The main theme of the book of Zachariah is about God's temple. It is a type of God's church in today's context. Zachariah chapter 3 records what transpired between God, His angel and Joshua the high priest. Joshua was in filthy garment, typifying corruption that had infiltrated the church. God told the high priest (equivalent to modern days minister of the Word of God) to remove the filth. If this condition if fulfilled, rewards and greatness will come - 3:7. Zechariah could not understand the prophecy he wrote (What are these? - 4:4; 4:5; 4:11; 4:12; 4:13), much like Daniel, because all these are for the end times before the Second Coming of Christ!
God shows Zechariah a 'flying scroll' (5:1 & 2), with exact measurement of 20 cubits long (30 feet) by 10 cubits wide (15 feet). If we let the Bible interprets the Bible, we see similar measurement in 1 Kings 6:22-27 inside the holy of holies - the heart of the temple where God dwells. The two cherubim, with outstretched wings measured the same dimension, guarding the mercy seat - where God's throne is!
What is the significance of this? Inside the ark, under the mercy seat were three items - the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod and manna. The ten commandments represents God's law, the rod of Aaron typifies authority and hence, the Government of God and the manna signifies God's Word and His revelation. God is reminding His church to focus on His law, the coming kingdom of God and the prophecies inscribed in His Word! God is also telling us that the flying scroll came from the inner court, His throne room and not from any man! The specific dimensions is a testimony of that truth.
Chapter 5 verses 3 and 4 go on to pronounce curses on those who claim to be God's ministers but who misuse God's tithes (Every thief shall be expelled) shall be expelled from the inner court of His temple. And every minister who swearth falsely using the name of God flippantly shall also meet with the same fate (Every perjurer shall be expelled). This is God's plan to first start with His own ministers, leaders and members in His church so that they can be qualified to teach and rule when Christ returned to set up His kingdom (Government) on earth. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (1Peter 4:17). God found the ministers wanting because they had led many to 'stumble at the law' (Malachi 2:8) and commandments.
In Zechariah 5:5-8, God is measuring His church ('woman' is a symbol of church) and found wickedness (verse 8). Those who failed to measure up to qualify to be in the inner court will be left in the outer court to be trampled under foot to undergo persecutions and sufferings in the Great Tribulation for three-and-half years (Revelation 11:1-2; 12:17). There are two churches (two women) - one Philadelphian and the other Laodicean. The former is in the inner court and the latter in the outer court. This prophectic vision is reiterated by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:40-42 thus,'The two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.' Just before the onset of the Great Tribulation, God will send the Philadelphians to a place of safety (counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass -Luke 21:36c), while the Laodiceans will have to undergo the Great Tribulation. Though many will repent during the Great Tribulation, they will lose their physical lives in order to gain eternal life (buy gold refined in the fire -Rev 3:18). Similar teachings by the Lord Jesus are found in Luke 17:35-36.
The Philadelphian church continues to focus on doing God's work - that of prophecy (Revelation 10:11- 'prophesy again' ) and proclaiming the coming kingdom of God in these end times. The Laodicean church main focus is on the present physical and material well-being and they are 'rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' (Revelation 3:17). Hence, the Lord will spew them out of His mouth with no covering of protection when the Great Tribulation comes (probably a nuclear World War III)!
Basically, the prophecy of Zechariah's flying scroll is about measuring the two different churches - one in the inner court and the other in the outer court. The 'flying scroll' has now taken wings and gone international, having been taught by Herbert Armstrong for decades to warn the church and the renegades. The question for the reader to do some soul searching is this: Are you in the inner court where God is now measuring and judging you to qualify you as sons of God to inherit His coming kingdom; or are you in the outer court awaiting the Great Tribulation, if you are still living then when He comes? The choice is one entirely yours to decide - but the right one will make a difference to your eternity destiny!
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