The deepest of the minor prophets. He has more about the coming Christ than any of the minor prophets. The theme of this book is - Prepare for the Future.

1. Zechariah

2. Plan for the Future
It is hard to plan for the future.
Save for our college costs – lots of time yet
Save for retirement – I am still young, lots of
time
Instead of planning for the future, we are
mortgaging our future.
Most of us live in the “here and now” -
paycheck to paycheck – in the moment

3. Plan for the Future
We do not worry about the future.
Old age Death Retirement
We do not plan or think about the future
Drunk driver kills people – did not think about
getting home safely when they got drunk
Olympic athletes asked – Take performance
enhancing drugs, win gold medal – even if
caught later – more than 50% said YES.

4. Plan for the Future
We do not worry about the future.
Births out of wedlock – just live in the
moment
Many will not go to heaven – live for the
moment, enjoy life, don't plan for the
future.

5. Plan for the Future
Planning for the future takes work in the
present.
Kids have dreams to be baseball player,
doctor, teacher, nurse, lawyer, movie star
Doctor without science – work in factory
Athlete – without practice – sells used cars
Better marriage – Get out of debt – Change
habits – all require work now.

6. Zechariah - Background

Longest of the minor prophets – 14 chapters

Zechariah – common name, about 30 with this
name mentioned in the Bible

Zechariah means – Jehovah remembers

Tradition says that Zechariah, Malachi and
Haggai are the ones who started the
synagogues in Israel.

Tomb near Jerusalem

Written November, 520 BC, 2 months after
Haggai

7. Zechariah - Background

Involved in collecting and preserving the
inspired writings of the Old Testament

Contains 8 visions

Apocalyptic language – similar to Revelation

Many prophecies of Christ

Promises of doom for Jerusalem

Theme of the book:
BUILD FOR THE FUTURE TODAY!

8. Zechariah – The Book

“Zechariah is the longest and most obscure of
all twelve minor prophets.” (Adam Clarke)

“It is the most difficult of any of the OT books to
interpret.” (Homer Hailey)

“No prophet of the entire OT is more concerned
with the Messianic hope or give more specific
predictions about the coming Messiah.” (Open
Bible)

9. Christ talked about Zechariah
Matthew 23:34-35 34 Therefore, indeed, I
send you prophets, wise men, and scribes:
some of them you will kill and crucify, and
some of them you will scourge in your
synagogues and persecute from city to city,
35 that on you may come all the righteous
blood shed on the earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son
of Berechiah, whom you murdered between
the temple and the altar.

10. Zechariah – Lessons

While this book is the most difficult to study –
there are some lessons for us.
2.God keeps His promises.
3.God's chosen people are those in His church –
not physical Israel.
4.God's kingdom is ruled by Jesus Christ – both
king and high priest.

11. Dual Prophecies

12. Dual Prophecies

As the diagram shows, many prophecies
are “double barreled” statements.

These are statements that have a dual
fulfillment.

There is an immediate part to the
statement

There is also a long range intent.

13. Examples
Hosea 11:1 – "When Israel was a child, I loved
him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
Israel came from Egypt at time of Moses.
Jesus will come out of Egypt.
Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give
you a
sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Threat of Syria is short term
Jesus will be born of a virgin

14. Examples
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed
were the promises made. He does not say,
"And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And
to your Seed," who is Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same
spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them, and that Rock was
Christ.

15. REMEMBER
The thing to remember from the book of
Zechariah is this:
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
BY OBEYING GOD TODAY!