1. Zechariah 1:8-11. The vision is explained, but what does it really mean to us?

It tells us God is in control, directly and through His own agents watching the planet and His people. At this juncture there seems to be world peace under Emperor Darius of the Persians. Yet God says in v.15 that it is that very ease of earth that troubles the Lord. They don’t seem to realize the danger they are in from Him. They had punished His people more than He had asked them to do, and are now in line for their own correction.

2. Zechariah 1:12-14 and 3:1-7. Read these passages very carefully and analyze. Who is the Angel of the Lord?

There is general consensus throughout the evangelical world today that the Angel of the Lord is none other than Jesus Christ Himself in a “pre-incarnate” form. I do not agree and even fear this interpretation, for it sounds too much like the answer of the cultists. The Jehovah’s Witnesses want “Michael” to be this angel, and Jesus too.

But an angel is an angel. A messenger. A created being. There are many passages we could cover in Scripture, and we have elsewhere, but look closely at Zechariah for now:

• 1:12. The angel of the Lord said, “O Lord…” That should settle it, right? The angel is talking to the Lord. Two separate persons having a conversation. Don’t forget also that “the LORD” in capitals, always means “Jehovah”. The angel of Jehovah is talking to Jehovah.
• 3:1. Joshua [priest], the angel of the Lord, Satan involved in a dispute. Satan attempts to accuse Joshua, but is stopped by – not the angel – but Jehovah Himself, Who says, “Jehovah rebuke you, Satan.” The implication is that it was the angel who spoke the rebuke. And herein is the “problem” in all of this. The angel of the Lord, being a messenger, is always speaking the Lord’s words. That is why people think he is God. But he is still, in my opinion, only an angel.
• Interesting note: Jude tells us that Michael, the archangel, had a dispute with Satan over Moses’ body, and said the very same words that you read here, “The Lord rebuke you…” Does it not pass the logic test that Michael and the angel of the Lord are quite possibly the same person? But I see no such clear proof that an angel is God.

3. Zechariah 1:19. Which four “horns” or kingdoms scattered Israel and Judah?

Assyria, Babylonia, Media, Persia, is one possible set of nations. All of them were in some way responsible for capturing, or keeping, the exiled Jews out of their land.

4. Zechariah 1:20-21. What is meant by “craftsmen” in this context? Who “terrified” the “horns”?

These have the tools in hand to tear down and build up kingdoms. Macarthur suggests that, one after the other, Empires swallowed up other Empires. To punish Assyria, God raised up Babylonia, which in turn was taken by Medo-Persia, then came Greece, and Rome etc.

Bottom line of the prophecy is that those who have punished Israel will themselves be punished. More of the same line of thinking as the earlier prophecy in the chapter. God is in charge.

5. Zechariah 3:8-10, 6:11-15. Will Joshua have a major role in the Millennial Kingdom?

Considering that this name is the Hebrew name for our Saviour, and that Jesus bore our sins and then was crowned with great glory, one is again tempted to take this historical character and make him the Messiah.

Not so fast. As with Zerubbabel, Joshua himself is an important character in the story. God has promised His people that the priesthood will continue into the Millennium, even though its sacrificing is only pointing to an already established fact, Calvary. Here is the first of those newly-established priests, and great promises are made to him, not the least of which is that he will be around when “the Branch”, who really is Jesus, is introduced into the picture. And when He is introduced, notice that God says that it is He, King Jesus, Who will build the ultimate Temple of the Lord.

I believe that Joshua is yet another member of Jesus’ final “cabinet” in the Millennial Reign.

6. Zechariah 4:2-5, 11-14. Where do we meet these “olive trees” in the Bible again? Who are they, and what is their role.

This one is pretty clear. In Revelation, these two trees are the two prophets returning to earth during the Tribulation. They will preach, minister miraculously, be killed by antichrist, and be raised again in full view of the evil men of that generation. Many believe that Elijah is one of them. Enoch and Moses are the candidates for the other.

7. Zechariah 4:10. “These seven”. Which seven? And what do they see?

The flow of the text seems to point to the “seven eyes” of the Lord. They are referenced in 3:9, as engraved on a stone being given to Joshua the high priest.

And of course, they see everything. But in this case they are seeing the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. And God is happy about the Governor’s intention to build the House of God. The plumb line seems to represent the beginning of the process. Heaven is rejoicing.