Zechariah Part 1: The Kingdom is Coming!

The book of Zechariah contains a prophecy about the coming Kingdom that would be initiated by Christ and also some prophecies that relate to events happening at the time of the return from Jewish exile in Babylon.

Zechariah was a son of a prophet, one of the returning ones. He preached a message in the Name and authority of God.

The book of Zechariah can be divided into distinct sections.

1. First, a proclamation that the Kingdom was coming
2. Next, an exhortation that the Jews had a part to play -- duties to perform in bringing about that Kingdom
3. A reminder that the Kingdom of God was bigger than the Jews, and would encompass all nations.
4. A series of visions (Chapter 6-8)
5. The first oracle (prophecy of God) -- Chapters 9-11
6. The second oracle -- Chapters 12-14

The proclamation that the Kingdom was coming was also a word of repentance -- there would be no Kingdom without repentance. People were called to:

• Believe God's promises; believe that God's way is the right way
• To do something as a result of His way being true -- for two years the rebuilding of the temple had ceased; they needed to continue its rebuilding
• To not be discouraged by the smallness of the work; this temple would not be as grand and great as the one Solomon had built, but it was the job God had called them to.

Each individual had his part to do in the rebuilding of Jerusalem; each had his duty in bringing about the coming Kingdom. In the same way, we each have a role to perform in God's Kingdom today.

At the beginning of Chapter 3, we see a courtroom scene, with Satan accusing Joshua, the high priest. God tells Satan that He will not destroy Joshua, that Joshua is a "brand plucked out of the fire". Joshua is full of sin, but God has chosen him; God removes Joshua's filthy clothes and clothes him with clean garments, representing the righteousness of Christ. God promises to Joshua that if he follows God, he will be blessed and rewarded.

Verses 8-10 of Chapter 3 contain a discussion of the Branch, representing Jesus Christ. Jesus is also symbolized in the Stone with seven eyes -- seven being the number of completion, demonstrating complete vision. We read here that when the Branch comes, God will remove all the iniquity in one day (the day of the Crucifixion). And the coming of Christ will result in a reconciliation between people (v 10).