D Q j 1,2. 6th Vision. The Flying Scroll.
k 3-. Signification. The curse.
l -3,4. Destination. General. "The whole earth."
Q j 5. 7th Vision. The Ephah and Flying Woman.
k 6-8. Signification. Iniquity.
l 9-11. Destination. Special. "The Land of Shinar."
410-407 B.C.
Zechariah 5)
1 Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked (the 6th vision), and behold a flying scroll. (A big sign. Cp. Ezek. 2:9-3:11.)
2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" And I answered, I see a flying scroll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits." (30' x 15')
3 Then said he to me, "This is the curse (ref. Lev. 26 and Deut. 28) that goes forth (to go forth on business, or on an errand) over the face of the whole earth (or land):
for every one that steals has been let off (or declared innocent; as in Num. 5:31. Ps. 19:12,13. Jer. 2:35: or goes unpunished; as in Jer. 49:12 ) [is written on one side, according to it (the curse or scroll); and every one that swears [falsely] has been let off [is written] on the other side according to it. (See Lev. 19:12. Deut. 28:15-20.)
4 I have brought (the curse or scroll) it forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall abide in the house of the thief, and into the house of him that swears falsely by My name (emphatic for "Me Myself". See Ps. 20:1): and it shall lodge (or roost) in the midst of his house, and shall destroy it (or bring it to an end) with the timbers thereof and the stones thereof." (You will end up in Satan's camp.)
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that goes forth." (This is the 7th vision.)
6 And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is an ephah that goes forth." He said moreover, "This is their aspect (Heb. eye. Put for their look: i.e. appearance, or color, as in Lev. 13:55. Num. 11:7. Ezek. 10:9. Cp. Ezek. 1:4,7,16,27. Dan. 10:6,&c.) through all the earth." (Sin aspect, bushel full of it.)
7 And, lo, there was lifted up a talent of lead (a disc that fitted the ephah like a lid. 100-180 lbs.): and this is a woman that sits in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, "This is the lawless one." (the religious aspect of 2 Thess. 2:8-12. Rev. 17. It leads them to worship the antichrist.) And he cast it (i.e. the talent, which had been "lifted up" for the prophet to see, and then cast back "into" the "talent", which was within) into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (See Ezek. 13:18.)
9 Then lifted I up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork (a symbol of velocity rather than character. A stork is an unclean bird, fond of its young, and a bird of passage): and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (They were carrying false religion away.)
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, "Where do these bear the ephah?"
11 And he said to me, "To build for her an house in the land of Shinar: and it (i.e. the house) shall be ready (or prepared), and fixed (or settled) upon her own fixed resting-place." (The interpretation must refer to what is yet future. It cannot refer to the going into captivity; for the People had just returned, and Zechariah had been raised up for their comfort and encouragement. When the time comes, it will be marked by commerce [ephah], false religion [the woman], speedy accomplishment [the wings of the stork], and a spirit in their wings. the false "Rapture" doctrine? This will be preparatory to the final judgment of Rev. 18)