Vision of the Measuring Line

“The Visions for Israel / SBBC”
(The vision of the Measuring Line)
Zechariah 2:1-5 (KJV)

Introduction

  • Just a small review of what has already been studied…

I. The Vision of Horses

  • These were visions of Zechariah with God’s promise of protection for Israel and a time for peace so long as they had forsaken their sins and not repeat the sins of their fathers.

II. The Vision of Horns

  • Horns represent power and pride. This vision represented other countries coming to attack Israel from the four corners of the earth (North, South, East, and West).
  • Today we take on Zechariah’s third vision in one night from God about something different in “A Measuring Line.”

III.  The Vision of the Measuring Line

  A) A man that carries the tape measure

  • Zechariah 2:1…I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
  • This also is a vision of God’s promise to comfort His people (Israel).
  • It also speaks of the return of Jerusalem after their return from Babylon.
  • This vision is also an insight of the messianic kingdom in the future beyond Zechariah’s years.
  • When you see someone with a “measuring line/tape measure,” it is carried by someone who intends to…
  1. Start construction, and prepares for the costs or materials needed. Anyone in the building process needs to figure the costs of the project, prepare for unexpected costs, prepare for changes, and expect problems.
  2. Recheck measurements during construction to ensure the plans (blueprints) are being followed.
  • No one in their right mind will build something or construct something without first measuring or figuring up the project to be constructed.
  • Without a tape measure it is impossible to construct anything that is worthwhile. Construction without a “measuring line (tape measure)” is doomed from the beginning.
  • Do you know how many people start a project thinking they know how to do everything necessary to complete it because they have read about it, went to school for it or even watched a video of it? Millions.
  • Books, videos and schools are great. They do not and cannot teach you everything. Common sense in the area of construction applies, and what is “standard” is not always the standard.
  • A man with a tape measure must know how to read it.
  • A man with a tape measure plans on measuring, inspecting, or figuring.
  • A man with a tape measure must be experienced.
  • A man with a tape measure must be aware of the project to be built.
  • A man with a tape measure must know arithmetic.
  • The man with a tape measure (measuring line) here in Zechariah 2:1 is the “Angel of the Lord.”
  • He is the same one that walked between the churches inspecting them in Revelation 1-3.
  • We should also know that it is the same “man” that is mentioned in Revelation 11:1… And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein
  • Revelation 21:15… And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. Who was it that was talking to John? The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one with the “golden reed” or “…a man with a measuring line in his hand.”

  B) A question asked, and answered

  • Now look at 2:2…Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
  • The question: “…Whither goest thou?” In other words, “Where are you going?”
  • The answer: “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.”
  • The person (or angel in this case) who is carrying the measuring line has the right to measure it because he is the one doing the work, or the one told to do the measuring because he is trusted with taking measurements.
  • God has asked this “Angel of the Lord” to take measurements of Jerusalem (how wide and how long) because He can be trusted with giving an honest, true and accurate measurement.

  C) A meeting takes place

  • Now look at Zechariah 2:3…And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
  • Here we see that the “Angel of the Lord” went out to meet another angel.
  • The other angel is to be the same “instruction angel” mentioned in Zechariah 1:9… Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
  • Meetings are necessary for “instruction.” God has taught us this and it is a standard practice of any organization to have meetings such as business meetings, employee meetings, staff meetings, financial meetings, and etc.

  D) The information dispensed in the meeting

  • Look at the contents of the meeting in Zechariah 2:4… And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
  • The Angel of the Lord is speaking to this other angel (Thought by many to be Nehemiah) and he said… “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:”
  • Zechariah is a prophet of the Old Testament speaking of things that will “come to pass (happen)” in the “New Church Age.”
  • The meaning of the later part of verse 4 is that Jerusalem will become so large that no wall could contain them. It’s expectancy of growth is evidenced here.
  • This is a New Jerusalem that will be built “on earth” because as we know there will be no animals in heaven.
  • Many animal lovers and activists (who lack biblical wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit) want to hurriedly jump on board with the animals mentioned in the Bible being in heaven and fail to realize the truth of the matter is that they are simply metaphors.
  • In verse 4 we see that there will be “…the multitude of men and cattle therein.” This Jerusalem will exist in the time of the “Anti-Christ” in the Great Tribulation. (See Ezekiel 38:1,2)

 E) A hedge of protection

  • Now look at the last verse of our study in Zechariah 2:5… For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
  • Here we witness the reason for no walls around this Jerusalem in the Tribulation… God will be the wall in the form of a fire just as He was in Exodus 13:21.
  • God has and always will protect His people and the bride of Christ. The “wall of fire” mentioned in verse 5 is like the “hedge of protection” that God had placed around Job that Satan brings up in his conference with God in Job 1:9…Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
  • The reason for Satan’s question to God “10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” is for the simple fact that Satan had tried to get to Job and could not.
  • When a child of God is set aside for a specific purpose, and the child of God is as perfect as he can be in this flesh…God builds a wall of protection about them as He did with Job.
  • In Zechariah 2, this same “wall of fire” is a hedge around Jerusalem (God’s chosen/Israel).
  • In closing of Zechariah and “The measuring line,” we need to notice that with this wall of fire mentioned in verse 5 is also God’s promise “…and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
  • The “glory in the midst (middle) of her (Jerusalem)”…is a promise of the Messiah’s blessing and personal presence in His earthly Kingdom (See Isaiah 4:2-6, and Isaiah 40:5, Isaiah 60:17, 18, and Ezekiel 42:1-7)

  F) The application of this message today for our church (SBBC)

  • The application of this message for SBBC today is this…
  1. A man that carries the measuring line – The Lord Jesus Christ is measuring our church (how wide and long). God is promises to protect His people but He is sending Christ to inspect the churches to see if they are someone that He wishes to have for a bride.
  • What does Christ Jesus see in SBBC that would make Him want to marry her?
  • Would you want a bride that lies, doesn’t want to talk to you?
  • Would you take a woman to marry that doesn’t show love?
  • Would you marry someone that cares not for the things that you care about?
  1. A question asked and answered – The question in our study of Zechariah’s vision was “Where are you going?” This question was asked to the “Angel of the Lord.”
  • We at SBBC can ask the same question of our Lord… “Where are you going in regards to our church?”
  • Is Christ involved with everything we do and say in our worship to God?
  1. A meeting takes place – In the vision of Zechariah there was a meeting between the Angel of the Lord and another angel to discuss the measurement of Jerusalem.
  • There needs to be a meeting with our Lord and the hearts of our members here at SBBC as to how we measure up as a church that God can use mightily in the greater Wichita area for the deaf.
  • Do the deaf look at our church and laugh, or criticize, or mock us? Or do the deaf tremble in fear of what God would do to them as they pick on one of the brides of Christ?
  1. The information in the meeting – A meeting is supposed to be filled with useful information for those involved with the building project. God has plans for the members of SBBC. God has given us the information in our meeting called “the Bible.” Have you read it?
  2. A hedge of protection – When a church has a lot of issues that remain unresolved, it means that God’s hedge of protection is gone. Satan is allowed to tempt, to ruin, to discourage, to create havoc, and etc.

How do you measure up with God’s measuring line?