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The Flying Scroll, Zechariah Chapter 4

“I looked up again and saw a scroll fling through the air.

‘What do you see?’ the angel asked.

‘I see a flying scroll,’ I replied, ‘ It appears to be about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.’

Then he said to me,’This scroll contains the curse that is gong out over the entire land. One side of the scroll says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from the land. And this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I am sending this curse into the house of every thief and into the house of everyone who swears falsely using My name. And My curse will remain in that house and completely destroy it – even its timbers and stones.” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

The Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees, Zechariah Chapter 4

“Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. ‘What do you see now?’ he asked.

I answered, ‘I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven wicks. And I see two olive trees, on on each side of the bowl.’ Then I asked the angel, ‘What are these, my lord, and What to they mean?’

‘Don’t you know?’ the angel asked.

‘No, my lord’, I replied.

Then he said to me: ‘This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength but My Spirit, say the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! My God Bless it! May God bless it!’ (vv: 1-7, NLT)

(The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)

Then I asked the angel, ‘What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, and the branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?’

‘Don’t you know?’ he asked.

‘No, my lord’, I replied.

Then he said to me, ‘They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.'” (vv. 10B-14, NLT)

Cleansing for the High Priest, Zechariah Chapter 3

“Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, ‘I, the Lord reject your accusations, Satan. I, the Lord , who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.’

Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, ‘Take off those filthy clothes.’ And returning to Jeshua, he said, ‘See, I have taken away your sins, and not I am giving you these fine new clothes.'” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

“Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I you follow My ways and carefully serve Me, then you will be given authority over My Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.'” (vv 6-7, NLT)

Future Prosperity of Jerusalem, Zechariah Chapter 2

“When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ‘Where are your going?’ I asked.

He replied, ‘I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.’

Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him. The other angel said,’Hurry, and say to that young man, Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there wont’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside 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!'” (vv. 1-5, NLT)

A Man Among the Myrtle Trees, Zechariah Chapter 1

“Three months later, on February 15, the Lord send another message to the prophet Zecheraiah son of Berekaih and grandson of Iddo

In a vision during the night, I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among some myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were riders on red, brown, and white horses. I asked the angel who was talking with me, ‘My Lord, what does these horses mean?’

‘I will show you,’ the angel replied.

The rider standing among the myrtle trees then explained, ‘They are the ones the Lord sent out to patrol the earth.’

Then the other riders reported to the angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, ‘We have been patrolling the earth, and the whole earth is at peace.’

Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years not You have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until You again show mercy to them?’ And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked to me.

Then the angel said to me,’Shout this message for all to hear: This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “”My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with My people, but the nations inflicted harm on them for beyond My intentions. ‘

””Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for all the reconstruction of Jerusalem.””

“Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as His own.'”(vv. 7-17, NLT)

Excerpts from Haggai, Chapter 2

“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: ‘In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘And the future of the Temple will be greater than its past glory,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” (vv. 6-9, NLT)

Obedience to God’s Call, Haggai Chapter 1

“Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the remnant of god’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their Go. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: ‘I am with you, says the Lord! ‘

So the Lord sparked enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies on September 21 of the second year of King Darius’s reign.” (vv. 12-14, NLT)

Jerusalem’s Rebellion and Redemption, Zephaniah Chapter 3

“What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime! No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God. It’s leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of its prey. Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain. Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions. But the Lord is still in the city, and He does no wrong. Day by day He hands down justice, and He does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.” (vv. 1-5, NLT)

[The Lord said]”My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings. On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for your will no longer be revels against Me. I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on My holy mountain. Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.” (vv. 10-12, NLT)

“For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies o your enemy. And the Lord, Himself, the Kind of Israel, will live among you! As last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, ‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you wiht joyful songs.” (vv. 15-17, NLT)

A Call to Repentance, Zephaniah Chapter 2

“Gather together-yes, gather together, you shameless nation. Gather before judgment begins, before your time is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.

Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow His commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you- protect you from His anger on that day of destruction.” (vv. 1-3, NLT)

Habakkuk’s Prayer, Excerpts from Chapter 3

“This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:

I have hear all about you, Lord. I am filled with the awe by Your amazing works. I n this time of our deep need, hep us again as You did in years gone by. And in Your anger, remember Your mercy.

I see God moing across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with His praise. His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from His hands, where His awesome power is hidden. When He stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One!” (vv. 1-6, NLT)

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (vv. 17-19, NLT)