Zechariah was given another vision here. This was number 8. In this vision he saw a flying roll. God certainly had the attention of Zechariah with the various visions he was given. We need to remember that Zechariah did not have a Bible he could open and read. He was one of the 40 holy men that God used to give us the Bible. We do not need visions today and we do not receive visions from the Lord. There are those who claim to receive visions from the Lord but they are either lying or they are being deceived.
In verse 2 we read that this scroll was 20 cubits by 10 cubits. The normal Biblical measurement of a cubit was 18”. That would mean that this scroll was 30’ by 15’. This was a large scroll.
In verse 3 we read that this scroll contained the writing of the curse that was going to be upon the whole earth. The Hebrew word translated as “earth” here is often translated in reference to the land of Israel. The text tells us this judgment will be upon the face of the whole earth. We have already seen that the prophecies that Zechariah was given have their fulfillment in the latter days. We also know that prior to that time, this world will face some severe judgments from the Lord. We know from history that the Roman empire fell from within due to the massive immorality. We also know that North America now is involved in massive immorality. We know that North America is not mentioned in Bible prophecy. It is quite possible that North America will be uninhabited at the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy. Thus, when it talks of the “whole earth” in our text, it could well be that the Middle East and Europe will be the extent of the populated earth at that time.
Verse 3 of our text tells us that the curse is for every one that steals and every one that swears. The sin of swearing refers to those who will use God’s name in vain. It refers to those who want to invoke God’s name in an unjust manner.
Theft is a common crime today. It was then as well. We know that Jesus Christ called Matthew to be one of His disciples. Matthew was a tax collector. They were known to be thieves. Zacchaeus was also a tax collector who was a thief. When he met Jesus he was convicted in his heart of his wickedness and he confessed his sin and turned from it. Jesus declared that salvation had come to his house that day.
Malachi was directed to expose the Jews of His day for robbing God by withholding the tithes and offerings from Him. They claimed to be pious individuals but they were wicked people in God’s sight. They tried to excuse their actions but they could not justify it in God’s sight.
God will straighten out the corruption when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to this earth.
The false swearing is also a current problem as it was in Zechariah’s day and will be until the Lord Jesus Christ comes back.
In Acts 5 we have the record of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a property and brought some of the money to Peter. They both claimed that the money they brought was the total amount they had received from the sale of their property. Their sin was not in withholding some of the money for themselves. Their sin was in claiming that what they gave to the local church was all the money from the sale of the property. Peter reminded each of them that they had lied against God and God struck them dead instantly. The early church witnessed the danger of lying against God which included lying against the Holy Spirit.
There have been many false professors that have lied against God and against the Godhead since that time. They have not all been instantly struck dead. That does not mean they did not sin. God shows us His righteous standard. Everyone will be held to the same righteous standard.
There are many false teachers today who credit God with things that are lies. They claim that tongues speaking is still a present day gift of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says tongues shall cease when the perfect is come. The perfect is here. We have the completed Word of God and the sign gifts are no longer needed today, nor are they available. There are many false claims of miracles that are also a means of swearing falsely by God’s name. Over the years many people have placed their right hand on a Bible in court and sworn to tell the truth, and then they have proceeded to lie. The Bible tells us not to swear by heaven or earth or anything. Our word should be trusted.
Many false prophecies are still being made in the name of Jesus. Kenneth Copeland is famous for this. Many others have tried to compete with his massive amount of lies he tells.
The Bible warns that the antichrist, the “man of sin” will deceive many with “lying signs and wonders”. He will be guilty of swearing falsely by God’s name. He will reject the true God and declare himself to be God. He will be a false god and will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 4 tells us that God will enter into the house of the thief and the false swearer and will destroy the house. This will apply to individuals and it will also apply to the temple that the antichrist will have built during his short lived reign of terror. That temple will be built quickly and it will be destroyed even quicker. The antichrist will have it built and the true Jesus Christ will destroy it. Many individuals will be destroyed at that time as well.
The judgments of God are sure and they are swift. Zechariah was told to write of this judgment so that those reading this could avoid them. God wants people to repent toward Him and to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. That is the only way of forgiveness and blessing.
In our world we have been told for a long time that there is such a thing as a “white lie”. It is quite common to hear a politician lying. The news media is guilty of lying most of the time as well. Many people will withhold important details of a situation to make their point seem legitimate. This same sin is committed by many false teachers. They love to pick and choose Bible verses that suit their false theology. They do not like expository preaching because that would expose their lies.
God is warning in this passage that He has an accurate record of all that each person does. He is righteous and He is holy. He never lies. Everything that a person says and does is judged according to His righteous standard.
Zechariah was telling the truth. It is always wise to tell the truth. Honour God and serve Him faithfully. Jesus reminded the Jews of His day that the “truth shall make you free.” There is great freedom in speaking the truth and in believing the truth.
Pastor Bartel