Zechariah

1. Zechariah

2. Post-exilic = “after” – “the Babylonian deportation”

3. Post-exilic = “after” – “the Babylonian deportation” 722 – Assyrian deportation of the N. Tribes 605-586 – Babylonian deportation of Judah

4. 539 BC?

5. 539 BC Cyrus the Persian overthrew Babylon, and permitted the exiled Jews to return to the land

6. 3 Series of exiles returning • Zerubbabel 538 BC

7. 3 Series of exiles returning • Zerubbabel 538 BC • Ezra 458 BC

8. 3 Series of exiles returning • Zerubbabel 538 BC • Ezra 458 BC • Nehemiah 445 BC

9. First Series of Events – 538 BC • Zerubbabel brings back about 50,000 people

10. First Series of Events – 538 BC • Zerubbabel brings back about 50,000 people • 2nd Temple begins construction (536 BC) – 70 years after the first wave of captivity

11. First Series of Events – 538 BC • Zerubbabel brings back about 50,000 people • 2nd Temple begins construction (536 BC) – 70 years after the first wave of captivity • Resistance brought it to a halt

12. First Series of Events – 538 BC • Zerubbabel brings back about 50,000 people • 2nd Temple begins construction (536 BC) – 70 years after the first wave of captivity • Resistance brought it to a halt • Haggai the prophet comes to stir the people to finish (520), and they do (516)

14. First Series of Events – 538 BC • Haggai the prophet comes to stir the people to finish (520), and they do (516) • Esther in Persia (483-473), indicating a significant population still in the exile lands

15. Second and Third Series of Events 458 & 445 BC • Ezra leads the next return to the land, about 7000-8000 (Ez. 7-10) (458) • Nehemiah leads the third return to the land, to repair the walls of Jerusalem (445) • Ezra preaches, the people adopt a covenant • Nehemiah leaves and returns (424)

19. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity

20. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion

21. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry

24. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation

25. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets

28. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets • In denial false prophets

29. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets • In denial false prophets • The Cleansing of the remnant of Israel for salvation

30. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets • In denial false prophets • The Cleansing of the remnant of Israel for salvation • Piercing the Shepherd

31. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets • In denial false prophets • The Cleansing of the remnant of Israel for salvation • Piercing the Shepherd • Thinning the flock

32. The Cleansing of Israel • The Cleansing of the people of their sin and impurity • The Cleansing of the land from false religion • No toleration for false prophets and idolatry • No place for such an occupation • Clandestine false prophets • In denial false prophets • The Cleansing of the remnant of Israel for salvation • Piercing the Shepherd • Thinning the flock • Refining the remnant

34. Luther: “Here, in this chapter, I give up. For I am not sure what the prophet is talking about”

35. Luther: “Here, in this chapter, I give up. For I am not sure what the prophet is talking about” H.C. Leupold: “Our verse do not, therefore, apply to any one situation. They do not describe a siege, capture and captivity which actually occurred. By means of a figure they describe a situation which obtains continually through New Testament times. God’s people shall continually be antagonized and suffer bitter adversity at the hands of their foes and shall in consequence be brought low; but there shall always be an imperishable remnant, and that not so extremely small.”

36. He continues the same subject, that God’s power would be then conspicuous in putting enemies to flight. He indeed illustrates here his discourse by figurative expressions, as though he wished to bring the Jews to see the scene itself; for the object of the personification is no other but that the faithful might set God before them as it were in a visible form; and thus he confirms their faith, as indeed it was necessary;

37. for as we are dull and entangled in earthly thoughts, our minds can hardly rise up to heaven, though the Lord with a clear voice invites us to himself. The Prophet then, in order to aid our weakness, adds a vivid representation, as though God stood before their eyes. Stand, he says, shall his feet on the mount of Olives. He does not here promise a miracle, such as even the ignorant might conceive to be literal;

38. nor does he do this in what follows, when he says, The mount shall be rent, and half of it shall thorn to the east and half to the west. This has never happened, that mount has never been rent: but as the Prophet could not, under those grievous trials, which might have overwhelmed the minds of the godly a hundred times, have extolled the power of God as much as the exigency of the case required without employing a highly figurative language, he therefore accommodates himself, as I have said, to the capacity of our flesh.

39. The import of the whole is, — that God’s power would be so remarkable in the deliverance of his Church, as though God manifested himself in a visible form and reviewed the battle from the top of the mountain, and gave orders how everything was to be done. John Calvin – Zechariah Commentary

40. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict

42. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige

43. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige • The Conquest Described

44. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige • The Conquest Described • The Return of the Lord

45. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige • The Conquest Described • The Return of the Lord • A Cosmic Split – Eschatological Sign

48. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige • The Conquest Described • The Return of the Lord • A Cosmic Split – Eschatological Sign • A Miraculous Rescue – Eschatological Salvation

49. Jerusalem’s Final Conflict • Anti-Christ’s Seige • The Conquest Described • The Return of the Lord • A Cosmic Split – Eschatological Sign • A Miraculous Rescue – Eschatological Salvation • A Gathering for War – Eschatological Shock and Awe