Prophesies of Zechariah

Like Haggai, Zechariah encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the temple. But he also challenged the people to rebuild their personal spiritual lives. Zechariah’s visions are both Messianic and apocalyptic. Zechariah’s prophecies about Jesus Christ in chapters 9–14 are quoted often in the four Gospels of the New Testament.

          In Zechariah 7:9-10 the Lord called his people to be kind to all people. They were to judge righteously, show mercy, and aid those who are widows, fatherless, poor, and strange. He calls the people to be better! The people chose to reject the Lord. Zechariah said they, "stopped their ears, that they should not hear." Their hearts were "adamant stone" keeping out the spirit of the Lord. Because of their denial of God, his wrath came upon them. 

                                               

          In Zechariah 9:9 he testifies of the Lord's humility saying that he will come to the people upon the back of an ass. In Matthew 21 this prophecy is fulfilled. The Lord had his disciples search for a donkey and her colt in the city before he entered so that he could ride in on them. The disciples then proclaimed, "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass" (Matt. 21:5).  

          Zechariah prophesied of the coming of Jesus Christ, his first and his last. In 10:6–12 Zechariah tells us who will be gathered and remembered by the Lord. Israel was scattered and must be brought back together before the second coming of the Lord. This is a sign to the people that Christ will soon arrive. He specifically says that the house of Judah and the house of Joseph will he saved and brought to a place where they can expand.

          As the world prepares for the Second Coming the Lord will be gathering his elect. The Lord has prepared a way that his saints can draw strength from one another as the world faces many trials and tribulations. What I found interesting as I studying the gathering of Israel is that in Doctrine and Covenants it says that yes, the elect will be gathered so they can be relatively safe, but they are to be prepared before they gather. While they elect are gathered they will be able to prepare spiritually together for the time when the Lord comes. This gathering is important because it fulfills previous prophesies and it shows that the Lord’s time to reign is near. 

Understanding the Majesty of God

In Habakkuk chapter 1, the Lord shows the destruction and captivity of his people by the Chaldeans, a "bitter and hasty nation." Habakkuk was dismayed and aghast at the news. He was saddened by the iniquity that he beheld. He sees the people destruction and worries that the wicked will rule the earth with no righteous among them to guide those that wish to return to the Lord. 

      When it comes to understanding and obtaining the knowledge of the glory of the Lord we have to remember that when we study the scriptures we continuously learn more of Christ and our Heavenly Father. The scriptures are a testament of him, it says it on the cover. We cannot read the scripture and not see the Lord. 
      In Habakkuk 2:3-15 Habakkuk warns us what we shouldn't do but at the end of this set of scriptures he says in verse 14, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." All we have to do to see the Lord's glory is to look outside, look to the person sitting next to you. You have been created through the power and glory of God! In order to not insult that Lord and his great creations we need to abstain from unrighteous living. We must spread the gospel because the Lord has commanded it. The knowledge that we receive through the scriptures has been given us so we can share it with those who do not have the light of this gospel. 
      Jacob 4:8 is a great reminder to us all that the Lord is many things. We will not know everything about him. The verse reads, "Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God." We can always learn more of Christ! It is one of the Articles of Faith, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will YET reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" [emphasis added]. The Lord knows that his people need constant guidance and so he offers it through his living prophets and through personal revelation. We may not know everything about the Lord but we can continuously learn about him and his gospel through reading our scriptures, listening to the prophets, and praying daily to commune with the Lord. When we are more familiar with him and his teachings we put ourselves in a place to learn more, to be given more. In Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-34 it says, "...In that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things - Things which have passes, and hidden things which no man knew... Things most precious, thing that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven." We will never stop receiving information! Thirst for the knowledge and glory of the Lord! It will bring about incredible things! I know the Lord lives and that he reveals truths to us everyday if we are living reighteously and seeking out those truths. We truly can learn more of Christ through the scriptures and his prophets. If we look, we will find.