Zechariah’s Sixth Vision – Zechariah 5:1-4

Zechariah’s Sixth Vision

Text Zechariah 5:1-4

We come now to Zechariah’s sixth vision, and what a strange vision it is!  A flying scroll, and it speaks to us about JUDGEMENT! 

1. The Flying Scroll! v 1-2

One of the reasons why we need a heightened spiritual awareness is that the evil and sinfulness of the world has actually penetrated Jerusalem!  We live in days when the church has become more and more like the world.  Now, this vision points that out, and reminds us that the presence of sin in the camp is enough to cancel out the blessing of the Lord, (In Zechariah’s time, the blessing that would come from the rebuilding of the temple).  Haggai 2:11-14     This vision is about God’s judgement upon this world, and about how God will one day purge Jerusalem of the wicked people who now dwell in her and camp around her!  Let us see:-

1. The State of the Flying Scroll! I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. What Zechariah saw was a scroll, and this parchment is flying.  The word could just as readily be translated ‘’  Let’s see:-
2. The Size of the Flying Scroll! The Bible gives a very definite and accurate figure for the dimensions of this scroll.  It is a huge scroll, for it is 30ft by 15ft!  Zechariah’s readers would have known the significance of that size.  This scroll, opened out to be read was the exact size of the porch in the temple, where the Torah, the law of God was read and proclaimed!  1 Kings 6:3  
3. The Significance of the Flying Scroll! So, are you starting to see the significance of this vision? This flying scroll is a message from God.  It is God’s Word, hovering over the land.   For those of us who love the Lord and are saved by his grace, the Word of the Lord is a great blessing, but for the ungodly, for the unconverted, the Word of the Lord is not a blessing!  In fact it is actually a curse!  Then said he unto me, This is the curse This is because it reveals their true standing before God, it exposes their sin, and reaches beyond their flimsy façade of excuses and pierces their hearts and opens them up to the judgement of God!  Hebrews 4:12.
4. The Scope of the Flying Scroll!
   1. It was applicable to all! that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth. This scroll, this message from the Lord Himself was not restricted to Jerusalem or Israel or even the church.  It hovered over the whole of the earth!   There are those who would say that God’s Word is only for God’s people.  But the God of the Bible is the Creator God, who made all men, and expects all men to repent and turn from their sin and their false religion and follow Christ.  Acts 17:30 God    God’s Word is for the whole earth!
   2. It was open to all! Something else about this scroll.  It was opened, and there was writing on both sides of it, as we shall see.  It was not rolled up to be stored, it was opened, to be read!  There was a MESSAGE about to be delivered by this scroll!

So, this flying scroll speaks to us of an open declaration of God’s Word.  The message is that God will not tolerate sin, either in the world, in the Jerusalem of Zechariah’s day or among the church of this day.

2. The Sins that Beset the City of God! v 3

One of the reasons that the returned exiles had failed to work upon the building up of God’s house and had allowed it to go into disrepair was that the people of God had adopted worldly attitudes. Like the people they were aping, they robbed and they lied.    We too can be guilty of robbing God and then covering it up with a false testimony!:-

1. In our GIVING! for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it We rob God when we withhold from Him what is rightfully his!  Malachi 3:8-11    We too, can rob God of tithes and offerings!
2. In our LIVES! We rob him of time.  We spend hours every week at work.  We spend hours in leisure.  We spend hours watching TV – time wasted before a box of pictures that are frequently unhealthy.  How mush time to we allow our Saviour, our dearest friend who gave up everything for us?
3. In our TESTIMONY! and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. The idea conveyed by swearing here is perjury.  Making a false profession.  Saying one thing, when you are doing (or being) another.  The Bible specifically warns us against bearing false witness.

Do you know, that sad thing is that when we rob God of what is rightfully his, we are really depriving ourselves of so much!  We are robbing ourselves of His blessing   The message here is unambiguous.  Obedience to God will bring blessing, and disobedience will bring a curse.  There is an open message.  God’s work will not prosper if such sins are evident among His people.

3. The Punishment for Sin that is Ordained! v4

The seeking out of these malevolent influences upon His world, his city, his people and his church is a deliberate act of God which will accomplish its purpose.

• God ordains judgement and eternal punishment! I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts. God created the universe, and God created Hell as part of that universe, because as a righteous, holy God, He can not and will not overlook evil.  Matthew 25:41 
• God’s Judgement will relentlessly pursue the evildoer! and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name.    There will be no escape for the unrepentant sinner from God’s judgement!
• God’s Judgement results in the eternal destruction of the wicked! and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Hebrews reminds us that our God is a consuming fire.