Zechariah was a prophet at the same time of Haggai. He, like Haggai, was used to encourage the remnant of Judah to rebuild the temple.

In chapter one of Zechariah we have a vision of horsemen patrolling the earth and declaring it at rest. Which is interesting. Why is it at rest? That doesn’t sound like a position the earth is ever in.

It is asked how long it will be that the Lord will not have mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. It mentions being angry with them for seventy years. Seventy years was the period of their captivity in Babylon. The remnant is returned after seventy years.

The Lord assures that He has returned to Jerusalem with mercy. He is jealous for Zion, for what is His.

The Lord promises prosperity for His cities. He promises comfort for Zion and Jerusalem.

There was a returning of a remnant after seventy years in captivity. That was a physical fulfillment of this prophecy. We look for a spiritual fulfillment of these prophecies as well.

I see the church, not as a replacement of Israel, for the Lord has an everlasting covenant with Israel, but as part of Israel and a partaker of the promises.

I see the church today in captivity in Babylon. They have been captured by the world. They are given over to idols on every side. I look for the Lord to break His people free and return a remnant from their captivity, to reform His church, remove the idols, and be the Head of the Church as He always should have been.

The fathers of Israel are described as having been overtaken by the word that the Lord had spoken against them.

But the Lord speaks other words too. In Zechariah 1, He speaks comforting words. He speaks words of restoration. He speaks of His choice of His people.