Zechariah. Study Outline. Jeff Blake

Transcription

1 Zechariah Study Outline Jeff Blake

2 Copyright by Jeff Blake Ox Brook Ministries All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced for commercial purposes in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. All printed copies require that a royalty payment be made to Ox Brook Ministries in accordance with the schedule found at the above web site. Most Scriptures are taken from the Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible Copyright By Jay P. Green, Sr. Used by permission of the copyright holder Courtesy of Sovereign Grace Publishers and Christian Literature World Scriptures taken from the New King James Version Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This edition: October 2006

3 I am sincerely grateful to Chuck Missler (Koinonia House -- for lighting a fire under me regarding God's Word. The Holy Spirit used his uncompromising, scholarly, and in-depth approach to Bible Study to speak to me in a way that has never happened before. Within me has now been ingrained a passion to know and understand the Bible, to deeply respect and honor it for what it is, and to treat it very seriously because it is indeed the very Words of God.

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5 Table of Contents Lesson 1: Introduction + Zechariah 1: Lesson 2: Zechariah 1:18-3: Lesson 3: Zechariah 4:1-5: Lesson 4: Zechariah 5:5-6: Lesson 5: Zechariah Lesson 6: Zechariah 9:1-10: Lesson 7: Zechariah 10: Lesson 8: Zechariah Lesson 9: Zechariah Lesson 10: Zechariah Lesson 11: Zechariah

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7 These notes were written for use in our Home Bible Study. They were developed to encourage a regular verse-by-verse study of the Bible: this is the best way to immerse ourselves in God's Word. It needs to be read and studied "c-2-c", that is, "cover-to-cover." We need to involve ourselves with the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), not just the popular or favorite passages. In addition, it is essential to document how the Lord speaks and instructs us as we study His Word. We are responsible to know His Word, and make it a part of our everyday life. These notes are being made available to encourage you to engage in a daily, personal, and serious study of God's Word. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -- Psalm 119:105 "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." -- Psalm 119:11 "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down." -- Proverbs 24:30-31 "Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks." -- Ecclesiastes 10:18

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9 Lesson 1: Introduction + Zechariah 1:1-17 I. Introduction A. Zechariah, the book 1. longest of the 12 "minor prophets" a. "minor" and "major" are just man-made labels based only on their lengths b. what we call "the minor prophets" Hebrew writings call "the 12" 2. most frequently quoted "minor prophet" by the New Testament 3. most Messianic of the minor prophets a. Messiah would ride in on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9 = Matthew 21:1-9; John 12:12-16 b. His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12-13 = Matthew 27:3-10 (i) and who ultimately gets the money: the potter! c. the piercing of His body: Zechariah 12:10 = John 19:37 d. "strike the shepherd": Zechariah 13:7 e. the "Branch": Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1; 53:2; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15 = Matthew 2:23 4. the only place in Scripture that the phrase, "the holy land" appears: Zechariah 2:12 5. the number "4" will be seen a lot 6. the phrase, "they're poking their finger in the eye of God" is Scriptural a. "he who touches you touches the apple (pupil) of His eye": Zechariah 2:8 7. the Holocaust of WWII killed 1/3 of the worldwide Jewish population; the future Holocaust will kill 2/3 of the Jewish population: Zechariah 13: possible description of a neutron bomb: Zechariah 14:12 9. stylish differences between the first half (chapters 1-8) and the second half (chapters 9-14) may be due to differences in political circumstances and/or a significant difference in Zechariah's age B. Zechariah, the person 1. a very common name 2. born in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel: Nehemiah 12:1, prophet and priest: Nehemiah 12:12-16 a. just like Jeremiah and Ezekiel 4. contemporary with Zerubbabel the governor, Haggai the prophet, and Joshua the High Priest a. Ezra 5:1-2 b. Zechariah 3:1; 4:6; 6:11 5. "Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the (grand)son of Iddo": Zechariah 1:1 a. Zechariah = "Jehovah remembers" b. Berechiah = "Jehovah blesses" c. Iddo = "the appointed time" or "timely" d. "Jehovah remembers and blesses at the appointed time" e. "At the appointed time Jehovah blesses whom He remembers" 6. the Old Testament doesn't tell us how Zechariah died, but Jesus might have told us a. "that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.": Matthew 23:35 (Luke 11:51) (i) Abel to Zechariah, the first to the last recorded Old Testament martyrs b. Jewish writings also state that a Zechariah, (grand)son of Iddo, a prophet and priest, was killed in the sanctuary c. another Zechariah was killed in the same way: 2 Chronicles 24: this Zechariah is at the end of the Old Testament; another Zechariah is at the start of the New Testament: Luke 1:5-25, a. also a priest b. the father of John the Baptist c. his wife is Elizabeth (i) Elizabeth = "His oath" (ii) Zechariah + Elizabeth = "Jehovah remembers His oath" Jeff Blake 1

10 C. Zechariah's message 1. began 2 months after Haggai started his prophecy a. compare Zechariah 1:1 to Haggai 1:1 b. 520 B.C. 2. Zechariah may have been much younger than Haggai a. " this young man ": Zechariah 2:4 3. both Zechariah and Haggai encouraged the people to resume building the temple: Ezra 5:1-2 a. temple completed in 515 B.C. (i) Ezra 6:15 4. Haggai preached 4 sermons in 4 months and then disappeared from the written record 5. both preached about moral issues and called for spiritual renewal a. Zechariah also revealed God's plan for the future of Israel 6. eight visions given in one night a. Zechariah 1-6 b. all connected c. precisely dated (i) "On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah": Zechariah 1:7 (ii) February 15, 519 B.C. d. each vision has a similar pattern (i) a description of what is seen (ii) a question to the angel for its meaning (iii) the explanation by the angel II. Call to Repentance: Zechariah 1:1-6 A. 8 th month of Darius' 2 nd year 1. October 520 B.C. 2. dates given are relative to Gentile rulers, not Jewish rulers a. it's the "time of the Gentiles" (i) no descendent of David is on the throne (ii) Daniel 2, 7 (iii) Hosea 3:4-5 (iv) Luke 21:24 B. "the word of the Lord came to Zechariah": Zechariah 1:1 1. this phrase occurs many times in Zechariah 2. similar expression also used in Haggai a number of times C. about three months before the visions 1. compare Zechariah 1:1 with Zechariah 1:7 D. "very angry": Zechariah 1:2 1. literally "angry with anger" or "angry with wrath" a. same as in Zechariah 1:15 2. they're being warned not to repeat the errors of their ancestors E. "Lord of Hosts": Zechariah 1:3 1. "hosts" refer to an army F. "Return to Me and I will return to you": Zechariah 1:3 1. repentance is always a prerequisite to receive God's blessings 2. "'Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord of hosts.": Malachi 3:7 3. "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.": Isaiah 55: "rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God": Joel 2: Matthew 4:17 6. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 26: Corinthians 7:10 Jeff Blake 2

11 G. "Do not be like your fathers ": Zechariah 1: we must be responsive to the lessons of history if we do not want to be destroyed 2. repentance is a primary goal of prophecy: there should be a change 3. "History teaches that man learns nothing from history." Hegel 4. the brevity of life: Zechariah 1:5 a. highlights the hazard of delay in repentance b. "So teach us to number our days": Psalm 90:12 5. "My words and My statutes did they not overtake your fathers?": Zechariah 1:6 a. they couldn't get away from what the Lord said (i) the exile was proof of it (see Zechariah 7:8-14) b. we must count on the unchangeableness of God's word if we want to do anything that lasts c. "He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.": Psalm 147:15 d. "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you": Deuteronomy 28:15 e. "Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.": Deuteronomy 28:45 f. "be sure your sin will find you out": Numbers 32:23 6. God gave them unconditional promises, but He still required their obedience III. Vision #1, the 4 Horses: Zechariah 1:7-17 A. "24 th day of the 11 th month": Zechariah 1:7 1. February 15, 519 B.C. 2. other things in Scripture have also happened on the 24 th day of the month a. Nehemiah 9:1 b. Daniel 10:4 c. Haggai 1:15; 2:10, 18, this is exactly 5 months after they resumed work on the temple: Haggai 1: this is exactly 2 months after the last of Haggai's prophecies: Haggai 2:10-23 B. "I saw by night": Zechariah 1:8 1. he was awake 2. it's a vision and not a dream 3. night visions are common a. Job 33:15-17 b. Daniel 2:19; 7:2 c. Micah 3:6 d. Acts 16:9; 18:9 4. When we can't sleep, or when we wake up during the night, where do our thoughts go? a. "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.": Psalm 63:6 C. "among the myrtle trees": Zechariah 1:8, myrtle is a popular name, label, or idiom of Israel 2. Esther = myrtle ("Hadassah" in Esther 2:7) 3. myrtle used in the building of the booths for the Feast of the Tabernacles: Leviticus 23:33-44; Nehemiah 8:15 4. myrtle is suggestive of the Millennium a. Isaiah 41:19; 55:13 5. Jesus is among them a. this person will be identified as Jesus Christ in Zechariah 1:11 6. Jesus is looking out for the nation of Israel a. He may not be doing it too obviously, such as in the book of Esther b. Israel has not been abandoned c. God is not finished with Israel D. "in the hollow": Zechariah 1:8 1. may refer to the low point in Israel's history 2. this was early in the "times of the Gentiles" Jeff Blake 3

12 E. "horses: red, sorrel, and white": Zechariah 1:8 1. these horses have nothing to do with the 4 horses in Revelation 6:1-8 a. Jesus is on none of them in Revelation 6 b. Jesus is on one of them here in Zechariah 1 2. red suggests war and judgment a. Isaiah 63:1-6 (Revelation 19:11-15) b. Revelation 6:3 3. white suggests righteousness, mercy, and peace a. Revelation 19:11 4. sorrel suggests? a. not even sure of the exact color (i) brown, tawny, bay, bright red? (ii) piebald, speckled? b. used only here in the Old Testament F. "to and fro": Zechariah 1:10 1. other things have also gone "to and fro" in Scripture a. the raven that Noah sent out from the ark: Genesis 8:7 b. the eyes of the Lord: 2 Chronicles 16:9 (i) "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." c. seven eyes of the Lord: Zechariah 4:10 (i) Zechariah 3:9 (ii) Revelation 5:6 d. Satan: Job 1:7; 2:2 e. those vainly seeking the Word of the Lord: Amos 8:12 f. "many": Daniel 12:4 2. they were patrolling the events, and movements, and the happenings of the earth a. and probably getting involved, too! b. we have no idea of the magnitude of what is going on in the spiritual realm behind our backs (i) a lot of it is for our benefit (ii) "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.": Ephesians 6:12 (iii) Daniel 10:10-13, G. "Angel of the Lord (Jehovah)": Zechariah 1:11, refers to Jesus, the preincarnate Christ 2. Genesis 16:7-13; (18:1-33); 22: Exodus 3:2-4 a. compare Exodus 3:14 to John 8:58! 4. Numbers 22: (Joshua 5:13-6:2) 6. Judges 2:1-4; 6:11-24; 13:3-25 H. "the earth resting quietly": Zechariah 1:11 1. definitely a disappointing statement to Israel a. they were in turmoil (i) no temple (ii) no city walls (iii) people all around them were against them b. the nations were at ease relative to Israel's turmoil (Zechariah 1:15) (i) Isaiah 32:9, 11 (ii) Jeremiah 48:11 (iii) Amos 6:1 2. they hoped for judgments to come upon their enemies a. they were hoping for the Millennial promises (i) Haggai had just given some of those prophecies: Haggai 2:7, perhaps they too could have been resting quietly if they had been faithful Jeff Blake 4

13 I. Jesus asks the Father a question: Zechariah 1:12 1. the time period of 70 years is specified in Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10 2. the return after the 70 years of exile was not the end of the story a. this was the first return to the land b. there was still the prophecy about the second return to the land (i) "the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people": Isaiah 11:11 (ii) it's happening now J. declarations and words of comfort: Zechariah 1: "I am zealous for Jerusalem": Zechariah 1:14 a. repeated in Zechariah 8:2 b. the word for zealous can also mean jealous c. Exodus 20:5; 34:14 d. Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; 29:20; 32:16, 21 e. Joshua 24:19 f. Joel 2:18 g. Nahum 1:2 h. God is not watching in a detached or passive manner 2. "I am exceedingly angry with the nations": Zechariah 1:15 a. literally "angry with anger" or "angry with wrath" b. God will judge the nations (i) Joel 3:1-17 (ii) Zephaniah 3:8 (iii) Zechariah 14:2-3 (iv) Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:19-21 (v) He will judge them regarding to how they treated the nation of Israel - Matthew 25:31-46 c. the 2 nd vision (Zechariah 1:18-21) will be an amplification of Zechariah 1:15 d. "he who touches you touches the apple (pupil) of His eye": Zechariah 2:8 (i) whoever afflicts Israel is poking their finger in the eye of God (ii) Deuteronomy 32:10 (iii) Lamentations 2:18 3. "I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy": Zechariah 1:16 a. "My house shall be built in it" (i) the temple will be rebuilt (ii) the future temple is described in Ezekiel prior to the destruction of Solomon's temple the glory of the Lord ("Shekinah") had departed: Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:23 - the glory of the Lord will return: Ezekiel 43:2-5 b. Jerusalem's boundaries will expand c. the 3 rd vision (Zechariah 2:1-13) will be an amplification of Zechariah 1:16 4. God will once again choose Jerusalem: Zechariah 1:17 a. this is repeated a number of times in Zechariah (i) Zechariah 2:12; 3:2 b. prosperity will return c. God will comfort them (i) "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.": Isaiah 66:13 d. "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: 'This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision '": Psalm 132:13-18 e. "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.": Romans 11:29 5. Zechariah 1:17 ends chapter 1 in the Hebrew Bible Jeff Blake 5

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15 Lesson 2: Zechariah 1:18-3:10 I. Vision #2, the 4 Horns and Craftsmen: Zechariah 1:18-21 A. amplification of Zechariah 1:15 B. could simply refer to the nations punishing each other C. a horn is a symbol of pride and strength 1. represents nations or kingdoms 2. Psalms 75:4-5, 10; 92:10 3. Jeremiah 48:25 4. Daniel 8:3-4, Amos 6: Micah 4:13 D. to lift up one's horn is a sign of victory (1 Samuel 2:1) E. to lower one's horn is a sign of defeat (Job 16:15) F. "these horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem": Zechariah 1:19 1. could represent 4 nations or kingdoms that have afflicted Israel a. may start with Babylon (i) the "times of the Gentiles" started with the Babylonian captivity b. this may be the 4 kingdoms or empires referred to in Daniel 2, 7 (i) Babylonian (ii) Medo-Persian (iii) Greek (iv) Roman 2. could represent the entire earth a. 4 compass points b. 4 quarters of the earth c. 4 winds d. Israel has been afflicted from all directions e. the "4" may just represent a composite action upon the earth 3. "Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem" a. not mere symbols b. Judah speaks of the southern kingdom c. Israel speaks of the northern kingdom d. no lost 10 tribes 4. Israel has been scattered all through their history a. the "diaspora" b. continuous persecution G. four craftsmen/workmen: Zechariah 1: Zechariah was not interested in their identity, just their function 2. God has his agencies ("workmen") that will overthrow Israel's enemies 3. could also refer to each kingdom being defeated by the successive kingdom a. Babylonian empire defeated by the Medo-Persian b. Medo-Persian empire defeated by the Greek c. Greek empire defeated by the Roman d. Roman empire will be defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ 4. Babylon will be punished a. Isaiah 13, 14 b. Jeremiah 50, 51 c. Revelation 17, "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.": Hebrews 10:30-31; Deuteronomy 32: Nebucadnezzar learned the hard way that God is sovereign over the nations: Daniel 4:17, God has always been interested in Israel's well-being; things do not go unnoticed a. "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.": Psalm 121:4 Jeff Blake 7

16 II. Vision #3, Man with a Measuring Line: Zechariah 2:1-13 A. amplification of Zechariah 1:16 B. most scholars agree that this is Jesus C. speaks of the future expansion and enlargement of Jerusalem 1. they were only rebuilding the temple at that time 2. they did not know the scope of the future plans for Jerusalem D. sounds similar to Ezekiel 40, the measuring of the future Millennial temple E. a "line" is used as a symbol for different things 1. of destruction a. Isaiah 34:11 b. Lamentations 2:8 c. 2 Kings 21:13 2. a measure of perfection or righteousness a. Isaiah 28:17 b. Amos 7: preparation for building a. Job 38:5 F. "towns without walls": Zechariah 2: speaks of vulnerability a. Esther 9:19 b. Ezekiel 38:11 2. speaks of bursting out of the boundaries due to population explosion a. Isaiah 49: safety will come from the Lord: Zechariah 2:5 a. also seen in Zechariah 9:8 b. "wall of fire" (i) Isaiah 4:5-6 (ii) Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-31; 40:34-38 (iii) Numbers 14:14 (iv) Jehovah was associated with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire 4. the Lord and His glory will dwell among them a. Him dwelling among His people is mentioned 3 times in this chapter: Zechariah 2:5, 10, 11 b. Isaiah 4:2-6; 40:5; 60:19 c. "the name of the city from that day shall be: 'The Lord is There'": Ezekiel 48:35 5. "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.": Psalm 46:5-7 G. message to the exiles still in Babylon, yet to return: Zechariah 2: the call to leave Babylon: Zechariah 2:6-7 a. Isaiah 48:20 b. Jeremiah 50:8; 51:6 c. Revelation 18:4 d. "from the land of the north": Zechariah 2:6 (i) Babylon is to the east of Israel (ii) the route to/from Babylon was to the north along the "fertile crescent" (iii) "they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers": Jeremiah 3:18 e. does not speak of the first return (i) many stayed in Babylon, even Daniel! (ii) speaks of the second return, the one that is happening now - "It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people He will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.": Isaiah 11: "I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds and they shall dwell in their own land": Jeremiah 23:3-8 - "the Lord will scatter you among all peoples": Deuteronomy 28:64 f. can also speak of our quest to leave our spiritual Babylon, to keep apart from the world Jeff Blake 8

17 g. the final Babylon will be destroyed (i) the actual city of Babylon has never been destroyed as described in Scripture (ii) it will be an actual physical event - Isaiah 13, 14 - Jeremiah 50, 51 - Revelation 17, 18 (iii) will also include the false religious system called "Mystery Babylon": Revelation God's judgment against those who afflict Israel: Zechariah 2:8-9 a. "He sent Me" = "God the Father sent Jesus" (i) Isaiah 48:12-16; 61:1-3 (ii) Matthew 25:31-46 b. "he who touches you touches the apple of His eye": Zechariah 2:8 (i) "apple" = something hollowed (as a gate), that is, the pupil of the eye - the gateway to the soul (ii) this Hebrew word for pupil (babah) is only used here in Scripture - a pun against Babylon? - they considered themselves the gateway to the gods (iii) Deuteronomy 32:10 (iv) Psalm 17:8 (v) Proverbs 7:2 (vi) "he who touches you pokes their finger in the eye of God" c. "I will shake My hand against them": Zechariah 2:9 (i) a threatening gesture by the Lord of Armies, the Commander-in-Chief (ii) Isaiah 10:32; 11:15; 13:2; 19:16 H. message to those already in Zion, 4 promises about their future: Zechariah 2: "I am coming and I will dwell in your midst": Zechariah 2:10 a. the 2 nd time it's mentioned in this chapter that He will dwell among His people (i) Zechariah 2:5, 10, "many nations shall become My people": Zechariah 2:11 a. speaks of the Gentiles being saved b. "in that day" (i) speaks of the Rapture? (ii) Amos 9:11-12 (iii) Acts 15:14-17 c. very shocking to the Jews, but should not have been (i) promises to Abraham - "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed": Genesis 12:3 - "you shall be a father of many nations": Genesis 17:4 - "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.": Genesis 22:18 - "in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.": Genesis 28:14 (ii) the prophets spoke of it - "He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles": Isaiah 42:1 - "I will give You as a light to the Gentiles": Isaiah 42:6 - "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.": Isaiah 49:6 - Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 55:3-5; 66: Ezekiel 36:23; 37:28; 38:23; 39:7 - Micah 4:1-2 - Psalm 18:49; 117:1 - Deuteronomy 32:43-2 Samuel 22:50 - Romans 15:9-12 (iii) even the early Jewish Christians were surprised, too: Acts 11:1-18 d. Acts 2:39; 3:25; 26:23 e. Romans 9:24 Jeff Blake 9

18 f. the Gentiles are "grafted in": Romans 11:17-24 g. "I will dwell in your midst" (i) the 3 rd time it's mentioned in this chapter that He will dwell among His people - Zechariah 2:5, 10, "the Lord shall take possession of Judah the Holy Land": Zechariah 2:12 a. the term "Holy Land" probably refers to the Millennium when He will "remove the iniquity of that land in one day" (Zechariah 3:9) (i) the only place in Scripture that this term occurs b. "choose Jerusalem" (i) just as it's been said in Zechariah 1:17; 3:2 (ii) "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: 'This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision '": Psalm 132:13-18 (iii) God chose Jerusalem for the Throne of David, so He is not finished with Israel - Isaiah 2:2-4 - Zechariah 8:20-23 (iv) Israel is dealt with separately from the church: Romans 11: worldwide judgment at the 2 nd coming of the Lord: Zechariah 2:13 a. Isaiah 40:10 b. "He is aroused from His holy habitation" (i) we probably don't fully understand the awesome magnitude of these types of statements (ii) "The Lord will roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation He will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth for the Lord has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword disaster shall go forth from nation to nation at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground.": Jeremiah 25:30-33 (iii) Deuteronomy 26:15 (iv) 2 Chronicles 30:27 (v) Isaiah 26:21; 57:15; 63:15 (vi) Habakkuk 2:20 (vii) Zephaniah 1:7 III. Vision #4, Joshua the High Priest: Zechariah 3:1-10 A. Joshua was the High Priest when they returned from Babylon 1. Ezra 4:3; 5:2 2. Haggai 1:1, 12; 2:2 3. Zechariah 6:11-15 B. Joshua will be used as a symbol of Israel 1. a High Priest stands in place of the people he represents 2. not speaking of Joshua's sins but of the people (Zechariah 3:9) 3. can also be a picture of us since we're grafted in (Romans 11:17-24) 4. can also be used to speak of our own personal sins C. Joshua = "Jehovah saves" = Jesus 1. Matthew 1:21 D. "Satan to accuse him": Zechariah 3:1 1. Satan is a real person, not just some sort of invisible force 2. "accuse" = (H7853) to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose; to attack, accuse 3. "Satan" = (H7854) the adversary a. Job 1:6-9, 12; 2:1-4, "accusation" (H7855) in Ezra 4:6 5. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.'": Revelation 12:10 Jeff Blake 10

19 6. Jesus is our advocate a. "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.": 1 John 2:1 E. "the Lord the Lord": Zechariah 3:2 1. two people of the Trinity clearly seen a. "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'": Psalm 110:1 (i) Jesus used this passage to confuse the Pharisees - Matthew 22: Mark 12: Luke 20: "the Lord rebuke you" is similar to Jude 1:9 a. the ultimate rebuke of Satan by God the Father will be in Revelation 20:10 3. "chosen Jerusalem" a. seen again, just as in Zechariah 1:17; 2:12 b. re-affirms to them that they haven't been forgotten 4. "brand plucked from the fire" a. not allowed to be consumed b. they will be pulled out from the trauma and the dispersion c. plucked out by His sovereign grace d. Amos 4:11 e. Romans 11:4-5 f. Jude 1:23 g. fire often seem connected with Israel (i) covenant with Abraham: Genesis 15:17 (ii) offering of Isaac: Genesis 22:7 (iii) Moses and the burning bush: Exodus 3:2 (iv) giving of the Law: Exodus 19:18 (v) rearing of the Tabernacle: Numbers 9:15-16 (vi) wilderness journeys: Deuteronomy 1:33 F. "filthy garments": Zechariah 3:3 1. literally garments covered with excrement 2. very offensive term 3. a picture of us, or anyone when standing before the Throne of God in our own garments 4. garments represent our rank, standing, or worth 5. "But we are all as the unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as a menstruation cloth. And we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.": Isaiah 64:6 6. Isaiah 4: Proverbs 30:12 G. God is the one who forgives sins: Zechariah 3:4 1. only through Christ Jesus a. Romans 3:22-25 b. Ephesians 1:7 c. Revelation 7: angels can't forgive sin 3. speaks of the future salvation of Israel a. Isaiah 45:17; 59:20-21 b. Jeremiah 50:20 c. Romans 9:27; 11: Adam and Eve couldn't cover themselves a. God demonstrated that the shedding of innocent blood was necessary: Genesis 3:7, 21 (i) this is where God may have originally instituted the concept of the sacrifices 5. "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.": Isaiah 43:25 Jeff Blake 11

20 6. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.": Isaiah 61:10 7. parable of the wedding feast: Matthew 22:1-14 a. the hosts provided the guests with the wedding garments 8. Marriage Supper of the Lamb: Revelation 19:6-16 H. "I said": Zechariah 3:5 1. Zechariah is participating! 2. he's getting into the act 3. and they take his suggestion! I. call to obedience: Zechariah 3: although they've been clothed with new garments, there is still a call to obedience 2. service is to flow out of a godly life a. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.": John 14:15 J. the coming Messiah: Zechariah 3: "My servant": Zechariah 3:8 a. very important description of the Messiah b. Isaiah 42:1; 49:3, 5; 50:10; 52:13; 53:11 c. Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24 d. Philippians 2: "the Branch": Zechariah 3:8 a. "branch" = sprout, growth, offshoot (H6780) b. Isaiah 4:2 c. Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15 d. Zechariah 6:12 e. "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.": Isaiah 53:2 f. "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.": Isaiah 11:1 (i) "branch" = netser (H5342) - from where Nazareth got its name - "He shall be called a Nazarene": Matthew 2:23 3. "the stone": Zechariah 3:9 a. "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation": Isaiah 28:16 b. "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.": Psalm 118:22 c. Matthew 21:42-44 d. Acts 4:11 e. Romans 9:32-33 f. 1 Corinthians 1:23; 10:4 g. Ephesians 2:20 h. 1 Peter 2: "seven eyes": Zechariah 3:9 a. speaks of omniscience b. complete knowledge of what happens on the earth c. Zechariah 4:10 d. Revelation 5:6 e. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.": 2 Chronicles 16:9 5. "engrave": Zechariah 3:9 a. the precious stones on the priest's garments were engraved (i) Exodus 28:11, 21, 36; 39:6, 14, 30 Jeff Blake 12

21 b. How was Jesus "engraved?" (i) thorns on His head (ii) nails in His hands and feet (iii) spear into His side (iv) "The only man-made things in heaven are scars." 6. "I will remove the iniquity of the land in one day": Zechariah 3:9 a. speaks of the future salvation of Israel (i) Isaiah 45:17; 59:20-21 (ii) Jeremiah 50:20 (iii) Romans 9:27; 11:25-29 b. could also speak of the day of crucifixion (i) "John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'": John 1:29 7. "In that day": Zechariah 3:10 a. speaks of the Day of the Lord b. speaks of the Millennial kingdom and the future, eternal restoration of Israel c. "under his vine and fig tree" (i) speaks of Judah and Israel under the rule of Solomon: 1 Kings 4:25 (ii) "But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.": Micah 4:4 (iii) " indeed a greater than Solomon is here": Matthew 12:42 Jeff Blake 13

22 Jeff Blake 14

23 Lesson 3: Zechariah 4:1-5:4 I. Vision #5, the Lampstand and Two Olive Trees: Zechariah 4 A. "the angel came back and wakened me": Zechariah 4:1 1. some interval of time might have passed 2. being awaken from sleep is also seen at the Transfiguration: Luke 9:32 3. put into a deep sleep a. Adam: Genesis 2:21 b. Abraham: Genesis 15:12 4. visions of the night and deep sleep are seen associated elsewhere a. Job 4:13; 33:15 B. solid gold lampstand: Zechariah 4:2 1. not candlestick 2. might remind him of the one in the tabernacle and the temple a. Zechariah is a priest so he knew all about the temple b. Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24 c. 1 Kings 7:44 d. beaten out of a single piece of gold e. seven branches f. the only light in the tabernacle 3. it had a bowl on the top to store the oil a. instead of the priests manually filling the lamps (Exodus 27:20-21; 30:7-8; Leviticus 24:1-4) (i) without human effort 4. each of the lamps were fed from separate pipes a. Hebrew construction may indicate that there were 7 pipes to each lamp (i) literally "7 and 7" (ii) a total of the 2 olive trees supplied oil to the bowl: Zechariah 4:3, C. the 2 olive trees: Zechariah 4: Zechariah asks about them but doesn't get an answer a. he will ask again in Zechariah 4:11 D. "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit": Zechariah 4:6 1. may be the most quoted verse from Zechariah 2. not by brain or brawn 3. not through human efforts 4. "says the Lord of Hosts" a. the commander-in-chief of the heavenly armies b. He has plenty of power and support to carry out His will 5. encouragement to those working on the temple 6. definitely speaks to all of us today 7. "'be strong, Zerubbabel be strong, Joshua and be strong, all you people of the land and work; for I am with you,' says the Lord of hosts 'My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!'": Haggai 2: "they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand ": Psalm 44: "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him": Ezra 8: "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose": Romans 8: "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.": Psalm 127:1 12. "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.": 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 Jeff Blake 15

24 13. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds": 2 Corinthians 10:4 14. "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God ": Ephesians 6:10-18 E. "great mountain shall become a plain": Zechariah 4:7 1. may represent the difficulties that they're facing F. prophecy about Zerubbabel: Zechariah 4: "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.": Ezra 3: he was to finish the temple: Zechariah 4:9 a. he wasn't going to die b. someone else wasn't going to take over c. this is a distinct prophecy that they will be able to use to test Zechariah's message 3. "who has despised the day of small things?": Zechariah 4:10 a. "But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid": Ezra 3:12 (i) the previous temple was larger and made with better materials (1 Kings 7:9-10) b. Haggai's 3 rd vision (Haggai 2:1-9) was in response to the people's discouragement (i) "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?": Haggai 2:3 (ii) although it didn't look like it now, but the future glory will be more than the past glory (Haggai 2:9) c. the seven eyes of the Lord (i) Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 (ii) Revelation 5:6 (iii) they rejoice to see it - "if it's good enough for the Lord it should be good enough for you" (iv) "which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth" - "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.": 2 Chronicles 16:9 - "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.": Proverbs 15:3 G. the identity of the olive trees: Zechariah 4: Zechariah asks a second time: Zechariah 4: "branches" = flowing stream; head of grain a. (H7641) "shibboleth" b. a password used in Judges 12:6 3. the two olive trees are apparently the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12 a. "These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.": Revelation 11:4 b. "anointed ones" is literally "sons of oil" 4. "Lord of the whole earth": Zechariah 4:14 a. not just of Israel, or of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob b. far broader scope than just Israel c. Millennial phrase, and beyond d. speaks of the ultimate kingdom age e. Joshua 3:11, 13 f. Psalm 97:5 g. Micah 4:13 h. Zechariah 6:5 i. Revelation 11:4 Jeff Blake 16

25 II. Light of the World A. Israel was planted among the pagan nations to be a light to them: Deuteronomy 4:6 1. Jerusalem was set in the middle: Ezekiel 5:5 2. God set the boundaries of nations: Deuteronomy 32:8 3. the Holy Spirit was to shine forth through them a. the oil feeding the lampstand (i) oil is an idiom of the Holy Spirit (ii) seven branches: 1 on the center and 6 coming from it (Exodus 25:32) B. they failed miserably 1. they were doing worse things than the nations around them: Ezekiel 5:6; 2 Kings 21:9-11; 2 Chronicles 33:9 2. they will therefore be judged like never before: Ezekiel 5:7-10; 2 Kings 21:12-13 C. we're planted to be a light among those around us: Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:15 1. the Holy Spirit is to shine forth through us 2. how are we doing?! D. "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now 'If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?'": 1 Peter 4: quotes Proverbs 11:31 from the Septuagint (LXX) a. "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?": (1851 Brenton's English Septuagint) b. "If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.": (NKJV) III. Vision #6, the Flying Scroll: Zechariah 5:1-4 A. the tone of the visions now change 1. previous visions were of comfort and encouragement 2. the remaining visions are of judgment a. God cannot ignore sin B. "flying" implies activity 1. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.": Hebrews 4:12 C. 10 by 20 cubits: Zechariah 5:2 1. How did Zechariah know its dimensions?! 2. dimensions of the Holy Place in the Tabernacle: Exodus 26:15-25 a. total dimensions was 10 x 30 b. subtract 10 x 10 for the Holy of Holies 3. dimensions of Solomon's Porch: 1 Kings 6:3 D. written on both sides of the scroll: Zechariah 5:3 1. very unusual to be written on both sides a. one side was usually better to write on than the other 2. a few things in Scripture were written on both sides a. the "10 commandments" on the 2 tablets of stone: Exodus 32:15 b. scroll given to Ezekiel to eat: Ezekiel 2:9-10 c. seven-sealed scroll: Revelation 5:1 E. "the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth": Zechariah 5:3 1. the flying scroll represents the Word of God a. the curse is associated with it: "according to this side according to that side" (i) "curse" refers to the judgment of God - retribution - punishment (ii) "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us": Galatians 3:13 2. it's the Word of God coming in judgment Jeff Blake 17

26 3. a key concept in Revelation has to do with the "earth dwellers" or "those that dwell on the earth" (Revelation 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:8) 4. curses and judgment are often associated with the Word of God a. " then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him and the Lord would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law": Deuteronomy 29:18-21 b. "I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.": 2 Chronicles 34:24-25 c. "Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.": Daniel 9:11 d. "Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.": Deuteronomy 27:26 e. "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant'": Jeremiah 11:3 f. Isaiah 24:4-6 g. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 h. everyone will be judged by the Word of God: it's inescapable (i) Jesus said, "the word that I have spoken will judge him": John 12:48 (ii) "Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?": Zechariah 1:6 (iii) "He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.": Psalm 147:15 (iv) "'And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien -- because they do not fear Me,' says the Lord of hosts.": Malachi 3:5 F. "every thief and everyone who swears falsely by My name": Zechariah 5: "cut off" (KJV) = to be cleaned out, be purged out; expelled; banished 2. it appears that 2 of the "10 Commandments" are mentioned here a. the 3 rd : "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.": Exodus 20:7 b. the 8 th : "You shall not steal.": Exodus 20:15 3. "according to this side according to that side": Zechariah 5:3 a. do these 2 represent all 10? b. is it one commandment from each column? (i) if we make a 2-column list of the "10 Commandments," 5 in each column, the middle commandment in each column will be these 2 commandments mentioned here c. is it one commandment from each section? (i) the first 4 of the "10 Commandments" deals with our relationship with God (ii) the final 6 deals with our relationship with others 4. "it [the curse] shall remain in the midst of the house and consume it": Zechariah 5:4 a. similar terminology regarding the destruction of the house of a leper: Leviticus 14:45 b. "The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.": Proverbs 3:33 Jeff Blake 18

27 Lesson 4: Zechariah 5:5-6:15 I. Vision #7, the Woman in the Ephah (Basket): Zechariah 5:5-11 A. the common interpretation of this vision is that it speaks of the future salvation of Israel, of sin being taken away from Israel 1. see Addendum #1 for a discussion as to why I disagree that this vision speaks of that B. the ephah was the standard dry measure of commerce 1. about 1 bushel omers 3. 1/10 of a homer 4. the ephah may speak of commerce C. "their resemblance" or "their form" or "their appearance" or "their eyes": Zechariah 5:6 1. this may mean that the worldwide interest is commerce 2. the LXX says "their iniquity" 3. this may mean that commerce is their idol, or may even speak of corrupt commerce a. " making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals -- even sell the bad wheat": Amos 8:5-6 b. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.": 1 Timothy 6:10 D. "talent of lead" (KJV): Zechariah 5:7 1. the exact weight of a talent is unknown a. probably somewhere between 75 to 125 pounds 2. can also refer to a generic round disc, weight, or stone 3. this is probably nothing more than just to represent a heavy, dense cover (Zechariah 5:8) E. "a woman sitting inside the ephah 'This is Wickedness'": Zechariah 5: not wickedness in general a. when an idiom of a woman is used, it is usually used for something specific (i) Revelation 12, 17, 18 (ii) Matthew 13:33 2. probably refers to the harlot of Revelation 17 a. the harlot represents the future worldwide false religious system (i) presently refers to the Vatican b. the harlot and Babylon are associated in Revelation 17 (i) the harlot is known as "Mystery Babylon": Revelation 17:5 c. here in Zechariah 5:5-11, the woman and Babylon ("the land of Shinar": Zechariah 5:11) are associated 3. is this a forceful action? F. the woman and the ephah are being taken to Babylon: Zechariah 5: the worldwide centers of commerce (the ephah) and religion (the woman) are being united and will be in Babylon a. Babylon will be the center of commerce: Revelation 18: a stork is an unclean bird: Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18 a. this passage does not sound Jewish in nature b. this does not sound like wickedness being removed from Israel 3. "when it is ready" or "established" or "prepared" or "made ready": Zechariah 5:11 a. at just the right time b. sin fills up or accumulates (i) Genesis 15:16 (ii) Daniel 8:23 (iii) Matthew 23:32-35 (iv) 1 Thessalonians 2:16 (v) James 5:1-7 Jeff Blake 19

28 G. the physical destruction of Babylon as described in Isaiah 13, 14 and Jeremiah 50, 51 has never happened 1. once the evil religious system ("Mystery Babylon" of Revelation 17) is moved to Babylon, Babylon can then be physically and utterly destroyed 2. this passage is the preparation for Revelation 17, fulfillment may be part of the next vision II. Vision #8, the Four Chariots: Zechariah 6:1-8 A. four chariots: Zechariah 6:1 1. chariots can speak of angels: Psalm 68:17 2. "For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.": Isaiah 66:16 B. "from between two mountains of bronze": Zechariah 6:1 1. bronze speaks of judgment a. bronze gets harder with repeated heating; good for altars, etc. b. bronze altar in the Tabernacle: Exodus 27:1-8 c. bronze serpent: Numbers 21:9; John 3:14 d. (in the Hebrew, brass, bronze, and copper are often used interchangeably) 2. the two mountains are commonly thought to be the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion/Moriah a. the Kidron Valley is between them (i) this is where Gethsemane is - "Gethsemane" = "oil-press" b. since the 4 th century many have assumed (presumed?) that the Kidron Valley is the Valley of Jehoshaphat (i) "Jehoshaphat" = "Jehovah judges" (ii) no valley in that area has ever been named the Valley of Jehoshaphat (iii) the name may only be figurative; there may not be one specific valley being referred to (iv) "I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.": Joel 3:2 (v) "'Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations for their wickedness is great.' Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.": Joel 3: as an additional idea, when Jesus comes He will split the Mount of Olives into two and make His own valley a. "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.": Zechariah 14: as yet another idea, what about Armageddon? (Revelation 16:14-16) a. "Armageddon" = "mount of Megiddo" b. "the valley of Jezreel" (Hosea 1:5, 11) C. "red horses black horses white horses dappled horses": Zechariah 6: red speaks of war, bloodshed, judgment 2. black speaks of famine and death 3. white speaks of victory, righteousness, peace 4. dappled speaks of? a. "dappled" = "hail-spotted" (i) part of the 7 th bowl judgment is hail (Revelation 16:17-21) Jeff Blake 20