The Book of Zechariah

The Last Times

The Book of Zechariah is one of the most bewildering in the Bible. All the prophetic books contain visions, as well as symbolic signs and actions, but, when they bring up essential points, these men of God turn directly to the hearers to enjoin conversion on them, strengthen them, and give them a great hope. Here, however, we find ourselves faced with striking visions that are composed of descriptions of scenes in heaven, and we are always left with some uncertainty about their interpretation. For this reason, instead of trying to understand every detail, it is preferable to get an overall impression of the picture being painted.

The Book is not certainly the work of a single author. The first part (chs. 1–8) can be readily dated: it has to do with the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of the holy city toward the end of the sixth century B.C., that is, about twenty years after the return from Exile. These first chapters, therefore, are indeed the work of Zechariah. In the remainder of the Book, on the other hand, daily life and its concerns have been forgotten, as have specific events of a given period; instead, rich, and perhaps even grandiose, but rather enigmatic images are projected to depict the last times of the world.

These visions and proclamations can only belong to the fourth and third centuries. They assert a truth: the Lord will someday take direct control of the entire world and, after having mounted the final attacks on evil, will consecrate all human beings to his worship.

However, despite the different dates of the various parts, the Book of Zechariah does have a certain unity. After the Exile, Israel no longer enjoyed political autonomy and saw no immediate possibility that the throne of David would be restored. It was a small nation in the midst of great empires that disposed of Israel rather as they wished. Until this point, God’s plan had seemed bound up with the success of Israel; what would become of that plan from now on? What is said in the Book of Zechariah conveys an essential truth: despite all that has happened, God’s plan has not been frustrated; the true God is mightier than all human empires, however powerful; humanity is not destined to disappear amid the conflicts between nations.

We ought not be surprised that the several authors say all this in a quite obscure way and that they imagine the restoration of humanity in the form of military revenge taken by Israel. Such was the mentality of the time, the inheritance with which these writers were working.

But there is a profound intuition at work: the disasters that devastate the human race and of which the authors give no details, do not yet represent the end. The end is God present in the midst of humanity.

The Book of Zechariah may be divided as follows:

I: Rebuilding a People for God (1:1-6)

II: Renewal of the Holy City (1:7—2:17)

III: The Leaders of the Holy City (3:1—4:14)

IV: The People of the Holy City (5:1—6:8)

V: The Present, a Promise for the Future (6:9—8:23)

VI: The New People of God (9:1—11:3)

VII: The New Shepherd of Israel (11:4—13:9)

VIII: The Final Combat and the New Jerusalem (14:1-21)