were originally a deal between God and the people of Israel

1.     Deuteronomy 30:19-20 

                                             ii.     Yet Paul reminds us that all have the Law of God written in their heart and are therefore held accountable to it.

1.     Romans 2:14-16 

                                           iii.     All will ultimately be judged by God’s standard of righteousness

1.     Isaiah 24:5-6 

c.     Those that steal will be cursed

                                               i.     Theft is wrong

1.     Exodus 20:15 

                                             ii.     During Zechariah’s time the people of Israel were stealing from God by not giving the much-needed funds for the rebuilding of the temple.

1.     Malichi 3:8-10 

d.     Those that pledge falsely will be cursed

                                               i.     Many were probably caught up in the initial enthusiasm of the plans to rebuild the temple and had pledge funds to help. Yet instead of following through, as was expected, they held them back.

1.     Nehemiah 13:10-12 

                                             ii.     Be careful not to make promises that you do not intend to follow through with.

1.     Matthew 5:33-37 

e.     There is no escape from this curse

                                               i.     There is no escape from God’s wrath

1.     Job 21:7-9 

f.      The curse is all consuming

                                               i.     Any violation of God’ law brings complete condemnation

1.     James 2:10 

                                             ii.     Sin is a transgression of God’s Holy Law

1.     1 John 3:4 

                                           iii.     What is the punishment for sin?

1.     Romans 6:23a 

                                            iv.     What are we to do when it is clear that we are all violators of God’s Holy Law?

1.     Acts 2:37-41 

Tucker And The Pope Tell Us To Stop Fearing Islam

 I know this is a highly charged topic but we all need to take a hard look at the facts. Please remember to pray for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who continue to suffer so much.

The Seminaries are Cooked! And the Church Will be Too if We Don't Solve this Problem!

 This video from Matthew Everhard is fantastic. I would heartly agree. How long will the church tolerate the abuse of liberalism and so many other problems being pushed in modern seminaries.

Zechariah 4:11-14

 

Zechariah 4:11-14

What is the Meaning or the Olive Trees with the Menorah?

 

Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 

Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 

Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 

Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 

 

         1.     Zechariah Asks What the Olive Trees Are – vs. 11

a.     Zechariah wants to know what the olive trees on the side of the Menorah are in the vision he experienced.

                                               i.     Zechariah 4:1-3 

b.     The Menorah or the Candlestick is Jesus, who is the light of the world

                                               i.     John 8:12 

        2.     Zechariah Asks Again What the Olive Trees Are – vs. 12

a.     The most important questions need to be asked multiple times

                                               i.     Genesis 32:24-30 

b.     Do not give up easily, rather pursue the things of God with your whole heart

                                               i.     Matthew 7:7-8 

        3.     The Angel Interpreter Asks Zechariah if He Knows What the Olive Trees Are – vs. 13

a.     Sometimes the answers to the hardest questions are the most obvious

                                               i.     Hebrews 5:11-12 

        4.     The Angel Interpreter Tells Who the Olive Trees Represent

a.     This answer is both complex and simple. It is hard, yet so obvious: The olive trees are those that stand with Jesus

                                               i.     The Angel of the Lord is Jesus

                                             ii.     The Candlestick or the Menorah is Jesus

                                           iii.     The Olive Trees are representative of:

1.     Joshua and Zerubbabel in the short-term fulfilment

a.     Ezra 5:1-2 

2.     The Priestly Order and the Kingly Order throughout History

a.     The Priestly Order was to establish worship

                                                                                                     i.     Leviticus 8:12-14 

b.     The Kingly Order was to establish law and justice

                                                                                                     i.     Deuteronomy 17:18-19 

3.     Moses and Elijah who appear during the coming of the Messiah, both His first and last advent

a.     Moses and Elijah were at the mount of Transfiguration

                                                                                                     i.     Matthew 17:1-3 

b.     While they are not named, it is possible that the two witnesses in Revelation are also Moses and Elijah, come to herald the Second Coming of Christ

                                                                                                     i.     Revelation 11:3-4 

4.     Israel and the Church who are the people of God throughout history

a.     Israel, even though they are unrepentant at this time, are still the people of God

                                                                                                     i.     Romans 11:26-32 

b.     The Church, primarily made up of Gentile believers, is also the people of God

                                                                                                     i.     Romans 11:17-24 

c.     Election is of God alone, and it is God that preserves us. None of the representations of the Olive trees mentioned before sought God. It was God who sought them and called them and used them so mightily.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Romans 11:33-36

Has the Bible Been Corrupted? Textus Receptus vs Modern Manuscripts Debate

 This is a very interesting debate. While there is much said on both sides of the debate that I do not agree with, I think there is some interesting logical fallacies that keep cropping up in this debate. Furthermore I do agree that we need to stop depending on German theologians to set the terms of the debate. The Church as a people, led by the Holy Spirit are the final authority. Stop using the argument from authority to prove a point. "I am smarter than you therefore I know"