Oh, so much to say about today’s reading!

Zechariah was given eight visions, somewhat confusing to us at times.  These words came to Zechariah's lips and probably to ours as well, "What are these?"  This question is followed by an explanation from the angel, not always a very clear explanation, but one that is filled with prophetic significance.

Vision of the horses 1:7–17
Zechariah 1:11b   
"We have gone everywhere and have discovered that the whole world is at peace." 

This doesn't mean that the world is living in peaceful coexistence.  It means that they are doing nothing, they are satisfied with their condition that they have made for themselves, not depending on God to lead them into doing anything.  They are simply complacent.  Applications for us today?

The Lord also gives assurance to Zechariah that the temple will be built despite opposition of the enemy and discouragement of the people.

Vision of the horns and craftsmen 1:18–21
Zechariah 1:18  
Next, I saw four animal horns. 

The horns are the enemies. Assyrians defeated Israel. Babylonians defeated Judah.  Eventually Babylonians defeated the Assyrians and the Persians defeated the Babylonians. Then it was under Persian rule that the Jerusalem temple was rebuilt in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The craftsmen are Ezra and Nehemiah's people who rebuilt the city and the temple under the authority of the Persians as directed by the Spirit of God. (verse 21)

Vision of the surveyor 2:1–13
Prophetically this vision proclaims the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple in this day.  It also proclaims the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple in the Millennium. 

 Vision of Joshua the high priest 3:1–10

What a beautiful image of a “before and after picture”. Life before salvation can be compared to “wearing filthy rags”. Life after salvation can be compared to being “clothed in righteousness”.  
(see also the book of Jude)

Vision of the golden lampstand and two olive trees 4:1–14
Zerubbabel is specifically named as the one who will bring out the capstone of the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (literally).  He will also have a similar honor at the Millennium temple. (again literally).  Why was Zerubbabel so honored? 

Zechariah 4:10   
For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. 

Zerubbabel was honored because he was faithful and obedient in small things!  What seemingly insignificant ("small") things has God assigned to each of us?  What honor does God have in store for us if we are faithful and obedient even in the "small" things?

Are the two olive trees the two witnesses spoken of in Revelation? Revelation 6:1-8 are companion verses to Zechariah 6:1-8. Zechariah, like John is a prophet speaking in vision. More details in the book, These Last Days - Second Edition. 

 Vision of the flying scroll 5:1–4

This vision shows a condemnation of those who speak falsely, steal the truth and hide it from view.

Matthew 24:4-5  
And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. 

Vision of the woman in a basket 5:5–11

Woman in analogy represents religion.  Because the woman is called wicked we know that it is not a godly religion.  Therefore any religion that is not of God is wicked and will be destroyed. Could this be a prophetic view of Islam that came into existence in Arabia (Babylonia) in 622 AD?

Since posing this question several years ago, we have some insights to add today.

Most Biblical prophecies are multilayered. Often the prophecies have been fulfilled multiple times over the years and will continue to be fulfilled.  The people during the times of fulfilled prophecy had difficulty finding themselves in those prophecies.  Today we have difficulty understanding prophecies being fulfilled in our time - that is until we examine the particulars of the Biblical prophecies and compare those details to current events.

We are living one of those multilayered fulfillments today in Zechariah’s vision of the woman in the basket. 

The word woman in Biblical analogy most often represents false religion.  So in this case, the woman (who is labeled wickedness) is a satanic false religion.  In Zechariah’s vision, the woman is pushed back into the basket and a cover made of lead is placed on the top.  There are two other women with the “wind in their wings”.  Possibly these two women represent two aspects of the false religion represented by the woman in the basket.  Having “wind in the wings” is a figurative illustration of something fast moving, powerful with the support of something that gives strength. The wings of the women are the wings of a stork, an unclean animal.  So this false religion is fast moving and powerful, supported by something evil having great authority and strength. The basket in the analogy, carried by the two women with wings of a stork is being carried to Babylonia to build a house. 

So what false religion might that be?

 Consider this.  The two women carrying the basket are the two factions of Islam; Sunni and Shiite.  The women with the wings of a stork have the “wind in their wings”. The influence of Islam is being spread throughout the western nations as the migration of people from those troubled nations controlled by Islam move quickly into the western world.  The basket of wickedness and false religion is the most evil aspects of Islam.  The lead cover has been placed over the basket to restrict the wicked woman. In the basket is an aggressively fierce religion known today as ISIS.  In this vision, the basket has been delivered to Babylonia, modern day Iraq. 

In the western nations (United States included) the borders have been thrown open and people welcomed with open arms from nations controlled by Islam without the proper vetting of those individuals.  Islam, which did not exist until 622 AD, is the invention of a mid-eastern traveler named Mohammed who declared the moon god Allah as the god above all gods.  There are many more details concerning the formation of Islam but specifically concerning this vision, the division within Islam is consistent with the vision concerning the two women (Sunni and Shiite) carrying the basket.  The Shiite are primarily Iranians (Persians – not Arabs).  The other sect of Islam is Sunni who are Arabs.  Together these two groups make up the main body of Islam but they are at war with each other in ideologies.  Sunnis believe that the caliph (the main religious leader of Islam) is appointed and they believe in worldwide conquest of Islam through jihad and Shari law.  The other faction, the Shiite believe the 12th imam or Mahdi (the main religious leader) will come in the name of Allah through worldwide conquest by means of violent war and conflagration. This belief of the Muslim Shiite brand of Islam is extremely dangerous.  Iran, a Shiite state desires a nuclear war.

ISIS is spreading throughout the world in its aggressive and relentless attempt to dominate at any price.  By the illustration of a lead cover on the basket, it appears that God intends to keep ISIS from getting a nuclear weapon by keeping it under a lead cover. ISIS may go out through the world to ravage with satanic terror but not with nuclear weapons.

We could be watching this prophecy unfold right in front of our eyes.  What is the solution if these events are true to this prophecy?  If my people….

Vision of the four chariots 6:1–8
Compare this vision with John's vision in Revelation to the first four seals. The white horse is the spirit of impotent and false religion, the black horse is the spirit of greed, the red horse is the spirit of illegitimate (not righteous) war, the dappled horse is the spirit of ruin that comes on the earth in the wake of the other three. 

What a great promise in these verses!

Zechariah 2:10-11
"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

God, the Father sends God, the Son to live among us!