The King is Coming - The Glory Returns

One Year Bible: Dec. 22

Zechariah 2:1-3:10

The Glory Returns!

Many years ago, I had the privilege to sing in a choir at Christmas time at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca. This is an ice rink, and it was very cold in there. But nothing was as chilling as the lead voice we sang with, Sandi Patty. She sang the Hallelujah Chorus with a gigantic choir behind her. It was chilling and a foretaste of what Heaven’s worship must sound like. The only difference is that the King Himself will be there to receive our praise!

The book of Zechariah is about “The Kingdom Coming” and “The King Coming.” God’s people were very broken after their seventy years of captivity. They had no temple and no drive to rebuild it. So, God sent Zechariah an amazing message for them… and us too.

“When I Zechariah looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked. He replied, ‘I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.” (2:1-2)

These are the words of the first angel to Zechariah, who then goes to meet a second angel who was coming towards him. There is a “big stir” and urgency in the air…

“The other angel said, ‘Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls. Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, say the LORD. And I will be THE GLORY INSIDE THE CITY! " (2:3-5)

A battle rages from Genesis through Revelation. In the garden, “The tempter, Satan” comes to Adam and Eve with a simple “Twist.” That “Twist” is to disobey God and seek to be equal with God. In the book of Job, Satan goes directly to God’s throneroom for permission to torture Job so that he, too, will deny and curse God.

In the gospels, he also meets Jesus in the mountains to test him. It is the same “Twist” of scripture. Satan’s plot is for Jesus to bow down to him rather than to God alone. Jesus rebukes him with scripture. He will submit to no other will but that of His father.

Revelation ends with the final war before Satan is silenced. “In the fullness of time,” he will be judged and sentenced. He was defeated at the cross, but the time of judgment for all mankind awaits.

Here we find Satan mentioned again as a central figure in the war raging against Jerusalem. Make no mistake, God’s people did not just get into all their troubles alone. Those “Poles” that they worship were just like the “tree” that Adam and Eve ate from. They were forbidden and opened all doors of evil in their lives.

God returned them from captivity, but Satan wants them back. He does not want God’s divine plan for Reconciliation to continue so that Jesus can come through the lineage of David as proclaimed by the prophets. Even in the gospels, we see ALL of the baby boys being killed. The king wanted to stop Messiah!

Have you noticed how Jesus told heavenly truths using parables? This concealed the truth from those that did not seek faith.

God also uses visions and prophecies to tell of “what is to come”... It is like Morris Code for his soldiers. He warns of what will happen in the battle in a way that the believers will pay attention and stay alert. But, the enemy will continue to act out their plans unaware…

But make no mistake! God is aware, watching, and “Protecting the walls of Jerusalem.”

In this book, you will see many prophecies, much like the book of Revelation, where God is imparting to those that “have eyes to see” a message of WARNING and HOPE.

This book has seven-ten prophecies. We will look at their meaning so that you can better understand them as you read for yourself…

There is a RIDER ON THE RED HORSE (1:8-17): Judgment is represented here as the nations have abused God’s covenant, and He is a jealous God.

There are FOUR HORNS, and FOUR CARPENTERS, which are the nations that had scattered Israel, and the Carpenters are the instruments of judgment on the FOUR NATIONS.

The Man with the Measuring Line tells us that God is actively involved with his angelic army as the wall around the glorious city.

Joshua, the High Priest, is the actual High Priest anointed by the prophets over the remnant that returns. He is to help rebuild “The Temple of God” so God’s presence can reside with His people again. His Hebrew name, “Joshua,” is equivalent to the Greek name, “Jesus.” This Priest/King foreshadows the coming Messiah who will fulfill all the teachings and take up residence to be worshipped.

There is the CANDLE (God) and the CANDLESTICKS (God’s people), which are all reminders of what went on in the Temple. The light was God’s presence which never went out and the reminder that God’s MIGHT would rebuild the temple.

THE FLYING SCROLL is THE WORD OF GOD, and the EPHAH is a measuring container that holds all the corruption against God.

The FOUR CHARIOTS are God’s judgment upon the nations.

Finally, the culmination is the SYMBOLIC CROWNING OF JOSHUA which is a vision of the second coming of Christ.

The entire Gospel message is found right here in Zechariah.

Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says; My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong… I have returned to show MERCY to Jerusalem.”

As we approach the Christmas story, may we read it through the context of its origin... It is not just the beginning of the New Testament. It is the central theme of the ENTIRE Bible.

The LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES’ is coming…Priest. King. Messiah.

“For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” (Hallelujah Chorus)

The Glory Returns!