The prophecies of
Zechariah gives us a prophetic perspective "above history and time",
peering into Israel's immediate and far distant future. Zechariah's
prophetic writings focus primarily upon the restoration of the second
temple in Jerusalem after the 70 year Babylonian captivity, but also
foretells the coming of the Messiah to suffer and later reign as King
over all the earth. This compelling study is for anyone interested in
the purposes of the God of Israel in past, present and future times.
An Overview Outline Of
The Book Of Zechariah:
A. A Personal Overview
Of The Prophet Zechariah
Zechariah is the
eleventh in order of the twelve minor prophets
He is called in his
prophecy (Zech. 1), the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo,
whereas in the book of Ezra (5:1, 6:14) he is said to be the son of
Iddo. This is so since a grandson can still be considered "the son
of".
Zechariah, like
Jeremiah and Ezekiel was a priest as well as a prophet.
Zechariah entered his
priestly office as a young man (Zech. 2:4).
He was probably born
in the Babylonian empire during the 70 year exile and he returned to
Israel with the first caravan under Zerubbabel and Jeshua.
It was the 8th month
in the second year of Darius that Zechariah began his priestly
office.
Both Haggai and
Zechariah were contemporary prophets of post-exilic Israel.
Both prophets
influenced the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
Zechariah seemed to
have used expressions previously used by Jeremiah. "The spirit of
Jeremiah dwelt in Zechariah" was a quote coined by his
contemporaries, but his style approaches Ezekiel and Daniel in his
account of his night visions.
B. A Prophetic Overview
Of The Book Of Zechariah
1. Analysis of the entire book
The call of repentance
(Zech. 1:1-6)
The night visions
(Zech. 1:7 to 6:8)
The coronation of
Joshua (Zech. 6:9-15)
The problem of fasting
(Zech. 7:1 to 8:23)
The shepherd-king
(Zech. 9:11 to 11:17)
The universal ruler
(Zech. 12:1 to 14:21)
2. Connection of Zechariah's and
Haggai's revelation of the rebuilding of the Temple.
Haggai's first message
(Haggai 1:1) - 6th month of year, 1st day
Rebuilding of temple
began (Haggai 1:15) - 6th month of year, 24th day
Haggai's second
message (Haggai 2:1) - 7th month of year, 21st day
Zechariah's first
message - 8th month of year
Haggai's 3rd & 4th
message - 9th month of year, 24th day
Zechariah's night
visions (Zech. 1:7) - 11th month of year, 24th day
