MembersZechariah and Apocalypse Now

In order to convey his visions to the people, Zechariah required a guiding angel. We are dealing here with a prophet of the apocalypse.

In his first prophecy, Zechariah deals with the debate over when the redemption of the nation will finally take place. Up until that point, only the promises of destruction made by earlier prophets had been fulfilled. We read: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Return to Me … that I may return to you. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” But they did not listen or give heed to Me.’” Together, Zechariah and Haggai persuaded the nation’s leaders to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah insisted that the building of the Temple was part and parcel of turning back to God. And when the Temple was finished, he called out: “Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do...