Previously we grasped the sense of this first of eight visions in a earlier Blog. The entire vision is found in Zechariah 1:7–17. The message of this vision is that "What appears to be an anomaly: nations at peace; Israel in a state of unrest, is going to be reversed. God is going to return mercy to His people; rebuild His House; and pour out blessing on His Nation."
What about the details in this vision, though? What is there to learn from them? There's a:
- Man mounted on a red horse.
- There are myrtle trees -- in a ravine.
- Behind the man on the red horse are three other horses: red (speckled (Hebrew: sarōq, i.e., bay, speckled, fox-colored; hence, sorrel) is a mixture of the other colors), brown, and white.
The myrtle trees were ornamental plants or shrubs that were native to Syria—their appearance in the scene would link the vision to Israel’s past exile in Babylon." [1] That they are seen in a ravine may speak of the suppressed condition of the nation at that time.
The three horses behind the Christophany are angels sent to patrol the earth, observing the activities of mankind and acting as agents of God's providence. Some might speculate as the colors of these horses, but there is little evidence that we can do that with certainty.
They significance of all this is clear. We read, “Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?”” (Zechariah 1:12, NIV). This is the amazing, intercessory ministry of Christ for His people. Note:
"The angel of the Lord was moved to
intercede for the people of Judah. He desired the completion of the process of
restoration which required the reconstruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and the
other towns of Judah . . . Through intercession suggestive of our Lord's high priestly prayer as
our Mediator (John 17), the angel of the lord prayed that in the mercy of God
this situation would be rectified." [2]
As this is the appearance of the Christ, and he says “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt" (v16),” then surely He is referring to His Advent, when He comes incarnate to Jerusalem and promises to “. . . build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18, NIV). The Apostles clearly understood that the promise of Jesus Christ to rebuild the Temple was occuring as the Gospel was going from Jerusalem to the salvation of the Gentiles (see Acts 15:12-17).
What is this "surveyors line"? ("and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem" [3]). "The “surveyor’s line” (v. 16) is a measuring line and indicates Jerusalem’s expansion." [4] Notice Jeremiah 31:38–40 (NIV),
38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”
What city will never be uprooted again? Jerusalem? No! But a heavenly Jerusalem will never be overcome. This is speaking of a time, not when a physical temple is built, but a spiritual, organic, universal Temple is built that will endure for eternity. In compressed, telescopic reality, Zechariah is foretelling the coming of the Lord and that comfort that He will rebuild the Temple -- the Church, His People. "The temple Zechariah encouraged his people to build was itself prophetic. It pointed toward realities that ultimately found their full realization in the coming of Christ, because the temple was the place that confirmed God’s relationship with his people." [5]
I thank you Father that Your promise to Zechariah is an ongoing reality. Today, with unspeakable joy we witness the re-building of Your Temple. Rather than stone bricks, it's made of hearts of flesh. Rather than built by might and power, it is being built by the almighty power of Your Spirit. Rather than located in a city in the Middle East, it extends to every nation, every tongue, every tribe. Your Church is glorious, not because of its essence, but because Your Son, died and shed His blood to bring it into being. I thank You that this is a City that will never be demolished. The gates of Hell will never prevail. Your glorious, radiant, blood-bought Church will endure to bring You glory for ever and ever. May Christ be praised. Thank you for the privilege to be part of the establishment of Your Kingdom. I am totally unnecessary and totally useless. So grant the grace to serve in the strength You give, that we might see Your kingdom extend to all the nations, until all the kingdoms of this world, become the Kingdom of our God and Savior. Amen and amen!
____________________________________________________
1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1796). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/II. A Series of Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:8)/A. The First Vision: The Horseman Among the Myrtle Trees (1:7-17), Book Version: 4.0.2
3. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Zec 1:16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
4. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 1:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5. Williams, M. (2012). How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture (155). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
