20160212 Friday, February 12 2016
Zechariah 02: The Angel With A Surveyor's Measuring Line

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof."

Zechariah, from the Hebrew name pronounced zek-ar-yaw-hoo, meaning the LORD is remembered, was a true prophet (see Where Did True and False Prophets Originate?) of the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) to the people of Judah (see Jews - Three Tribes and Three Meanings) at the time of their return (see also Why Didn't The Exiles Want To Go Home?) from their Babylonian exile (see Why Did Judah Fall To Babylon?). Zechariah was active in the era of Zerubbabel (see Zerubbabel's Return), Ezra (see Ezra's Journey From Babylon) and Nehemiah (see The Arrival Of Nehemiah's Cavalry).

Zechariah was also a contemporary of the prophet Haggai (see Haggai's Message To Zerubbabel And Joshua), who together taught and preached as the Temple was being rebuilt, as recorded in the book of Ezra:

"5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them." (Ezra 5:1-2 KJV)

"6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia [see Ancient Empires - Persia]. 6:15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 6:16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites [see No Levites In The Lost Ten Tribes?], and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy." (Ezra 6:14-16 KJV)

During the work of restoring the city of Jerusalem and the Temple of the LORD (see What Temple Did Ezekiel See? and When Will There Be No More Temples Built In Jerusalem?), an angel appeared to Zechariah with a surveyor's measuring line. His measurements were however also prophetic, not only "end time," but beyond that into the yet-future, which will be the beginning time of the Kingdom of God on Earth (see What Temple Did Ezekiel See? and the Fact Finder question below).

"2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2:2 Then said I, Whither goest thou?

And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 2:4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

2:6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 2:9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation." (Zechariah 2:1-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why did the LORD create "Zion? What does "Zion" actually mean?
See The King's Arrival In Zion Prophecy and When Zion Awakes