Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/26

 with Haggai's, that they both consist of only four addresses of unequal length.

The four divisions in Zechariah are these:

I. The introductory address, which is a call to repent ance (chap. i. 1-6).

II. A series of eight visions, followed by a striking symbolical transaction, all shown to the prophet in one night, mainly of a consolatory character, and though, having an historical foreground, lead up to the " last days," and to the finale of God's dealings with Israel and the nations (chap. i. 6 to end of chap. vi.).

III. An address in the fourth year of Darius two years after his first message, in answer to a question on the observance of the national fasts put by a deputation from Bethel (chaps, vii. and viii.).

IV. A prophecy delivered at a later period, which, starting from the standpoint of a more immediate future, brings us up to the very climax of things when " the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee "; and when, as a result, " Jehovah shall be King over all the earth, and there shall be but one Lord, and His name One."

THE PROPHET’S INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS

The prophet's first words were startling enough to rivet their attention:

" With great displeasure was Jehovah displeased against your fathers"

That this was a fact, those to whom the prophet spoke could not deny. They had seen the proofs of it with their own eyes in the desolations of the land, and in the seventy years captivity of the people.

But although Jehovah was angry against them on account of their long-continued apostasies and provocations,