The Apocalypse of the Old Testament Chapter 1, Part 1

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD [YHVH] came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 The LORD [YHVH] has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot] : Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot], and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot].

4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts [YHWH Tsavaot] : Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not hear nor heed Me, says the LORD [YHVH]. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers?

So they returned and said: Just as the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tsavaot] determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD [YHVH] came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, My lord, what are these? So the angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what they are.

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are the ones whom the LORD [YHVH] has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth. 11 So they answered the Angel of the LORD [YHVH], who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying

Zechariah is one of the most precisely dated books in all scripture. There are several markers such as this throughout the book (also in the book of Haggai, timelines the same). There is no question about when this book was written. The 8 th month would be reckoned by God s new calendar, after He made the 7 th month the first month, and the first month the 7 th month (Exodus, with Moses before the exodus).

1-NISSAN 2-IYYAR 3-SIVAN 4-TAMMUZ 5-AV 6-ELUL 7-TISHRI 8-CHESVAN 9-KISLEV 10-TEVET 11-SHEVAT 12-ADAR This would have been the month of Chesvan, which began in late October that year, so the month is November on our calendars. Remember, however, dating is by the Hebrew calendar, not our Gregorian calendar!

Cyrus was called: The Great King, King of Kings, King of Anshan, King of Media, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the Four Corners of the World In the second year of Darius: king of Persia; also known as Darius the Great Darius I ruled over about 44% of the total world population then, or approximately 50 million people It is interesting to note the titles given these rulers.

Cyrus the Great 559 BC 530 BC Cambyses 530 BC 522 BC Bardiya 522 BC 522 BC Darius I 522 BC 486 BC Xerxes I 485 BC 465 BC Artaxerxes I 465 BC 424 BC Xerxes II 424 BC 424 BC Darius II 424 BC 404 BC Artaxerxes II 404 BC 358 BC Artaxerxes III 358 BC 338 BC Artaxerxes IV 338 BC 336 BC Darius III 336 BC 330 BC Artaxerxes V 330 BC 329 BC Darius was called: The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt

Darius I, the Great is prominently featured in the dating of both books of Haggai and Zechariah. Elohim often uses secular historical dating to validate scripture and events. Haggai began preaching messages from God in the 6th month of the same year (520 BC) and prophesied in our months of September, October, and December, but apparently not November. Perhaps Zechariah filled a gap of some kind in bringing God s messages to the people.

Haggai s mission was to both shame and encourage the people to continue rebuilding the Temple which they had started 16 years earlier but abandoned. Zechariah s ministry and prophetic visions focused on spiritual revival, getting right with God, and giving hope for the future of Israel.

Interesting Zechariah and Haggai both dated their missions by the reign of a Gentile king, rather than a king of Israel. At that time, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had both been conquered, and Israel (the fledgling remnant returned from Babylon) was under the dominion of first Babylon, now Persia. The times of the Gentiles prophesied by Daniel were now upon them. There was no king of Israel and no descendant of David on the throne of Israel. There was, in effect, no kingdom of Israel any longer. (Hence the dating by Gentile kings and kingdoms.)

Came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah This phrase occurs 14 times in this book. It is the same expression Haggai used. Zechariah is clearly identified as the author. His lineage (referenced in Ezra 5:1, 6:14 and Nehemiah 12:4, 16) is also clearly stated. We know that Zechariah was both a prophet and priest. But we also know mention of his ancestry are not just mere names for the genealogical record. These names have HUGE meaning

Zechariah = Whom Yahweh Remembers. Son of Berechiah = Yahweh Blesses. Son of Iddo = The Appointed Time. The message is clear: Those whom YHVH remembers, YHVH blesses in the appointed time. Israel desperately needed to know this at this time, and now!

2 The LORD [YHVH] has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzava ot]: Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzava ot], and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzava ot].

Sore displeased (KJV) = literally Angry with anger The Hebrew construction here uses 3 different grammatical devices to emphasize God s anger. It is a Hebraism that means severely angry. In other words, Elohim is NOT happy with His people! (an understatement!). This warning stating not to repeat the errors of their fathers is similar to Paul s in 1 Corinthians 10

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 11) Seems the people even in Paul s day needed to understand and heed God s warnings not to be like their fathers. (and so do we!)

Says the LORD of hosts This is the name of God, the Tetragrammaton YHVH, not the word Lord. So it should read YHVH Tzava ot a phrase that is used 52X in this book (3X in this verse alone!) YHVH Tzava ot

Purpose of this is to impress the people about WHO is speaking here. This is the Sovereign God of the Universe who commands the armies of heaven, has control over the whole creation, and can send these elements to war against them! Zechariah Chapter 1

back to Him. Zechariah Chapter 1 No matter where we turn in scripture, there is always one requirement, one prerequisite, for getting right with God and receiving His blessings, whether a nation or an individual - repentance. The word for turn (or return) is the Hebrew shub (shoob), which literally means to turn back, and is also the word for repentance. God is pleading with His people to turn back to Him, to stop where they are and make a U-turn

4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzava ot]: Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not hear nor heed Me, says the LORD [YHVH]. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers?

History teaches that man learns nothing from history. Hegel. It is not a good idea to ignore or waste the hard learned lessons of previous generations. True then, true now! This book opens with this call to repentance, one of the principal goals of all prophecy. God makes a point with two rhetorical questions: Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? Life is short, don t wait to come back to God! It is dangerous to delay repentance.

COMMENTARY: The voices of the former prophets are no longer sounding. Jeremiah and Isaiah and Hosea and Joel and Amos are gone. They are dead, and their voices are silent. And, by the way, your fathers, where are they? Well, they are buried down yonder in Babylon. That is the wrong place for an Israelite to be buried because he wants to be buried in his own land. Even old Jacob down in the land of Egypt made Joseph take an oath that he would not bury him there in Egypt.

He said, I want to be taken back up yonder and be buried with my fathers. And that is where his body is today there in Hebron. The hope of the patriarchs and the godly Israelites was to be in their land at the time of the resurrection of the dead. If you have ever been to Jerusalem, you know that before the Eastern Gate, down through the Valley of Kidron and all up the side of the Mount of Olives are graves of Israelites. The Arabs mutilated a great many of them, but they are being restored by Israel.

They want to be buried in that location because they expect to see the Messiah come to the earth at that place. God s question through Zechariah is very pertinent: Your fathers, where are they? They are buried down by the canals of Babylon, which is a bad place to be when your hope is in the land of Israel. (McGee)

6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers? One commentator likened this statement to a highway patrolman pulling over a speeder. God s Word will nail us with precision for every infraction, unless we repent and receive His abundant forgiveness.

What YHVH is quoting is what Moses told the people before they entered the promised land: 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) He is reminding them that He did what He said He would do. He will ALWAYS do what He says He will do!

Ritual and external appearance of turning back to God is not true repentance. Repentance comes from the heart, lamenting with a broken and contrite spirit before El Shaddai. Zechariah Chapter 1

So they returned and said: Just as the LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzava ot] determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.

We don t have all the details, but it seems the people were ready to do it God s way. Perhaps the 70 years in Babylon was very fresh in their minds and they didn t want to do again. Notice they acknowledge Elohim as God of the hosts of heaven. They are bowing to His Sovereignty. COMMENTARY: They were finally willing to admit that the judgment which had come to them was just and righteous on the part of God because He had warned them but they had not listened to Him. (McGee)

The Visions Begin Now begins a series of eight (or 10, depending on how you divide them up) visions brought in a single night. These visions cover a lot of time, from the current time (return to the land and rebuilding the Temple) to a restored Israel, and promises kept in the Millennial Kingdom with the Messiah.

Ten Visions (All in One Night), Ch 1:7 6:15 1. Riders under Myrtle Trees, (1:7 17) 2. Four Horns, (1:18 19) 3. Four Craftsmen (Carpenters), (1:20 21) 4. Man with Measuring Line, (2) 5. Joshua and Satan, (3:1 7) 6. The Branch, (3:8 10) 7. Lampstand and Two Olive Trees, (4) 8. Flying Roll, (5:1 4) 9. Woman in the Ephah, (5:5 11) 10. Four Chariots, (6)

Each has a similar pattern: introductory words, a description of things seen, a question of the angel for its meaning, and an explanation by the angel. Here in chapter 1 we will meet the horsemen, horns, and craftsmen. horsemen horns craftsmen

Shebat was the Babylonian name of the 11th month, adopted by the Jews after the Exile. This date would be in February. This is 5 months after Temple rebuilding began again (Haggai 1:14-15; 2:15), 3 months after Zechariah s first prophecy (1:1), and 2 months after Haggai s last prophecy (Haggai 2:20) about the destruction of world powers before the millennial rule of the Messiah (Haggai 2:21-23).

24 th day of the month is specified in two other places during this period after the exile: Haggai 1:15 and 2:10, 18, 20. We don t know the significance of this, except it is the day work on the Temple began again. Maybe Israel s obedience is being memorialized and rewarded with further revelations (prophetic visions) on this day.

came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: Note once again the reference to Zechariah s lineage, and all three names given in order to make a statement. Elohim is making a point here. I will remember you, Israel, and I will bless you in the appointed time. Another reminder to us that God has a precise and perfectly timed plan of redemption. It doesn t depend on us, or anything else. He will make it happen as He wills.

I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. The word saw does not necessarily indicate he was awake consciously. It only means he had a vision where he saw certain things. Hebrew thought about these visions is interesting. It is believed that dreams and visions are not like we think, but where God prints His message directly on the heart and mind of the recipient.

COMMENTARY: The text tells us that God s Word is applied directly to the prophet s mental and spiritual receivers rather than to his ears, and is called devhar Yehovah or the word of Yehovah. This is because the pictures seen in the spirit, together with their interpretation were impressed upon Zechariah s will in a conscious manner. This was not a sleepy dream or even a nightmare. It was a direct communication from God. Since God is spirit and He lives outside of time and space He must communicate directly with the conscious spirit of His servants the prophets. (Woodhead)

As we begin these dreams/visions, we should also consider another very important idea: both Christian and Jewish commentators agree as to the meaning and content of these visions!

The man riding the red horse was apparently the leader, and he seems to be receiving reconnaissance reports from the rest. The other riders are only implied; only their horses are mentioned. We assume they are also angels in the sense of a heavenly messenger.

This rider is said to be among the myrtle trees. The myrtle, or hadassah shrub (Jewish form of the name Esther), was an indigenous shrub that grew all over Israel and was a popular name for Israel. The myrtle tree is also a commanded part of the ritual of constructing booths (Sukkot) in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:15; Leviticus 23:33-44); some say it also suggests the millennium which we understand to be the fulfillment of the appointed time, of Tabernacles (Sukkot) (Isaiah 41:19; 55:13). (Zechariah 14)

He was in the hollow. = metsulah, a deep place, a low ravine. This was a low time in the nation s history, a period of deep humiliation. The times of the Gentiles had begun (Luke 21:24). COMMENTARY: The myrtles symbolize Israel. It is significant that this particular symbol is chosen. Hadassah (Myrtle) is a popular Hebrew female name. The name Hadassah was one of the names given to Queen Esther, and is now given to Jewish girls

(commentary continued) Zechariah Chapter 1 The name Hadassah is derived from the Hebrew word hadas a myrtle tree from the Myrtaceae family. The myrtle has a pleasant fragrance and the righteous people are called myrtles, likened to a good tree with a pleasant smell. The proud cedar trees used elsewhere in Scripture, are symbols of the powerful world-powers but the lowly, fragrant myrtle, growing for the most part in the shady valley out of the world s gaze, is chosen to represent the covenant people.

(commentary continued) Zechariah Chapter 1 It is with the lowly, with those of a contrite and humble spirit, God identifies Himself. God looks at the earthly high and mighty as low and the lowly on earth as high The low place among the Myrtles represents [Israel among] the Gentile nations. For a time on earth represented by this vision that after the seventy year Babylonian captivity the Angel of Jehovah is with Israel even while they are dominated by the Gentile world powers. God loves Israel and will never forsake them (Leviticus 26:44; Jeremiah 30:11 etc.). (Woodhead)

The horse colors are red, sorrel and white. In scripture, the color red suggests war and judgment (Revelation 6, 19:11; and the treader of the winepress, Isaiah 63:1-6); The white horse can represent righteousness, mercy, and peace. Speckled, sorrel, tawny (translated brown or speckled ) is not clear. It could mean a mixture of both colors. That word is only used here in the OT.

Notice that this rider (soon identified as the Angel of the Lord) is not on the white horse. It s possible this is to keep Him from being confused with the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2. THAT rider is clearly the antichrist, not the Messiah! The Hebrew construction here means that the riders (only implied) were in the act of riding at the time of the vision. Zechariah is puzzled by what he sees and asks the messenger sent to him. He will soon hear the meaning of all this.

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are the ones whom the LORD [YHVH] has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth. 11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.

The man among the myrtle trees, the apparent leader, is the one who answers Zechariah s question. He tells Zechariah that these (the implied other riders on the colorful horses) have been sent by YHVH to keep watch on the earth. As if this was their command to speak, the other riders indicate they have done their job and the earth is resting quietly. Apparently their job was to do reconnaissance and patrol of movements and happenings on the earth. These are recon angels under Elohim s direction.

To and Fro is used as a description of angelic movement on the earth (Job 1:7 and 2:2). This helps identify them as angelic beings. To walk about on the earth is also a scriptural allusion to assert sovereignty over it. These angels are under the command of the Most High God, who owns the earth. In El Elyon s hands!

COMMENTARY: This is a description of the Gentile world at ease contrasted to the mournful condition of Israel. All the nations lived in undisturbed peace and prosperity. The nations had scattered God s people and had taken possession of their land, and were presently in leisure enjoyment of it. They didn t care about the state of the Jews nor were they troubling themselves over the sorrows of Israel. (Woodhead)

Now we see this chief rider is identified as the Angel of the Lord. Genesis 16:7 is the first reference in the Old Testament to the Angel of the LORD (literally, the Angel of Yahweh ). This is when this angel appeared to Hagar and Ishmael after they had been sent away from Abraham s family. There are 65 of these references/appearances throughout the Old Testament and in most of them Yehovah (Yahweh, YHVH) is associated with Him yet distinct from Him. (Remember, Elohim is PLURAL!)

The nature of these appearances also indicate this is no ordinary angel, but a theophany (appearance of God in the flesh) or a Christophany (appearance of Christ, Messiah in the flesh) a pre-incarnate appearance of God the Son, Yeshua. (The only part of Elohim who appears in the flesh) The instances where this angel allows worship of Himself, or indicates He can and does do things only God can do lead us to believe that this messenger of YHVH is truly the Messiah, Yeshua, or God in the flesh.

There is only ONE ANGEL of the LORD, or Angel of YHVH. That would be the only member of the plural Elohim to appear in the flesh, or in visible body form The Messiah Himself, Yeshua!

We should not confuse this angel with the angel that talked with me, Zechariah s interpreter (1:8; 2:3; 4:1,5; 5:5; 6:4). Here is Yeshua, in a preincarnation appearance (meaning before He was born in the flesh). Zechariah sees Him watching over this world.

Satan ( HaSatan, the accuser ) is called the prince of this world (of this world system) the corruption and immorality of this world today is all under Satan s control but God has not given up this earth to Satan. Even at this very moment, Adonai Yeshua is standing in the shadows, keeping watch over His own.

COMMENTARY: Here in Zechariah s vision it is the nation of Israel in particular over which He is watching. What a comfort it is to know that, out of all the galaxies about us which cannot be numbered for multitude, the God of the universe is watching, keeping watch over His own. What a message this vision has for us. (McGee)

all the earth is resting quietly Through Haggai, God had promised that a great shakeup of the Gentile nations was coming: 20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake heaven and earth. 22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother. (2:20-22)

But instead of this big take down the earth is resting quietly. What God promised in Haggai was not yet happening. Being at peace might seem a good thing, but to Israel, what God promised was not happening, and that was NOT good!

12 Then the Angel of the LORD [YHVH] answered and said, O LORD of hosts (YHVH Tzava ot], how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?

The return of the exiles from Babylon was not yet the fulfillment of prophecies in Jeremiah 29. There was more to come! 10 For thus says the YHVH: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the YHVH, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

14 I will be found by you, says YHVH, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says YHVH, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. The promises are sure, but it is usually God s timing that is an issue in trying to put all the pieces together, just as it still is today. We know what He says He will do, but He is usually quite vague about when. (That is a good thing!) Here the people are discouraged because nothing seems to be happening yet.

...and the wait continues to the present moment, even though the State of Israel has been reestablished (May 14, 1948) and Jerusalem was regained (June 1967); and the world is forcing Israel into a retreat through the so-called peace process. How long will we poke our finger into the eye of God? (The apple of His eye ) How long before God s promises are finally realized?

That was the question then, and it is the same now, and also the one asked by the souls under the altar in Revelation chapter 6. How long?? 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Have you noticed that we struggle with the same question? How long????? It s all about the timing but we must leave that in His hands. He has the plan!

Have you noticed WHO is asking this question?? It s not Zechariah, it s the ANGEL of the LORD! We ve just determined this angel is none other than Yeshua, the only member of Elohim who appears in the flesh, even in vision. So does this mean HE doesn t know the answer? Interesting question. Remember the issue is timing. Recall that Jesus said that only the Father knew the time of Yeshua s return for His Bride.

But as a member of our plural Elohim, wouldn t Yeshua know this? Of course He would. He is, after all, the Almighty! The Aleph Tav who knows the end from the beginning. (Revelation 1) It is likely this is a rhetorical question, meant to indicate the people themselves are asking how long and want to know how long YHVH will be angry with Israel. It is used here in the vision to move the action along and provide an answer.

COMMENTARY: God will make it clear that He is displeased with the nations which are at peace and ignore Jerusalem s plight. God is jealous for Jerusalem, and all the nations of the world are indifferent to it. God returned to Jerusalem with mercies, and the nations have a responsibility also. But the nations are at peace, although they won t be at peace very long. (McGee) Just a note all those in the world calling for world peace have no idea what that means. They do not understand that Israel is the key to real peace, but it will only happen when Yeshua takes His throne in Jerusalem.

The visions coming are a preview of all earth history (with focus on Israel, Daniel s focus was on the Gentile nations) UNTIL the time of the end. They foretell what must happen before the calamities of Revelation, the Time of Jacob s Trouble (Tribulation), are unleashed. These troubles must also happen before Israel s restoration, before all of YHVH s promises can be fulfilled, and Israel is blessed in His Millennial Kingdom. It is going to be a long wait!