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The Cornerstone Part 3: The Head Stone

Rm 9:30-10:4; Dan 2:36-45; Zech 1-4, 6:11-13; Psalm 118:22-29
We have traced the Cornerstone in Scripture from its origin, as Jacobs memorial stone, to its rejection by
the rulers of Israel, and then to its establishment as the Cornerstone of the true church.
But we also understand from Scripture that it is the Lords purpose to have two houses. I think weve
reached the point where we can answer the question posed at the beginning of this study: why two houses?
Remember that these houses of the Lord are living temples, where men can come and meet God; where
they can see His glory. Once the Lord brought forth His Christ, the Cornerstone, He simply built the house
that was ready to be built, of those who would come to Christ and build on Him, by faith. For the most
part, those who believed were Gentiles.
This enabled the Lord to have a witness a house within which to dwell in the Spirit, where He could shine
forth His light of truth into this dark world. He has done so for the 2,000-year period sometimes known as
the church age, all the while continuing to build His living temple. When that temple is finished, the
church will be removed to heaven; for the time of its witness will be complete.
Then, following seven years of tribulation, Israel will be ready to build, having come to recognize the Stone
that they rejected as their Cornerstone the foundation of their faith. The regenerate nation will be the
living temple of the Lord during the 1000-year reign of Christ on the earth where all nations can come
and meet God, and learn of Him.
So each of the two houses that the Lord builds will be shining out the glory of God on the earth during two
consecutive ages. Today, we will look at what Scripture has to say about the completion of that second
house the house of the LORD, the house of Israel.
Remember from last time that not only did the rulers of Israel reject their Messiah when He came, but they
continued trying to build the nation apart from Him; and most of the people blindly followed their blind
rulers.
This brought devastating judgment of the Lord on their house, through the Romans in 70 AD. The Lord
could not allow their house to stand, because it falsely represented Him, through the religion of Judaism.
Paul made it clear in his letter to the Romans exactly what it was that Israel had been trying to build upon.
Turn to Romans chapter 9. Paul had been expressing what a grief it was to him that Israel as a nation had
rejected her Messiah. Then he went on to explain why Israel had done so.
[Romans 9:30-33, 10:1-4]
v. 30-31 Paul doesnt mean that only the Gentiles believed into Christ, and all the Jews rejected Him. Paul
is just speaking in generalities here. By this time, around 56-57 AD, it was the Gentiles who were
responding to the gospel in droves, while most of the Jews did not believe it.

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Paul shows the irony of this: the lawless Gentiles, who embraced pagan idolatry, which allowed them to
pursue their lusts, responded to the gospel by faith. They knew they were sinners in need of a Savior, and
when they heard about Christ, they gladly received Him. Meanwhile, Israel, who had the Law, which
showed the righteous requirements of God, zealously pursued that righteousness; but they failed to attain it.
What happened?
v. 32-33 Instead of allowing the righteous requirements of the Law to bear witness to the fact that they
were sinners, Israel tried instead to keep the Law; to do the works of it; to keep every jot and tittle, in order
to make themselves righteous. Paul calls that a stumbling stone, that they stumbled over, and then quotes
OT Scripture in support of this.
Now, Im sure you recognize what Paul quotes from our passages in Isaiah last week. Whats interesting is
that Paul actually blends together Isaiah 8:14 and Is 28:16 in a unique way, to prove his point. The
Scripture says, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure
foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily (Is 28:16).
But Paul takes the stone of stumbling and rock of offense from Isaiah 8:14, and inserts it in place of the
Cornerstone clause. Why did Paul do that? Because for Israel, thats what the Cornerstone became.
The Christ was to be the foundation of the house of Israel. But in order to build on Him by faith, Israel had
to accept that they couldnt come to God based on their own righteousness, for they were unrighteous
sinners. And Israel would never accept that; instead, they tried to establish their own righteousness,
through the works of the Law. So for Israel, the Cornerstone became a stumbling stone, over which they
fell, and were broken, and were snared, and were taken (Is 8:15) in judgment.
Paul continued his discussion of what happened to Israel.
10:1-2 Israels zeal for God could be seen in all of their works. They tried to keep the righteous
requirements of the Law; they attended the temple; they offered sacrifices to God; they kept the feasts, the
Sabbath or at least, they believed they did. They had a zeal for God but Paul says, it was not according
to knowledge.
Here Paul uses the word epignosis; not just knowledge, but a deep knowing, which lays claim to personal
involvement. Epignosis is a knowledge that perfectly unites the subject with the object. Paul is saying that
Israel knew of God; but they didnt know Him. Why not? That took personal commitment; that took
knowing the One whom God sent, to show the Father forth.
To know the Father, you must know His Son, Jesus Christ. To truly know Jesus, you must put your faith in
Him; receive Him as your Savior. You must unite yourself to Christ by faith; then you will truly know
Him, and know God. But Israel was unwilling to give herself to Christ; she kept her distance.
v. 3-4 The word ignorant here means to be unacquainted with. Israel was unacquainted with Gods
righteousness. Can a person become acquainted with Gods righteousness? Certainly; In Christ, a man
becomes the righteousness of God ( 2 Cor 5:21); youre fully acquainted with righteousness then.
But Israel was consumed with establishing their own righteousness by the works of the Law their own
self-righteousness. Because of this, they were lifted up in pride, deceiving themselves into believing that
they were righteous, and therefore unwilling to humble themselves to receive Christs righteousness.

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But Christs righteousness is the only one that meets the standards of the Father. It is the perfect
righteousness of God; like the plumb line, in the building of God. If you dont conform to the building
code if you dont have the righteousness of Christ you cannot become part of the Master Builders
household.
And how does a man attain to that righteousness? He simply humbles himself, submits to Christ, and
receives it by faith. That is something that Israel has yet to do. The Law would have taken them there,
for by it is the knowledge of sin (Rm 3:20).
As a sinner comes to the end of the Law where he sees he cannot keep it there is Jesus, to save him
from his sin. But Israel would never acknowledge their sin, and so they never saw their need for the One
who could save them from their sin Jesus.
So Israel sought to establish their own righteousness; thats what they tried to build their house on. But that
would be to build on the earth without a foundation. And when judgment came, the ruin of that house was
great (Lk 6:49).
But God will build up their house, in the end. It will be all Gods doing, but Israel must submit to it. That
will take Great Tribulation; but then Israel will be willing, in the day of Christs power (Ps 110:3) when
He returns to the earth. And when He does, He will come back as the Stone of Israel. Were going to
take a look at that return now, and see what God has in store for Israel. Turn first to Daniel chapter 2.
Daniel was a prophet from a noble Judean family from the tribe of Judah who was taken as a teen into
captivity by the Babylonians following their first conquest of Jerusalem, in 605 BC (the second conquest
was in 597 BC, and the final conquest in 586 BC). Daniel and others of royal descent were cultivated as
wise men for the court in Babylon. After three years of training, Daniel and his friends began to serve
before the king, Nebuchadnezzar.
At that time, the king had a disturbing dream. When he summoned his wise men, Nebuchadnezzar insisted
they tell him the content of his dream, as well as its interpretation, as a means of insuring that their
interpretation was genuine. Of course, the Babylonian wise men couldnt tell the king his dream; they were
not omniscient. And they told the king: There is not a man on earth who can tell the kings matter (Dan
2:10); but in fact, there was one: Daniel.
When the king began to have his wise men put to death for their failure, Daniel went to the king and asked
for some time. Then Daniel and his friends appealed to the God of heaven, and the God of heaven, who is
omniscient, and in fact, gave Nebuchadnezzar the dream, provided Daniel with the contents of the dream
and its interpretation.
The dream was of a great image, with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze,
legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Then a stone cut out without hands struck the image on its feet of
iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. The entire image was consequently crushed together, and became
as chaff that the wind carried away. The stone then became a great mountain which filled the whole earth.
Daniel, citing the God in heaven who reveals secrets (Dan 2:28), recounted the dream to Nebuchadnezzar,
and then gave its interpretation. Were just doing the briefest overview here, concentrating on the end.
[Daniel 2:36-45]

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v. 36-38 Remember that the time of this dream was early in Nebuchadnezzars reign, before his kingdom
was consolidated, so this was prophetic even for Nebuchadnezzar, that he would have dominion over a
world empire (ruler over them all). So Babylon was the head of gold.
This was the beginning of the nation of Israel both Ephraim and Judah coming under Gentile rule. The
whole image, taken together, represents the entire period of Gentile dominion (Jesus called it the times of
the Gentiles, Lk 21:24).
Needless to say, Nebuchadnezzar would have been thrilled about this part of the interpretation. Babylon
ruled as an empire from about 612-539 BC.
v. 39 these world empires were not named, but in our day, we know that Daniels interpretation has been
proven true. The chest and arms of silver was the kingdom of Medo-Persia, which succeeded Babylon and
ruled as an empire from about 539 to 513 BC. Then the Persians and the Greeks struggled for supremacy
for about 180 years, which was finally resolved in favor of Greece by Alexander in 333 BC. Greece was
the belly and thighs of bronze.
v. 40 Only 10 years after Greece consolidated her power, Alexander died, and his empire was broken up.
After centuries of conflict, the iron legions of Rome began to gobble up the pieces of Alexanders empire
one by one. By 27 BC, the Roman Empire was united under Augustus.
The Roman Empire was represented in the legs of iron. The two legs reflect the division that came into the
Empire in the third century, east from west. The Western portion of the Roman Empire endured for a total
of 500 years (until 476 AD); and the eastern portion, for 1000 years more (until 1453 AD).
v. 41-43 This is not a fifth kingdom, but an extension of the fourth kingdom the iron of the legs extends
into the feet and toes. This is the fourth kingdom in a divided form (v. 41), strong because of the iron, but
also weak because clay is part of this kingdom as well, and clay and iron dont mix. This makes the
kingdom fragile; it can easily be broken. And the feet and the toes are the basis of the entire image; if they
are broken, the whole image will come crashing down.
There has been no world empire since the days of the Roman Empire. The Western Roman empire never
became assimilated by another empire; it retained a vestige of its power and form through the Holy Roman
Empire over the centuries and the Vatican, in our day. In the last days, it will be revived; a loose, fragile
coalition of Gentile nations, who are against God and His Christ, held tenuously together by the iron will of
Satan, as manifested in his man of the hour the man of sin.
But our chief interest here is in the last part of Nebuchadnezzars dream.
v. 44-45 In verse 34 and 35, Daniel related that the stone struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and
broke them to pieces; then the whole image was crushed, and carried off by the wind.
What is this stone, cut out of the mountain without hands, that will break apart the entire image, and crush
it to powder? This is the Stone of Israel the Christ, at His Second Coming.
To be cut without hands means that this is Gods doing not mens doing. In Scripture, a mountain
represents a kingdom; the Stone cut out of the mountain shows that Christ is part of the Gods kingdom
plan He is Gods Anointed King (Ps 2:6-9).

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Christ will dash this rebellious coalition of nations to pieces, and that will be the end of Gentile dominion
the whole image will come crashing down. As Jesus prophesied, On whomever [this Stone] falls, it will
grind him to powder (Mt 21:44). Then the Stone of Israel will become a great mountain, that fills the
whole earth (Dan 2:35) Christ will set up His kingdom upon earth, and rule and reign for 1000 years,
until Eternity is ushered in.
And where does Israel fit into the judgment of the nations, and the reign of Christ on earth? The prophet
Zechariah was given eight visions in a single night by the LORD, which told of Israels future. In Scripture,
what does the number eight represent? A new beginning. Zechariah records a new beginning for Israel.
Turn to the book of Zechariah.
Zechariah was a priest. He was actually born in Babylon during Judahs seventy-year captivity there.
During his time there, the Babylonian kingdom was taken over by the Persians.
In 538 BC, Cyrus, the Persian king, gave permission for the Jews to return to their land, and rebuild their
temple and their city walls. About 50,000 Jews returned.
Zechariah came back to Jerusalem as a young man in the first wave of exiles to return to their land. Two
years later, they began to rebuild the temple. But hostile factions that had settled in the land while they
were in exile opposed the efforts of the Jews; and that resistance, coupled with the Jews own lack of faith,
caused the Jews to stop building for sixteen years.
It was at this time that the LORD commissioned the prophet Haggai and Zechariah. Through a series of
prophecies, these two men exhorted the Jews to believe and obey the LORD, and to finish rebuilding the
temple which is the LORDs house. Four years later, the temple was complete.
We do not have time to look at Zechariahs eight visions in detail, but well do an overview of most of
them, as is pertinent to our study of the Cornerstone. Ive given you a handout of the theme of each of
these visions, so that you can look into them more closely at home, if you wish. As we proceed, youll see
that many of Zechariahs visions begin historically, but then jump to the end times, when Messiah will
return to His temple to set up His earthly kingdom.
Well begin at the beginning.
[Zechariah 1-4]
1:1-3 By this time, Cyrus has died; Darius came to the throne by quelling a revolution. The Jews have
returned to their land, but abandoned their efforts to rebuild the temple sixteen years ago. They well know
that the LORD had been angry with their fathers; thats why the nation had been in exile.
Now, it had actually been prophesied by Isaiah before the exile that Cyrus would issue a decree to rebuild
the walls of Jerusalem and the temple (Is 44:28-45:4). Because of this very specific prophecy, the Jews
could know that it was the LORDs will for them to do this.
Now theyve returned to the land; but have they returned to the LORD? Are they doing His will? No. So He
says, return to Me, and I will return to you. Its an invitation for the nation to have a relationship with
Him, but it can only be based on trust and obedience.

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v. 4-6 Their fathers bodies were buried in Babylon. The judgments foretold by the prophets came upon
the fathers of the nation, in the form of exile. The nation had turned away from the LORD, and left
themselves unprotected from their enemies.
Now we have the first of Zechariahs visions.
v. 7-11 Zechariahs first vision that night began with a man riding a red horse. Now, its tempting to think
of the first four seals of Johns revelation (Rev 6:1-8). Some of the same imagery is used, with horses and
colors, but other than that, this vision is different.
In verse 8, we have a man riding on a red horse, which is standing among the myrtle trees. In verse 10, the
man is standing among the myrtle trees. In verse 11, this man is identified as the Angel of the LORD, a term
used for a preincarnate appearance of Christ. So we can deduce that the man who was on the red horse is
the preincarnate Christ.
There are other horses behind Him red, sorrel and white. The whole image is one of warfare. In
Scripture, a horse that is red suggests bloodshed; a white horse suggests a victory, and conquest; a sorrel
horse, which is a reddish-brown with white legs, might suggest a mixed result.
Who are they, in verse 11? In that they answer and answer to the Angel of the LORD, we have the
sense that these horses all have riders, and that their riders are angels. The LORD employs His angels to
execute His will upon the earth and to mete out His judgments. The Angel of the LORD is their commanderin-chief.
The picture is one of warfare on the earth, with the LORD determining the outcomes. And at the moment,
the earth is resting quietly (v. 11); the warfare has ceased at least, for a time. It is interesting to note that
at this time in the reign of Darius, there was a brief respite from all the many conflicts of that day.
Notice also the trees that the Angel of the LORD stood among myrtle trees. Myrtle branches were often
used by the men of Israel to make their booths during the Feast of Tabernacles. That Feast speaks of the
restoration and blessing of Israel, when the LORD will once again dwell in the midst of His people. So the
myrtle trees represent the nation Israel.
The myrtle trees are in the hollow (v. 8) thats a low place. This is Israel in a place of humility; and the
LORD is in her midst. That was the position of the remnant of Jews that had returned to Jerusalem from
Babylon.
Now the Angel of the LORD asks a question of the LORD of hosts. The LORD of hosts speaks of God as the
supreme sovereign over His angelic host.
v. 12 The Angel of the LORD is interceding on behalf of the nation with God the Father. He is referring to
their seventy years of captivity in Babylon. Those years are over, but more time has passed, and the nation
is still in shambles.
v. 13 This disclosed counsel of the Godhead is intended as an encouragement to the nation, that the LORD is
for them, and that He will once again bless them; their enemies will not prevail over them if they believe
the LORD, to obey Him.
v. 14-15 The LORD used the Gentile nations to chasten His nation, but they had their own evil intentions
concerning Gods nation, for which they will be judged. Meanwhile, the LORD assures His nation that He is
zealous for them.

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v. 16 The LORD is assuring the nation that He will once again dwell in their midst. The house that He
speaks of is the temple, the LORDs house. Measuring Jerusalem shows that the LORDs plan is for the
temple and the city to be rebuilt.
v. 17 Return to Me, and I will return to you. These are the blessings of obedience the LORDs favor, and
prosperity. The nation will thrive.
The remnant that returned from Babylon did obey the LORD, and they rebuilt the temple and the walls of the
city. But it will only be in the end times that the nation will give the LORD their whole-hearted obedience,
and really turn to Him for good.
Then Zechariah had a second vision.
v. 18-21 In Scripture, horns are symbolic of power. The craftsman is any skilled workman. The idea here
is that these craftsmen are skilled with respect to bringing destruction; to terrify here means to throw
armies into terror. This speaks of divine judgment on the Gentile nations that afflicted Gods nation;
specifically, those who scattered Judah are singled out (v. 21).
It is most likely that Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome are in view here. By this time, Daniels
interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream had been made, and it is possible that Zechariahs prophecy
pertained to those four kingdoms, as well.
This would carry Zechariahs vision here into the end times, for the time when that fourth kingdom is
revived, under the little horn. Regardless of which four kingdoms are represented, the key thought is that
the nations that afflicted Gods nation will be judged.
Chapter 2 records Zechariahs third vision.
2:1-5 In chapter 1 verse 16, the LORD said a line would be stretched out over Jerusalem. Here, Zechariah
sees the line in his vision. Again, what God is having measured shows what He is planning to accomplish;
Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
When Jerusalem was rebuilt, the city did have walls; but in the vision, it is like a town without walls,
spilling over with people and livestock. The vision is one of prosperity and peace for the whole nation. No
wall is needed, because the LORD will protect His nation like a wall of fire; and the LORD will provide for
His nation, so that it will thrive. This is the picture of Israel in the regeneration, when the LORD will be the
glory in her midst.
v. 6-9 These words may be directed to those Jews who remained in Babylon, but it also goes to the end
times, during the Tribulation, when the LORD will call His nation to remove themselves from Babylon,
representing the world system, about to come into judgment.
In the Revelation, John heard a voice from heaven cry out, Come out of her, My people, lest you share in
her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues (Rev 18:4).
Verses 8 and 9 speak of Christs judgment on the enemies of Israel. But next we see that those nations that
befriended Israel will be welcomed into His kingdom (Mt 25:31-46).

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v. 10-13 The LORD is on the move. Christ will dwell in the midst of His people. Gentile nations that
befriended Israel will be joined to the LORDs people in Christs kingdom as well; but the LORDs
inheritance is His nation.
We continue in chapter 3 with Zechariahs fourth vision, of Joshua the High Priest. Now, Joshua was an
actual person. He is cited in Ezra, Nehemiah and Haggai as one of the two men who led the first wave of
exiles back to Jerusalem. Zechariah returned with them. The references in Ezra and Nehemiah make it
clear that Joshua was a priest; the prophet Haggai states the Joshua was the high priest (Hag 1:1).
In his vision, Zechariah sees Joshua the High Priest, someone he actually knows; but as this vision unfolds,
we will see that Joshua is a picture of the nation Israel. Joshua is representing Israel as the kingdom of
priests that the LORD has always intended them to be (Ex 19:6). In this vision, the LORD is showing that
Israel will be cleansed and restored as a kingdom of priests.
The setting is a judicial court. The judge is the Angel of the LORD, the Christ. Satan is standing to the right
of Joshua, the place of accusation under the Law.
3:1 The name Satan means adversary. Here is the accuser of the brethren, ready to present all of the
nations sins before the LORD.
v. 2 The LORD rebukes Satan, instead. The idea is that in the vision, the nation has been justified; Israel has
been cleared of all charges of sin and guilt.
This is LORDs chosen nation, whom He has chastened in the fire of judgment, through the Babylonians. He
has plucked His nation out just in time; purified, but not destroyed.
We can see that this goes all the way to the end with Israel during the Great Tribulation. Jesus prophesied
concerning this, Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake, those
days will be shortened (Mt 24:22).
v. 3-5 The word for filthy in the Hebrew is one of the strongest words that can be used, indicating
stinking filth. This pictures the nation in their sin. But the nation has now taken their standing before the
Angel of the LORD their Messiah so now, He can do for them.
The change of garments indicates that they have become regenerate; they now wear the robes of
righteousness; this is the nation justified by faith.
The High Priest wore a turban, on which was inscribed, Holiness to the LORD. In the vision, the High
Priest had no turban, but Zechariah asked for a clean one for Joshua, and the Angel of the LORD saw to it.
This shows that the mind of the nation has been renewed with the mind of Christ, which they have through
His Spirit in them. Here we see the nation sanctified; they set apart to the LORD, for His purposes.
v. 6-7 This was an exhortation to the remnant of the nation that had returned to Jerusalem. If they will
obey the LORD, they will be the kingdom of priests that the LORD had offered to the nation when He had
brought them up out of Egypt. The nation has never taken the LORD up on that yet, but the LORD keeps
offering it to them.
Next the LORD tells them the basis upon which this can be realized, for the nation.

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v. 8a Joshua and his companions refers to the returned exiles. The translation wondrous sign in verse
8 is misleading; it is actually a spectacle. The spectacle is that of the high priest in filthy garments the
nation in their sins; but the LORD has offered His cleansing. Next we see how it will come to the nation.
v. 8b These are two titles for Messiah; the Servant of Jehovah, who does the will of the Father, and the
BRANCH, signifying the son of David; the heir to the throne. This is the Coming One, whom the LORD is
soon to bring forth out of the nation.
v. 9 Behold My Servant; behold the BRANCH; behold the Stone. Here is the Stone of Israel, the
foundation stone for the house of Israel, laid before the nation. The seven eyes are later defined as the eyes
of the LORD, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth (Zech 4:10). This speaks of Gods
omniscient seven-fold Spirit (Is 11:2), with whom the Coming Christ, the Stone, would be anointed (Mt
3:16-17) just like Jacobs memorial stone (Gen 28:18).
And behold, the LORD will engrave its inscription on this stone. The cornerstone of a building sometimes
had an inscription chiseled on, telling of the builder and his purpose for the building. This Stone will be
the foundation cornerstone of the house of the LORD during the reign of Christ on the earth. Christs
purpose was to bring many sons to glory (Heb 2:10), as living stones in the temple of God, so that God
could dwell in their midst.
The Stone had been laid before the nation. The question is, would the nation build on that Stone by faith?
They have yet to do so, but they will, following the Great Tribulation. The regenerate nation will be born
in a day (Is 66:8); all of their iniquities will be removed in one day.
v. 10 this again pictures the peace and prosperity of Israel in that day.
In the next chapter, Zechariahs fifth vision, we encounter another real-life person: Zerubabbel. This was
the other leader who, along with Joshua the High Priest, brought the first wave of exiles back to Jerusalem.
Whereas Joshua, as high priest, was a descendant of Aaron, Zerubbabel was a descendant of David and so
in the Zechariahs fifth vision, he represented the One who is the heir to the throne of David the Christ,
who would be the real Zerubabbels actual descendant; Zerubbabels Seed.
Zerubabbel became the governor of Judah upon the return of the exiles to the land. This vision was to be
an encouragement to Zerubbabel in the work of rebuilding the temple. The temple is represented in this
vision in the lampstand, a furnishing of the temple, which enlightened the sanctuary.
4:1-5 The lampstand corresponds closely to that which was in the Tabernacle and the Temple, with a
couple of distinctions. There is a bowl on top of the lampstand, supplying the seven lamps through seven
pipes; and there are two olive trees, supplying the one bowl through two pipes. The inquiry of Zechariah
concerning the olive trees is answered later (v. 11-14).
Oil in Scripture represents the Holy Spirit. The original lampstand with its seven lamps filled with oil
pictures Christ, anointed with the seven-fold Spirit (Is 11:2); Christ, the Light of the world.
But this vision communicates the additional idea of a lampstand which is supplied by a constant source of
oil, and therefore emits constant light. Here, the lampstand represents the regenerate nation, which will be
the dwelling place of the LORD, through whom He will shine His light into the darkness of the world.

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The picture is that the enlightening wisdom of the Holy Spirit the power of Light will be constantly
available for the regenerate nation to them, in them, and through them.
v. 6 This is the word the LORD gives to Zerubbabel specifically, to encourage him as the leader of the
people. It is by the light of the Spirit that Zerubbabel will have the wisdom to know how to deal with the
enemies of the nation around them, and to rule over the people. He will never be able to do it in his own
strength.
v. 7 The great mountain for Zerubbabel in that day were the people who had settled the land in the
absence of the Jews. They opposed the building, discouraged and troubled the people of Judah, and even
set up an extended smear campaign against the Jews with the Persian kings.
But by the Spirit, Zerubbabel could overcome these obstacles, as if they were nothing. The LORD had
purposed this work would it not be done?
And the LORD showed this in the vision, showing the capstone of the temple being brought, and the people
cheering its completion. Grace, grace to it! would be like us shouting out, bravo, bravo! The capstone
is the headstone, referring to the final stone that completes the temple.
The rest of the vision stretches to the end times again.
v. 8-9 Who would be sent to Israel (v. 9)? Their Messiah. He is the greater Zerubbabel Zerubbabels
Seed who will lay the foundation of the house of the LORD in His death and resurrection, and finish that
house with His return to the earth, as Israels King.
v. 10 The obedience of Zerubabbel to have the temple rebuilt was but a small foreshadowing of the
obedience of Christ, who would build the LORDs house. But no act of obedience is ever counted as nothing
by the LORD. We see here a reference to the seven eyes again the Spirit, who glorifies Christ (Jn 16:14),
rejoicing to see the house of the LORD complete.
v. 11-14 Now, the two anointed ones of the nation in Zechariahs day would have been Zerubbabel, the
anointed ruler in Jerusalem, and Joshua, the anointed High Priest. But the olive trees are not receiving oil,
are they? No; they are the source of the oil; they supply it. So what would the two olive trees, that flow
into one bowl, to supply light to the lamp represent?
They represent the One who will perfectly fulfill the office of both Joshua and Zerubbabel in His one
Person: Christ. Christ is the High Priest the Mediator between God and His people; and Christ is the
King the heir to the throne of David. The priestly line of Levi, and the royal line of Judah, always
separately fulfilling their functions for Israel, will be combined in the one person of Christ in the kingdom
age. He is the Light of the house of the LORD.
This is borne out later in the visions of Zechariah. Were going to move to the conclusion of the last vision
of Zechariah his eighth vision. Turn to Zechariah chapter 6. The LORD told Zechariah to receive a gift
from some additional captives that had come from Babylon, and gave particular instructions as to what to
do with the silver and gold.
[Zechariah 6:11-13]

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v. 11 So Zechariah was to make crowns of the silver and gold; in the Hebrew, the word crown is plural.
If he had silver and gold, how many crowns would you expect he would make? One of each? Yes. So
there would be two crowns. They were both put on Joshua, the High Priest. Do the priests wear royal
crowns? No; they wore turbans.
v. 12-13 Zechariah was to speak these words to Joshua. Now, the BRANCH represents Christ as the son
of David; the royal line of the kings. But these words are being addressed to Joshua, the High Priest.
The BRANCH will branch out; He will be both Priest and King to the people. The silver crown pictures
redemption Christ as the Priest, who mediated peace with God for His people. The gold crown pictures
Deity Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Does a priest sit on a throne? No; there were no seats in the tabernacle or temple; the priest must always
stand to do his work. But this Priest will sit on His throne, for His work is finished. This is the coronation
of the King-Priest, Christ.
The counsel of peace will be between them both Christ as Priest, who has reconciled His people to God,
and Christ as King, who will reign in righteousness. Psalm 85:10 says, Mercy and truth have met
together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
This duality of Christ in the kingdom age, as both priest and king to His people, was something that the
LORD revealed before Israel was ever a nation. It was revealed to Jacob.
Remember how Jacob anointed his second memorial stone? What did he pour on it first? A drink offering
which symbolizes the life poured out in death. There is the anointed High Priest, mediating peace with
God for His people. And what was the second thing that Jacob poured on his stone? Oil. There is the
anointed King.
Turn to Psalm 118. I just want to end by reading to you a different account of the coronation of the PriestKing, Jesus. This psalm expresses the jubilation of the remnant, who has been delivered from the Great
Tribulation, and are now receiving Jesus as their Lord. We will just look at the last part.
[Psalm 118:22-29]
v. 22-25 Israel will finally choose to make the Stone of Israel their foundation, building on Him by faith.
They recognize their salvation is all the LORDs doing.
v. 26 This is what they cried out when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. They appeared to
recognized Jesus as their king but then they rejected Him, and crucified Him. By this time, they will
receive Him wholeheartedly.
v. 27 It is clear that this verse is speaking of a slain animal being offered as a sacrifice on the burnt altar.
The remnant, now a kingdom of priests, is offering to God the one and only offering that a man can make
for his sin; Jesus.
What is fascinating is that the word for sacrifice is actually the Hebrew word for feast. This is the feast
of Tabernacles.

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Christ has now fulfilled the feast of Trumpets, with His return. The offering of Christ as Israels sacrifice
fulfills the Day of Atonement, when the sins of the nation will be washed away; and the final feast, the
actual feast of Tabernacles, will be fulfilled with the Lord entering His living temple the house of the
LORD, Israel so that God will dwell in the midst of His people again.
v. 28-29 And so they will forever be with the Lord. Amen.
Next week: read Ephesians chapter 3, Psalm 139.

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