Introduction to the Book of Zechariah The prophecies of Zechariah began just two
months after the prophet Haggai's first message in 520 BC.
Zechariah was one of the 50,000 Jewish people who returned to the region of
Jerusalem after having been taken captive to Babylon.
Zechariah's name means, The Lord Remembers, and God did remember to bring
His people back into their land as He had promised.
Zechariah warns them that obedience is the key to God's blessing.
He encourages His people as they rebuilt the destroyed temple and tells them that
its destruction was only part of a much greater plan of God for His people.
God's plan included the coming of their king.
In fact, Zechariah predicts more about the coming of Messiah than any other prophet
except Isaiah.
As you listen, notice which prophecies describe the Messiah's first coming,
and which will be fulfilled at His second coming, when Christ returns to earth to
reign.
Remember, too, that these prophecies concerning the first coming of the Messiah
were written by Zechariah more than 500 years before their fulfillment.