If you've read the book of Revelation recently, the first six chapters of Zechariah may sound familiar. That's because John, the author of Revelation, borrowed a lot of Zechariah's imagery to express similar ideas. Both prophets wrote in a style called apocalyptic (from the Greek for "unveiling")-that is, they used striking visual symbols to unveil God's hidden workings. Neither Zechariah nor Revelation was meant to be scary, however. Just the opposite: both were intended to comfort God's people and give them reason for hope. The message of both books is that God is in control. One day he will put an end to all evil, and God's people will be a source of peace for the whole world.

Hold on to that thought while enjoying the riot of images in Zechariah's first six chapters: horses, horns, myrtle trees, craftsmen, a measuring line, winds, a stone with seven eyes, a gold lamp stand, olive trees, a huge flying scroll, a woman in a basket, chariots, bronze mountains. Don't try to decode them: Zechariah tells you their meaning. The temple will be rebuilt. God will come and live with his people. The nation will once again prosper. A righteous king, called "the Branch," will rule. Enemies will be judged and destroyed. God will gather his people-and indeed, even their former enemies-back to Jerusalem to worship him.

Unlike many of the prophets, Zechariah doesn't spend a lot of time scolding his people. He does, however, tell them what kind of behavior God expects: genuine justice, compassion, kindness, care for immigrants and the poor, love of truth and of peace. When the people stopped treating one another fairly, their land was wasted and they were scattered among the nations. But now God has brought them home, and they must not "even think of doing evil to each other" (8:17). If they will do their part, God will restore his ancient covenant with Israel: "They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, who is faithful and just" (8:8).

Key Names of God in Zechariah Yahweh LORD Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts Elohim God Ruach Spirit Adonay Lord, Master Melek King ZECHARIAH.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14.

Turn from Your Evil Ways 1 1 In the eighth month of Darius' second year as king, Yahweh spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. He said, 2 "Yahweh was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Tell the people, 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Return to me, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth, and I will return to you, says Yahweh Tsebaoth.' 4 Don't be like your ancestors, who heard the earlier prophets preach to them, 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.' But they didn't listen or pay attention to me, declares Yahweh. 5 Your ancestors-where are they now? And the prophets-are they still alive? 6 Didn't my warnings and my laws, which I've commanded my servants the prophets to preach, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, 'Yahweh Tsebaoth has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.'"

The LORD Will Comfort Zion 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (the month of Shebat) in Darius' second year as king, Yahweh spoke his word to the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo.

8 During that night I saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, chestnut, and white horses.

9 "What do these horses mean, sir?" I asked.

The angel who was speaking with me answered, "I will show you what they mean."

10 The man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They're the horses Yahweh has sent to patrol the earth." 11 Then they reported to the Messenger of Yahweh standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth. The whole world is at rest and in peace."

12 Then the Messenger of Yahweh said, "Yahweh Tseboath , how much longer until you show compassion to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You've been angry with them for 70 years." 13 Yahweh responded to the angel who was speaking with me, using kind and comforting words.14 The angel who was speaking with me said, "Announce: This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I'm very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I'm very angry with the nations who think they are at ease. I was only a little angry, but they made things worse. 16 This is what Yahweh says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth . A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.

17 "Announce again: This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: My cities will overflow with prosperity once more. Yahweh will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem."a Punishment for the Nations That Scattered Judah 18 I looked up and saw four animal horns. 19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What do these horns mean?"

He said to me, "These are the horns of the nations that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."

20 Then Yahweh showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, "What are they going to do?"

He answered, "Those horns scattered Judah so widely that no one could lift up his head. But the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations. The nations raised their horns to scatter the land of Judah."

The LORD Will Choose Jerusalem 2 b1 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked him, "Where are you going?"

He answered, "I am going to measure Jerusalem to see how wide and how long it is."

3 Then the angel who was speaking with me left. Another angel came out to meet him 4 and said to him, "Run, and say to that young man, 'Jerusalem will be inhabited like an unwalled village because it will have so many people and animals in it. 5 I will be a wall of fire around it, declares Yahweh. I will be the glory within it.'

6 "Hurry, hurry! Flee from the land of the north, declares Yahweh. I've scattered you to the four winds of heaven. 7 Hurry, Zion! Escape, you inhabitants of Babylon! 8 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Afterwards, the Glory sent me to the nations who looted you. Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 I'm going to shake my fist at the nations, and their own slaves will loot them. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me. 10 Sing for joy and rejoice, people of Zion. I'm going to come and live among you, declares Yahweh. 11 On that day many nations will join Yahweh and become my people. I will live among you. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you. 12 Yahweh will claim Judah as his own in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 "Everyone be silent in the presence of Yahweh . He is waking up and setting out from his holy dwelling place."

The LORD Will Send His Servant, the Branch 3 1 Then he showed me Joshua, the chief priest, standing in front of the Messenger of Yahweh. Satan the Accuser was standing at Joshua's right side to accuse him. 2 Yahweh said to Satan, "I, Yahweh, silence you, Satan! I, Yahweh, who has chosen Jerusalem, silence you! Isn't this man like a burning log snatched from a fire?"

3 Joshua was wearing filthy clothes and was standing in front of the Messenger. 4 The Messenger said to those who were standing in front of him, "Remove Joshua's filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken your sin away from you, and I will dress you in fine clothing."

5 So I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." They put a clean turban on his head and dressed him while the Messenger of Yahweh was standing there.

6 The Messenger of Yahweh advised Joshua, 7 "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: If you live according to my ways and follow my requirements, you will govern my temple and watch over my courtyards. Then I will give you free access to walk among those standing here.

8 "Listen, Chief Priest Joshua and your friends sitting with you. These men are a sign of things to come: I'm going to bring my servant, the Branch.

9 "Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. That one stone has seven eyes.a I am engraving an inscription on it," declares Yahweh Tsebaoth . "I will remove this land's sin in a single day. 10 On that day," declares Yahweh Tsebaoth , "each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree."

The LORD'S House Will Be Rebuilt 4 1 The angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me up as one might wake up someone who is sleeping. 2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on top and seven lamps on it. There are seven spouts for each lamp that is on top of it. 3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."

4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What do these things mean, sir?"

5 Then the angel asked me, "Don't you know what they mean?"

"No, sir," I answered.

6 Then he replied, "This is the word Yahweh spoke to Zerubbabel: You won't succeed by might or by power, but by my Ruach , says Yahweh Tsebaoth . 7 What a high mountain you are! In front of Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the topmost stone with shouts of 'Blessings, blessings on it!'"

8 Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 9 "Zerubbabel's hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you. 10 Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand. (These seven eyes of Yahweh roam over all the earth.)"

11 I asked the angel, "What do these two olive trees at the right and the left of the lamp stand mean?" 12 Again I asked him, "What is the meaning of the two branches from the olive trees next to the two golden pipes that are pouring out gold?"

13 He asked me, "Don't you know what these things mean?"

"No, sir," I answered.

14 So he said, "These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Adonay of the whole earth."

Sinners Will Be Separated from the LORD'S People 5 1 I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.

2 The angel asked me, "What do you see?"

"I see a flying scroll," I answered. "It's 30 feet long and 15 feet wide."

3 Then he said to me, "This is a curse that will go out all over the earth. The one side of the scroll says that every thief will be forced away. The other side of the scroll says that everyone who takes an oath will be forced away. 4 I will send out a curse, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth , and it will enter the houses of thieves and the houses of those who take oaths in my name. It will stay in their houses and destroy the timber and stone."

Wickedness Will Be Removed from the Land 5 The angel who was speaking with me came forward. He said, "Look up, and see what's coming."

6 "What is it?" I asked.

"A basket is coming," he said. Then he added, "This is what the people's sins look like all over the earth."a 7 A lead cover on the basket was raised, and a woman was sitting in the basket. 8 The angel said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and forced the lead cover down on top of it.

9 I looked up and saw two women coming forward with wind in their wings. They had wings like those of a stork. They carried the basket into the sky.

10 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "Where are they taking the basket?"

11 He answered me, "They are going to build a house for it in Shinar [Babylonia]. When the house is ready, they will set the basket there on a stand."

The LORD'S Victory Throughout the Earth 6 1 I looked up again and saw four chariots going out from between the two mountains. They were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses. The second had black horses. 3 The third had white horses. And the fourth had strong, spotted horses. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What do these horses mean, sir?"

5 The angel answered, "They are the four spirits of heaven. They are going out after standing in the presence of the Adonay of the whole earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses is going toward the north, and the white horses are following them. The spotted ones are going toward the south."

7 When these strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth.

He said, "Go, patrol the earth!" And they patrolled the earth.

8 Then he called out to me, "Look! Those who went to the north have made my Ruach rest in the north."

Priest and King 9 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 10 "Take an offering from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. This same day go to the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make a crown, and put it on the head of Chief Priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak. 12 Then say to him, 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Here is the man whose name is Branch. He will branch out from where he is, and he will rebuild Yahweh's temple. 13 He will rebuild Yahweh's temple and receive royal honor. He will sit and rule from his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. There will be a peaceful understanding between them. 14 The crown will be a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen (son of Zephaniah) in Yahweh's temple. 15 Those who are far away will come and rebuild Yahweh's temple. Then you will know Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you. This will happen if you obey Yahweh your Elohim completely.'"

You Should Have Obeyed the LORD'S Prophets 7 1 On the fourth day of the ninth month (the month of Chislev) in Darius' fourth year as king, Yahweh spoke his word to Zechariah. 2 Now, the people from Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech with their mena to ask Yahweh for a blessing. 3 They asked the priests from the house of Yahweh Tsebaoth as well as the prophets, "Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done for so many years?"

4 Then Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word to me. He said, 5 "Tell all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these past 70 years, did you really do it for me? 6 When you ate and drank, didn't you do it to benefit yourselves? 7 Aren't these the same words that Yahweh announced through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding cities were inhabited and undisturbed and the Negev and the foothills were still inhabited?'"

8 Then Yahweh spoke his word to Zechariah. He said, 9 "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other. 10 Don't oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don't even think of doing evil to each other.

11 "But people refused to pay attention. They shrugged their shoulders at me and shut their ears so that they couldn't hear. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint so that they couldn't hear the LORD's teachings, the words that Yahweh Tsebaoth had sent by his Ruach through the earlier prophets. So Yahweh Tsebaoth became very angry.

13 "When I called, they wouldn't listen. So now when they call, I won't listen, says Yahweh Tsebaoth . 14 I used a windstorm to scatter them among all the nations, nations they hadn't even heard of. They left behind a land so ruined that no one is able to travel through it. They have turned a pleasant land into a wasteland."

What the LORD Will Do for Zion 8 1 Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word.

2 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I am very jealous about Zion.

I am fiercely possessive of it.

3 This is what Yahweh says: I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth.

The mountain of Yahweh Tsebaoth will be called the holy mountain.

4 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.

Each will have a cane in hand because of old age.

5 The city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.

6 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: It may seem impossible to the few remaining people in those days, but will it seem impossible to me? declares Yahweh Tsebaoth.

7 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I am going to save my people from the land where the sun rises and from the land where the sun sets.

8 I will bring them back, and they will live in Jerusalem.

They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, who is faithful and just.

9 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Be strong so that the temple might be rebuilt, you people who are presently listening to the words from the mouths of the prophets who spoke when the foundation for the house of Yahweh Tsebaoth was laid.

10 Before that time there was no money to hire any person or animal.

No one who traveled was safe from the enemy.

I turned every person against his neighbor.

11 But now I won't deal with the few remaining people as I did in earlier times, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth .

12 Seeds will thrive in peacetime.

Vines will produce their grapes.

The land will yield its crops.

The sky will produce its dew.

I will give the few remaining people all these things as an inheritance.

13 Just as you, people of Judah and people of Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will now save you, and you will become a blessing.

Don't be afraid. Let your hands work hard.

14 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: When your ancestors made me angry, I made plans to destroy you, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth, and I didn't change my plans.

15 So now I have again made plans, but this time to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah.

Don't be afraid.

16 You must do these things: Speak the truth to each other.

Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.

17 Don't even think of doing evil to each other.

Don't enjoy false testimony.

I hate all these things, declares Yahweh.

Many Nations Will Come to the LORD'S People 18 Yahweh Tsebaoth spoke his word to me again.

19 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: The fast in the fourth month, the fast in the fifth month, the fast in the seventh month, and the fast in the tenth month will become joyful and glad occasions as well as happy festivals for the nation of Judah.

So love truth and peace.

20 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: People and citizens from many cities are going to come.

21 The citizens of one city will come to another city, saying, "Let's make a habit of going to ask Yahweh for a blessing and to seek Yahweh Tsebaoth .

I'm also going."

22 Many people and powerful nations will come to seek Yahweh Tsebaoth in Jerusalem and to ask Yahweh for a blessing.

23 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: In those days ten people from every language found among the nations will take hold of the clothes of a Jew. They will say, "Let us go with you because we have heard that Elohim is with you."