THE COURTS OF HEAVEN Part IV Introduction: Zech 1-11 Amp The Angel of the Lord Gen. 16:7-13 Gen. 31:11-13 Exodus 3:2-6 Exodus 23:20-23 Judges 2:1-5 Zechariah 1-6 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH THE PROPHET AUTHORSHIP AND RECIPIENTS: the word of the Lord unto Zechariah. (Zech 1:1) Oct/Nov 520 BC To Israel and to the entire world. BACKGROUND: From 606 to 586 BC, Judah fell to Babylon and was carried into captivity. 536 BC Cyrus decree to rebuild. Zechariah s ministry occurred during the return of Judah to Israel. Contemporary with Daniel, Haggai, Nehemiah and Ezra. GENERAL NOTES: He called the people to rebuild a deep relationship with the Lord as they rebuilt the city of Jerusalem. His ministry also involved the sweeping foretelling of Israel s glorious future. His words about Israel s Messiah are his greatest contribution to Scripture. INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT FEATURES: The book of Zechariah is the longest of the twelve Minor Prophets. The first six chapters of this book record 8 interactive visions that occurred in one night. The remainder of the book contains his primary message of future national glory and the Messiah. The nature of his death by martyrdom is recorded in Matt 23:35. KEY VERSES: THEME: Zech 4:6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. NIV Zech 1:14-17 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. 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.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. 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. KJV
MESSIANIC PASSAGES The Angel of the Lord in Zech 1:11-13, and 3:1-10, The Branch in 3:8 and 6:12 o 2:10-11, The Angel of the Lord/God who comes to live with Israel o 4:1-14, The two Messiahs (1 st and 2 nd, King and Priest) o 6:9-13, The two Messiahs, King and Priest o 9:9-10, Riding on a donkey, proclaim peace to the Nations o 10:4, The Cornerstone from Judah o 11:12-13, Thirty pieces of silver o 12:10, Israel weeping for the one they pierced o 3:9 & 13:1, Cleansing from sin o 13:6, Wounds at house of my friends o 13:7, The Shepherd with the scattered sheep o 14:4, Second Coming with Mt. of Olives splitting o 14:9, Messiah as King over the Earth ZECH 3:1-11: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Feb. 15, 519 BC ZECHARIAH S 8 NIGHT VISIONS 1:7-6:8 & 6:9-15 Zech 3: 1 THEN [the guiding angel] showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua's right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him. The Scene and the Players o Many present in the room that Zech sees o The Guiding Angel o Zechariah Joshua the high priest o Standing before the Angel of the Lord o Does not represent Jesus, our High Priest o Represents the High Priest in His Office The Angel of the Lord (Jesus the Messiah) o The Main Player o Angel named Yahweh o My Angel in Exodus o Represents Jesus, the Messiah Satan o At his right hand (where an accuser would stand in court) o To be his adversary o To accuse him 2 And the LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! Even the Lord, Who [now and habitually] chooses Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this [returned captive Joshua] a brand plucked out of the fire? Satan says Nothing. It is Yahweh Himself speaking, or the Angel of Yahweh speaking for Him? The Angel of the LORD is speaking (JESUS) Twice, The LORD rebuke you Satan. 2
The LORD who chooses Jerusalem (Theme of Zech s entire book) o The Lord defends Joshua BECAUSE he has chosen Jerusalem o The Lord sees the sin/stains, but extends GRACE Joshua, the High Priest is a returned captive plucked out of the fire. Joshua represents: o The High Priest o The Jewish Priesthood o The Jews in Captivity all of The Jewish People o All People of God o He does not represent Jesus The Pardon and defense is for the Whole Nation of Israel 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord]. Joshua is wearing filthy garments o Filthy garments speak of sin o Standing before The Angel of the Lord (second time described) o The Angel of the LORD is calling the shots for the entire scene 4 And He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And He said to [Joshua], Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel. He and Him are The Angel of the LORD speaking /commanding. Those who stood before Him (Angels?, Living Creatures?, 24 Elders?, Others, millions?) Take away the filthy garments (remove his sin) The Angel of the LORD speaks to Joshua, the High Priest. o I have caused your iniquity to pass from you. (remove your sin) o I will clothe you with rich apparel 5 And I [Zechariah] said, Let them put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. Zechariah speaks/commands those who stood before, the Angel of the Lord. o Let them put a clean turban on his head. (Holy To the Lord) So those who stood before him, put a clean turban on his head. The same beings clothed him with rich garments or festive apparel. During all of this, the Angel of the Lord stood by giving His agreement. 6 And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] protested and affirmed to Joshua, saying, The Angel of the Lord directs His attention exclusively to Joshua. He makes him several solemn promises. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. The Angel of the Lord now speaks for The LORD of Hosts to Joshua. Two conditions o If you will walk in my ways This is personal and about attitude and relationship with the Lord. o If you will keep my charge 3
Three Promises (NOTE: These are NOT things the High Priest was entitled to) o You shall rule My House (the house of the LORD of Hosts) o You shall have charge of My Courts (the Courts of Heaven) o You shall have places (paths) to walk where the eternal beings walk near God. Constant Access to the Presence of God Perhaps meaning Angels to go back and forth Perhaps access as great as the Angels now have. These promises are not for the dead Saints, but for the Living Saints. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues who [usually] sit before you for they are men who are a sign or omen [types of what is to come] for behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch. The Angel of the LORD is speaking for YAHWEH, The LORD of Hosts o To Joshua, who is commanded to Hear now. o To the OT Priesthood o To the other Priests who normally sit before Joshua, the High Priest. o They are MEN who are symbolic or types of MEN to come. o Literally men of miracle or men who are a miraculous sign. The reason is that My Servant, The Branch is about to come. o My Servant, the Branch is the Messiah (Zech 6:12-13, Jer 23:5, 33:15, Isa 11:1-3) Zech 3:9 For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon that one stone are seven eyes or facets [the all-embracing providence of God and the sevenfold radiations of the Spirit of God]. Behold, I will carve upon it its inscription, says the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity and guilt of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, says the Lord of hosts, you shall invite each man his neighbor under his own vine and his own fig tree. I. Prophetic Implications for Our Role in the Courts of Heaven. Zech 3:6 And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] protested and affirmed to Joshua, saying, 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: AMP This is a Sacred charge to the Priesthood of Believers The Charge is given by our Messiah, Jesus Christ in the name of the LORD of Hosts V. 8, The Lord of Hosts says, Hear Now. II. The Angel of the Lord/Jesus First Gives Two Conditions Zech 3:7 Thus says the Lord of Hosts, If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. AMP 1) V 7 [If you will walk in My ways] a. Faith in Jesus Christ b. Personal Relationship with Jesus that is well developed. c. Speaks of our personal attitude toward the Lord. d. Personal piety. e. If you live according to My Word. 4
2) V 7 [and if you will keep My charge] a. David to Solomon, "Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes..." (1 Kings 2:3) b. Faithful. c. Living the Life of a Disciple of Christ. d. Complete Jewish Bible Obey My commission e. NASB if you will perform My service f. Bible in Basic English If you will keep what I have put in your care g. GNT, perform the duties I have assigned you h. If you are faithful to do what I have called you to do. III. The Angel of the Lord Gives Three Messianic Promises Zech 3:7 Thus says the Lord of Hosts, If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. AMP Note: These are NEW Testament Promises for Saints 1) V 7 [Rule My house] a. Continued service in the Temple. b. Was part of the high priest's OT office. c. We will be put in charge of the House of God. d. NIV Govern My House 2) V 7 [Have Charge of My Courts] a. We will issue Judgment, in the place of God. b. Authority over 10 Cities, etc. c. Rule and Reign, Authority over the Nations. d. The Message, you'll make the decisions around here and oversee my affairs. 3) V 7 [And I will give you access and places to walk among these who stand here.] a. GNT I will hear your prayers, just as I hear the prayers of the angels who are in my presence. b. TEV I will hear your prayers, just as I hear the prayers of the angels who are in my presence. c. THE MESSAGE And all my attendants standing here will be at your service. d. Is this only after death, when the saints shall be received among the angels? Or, does it promise free access to God while your body is alive on this earth. e. Hebrew literally says we will have access to, the paths of Heaven. f. I believe it means, if we are right with God, we can come and go at will. g. Free access to God comparable to that of the angels. h. TNIV I will give you a place among these standing here. i. NKJV I will give you places to walk among these who stand here. j. Bible in Basic English I will give you the right to come in among those who are there. k. The NET Bible I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you. 5
Conclusion: Zech 3:7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. o If you know Jesus and live according to His Word o If you are faithful to do what Jesus has called you to do. We will rule in the House of Jesus, Now and forever. We will make decisions and oversee the affairs of Jesus. Jesus will allow us to come and go like the Angles do. o Continual, never ending access to the Presence of God. o Continual access to the ear of God. o Continual ability to gaze on the Beauty of God, Ps. 27:4 o Continual ability to inquire in His Temple, Ps.27:4 o Dwelling in the House of God Forever, Ps. 23:6 THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS Matt 26:26-29 6