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Zechariah
Chapter
4 In 539 BC, the neo-Chaldean empire was destroyed. This was the night of the handwriting on the wall - Daniel 5. In 535 BC, there was opposition to the construction of the temple by the Samaritans (Orientals in the land who had mixed Jewish blood now). The work was stopped for about fourteen years; 521 BC, the new Persian king, Darius Hystaspes. He was apparently a born again believer and apparently encouraged renewal of the work on the temple. Haggai's ministry was solely concerned with resumption of work on the temple. 516 BC, the temple was completed. The Jews started the 4th cycle of discipline in 721 BC and this took them to 585 BC. During that time they were minus doctrine, as described in Isaiah 5:13; Hosea 4:6. They were going into the 5th cycle of discipline because they were minus doctrine. In 520 BC, the ministry of Zechariah faced a great mountain of opposition - which is going to be leveled by Bible doctrine and the ministry of the Spirit. Afterward would be a fantastic period of prosperity.}
{Verses
1-7: Restoration of Testimony} {Note: This verse is saying that Zechariah is exhausted. His exhaustion is based on mental fatigue. This is the result of the first three chapters of learning, of categorizing, of studying. Not only must he get these things himself but he must communicate these things - "waked"; exhausted - "sleep," deep sleep which comes from exhaustion. If the body is fatigued the mind does not generally function too well. There is a relationship between body and soul. The body demands rest so that the mind can work.}
2~~
And {the teaching angel} said unto me, {Note: The lampstand here is the same as the lampstand in the tabernacle which is described in Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24. The tabernacle lampstand was manufactured in a most unusual way. It was beaten out of a lump/talent of gold that was softened with heat. It was the only light permitted in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle. a. The central branch represents the Lord Jesus Christ. While the six branches joined to it represents born again believers, seven is the number of completion. Six is the number of man in the Bible. When we are in union with Christ we are complete in phase two, with all of our problems, failures, difficulties; which means that God has provided for completed people to be complete, but it requires point of doctrine. The first thing learned from the lampstand is the principle of relationship. This means of course that we are not dealing with religion. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God. b. The central branch has a light, it represents Christ as the Light of the world - 1 John 1:5; John 8:12. It represents the principle of God revealed to man. Christ is the revealed member of the Godhead, John 1:18. Concept: revelation of salvation is available to all. The gospel is available to all. c. Each of the six branches has a light representing believers as witnesses. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 5:14: "Ye are the lights of the world" (see Ephesians 5:8). d. The oil in the central branch represents the Holy Spirit in sustaining Christ during the incarnation. e. The oil in the other branches represents the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer - amplified by 4:6.}
{Principal
of Separation of Spiritual/Church and State} {Note: See Revelation 11:4. Here the two olive trees are Zerubbabel and Joshua who will rebuild the temple. In the Tribulation, the two olive trees will be Moses and Elijah.}
4~~Then
I {Zechariah} spoke to the {teaching} angel
5~~Then
the {teaching} angel that talked with me
6~~
Then he {the teaching angel} answered
7~~"What
are you, O great mountain? {Note: The mountain represents all the obstacles placed in the way of the Jews rebuilding the temple. Interference from the Samaritans, and then by other authorities, on and on resulted in the temple started by not worked on for 14 years. Satan is the mountain and the ultimate source of the interference.} {Note: When the foundation was created, the last stone placed is called the 'cornerstone'. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. When that stone was placed a great cry went up mixed with the cries of the older 'legalists' (who said this temple was not as big as they remembered the original temple of Solomon was). This prophecy says Zerubbabel will complete the walls by placing the 'headstone'. Zerubbabel and his generation became a great 'can-do' generation. The way most great generations are - they failed, failed and failed again. Then picked themselves up, confessed their sins, forgot them, and kept on trying to do God's will better!}
{Verses
8-10: Restoration of Temple}
10~~"For
who has despised the day of small things? {Note: Seven represents a perfect number representing a perfect person - Jesus Christ - see also Zechariah 3:9, Revelation 4:5, and Revelation 5:6.}
{Verses
11-14: Restoration of Leadership}
12~~And
I answered again, and said unto him, {Note: From 516 to 323 BC will be the 'golden age' for Jerusalem. Both the political and spiritual leaders are strong and support God and the teaching of His Word.}
13~~And
he {the teaching angel} said to me,
14~~Then
said he {the teaching angel}, ************************************************** Joshua_Sozo and Syndein are the Trademarks of Syndein a California DBA of Kenneth Sidley & Associates, Inc., a California Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright© Syndein 1982-2010. All rights reserved. This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.
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