July 20, 2024

While the angel was speaking to Zechariah, he seemed tired and fell asleep because he had to awaken him. If we want to be a vessel for the word of God, we must overcome our flesh and wake up to the things of the spirit. Zechariah’s vision was of a golden candlestick with seven lamps, seven pipes for each of them, and a bowl for the oil that fed each of them; beside it were two olive trees. He asked the angel what it meant, and he said it represented the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, that the mountain of work he saw in front of him for rebuilding the temple was in God’s power, not his, and it would be brought down to rubble and that he would also finish what he had started.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Zechariah 4:6-7

In his commentary, Matthew Henry says, “God will carry on and complete this work, as he had begun their deliverance from Babylon, not by external force, but by secret operations and internal influences upon the minds of men.” I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read this because a secret operation is going on to deliver the United States and the world that we know is coordinated by the hand of God. Little by little, the pieces will fall into place. 

For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:10

Zechariah then asked about the olive trees. However, he had to ask twice because the angel didn’t answer him the first time. When praying, if you don’t get an answer the first time, ask again. He explained that they provided the oil that kept the candle fed and represented the anointed ones, in this case, Zerubbabel and Joshua. However, spiritually, it representsJesus and the Holy Spirit that feeds into the Father, who represents the Golden Candlestick.

July 19, 2024

Zechariah is now met with another vision: that of Joshua, the high priest, and Satan standing next to him, waiting to accuse him. This Joshua is a different one than most of us know from other Bible stories; he came out of captivity and presided over the other priest. In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua was dressed in filthy garments, which is believed to be because some of the priests under his command had taken wives while in Babylon and were considered a stain on the priesthood. Jesus, the angel of the LORD, who is another Joshua (savior), rebuked Satan, took away his filthy garments, and replaced them with clean clothes, removing his iniquity. Jesus called Joshua a firebrand because he snatched him out of the fire without quenching his flame and saved him from becoming the prey to Satan. 

And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Zechariah 3:6-7

A beautiful change happened when Jesus called us to Himself. Though we were clothed in filthy garments, Jesus saw our hearts and cleansed us of all unrighteousness, clothing us in the garments of the priesthood, just like Zechariah saw in his vision of Joshua. We are a people genuinely blessed by God.

I can feel the winds of change in the air. Can you feel it? Take a deep breath.  

July 18, 2024

Zechariah had a vision of an angel with a measuring line, a representation of Jesus. Another angel was there, and Zechariah asked him what he was doing. 

And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: Zechariah 2:4

Jesus was making sure there was enough room for everyone. Then he called for everyone to come out of Babylon and return to their land because He was about to deal harshly with those who hurt his people, the apple of his eye. When God decides to recompense the wicked, we need to get out of the way so we are not affected by His wrath upon others. What’s more, we will get back everything the enemy has taken away.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:4

I believe Zechariah 2 is a command for God’s people to leave Babylon and return to their true home. It also serves as a prophecy of the future, when God will call us out of this world to the New Jerusalem. The passage describes a city without walls, surrounded by fire, and most importantly, it promises that God will dwell among His people. What a glorious future awaits us! 

And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. Zechariah 2:11

July 17, 2024

There must be a reason that God has had me covering everything up to Israel's release from Babylon over the last several books. I've had a couple of revelations through things that the Holy Spirit showed me during my walks on the beach. I thought the signs were about something personal. However, this morning, I realized that they may have had to deal with our country's release from captivity, that doors were opening, and that clarity was coming about our situation in the United States. God loves his people even though we are as filthy as dirty rags and sin against Him daily; he longs to comfort us and give us hope. The children of Israel were in captivity for seventy years for their sins against God. As the seventy years ended, God gave Zechariah visions of what would come. These visions came during the second year of King Darius, who sent them back home to repair the wall and rebuild the temple of God. 

In Zechariah 1, a man on a red horse, a depiction of Jesus, was hidden among the myrtles. He had been throughout the earth, and the angel wanted to know how much longer he was going to keep Israel in captivity. Jesus comforted him with His words. The angel told Zechariah to cry out and tell the people that God was jealous of Jerusalem, that he was angry with the nations oppressing them, and that his people would prosper once again. The last few verses of this first chapter show us the four horns of the nations that scattered God's people, and that revenge is coming through four carpenters. It is believed that the four carpenters were Zerubbabel and Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah, who worked diligently despite their opposition. 

Compare that to what we see today and the opposition to those of us who seek freedom from the tyranny of the current administration. There is a Mighty power controlling the outcome, and time will tell us that God is in control! Wait for it: it will surely come.

And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. Zechariah 1:13

July 16, 2024

Though I may not have been given a complete understanding of all the details of this prophecy, I can encourage you with the words written by Daniel and the words spoken by Jesus. Antiochus was terrible and was a type of antichrist, a ruler that ravaged the nation of Israel. The tribulation will mimic the rule and reign of Antiochus but will be far worse. The antichrist will be very cunning and draw people to him where even the elect, Christ-followers, could be deceived. We should know that Jesus will come in the clouds like lightning, and all will see and know it’s him. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn away by anyone claiming that they are he. There are a lot of biblical events lining up that give us clues into the timing of his return, including signs in the stars and weather-related happenings. We are primed to see him return and are privileged to live in this time, even though it may be stressful to watch or endure. However, like Noah and his family, God removed them from the situation so they didn’t have to endure the devastation of drowning in the flood. I found information in some other historical writings that Noah and his family were not the only ones left who loved the Lord, but God had them quietly pass away before the devastation occurred. I expect that God will take us out so we also don’t have to endure. Time will tell. 

The vision in chapter twelve that Daniel was given was gorgeous! Daniel saw Jesus standing in the middle of the river with two angels, one standing on each side of the bank. He was standing on the water! Then what did Jesus do while physically here on earth? He walked on the water! He raised his hands in a promise that the revelations in this prophecy were trustworthy and true and gave the number of days that this would take place. Now is not the time to be shy about your faith and love for Jesus. Time is short, so share Him lavishly!

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10

July 15, 2024

Antiochus Epiphanes, who I mentioned in the July 12th post for Daniel 8, the little horn that sprang up on the goat from one of the four horns, was vile and a destroyer of the people of God and desecrated the temple by placing his god, Jupiter Olympus, to replace God in the temple and took away the daily sacrifice. He removed all the gods from other religions and replaced them with the Egyptian gods. I covered the different characters in this prophecy in the July 12th devotional. Daniel 11 covers the details of the prophecy explained by Gabriel when he met with Daniel after hearing his prayer, which now we know in hindsight, came to play out as prophesied by Daniel. 

If you think things are bad now, imagine being an Israelite during the time of Antiochus and trying to follow God’s commands. He hung the children and took out the mothers who kept the practice of circumcision, and that’s just one example of his cruelty. 

When it came time for his end, no one would help him as Daniel had predicted when he said he would be broken without hands. 

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Daniel 11:45 

One thing I’ve noticed and something we should be grateful for is that God will sometimes help us by removing us and taking us into his glory. Don’t be afraid to die. Be more scared to live when cruelty abounds. Pray that we never have to see the day that we lose our freedom to worship God and honor Jesus. 

July 14, 2024

It took me a minute to dig through commentaries until I understood this chapter. I am learning as I go because it seems complicated. However, I found an understandable explanation in the Jamieson-Faucet-Brown commentary, which explains that Daniel 10 answered Daniel's prayer in Chapter 9 for the vision of the ram and the goat of Chapter 8. I would have put two and two together if I had read ahead. But being stubborn, I tried to understand one chapter at a time, which, in this circumstance, doesn't work. It shows that when studying the Bible, you may need to read the chapters before and after to see the whole picture.

After Daniel had fasted and prayed for 21 days to understand the vision from Chapter 8 about the ram and goat, the angel Gabriel visited him. The angel revealed that he had heard Daniel's prayer at the beginning of his fasting, but was delayed in a spiritual battle against the prince of Persia. 

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:13

Through Gabriel, God reaffirmed His deep love for Daniel. This revelation is a testament to the personal and intimate relationship God shares with each of His beloved.

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Daniel 10:19

The vision is explained in Daniel 11. 

The takeaway from Daniel 10 is that God hears our prayers, but we must be patient and wait for the answer. Leave your request with God; He hears you. Stand firm in your faith that He is just and fair and will answer you when the time is right.