f2 A1 B1 1:1-6. Literal Prophecy. Dated [the 2nd year of Darius].
C1 1:7-6:15. Prophecies with Symbols. 8 Visions.
B2 7:1-8:23. Literal Prophecy. Dated [the 4th year of Darius].
A2 B3 9:1-10:12. Literal Prophecies. 1st Burden.
C2 11:1-17. Prophecies with Symbols.
B4 12:1-14:21. Literal Prophecies. 2nd Burden.
Zechariah's 1st prophecy is dated [1:1] "in the 8th month in the 2nd year of Darius" [Hystaspis] (410 B.C.); 16 years after the Decree of Cyrus. It thus comes midway between Haggai's 2nd and 3rd messages.
His last date is in the 4th year of Darius [7:1].
The Temple was completed in the 6th year of Darius, and was dedicated in Adar , 405 B.C. The 1st Passover, and the last Feast of Tabernacles were in 404 B.C.[see Neh. 9]. This marks the close of Zechariah's dated Prophecies; but, as Zechariah really closes the O.T. , his prophecies would extend to and cover the latest date in the O.T., which is the 8th year of Darius Hystaspis in the year 403 B.C. [see Ezra 10:17]. The whole period therefore covered by the book of Zechariah is 7 years, 410-403 B.C.
Zechariah = Remembered of Yahaveh. It is the most prophetic book of the fig tree generation. Christ is coming back and it is very close to that time.
410-407 B.C.
Zechariah 1)
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius [Hystaspis], came the word of the LORD (Yahaveh) to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah (= Blessed of Yahaveh. Cp. Matt. 23:35), the son (put for descendant) of Iddo (cp. Ezra 5:1; 6:14. Neh. 12:4,16) the prophet, saying,
2 "The LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say you to them, 'Thus has said the LORD of hosts (Yahaveh Sabaioth); 'Return you to Me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts.
4 Be you not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, saying, 'Thus has said the LORD of hosts; Return you now from your evil ways,' and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken to Me (they listen to men), has said the LORD.
5 Your fathers, where are they? (this is in contrast with the words of Yahaveh, which endure forever [v.6.]) and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6 But My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they returned and said, 'Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so has He dealt with us.' ' " (You set your own course. Let it be with our Father.)
C1 A C 1:7-17. 1st Vision. Invisible Agencies. Horses.
D 1:18-21. 2nd Vision. External enemies. Horns.
E 2:1-13. 3rd Vision. Yahaveh's Purpose. Man, &c.
B 3:1-10. 4th Vision. Joshua. The BRANCH.
A E 4:1-14. 5th Vision. Yahaveh's Purpose. Lamp-stand.
D 5:1-4 and 5-11. 6th and 7th Visions. External enemies. Flying scroll, and Ephah.
C 6:1-8. 8th Vision. Invisible Agencies. Horses.
B 6:9-15. Joshua. The BRANCH.
C F1 7,8. Vision. Horses and Horsemen. F2 9-17. Signification.
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month (3 months after v.1. Our Feb. 14th approx.), which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
8 I saw by night, and behold a man (this man is the "Adonai" of v.9, and "the Angel of Yahaveh" of vv. 11,12, as the prophet discovers from the "man's" answer. The riders of v.8 report to the Angel [v.11]) riding upon a red horse, and he stood between the myrtle trees (4 scouts. Neh. 8:15. Mentioned at Christ's return) that were in the shade (i.e. between the 2 mountains of 6:1); and behind him were there red horses (representing all earthy dynasties), bay, and white. (In this 1st vision of 8 visions [1:8-6:15] Israel is in dispersion; the Gentiles are in possession at the time of the end. Yahaveh is about to interfere on behalf of Jerusalem [vv.16,17. Isa. 40:1-5])
F2 a 9-. Question of the prophet.
b -9-11. Answer of the angel.
a 12. Question of the angel.
b 13-17. Answer of Yahaveh.
9 Then said I, "O my lord (Heb. Adonai), what are these?"
And the angel that talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are."
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are they whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro through the earth." (These scouts seem to see if the harvest is ready yet.)
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sits still, and is at rest." (One world order crying 'peace, peace'. But they still are fighting a little bit.)
12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have compassion (or pity) on Jerusalem (not the "Church") and on the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignation these seventy years?" (See Dan. 9:2. We now know the prophecy has to do with coming out of captivity, coming out of confusion.)
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. (If you love Him. Yehovah Himself now speaks.)
14 So the angel that communed with me said to me, "Cry you, saying, 'Thus has said the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. (See Deut 32. Ezek. 16.)
15 And I am very sore displeased with the nations that are indifferent (Isa. 32:9,11. Amos 6:1): for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the calamity. (Cp. Isa. 47:11. Jer. 44:11. (They punished then more than He intended. They enjoyed it.))
16 Therefore thus has said the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies (He's coming here): My house shall be built in it (the Temple therefore had not yet been commenced), has said the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. (I.e. a measuring line. Put for the whole work of building. See Ezek. 40-48.)
17 Cry yet, saying, 'Thus has said the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad (for those that follow Him); and the LORD shall yet have compassion on Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.' " (Where He has made an eternal covenant.)
D c 18. 4 Horns.
d e 19-. Question.
f -19. Answer.
c 20. 4 Smiths.
d e 21-. Question.
f -21. Answer.
18 Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. (Put for the Gentile [v.21] powers signified by them. Started by Cain in Genesis. Political, Economic, Educational, Religious; external agents controlled by Satan.)
19 And I said to the angel that talked with me, "What be these?"
And he answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
20 And the LORD shewed me (this is part of the 2nd vision) four iron-smiths. (Artificer of any material. Divine agencies.)
21 Then said I, "What come these to do?"
And he (i.e. the angel) spoke, saying, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these (these 4 smiths. They represent the Divine agencies raised up, by which Yehovah will overthrow them) are come to terrify (put in consternation. Cp. Zeph. 3:13) them (i.e. the kingdoms represented by them. See Eph. 6. Rev. 1:15,16. Not bashful about bringing forth God's Word as it is written. See Mark 13:9-13), to cast out the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it."