 Questions and Answers - Zechariah 1 - 14 |
| Q. When was the Book of Zechariah written? | A. 520 B.C. |
| Q. Who was Zechariah's contemporary? | A. Haggai. |
| Q. What is unique about this book? | A. It has lots of word pictures. |
| Q. What events were happening at the time of this writing? | A. It was post-exile from Babylonia for the Israelites. Judah was being restored. |
| Q. Does God start fresh with each generation? | A. Zechariah 1:2-3 = Yes. He calls them to meet Him half way. |
| Q. Who needs to begin the process? |
A. Zechariah 1:3 = 1) God calls 2) We make the choice to walk towards Him 3) God walks toward us. |
| Q. What does it mean to repent? |
A. Zechariah 1:6 = 1) To admit our sory circumstances are the result of our sins 2) That punishment from God is well-deserved. Note: I know folks who just won't repent. Somehow, everything that happens to them is explained away or someone else's fault. Can you admit when you've blown it? You cannot go near God unless you confess your sin because it is God who separates you from it so He can meet you half way. God already knows your every deed. Repent already! |
| Q. Why will the other nations be judged? | A. Zechariah 1:15 = For overdoing judgment on Israel. |
| Q. How angry was God when the Israelites began that exile to Babylonia? | A. Zechariah 1:15 = Only a little! |
| Q. Did God intend for the Temple to be destroyed as part of their punishment? | A. Zechariah 1:16 = No. That is why it was being rebuilt, alng with all the rest of the promised land. |
| Q. What picture did Zechariah see first? | A. Zechariah 1:18-19 = Four horns, which are the four world powers that scattered God's people. |
| Q. What will happen to those four world powers? | A. Zechariah 1:21 = Four Blacksmiths, which are four types of more powerful people will destroy the four world powers. |
| Q. What is another picture Zechariah saw? | A. Zechariah 2:1-2 = A man going to Jerusalem with a measuring line to measure the length and width of the city. |
| Q. What did this mean? | A. Zechariah 2:4 = Jerusalem will one day overflow with people and it will be too small to hold them all. |
| Q. Will Jerusalem be safe? | A. Zechariah 2:4-5 = Yes, because the Lord will be the glory inside the city. |
| Q. What about the overflow outside Jerusalem's walls? | A. Zechariah 2:4-5 =The Lord will protect them too. He'll be a wall of fire for them! |
| Q. Who called the Israelites back to Jerusalem from exile? | A. Zechariah 2:6 = The Lord did. |
| Q. What are the Israelites to God? | A. Zechariah 2:8 = His most precious possession. |
| Q. And the Lord will crush all who become Israel's enemies? | A. Zechariah 2:9 = Yes. |
| Q. Why? |
A. Zechariah 2:9 = So the world would know that God sent Him. Note: Father God will send the Lord. I love the way Father and Son work in the Trinity! |
| Q. How should I feel about the Lord coming to live on earth to reign? | A. Zechariah 2:10 = I should shout and rejoice! |
| Q. Will there be a time of revival with the nations? | A. Zechariah 2:11 = Yes. Many will join themselves to the Lord on that a single day of revival. |
| Q. What do pastors face sometimes? | A. Zechariah 3:1 = Satan accuses them before the Lord of failing God. |
| Q. How does the Lord respond? |
A. Zechariah 3:2 = 1) The Lord rejects Satan's accusations, addressing him directly 2) The Lord rebukes Satan, declaring the pastor's salvation 3) God removes the filthy clothes, which removes his sins 4) The Lord gives the pastor fine new and free clothes. |
| Q. What do priests/pastors represent? | A. Zechariah 3:8 = They are symbols of the good things to come. |
| Q. Is there Jesus prophecy here? |
A. Zechariah 2:10-13 = Yes. 1) Jesus fulfilled this—He lived among us, many nations joined Him and became God's people. 2) Zechariah 3:8-10 = "The Branch" is Jesus and he removed all sins in one day. |
| Q. What is another picture vision Zechariah had? |
A. Zechariah 4:2-7 = This vision is fulfilled with Jesus' coming. It was again shown by John in Revelation 1:12-20. Awesome! Solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it = Jesus (who is anointed) Seven lamps with wicks around the bowl = Seven churches (Revelation 1:20 = Ephesus, Smyruna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) They are the seven eyes searching around the world Two olive trees = one on each side of the bowl, which are the two anointed ones who assist God on earth Note: Revelation adds to the prophecy = 1)Describing Jesus' appearance (v.13-16) 2) Jesus is holding seven stars, which are the seven angels over the seven churches 3) Jesus is speaking like a sharp two-edged sword. He then speaks to the seven churches. |
| Q. Does God mind when a believer is saved in old age? | A. Zechariah 4:10 = Not at all. He loves to see a new work begin! |
| Q. Who ultimately do those seven lamps represent? | A. Zechariah 4:10 = The eyes of the Lord that search all around the world. |
| Q. What other pictures were there? | A. Zechariah 4:12 = Two olive branches pouring out golden oil through two golden tubes. They are prt of God's two helpers' vision. |
| Q. What other pictures are here? | A. Zechariah 5:2 = A flying scroll containing a curse on all households of those who swear falsely in God's name and steal. |
| Q. Any other visions? |
A. Yes. Zechariah 5:6 = 1) A basket containing all sins 2) in the appearance of a woman 3) carried away by two winged women. |
| Q. What were their wings like? | A. Zechariah 5:9 = A stork's wings. |
| Q. What happens to the basket? | A. Zechariah 5:10-11 = The women took it to Babylonia where the people built a Temple for it to worship it. |
| Q. What is another picture Zechariah sees? | A. Zechariah 6:1 = Four horses pulling chariots, who are four spirits of heaven who stand before the Lord. |
| Q. What is their job? |
A. Zechariah 6:5 = They patrol the earth: Black horse patrols the north White horse patrols the west Dapple-gray horse patrols the south. |
| Q. What did the black horses in the north do? | A. Zechariah 6:8 = They vented God's anger there. |
| Q. Will a priest ever be a king too? | A. Zechariah 6:13 = Yes. Jesus was and will be both. |
| Q. I know God hardens stubborn hearts, but do we also harden our own hearts? | A. Zechariah 7:12 = Yes. We harden them so that we cannot hear the Word or the messages that the Lord sends by His Spirit. |
| Q. Is this why God was angry with Israel? | A. Zechariah 7:12 = Yes. |
| Q. Why are Jewish people well off, as a rule? | A. Zechariah 8:12 = God planted seeds of peace and prosperity among them, post-Babylonian captivity. |
| Q. What benefit is it to the nations that God's people Israel be punished so publicly? | A. Zechariah 8:13 = They became symbols of what it means to be cursed. |
| Q. They became infamous for their sins? | A. Zechariah 8:13 = Yes. All the eyes of the nations were on them. |
| Q. But then what happened? |
A. Zechariah 8:13 = God lifted the curse before the watchful eyes of the nations and made them both a symbol and a source of blessing! Note: When Messiah came to save the world, Israel was forever in a place of honor! One day they will understand as a nation! |
| Q. Did the Israelites believe God about this? |
A. Zechariah 8:13 = Yes. They needed the clear understanding of where they stood with God because they were afraid and discouraged because of their past disciplinary position with God while rebuilding His Temple. Note: God doesn't want us to be afraid of Him. We walk by faith, trusting Him to love and bless us in everything we do. We have to put Him first if we are to experience His great success. Read the Word and let it transform you. God's love for you is real and unchanging. He will convict your heart of this truth. Befor beginning your day, read the Bible. Before retiring at night, read your Bible. "No Bible, no breakfast; no Bible, no bed." Commit a week to this practice and you'll want to do it forever! |
| Q. How sure can I be that God will bless my life? | A. Zechariah 8:14-15 = As surely as God punishes sin, God blesses the godly. |
| Q. What does God define as godliness? |
A. Zechariah 8:16-17 = 1) Do right 2) Tell the truth to each other all the time 3) Practice truth that leads to peace in the courts 4) Don't make evil plots to harm each other 5) Stop swearing to things that are false Note: We get too passionate in our gut reactions to events. God wants us to be peaceful and let His Word be the only cause for such passion in us. So consider your favorite expletive used in surprise, sudden laughter, or sudden pain, and decide beforehand on a gentle response. Praise God! All events are controlled by Him and for Him in some mysterious way. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, "May the Lord of peace Himself always give you His peace, no matter what happens." and another verse says, "God is the blessed Controller of all things." |
| Q. Is there more prophecy that Jesus fulfilled? | A. Zechariah 8:20-22 = Yes. The Lord's ministry in Jerusalem would be reknown throughout the world. People would trvel there to be blessed by Him. |
| Q. And is there any mention of Jesus' followers? |
A. Zechariah 8:23 = Yes. People from all nations will seek out God's people to learn about Jesus. Note: At Pentecost, those seekers' miracle was hearing these Israelites speaking perfectly in their own tongues! |
| Q. Will there be a remnant of Philistines who love God? | A. Zechariah 9:7 = Yes. The Philistines from Ekron will join God's people, just as the Jebusites did. |
| Q. Will there be enemies in the land at that time? | A. Zechariah 9:8 = No. God will protect Jerusalem forever. |
| Q. Is Jesus mentioned again in this book? | A. Zechariah 9:9 = Yes. Jesus is a humble king, riding on a donkey's colt. He will rule the world. |
| Q. What other prophecies does Zechariah give? |
A. Zechariah 9:14 = Second Coming = where Jesus will take on his enemies: 1) He arrows will fly like lightning 2) He'll blow a trumpet 3) Attack His enemies from the south desert 4) Believers will join Him in battle, shouting and subduing their enemies, drenched with their blood 5) The Lord will protect them like a shepherd protects his sheep 6) Believers will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown. God declares, "How wonderful and beautiful they will be!" 7) The young men and women will thrive on the abundance of frain and new wine. |
| Q. Does rain fall down randomly on the fields of ubelieving nations? |
A. Zechariah 10:1 = No. We ask God for rain and He makes it and gives it to those who ask for it. Note: Any other rains also come right from God. Sometimes He just is merciful to unbelievers! So true! Drought comes to unbeliving nations. Aid comes to their starving peoples from believing nations. It's not only their unbelief, but their many idols that keep them from God's best. It is a fact that if those people would face their sins and repent and turn to God, we would see their land flourish. Yet they hold onto their idols tenaciously. Pray that God would give them a revelation of their true state so they can live. This is the Age of Grace. May God's light shine brilliantly on unbeliving nations. May He reveal Himself as their God, their Father, the One who loves them. May they know His Word, His Personality, His Love. May they be overwhelmed; may they be overcomers. May God's kingdom burst at the seams with the righteous of this earth. May their lands know prosperity again. In Jesus' name, Amen. |
| Q. Why do people wander away from God? | A. Zechariah 10:2-3 = False shepherds lead them astray. |
| Q. Who are false shepherds? |
A. Zechariah 10 = 1) Household gods give false advice 2) Fortunetellers predict only lies 3) Interpreters of dreams pronounce comfortless falsehoods Note: Anyone who would set himself up as an advisor is a leader. If he has a following, he is a leader. Weak people looking for answers are quickly deceived, and for a price. Those false shepherds not only take your money, they take your very life, besides taking you further away from God. |
| Q. What is so fascinating about false shepherds in the form of fortunetellers or numerologists? What draws us to them? | A. Zechariah Truth about us mixed in with lies from Hell. We're attracted to the truth part of their counsel. |
| Q. Where does the fortuneteller/numerologist find out our secrets in order to trap us? | A. Zechariah Satan himself. He snoops around (like a roaring lion) and learns things about us, like a spy, and then has his fortuneteller, astrologer, numerologist or interpreter of dreams mention a fact about us and we're flattered that someone knew that abut us. Ironically, God knows everything about us from conception and we still trust in false shepherds to guide us. What a bunch of knucklehead we can be! |
| Q. What else did Zechariah prophesy? |
A. Zechariah 10:3-4 = Jesus = 1) His anger against false shepherds who lead His people astray 2) Jesus came to look after His flock of Judah 3) He made them strong and glorious, like proud warhorses in battle (apostles) 4) Judah brought us the cornerstone, tent peg, battle bow and all the rulers 5) He made His apostles like mightly warriors in battle, trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet. |
| Q. Why do they succeed? |
A. Zechariah 10:5 = The Lord is with them. Becuse He is with them, they even take on the horseman of the enemy. Note: This is a picture of spiritual warfare. |
| Q. What other prophecies are here? |
A. Zechariah 10:6 = 1) Restoration of Israel 2) Parting of the Red Sea (again) so that the Israelites can pass through it on the way back to the promised land 3) Israel is a strong nation again, but this time, strong in God's power |
| Q. What else is prophesied? |
A. Zechariah Zechariah 11:4-7 = A picture of some people who were around Jesus when He came: Three evil shepherds 1) Those why buy sheep for sacrifice 2) Those who sell sheep for sacrifice 3) Evil shepherds who oppress their sheep. |
| Q. What does the evil buyer do? | A. Zechariah 11:5 = He slaughters the sheep without remorse. |
| Q. What does the evil seller do? | A. Zechariah 11:5 = He declares, "Praise the Lord, I'm rich!" |
| Q. What does the evil shepherd do? | A. Zechariah 11:5 = He also has no compassion for the sheep. |
| Q. What does God do in response? | A. Zechariah 11:6 = He withdraws from the people and they are overcome by their evil and are now unprotected. |
| Q. How did this turn out? | A. Zechariah 11:7 = Jesus came, cared for the flock intended for slaughter, which the evil shepherd had oppressed. |
| Q. What did God do about the three evil shepherds? | A. Zechariah 11:7 = God got rid of them all in a single month. |
| Q. Did the people appreciate it? | A. Zechariah 11:8 = No, they hated Him. |
| Q. What did God do with the two shepherds' staffs? | A. Zechariah 11:10 = He broke them. Favor with God and union as a nation would be gone, thehe covenants between Himself and them broken. |
| Q. Who witnessed this event? | A. Zechariah 11:11 = Other evil buyers and sellers of sheep. |
| Q. Did they understand what had happened? | A. Zechariah 11:11 = They knew the Lord was speaking to them through Jesus' actions. |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Zechariah 11:12 = Jesus asked for His wages from those evil buyer shepherds. |
| Q. How much did Jesus ask for? | A. Zechariah 11:12 = He left the amount of His worth up to them. |
| Q. What did they decide Jesus was worth? | A. Zechariah 11:12 = 30 pieces of silver. |
| Q. What happens to the silver coins? |
A. Zechariah 11:13 = The Lord told Zechariah to throw them to the potter. Note: This is Judas Iscariot who was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. He bought a potter's field and hung himself there. Notice that Jesus is in control of this whole event. He still is! |
| Q. What even happened at the breaking of each shepherd's staff? |
A. Zechariah 1) The staff (covenant with the nations) called Favor was broken with the Israelite leaders (shepherds oppressed the people and openly hated God (v.9-11) 2) The staff (covenant between Judah and Israel) called Union was broken when they declared Jesus' worth to be merely 30 pieces of silver (v.12-14). |
| Q. What is a worthless shepherd like? |
A. Zechariah 11:15-16 = 1) He doesn't care for the sheep threatened by death 2) He doesn't look after the young 3) He doesn't heal the injured 4) He doesn't feed the healthy 5) He takes the best sacrificial sheep and eats the meat himself and tears off its hooves. |
| Q. What is his fate? | A. Zechariah 11:17 = He is doomed. |
| Q. What does God define his bad behavior as? |
A. Zechariah 11:17 = Abandoning the sheep. Note: Jesus pronounced doom on the evil Israelite leaders, the Sanhedrin, in Matthew 23:13-39. |
| Q. What other prophecies are here? | A. Zechariah 12:2 = Jerusalem will be besieged. |
| Q. How would this happen? | A. Zechariah 12:2 = God will make the nations attack her. |
| Q. Would the people of Judah be harmed? | A. Zechariah 12:4 = No. God protects them. |
| Q. This is still to come? | A. Zechariah Yes. It will happen at the Second Coming of Christ, before the Millenial Reign of Christ. |
| Q. Will God's people fight their enemies? | A. Zechariah 12:6 = Oh yes! God will strengthn Judah's clans and the show of God's strength in them will be awesome. |
| Q. How awesome? |
A. Zechariah 12:6 = 1) They will be like kindling, setting the nations on fire 2) The weakest of them living in Jerusalem will be as mighty as King David 3) the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the Lord who goes before them! |
| Q. What is God's goal here? |
A. Zechariah 12:9 = To destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Note: Do we need to be allies with Israel in today's world? Absolutely! The alternative is total destruction at the Second Coming of Christ! |
| Q. What else does Zechariah say about Jesus? | A. Zechariah 12:10-14 = Crucifixion Day: What sorrow Jerusalem will feel upon seeing their Lord nailed to a cross. |
| Q. How would they know that it was Jesus their Lord, who was nailed up there on the cross? | A. Zechariah 12:10 = God would pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on all Jerusalem and they would know! |
| Q. What tribes are mentioned as having the spirit of grace and prayer poured onto them? | A. Zechariah 12:12 = Besides all Israel weeping in profound sorrow, each family by itself, husbands and wives mourning separately, are the families of David, Nathan, Shimei and Levi. |
| Q. What familiar tribes do these descend from? | A. Zechariah 12:12 = Judah, Benjamin and Levi, respectively. |
| Q. What would also happen on that great day of mourning? | A. Zechariah 13:1 = A fountain would opened for all people in Jerusalem and the dynasty of David to cleanse them from their sins and defilement. |
| Q. What happens as a result of this cleansing? | A. Zechariah 13:2-3 = Vivid truth. False prophets were exposed and God removed the unclean spirits that inspired them. |
| Q. What was the response of those who were touched by the spirit of prayer and grace? |
A. Zechariah 13:3 = They took action and put to death even their own children who were exposed as false prophets. Note: After a Cleansing Stream retreat, we face again vivid reality as we willingly ask God to expose to us the chinks in our armor. It isn't uncommon to also discover that there are unclean relationships that are way too close to us. A believer needs to push that fettered relationship outside his inner circle of friends where it belongs. How does this fettered relationship come to be? It happens when a sincere believer tries to mentor a weaker brother, who appears to respond, but bears little or no fruit. The smallest trial comes and the brother doesn't respond as a believer, but as one who never knew right from wrong. He was a hearer of the Word, but not a doer, as James says. And now it is time to place him outside the inner circle of friends. Guard your inner circle of friends! Good friends are outlined throughout the Word. Anything less will harm you. All members of your inner circle should have these qualities: 1) They must be drawing closer to God in words, actions and compassion for the lost. 2) They are anchors in a storm, ready for battling Hell. 3) They are the first to lift you up. 4) You are a blessing to them and they to you. 5) Jesus runs with your gang and you share in mission and praise God together in church. 6) You pray together 7) You all want the world to know your awesome God. This is what Jesus told us to do in the Book of John. If we have that kind of camaraderie, the world will see God! Alleluiah! |
| Q. What does the spirit of grace and prayer poured out by God do for us today? |
A. Zechariah 13:4-6 = It humbles us to sheer honesty about who we are. We proudly tell the truth! Note: I don't know why we exaggerate about who we are. God accepts us as we are, so why can't we do the same? Humility brings a sense of peace and acceptance of who we are. Don't lie to yourself! If you are very heavy, you need to get lighter! There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that! Fix what is broken; praise God for His truth. Bask in the light and pray at all times! God loves new beginnings! |
| Q. What else happened after the crucifixion? |
A. Zechariah 13:7 = The sheep scattered. Note: The apostles and followers of Jesus scattered because who they thought would deliver them from Herod, died a terrible death. |
| Q. How did Jesus die? | A. Zechariah 13:7 = God commanded His death. |
| Q. Who does God call Jesus? | A. Zechariah 13:7 = My Shepherd, the Man who is my Partner." |
| Q. Why was the mourning so deep in Israel? | A. Zechariah 13:7 = God turned against His lambs for a time; against the ones who really loved Him and their Messiah. |
| Q. Is there more future prophecy in Zechariah? | A. Zechariah 13:8-9 = Yes. Mention of the Tribulation period is here. Two thirds of the people would die, a remnant saved for God at the time of this event. |
| Q. Then what? | A. Zechariah 14:1 = There are signs that the Second Coming is about to happen. |
| Q. What are the signs? |
A. Zechariah 14:1 = 1) Looting 2) The nations gather to fight Jerusalem. |
| Q. Who gathers those nations? | A. Zechariah 14:2 = God does. |
| Q. Does Jerusalem suffer? | A. Zechariah 14:2 = Yes. Half the people go into captivity, the other half left in its ruins. |
| Q. Will the Lord finally come? | A. Zechariah 14:3 = Yes! He'll fight against the nations battling Israel. |
| Q. From where will He fight them? | A. Zechariah 14:4 = From the Mount of Olives. |
| Q. What phenomenon will happen at the Mount of Olives? | A. Zechariah 14:4 = The Mount of Olives will split in half, making a wide valley running from east to west. |
| Q. What will happen to the Mount of Olives then? | A. Zechariah 14:4 = It will be in two pieces, north and south of the wide valley. |
| Q. What will happen in that wide valley? | A. Zechariah 14:5 = The Israelites will flee their enemies through it. |
| Q. Then what? | A. Zechariah 14:5 = The Lord God will come, and all His holy ones will be with Him. |
| Q. What will happen to the earth when the Lord comes again? |
A. Zechariah 14:6 = 1) Continuous daylight 2) v.8 = Life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea, half toward the Mediterranean Sea. |
| Q. For how long? | A. Zechariah 14:8 = Through summer and winter. |
| Q. What else will happen? | A. Zechariah 14:12 = Plague will kill all Jerusalem's enemies and the Israelites will take their wealth. |
| Q. Will there be survivors of this plague? | A. Zechariah 14:16 = Yes. And they will honor Jesus. |
| Q. Will there be any of the old traditional festivals celebrated? |
A. Zechariah 14:16 = Yes. 1) The yearly trip to Jerusalem to worship Jesus (in person!) 2) The Fesival of Shelters will be celebrated. |
| Q. Who will participate in these celebrations? | A. Zechariah 14:17 = All nations will be required to participate. |
| Q. Can they choose not to participate? |
A. Zechariah 14:17 = Yes, but there will be drought on their land if they refuse to participate. Note: All rain comes from God. If you don't acknowledge God, don't expect His rain! "No reign, no rain." There's a book in that reminder! |
| Q. What if the people of Egypt refuse to go to Jerusalem to worship God? | A. Zechariah 14:18 = Plague will come, as it will to other nations who still, after all this, refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their King. |
| Q. What will happen to all the metals and ores of Jerusalem at that time? | A. Zechariah 14:20-21 = They will be set apart as holy to the Lord. |
| Q. Even harnesses on horses? | A. Zechariah 14:20 = Yes. They will be inscribed with these words: "Set apart as holy to the Lord." |
| Q. Will the altar utensils be special anymore? | A. Zechariah 14:21 = No. Jerusalem will be like one big Temple and all utensils and metals will be holy! |
| Q. What else will happen at that time? | A. Zechariah 14:21 = There will be no more traders (retailers) in the Temple of the Lord. |