CHAPTER 5

1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. 2 And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

Prior to this, all the visions had be uplifting and encouraging. This vision however deals with judgment at the hand of God.

What Zechariah saw was a scroll. Being 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, it is clearly visible to all! This scroll represents the "Word" of God which has been spread through the whole of the earth. In particular, it would represent the Ten Commandments. One cannot help noticing that the commandment forbidding "swearing falsely" by God's Name is the middle commandment on the first tablet given to Moses. And the middle commandment on the second tablet is "Thou shalt not steal." So let us understand that this scroll represents the whole of God's Word which has surely been disseminated through the whole earth.

God sees and knows all sin. Therefore this scroll applies to EVERY person in the world. Be it known that ALL who "swear falsely" by God's name will be "cut off" from God's presence and peace. Those who swear using cursing and taking God's Name in vain. And those who swear seriously by professing to be Christians but have never submitted themselves to the rule of Christ in their lives.

One also notices that this scroll (which represents God's Word) will both "enter in" and "consume." The Bible says "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Heb 4:12-13)

It is by the "Word" of God that the heavens and earth were created.
IT is by the "Word" of God that things and people exist and continue.
And it will be by the "Word" of God that all men will be judged!
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev 19:15)
"And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."(Rev 19:21)

5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Immediately, the angel asked Zechariah what ELSE he sees. He saw an "epha" which is a measure. This was the largest measure of the Jews in that time.

This large measure, the angel said, "is THEIR resemblance." He says that referring to those mentioned in verses 1-4. Those who have broken God's Word measure very LARGE! Notice that it takes TWO women to carry this burden away (verse 9)

Inside the ephah is a "woman." The feminine sometimes represents evil (Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 5:3-4). We utilze this symbolism today. Sometimes we refer to a ship as "her." And sometimes we refer to a nation as "she." This is important considering the last statement of the angel in verse 11. The symbolized wickedness is carried into "Shinar" so that a "house" can be built from whence it will spread defilement. Take note that "Shinar" is a reference to "Babylon!" In all the Bible, Babylon represents confusion in matters that relate to God. Particularly in Revelation 17:5, where the Bible says, "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

Now let's go back and "reconnect" a moment with the first part of this vision. In verses 1-4, all those who "steal" and all those who "swear(eth) falsely" are to be "cut off." This gives us more insight to the second part of the vision concerning the "weight" or "measure" of evil.

There are those who have "stolen" the name of God (the God of all the earth) and have set up a false religion. This religion worships one whom they claim to be the God of all the earth, yet they disavow Christ as the Incarnate God. Thus they disavow grace and the reconciliation of man to God by the blood of Christ and "swear(eth) falsely". Instead they determine man can only be put right in the eyes of God by WORKS! And for some of them, those works include killing Christians!

John Wycliff, the first commentator to translate the Bible into English, has once said, "Throughout the Scriptures it (Babylon) represents confusion in spiritual matters, idolatry, moral uncleanness (cf. Rev 17:3-5). In Babylon culminates all that defies God and his righteousness on earth.
(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

This vision, and its two parts, reveal that God is indeed going to judge all mankind, and He will judge according to His true Word. The Bible has never been proven untrue in any place or portion. All other religious writings purporting to be true HAVE been proven false.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.