Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe

Main Scriptures: Zechariah 1, Isaiah 63, Hosea 5, Revelation 8

  • Zechariah came in as an encourager to return the nation to return to God
  • Things to remember
    • The visions are a word from the Lord
    • Compare spiritual things to spiritual things to understand
    • The spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets
    • God has a plan for the nation of Israel
    • The eight visions are received in one night
    • These visions are given after Haggai preaches (Haggai 2:6-9)
    • These visions are meant to encourage and exhort the nation of Israel (and applicable to encourage the church today)
      • 1 Corinthians 14:3
    • These prophecies speak of Jesus
      • Luke 24:44 – Jesus explained Himself through the law, psalms and prophets
  • Vision #1: Zechariah 1:7-11
    • An Angel of the Lord appears to Zechariah
      • The Angel of the Lord is the pre-incarnate Christ
    • The myrtle tree is the symbol of Israel
      • Isaiah 57:15 – God dwells with the humble
      • Jeremiah 30:11 – God would restore Israel
      • Isaiah 41:10 – God would help His people
    • The horses
      • Red  – Jesus is riding on a red horse coming as a conquering king
        • This is not the red horse of Revelation; this is a horse of redemption
      • Sorrel (speckled)
      • White – represents Jesus’ final victory
    • Zechariah 1:12-13
      • God is interceding for the people; get busy doing what He wants you to do
      • v. 13 – God comforts the people
      • God has my best interests at heart even when I don’t think so
      • v. 15 – the times of the Gentiles
        • God used a heathen king to discipline the children of Israel
        • Satan hates the nation of Israel; but God says that Israel will last forever
      • Isaiah 47:6 – God was angry with His people, but the heathen nations went too far
      • Hosea 5:15-6:3 – the Lord will heal His people
      • Isaiah 51:3 – the Lord will comfort and restore Zion
      • Application – God will comfort His people today
        • The Word of God will inspire and motivate believers (that’s what Zechariah was hearing)
  • Vision #2 (Zechariah 1:18-21)
    • The Four Horns
      • Horns are representations of governmental power
      • Israel was dominated by four Gentile nations: the time of the Gentiles (Luke 24)
        • Babylonians
        • Persians
        • Greeks
        • Romans
    • There will be a fifth kingdom: Rome will resurrect
    • The nations that defeated Israel will be broken
  • Application: When we’re feeling discouraged, we need to remember that God is encouraging us