I SAW IN THE NIGHT…For many weeks we’ve been receiving encouragement and direction from the ancient biblical prophet Zechariah, well-known for his “nightvisions”. 2700 years ago, he began recounting what he “saw in the night” to God’s people. These visions continue to cross the chasm of 2700 years with a timeless message for us Christians in 2024. The Almighty is restoring His spiritual temple and kingdom on this earth THROUGH His faithful people and FOR His faithful people.

Zechariah’s visions begin in chapter 1, verse 8 with the words “I saw in the night”. This is one of many Bible translations, (3,030 versions in over 2,011 languages available digitally on bible. com) and is most often viewed as the physical timing for Zechariah’s vision. When translated literally from Hebrew, the phrase reads “I saw the night” which adds a spiritual dimension and depth we often overlook. He’s not just recounting a night vision or dream. He’s seeing what’s going on in the spiritual darkness of the world that surrounds him.

Zechariah came on the scene at a time when God’s physical and spiritual throne was no longer in Jerusalem. In a matter of centuries, the physical Temple was decimated, and Israel was reduced to the exiled remnant of Judah, living in Babylon. “Exile” is the biblical word used when people live away from their home. It was in the midst of this exile “darkness” that Zechariah saw a man riding a red horse standing in a group of myrtle trees. There can be little doubt that the man was the Pre-Incarnate Son of God, appearing again as He had to so many others in the Old Testament, like Joshua, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

Through Zechariah’s spiritual nightvision, we can clearly see Jesus interceding on our behalf, in the midst of the spiritual darkness around us. Even though He appears to be silent, He is valiantly fighting in the background, unseen by human eyes, aided by warrior angels, focused on our restoration to His kingdom, and the coming judgment on those who would try to keep that from happening.

Back then, folks learned the hard way that the only way they were going to be restored to God was through the presence and power of a spiritual warrior whom they could trust with their very lives. They understood that focusing on achieving physical peace and security above all else was, in fact, idol worship. They finally bowed to God as the one true judge, and trusted that, not only would He right every single wrong, but He would also give them the kind of peace and security they could never accomplish on their own. A MAN RIDING A RED HORSE https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=428467952836777&set=a.243759214640986

The problem with the people was NOT that they didn’t worship God. The problem was the essence and mindset of the government over them brought a darkness that enveloped their very souls, diminishing their ability to see and recognize God’s provision. They became convinced they needed exilic Babylonian walls to survive. They even reckoned that they prospered behind them.

Their lack of trust that God could and would accomplish their deliverance was exemplified in Zechariah's 3rd vision of the man running toward Jerusalem with a measuring rod to make sure God 's provision was good enough. “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’ “

The truth is, wherever God is, there can be NO measurable walls, because His glory is immeasurable and boundless, and can NEVER be contained!! Or look at it another way. Without God's presence, there is no TRUE protection, because He identifies HIMSELF as the "wall of fire..." God’s glory-wall surrounds all who are there, illuminating the city, obliterating ALL darkness.

Hebrews 11:8-16 tells us what God's chosen people should have been doing instead of measuring walls. "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed, and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God… They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” A CITY WITHOUT WALLS https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=431889125827993&set=a.243759214640986

This vision in the night ends with the commanding prophetic words in Zechariah 2:7-9 “'Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!' For this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.'"

Babylon is referenced 280 times from Genesis to Revelation. The first use of the name was a city founded by Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah, the 3rd generation of descendants from the survivors of the flood. That means the first Babylonians were all from the same family and had first-hand accounts of God's strength and might. No doubt they worshipped and identified with God on an intimacy level we can only imagine.

But over and over again, these same folks reasoned to do things they thought would honor God, but ended up disobeying Him in the process. Most likely the Tower of Babel in Babylon was to be a special place of worshipping God to keep people together, rather than filling the earth like God commanded in Genesis 9:1. It's a God-thing that after Jerusalem fell, His chosen people were exiled back to the very place their ancestors didn’t want to leave- Babylon.

Centuries later, even though God called His people out of the spiritual and physical darkness of Babylonian exile, they had become so comfortable there they didn't want to leave, even if it meant returning to Jerusalem itself.

We desperately need this timely warning that the infamous biblical Babylon and her expansive walls still exists today. We Christians are literally surrounded by her idols, mindset, and government, and have been influenced by her self-serving ways to the point that we have become intoxicated with her and our senses dulled. We are unable to see clearly in her spiritual darkness.

In Revelation 18, Babylon is identified as an adulteress, making those connected with her whoring ways rich in things of the world. As we take in this sickening scenario, remember that an adulteress always has a bridegroom. Can't she be a Bride to her Bridegroom and still participate in the satisfying agenda of the world? “‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins'...Woe! Woe! O great city. O Babylon, city of power! In one hour, your doom has come.” COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=436468388703400&set=a.243759214640986

At this point in our lesson, it’s important that we recognize the significant impact these visions have on ALL God’s people. Zechariah’s first night vision pierced through the spiritual darkness of the world around Him, revealing One standing on Holy ground, unseen by human eyes, valiantly fighting in the background aided by warrior angels, focused on the restoration of His kingdom, and the coming judgment on those who would try to keep that from happening.

Zechariah’s vision of God’s glory as a “wall of fire” around New Jerusalem, His glory immeasurable and boundless, should rock us at our core! God’s glory: a wall of protection, illuminating the city, and obliterating ALL darkness.

But, we MUST come out of Babylon, leaving her darkness behind, to be a part of New Jerusalem. It will not happen any other way.

Catch a true nightvision of yourself that has eluded many of us in the spiritual darkness of Babylon: "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Revelation 21:2

“I SAW IN THE NIGHT”