Zechariah 5:5

The Bible says in Zechariah 5:5-11, “Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.” In order to understand this vision, we need to understand something about each of the items mentioned in the vision: the ephah, the lead, the woman, the two women, and the land of Shinar.

An ephah was a measure of grain. An ephah was a container for the grain that had been harvested. Grain represents the basic food-stuffs that all human beings require in order to sustain life on this earth. The talent of lead was used to seal the ephah. Obviously, this seal of lead would keep the grain inside the ephah, and thus keep the grain from being used for food. First we see one woman and then two women associated with the ephah. A woman is used in scripture to represent false religion. That is because the correct view of the worship of God is symbolized by faith in Christ. It says in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” The Bible also says in Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The land of Shinar mentioned in Zechariah 4:11 is Babylon. Babylon is the name of the city, and Shinar is the name of the land surrounding Babylon. Of course, Babylon is the more common name, and is used more often to represent the entire country of Babylon.

We see the woman, and Babylon, and control over the people of the earth in Revelation 17:1-7. It says, “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.”

Babylon is found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Babylon represents human government at its worst in alliance with false religion and opposing the work of God and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words human government is seen repressing freedom and opportunity. Human government is seen as eventually causing the scarcity of even the daily requirements for mankind. That is the significance of the ephah that is sealed with a heavy leaden seal and controlled by a woman who represents wickedness. Do not place your hopes and dreams in the human political system around you. Human governments are failing mankind. The kingdom that Jesus will set up is the kingdom where all of our hopes and dreams will be realized. Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” And Jesus also said in Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.”

But until Jesus does return to establish His kingdom, He is still King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is in charge of Babylon and of all the nations of the earth. Jesus determines what happens to every country on the face of the earth. Jesus has allowed Babylon to be established, and Jesus will bring Babylon’s destruction at the appointed time just as we are told in the book of Revelation. Zechariah 6:1-8 is a vision about the fact of God’s control of the whole earth and all of the nations of the earth. It says, “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”

God is powerful. Of course, that is given. The word “God” means “Mighty one.” Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, “With God all things are possible.” How often and how easily we forget this. The purpose of the vision of these four horses is to remind believers that God is powerful, that He can do anything, and that He is performing His will in this world, even among the rulers of the nations of this world. The four horses came forth from two mountains made of brass. Two mountains made of brass are an image of power. The horses come out of these mountains made of brass, and therefore we think of the horses as being sent forth in power and in authority. There are four horses in order to symbolize the fact that they go everywhere in the world. God is everywhere. His will is being done everywhere. One of the horses went to the north, one to the south, one to the east, and one to the west.

Concerning the nation of Israel, Babylon was considered to be a nation towards because one had to travel north initially to get to Babylon from Israel. During the time of Zechariah the children of Israel were primarily interested in what was happening in Babylon. Just seventy years earlier Babylon had attacked them and destroyed Jerusalem. But things were different now. Things had changed. Why had they changed? God changed them. Notice that it said in Zechariah 6:8, “Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.” If you want something to change in the world, then pray to the Lord about it. He can change anything. God can do what man cannot do.

The Bible says in Zechariah 6:9-15, “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.” This passage of scripture tells us basically two spiritual truths: 1. What man should do. 2. What God will do for us through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing that man should do is to come out from Babylon. It says in Zechariah 6:9-10, “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah” Babylon represents the kingdoms of the world and how they dominate and control people. Generally speaking people, are enslaved to the ideas and concepts that come from Babylon. Their behavior, their philosophies, their priorities, and their religion all come Babylon. They are enslaved by Babylon. In order to serve God, they must come out of Babylon spiritually speaking. They must escape and become free. Jesus said in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” All through the Bible separation from wickedness is emphasized. You must learn to be in the world, but not of the world, or you will not be able to serve God effectively. It says in Second Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” One of the obstacles that influences some people to not turn to Jesus is the pull and the attraction of the world. Jesus said in Matthew 13:22, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”

Notice the result if you do come out from Babylon and touch not the unclean thing and serve the Lord Jesus in spirit and in truth. It says in Zechariah 6:11, “Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest.” The silver and gold represents the fact that the Lord will supply your material needs. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The crown represents the great power and authority that each believer who serve Jesus receives from Jesus. It says in Ephesians 4:8, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” What a privilege it is to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have direct access to the King of kings. We are given authority from the Lord of lords.

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