Zechariah Chapter 5                                                              Treasures From The Book of Zechariah

 

Zech 5: [1] Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. [2] And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. [3] Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. [4] I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

 

1. The Judgment of the Sinner          (1-4)

 

            In Chapter 5, Zechariah the prophet is given further vision concerning Israel.

            Remember, Israel has returned from exile to Jerusalem.

            What once had been a prosperous city now lies in ruins and has been for more 70 years.

 

            There were great hardships in rebuilding Jerusalem after the complete destruction Babylon caused. 

            The Temple was destroyed, the city walls were broken down and the city gates.

The Jews built an altar, but there was opposition.

The Jews laid a foundation for the Temple, there was even greater opposition.

The Jews became discouraged with the rebellion and the terrible economic conditions.

The work stopped for 15 years.

Then God sent two men of God to preach to Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua and the people.

God wants to encourage the people to return to the work.

Haggai the prophet preached gun barrel straight messages.
            Zechariah presented his message through the vision God gave him.

 

First Zechariah saw a man among the myrtle trees in the bottom.

The man was the pre-incarnate Christ who came to the Jews in their lowest valley to encourage them.

 

Secondly, Zechariah saw 4 horns that were powerful nations who scattered Israel.

Zechariah saw 4 carpenters came who destroyed the horns, breaking their power and delivering Israel. 

 

Thirdly, Zechariah saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

This man is the pre-incarnate Christ, who says Jerusalem will be rebuilt and inhabited.

The LORD will be a wall of fire round about and the glory in the midst of the city.

 

Fourthly, Zechariah saw Joshua the High Priest standing before the Lord.

Zechariah also saw Satan standing to resist the High Priest.

Zechariah understood that the High Priest represented Israel whom Satan is an adversary to.

Zechariah also praised God because the LORD was standing as an advocate for Israel.

The LORD took away the filthy garments of the High Priest and caused the iniquity of the priest to pass.

Then the LORD gave a new garment of clothes to the High Priest. .

 

Fifthly, Zechariah saw the golden candlestick, with olive trees standing on each side of it.

The olive trees were directly connected to the candlestick that supplied oil for the continuous flame.

Israel will have the direct supply of the Holy Spirit of God, ensuring the Temple and city is rebuilt.

 

·        It is comforting to hear about rebuilding and restoration but what about those who oppose the work?

 

Romans 1:18

[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 

In verse 1, Zechariah is given the 6th stage of an 8 stage vision concerning the restoration of Jerusalem.

Zechariah saw a “flying roll.” This flying roll is actually a scroll unwound, travelling over the land.

Apparently this scroll is open for all to read.

This scroll is 30 ft X 15 ft; a cubit is 18 inches and 20 cubits is 30 ft and 10 cubits is 15 ft.

 

In verse 3, one side of the scroll says “everyone that stealeth shall be cut offThe thief takes by fraud or force.

The other side of the scroll said “everyone that sweareth shall be cut offHe that swears falsely is cut off.

This scroll represents the Word of God. I believe Zechariah is looking at the 10 Commandments.

In fact, the scroll is the same size as the Holy Place. In other words, God has a standard.

In fact, this scroll is written on both sides, just like the 10 Commandments of Exodus 32:15, 16.

Jesus is the Word of God. John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

Verse 4 says that God will bring a curse upon all who break His word and commit these sins.

The judgment for sinners will so severe that their entire house will be consumed. Total destruction!

There is a day coming in which the sinner will be judged by the Word of God and will not be spared.

 

John 17:17

[17]…thy word is truth.

 

John 12:48

[48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

The only escape for the sinner right now is through the blood of Jesus. Don’t wait too late!

 

Hebrews 9:22

[22]… and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

 

Zech 5: [5] Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. [6] And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. [7] And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. [8] And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

2. The Judgment of Sin                      (5-8)

 

            In verse 5, Zechariah is given the 7th stage of the 8 stage vision.

            The angel commanded Zechariah to life up his eyes and see.

 

            In verses 6, Zechariah saw and asked what it was that he saw.

The angel said “this is an ephah that goeth forth

An ephah is a measurement the Jews used for flour, corn and barley. Therefore it represents commerce.

An ephah is also a measured basket used to move trade and represents fraudulent commerce.

It is a type of woven lined basket that is large enough to put a small person in.

 

The statement “this is their resemblance”, represents the iniquity of the people across the land.

 

In verse 7, Zechariah saw a talent (measurement) of lead lifted up. Maybe this was the lid to the basket.

Then Zechariah saw a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.

In the midst of the trade and commerce, in the midst of this measured basket was a woman.

What is this woman?

 

Matthew 13:33

[33]…The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

 

Remember, a little leaven leaventh the whole lump, Galatians 5:9.

 

In verse 8, the angel says, “this is wickedness”; the woven basket, the weighted lid and the woman.

These are symbols of greed, materialism and dishonest gain.

I think of the price gouging, false weights and unfair interest (usury) the world charges people today.

Everybody wants to make money off of a crisis.

 

The angel cast down the woman into the woven measured basket and slammed the weighted lid.

God is demonstrating His Sovereign authority over sin. One day, God will slam the lid on sin.

The woman was imprisoned, pressed to death and sunk to the lowest hell.

 

 

Zech 5: [9] Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. [10] Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
[11] And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

 

 

3. The Judgment of the System         (9-11)

 

            In verse 9, Zechariah saw 2 women, with the wind in their wings come soaring in to take the basket.

            These women had wings like a stork, which is considered an unclean animal and represent evil. 

            In verse 10, Zechariah asks where the women are taking the basket to.

 

            In verse 11, the angel says they are taking this basket to the land of Shinar, which is Babylon.

            Babylon is the center of wickedness.

            Babylon was the world’s first commercial system and will be the final commercial system.

 

            James 5:1-6

[1] Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
[2] Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
[3] Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
[4] Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
[5] Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
[6] Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

 

            Babylon represents an economic system where materialism and greed rule.

            But remember, the sinner, sin and they system will all be punished.

 

            During the tribulation the anti-Christ will cause all of the lost people to receive a mark.

            A person cannot buy or sell without the mark. It is a system.

 

            Rev 17:18

[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

 

Rev 18:2 

[2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

 

            Rev 18:20-21

[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
[21] And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

 

 

            The lid will be slammed on the sinner, sin and the system forever.