Old Testament Prophets: Zechariah

Anotated by Don R. Hender

    'Zechariah WAS ONE of a number of prophets of God who were given to see [at least a guided tour] the Vision of All. It was the vision received by the brother of Jared, Nephi, John the Apostle, and a number of others.' ~ 1 Nephi 14:26
    "Zechariah is by every standard the messianic prophet of the Old Testament and as such is the most penetrating prophetic voice in that record."1 — Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 Zechariah ought to be viewed as one of the prophets who has had many visionary experiences from seeing things from the Vision of All. He was guided through 8 specially 'guided' visionary experiences and then from his further writings it becomes apparant that he like Nephi, Isaiah and John the apostle, has seem much in respect to many things, including the birth and life of the Savior Jesus Christ. While Zechariah does not lay it all out step by step chronologically as perhaps Monhonri Moriancumr, who has seen it all and was assigned to write the whole of it, one may gain much insight and understanding by reading and rereading by the spirit many things from the words of Zechariah. And though he is counted as but one of the minor prophets, his short 14 chapters contains much in a nut shell so to speak.

[This Section Is Given As if Zechariah Is Narrating His Story]

   I am Zechariah of the priestly family of Iddo the priest and prophet, being the son of Berechiah who was the son of Iddo. I was born in Babylon while the Jews were in captivity there. I was called by the Lord to be his prophet and receive and record such visions and prophecies as the Lord by visitation and by the holy spirit would reveal to me.1 I labored as a prophet in Jerusalem for 40 years, from 740–701 b.c. I prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of four kings, and I was the chief adviser to King Hezekiah, which gave me great religious influence.3

I not only prophesied of events relevant to my own time and people but also prophesied about future events affecting the whole human family. I foretold of the Savior’s birth: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”4 I proclaimed that Jehovah was anointed “to preach good tidings unto the meek; … to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”5 I also prophesied that after His Second Coming, “the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.”6

I was the merely counted as one of the minor prophets of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Not that I boast, but may I state that no prophet of God is of minor considerations. My visions and writings in my considered 'minor book' are of great worth unto the children of men. And they do touch as it were upon many items also spoken of by other of God's prophets, for we have all seen of the same grand vision. And we each have been guided through various part of it. And when such are peiced together they may begin to reveal much than any other them standing but alone. So I would advise that you search the scriptures. You study the words of all the prophets of God, for God did not raise up unto him any insignificant prophets. And each are of great value, especially where taken, read, studied and put together as a vision of all things together.

My 'Little' Book

Here again behold, may I say unto you, ye ought to search the scriptures of the Lord. As for these visions and writings, they are from the grand vision of all things. The first are 8 visionary instances of times and events that may be seen dualisticly for the understanding and profit of man. A review through once does not convey all that there is, read them through a number of times at various times by the spirit, and they will unfold much to one's understanding.

The remainder of my writings are also founded upon that which had been taken from that grand vision, for having seen the vision it is permiated upon the mind and many things come rushing out upon one even at later dates. In particular are those which are to be found as prophesies concerning the coming and life of the Messiah. They are of particular value.

Understanding Zechariah:

Zechariah gave an account of his 8 visionary experiences[Zech. 1-6]. In chapter 1 Zechariah introduces himself and discribes his first two visions as guided by an angel.
  Vision I: The horses are messengers of the Lord who walk to and fro through the earth until the earth is at rest. They correlate with chapter 6 and and John the Revelator's horses with the exception that the black horse is not named here. The messengers may be such as Noah [Gabriel], Moses and Elijah among others and include the Lord himself. The message of peace here delivered was that after 70 years the Jews would return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. A further fulfillment also conveyed was the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem in the end of times.
  Vision II: The '4 horns' or 'powers' are those who scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. As a vision snipets of 'all', Zechariah sees events of 'powers or horns' that come to fray and cast out the 'horns' of the Gentiles, which had lifted up over the lands of Judah and Isreal to scatter them. These are events of history Zechariah saw.
  Vision III: 'Jerusalem' is those who follow Christ as Israel. It would no longer be measured by size or contined by walls as Jehovah will define and protect it.
  Vision IV: Jews view this as a period piece of Joshua the contemporay priest. It is more, it is totally messianic and extends from the the time of the grand council in heaven and through the War in Heaven until thei account of the 'premortal council of determination' of Jehovah/Jesus and Lucifer/Satan, which views to the Millennium and plus.
  Vision V: A vision of Judah and Isreal(Ephraim) who support the events of time of the house of Israel or Jerusalem, the Lord's people.
  Vision VI: The vision of the 'roll' is of the Bible record of those of the Eastern Hemisphere. And the 'other woman' is that concerning those of the Western Hemisphere established on their own base.
  Vision VII: With the use of a number of symbolic symbols this vision is a foreboding vision of the clearing away of the sins of man before the coming day of the Lord's Coming. It is well to be read with Isaiah's burden of Babylon.
  Vision VIII: Here is a further vision of 4 particular servants as the horsemen of God previously seen by Zechariah and also linked with those seen by John in Revelation. The black horse not seen previous by Zechariah seems to represent death and mouring.

  [Fact/Information Box: zechariah]

  • Names: zechariah, ID: Often referenced as 'the prophet' in a manner that it is just presumed that it would be known who is being spoken of.
  • Birth date: lived in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah
  • Age at time of death: not specifically known
  • Genealogy: son of Amoz
  • Mortal roles: saw and prohesied from having received the 'Vision of All Things' such as was required of him to write.
  • Postmortal role: zechariah was one of the great ones as seen by President Joseph F. Smith in the vision he relates as section 130 of the Doctrine and Covenant (D&C 138:42). So he lives on in his role as a prophet of God in the righteous 'dead' assembled in paradise and Christ's ministry among them.

[A Prophet’s Prophet]

In scripture, zechariah is the most frequently quoted of all the ancient prophets.

  • Thirty-two percent of the book of zechariah is quoted in the Book of Mormon; another three percent is paraphrased.8
  • The Savior quotes zechariah in the New Testament at least 7 times and the Apostles quote zechariah at least 40 times.9
  • The Doctrine and Covenants makes at least 100 references to the writings of zechariah;10 sections 113 and 133 offer interpretations and clarifications of some of zechariah’s prophecies.
  • Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith on September 21, 1823, and quoted zechariah chapter 11, “saying that it was about to be fulfilled.”11
A Vision of All 
Revelation comes in many ways: personal visitation, manifestations, visions, dreams and so forth; even down to the whisperings of the spirit in a still small voice. The 'Vision of All' is actually available to all, or at least that portion for which we have prepared ourselves to recieve and obtain by the power of the spirit according to our need and perhaps according to our 'pay grade'. There is an avenue available to that vision for all people. That which has been given unto all men is the scriptures, the Word of God, which we are commanded to read and study. And we learn from their pages, and with the added help of the Spirit of Truth that attends such devoted study and learning. It is that same Spirit of Truth that attends all revelation from God. Eeach of us can build line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little—there a little, until we come to a 'visionary perspective' of the whole of the Plan of Salvation', that is God's Plan of Happiness, sprouting, growing and building within ourselves unto an everlasting tree of life of understanding the things of God from beginning to end as a 'Vision of All'.
Reference Notes:
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1. .

2. Bible Dictionary, “zechariah.”

3. See Guide to the Scriptures, “zechariah,” scriptures.lds.org.

4. zechariah 7:14.

5. zechariah 61:1; see also Luke 4:16–21.

6. zechariah 24:23.

7. See Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings-Malachi, 3rd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 131-35.

8. See Old Testament Student Manual, 131.

9. See Boyd K. Packer, “The Things of My Soul,” Ensign, May 1986, 61.

10. See Old Testament Student Manual, 131.

11. Joseph Smith—History 1:40.

" And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of zechariah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. ~ 2 Nephi 11:2                                                       'Come Unto Jesus'

~ All Art the Same Unto God ~