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Interpreting Bible Prophecy and The Eight Night Visions of Zechariah

Interpreting Bible Prophecy

Biblical prophecy often has a near fulfillment and future fulfillment. How can we tell which Bible passages refer to a close realization and which refer to a distant realization of the prophecies ? We can ' t always tell. Sometimes Scriptures are couched in symbols and apocalyptic literature. Here are some clues to interpreting prophet literature:

• Pay attention to dates whenever the prophets give them.

• The historical books of Kings – Esther help us understand the background of what was going on in Jewish history at the time of the writing. Some Bibles include timelines of Israel's history and are useful reference guides.

• Keywords such as “in that day” (Zechariah 3:10) usually (but not always) precede a discussion of end - time events.

• Sometimes, the author informs us that certain persons or events are symbolic (Zechariah 1:18-19; 3:8-10).

• Compare Scriptures with Scriptures and always bear in mind the context of each.

If you are interested in some interpretations and the flow of thought in the book of Zechariah, see the outline of Zechariah in The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, pp.1546-7. Here the reader will also find a complete exposition of Zechariah.

An Interpretation of Zechariah's Eight Night Visions in chapters 1-6

Vision	Reference	Meaning
The Red-horse Rider with Red, Brown and White Horses among the Myrtles	1:7-17	God sent these sentries which reported that there was peace (perhaps an enforced peace under strict Persian rule from 538 B.C. until 334 B.C. when Alexander the Great retaliated). The time was ready for the Jews to return.
The Four Horns and the Four Craftsmen	1:18-21	Judgment against the four powers (horns) who scattered Israel (perhaps meaning Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Tyre, (Ezekiel 26-28)); Also a vision of four craftsmen: possibly four kings of Medo-Persia who destroyed the four horns and allowed Israel to return and rebuild (Cyrus, Darius I, Artaxerxes and one unnamed (Ezra 6:14)
The Surveyor with a Measuring Line	Chapter 2	God's future blessings on a restored Israel (if you are measuring, you are planning and giving hope)
The Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua the High Priest	Chapter 3; 6:11-13	Joshua symbolizes the returnees who were cleansed and then restored. In the future, Joshua symbolizes the priest/ king function of Jesus Christ, the Branch. The stone with seven eyes may indicate God's presence with them.
The Golden Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees	Chapter 4	Israel will be a light to the nations, fueled by the Holy Spirit. The identity of the Two Olive Trees pouring into the lampstand could be identified as two anointed ones, probably meaning Zerubbabel and Joshua.
The Flying Scroll	5:1-4	Severe divine judgment for the deliberate sins of individual Israelites in the land
The Woman in the Measuring Basket	5:5-11	Corporate judgment on the Israelites in the land for commercial greed and idolatry (Ezra 9-10; Nehemiah 5, 13)
The Four Chariots	6:1-8	Possible symbolism for divine judgment on all the nations of the earth before the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21)

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