Zechariah—The Sign of Christ’s Imminent Return
This prophetic book has only now been fully understood! The book of Zechariah contains prophecy about two end-time churches of God. One church is doing God’s Work. It is even prophesied to build a majestic physical house for God, which is now finished, so anybody can see it. It is a symbol of fulfilled prophecy, which proves that God’s master plan always prevails. That royal house is also a symbol of endless hope. God’s government rules that house and is about to rule all mankind and bring us joy forever. The other church, which is Laodicean, fails in its commission to do God’s Work. The key to understanding these churches is a flying scroll. It shows us what God is doing today and where it is all leading.
Crisis in God’s Church
The central theme of Zechariah’s prophecy is God’s temple. Acknowledge this theme and the book is much easier to understand. Also, to understand this book, you must realize that the prophecy in it is dual. It was delivered to ancient Judah at the time of the construction of the second temple; however, God’s message through Zechariah could not be understood until our time—today!
God is working out His great master plan. That plan involves both the world and the Church. When we look at the plan of God operating in our day, we must realize that the events happening within God’s temple—the Church—are more important to God than events happening within the world. God’s main concern right now is with His Church, the people who are striving and struggling to do God’s Work and enter into His Family. Zechariah’s prophecy does deal with the destruction of Israel, but the book’s prophecies have more to do with building character than with destruction. This prophecy reveals that in this end time, some of God’s people are failing to build the character that God wants them to build! Are we building godly character in our lives? Zechariah holds a crucial message for all of God’s true Church today.
According to the Soncino Commentary, Zechariah came on the scene only two months after Haggai. “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers” (Zechariah 1:1–2). God is displeased with us when we disobey Him. “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts” (verse 3). Several translations, including the Revised Standard Version, say the word turn is actually return. Return unto me! God is saying. This is addressed to people who had been with God and then turned away. It is speaking to the end-time Laodiceans.
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