September 4, 2010

End Times Witnessing: Overcome hard times, tap into God and Live!

The intercessor/watchman speaker says, “On the Last Day, if you don’t know how to tap into God, you won’t survive.”
This statement has the greatest impact on the watchman during a recent conference.On this journey in the Holy Spirit, the more he walked the narrow path, and watch, the more he knew, every word said by the Lord is true and real. No flesh can survive. If your spirit man does not wake up soon you will perish like the rest. Now that hard times are here to stay, how does a Christian expect to withstand the even harder times ahead? No option except being part of the body of Christ, living by faith and by the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, if you tap into the living God just as Yeshua (Jesus) said, be the branches of His vine, you will not only survive, you will live supernaturally and above the world-wide crumbling systems and structures made by mortal men.Your supplies of resources will never run dry. Your barns will be always full. You will be a blessing to many. You will be the head and not the tail. You will be the lender and not the borrower. Apart from Jesus you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Men are created to live supernaturally. When men fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, men lost the sensitivity to the spiritual realm and its reality, and could only rely on brute strength (flesh: i.e. body and mind) to survive. But Jesus came and changed that limitation. He brought men back to the spiritual realm and its power to overcome the mortal man’s limitations (in flesh).
John 1:12-13 “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
There are however two spiritual realms: that of God and that of the devil. Choose the Jesus Gate and you will enter the right spiritual realm through having the Holy Spirit in you. Only the Holy Spirit in you can point you to the truth of God and the truth of God can set you free.
Choose the Jesus Gate and you will enter into God’s rest. Only by abiding in Christ Jesus, you will have security in this life and the next, i.e. in eternity. Through the Holy Spirit, you can tap into God and live the super-abundant life Jesus has promised to His believers and followers. (John 10:10)
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The following are relevant verses spoken by Jesus for His own people (Christians and Messianic Jews) to know and practice:
John 6:63 “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. he will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me.”
John 15:7-8 ” But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This bring great glory to My Father! “
John 14:21 “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14:12I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
John 17:3 (Jesus’ prayer to the Father in heaven for His disciples and all believers) “And this is the way to eternal life-to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth.” 17:11 “Holy Father, You have given Me Your name; now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as We are.”
John 17:17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
20I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
There are such depths and reality in these words of the Lord. Read them over and over and ask the Holy Spirit to burn them in your hearts, my brethren. Be the supernatural man the Lord has designed us to be!
In His prayer to the Father, Jesus promised that He will continue to reveal the Father to us.Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (John 17:26)
Clues and Keys for Christian End Times Survival:
1. Abide in Christ Yeshua (Jesus); let His Word abide in you.
2. Live supernaturally by the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit)
3. Ask for supplies from heaven in the name of the Lord (Yeshua Christ)
4. Ask for revelations from the Holy Spirit.
5. Align with God through listening and obeying the Holy Spirit (in the Word of God)
6. Submit to and obey you Commander-in-Chief, the Holy Spirit.
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September 3, 2010

End Times Witnessing: three days of many visions for a watchman

The night of many (eight) visions could only happen to Zechariah, the watchman once thought. He had once seen about eight or nine visions on one sleepless night. Some of them related to family matters and some on matters pertaining to God. But he was young in the Spirit then and could not understand.

Recently he was given the same opportunity when he attended three-days conference for intercessors/watchmen. The number of visions and the frequency overwhelmed him. He tried to record some and most times he could only give thanks to the awesome God.

The  visions came as soon as he closed his eyes. There were so many and he just could not keep count or ask the Lord what they meant. However, some were clear and meant something so important that he had recalled and recorded them.
Vision One: Vision of Fiery Darts and Fishes
During the time when the name of Yeshua (Jesus) was lifted high (in songs) and the prayer leader (an elderly veteran grandma intercessor) led the group and cried out the name of the Lord over and over, while singing and praying in the Spirit, the watchman saw fiery darts like meteoric shower flying at lightning speed at a shield above the leader's head. They were coming at full force but were all quenched. Then he saw numerous fishes (countless like the meteoric shower) flowing toward the entrance of a large pipeline in the ocean, all being drawn and sucked into the entrance from all over the ocean. All these went on as the name of Yeshua was being lifted up.
Vision Two:  Vision of crosses and churches
The watchman asked the Lord to show him a cross. Then he saw a cross in shadow. So he asked the Lord what it meant. He was told that it was a sum total of the the crosses in the participants. The next day he saw a cross outline. The second day afternoon he saw a cross with bright light and one stained with spots. He was told the bright one was a sum total. But the one with spot was one stained with the blood of the Lamb of God (prior to that vision he was reading the verses of the Lord's shedding His blood to save us as he was concerned by the 'holy laughter' (the joy of the Holy Spirit manifesting) of some members. The lone cross (with the blood) was in answer to his concern.
He also asked to see his own cross: on the first day he saw half a cross. The second day he saw the whole cross (wooden with grains) and it was really close-up like a 3-D screen being scrolled showing parts of it stretching from top to bottom. But he could not see the foot of the cross as it reached down to further depth.
Vision Three: Different perspectives of church building and crosses
On the last day he saw two perspective of  church (individual and corporate body of Christ) buildings. In the first scene he saw a huge wall with a small gate. The wall is so huge and tall and he could not see its top. He was told that he is building this in his Bible class and for himself (and his family) too. The walls stretch heaven-ward and will totally separate them from the world (its system) and fulfill God's requirement.
In the second scene he saw an aerial view of churches. They are blocks of squarish buildings, all in darkness and have no details. Everyone looks the same, all lining up like factory buildings. But they all have a cross-shape empty courtyard space in the center. The cross is what the Lord sees from above. As the watchman looked, he saw one cross-shape starting to build a fire (altar?) and he could see golden flames sparkling and thin line of the top of it to reach upward to heaven (the flames are the prayers of the church like the altar of incense). In another church instead of bright golden flames, black smoke came out and also rose to the sky. It was really quite a frightful sight to see from the aerial view. Nothing matters except the sum total of what matters to the Lord.
None of the church stood out for their building structures and constructions or sizes (number of congregation). They were all the same square boxes, same dark colors, all line up like waiting to be inspected. Viewing from heaven, only the cross is visible. The rest is blurred and undistinguished.
Vision Four: Snow and Winter everywhere
It was the first time the watchman saw snow scenes occurring so often in his visions. Wilderness. Snow-covered  streets emptied of lives. Snow-covered landscapes. During the teaching by a speaker on end times, he saw her standing in the wilderness, half shielded by dark trees (or bushes), while an avalanche of snow rolled toward her and soon her leg were half covered in snow but she continued preaching.
Vision Five:  The Lord on His throne on eagle wings
This was a wonderful and beautiful vision.  The watchman saw the Lord Yeshua (the King of kings) sitting on His throne, in brilliant light and the throne was on a pair of eagles wings. The eagle wings stretched across the whole horizon and there was no end to its tips. The wings covered the whole ocean and the bright light was atop the wings. The ocean could not even stir a wave. It was totally subdued.
Vision Six: Crystal Sword of the Spirit
He saw a Crystal sword when a speaker was preaching the Words of God.  The beautiful transparent sword appeared behind and and he was astounded. He was told it is what the Sword of the Spirit look like, not like human sword but pure and sharp (like diamond) and cuts through every stronghold.
Vision Seven: Spirit Song Banner
While a person burst into a spirit song, it was soft and gentle, but indeed powerful. He saw a vision of a banner (sort of golden) above her. Then it began to suck in a long thick line of black cloud (or smoke), like a magnate and the dark thing was simply sucked in to the golden banner and vanished as soon as it touched the banner. Soon there was no darkness left!
Vision Eight:  The Vision of end times star war
It was a puzzle at first when the watchman saw an outer space shuttle scrolling over the screen of his vision. Then he realized it was because the songs and prayers for all nations were sung and prayed.  This is the first time he sees such high tech vision of how all nations are being covered. The earth is merely a tiny globe and it is a view from above that he has never seen before in the spiritual realm. Later when the song asking the Holy Spirit to pour down on all the world's nations, he saw another vision. This time he saw longish missile like shapes of lights in rolls flashing across the screen like scrolling over a vast outer space. Again, a very high tech presentation of how all nations are to receive the pouring of the Holy Spirit.

The watchman of course had other personal visions which he could not share. But he had learned his lessons too, indeed a very large one on the last day. The Lord was merciful and delivered him.

August 27, 2010

End Times Witnessing: Rebuilding your Old Gate -walk the Old Path- back to Calvary

The watchman discovered that rebuilding Old City Gate has great depth of meaning and significance that he could never have dreamed of. Yes, the Spirit of God prompted him to find this old path as he waited upon the Lord. When leading the class to do this prophetic act of faith he had merely started the work by faith. But now he knows this not initiated by him. The following are revelations received as he sought the Lord.
Revelation One: God wants His people to look back to Him as the Foundation, the Source of life. Ps. 102:25 “Long ago, You laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with Your hands.” Jeremiah 6:16 states ‘Thus says the Lord, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.’
Revelation Two: God’s truth stands firm as a foundation stone. 2 Tim.2:19 “But God’s truth stands firm as a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
Revelation Three: God has assigned some of His people to be re-builders. Isa.58:12 “Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a re-builder of walls and a restorer of homes.” In v11, the Lord also promises that He will guide you continually, giving water when you are dry and restoring your strength. (This was exactly what Yeshua did when He came to the two followers on the road to Emmaus).
Revelation Four: The Lord Yeshua Christ comes personally to accompany His re-builders onto the right path. On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), the resurrected Yeshua came to His two followers. They were sad and disappointed, as they thought their hope in the Messiah re-building the physical Israel nation dash to pieces. But the Lord Yeshua came to seek them out, took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. After the seven miles’ walk, at their invitation, He went home with them, sat down to eat, took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him!
The watchman was at first puzzled over this last passage. What has the Road to Emmaus got to do with the Old Gate? Then his eyes were opened. He looked up the map and indeed found that it started outside the Old Gate and stretched North-West ward. This was not a coincidence. The watchman knew in his spirit that the Lord Yeshua has revealed this truth.
When believers and followers of Christ depart from the Old Gate plumb line of God, they will be filled with discouragement, emptiness of purpose, helplessness and even hopelessness. They have left the solid rock foundation of old (the Ancient of Old) and moved their building to shaky foundation of sands. The path away from the right path of the godly (righteous in Christ) is described as “the path of the wicked” in Psalm One. The Lord only watches over the path of the godly (righteous) (Ps.1:6)
Psalm 121 promises you pilgrims who ascend to Jerusalem, to worship the Lord God Almighty Himself (not turning away from Him), the Lord Himself watches over your life, keeps you from all harm, stands beside you as a protective shade and He will not let you stumble. Indeed, “He will keep watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Ps.121:8)
One clearly revealed clue for us is that Yeshua (Jesus) uses the Word of God to turn our focus back to Him and His Redemption. Only by reading and understanding His Word the followers’ spiritual eyes opened which changed the course of their life immediately. They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” “And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem” (to testify for Him)! (Luke 24:32-33)


When the two disciples walked back to Jerusalem’s Old Gate, they were indeed walking towards Calvary, not away from the Cross as they did in the confusion after Jesus was crucified. Indeed, when they arrived, they found to their great joy that He is risen!!
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Faith in Action: Old City Gate Rebuilding Group: Purple cloth is used to represent ‘before time’ ‘Ancient of Days’ God; the old paths of God; Original Foundation (Yeshua Himself). The builders’ names are: Joiada (the Lord knows), Meshullam (repaying), Melatiah (Jehovah delivers), Jadon (judge), people from Mizpah (watch tower)

August 25, 2010

End Times Witnessing: Rebuilding Your Fish Gate -Why are men made like fish of the sea?


Prophet Habakkuk asked the Lord in anguish, “Why do you make men like fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them?” (1:14) “The seemingly random fate that befalls fish and animals, one killing another, is the only thing to which Habakkuk could compare a more evil nation harming a less evil nation”.  (New Spirit-filled Life Bible) Indeed, without knowing God (i.e. with the eternal life in focus), it is difficult not to wonder this way.

The Jerusalem Fish Gate Rebuilding in Nehemiah 3 gave the watchman a fresh picture of God.
Revelation One: God has a good plan for men (Jeremiah 29:11-14For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope..”) despite the fact that we tend to behave like fish, enjoying the vast freedom of the sea, yet remain ignorant and blinded to the immense danger of the freedom of choices. The fisherman’s net, other predator fishes, polluted waters, other living creatures, men’s excessive profit-making activities (due to greed, lack of foresight, and disobedience and rebellion of men against God’s plumb line, resulting all sorts of wickedness and evil conduct) etc are common examples.
Revelation Two: Lord Yeshua (Jesus), the Son of God who came in the flesh as man, favored humble people like fisherman as He called several of them to be His Apostles. He declared prophetically, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!” (Matt.4:19) Indeed, He later filled them with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ) and they became great fishers. In one preaching and witnessing for the risen Yeshua Christ, they brought three thousands to repent, turn away from their wicked ways and turn to Yeshua as their Lord and Savior. (Acts 2:41)
Revelation Three: God’s plan is to bring many fishes (nations) to flow back to Him and there will be no more war (Micah 4:1-3). He spoke through the prophets on this goal. In Isaiah 19:23-25, the prophecy is that Egypt, Assyria and Israel will one day worship the same God as one, the Lord of hosts will bless them and make them a blessing  in the midst of the land.
Revelation Four: Guess what was the first profession called to be disciples of Yeshua? Fisherman. What was the last profession mentioned when describing the New Jerusalem Temple (as in the vision of Ezekiel)? Fisherman. Ezekiel 47 described water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, which goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. There will be a very great multitude of fish and they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. There will be places for fishermen to spread their nets. The fish will be of the same kind as the fish of the Great Sea, exceeding many. (Ezekiel 47:1-10) Also read Revelation 22:1-2.
Jeremiah 16:16 “Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the LORD, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. (Lost sheep/fish, how not to be found by the Lord?)

Nehemiah 3:3-5 Fish Gate Re-Builder Group: The watchman uses Pink color cloth for this class group to rebuild their section of the walls (signifies blood of the Lamb; be fishers of souls – sharing the Gospel)
The names of the original builders are interesting and prophetic: Sons of Hassenaah (lifted up), people of Tekoa (more faithful & willing to do hard labor for God than their leaders; Prophet Amos ‘burden-bearer‘ is their country man), Meremoth (elevation), Meshullam (friend), Zadok (just).

August 24, 2010

End Times Witnessing: Rebuilding the Sheep Gate -keep proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes!


The watchman took the class to continue with the faith in action project in emulating Nehemiah 3: Rebuilding the Wall. The first gate group is Sheep Gate Group. Why Sheep Gate is recorded as the first group to build? This is very important to know and remember.
Revelation One: It is definitely a crucial and powerful prophetic act to keep proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes!
Every Christian knows and acknowledges that there is no way one can reach God except through the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross. Not preaching the cross (and the blood of the Lamb of God), even not taking the Holy Communion often, have placed church members at a very vulnerable position. Not knowing the spiritual implication means they have no defense against the attack of the enemy. Yeshua commanded His followers to partake the Holy Communion as often as they did. In addition, the Holy Spirit (through Apostle Paul) further explained in 1 Cor.11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Not discerning the Lord’s body (and His complete salvation) resulted that many were weak, sick and many even died.

Revelation Two: Another revelation on Sheep Gate is that God has two flocks of sheep in mind, the Israelite and the gentiles. Both are to be saved and redeemed and led back to His fold. No one is to be left out. These are confirmed in the following verses.
Revelation Three: Yeshua is the Sheep (Lamb) which had provided the atonement for all our sins. He is also the Shepherd and the Gate through which all His sheep are to enter.
Revelation Four: After Yeshua resurrected and ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has made some of His followers overseers of the flocks. They are to serve faithfully and selflessly. They will be rewarded when the Chief Shepherd Himself, our Lord Yeshua returns.
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1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred,[a]and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel.
Isaiah 53:6-7
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Jeremiah 50:17  “Israel is like scattered sheep; The lions have driven him away. First the king of Assyria devoured him; Now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.” Ezekiel 34:6 “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” Ezekiel 34:12 “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.”
Matthew 9:36 But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
John 10:7 [ Jesus the Good Shepherd ] Then Jesus said to them And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:16
Hebrews 13:20 [ Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell ] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
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Nehemiah 3: 1-2 Sheep Gate Re-builder Group: The watchman uses Rust color cloth for this group to rebuild their section of the wall (signifies the blood of the Lamb; sacrifices; salvation)
Note the meanings of their names: High Priest Eliashib (whom God restored), the priests , Jericho men (place of fragrance; the city was originally destroyed by Joshua’s conquest, set free from curse), Zaccur (mindful; he builds even as one man).

August 18, 2010

A watchman prays and calls forth a burning torch

Isaiah 62

Isaiah’s Prayer for Jerusalem
1 Because I love Zion,
I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,
I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her
until her righteousness shines like the dawn,

and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the Lord’s own mouth.
3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.
4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”[a]
or “The Desolate Land.”[b]
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”[c]
and “The Bride of God,”[d]
for the Lord delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,
just as a young man commits himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
7
Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,
until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

8 The Lord has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength:
“I will never again hand you over to your enemies.
Never again will foreign warriors come
and take away your grain and new wine.
9 You raised the grain, and you will eat it,
praising the Lord.
Within the courtyards of the Temple,
you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.”
10 Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.

11 The Lord has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Israel,[e]
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
12 They will be called “The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”

And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

August 17, 2010

Bible Reading: Be part of the big picture of prophecy!

Zechariah (continued)
God used the prophets to reveal His plans and send His messages to His people. But we also must know that our knowledge is partial and incomplete and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture.
Seeing VisionsZechariah received eight prophetic visions for Israel, which all follow the same pattern, a) introductory words, b) a description of the things seen, c) a question by Zechariah to the angel for the meaning, and d) the explanation by the angel.
In the visions we see that God is righteous as well as merciful. He judges and blesses too!
Zechariah 1:8, In a vision during the night, I saw…” 1:9, “My lord, what do these horses mean?” 1:18,1:19,1:21, 2:1,2:2,3:5,4:2,4:4 (Read all the verses of how he saw visions and asked the angel what they meant)
1. The Man Among the Myrtle Trees (Zechariah 1:7-17) Meaning: God’s anger against the nations and blessing on restored Israel.
2. The Four Horns and the Four Craftsmen (Zechariah 1:18-21) Meaning: God’s judgment on the nations that afflict Israel.
3. The Surveyor with a Measuring Line (Zechariah 2:1-12) Meaning: God’s future blessing on restored Israel.
4. The Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua, the High Priest (Zechariah 3) Meaning: Israel’s future cleansing from sin and reinstatement as a priestly nation.
5. The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Zechariah 4) Meaning: Israel as the light to the nations under Messiah, the King-Priest.
6. The Flying Scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4) Meaning: The severity and totality of divine judgment on sin in Israel.
7. The Woman in a Basket (Zechariah 5:5-11) Meaning: The removal of national Israel’s sin or rebellion against God.
8. Four Chariots (Zechariah 6:1-8) Meaning: Divine judgment on Gentile nations.
 
God promised prosperity to Israel and Jerusalem
1:17 “The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity…” (also read 8:1-3) 2:4 “Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live ouside the city walls. Then, I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!”
 
Prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Branch (the divine High Priest, the King)
2:10 ” Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.”
3:8-9 “Listen to Me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring My servant, the Branch. ..and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.
6:11-13 “…make a crown…Here is the Man called the Branch. He will branch out from where He is and build the Temple of the Lord. Then He will receive royal honor and will rule as King on His throne. He will also serve as Priest from His throne…”
Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey colt.”
 
On That Day” (Future Deliverance); Second Coming of Christ
12:10 “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son.”
13:1 “On that day a fountain will be opened… a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.” 2 “I will remove from the land both the false prophets and the spirit of impurity that came with them.”
13:9, “This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.”
14:1 “Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming…” 20 “On that day…and the cooking pots in the Temple of the Lord will be sacred as the basins used beside the altar.”

Foreshadowings: Prophecies about Jesus Christ through Zechariah: Messiah would come and dwell in our midst (Zechariah 2:10-12; Matthew 1:23); the symbolism of the Branch and the Stone (Zechariah 3:8-9, 6:12-13; Isaiah 11:1; Luke 20:17-18); His Second Coming (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:33-37). Jesus is the Savior of Israel, a fountain whose blood covers the sins of all who come to Him for salvation (Zechariah 13:1; 1 John 1:7).

Practical Application: Today, we too must prepare to meet our Lord’s Second Coming. We are called to:
  1. Listen to the Holy Spirit and be led by the Spirit.
  2. Obey God’s word and live His Word.
  3. Live a life ministering to God (as chosen people, royal priests, holy nation).
  4. Be the the living temple (the Holy Spirit lives in you) for the holy God.
  5. You are called to be a part of the big plan too! Are you praying for Jerusalem?
Who we are in Christ:
1 Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.” 14 “So you must live as God’s obedient children.” 2:1 “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”
2:4-5,9 “You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple… And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What is more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”

2025-12-25 给Joyce 的诗 ——永远记得你!

2025-12-25 Joyce,我们仍然记得!两年前今日是与您最后一次一起度过的圣诞节,次日凌晨就天上人间分隔了。今天我只想写一首诗,告诉我们有“永远”这事实,我们今世没法用肉眼看见,但是可以用心灵领会,圣经所形容的天上一切都是真实的! 给你的诗歌 ——永远记得你! 如此罕见真...