CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Zechariah's symbolic visions, warning of Jehovah's displeasure with the nations.

Characters: God, Darius, Zechariah.

Conclusion: The judgments of God which those who went before us were under should be taken as warnings not to tread in their steps. A speedy reformation, while the mercy of God is extended, is the only way to prevent an approaching ruin.

Key Word: Jehovah's displeasure, vv. 2, 12, 15.

Strong Verses:   3.

Striking Facts: v. 17. The visions reveal Judah in dispersion, Jerusalem under adverse possession, and the Gentile nations at rest about it, the conditions that have prevailed throughout the present age. God's answer to the angel's intercession sweeps on to the end time, when the Lord shall yet comfort by the return of Christ in glory.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Visions of Zechariah. Jerusalem in the kingdom age.

Characters: God, Zechariah.

Conclusion: Jerusalem is the apple of Jehovah's eye, jealously guarded by His angels and marked out for a glorious place in the earth in the day when Christ returns to dwell among men upon the earth.

Key Word: Jerusalem, v. 2.

Strong Verses:   8, 10, 11.

Striking Facts: v. 11. He whom the Lord of Hosts will send in the latter days to dwell among men can be no other than the Lord Jesus. All nations will at that time own Him as the one sent of Jehovah, which was not fulfilled in His first coming.

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Visions of Zechariah. Joshua and Satan before the angel of the Lord. Jehovah's servant, The Branch.

Characters: God, Christ, Joshua, Satan, Zechariah.

Conclusion: By the guilt of our sins we are obnoxious to God's justice, and by the power of our sins we are odious to His holiness. Those who would belong to Christ will be enabled to cast off the filthy rags of corrupt affections and lusts, and will be clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness. Only such* can He place in positions of honor and trust in His service.

Key Word: Garments, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   4, 7.

Striking Facts: v. 8. Christ is the "Servant, the Branch," who was long hid, but in the fulness of time was brought forth into the world. His beginning was as a tender branch, but He will yet become a great tree filling the earth.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: Vision of the golden candlestick and two olive trees. Zerubbabel designated to finish the temple.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, Joshua, the angel.

Conclusion: God will carry on and complete His work, not by human might or power, but by the power of His Spirit, working in those designated and called by Him. For those thus called, all difficulties shall be gotten over.

Key Word: Temple's completion, v. 9.

Strong Verses:   6 (b).

Striking Facts: v. 14. Some think Christ and the Holy Spirit are here meant. From Christ, the olive tree, by the Spirit, the olive branch, all the golden oil of grace is communicated to believers.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: Vision of the flying roll and the ephah.

Characters: God, Zechariah, angel.

Conclusion: God's holy law reveals the righteous wrath of God against those who by swearing, affront God's majesty and who by stealing, set aside their neighbor's rights.

Key Word: Curse, v. 3.

CHAPTER SIX

Contents: Vision of the four chariots. The symbolic crowning of Joshua.

Characters: God, Jesus, Zechariah, angel, Joshua, Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, Josiah.

Conclusion: Following the day when God's judgments go forth to all the earth, Christ shall be manifested in His kingdom glory as the Priest-King on His own throne.

Key Word: The Branch, v. 12.

Strong Verses :  12, 13.

Striking Facts: v. 13. Christ is now a Priest, but still in the holiest within the veil (Lev. 16:15; Heb. 9:11-14, 24), seated on the Father's throne (Rev. 3:21). He will yet sit upon His own throne (Heb. 9:28), a Priest upon His throne.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Contents: The mission from Babylon, and Jehovah's answer to the questionof fasts. Why prayer was not answered.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Darius, Zechariah, Sherezer, Regemmelich.

Conclusion: When we offer up our requests to God, it must be with readiness to receive instructions from Him. God is not made men's debtor by fasts which are not observed with self-examination and a purpose to put away their sins.

Key Word: Fasts, v. 5.

Strong Verses:   9, 10, 13.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Contents: Jehovah's unchanging purpose to restore Jerusalem and bless Israel in the Kingdom.

Characters: God, Zechariah.

Conclusion: Jerusalem, the city of God, and Israel, the people of God, have God to plead their cause until the day when the dispersion shall be ended, Israel again is made fruitful, and Jerusalem a praise in the earth. In that day all men shall honor a Jew as one of the chosen people of God.

Key Word: Zion's restoration, vv. 2, 12.

Strong Verses:   16, 17, 22, 23.

Striking Facts: In the days after the coming of Christ in glory, Jerusalem will be made the center of earth's worship, and the Jew will be the missionary to all nations, bearing the messages of Christ.

CHAPTER NINE

Contents: Burden upon the cities surrounding Palestine. Christ presented as King-Savior in His first advent.

Characters: God, Christ.

Conclusion: Christ, Israel's King, who came as the meek and lowly One, riding upon an ass, will yet be recognized by Israel, and will bring them deliverance, slay all enmities and extend His kingdom to all the earth.

Key Word: Zion's King, v. 9.

Strong Verses:   9, 10.

Striking Facts: v. 9. Having introduced the King, which was Christ in vv. 9-10, the verses which follow look to the end time and the kingdom when He will come in glory. Except in v. 9, the present age is not seen in Zechariah.

CHAPTER TEN

Contents: The future strengthening of Judah and Ephraim. Israel's dispersion and regathering in one view.

Characters: God.

Conclusion: God has a hand in all the events concerning Israel, and they shall finally have His favor and presence, being owned and accepted of Him. The people long dispersed shall be brought together, purified and strengthened in the Lord.

Key Word: Israel's strengthening, vv. 6, 10, 12.

Strong Verses:   12.

Striking Facts: v. 12. It is Christ whom Israel will recognize as the crucified King, who will strengthen them, and cause them to bestir themselves to go up and down the land in His name.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Contents: First advent of Christ foretold and His rejection. God's wrath against Israel as the result. The rise of anti-Christ and his judgment.

Characters: God, Zechariah.

Conclusion: Those who will not open the door to let the King in, but sell Him for a paltry price, will sooner or later have to open the door to let ruin in. (This is the desperate case of Israel in the present age.)

Key Word: Jehovah's wrath, v. 6.

Strong Verses:   12, 13.

Striking Facts: v. 7. Beauty and Bands literally "graciousness and union" signifying God's attitude toward Israel in sending His Son (Matt. 21:37), and His purpose to reunite Israel (Ezek. 37:15-22). Christ in His first advent came with grace (John 1:17) to offer union (Matt. 4:17), but was sold for 30 pieces of silver (vv. 12, 13). Beauty (graciousness) was thereby "cut in sunder." Bands (union) was broken, God's purpose to reunite Israel being for this age abandoned.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Contents: Jerusalem's coming siege by the Beast and his armies. Deliverance of Judah by the Lord Himself. The Spirit poured out and the pierced One recognized.

Characters: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Zechariah.

Conclusion: Jerusalem, following the awful days of the end-time, shall be repeopled and replenished, but it will not be until Christ returning in glory is recognized by Israel as He whom they have pierced. He will put down all enemies and work a gracious work in His people.

Key Word: Jerusalem's deliverer, v. 10.

Strong Verses:   10.

Striking Facts: v. 10. The pouring out of the Spirit upon all who receive the Crucified One as Lord and Saviour in the present age is an earnest of what Israel shall receive when Christ's Kingdom comes.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Contents: Repentant remnant of Israel in the last days. Refined by great tribulation. Israel again restored to God's favor. Characters: God, Christ, Zechariah.

Conclusion: Israel, at the end of the age, will pass through a period of fiery trial for purification, after which they will find Christ to be the Lamb slain for the putting away of sin. Their sin and uncleanness finally put away, they shall be restored to Jehovah's favor.

Key Word: Israel's refining, vv. 1, 9.

Strong Verses:   1, 6.

Striking Facts: v. 1. The fountain opened is the pierced side of Jesus Christ, for thence came there out blood and water precious blood, the price of our redemption. Those who now look to Christ pierced are saved but this Israel does not see and will not until His Second Coming (v. 6).

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Contents: The return of Christ. Armageddon. The changes in Palestine. The kingdom established on earth.

Characters: God, Zechariah, Christ.

Conclusion: In the last days, Christ shall return in glory, His feet touching in that day upon the Mount of Olives. All opposing powers shall be put down, Israel shall be gloriously established, Christ shall be owned by all as King and Lord forever, and all men will serve and worship in the beauty of holiness.

Key Word: Kingdom, v. 9.

Strong Verses:   4, 9, 20.

Striking Facts: v. 9. The prayer (Matt. 6:10) "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," will have its final answer in the coming of the King in the power of His might. It will not be a spiritual and gradual coming, the effects of preaching, but a personal, literal coming in the clouds of heaven (v. 4).