The book of Zechariah, though he is considered a minor prophet, is a very major book with very major prophecy. The chapters of this book are focused on the last generation, especially the tribulation itself. With that in mind, let’s get started!
(Zec 1:1) In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
The time period we are given for this first chapter is during the reign of Darius the Mede, of Persia. These visions given to the prophet Zechariah are roughly contemporary with the book of Daniel (just after Daniel 9 & 11, for this chapter, in the 5th century BC), which itself spans the reign of many foreign rulers over the land of Judah.
(Zec 1:2) The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Since the early times of the people of Israel, there has been a strong history of idolatry and going astray from God. This is the whole reason that the people of Israel and Judah have gone into captivity–God has divorced them as His people. For more information on the history of the Israelites, read the books of Joshua through Nehemiah. God warned the people of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah long before that if they did not change their ways and come back to Him, that they would be taken captive. Now, in the book of Zechariah, we are in this captivity.
(Zec 1:3) Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
God wants Zechariah to speak to His people and implore them that they turn back to Him so that they can, once again, be His people.
(Zec 1:4) Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
No matter how much warning the prophets gave to these stubborn people, they refused to live according to God’s ways. They would much rather have done the things that felt good to them at that moment, instant gratification, than to do the things that would be better for them in the long run and that would please God. Does that sound familiar? Isn’t that the same thing that we see in the world today? You know it is. The message is the same and that’s why it applies to the end times just as well as history. Just as the God’s people were led into captivity before Christ, they are going into another captivity in the end times, but it is a captivity that encompasses the whole world, and only those who stay strong in Christ will be immune.
(Zec 1:5) Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
The people throughout the history of Israel and Judah practiced these humanist ways, doing whatever pleased them, and how did they end up? Are they still enjoying it? Life on earth in these old flesh bodies doesn’t last long, and once it is done, then you have to answer to God. Do you want to have to explain to Him why you decided to rebel against Him, or do you want to hear that you were His good and faithful servant? If you are in constant rebellion to God, do you think you will live forever? If you do, you’ve got another thing coming.
(Zec 1:6) But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
God’s Word always comes to pass exactly as written, without exception. If you doubt this, you are in for a rude awakening.
(2Pe 3:2-11) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
(Zec 1:7) Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(Zec 1:8) I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
This man is one of God’s scouts that roams the earth monitoring its condition. Notice that he is standing among myrtle trees, which is an indication that this vision is taking place during the festivities of the Feast of Tabernacles (which includes myrtle trees). Keep that in the back of your mind when considering what we will be told.
The man himself is on a red horse, which in Revelation 6 represents the political dynasty of the kenites, but it also represents mobilization for war (which is political in nature). He is on a war horse, and though he is not at war at the moment, he is prepared for battle at the right time. The scout also had with him other red horses, and speckled horses that are bay horses with speckles, and white horses, prepared for an army of scouts of God.
This vision takes place right at the end of the tribulation, just before the return of Jesus and the start of the Millennium. What is the significance of the myrtle trees and the Feast of Tabernacles? That is the time period in which Jesus will return, and the feast itself corresponds with the Supper of the Lamb. But before this feast will begin, Jesus is going to clean up the trash that has littered the world–of course, I mean the sin that runs rampant.
(Neh 8:13-17) And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
(Zec 1:9) Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
(Zec 1:10) And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
(Zec 1:11) And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
At this point in the vision, we are at the end of the tribulation, which is the last segment of the captivity of the last generation, and the world is at rest because they believe they are living in a worldwide utopia. Antichrist is on earth and they believe him to be their savior, but very few know his true identity. They see the supposed peace brought to the world by antichrist and think they can take a break and rest because there is nothing to worry about, but in fact, there is a spiritual war brewing like none other ever seen.
(Zec 1:12) Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
(Zec 1:13) And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
It has been 70 (threescore [3×20] and ten) years since the captivity began, and this is the same as what will be during the captivity of the end times, the generation of the fig tree, which we are currently in. The scout comforted Zechariah because it was the end of the captivity–that’s the only thing that would comfort him. We are being told a major bit of information about the last generation.
(Zec 1:14) So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
God is jealous for the people in Jerusalem because they are falling for the Mystery Babylon system, which has taken over and, in effect, replaced Him. They are worshiping satan instead of worshiping Him. That is a breach of the most important commandment. There should be no god before the one true God.
(Zec 1:15) And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
Because they believe the world is the way it should be, and are following whom they believe to be God, the people are no longer following God Himself, except the few who have the Seal of God and know better. The rest of the world, without the Seal, He is disgusted with and they will get a huge surprise when they find out that the true Jesus has yet to return, and will be doing so with the wrath of God. Maybe they wouldn’t be so laid back if they did know.
(Zec 1:16) Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
Though all of this sin is taking place worldwide, it will not stop God from having mercy on those who have remained faithful to Him. His faithful, upright elect will reside in His house, the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem, after the return of Jesus, from where Jesus will rule on earth, and everything will be made right and just.
(Zec 1:17) Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
Even though Jerusalem has become a place of sin and idolatry and heathenism, God will make it right and return to His favorite place on earth.
(Zec 1:18) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
Zechariah is opening up his eyes to see the deeper truth in God’s Word, and what he sees are four horns, which are the power wielded by the four hidden dynasties, religion, politics, economy, and education, over the entire world. These four hidden dynasties paved the way for the one world government of the tribulation, and for its leader antichrist, satan himself.
(Zec 1:19) And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
The four hidden dynasties have brainwashed the world into believing the lies that would lead people away from God. God’s people, the descendants of Israel, have no clue they are even of Israel, and they have mostly gone astray from Him, along with the rest of the world. Israel has mixed in with the world population and believe they themselves are gentiles. In the Millennium, God’s people will be rejoined once again and will be disciplined and taught how to live according to God’s ways, and will learn to revere Him one way or another.
(Eze 37:15-28) The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
(Zec 1:20) And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
(Zec 1:21) Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
The four carpenters are those who put a stop to the one world system at the return of Jesus. They are the ones who are responsible for the reestablishment of God’s temple in Jerusalem, which we will read about later in Zechariah. Those who were not sealed by God did not have the desire or the ability to know what was going on in the world, and therefore could not lift up their heads to see because of what the four hidden dynasties did to scatter them among the heathen.
In this one chapter of Zechariah, we have actually been given a whole lot of information about the end times, however it is not apparent to most people. Do you have eyes to see?
God bless!
