#1184 Zechariah 8 Cloak Grabbers

 

And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8 ESV

Zechariah 8

…13Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones. 14But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; the Lord has forgotten me!” 15“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!… Isaiah 49: 13-15

When people say to me, “Well, I don’t know if there ever will really be a kingdom for Israel.” Zechariah chapter 8 is a great place to take them, because the Lord ten times says “Thus says the Lord of hosts.” I’m able to do it. There is no reason to stagger at the promises of God. Now notice that the phrase is used ten times. And I kind of like that. I don’t want to make a big issue out of this, but if you notice the Bible, you’ll notice that generally the number ten is a number of completeness. That’s true in the sense of the most obvious. Human beings have ten fingers and ten toes. And so consequently, since the year one, have always counted in increments of ten and so ten has always been representative of wholeness or fullness. So what you have here is God presenting the fullness of His program in the millennium for Israel. It’s the complete picture. - J Mac

I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy - Israel is His chosen people, His wife as the picture of Hosea calls it, and God is unwilling to let her go. He was angry and sent her away, into captivity, for her sin, but He still loves His people, and we are taught in Scripture that not all are Israel who are outwardly, but He has reserved a remnant that He makes His own inwardly, with a new heart. 

…13So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me. 14Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’… Zechariah 1: 13-15

Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city - This is quite a promise, and this is not what she was then, nor in Christ's time or now, so this looks forward to a future fulfillment. Look what He says before this, "I have returned to Zion", remember in Ezekiel that His Shekinah glory, the presence of the Lord, had departed, but He's coming back and in a big way. She has been called unclean in the past, compared to Sodom and Gomorrah, compared with an unfaithful prostitute wife, but in that day, God will cleanse her.

…26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.… Ezekiel 36: 26-28

Because of great age - He is going to restore health, and in a way that it will be a rare thing for someone not to make it to a rich old age. 

…19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. 20No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.… Isaiah 65: 19-21

Playing in the streets - This is a time of peace, a place of safety.

…7The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. 9They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.… Isaiah 1: 7-9

If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant - Faith is not at the neglect of awe, but it focuses it's anticipation upon the real Speaker. 

A fourth – back to Zechariah. A fourth promise in the kingdom, divine punishment, divine presence, divine peace, and divine power. Verse 6, here comes another. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, if it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days,” – is the proper Hebrew. In those days, looking at the future kingdom. And that’s not just a theological interpolation. That is the literal Hebrew, those days – “shall it also be marvelous in my eyes says the Lord of hosts?” Now this is a terrific verse. This is just –you can see where God – where somebody can kind of get God’s goat in a way. That’s a funny phrase to use, but God gets upset at one particular thing. And that is when people don’t believe that he can really do something, see? Now, He really gets upset about that. And the word marvelous in the Hebrew really means difficult or impossible.

And so, He says if it is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of the people in those days does that mean it’s impossible in my eyes? I mean just because they think it’s too tough, is it too tough? The point is what is incredible and what is unbelievable to the remnant in the last days isn’t necessarily tough on me. In fact, if you read Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 22:17 and 23, you will see the very same word that is used here in the verb form and what the verb says is, is anything too what? Hard for me? And what’s the answer? No. What a truth. Have you learned that lesson? Divine power. - J Mac

In faithfulness and righteousness - He brings them back to the land, from the East and the West, all the places they were dispersed to and settled in. Gomer is now the faithful wife, and righteousness has been wrought in her. God will save them from their enemies, and often they have been stirred up and out of such places, as in the days of Hitler, and many have returned to the land. One day there will be a remnant there, a righteous one, that no longer trusts in the gods of materialism, of war and technology, of fortresses, but they delight in the true God. He will be their hope, their song.

As I purposed to bring disaster to you - Just as God said He would punish their sins and followed through, so that punishment should be a reminder of His faithfulness to His word. Don't sulk and say, "but we are your chosen people, how could this disaster come upon us?" No, but say, "You Lord, are a God of Your Word, You have kept your promises." 

24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4: 24-31

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”… Romans 11: 25-27

These are the things that you shall do - You won't just return to the land, look at verse 30 of Deuteronomy 4 above, "in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him." How will they do that? They have never been able to do that. Look at Romans 11 above, verses 26 and 27, "He will remove godlessness from Jacob...this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins." What does that look like, what is their motivation to do God's will to walk in His ways? Look a few paragraphs above at Ezekiel 36, verses 26 and 27, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." There will be an outpouring of God's Spirit in the later days, the remnant will be born again, with a new heart, new desires, and then they will, look at verse 28, He says, "then", right, conditional, but He provides for the conditions, He puts His Spirit within them and that causes them to walk in His statutes, salvation is of the Lord. "Then you will live in the land I gave your forefathers", which is a much bigger piece of property than Israel possesses now. It will extend to the Euphrates River, but Israel now, today, does not have a new heart, as a nation they are very secular, this is a future promise for the Millennial reign of Messiah. 

Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you - Now Israel is the light she is supposed to be, a special people, set apart for the glory and honor of God. She will be His witnesses and ambassadors, in that God has shown now through His punishment of her, that He is righteous and Holy above all things, and in His mercy, that He is gracious and also sacrificial in His love, giving His only begotten Son. He is faithful, and has not made a unilateral covenant to no avail, but has met the requirements also of the Law through the sacrifice that He provided. They have carried the oracles, lived the story, it is God's redemptive plan, and it is marvelous.

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#1183 Zechariah 7 Virtual Reality

 

In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. 2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord, 3 saying to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: 5 “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”

8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, 14 “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.” Zechariah 7 ESV

Zechariah 7 A Call For Justice and Mercy

I always think about the story of the actor who went to the sort of a drawing room function. And there was a lady there – a fancy place – you know, 37:40 __ ladies had their glasses on a stick, you know, one of those old fancy deals.

So this one lady who was the hostess came to him and said, “Sir, we would like for you to recite for us.” So the actor was in his glory, wanted to recite. And wanting to get the benefit of all that he could from his audience and having a rather unlimited repertoire, he said to his audience, “What would you like me to recite?” And there was an old preacher there, probably crashed the party, and he said, “I’d like to hear the twenty-third Psalm.” And the actor said, “All right, I'll – I'll – I don’t prefer to do that, but I’ll do it on one condition,” hoping that the gentleman would back down on his request, he said, “I’ll do it if you’ll do it after me.”

The old pastor, figuring twice is better than once, said, “Fine.” So the actor began, and his intonation was flawless and his diction was beautiful. Masterfully, he went through with great intensity the twenty-third Psalm. When he was done, there was applause. And the old preacher got up there and he had kind of a ministerial twang and his diction wasn’t that hot, his interpretation wasn’t so great. He got all done and there wasn’t a sound. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. And the actor was overcome with the silence, stood up and he said, “I think I know the difference. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.” That’s the difference. There are lots of people who know the Psalm. Sadly, there are not so many who know the Shepherd. - From J Mac sermon Ritual vs. Reality

In the fourth year of King Darius - Darius was a Persian king, who honored the edict of a past king, Cyrus. Archeologist have found the Cyrus cylinder and other forms of writing from the period that show how they catalogued these things, kept their history and passed down their laws. There were no zip drives so some of the ancient libraries were quite vast.

Darius from Daniel 6

More on Darius from Ezra

Chislev - This would be during the Gregorian calendar months of November and December, not the whole of those months, for it is a period of 30 days.

Now the people of Bethel had sent - Bethel means "House of God", where Abraham built an altar, and where Jacob, Abraham's grandson, later sees the staircase going to heaven and angels ascending and descending, "Jacob's ladder". So this was a sacred site for those early patriarchs, but it was far from living up to it's namesake. It became a place of much apostasy, steeped in the sins of Jeroboam. For such sins, the northern kingdom was taken away by Assyria. Babylon later took Assyria, and then Medo-Persia took Babylon, which is at the time of this discussion.

Sharezer and Regem-melech - These are Jews who were probably born in Babylon, hence the names, and they are coming the 12 miles from Bethel to Jerusalem to represent their little town.

To entreat the favor of the Lord - Jerusalem was where God's true temple had been and will again be, so they are going to ask of the true priests and true prophets, which is remarkable considering the break off before the captivity. The northern kingdom started shortly after Solomon's reign, and they forsook the true temple and true worship, making calves for themselves, just like many today preach a different gospel, another Christ. 

…7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!… Galatians 1: 7-9

…15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” 16This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’… Jeremiah 23: 15-17

And so, they came down because they had this question on their minds. They came down to pray before the Lord. Now that is a vivid Hebrew word, lehalloth. It literally means so stroke the face of, or to caress, and it was used to speak of a person who came down and wanted to get the right answer from somebody. And in order to gain the proper answer and in order to give them the proper respect and in order to make sure they accepted everything peacefully, you would sort of stroke their face and rub out the wrinkles of consternation. - J Mac

Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month - This was not a fast instituted by the law, like the fast that is brought up in Leviticus 23:37, but a fast they added to the law, in remembrance of the destruction of Jerusalem. 

As I have done for so many years - The Babylonian captivity was 70 years, during which time this became tradition. 

Was it for Me that you fasted - When the Bible says, "blessed are they that mourn", it's not about anything in general, it's a reference to true repentance, mourning over our sin towards a Holy God. Men can even mourn for lack of sinful indulgence, I have been there, crying over losing some meth, or angry because a girl I wanted for a booty call was no longer returning my calls. I was mourning over sin, but in the wrong direction, I wanted more of it, my heart was full of it. I have mourned over the troubles brought on by my sin, the pain of overdosing, the hurt of broken relationships, but not the offense towards God, that wasn't as big a deal to me. I have even gone so far as to be mad at God, thinking Him unfair, when my excursions into indulgence and excess have backfired and landed me in the hospital. As far as fasting, I have done that, and preferred it like the ascetics, hoping to make God move, walking out into the woods and not eating or drinking, spending days in a pity party for myself because I broke up with a girl and I didn't want her to be able to reach me, or I wanted to grasp at, attain some sort of righteousness apart from obedience to the Lord. Here's a good one, how many times have you actually mourned over your resistance to the words of God, like "love your enemy, do good to those that hate you, pray for those who despitefully use you, do not return evil for evil." Oh God, I would rather climb some mountain, find the Golden Fleece or wrestle with a bear than obey some of Your commands. I am sorry, please conform me to the image of Your Son, Who took many insults on my behalf, was beaten and mocked for my sins, and it was most certainly by His stripes, not mine, that I was healed. 

…21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”… 1 Samuel 15: 21-23

Now, this is a sad thing, in a sense, because the very fact that they asked the question – and here comes the major point – indicates that the whole purpose for which the fast was instituted had already passed by. And all it was was a ritual. It was simply a routine. There wasn’t anything there at all and they were just cranking out the motions and it was a rather boring thing to do. They had turned something that I’m sure they had good intention for into an institution, into a mechanical ritual, a time of, if you will, annual humiliation. And so, the fact that they were asking out of it is indicative that it had lost its meaning. - J Mac

And when you eat and when you drink - This is something for all of us to think about in the church, and I was asked often why my children hadn't been baptized yet, and why they didn't take communion. They do now, but it's a simple answer, I don't want to, nor do I think it right, to teach children to perform what without understanding and desire for God, is merely a ritual. It is a false hope in an act, as if you did something worthy, that you put a coin into the slot and now God owes you a gum ball. I don't want my kids to be flighty anthropologists, experiencing the culture, as if God has not ordained a Way to approach Him. What is the bread, what is the wine, what is sin? I need not repent repeatedly over my sins of the past, but I still sin, and so in that quiet space, where the preacher says, reflect, go to God, ask for forgiveness, how self righteous can I possibly be if all I can think of is me, and not my constant offense towards Him? 

One commentator paraphrases the answer of God by these words, “When you fast, it is because of your sins. And when you eat and drink, it is for your own profit. The whole matter is for yourselves. But what have I in all this? For neither in the fasting nor the feasting is there anything for My glory. When you fasted it was like penance, and when you feasted it was for your own satisfaction. And where did I ever come in? Did you really ever fast for Me?”

You know, some people today fast. It’s a good thing. And I wonder if we fast in the way that the Bible says we ought to fast, without letting people know we fast, in order that it might be something done to the glory of God and not something done for us for the praise of men. Or not simply having the occasion to miss a couple of meals because we’ve been busy and then to tell ourselves, “Oh, I fasted.” The true fast is that of a broken contrite worshiping heart, that’s what He’s saying. Don’t ever think because you went through the religious formality that you worshiped God. That’s something that has to come out of the heart. - J Mac

Render true judgments - Now He answers them, and this is hard, He answers them starting in verse 7, these are the words, commandments I gave you before the captivity, and I haven't changed, so here they are again. Remember, Israel and Judah were guilty of unjust weights and balances, of the poor not being able to get justice. If we cared more for the truth than winning an argument, winning a court case, getting paid, then the poor would have been rightly covered under the umbrella of the truth. But it was the opposite, just like in our day, you could pay to have someone help you abuse the justice system, to find you innocent when you were guilty, but not if you were poor, you couldn't afford the same levels of injustice. 

19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18: 19-23

Go back to Exodus chapter 18 and read verses 19 to 23 – we won’t take the time now. You’ll see it all begins there, that all are to be treated equally. And Paul says it in Philippians where he says, “All having the same love.” And that’s a basic truth in Christian faith. In Jeremiah chapter 7 verse 4, Jeremiah says, “Trust not in lying words, and saying the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.” In other words, you’re hailing your form of religion. “For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you execute justice between a man and his neighbor, if you oppress not the stranger or the fatherless or the widow and did not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your harm, then will I cause you to dwell in this place.” - J Mac

Ritual vs. Inherent Reality

But they refused to pay attention - How long will that go on? This is part of why they went into captivity, why the temple was destroyed, it is a matter of ritual versus reality, and we He says show mercy and kindness, do not oppress the poor, widow, fatherless or foreigner, He means it, then and now.

…46“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” Luke 20: 46-47

…26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 26-27

Spirit through the former prophets - This is why so many today graze over or totally avoid some passages in the Bible, or they look for someone who will call themselves a pastor, a teacher, a prophet, and spin it for them in a more palatable way. You don't want the truth when you do this, so quit patting yourself on the back that you are a truth seeker. You don't want God either, just His gifts, and you will soon find that the god you believe in is very different than the God of the Bible, the Creator of universe. You worship at the altar of your lusts, your greed, convenience, popularity, your idols. God is telling them that what these prophets spoke, which much of had already come to pass, like Isaiah and Jeremiah's prophecies against their sin, against their false prophets, and going to Babylon, that wasn't the words of those men. You often killed the messenger, but it was God, Who you really wanted dead. 

…20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20-21

…50Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—… Acts 7: 50-52

So they called and I would not hear - It was all recorded, God's early words to them, but they held them in no regard, though it was promised that they would be ejected from the land for such sins, yet they turned and deaf ear to God and His prophets. There eyes were closed to His written word, but when they saw calamity, then they cried out to God, but He stopped hearing them. They never hated the sin, only some of its results.

The pleasant land was made desolate - 

…34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Luke 13: 34-35

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#1182 Zechariah 6 More Equestrian Stuff

 

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Crown and the Temple

9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Zechariah 6 ESV

Zechariah 6 A Vision of Four Chariots

…9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. 10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ 11I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.… Isaiah 46: 9-11

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6: 1-8

Four chariots came out from between two mountains - Remember in chapter 1, the horses and riders, and how they stood there, having come back to report to the rider on the red horse after a scouting mission? They asked God, how long? They were ready for war, Israel's persecutors were at peace, but the horsemen were ready to deliver her and judge her enemies. Now they are not standing still among the myrtles, they are on the move, with their war chariots. They are coming from between the two mountains, this most probably being the Mt. of Olives and Mt. Zion, which would put these warriors in the Kidron Valley, also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat. 

…3Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. 5You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.… Zechariah 14: 3-5

1“Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity, 2I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land. 3They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.… Joel 3: 1-3

And the mountains were mountains of bronze - Mountains are a symbol of strength, power, and rule in the Bible, and bronze is a symbol of judgement. 

…15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,… Revelation 1: 15-17

Now, where is the valley of Jehoshaphat? Well, there isn’t any. There isn’t any. Jehoshaphat means Jehovah judges. It is the valley of judgment. But Bible scholars have always equated that with the Kidron Valley. That’s been the common place. In fact, I might add something very interesting. Jews and Moslems both agree that the final judgment of the world will take place in the Kidron Valley, which will be renamed the Valley of Jehoshaphat because it will be there that Jehovah judges.

Notice in the 14th of Zechariah in the 4th verse, and I’ll show you why they equate these two. When Christ returns – now watch – “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in its midst thereof toward the east and toward the west” – in other words, the little Valley of Kidron is going to split wide open – “and half of the mountain removed toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” In other words, God is going to create a whole new valley there, a huge, massive one and that is where the judgment will take place. - J Mac

The first chariot had red horses - This represents war and bloodshed. 

The second black horses - Look above at Revelation 6: 5 & 6, you see the scales, the wheat and the barley, enough to feed one person for a day, but the price was a day's wages. This is massive inflation and famine. 

The third white horses - White horses represent victory in conquering.

And the fourth chariot dappled horses - This is a gray horse, like the pale horse in Revelation, representing death and hell. This is probably tied to sickness and disease, which are often associated with famine, sometimes following and sometimes preceding. 

These are going out to the four winds of heaven - This is similar to Biblical references to the four corners of the earth, North, South, East and West, everywhere.  

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.”… Revelation 7: 1-3

After presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth - In the visions of the prophets, including Isaiah and John, it was the angels (created spirit beings) that stood before the Lord, and were sent out from His presence.

Ezekiel 1 Part 6

Ezekiel 10

Ready and Waiting Isaiah 6 part 1

Now, that phrase at the end of verse 5, as a footnote, is a millennial title for the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth. It’s referring to the day when He takes over the whole earth. It’s also used in Micah 4:13 and again in the 4th chapter in the 14thverse of Zechariah. - J Mac

Have set My Spirit at rest in the north country - We so concentrate on God's love that we really don't comprehend it, for we try to know it outside of His just and holy nature. God is just, and all of creation wonders at His patience, the angels are ever at the ready to be sent out, to carry forth judgment. This is satisfaction, the correcting of the wrongs done towards His prophets and His people, toward His own Holy name. 

What does that mean? That means that my spirit was always in turmoil until vengeance was accomplished, you see. And now, God’s spirit is at rest. He is appeased by judgment. He is satisfied, particularly – notice verse 8. He is particularly satisfied from those who have gone to the north country because it was from the north that the worst of all enemies came, Babylon. And listen. In the book of Revelation what does the writer of Revelation call the final form of evil? Babylon. And so, it is when the ultimate Babylon is put down that God’s spirit is at rest. - J Mac

Heldai - Means "the Lord's world".

Tobijah - Means "God is good."

Jedaiah - Means "God knows."

Take from them silver and gold - God is sending them with silver and gold so he wants Zechariah to meet them, take the metals, and go make crowns, a silver and a gold crown, that are composites that fit together into one crown.

Set it on the head of Joshua...the High priest - Wow is this ever loaded, but remember in the prior chapters, that Joshua the High priest and Zerubbabel were signs. We also discussed Who it was historically that would hold all three offices, that of prophet, king and priest. We have seen prophets that were priests and David, who was a prophet and king, so from both offices we have those that profess, but we have never seen a priest be a king or a king allowed to be a priest. King Uzziah attempted this and was given leprosy for his arrogance. This is giving us and them a visual sign of the Branch that would come, first offering Himself as the High Priest makes the offering for atonement, and then being crowned by the Father as He Who overcomes sin, death, and the grave. This present sign that Zechariah is demonstrating points to a future reality, and a future kingdom, where Jesus physically reigns and is recognized for Who He is, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Son of God, Creator, the Great High Priest.

Now, when I first read that, that was shocking to me. And the reason it was shocking to me is this. In the Old Testament, the priestly office and the kingly office were always kept distinct, always. In fact, do you remember, I think it’s II Chronicles, chapter 26 where King Uzziah decided that he wanted to play like a priest. And so, he tried to take on the priestly role. And you remember how God reacted to that. A king was not a priest. A priest was not a king. Those two were distinct.

You say, “Well, then what is – what is this all about? Why are they crowning Joshua the high priest?” It is only a picture, that’s all, only a picture. Listen. There will be in history only one king who is a priest. Who is that? Jesus Christ. And all you need to do to know that is to read Hebrews 7:1. “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God” – he was the only other one, which was way back before Israel was even a nation. He is the one who will be, in a sense, like, or rather, whom the Messiah will be like. And it says he was a “king of righteousness” and a “king of peace. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but is made like unto the Son of God.”

Melchizedek is a picture. Christ is the fulfillment, the only King Priest. And so, you have here a picture of Christ, the coronation of the great High Priest. And I want to show you something interesting. Verse 12. Here is the significance of the symbol or the type. “And speak to him saying” – He says, now, Zechariah, you say this. The Lord said to Zechariah, you say this – “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts saying, ‘Behold the Man whose name is The Branch.’”

Now, stop there for a minute. Do you remember somebody else who said “Behold the Man”? Who was it? Pilate, in John 19:5. The words of Pilate when Pilate said “Behold the Man,” he didn’t know it, but he was echoing the prophecy of Zechariah, that the Messiah, the ultimate King Priest would be a man. If the assembled Jews had not been demonically blinded by hatred and unbelief, they may have recalled the prophecy of Zechariah. Once again, He wears a real crown, a real diadem as a man, God incarnate. Then it says, “whose name is The Branch,” or literally, the shoot, the sprout. Now, that is a Messianic title for Him that is used in several places in the Old Testament, here and in Isaiah. - J Mac

The counsel of peace shall be between them both - No longer will the separation of church and state be necessary, for all apostasy will be removed. He will wear the crown and stand as priest at the right hand of the Father. The two offices will be reconciled in the Branch, the Messiah.

1A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” 2The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”… Psalm 110: 1-2

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.… Hebrews 4: 14-16

And those who are far off shall come - The gentiles.

…12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility… Ephesians 2: 12-14

1 In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. 2And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.… Micah 4: 1-2

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#1181 Zechariah 5 The Stork Brought It

 

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” 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 goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. 4 I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

A Vision of a Woman in a Basket

5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” 6 And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” 7 And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! 8 And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.

9 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.” Zechariah 5 ESV

Zechariah 5 What About The Ungodly, What Happens To Them

…25‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 26‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Deuteronomy 27: 25-26

…13The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies: 14“I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet and restrained. But now I will groan like a woman in labor; I will at once gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.… Isaiah 42: 13-15

…20You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. 21You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face. 22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:… Psalm 50: 20-22

I see a flying scroll - Before books there were scrolls, some using animal skin for the canvas, others using Papyrus. We are given it's length and width, and let us remember the imagery we have been using thus far in the visions: Joshua the High Priest, Zerubbabel of the Judaic line and we have discussed the golden lampstands at length. Now we are given a flying scroll, and it's dimensions, which are the same as the Holy Place (Set Apart Place) of the Tabernacle, which is the room right before the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), where the Ark of the Covenant is, and where only the High Priest could enter one day a year, The Day of Atonement. In the Holy Place, before the Holy of Holies, look what we find, the golden lampstand, the table for the bread of presence, which only the priests were allowed to eat, and the altar of incense. There is only one entry into the Tabernacle, and the priest would enter the Holy Place to clean and refill the lamp, burn incense every morning and evening and replace the Showbread.

A footnote as we look at these visions. Dr. Ironside says “It is noticeable as we go on with the series of visions, there is less and less given in the way of interpretation. It is as though the Lord would give enough in regard to the earlier visions to lay a solid foundation for the understanding of the later ones.” End quote. And the reason I say that is because I want you to understand that we are interpreting them as we go, built upon what we’ve already known because there isn’t much interpretation given. - J Mac

The tabernacle built by Moses and, later, Solomon’s temple were divided into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies). To understand these places, it will help if we first understand the concept of “holy.” At its most basic meaning, holy simply means “set apart” or even “different.” God is holy because He is absolutely different, completely set apart from everything else. He is completely different from all other things that are called “gods.” He is also completely set apart from sin, which is probably the concept that most people associate with God’s holiness. This example may help explain the concept further: the word bible is simply from the Latin for “book.” Although the word Bible has become a technical (or semi-technical) term for the Word of God, the term itself just means “book.” There are many books in the world. That is why on the cover or the title page we often see the official title as “Holy Bible.” In other words, there are many bibles (books), but this Book (Bible) is holy; that is, it is different, set apart from all other books, because it is the Word of God. - Gotquestions.org

This is the curse that goes out - What curse? Look above at Deuteronomy 27:26, this is a scroll, which has writing on it, it is the same size as the Holy Place in the Tabernacle, the room that was lit with the lamp. What was written on it? On one side it says, "everyone who steals shall be cleaned out", and on the other side it says, "everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out." Thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. This is the ten commandments, one law is on the side of man's relationship to man, and the other is in view of man's relationship to God. Since we are made in the image of God, then it all ultimately goes back to God, our sins are against Him. Verse 4 further clarifies it by listing the "house of the thief", and "the house of him who swears falsely by My name."

…14You shall not commit adultery. 15You shall not steal. 16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.… Exodus 20: 14-16

…6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain. 8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.… Exodus 20: 6-8

…20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’…

23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.… Matthew 7: 20-25

…36“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.…

…39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 41While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them:… Matthew 22: 36-41

Now, notice that two of the commands are mentioned; stealing and swearing falsely. You know why those two are mentioned? I tell you why. The law had two sides, God wrote His law on one side of this table of stone and on the flip side He wrote the rest of it. There were five laws on one side and five laws on the other side. On the front side, the command about stealing, that’s the third command, the middle of the five. On the other side, swearing falsely is the third of the five, the middle of the five. By referring to the middle one on both sides of God’s law, He is encompassing the whole law. Half of the commandments define a man’s sin against God and the second half a man’s sin against his brother.

And so, we find that by taking one command from each side of the Mosaic Law, the middle command, He is representing the whole Law and He is simply saying that if a man defiles God’s law on one side or God’s law on another side, he’ll be cut off. Now, who would fall into that condemnation? Would you? I would. Did you ever lie? I did. Did you ever covet? I did, do. So you see, we all fall into that.

But you see, some of us have been saved by God’s grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ because we received Him by faith, and His blood is applied to our sin and we’re no longer condemned. But if a person doesn’t have the salvation of Jesus Christ, he must stand condemned by those acts of violating God’s law. And it says he will be cut off. You say, “What does that mean?” Naqah. That is a word that it means just that, to be wiped out. And it is used in Isaiah 3:26 of a city that was totally destroyed. He will be destroyed. Notice the totality and the completeness of judgment. The criterion is the word of God, the completeness means everyone who sins will be totally wiped out of any possible blessing. - J Mac

Basket Case

The second vision, verse 5, deals with God’s judgment on sin itself. Not the sinner so much as sin, although the sinner is inextricably connected. This again, is clearly millennial in its ultimate interpretation. It has a present condition in Zechariah’s time. The Jews had recently returned from Babylon. Outwardly, they had put away pagan idolatry. They really had. It never rose again. But inwardly in their hearts they had become materialistic. They had hung around Babylon just long enough to get sucked into materialism. - J Mac

This is the basket that is going out - Another translation of this would be "Ephah", which is one of the larger forms of measurement back then, a container, like we would ship things in barrels. It was used to measure grain. These images are images of trade and commerce, this was their new god, the god of materialism, this was their hope, where their faith rested, buying, selling and trading. Greed drives the world system today, and there are subsystems of this that formulate their theories and politics in one way or another, based upon materialism, even so called "science". We have capitalism that does not deny greed, encourages competition, but we don't see pure capitalism anywhere really today. We have socialism, the cute, cuddly infant of communist tyranny, that also acknowledges greed, but then offers a false messiah as the cure, big government, which just moves the wealth from people good at creating and managing it to politicians. We use greed politically, saying, "those people have because they are greedy, and you have not because they are greedy, and the answer to this is to either vote to steal their money by means of those who govern, or have an insurrection and take it by force." The problem is politicians are greedy, rich are greedy, and the poor can also be greedy, plus the line of poverty moves depending upon who you are talking to, and what they think they should have. In the future, these world systems will be taken away.

…16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20: 16-17

The leaden cover was lifted - This lead is also a symbol of commerce, how they weighed things, and profit had taken a high place over honesty, integrity, compassion, so often the merchants would use false weights and balances within this system. 

…34You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. 35You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. 36You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.… Leviticus 19: 34-36

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. James 5: 1-6

There was a woman sitting in the basket - This has to do with the religious system incorporated with the materialism, and it is a difficult concept for people in our time, because we are tied at the hip with a secular culture that does not even like to acknowledge the scientific differences between men and women. Go back to the garden, the one in Eden, where this all started. Satan didn't come to Adam, so he usurped God's order first, deceived Eve, but Adam did not do what he was supposed to, which was protect. It says that Eve was deceived, but that Adam willfully sinned, he chose Eve over God, God Who made her from Adam's side. It goes on to tell us that her desire will be toward her husband, or contrary toward her husband; she would seek to be what God has told him to be, the spiritual leader. There were never any female priests in Judaism, only in pagan religions, and today we see a lot of women calling themselves pastors because they "feel like" they were called. This is not so different from Babel, where this is headed to, Nimrod's wife some believe to be the priestess of that early, first humanistic religion that also tied itself to the occult. 

You say, “There’s only one confusing part of this whole deal, and that’s that woman. What’s she doing in there?” Well, there’s always one confusing thing in every one of these things. This is a woman that sits in the midst of the ephah. And he said, “This is wickedness and he threw that in with the rest of it. It’s simply this. The grain in the barrel symbolizes the system, the economy, the materialism; the woman symbolizes the evil of it. And I don’t know how to say this nice. Nicely, to made it an adverb, but woman is used symbolically in Scripture for religious evil. But before you panic, the church is also called the bride of Christ.

And so, whenever there is a false church she is a prostitute and religious prostitution is pictured as a woman. We see that in the 17th chapter of Revelation, where the false religious system is called Babylon, the mother of harlots. And so, she is wickedness, she is a symbol of sin. And so, we see that the whole system, the whole ecclesiastical Babylon, the whole economic Babylon, the whole false church, the whole false materialistic economy is going to be thrown in the same basket. God’s lead lid is going to be slammed on the top and God is going to move out in judgment. And so, God will deal in judgment on the sinner and God will deal in judgment on sin and He’ll heap the whole thing in one basket. - J Mac

…33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.… 1 Corinthians 14: 33-35

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.  1 Timothy 2: 11-14

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.… 1 Timothy 3: 1-3

They had wings like the wings of a stork - Two more women come forward, and some commentators have, and I will be kind here, thought these were angels, yet we never here of any holy angels being called women. Now they are storks, and this is a bird with large wings as some have pointed out, they think to carry this heavy load of sin and false system that God is sending away, okay, sure, but who is this vision being given to, Zechariah, a Jew, familiar with the law of God. Storks are listed as unclean animals, and read these two passages:

…18the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.… Leviticus 11: 18-20

1After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. 3All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”… Revelation 18: 1-3

To the land of Shinar - Where it all started, this is an ancient name for the land of Babylon, wherein was the tower of Babel, and from which place Ziggurats have made their way across the earth, with every other form of false religion and evil system.

To build a house for it - This will be the final world system, and the religion that will be first embraced and then crushed by antichrist, desiring to rule over all and take the worship to himself. Religion will become popular again, but it will be apostate, and the cry will go out, to come out of her.

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

Babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

... Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17: 1-6; 15-18

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