Zechariah Chapters 1 - 4 Q&A: Bible Study by Atheists

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[00:01:33] Wife! What the fuck are we doing? Well, we're catching up. We sure as fuck are. Yeah, we've been a little bit behind. Mm-hmm. But we're getting back to... We got, I think, a Q&A today, is that right? We do! We have a Q&A for Zechariah chapters 1 through 4. I understand that there are five visions. Yeah. That we gotta dig into. We're gonna unpack the shit out of those things. I mean, unpack the shit?

[00:02:03] It is shit. So, I don't know. We'll see. Okay. All right. Are you ready to get into these visions? I am. Let's do it. Okie dokie. All right. We are getting into the first four chapters of Zechie. Okay. Zechariah. Yeah, yeah. And I wasn't sure how I wanted to break this down.

[00:02:31] So, bear with me. Sure. We're gonna do, like, a little bit of summary. Because, as I recall, and it's been a minute, we had, like, zero understanding of what the fuck was happening. Except for Zechie was having himself some wild ass, maybe mushroom-infused visions. I don't know. Yeah. Like, he was, like, high off his balls. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or trippin' balls. Is that how you say it? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

[00:03:01] His balls, they were a trippin'. Right. Yes. So... Because his balls hung low, and they wobbled to and fro? They did. They did. They did. Yeah. Yeah. So, we had no idea what was going on. Except for Zechie's having himself some wild ass visions. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we did not understand the visions. We didn't understand who was talking. There was men. There was angels of the Lord. It was very confusing. There was so much happening. Yeah.

[00:03:28] And within these four chapters, there were five visions. Right. So, I mean, even at that, right? Yeah. So, okay. So, just to give us a little bit of recap. Okay. And try to explain as I go. Mm-hmm. Okay? Like, the first chapter, I'm going to break it into three separate sections. The first one was a call to the Lord, and that's where...

[00:03:55] Or, not a call to the Lord, a call of return to the Lord. Oh, okay. All right. Where God is basically telling the people, come back! Come back! You gotta build my house! You know? And then, the second two parts of chapter one are each a vision. Okay. Yeah. So, having said that. All right.

[00:04:18] So, chapter one, the first part is the prophet, Zeki, earnestly exhorts the people to repentance. Okay. That they may escape such punishments as had been inflicted on their fathers. Okay. Because, you know, for 70 years, they've been hating it. Right, right. Because they were in the Babylonian exile. Yeah. Okay? So, at the time, Zechariah delivered... Delivered. I just want to point out real quick, though. Yeah.

[00:04:48] You say they were hating it. But, like, as I recall, they had houses. Yeah. They had... Like, they were pretty much kind of, like, integrated into the society. It really depends on how the story wants to present itself every single day. Every single verse that you read. Like, if it's convenient for them to have been suffering... Yeah. ...then we talk about the suffering. I think...

[00:05:12] I mean, I guess the point that I would try to make here is that if it was a choice between being conquered by the Assyrians or the Babylonians, I would have chosen the Babylonians... Oh, yeah. ...every fucking time. Every fucking time. ...because the Assyrians were terrible. Oh, they were hardcore, man. They were not just murdery. Yeah. They, like, disemboweled people and shit. Yeah. They were... While they were still alive. Yeah. Yeah. They were not just murdery. Like, they enjoyed it. Right. They were nasty folks. And the Babylonians gave you houses. Right. I'm like, yeah, they gave me the house. And took your kids to school. Right.

[00:05:41] I mean, sounds like the Babylonians were honestly in better shape than the United States currently. You know? So, anyway. Right. Yeah. So, at the time Zechariah delivered his first message, Haggai, remember that guy, Haggis? Yeah, yeah. He had already been preaching for about two months. Okay. Yeah. In his two recorded messages, remember Haggis only had two chapters. Right. Okay. Yes.

[00:06:08] Haggai had shown that all Israel's current difficulties were because of the people's selfishness and disobedience and failing to rebuild the temple. Right. Those bastards. But then we also read a little, like, side note, like, yeah, but also they had to, like, run everything through... Babylon. Babylon. Yeah. And it was, like, a mess. And also, they were being attacked by other people.

[00:06:37] Yeah, it wasn't, like, just as easy as just, yeah, let's go build it. Like, God said build, but I just love my air conditioning. But that, and again, I'm just going to say this again, but God didn't say build. It was the prophets that said build. Well, they said build because God told them to. Right, right, right, right. But the people didn't hear God saying it. Right. They heard the prophets telling them God said it. Yes. So... Correct, correct. There's a big difference. There is a big difference.

[00:07:02] And quite honestly, I don't understand believing somebody who says, hey, there's this sky daddy and he really wants us to get busy building. Well, and it's not just that, but, like, the prophets haven't always been known to agree with each other either. Right. Like, we've talked about that multiple times. Because the prophets are like, don't listen to those other prophets because they're false prophets. And it's like, okay, but how the fuck do you know which ones are false and which ones are not? You know what? I'm going to go with they're all false. Right. Prove me wrong, right?

[00:07:32] I'm the prove me wrong guy when it comes to God and prophets. Right, yeah. Okay. So as a result of Haggai's preaching, the people stirred themselves and started to build again. Sure. Okay. Yeah. So that's where we are when we start Zechariah. Okay. Now I'm going to read verse one because it's relevant. Okay. Yeah. In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, remember Darius the great? Oh yeah. He's so fucking great. He made me come every time. He's great. Right.

[00:08:01] The word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, the son of Ito. Remember we have that whole, like, was it his dad or his granddad? Yeah. Right. Okay. Who cares? It doesn't even matter. I sure as hell. No, I don't either. FYI, there are at least 27 different Zechariahs mentioned in the Bible as it was a common name in Old Testament times. That's way too many Zechariahs. I'm serious. Like, what?

[00:08:30] Like, y'all, come on. Be original. Yeah. This particular Zechariah though, he was mentioned in Ezra chapters five and six. And I'm just going to read a couple of those verses because it's relevant. Okay. Yeah. So, Ezra chapter five, verses one and two. Now, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Ito, prophesied to the Jews

[00:08:57] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, son of Josedach, set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. Okay. Okay. So, like we... That was in Ezra. Okay. Ezra chapter five. This is from Ezra chapter six, verse 14.

[00:09:22] So, the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Ito. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. Hmm. Okay. So, I just... I thought it was really interesting, you know? Yeah.

[00:09:46] Like, I forgot that we read those, but I do remember when we read them at the time, I was like, I think these guys are going to come up again, but I can't be bothered because there's too many names already. Right, right. And so, like, now we're on the other side of that, and it's like, oh, yeah. So, Zechariah served the Lord in the years after the remnant returned from the 70-year Babylonian exile. Sure.

[00:10:11] His prophetic career began in the reign of Darius, the ruler of the Medes and Persians. Okay. Okay. The timing of Zechariah's prophecy sets at two months after Haggai's first prophecy and within a month after another prophecy of Haggai. So, we're talking sometime between, like, October and November of 520 BCE. Got it. Okay. Okay. So, Zechariah joins Haggai in the preaching.

[00:10:38] So, they're both, like, holding hands and skipping and playing, like, hopscotch and jump rope, and they're like, one, two, three, build with me, except I'm not building. It's only for the builders. Right. Yeah. Because these dudes ain't building. Right. They just lay around and wait for God to talk to them. Mm-hmm. And they can't get their hands dirty. They got them special God hands. So, they recall that disobedience to the prophets of former times had led to hardship and,

[00:11:07] finally, to captivity. Mm-hmm. So, they're out there like, remember how you were just captured for 70 years? And remember prior to that when everything sucked all the time always? Mm-hmm. Because we sucked all the time always. And God was so mad. So, we just have to be good now. I see. We have to build, et cetera. Yeah. I mean, that sounds like a sales pitch, but hey, you know, whatever. Sure. Totally. So, Zechariah begins his prophecy with a call to repentance and a call that remembers the

[00:11:36] poor spiritual heritage of Israel and Judah. The sin of their fathers doomed the nation to exile. And Zechariah warns the people to remember that the same thing could happen to them. So, he's like, don't fuck this up. We literally just got out of Babylon. Right. And we're free and we can build and shit. So, like, don't fuck this up. Okay? I think my question would be as a person trying to worship this God or not, whatever,

[00:12:06] would be why the people that don't worship him at all get a pass and we don't. Because they are not chosen and you are. I don't give a fuck. But you're Jewish, so yes, you do. So, basically, I would have it easier if I wasn't Jewish. Is that what you're telling me? Correct. Yes. And that is what many Jewish peoples have complained about over the years. Right. Yeah. It sucks to be chosen. They're like, I wish I wasn't chosen. Right. How about if you don't choose me? Yeah. Like, awesome.

[00:12:36] So, the people should, therefore, learn from their forefathers' experiences and take notice of the words of the prophets. This means not simply that they must rebuild the temple. Like, that's the checking the box thing. That's going through the motions. Right. More importantly, they must acknowledge their sin, accept God's discipline, turn from their disobedience, and begin a new life of devotion to God. So, don't just go to church on every Sunday. Like, really mean it.

[00:13:06] Right. Okay. Yeah. So, Zechariah encouraged God's people to not only rebuild the temple, which was the emphasis of his contemporary prophet Haggai. So, Haggis was like, build, build, build. Yeah. And Zechariah's like, yeah, do that. However, also, rebuild your relationship with the Lord. Sure. Huh? Huh? Yeah. Right? Yeah. So, even the temple is a little bit symbolic. Yes. Okay. Totally symbolic. Right. Right. Right. So, from there, we get into our first vision.

[00:13:36] Okay? Okay. This is the vision of the horses and the myrtle trees. Remember all that? Somewhat. Yes. Okay. So, Zechariah's vision of the four horses and their riders. In the first vision, some mounted patrol officers have just returned from a tour of duty. Duty. You said duty. And report to a rider on a red horse who is standing among some myrtle trees, either in a ravine or a hollow. Yeah.

[00:14:04] Our interpretation said ravine, but others say hollow. Okay. Yeah. So, I thought it was cool to include both words. Right. Okay? Yeah. So, and I did not understand as we were reading through this, that that's what those guys had just come from doing. Got it. Did you get that? No. No. Okay. Good. So, I'm not alone. I was like, what are these guys up? I don't understand anything that's happening. Right. So, these guys had just been like touring the world. Okay. Or the world as they knew it. Sure. Okay.

[00:14:34] Yeah. And they were like, just looking at what's happening around. Okay. Okay. This exploration mission examined the progress of rebuilding Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah. Its purpose was to examine the work of God's people. Okay. Near and far. Okay. Right. And don't forget, like we're going to be getting into the measuring of the city. Yeah. Right. So, that vision is directly related to this vision. Okay.

[00:15:02] And that's why I mentioned it, even though we're not there yet. Okay. Bible commentators debate the meaning of the horse's colors, red, red, brown, and white. Whatever. Got it. Okay. Connecting them with the four horsemen of the revelation does not work because those guys are merely observers and not messengers of judgment as in revelation. Ah. So, these are not the four horsies of the apocalypse. They're just four other horses. Got it. Okay. Yeah.

[00:15:29] Some suggest that the different colors mean different angelic offices or orders of a heavenly host. Okay. And if you'll recall, we early on did a special episode over angels and their different hierarchies. Yeah. Yeah. I don't remember what those- I think it was a Patreon, but- I don't remember if it was a Patreon or if it was an open bonus. Right. All I do remember is that there were angels, but I don't remember the hierarchies because it's silly.

[00:15:59] So, the myrtle tree is a laurel bush. Okay. Okay. It's evergreen and that is possibly a symbol of the people of Israel because they are- you can never stomp them out completely. They're always there. Right. Which is good. Sure. We want these people to live. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, ever living. Okay. The vision of horses among two myrtle trees represents watchful heavenly spirits keeping watch on earth. Okay. Okay.

[00:16:27] So, I mean, if that's what you say, I guess. Whatever. Whatever. Um, so the patrol officers report that throughout the empire all is calm and peaceful. And you would think, yay, right? Yeah. Like no war. Loving that. No, it sounds good to me. Right? So, this report may be good news for the Persians, but it's not good news for the Jews who have now been in bondage to foreign overlords for more than 70 years. They long for freedom and pray for God's mercy.

[00:16:57] Okay? Yeah. Yeah. I'm not sure why peace is bad for them other than that maybe it makes them complacent or something. I don't really get it. Or there are people that are like, they're not fully in charge of their own destiny right now. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe they would hope that some other conquering force would take over the Persians slash Medes so that they could rule themselves. Yeah. But then you're still talking about another force that's going to be in the area that would probably then end up in your doorstep, which is not good either. Exactly.

[00:17:26] So, be careful what you wish for. Yeah. You know, like I, that doesn't sound right. Yeah. I didn't really understand that, but I threw it in there in case anybody like gets it. Yeah. Explain to me, please. Sure. So, the patrol found that the world was at peace, but God was angry with the nations of the world because they were at ease while God's people were suffering. Okay. Okay. So, God tells them that although he used these other foreign nations to punish them, like

[00:17:55] remember he was like, they are such tools. Yeah. I'm going to use these people to whip the fuck out of you. But they'll get theirs, you know. Yeah. So, but those nations went beyond the limits he had set. Okay. So, okay. Like, you know, the Syrians for example. Right. He was like, I'm totally going to let them beat you because I want them to beat you. But then he's like, oh my God, I'm so mad for how you beat my people that I told you to beat. Right. But then they didn't get their comeuppance.

[00:18:25] Yeah. So like, where's God? Yeah. What happened? Why didn't he do that? Why didn't he do that? So he loves his people and he knows what their enemies have done to them. That's what this message is. Sure. Okay. Yeah. So he's like telling them, I know, I know, I know. Just hold on. Okay. But why you got to hold on? Right. Exactly. Like, why can't she just take care of it, man? Exactly. So I want to compare two different versions of verse 14, because it's interesting the way

[00:18:53] it reads in our translation versus other translations. Sure. Okay. So ours says, this is what the Lord Almighty says. I'm very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I'm very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment. Actually, that's verses 14 and 15. Okay. Yeah. So I want to compare that to other translations out there.

[00:19:21] Thus says the Lord of hosts, I am zealous, instead of jealous, for Jerusalem and for Zion, with great zeal. I'm always zealous with zeal. I'm zealotry, zealotry, zealotry, zealotry, zealotry. Very zealous. You cannot be zealous unless you have zeal. Yeah. But you can be zealous if you don't have moxie. I personally recommend having both moxie and zeal. Got it. Personally. Yeah. That's a great combo. That's the way to go. Right. For sure. Okay.

[00:19:50] So he's zealous with great zeal. I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease, for I was a little angry and they helped, but with evil intent. Instead of, but they went too far with the punishment. Got it. Do you see the difference there? Yeah. Yeah. So I just, I found that translation is like, wow, those are like, I guess the message is kind of the same, but like, how did you get that word choice? Sure. Right? Yeah.

[00:20:20] So I don't know. I mean, I think a lot of the translations of the Bible are what they, whoever is translating it, kind of the message that they're wanting to convey gets slightly tweaked here or there. And, you know, to me, evil sounds much more sinister than, than they went a little too far type thing. Yeah. You know? They went too far with their punishment. But they helped, but with evil intent. Right. Like yikes. Yeah. Yeah. Calm your tits, bro.

[00:20:47] That's a big, it's a big break from, from just, they went, they went too far. They went too far, bro. Right. Versus. People can go too far. Yeah. But if you're evil, you're always evil. Right. So. It's also like a matter of how we view these nations forever after. No. I mean, yeah. If they went too far, it's easy to forgive going too far. Right. If they're evil, they're always evil. Yeah. Right.

[00:21:13] So like that, even in today's society, that could intone hatred towards other cultures. Exactly. And that's not a great way to phrase something in my opinion. No, I agree. If you're trying to be. Peaceful. Yeah. Right. Right. Like you can't be peaceful with an evil nation. Yeah. Like how do you be evil with, for example, I don't know, Nazis? Well, yeah, I don't think you can. You can't. No. You can't. That's why our country is in trouble. Um, that's why I use that example. Sure. Yeah.

[00:21:43] Um, you know, that whole, um, thing like five years ago and now they're trying to push it again. The can't we just find a way to get along? Can't we all just get along? Just find common ground. And what I took from that was hug a Nazi or else you're the bitch. Right. Right. And I'm like, how about no fuck off? You don't understand what you're talking about. You're both sides in an issue and you're part of the problem.

[00:22:08] I do want to say I do respect the people that, um, go out of their way to help, to help reform people that have fallen down the rabbit hole of right wing nationalist Christian bullshit. There are people working towards those things. And I respect that. I think that is a very, um, valuable and, and wonderful thing that they are doing.

[00:22:31] I don't like being told that I'm a bitch because I'm not doing what I think more importantly, as a collective and as a force of, you know, a force that we have to deal with in our country, it's impossible to collectively deal with them individually. Right. They are absolutely a political force in our country right now. Yes. It's something that has to be reckoned with in more than just a individual reforming way. Right.

[00:23:00] You know, and it's good to have that going on, but we need to do more. And I'm not the person for that. Well, you and I have talked about it and there's a lot of like, you know, and I'm not trying to get off track too much here, but. Oh, I'm always trying to go on with regard to how these ideas kind of percolate through our society. Yeah.

[00:23:35] And I think that's a lot of people, I think that's a lot of people who are not trying to get off track too much. And I think that's a lot of people who are not trying to do. I think that's a lot of people who are not trying to get off track too much. I think that's a lot of people who are not trying to get off track too much. But that also leads people down these dangerous avenues of, well, maybe I will look into that. Right. You know, exactly. As though it's a valid option. Right.

[00:24:05] It's not, you guys. Right. It's not. But that's, these people that are pushing these alpha male ideas and these Christian nationalist ideas that are built around an alpha male mentality know what they're doing. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. They know what they're doing. They absolutely know. Yeah. Yeah. It's falling up is part of that whole thing. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:24:27] So anyway, he's like, those people were total tools and now I hate them, but don't worry about it. I got you. Got it. Yeah. So therefore he will now turn and help Israel again. Isn't that exciting? Yeah. And so the temple is going to get finished and the city will be rebuilt. Hey, that's fantastic. It will be made prosperous once more. Awesome. Good to hear.

[00:24:51] And then about four years from the time of that prophecy, Zion was comforted and Jerusalem was specially chosen and the temple was rebuilt four years after Zechariah gave his prophecy. That's great. Yeah. That happened. Good stuff. Yay. That's one of those prophecies that got completed then. That's great. Within the book. Yeah. I know. I mean, it's still trash, but like it was within the book. Right. Yeah. So that was the first, um, that was the first vision. Okay.

[00:25:21] We're still in chapter one. Yeah. And now we're going to talk about the second vision. I know. I'm so sorry. No, no, you're fine. You're fine. Okay. So this vision is about the four horns and the four craftsmen, which we later learned were carpenters, which fucking matters. Sure. Yeah. I think. Oh yeah. Definitely. There's a difference. And one word means more emotionally. Yes. For sure. Yes.

[00:25:47] That's like, even not Christians, we all know what you mean. Right. But as far as your religion goes. Yeah. It matters more to Christians. Oh yeah, absolutely. It matters more for the Christian story. Right. Okay. So the four horns represent the nations that scattered God's people. Okay. And the second vision assures the Jews that they need have no fear of foreign overlords.

[00:26:15] Nations may attack them from all sides, using their power to oppress Israel as wild beasts use their horns to terrify their victims. Right. But their success will not last. Just hang in there, guys. It's very, it's very demeaning to refer to your enemies as wild beasts. Oh yeah. And it's, it allows hate. It's dehumanizing. It allows, you know, national assault. Evil.

[00:26:42] And, you know, we just got through calling them evil. Right. Now we're calling them wild beasts. Yeah. Totally dehumanizing. Yeah. In biblical times, horns spoke of strength and authority because the power of a bull or an ox is expressed through its horns. Makes sense. Sure. Yeah. And I'm like horns are hornish. Yes. I, I understand. I understood that reference. Right.

[00:27:06] So if Zechariah spoke of scattering Judah, Israel and Jerusalem in a broad prophetic sense, including scattering that had yet to come, then the four horns that are those nations are very likely Babylon, Medo-Persia, like the Medes and the Persians. Yeah. Right. Greece and Rome. Okay. Okay. But that's only if this was a prophetic vision. Right.

[00:27:34] Speaking of scattering that hadn't happened yet. Got it. Okay. Because otherwise it would include the Assyrians instead of. Probably. Yeah. Yeah. Something else. Yeah. The vision of four horns and carpenters symbolizes the idea that men will cut down and terrify the enemy nations that battled Israel. Hmm. Okay. Take your, take your marks. Right. Right. So God announces judgment against the nations that scatter his people and each nation that

[00:28:03] attacks Israel will be overthrown. So says God or whatever. I mean, on a long enough timescale, I suppose that's true. You know? Yeah. I guess. So that was chapter one, visions one and two. Yeah. Okay. So now we're on chapter two. This one's a little shorter. Okay. And so we're going to talk about the third vision. Okay. This one is the one with the measuring line and the protection promised. Okay.

[00:28:32] Um, the call to the, to return to the promised land. Okay. Yeah. So in the third vision, Zechariah sees a young man going out to measure Jerusalem in preparation for the rebuilding of its walls. Yeah. I'm like, that's not a small task. No. And I thought it was an angel. Um, no, it was a man. And he asked the angel, the fuck is that? What's going on? Oh, and he asked the angel to explain it to him. Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay.

[00:28:59] So I'm going to read verses one and two. Um, verse one, there's some stuff that happens and it's longer than necessary. So I'm just reading the last part of it. Got it. There before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, where are you going? He answered me to measure Jerusalem to find out how wide and long it is. Remember we were like, why? Yeah. The fuck. Right. This is so weird. There actually was kind of a reason. Okay.

[00:29:28] Jerusalem was being measured to make sure that it's large enough for the multitudes that God is going to be bringing to the city. Oh. In the time of Zechariah, it seemed strange to worry about Jerusalem being big enough because there seemed to be too few people in the city. Sure. So, yeah. But he's calling them all to come back from where they've been scattered. So this is just a, like the measuring of the city is like, this is how much we need to prepare for how many people are going to be coming back. Yeah.

[00:29:58] We have to measure the city to find out. We can't just expand afterwards. We have to know ahead of time. Yeah. Yeah. So the vision of the man with the measuring line ultimately symbolizes in and of itself the restoration of Jerusalem. Okay. Okay. But a messenger stops him for the rebuilt city will extend beyond the walls of the former city. In fact, it will not need walls at all because God's going to protect them. God will be its protector. Yeah. That's right. That's right.

[00:30:28] So those Jews that were still in Babylon may have made living conditions reasonably comfortable for themselves, which we discussed. Yeah. And I don't think it's that they made living conditions comfortable for themselves. They just so much as that they were allowed to have that by their captors. Yeah. And they were like that terrible. Right. At least at this point in time, like they literally let them go back to their homeland. Right.

[00:30:54] So like the relations between them was at least bearable. Right. You know, and they lived pretty well. Right. So and they've talked about that since the time that they got conquered on that. They had like they had houses right off the bat. Yeah. So I mean, it wasn't like there was ever a time where they were being tortured. And I mean, I'm sure that things I'm sure bad things happened. Right. Yes. I'm not going to I'm not going to, you know, say that that didn't happen.

[00:31:22] But and also just because you live in a gilded cage doesn't mean you're not a prisoner. Sure. Yeah. So I'm not trying to disparage that. But also this time in in human history was a very barbaric and boring time where people got conquered and people conquered. And it was just a thing that happened. Right. Right. And I'm not trying to excuse that part of human history, but it's not anything special that they went through versus other cultures.

[00:31:51] And it's understandable why they would be like, you know, I got a nice house. It's been 70 years. Yeah. I don't mind. Like, is it even your is it even your homeland after that? Like, I mean, other than like a legacy, it's really not anything that you would even know or recognize mostly. I know I'm not a fair judge to ask that question of because I've moved so much in my life having been a military brat and then a military person myself and travel with a truck driver for a year or two.

[00:32:20] Like I have moved around a lot. Sure. But you've been in one place for about 25 years. Yeah, I've been in Ohio since the end of 2000. I moved here. Yeah. So but I mean, would I feel like a draw to come back to Ohio? I don't know. You don't think if you left you would miss? I mean, you miss things about other places you've been in your life.

[00:32:42] I miss the one place that I miss is where I spent the five most formative years of my youth. Yeah. When you were over in Italy. Yeah. But you also talk about when you lived in San Antonio, you talked about you talk about the Riverwalk and you talk about I can live without it. But I don't know. But there are things I'm saying there are things that you do like that you would go back and visit.

[00:33:07] So you were arguing like, is that even your homeland anymore? You Jewish people that have been away. And now you're like, but surely you'd miss the burritos. Right. No, I see where you're going with that. Yeah. I mean, which way is it? Well, I'm just you're saying that you don't have a homeland and I get how you're equating it. But these people have a religious and emotional. Yeah, they have a tie directly to it that is reinforced by their community. I'm sure.

[00:33:37] And the burritos were delicious. They must have been. I mean, look, I'm sorry. I know that this is trash. You can complete. You can at me all you want. OK. Yeah. But Taco Cabana slaps. I don't fucking care. I've never had it. So I can't say anything. No, you've never been to Texas. But yeah, it's completely obnoxious.

[00:34:01] Like it's bright pink and turquoise like Barbie colors is their entire like logo and like the way the walls are painted and everything. I feel like the first place you would have us visit if I went down to Texas with you would be Taco Cabana. Yeah. When my sister and I drove from Ohio to San Antonio, which is no small feat. I will have you know. Right. The second that we got into San Antonio, that was the first thing we looked for.

[00:34:29] Where is the nearest Taco Cabana to our hotel? Yeah. We literally ate breakfast there every morning the whole time we were there. And I mean, we were there only like a week maybe that I don't know. It was for our grandmother's funeral and stuff like that. So I don't remember. It was not it was less than a week. But every day that we were there, we ate breakfast at Taco Cabana. Right.

[00:34:56] So but I'm not trying to say I love San Antonio or Texas, but God damn, I wish that we had a Taco Cabana up here in Ohio. Just saying. Yeah. I mean, they could put one just like right by our house and they do fine. It's their salsa. It's their salsa. It's their salsa. I can't speak to it. You know what is their meat and their their tortillas? My God. This is like an ad break. Yeah, I'm sorry. Like and and here's the thing though.

[00:35:25] Like I know that I know that everybody listening to this that lives in San Antonio. I know you know what I'm talking about. And I know that you were like, oh, my God, really? Really? Because it's kind of like the Starbucks of the area. There's like one on every corner. Right. But you moved away. Right. Yeah. So I don't have that Tim Hortons taco. Right. You know what I mean? Yeah.

[00:35:49] So, yeah, I'm just I'm just saying like I recognize that there are people in San Antonio that are like for real. Right. I can't with you right now. So apologies, but sorry, not sorry. Right. You know, I be how I be. Right. All right. So anyways, back to God, back to God. Yeah. And so these people are like, I don't know if I want to go home. And, you know, it's kind of cool where I'm at here. Yeah, I don't blame them.

[00:36:19] Yeah, I don't either. But they should be they should be aware of becoming too settled. Oh, after 70 years, they were supposed to live on their toes. Like, dude, it's already too late. We've been unsettled. I mean, can you imagine being told, hey, your God wants you to uproot your. Your entire fucking life. I know you're comfortable and all, but you need to like leave that all behind and come over here and rebuild everything. Yeah. And you're like, wait, you look, I know. I know my parents signed up for this, but like I didn't exactly.

[00:36:47] I didn't sign up for it, man. No, I'm out. I'm yeah, I'm done. I'm out. Yeah. It kind of makes me think of, you know, how we're always watching Star Trek shows. Yeah. And right now how we're in Voyager. Yeah. And how the doctor went through this time like dilation thing where the planet he was on for like every second that he was there so many years past or whatever. Right.

[00:37:15] So he was there for three years waiting for them to come back for him. And in that time he married and had a child. I'm still trying to work out how he had a child. I want to know how a hologram has fucking working sperm. I mean, we talked about it. Maybe he adopt maybe it was adopted or maybe the woman he was with was already pregnant when they got together. But he named that kid Jason. Right. Which was an unusual like they specifically commented that it was an unusual name, which

[00:37:43] means that name meant something to him that he was allowed to name this child. Right. So, yeah, either he adopted his girlfriend's baby or they adopted one together. I don't know. Right. And why the name Jason? I don't know. Like, where did that come from? Who is Jason on the show? Like, we don't even know. All I'm saying is like he was only there for three years. These people were there 70 years and they're expected to be on their toes the whole time.

[00:38:13] Whereas the doctor was like, it's been a minute. Oh, I'm going to get married and have a kid now. Right. Three years was all it took for him to settle. So that's the comparison I'm trying to make. Yeah. Okay. So I'm going to read verse six and seven. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Come, come flee from the north, declares the Lord. For I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven, declares the Lord. Okay. Come Zion, escape you who live in daughter Babylon. Daughter Babylon.

[00:38:42] That's not, you know. Yeah. That doesn't sound so bad. No. She's right. Right. So in Zechariah's day, few of these people who were carried into captivity in the Babylonian empire returned to the promised land when they were allowed to, which is why the Lord exhorted his people to return to the land he gave them. So like they were not excited to go back. They're like, no, I'm good. Yeah. And so like all these prophets are like, no, but God wants you to real bad.

[00:39:11] Well, because I put, look, I, we've talked about this many, many times, but like if the prophets and the governors don't have people to lead, they don't have power. Yeah. Right. So it makes sense for them to be pushing for this and using God as an excuse. Yeah. Because how else are they going to get coins and goats? Right. Who's going to give that to them for free? Yeah. This is just building their fucking base. That's all they're doing. They're just getting the grift on.

[00:39:38] I mean, that's, that's all it feels like the whole time that I've been reading this. Yeah, exactly. So, so most of the exiles were super comfy in Babylon and refused to endure the challenge to build a work of God. They were like, fuck that. Don't blame them. They were like, have fun with that temple over there. I'm good. Right. Yeah. So there were reasons for rejoicing though, because guess what? What? God promises to protect his precious people that he fucked for years. Yeah.

[00:40:07] Like what kind of fucking promise is that you've done that so many goddamn times? I can't even count at this point. He's always making promises and then he's like, psych. Right. So they should return to Jerusalem as quickly as possible, both to enjoy its blessings and to avoid the punishment that is about to fall on their captors. Okay. Okay. So here's verse nine, still in chapter two. Sure. Yeah. I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Yeah. Okay.

[00:40:37] Right. God promises that those who enslaved the people of God would become spoil for the restored people of God. The enslavers would become the enslaved because we love retribution and getting even and vengefulness. Like we love all of that. Right. And condoning slavery, apparently. Yes. Very exciting. Regardless of what the reasoning is behind it, you're still condoning it. Yeah. This God is still condoning it.

[00:41:05] This is one of those times when honestly, I don't fucking care who started it. Right. Yeah. I'm ending it. Okay. Right. Like that's what my mom used to say when we were fighting and when me and my sister were like fighting. Yeah. And like sometimes it does matter. And I wish that she had like actually interceded more to like get down to the nitty gritty of who did start it. Right. But this is slavery is an issue where I don't fucking care. Stop telling me.

[00:41:35] But they did it first. Yeah. Well, they sold them to us. So it's fine. Don't do it anymore. I don't care. Yeah. I mean, look, and I don't want to say that I'm talking to slavers when I say I don't fucking care. Stop. When I say I don't care. I totally care. Anybody who is listening to this and is descended from slaves. Of course, I care. Right. Right. That is why I am telling them, the slavers, I don't fucking care. Stop.

[00:42:05] Yeah. Okay. Like, I don't want to like be sounding like I don't care to people who are descended from slaves. Right. Okay. Sorry. Okay. And come to join with Israel as the people of God is going to be so fucking exciting. Okay.

[00:42:34] So the first three visions that we have just read. Yeah. They are largely messages of encouragement to the builders. Okay. Okay. And that kind of matters because the ones after this, they're directed elsewhere. I'm not going to tell you like where until we like get done with more. Yeah. Past what we've read. Okay. Okay. But now we're starting chapter three. Okay.

[00:43:00] And chapter three, I have broken into two parts. Okay. Okay. So the first part is the vision of the Lord, Satan and Joshua, the high priest. And the second part is God's message to Joshua, the high priest. Okay. So we're getting into our fourth vision. Okay. Are you ready? Is there rebuking in this one? There is rebuking.

[00:43:26] I did not write that because I knew I could not get it, get through it without cracking up. Right. Right. Like whatever. Yeah. So the wife, I rebuke you. You do not rebuke me. No, I don't. I don't. You never rebuke me. Absolutely not. Satan, I rebuke thee in the name of God. Whatever. Okay. So Zechariah then has a fourth version. Vision. Vision. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:43:54] A version of a vision in which he sees Satan accuse the high priest Joshua and therefore the people he represents of being unclean. Which was just a reminder in the Old Testament and in Jewish book and lore. Mm-hmm. Satan is the accuser. Yeah. I'm actually going to get that. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. Yeah. No, totally fine that you knew that without my notes. Yeah. Um, so remember how in this vision, like Joshua was filthy. Yes.

[00:44:24] And we were like, what? Right. So he, his being filthy is representative of the people being filthy. Okay. So what was happening here is that Satan's like, he is way too filthy to be in the presence of God, God, and these people are way too filthy to be yours. So. I see. And yeah, I did not get any of that. Right. I was like, he's filthy.

[00:44:52] And Satan's like, look how dirty that guy is. Like, I did not know the deeper meaning in this. Right. Okay. Like I missed all of that. Sure. So because of their long exile in idolatrous Babylon, they are no longer fit to enter God's presence. Okay. They're filthy. Right. So in other words, Satan is hinting that the people are wasting their time building the temple because they're not clean. So the building of the temple is pointless as Satan.

[00:45:22] Oh. Yeah. Right. Since they are unclean, no sacrifices that they offer there are going to be acceptable to God. So like, why are you even having them build this God? Right. Like see that Satan being all snakey there. Right. Right. Like, and it's logical. I see what I'm saying. Yeah. Right. Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Let me read that again because I had the wrong emphasis. Okay.

[00:45:49] Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. Hmm. Because as you pointed out in Hebrews, Satan means accuser or adversary. Right. Okay. Yeah. So God replies to Satan, excuse you. I have not cast off my chosen people. Okay. Step off. Calm your tits, Satan. I totally want to tell Satan, calm your tits, Satan.

[00:46:18] They're the people's time of exile in Babylon has been his punishment on them. So he's like, no, they're fine. I already, I got this. I already took care of that. Yeah. Okay. They're good. And now he has saved them. Okay. He has snatched them from the hand of their enemies, brought them back to their land and cleansed their sins. Hmm. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. That's crazy. So God's like, don't, don't worry about it, Satan. This is none of your concern. Yeah. I fucking rebuke thee. Yeah. Okay.

[00:46:48] That's funny. Cause like later Jesus cleanses sins by dying on the cross. Yeah. So this is very, you know, cleansing of the sins. That's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. You can see how it, uh, right. Right. You can see how somebody read this and was like, I like that bit. Right. No, I reckon. Yeah. Like this whole book so far, there's like all these like, Oh, Jesus is in that bit, but it's not, you know, sort of like the idea of Jesus is in that bit so much as that

[00:47:18] you're like, Oh, that's where they got that Jesusy bit from. Okay. Right. You can totally see how the old Testament influenced the writing of the new Testament, even though we haven't read it yet. Absolutely. Yeah. So that's kind of amazing. Well, and I can also see how you can tie it. Like if you pick and choose cherry pick, right? Yeah. You can take bits of the old Testament and tie it in with things from the new Testament. And you quote one thing, like you quote one verse from the old Testament and you're

[00:47:46] like, see how this ties into here. Yeah. But you're quoting it out of context and without any information about it. Right. Right. Right. So like, yes, you can tie things in and you can make them fit for more reasons than one, because Christianity took the old Testament and built their version of the religion around the prophecies from the old Testament. Yeah. And also if you take anything out of context, you can make it fit whatever you want. So I just, you know, sorry. I just had to say that. You're not wrong.

[00:48:18] So, um, I'm going to read verse two now. I know we're moving right along through this fucking chapter, right? Yeah. But this is the one where, um, he gets called a brand or like a burning something or other and we're like the fuck. Like this whole chapter was so confusing. Yeah. Actually all of these chapters were confusing. It's true. So I'm, I appreciated preparing the notes for this because literally I did not get any of this from what we were reading. So, all right.

[00:48:46] Um, verse two, our, um, translation reads dot, dot, dot is not this man, a burning stick snatched from the fire. But other, um, translations read, is this not a brand plucked from the fire? Okay. Okay. A brand is a burnt, burning or smoldering piece of wood. Sure. It isn't worth very much and will be consumed completely if it isn't plucked from the fire. Sure.

[00:49:14] So God's like, I plucked these people or this, this one dude from the fire. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So he's like, is this man, is this not a man, is not this man, sorry, a burning stick snatched from the fire. Okay. Okay. Now verse three says now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. Okay. Yeah. So let's read some notes about that.

[00:49:40] Joshua wasn't in God's presence just as a spectator, but also as a ministering priest of service. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So he's like, not just a guy, he's like interacting and asking questions and he's like a main character. Yeah. He's standing there dirty. Right. Okay. Right. Satan was probably pointing at Joshua's filthy clothes and declaring that Joshua was totally unfit, unclean to stand before the Lord as the representative of the people.

[00:50:08] So too were the people unclean to enter the temple in God's service. I could see this all playing out as just like some elaborate, almost like a play that they put on for the people that they're trying to teach these lessons to, you know? And so that way it visually has this like resonance with people as far as how they view this relationship that they have with their God versus the accuser, Satan, whatever. Yeah. Right.

[00:50:37] And it would make a lot more sense as to why people took these ideas in the way they did. Yeah. Because if the prophets are showmen, much like, you know, a lot of the bigger priests and pastors of today. Yeah. They would be trying to convince people through a show. Through story. How these things, you know, transpire. You've got to be charismatic and you've got to put on a show. Right. And that's what this was.

[00:51:05] And the only other time that we see Satan was in Job and it was the same fucking thing. Right. You know, it was the conversation about man right in front of man. Right. Yeah. So, FYI, the Hebrew word for filthy is the strongest expression in the Hebrew language for filth of the most vile and loathsome character. Oh, okay. So, when Satan's like, he filthy. That's strong words. Yeah.

[00:51:32] He's not just saying like, do dirty and kind of stink a bit. Right. He's saying he is the worst of the worst, the lowest of the low. He's got shit on his face and on his soul. Okay. Yeah. So, Joshua's filthy clothes were symbolic of his iniquities and thus symbolic of the people's iniquities on a larger basis. Right. And like I said, I got none of this from reading it, but now it makes so much better sense. Yeah. Okay.

[00:52:00] So, the vision of the cleansing of Joshua and his filthy garments symbolizes restoration of the people. Forgiveness. Sure. Okay. So, Joshua's iniquity is removed and he is given clean garments. Now he's going to go set up the temple and its priesthood for them once again. Yay! Yay! Okay. Now, verse five says, then I said, put a clean turban on his head. Yeah. That was really weird, right? Like that's out of the blue and odd. Yeah.

[00:52:29] So, apparently the turban was part of the high priest's garments. Oh. And on the front, it had a gold plate inscribed with the phrase, holiness to the Lord. And that was actually, apparently discussed in the book of Exodus. Huh. Which I don't recall. I do recall them talking about the priest's garments. Yeah. Like there was the whole pomegranates and there was a lot of things that I do recall. The Thumen and the Thurman. Right. Yeah. The Dermin and the Thumen.

[00:52:59] They had some specific colors that they utilized and different things like that, but I don't recall the plate on the turban. I don't recall the turban or the plate on the turban. Right. Right. But apparently there was a big old hat thing and a plaque on it. Yeah. Okay. Those religious people love their hats. They fucking do, right? You know. I mean, look, if I gotta be religious, I want a hat. You know? But a cool hat, not just like a baseball hat. Right. Like, witches got pointy round hats, right? Sure. Like, everybody's got hats.

[00:53:28] I mean, the Pope, for God's sakes. Oh. Jesus. That is quite the hat. I got a hat. I will tell you, Dr. Seuss hats. Right. Yeah. I need a hat if I'm gonna go to church. That's all I'm saying. So, you cannot get me into a church unless there's a hat involved. Got it. Okay? Yeah. All right. So, carrying on, we're still in chapter three. Okay. And the rest of this is God's message to Joshua the high priest. Okay? All right.

[00:53:54] So, there's a personal admonishment and a promise to Joshua. Joshua and his fellow priests are warned to be faithful to God in carrying out their duties in the new temple. He said, duty. That God will put in their care. So, he's like, I'm telling you what to do with this temple. Now, listen. Take note. Yeah. Okay? Joshua will then be able to enter the presence of God without fear of Satan's accusations.

[00:54:20] So, he's telling him, like, dude, I'm giving you exactly the instructions. And so, once you guys get this thing built, it'll be fine and you can totally go in there and give me all your gold. Got it. Yeah. Yeah. So, the reestablishment of the Israelite priesthood is a further sign to assure the people that their Messiah will come. I see.

[00:54:48] Because, you know, they are very, like, there's going to be a Messiah coming someday. Right. That's very awesome for them. Apparently. Yeah. Okay. So, verse eight reads, listen, high priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you who are men, symbolic of things to come. I am going to bring my servant, the branch. Okay? So, the term branch is used several times as a title for the Messiah.

[00:55:17] I don't recall it, but apparently it happened twice in the book of Isaiah and twice in the book of Jeremiah. Okay. Our translation may have said something different. Is that why some people think that the branch that Moses, like, beat the rock with was symbolic of something too, maybe? I have no idea. Okay. But this, the branch, is associated with fruitfulness and life. Got it. And so, maybe Moses' stick represented something along the way.

[00:55:46] Like, depending on who you ask, maybe. Yeah. I don't know that that's the case. I mean, they're always talking about wood and branches and trees and bushes. Yeah. So, who could fucking know, right? Right. Yeah. Especially engraved stone is to be set in the temple as a reminder of what the Messiah will do. He will cleanse the land of sin and bring in a new era of contentment and prosperity. So, verse 9 says, see the stone I have set in front of Joshua.

[00:56:14] There are seven eyes on that one stone. Yeah. That was weird. And I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord Almighty. You know, it's a good thing Moses isn't around anymore because, like, you know, he had to stay up there for like 40 days. Yeah. For him to engrave something. They had to go back for 40 more because he broke the first one. Yeah. And he's just gonna like let this guy not go up a mountain. He's just gonna engrave it. He's like, here, hold this. Like, here's a rock. It's engraved. Hold this.

[00:56:40] So, on that one stone I will engrave it and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. Wow. Right? Wow. Yeah. Crazy. That's crazy. Moses is jealous as fuck. Right? Yeah. So, just in case a branch seems weak, God gives another symbol, a stone engraved with seven eyes. That does it. Yeah. Right there. That seals the deal. He wasn't sure that the branch was gonna do it. So, he's like, here's a rock with seven eyes on it. I'll tell you what.

[00:57:06] If I see a rock with like literally seven eyes on it, that's a pretty strong sign of things. You mean like actual eyes or like engraved eyes? Oh, like actual eyes. Well, these are just engraved eyes. Oh, that's bullshit. Yeah. I mean, it literally says, I'm gonna engrave. No, I thought he was engraving the words. I thought the eyes were eyes, you know? No, no, no. Okay. All right. So, no, it's a stone engraved with seven eyes. Okay. Okay.

[00:57:33] The stone itself was probably a ceremonial object or a cornerstone, something meant to symbolize strength, foundation, or authority. It is used here as a metaphor for something or someone unshakable. Oh, yeah. Okay. Someone. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, God places this stone in front of Joshua, the high priest, implying that the foundation being laid, whether spiritual or tangible, is divine.

[00:58:03] Ah. Because he's not putting it in front of the governor. Right. He's putting it in front of the spiritual leader. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So, this is a God thing. All right? Sure. So, eyes are generally symbolic of perception, knowledge, awareness, like that kind of thing, like education. Yeah. Yeah. It reflects how the people took in information. Okay. Why seven of them though, right? Yeah. Yeah. We actually did a numerology thingy-ma-bobber. We did. Early on.

[00:58:30] The number seven in Hebrew literature means completeness, perfection, and totality, that kind of creation, seven days in a week. Right. That kind of thing. No, there was definitely reiterating themes of numbers throughout the Old Testament. 77, 77, 77. And 40. And 40. Yeah. Yeah. So, seven eyes means complete and perfect understanding. Okay. Yeah.

[00:58:58] And that indicates that the coming messianic figure is wise and all-seeing. Ah. Whoever that- Whoever it might be. Whoever that messiah is. We're not taking any- hedging any bets here. We're not saying who it's going to be. I don't know anything about that. It might or might not happen, you know, in the near future or, you know, I don't know. I don't know anything about it. Who knows? That's not mine to know. Right. Nope. All right. So, we are now done with the first three chapters. We're starting chapter four. Okay.

[00:59:28] Yeah. And this is where we get into the fifth vision. Okay? Yeah. And this one is a fuckaroo. I mean, what the actual hell is going on here? Yeah. The fifth vision is of a seven-headed lampstand standing between two olive trees. The olive trees pour their oil into a central bowl on top of the lampstand. The oil from the central bowl then feeds the seven lamps that provide the light. Okay.

[00:59:58] This means that the lamps do not need anyone to look after them because magic. Yeah. Light is provided supernaturally through the constant supply of oil from the trees. Hmm. And when I say lampstands, you can also imagine the word menorah. Okay. Yeah. So, I did read that that is another translation. Sure. Okay. Okay. So, the prophet, overpowered by his last vision, is roused by the angel to behold another.

[01:00:28] Like, he's like, dude, I'm so tired. Yeah. So, I'm going to read the first couple of verses here. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up like someone awakened from a sleep. Yeah. You know, like when you get woke up, it's because you were asleep. That's true. That's generally true. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, apparently, he's going to go on to have eight total visions of which this is the fifth.

[01:00:58] Okay. Yeah. Okay. And apparently, all eight of these visions came in a single night. Wow. So, it appears that Zechariah, wearied by the excessive excitement of all of these visions that are happening. Yeah. He had fallen asleep. Okay. I mean, he just had four visions in one night and he's about to have his fifth. So, he's like, bombsite! You'd think if God wanted to talk to you, he could keep you awake, right? Right. Like, I mean, that doesn't seem like it would be that hard. It doesn't.

[01:01:27] It really doesn't. It's like God can do, he can build an entire solar system, universe and planet in seven days. I mean, man. He can't keep, you know, this dude awake? Humankind can make monster drinks. Right, yeah. Like, energy drinks, dude. So, the angel came again a second time to arouse him from his slumber. Okay. This was not the first time he had fallen asleep during that momentous chain of events. Okay. So, now I'm going to read verse two.

[01:01:55] I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it with seven channels to the lamps. Yeah. Okay. So, God gave Zechariah a vision of the gold lampstand that was meant to stand in the temple as a representation of the presence of God in the temple. Hmm. So, he's like, here, here's a picture of a magic lamp. Now, take that picture in your head and that's me. Oh.

[01:02:24] In the temple that you're going to build. Okay. Okay. Okay. God's a lampstand. Yeah. God's a light. Okay. He's a fucking lampstand. He is a lampstand, totally. Exactly. And remember, the number seven in Hebrew means completeness, perfection, and totality. Right. So, the seven lamps refer to divine omniscience. Sure. Or the complete spiritual insight needed for the task ahead. Okay. Okay. So, that's why seven lamps, not just like six. One. Right. Okay. Right.

[01:02:54] Okay. Verse three reads, also, there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left. Okay. Okay. So, the lamps in the temple were normally fueled by pure, specially prepared olive oil, but the lampstand Zechariah saw in his vision was fed straight by the trees. Wow. Wow. Magic. Yeah. Now, this is interesting, I think. Okay.

[01:03:19] One of the more tedious duties of the, you said duties, of the temple service was the constant care of the lamps on the gold lampstand. They had to be continually refilled with oil, cleaned of soot, and their wicks had to be maintained. Yeah. Now, that's why it's interesting, right? Because he had to go to all that effort all the time, right? Right, right. But in this vision, Zechariah sees self-filling lamps fed directly from two olive trees. Wow.

[01:03:46] So, you know, nobody's- Nobody's got to do work to fill the lamps. Yeah, you just got to- You do have to build the temple. And you gotta- You gotta- You gotta worship your god. Yeah. Because otherwise he might not fill the lamps anymore. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Among other things that he might do. Right, yeah. He's such a dick. He really is. So, Zechariah asked for an explanation of the vision, because he's not the only one that's confused.

[01:04:12] Yeah, I mean like, it's no wonder we were confused if Zechariah doesn't even fucking know. Yeah. Exactly. I mean, he had to ask an angel of the Lord. All we have is some people that have been studying this shit for years and put it on the internet. Right, yeah. You know? Yeah. All right. So, the meaning of the vision. This vision was of particular encouragement to Zerubbabel, who in his task of reconstructing the temple, faced mountainous obstacles. Okay, so here's the problems that he faced.

[01:04:42] And Zerubbabel was the governor. Okay? Just to remind everybody. Yeah. So, his authority was limited by Persia. Yeah. He had a shortage of labor and materials. His workers were discouraged by some of the Jewish people who despised the new building as being small in comparison with Solomon's magnificent temple from way back. Okay. And he was surrounded by hostile foreigners who tried to hinder the work. Hmm.

[01:05:11] So, Zerubbabel had all of this shit going on. So, when he heard from Zechariah that, no, the temple's gonna get done and, you know, God is gonna be the light inside of it. It's gonna be awesome. Zerubbabel was like, that's so cool. I'm really glad to hear that. I feel so much better. Yeah. Yay, I can sleep at night. Okay. Okay. So, God now gives him a message of encouragement and reassurance.

[01:05:38] Just as the lamps receive a continuous supply of oil supernaturally, so the temple will be finished through the power of God's spirit. Oh. So, people, when they finish it, they are not to take credit for having built it. It's God. They were only able to build it because God gave them whatever. Just like, you know, you didn't get cured of cancer by a doctor. Right. You got cured of cancer because of God. Right. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. Yes. Yeah.

[01:06:08] So, God's power, not human power, is to be the source of Zerubbabel's strength. Mm-hmm. So, he's telling him ahead of time, rely on God because God will always be there. Okay. So, like a self-fulfilling little snake eating its tail. Right. Yeah. So, Zechariah then records an additional meaning given to the two olive trees.

[01:06:30] Through the Davidic prince Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua, God will supply spiritual power to Israel, and this will enable Israel to send forth the light of God throughout the whole earth. I see. Okay. So, this is not local anymore. They are like talking big. They're going global with this. They're going global with the whole desert. Which is like at least, like, yeah. Right? Right?

[01:06:56] So, the vision was intended to assure the Jews of the success of Joshua and Zerubbabel in building the temple. Okay. All right. So, verse 7 of chapter 4 reads, what are you mighty mountain? And we were like, the fuck? Why is he calling them that? Weird. Yeah. Like, a mountain? Remember? Yeah. So, I'm sorry to continue reading that. What are you mighty mountain?

[01:07:23] Before Zerubbabel, you will become level ground. Then, he will bring out the capstone to shouts of God bless it! God bless it! Yeah. It was a weird, like, weird. Yeah. We did not understand any of that. No. So, here's the deal. Okay. I'm going to break it down for you. Okay. Literally, the great mountain was the giant pile of rubble at the temple site and that rubble will be removed and the work carried on. Okay. Okay. That's the literal definition. Okay. Yeah.

[01:07:52] Metaphorically speaking, the work of rebuilding the temple was so massive that it seemed like a great mountain. And here, God promised that by his spirit, that great mountain would be leveled into a plain. Or at least by delegation. Right. You know? Yes. Because I ain't doing it. Now, remember I talked about a capstone or something like that? Sure. Yeah. He will bring out the capstone to shouts of God bless it. God bless it. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:08:20] So, the Hebrew word for capstone translates to the head or final or top stone. Okay. Yeah. In construction, the capstone is the last stone placed when a building is finished. Especially like in an arch or at the top of the structure. Right. Yeah. Yeah. It's not just the final piece. It's the symbolism. Right. Of being the final piece. Sure. Of the project. Yeah. Okay.

[01:08:48] So, here it refers to the final piece of rebuilding the temple. In other words, God is telling Zerubbabel directly that giant pile of rubble won't stop you. You'll get to do the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening. Okay? That's what he's telling. Is he going to have giant stickers though? Or scissors. Scissors. Not stickers. I know. I was thinking that the whole time like, is he going to cut the ribbon but with the giant scissors? Right. Yeah.

[01:09:16] And that's the only way you can cut a ribbon. Obviously. Right? Yeah. So, this statement was God's assurance to Zerubbabel that not only will the work be completed, but Zerubbabel will be the one to finish it. Wow. That's great. I mean, that's kind of cool to know, right? Yeah. So, surmounting every obstacle in the way at length by the good providence of God, the temple should be finished amidst the joyful acclamations of the spectators. Verse 10 reads,

[01:09:45] Who dares despise the day of small things since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel? That is a lot of symbols all mashed together into one sentence. It is. It is. Yeah. So, the angel's explanation of the golden candlestick and the two olive trees. Yeah. Okay. Verse 14 reads,

[01:10:13] So he said, these are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. Okay? Yeah. And we were like, okay. Right. Yeah. So, in Zechariah's day, the two anointed ones were Zerubbabel, the political or civic authority. Right. Like, the guy in charge. Yeah. And then part of the Davidic line. Yes. Which is important. It is very important. Yeah. And Joshua was the spiritual authority.

[01:10:40] So, by saying that these two are anointed, he's saying, like, these are the guys that are in charge. And it is approved by, like, condoned by God. Right. And so, these two are doing this together. Everything's good. Just go build it. Even more than that, I think God gave Zerubbabel a ring or something. A signet. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:11:05] So, they were not the entire trees, but two olive branches from the trees. Mm-hmm. One branch from each tree. Okay. Again, with the fucking branches. Oh, I see. So, the trees represented Zerubbabel and Joshua. No. Oh. The trees themselves represent the kingly and priestly offices in Israel, but the dudes themselves are just two branches off the trees. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Got it.

[01:11:34] So, that is the end of chapter four. And now, I feel like, okay, I can start chapter five and get confused all over again. Yeah. Yeah. Good times. But at least I'm caught up now. Yeah. Like, I understand what happened. Right. Kind of. Yeah. Do you feel better? No, definitely. It makes a lot more sense. I mean... Insofar as...

[01:12:00] There's some clarification as to what some of those symbols probably possibly mean. Right. Right. So, that's helpful in understanding probably where we're going to go from here, which is great. So... Yeah. I'm happy to know the things that we know now. Yes. Yeah. Do you have anything else to cover with this one, or... Absolutely not. My voice is going out. Yeah. Yeah. No, I know. We had to stop twice already. I know. I'm sorry. I... Like, if I talk too long, my voice... It leaves you.

[01:12:28] My throat gets dry and itchy, and yeah, I start losing my voice. Yeah. I do want to say that we've had a run of some things happening. We had to get a new computer. We had... We had to get a new fridge. Our refrigerator was sounding like a goddamn elephant running... Anyway, we've had issues going on. Yeah. We had to take the cat to the vet. She's fine. Right. Yeah. So, there's been a lot of things going on, and we apologize for not getting these out

[01:12:54] quicker, but hopefully now that we've got some things settled in, we'll be getting these out a little bit more regularly, and going forward from here, it'll be better. Yes. That's our hope, and... That's always the dream. That's always... Yeah. It's our vision. That's our... Yeah, that's our vision. Capstone or vision? Whatever. No, it's not our capstone. No. That was the wrong word. And still years away. Yeah. All right.

[01:13:22] Thank you guys, as always, for joining us, and we really appreciate you, and we will... I'm going to get the weekly replay out here soon, and then we'll be back with... Zechariah Chapter 5. All right. We'll see you then. Bye. Bye.