I can't wait to read this one, the section subtitle is The Vision of the Flying Scroll. Sounds like a Hardy Boys title.
Chapter 5
Zechariah lifts his eyes again and has a new vision. I wonder if these are different nights or the same sequence with the scene changing.
This time Zechariah sees a flying scroll. there you go—right there in the NASB subtitle.
The angel asks what he sees and Zechariah tells him and gives him the measurements: 20x10 cubits (30x15 feet). That's 10 yards. That's quite a scroll.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary points out that these are the same measurements as the holy place in the Temple. God's perfect, holy law. It also cross-references images in Revelation 5 and 10.
Oof. The scroll is a curse that's traveling the earth. The names of thieves on one side and names of those who swear on the other. Yikes.
I will make it go forth,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones.” Zechariah 5:4
Severe and concrete consequences for those two sins. Stealing and bearing false witness using God's name. God will not stop until the sin is gone. (Which makes me think of the great length He goes in Revelation to strip out the bad and find the Remnant from within those events.)
There is a new NASB section subtitle starting in verse 5: The Vision of the Woman in the Ephah.
The angel tells Zechariah to lift his eyes again.
I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” Zechariah 5:6–7
So we need to know what an ephah is and what it looks like to have a woman sitting inside one. I thought it was a measurement, but couldn't understand that. According to Ryrie, it's a barrel, larger than a bushel, so that makes sense. Like saying, a five-gallon drum. The measurement is the size of the container. The woman is inside the barrel and there is a lead cover, which Ryrie states is a symbol of sin. The angel calls the scene (or the woman) Wickedness (with a capital W, meaning a proper name). The angel shoves her down into the ephah and puts the lead covering on.
Two woman come flying in with wings like a stork. They lift the sealed ephah between heaven and earth. Zechariah asks where they are taking her.
Then he said to me, “To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.” Zechariah 5:6
Okay.
That's it. Two complete visions in 6 verses. Before this the visions had been good news of redemption, provision, and protection from the Lord. Now the tone is decidedly more grim. Sinners getting burned out and sinners being banished. I'll be curious as to what the commentaries say, but I wonder if this is the follow up after rescuing the Remnant out of Babylon. Like a parent who saves a teen after bad choices but wanting to make it clear that ongoing bad choices will have severe consequences. A warning that sin will be punished and wickedness will be driven from the land. God will remove the whole sinful system.
One last thought I had while reading. When I heard that the two women were flying, I wondered why he didn't see them as angels. Somehow the prophets can distinguish a human from an angel, even though they sometimes include the qualifier, like a man. But I was still a little pleased that they were women, because it's fairly unheard of. As I kept reading, these women were off to make a temple for wickedness and I was bummed. It's important for me to remember that a lot of false worship comes into the church through women, just like Eve. It's a warning to me to hold close to the word, prayer, and the Lord. By the power and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, I want to cling to God and truth.
MacArthur confirms that storks are unclean birds. So these are demonic, evil forces.
The next subsection tells me the theme continues, so I'll include Chapter 6 to round out this series of visions.
Chapter 6
Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. Zechariah 6:1
- first chariot = red horses
- second chariot = black horses
- third = white horses
- fourth = dappled horses
Zechariah asks what they are.
The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, Zechariah 6:5
Horses heading out across the earth...this sounds very Day of Judgement-y.
The black horses go north, with the white horses after them. The dappling horses head south. The strong one were eager and sent out to patrol the earth. MacArthur explains that there is no east or west because the desert and the sea prevent invaders. Egypt in the south and all of the other major enemies came from the north.
Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.” Zechariah 6:8
This is the Lord crying out and then speaking to Zechariah. I cannot imagine the sound of the Lord crying out... His wrath is appeased by the black and white horses that went north. This probably refers in the near fulfillment to the devastating end to Babylon by the Medo-Persians. And in the final fulfillment to the devasting end of Babylon as we read in Revelation.
Verses 3, 4, 5, and 6 read like a graphic novel showing picture of God washing Israel spiritually, redeeming Israel politically, casting out sin and wickedness, punishing those oppressed her in the past, and sending out patrols to protect her in the future. We can take all of that to heart and we live our lives between now and when the Lord returns.
Verse 9 or chapter 6 starts a new paragraph and a new topic, back in the physical world (as opposed to symbolic visions). The Lord (not an angel) tells Zechariah to collect an offering from the exiles and bring it to the new arrivals coming in from captivity in Babylon. Zechariah is to make an ornate crown of silver and gold and place it on the head of the high priest, Joshua (Jeshua).
Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord.
Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”’ Zechariah 6:12–13
Oh, wow. I got a shiver when I read this.
This is a near, mid and final fulfillment. I was shocked to read that an ornate crown would go on the head of the priest. Up until now there has been strict and separation between the priests and the kings. One king even got leprosy for trying to be both. It has been strictly enforced and completely prohibited. But better days are coming. A Man (Jesus Messiah) is coming. He will:
- Build the Temple
- He will branch out (spreading Christianity across the whole world by the power of the Temple (Holy Spirit)).
- The honor will be His
- He will be the High Priest and the King- finally bringing peace between the two office.
- The civil and sacred will forever be one.
We see why God was so severe in keeping those two roles separate. there was only One Designated Man who do both and anyone trying to be Him would pay a steep penalty.
Our High Priest and King has come. And He is coming back. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Verse 14 promises that this crown Zechariah is to have made will be a reminder of the Temple. (which implies that the actual physical temple won't always be there.
Notice that no crown was placed on Zerubabble. The era of a king of Israel was over. I hope would now be a spiritual salvation until the final King takes the physical throne in the final Temple in Jerusalem.
One final, beautiful promise in this prophesy:
Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the Lord your God. Zechariah 6:15
Remember above when Zechariah is told that the Branch will branch out? Well, those who were far away when the Spirit got to them (gentiles) will come and help build the Temple. That's us! We're those who are far off. God has always planned to include us and He repeatedly explains that we will be part of the fulfillment.
But He demands obedience in the process.
Very cool.
One final note from MacArthur that I alluded two but didn't fully articulate, the King/Priest will only come once sin is punished and wickedness is banished. It can be hard to read Revelation. It' so grim, bloody, and severe. However, one of the biggest barriers to people believing in God is that there is evil and suffering in the world. For the Remnant, He is going to punish sin and banish wickedness. In eternity, we won't have these problems.
Better days are coming and He has a good plan. But there's going to be some clean up that is grim, bloody, and severe.
People get ready.
Amen.