John 3:1-21
1 Chronicles 12
Zechariah 2
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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading
Zechariah’s Second Vision
What does Zechariah see in his second vision? (Zechariah 1:18-21)- He sees four horns which have scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem.
- And Zechariah sees four carpenters which have come to fray and cast out the horns of the Gentiles.
- Horns in Bible Prophecy, represent political powers (referred to as "kings" and "kingdoms")
Daniel 7:24 “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise...”
So, these four horns represent four political powers, which are specifically coming to "scatter" Israel and Jerusalem.
The four political powers who took Israel captive are represented in the image of Daniel 2 and the beasts of Daniel 7. They are:
The head of gold represented the kingdom of Babylon (Daniel2:38).
The chest and arms of silver represented the next kingdom, which history bears out was Medo Persia.
The waist and loins of brass represented the third world-dominating kingdom, which we know to have been ancient Greece.
The fourth world-dominating kingdom, which was in power in Christ’s day, was pagan Rome.
These four powers are represented as beasts in Daniel 7.
The first beast is a lion with eagle's wings (Daniel 7:4). It represented Babylon.
Then came the bear raised up on one side and with 3 ribs in its mouth. It represented Medo-Persia which destroyed three kingdoms in its rise to power (Daniel 7:5).
Then came the leopard with four heads and wings. (Daniel 7:6). This beast represented Alexander the Great, who conquered with lightning speed (four wings) and was succeeded by four generals who divided the rule of Greece at his untimely death.
Last came a terrible beast with iron teeth and ten horns. Out of the horns comes up the Little Horn, which claims to be God and is blasphemous. This last beast represents pagan Rome (Daniel 7:7-8), which was the globally dominant power in the days of Christ.
Since all of these four political powers are past, why would Zechariah’s End-time vision be about them?
The beast of Revelation 13:2-3 is an amalgamation of all these four beasts from Daniel 7. This beast is run with the brains of Babylon, the might of Persia, the conquering speed of Greece, and the crushing strength of Rome. Its power comes from the dragon (who is Satan himself - Revelation 12:9). 
Clearly, the ancient ideologies are still present at the end of the world, even though their former kingdoms have passed away. In fact, in the end, the beasts are actually used to represent the political powers which they symbolize.
For example, the lion with eagle's wings represents the
In the final round, Russia is the bear, and the three Baltic States which it consumed in its rise to power are the three ribs in its mouth.
The leopard symbolizes the new Ottoman Empire, which is the Muslim power working to bring back the old Caliphate. Once this is accomplished, this leopard-beast will be fully formed. The four heads of the leopard represent the four Rashidun Caliphs. And the wings of the beast are rooster-wings, which represents the power of France (which is represented by the rooster), which will be used by this leopard to help swiftly dominate.
Finally, the dragon-like fourth beast is the perfect picture of China, which is represented by that symbol. China is the Globalists ideal for the New World Order. Its political structure under Chairman Mao has been called the "litmus test" of the New World Order. In Zechariah's second vision, this is the fourth and most terrible of the horns.
Zechariah 1:18-21 "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And Yahweh showed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it."The reference to these four horns "scattering" God's people means that these powers will persecute them and cause them to flee. This is something Scripture tells us will take place in the final 1260-day timeline:
Daniel 12:6-7 "And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto Heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."
What are the four carpenters of Zechariah’s second vision going to do to the four horns? Zechariah says that the carpenters will "fray" the persecuting horns.
The word "fray" in Zechariah 1:21 is translated from the Hebrew word charad and means to "cause to tremble with fear". The idea that the powers of the wicked will be terrified is also shown in Matthew:Matthew 21:26 “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Since the four beasts of Daniel 7 are also the four horns of Zechariah's second vision - and since these four beasts join together to form the final beast of Revelation, we see a promise in this vision that Yahweh is going to use his "carpenters" to defeat the beast, causing it to be completely terrified at the Power and Judgments of the Almighty. Who are the carpenters who scare the beast?
The word “carpenters” means "workers". Yahweh sends His messengers to do His work in delivering a terrifying message to the beast. These workers are Yahweh's people - His final Elijah Team, who give the Message of Elijah in the Last Days. Also known as the Message of the Fourth Angel, this message which terrifies the Beast at the end of the world is found in Revelation 18:1-5:
Revelation 18:1-5 "And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."
Now, let's turn our attention to Zechariah's third vision, which is the one we read today in Zechariah 2.
Decoding the Message of Zechariah’s 3rd Vision
What did Zechariah See in his Third Vision? (Zechariah 2:1-2)- He saw a man with a measuring line
- This man was measuring Jerusalem.
- According to Zechariah 3:2 - Jerusalem will be saved from the final Fire of Judgment. Since Scripture tells us that every earthly city will be destroyed and whole earth consumed (which is why there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth - and a New Jerusalem which will come down from Heaven - Revelation 21:1-2), we may clearly see that the "Jerusalem" that is being referred to in Zechariah's visions is not the literal city. But, in Bible prophecy, Jerusalem and Zion are terms which represent the saved people of God - those who will be saved from the final Fire of Judgment - Isaiah 51:16.
- Matthew 23:34-38 also shows that Jerusalem is people in Bible prophecy. Here, it was people, not the gates or walls of a literal city, which stoned the prophets.
What is measured in Zechariah’s 3rd Vision? (Zech 2:1-2, Isaiah 64:6, Job 29:14, Isaiah 61:10) Our spiritual "garments" are being measured. The Bride of Messiah cannot be clothed in her own character robes, which are filthy rags. She must be clothed in Yahshua's Righteousness, which is the Wedding Garment of the saved.
By what Standard are we measured? In other words, what is symbolized by the measuring line in Zechariah’s 3rd vision?
- We are measured according to God’s Rule (2 Corinthians 10:12-13), which is His holy Law.
- James comes right out and states that we are judged by the Law of God (James 2:10-12).
Since we are measured by the Law, we had better know what the Law is. What is Yahweh’s Law to which we are measured?
- The word “Law” is translated from the original Hebrew word Torah, which means, "the Commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) the Statutes (the 613 principles which support and explain the 10 Commandments) and the whole of the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch).
In Psalm 19, David extolled the virtues of the Law of God, listing its parts: commandments, statutes, judgments, testimony:
Psalm 19:7-10 "The Law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of Yahweh are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
As David explains, the Law of God converts the soul!
Then he breaks down the parts listing first the Commandment, which he says are “right” and bring joy to the heart. Next David says that the Statutes of Yahweh are pure, enlightening the eyes (giving wisdom).
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