Zec 3:1-10  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD

[Study Aired June 15, 2023]

Zec 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 
Zec 3:2  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 
Zec 3:3  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4  And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 
Zec 3:5  And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. 
Zec 3:6  And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 
Zec 3:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. 
Zec 3:8  Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 
Zec 3:9  For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 
Zec 3:10  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. 

God’s elect are called kings and priests in  Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, and we have one high priest Jesus Christ who is “the LORD of hosts” spoken of in three verses in this study (Zec 3:7, Zec 3:9-10). 

Zec 3:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. 

Zec 3:9  For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zec 3:10  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

In the first verse we read of “Joshua the high priest” who represents God’s elect who are called unto this high calling to be as our Lord and high priest (1Pe 2:9, 1Jn 4:17, Php 3:13-14, Heb 3:1-2).

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [to be like our LORD, as a king and a priest (Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10)]

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 3:2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 

[Moses’ faithfulness in all his house represents how Christ in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) can and will be the author and finisher of our faith (Php 1:6, Heb 11:1-2, Heb 11:6), building the house (Psa 127:1) and creating within us a mind that has respect unto the recompence of the reward (Heb 11:26, Heb 10:35)]

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

This third chapter of Zechariah reassures God’s people how  “the LORD of hosts” will prepare the bride of Christ who is primarily represented in this chapter as “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD“.

Zec 2:11  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts (Zec 3:10) hath sent me unto thee.
Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 
Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 

Zec 3:1  And he shewed me [speaking of the angel speaking on behalf of the Lord of hosts (Zec 2:1-4, Zec 4:1)] Joshua the high priest [who typifies the elect] standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 

The last three verses of the second chapter of Zechariah are a prophesy of that time when the world will come to know those who are blessed to come in the name of the LORD (Psa 118:26), bringing the message from the LORD to, “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” His holy habitation is the body of Christ the church who will bring God’s true gospel message into the world “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Eph 3:10).

Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Prior to these events being made possible, the bride needs to be made ready (Rev 19:7, Php 2:12-14) which is what this third chapter of Zechariah is all about, and concludes in the last verse (Zec 3:10) with a prophetic message that is also spoken of in the last three verses of chapter two (Zec 2:11-13).

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 

Zec 3:10  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Zec 2:11  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 
Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 
Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Christ’s body is not wrestling against flesh and blood but rather against “Satan standing at his right hand to resist him” and it is because of Christ who works within the angel of the LORD as our hope of glory within (Col 1:27) that we can overcome the wicked one and endure unto the end (Eph 6:12-13, 1Jn 2:13-14).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Zec 3:2   And the LORD said unto Satan [via the messenger “the angel of the Lord”], The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 

It is the LORD who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure in this age, and in order to overcome the devil he must be rebuked of the LORD (Jud 1:9), which was demonstrated for us by Christ when He prayed for Peter that his faith fail not, knowing Satan wanted to sift him like wheat (Luk 22:31). This measure of faith given to us by God through Christ is the gift that Romans 3:27 makes it possible for us to endure the trials and temptations which we are assured we must go through in this life (Luk 22:31-32, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12).

Jud 1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

As mentioned, it is the LORD who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure in this age and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom inwardly in the earnest of this relationship and outwardly at the last trump (Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21, Rev 11:15). In order for that to happen the devil must be rebuked so we can be scarcely saved through Christ, “The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem (Mat 22:14) rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (1Pe 4:18, Jud 1:23). God’s elect are that brand that is “plucked out of the fire” as the few who are “chosen” in this age represented by Joshua the high priest.

1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Zec 3:3)

Zec 3:3  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 

God has given Satan the power to make the elect his target, seeking whom he may devour (1Pe 5:8), and yet because of our relationship with Christ we are able to resist him and grow through those divers temptations that come our way (Jas 4:7, Jas 1:2-4). 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Christ sets us free from sin as he pulls us out of the fire and He works this deliverance through the body of Christ (Joh 8:36, Jud 1:23-25, 1Pe_4:18).

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

Zec 3:3  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 

Zec 3:4  And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

The filthy garments on Joshua represent our iniquities, which is our natural self righteous state, the way that seems right unto a man (Eze 3:20-21, Eze 18:20, Eze 18:24, Eze 33:13, Pro 14:12). God causes these sins to pass from us through Christ whose life in us is represented by the statement “I will clothe thee with change of raiment“. The righteousness of the saints is Christ’s righteousness that we pray we will be found in when He returns (Rev 19:8, Php 3:9).

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted (Eph 2:8) that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: “I will clothe thee with change of raiment” (Rom 3:27) 

“Those who stood before him” represent the body of Christ who is used to wash or “take away the filthy garments from him” which is what we do for each other as many members or joints of the same body of Christ that supply that washing or feeding of the word that cleanses and nourishes us (Eph 4:16). We are saviours toward each other right now, able to forgive and wash each other with the life of Christ within us (Col 3:13).

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (1Co 3:6). 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Zec 3:5   And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

Having done all we stand ready (Eph 6:13), and are committed to feeding and clothing the flock being helpers of each other’s joy (1Co 9:16, 2Co 1:24). Putting the mitre upon his head symbolizes the crown of righteousness that we don’t let any carnal man take from us, but that we assist each other in holding fast to in this life, as we are clothed by each other with the righteousness of Christ that empowers us to go where our flesh does not want to go (Rev 3:11, Joh 21:18). 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. 

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

Joh 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 

Zec 3:6  And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 

Zec 3:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by  

It is the angel of the Lord who represents the body of Christ the church (Col 1:24) who ‘charges us’ or ‘testifies to us’ or “protestedH5749 unto Joshua” what “the LORD of hosts” has to say, and if we are granted to read, and hear and keep what is told us “If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge” (Rev 1:3) then “thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by”. This blessing of judging God’s house and keeping his courts is speaking of the inheritance of the saints which is typified by these verses (Zec 2:12-13).

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again [1Jn 4:17].

Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 

Zec 3:8  Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 

This is still the angel of the Lord speaking on behalf of “the LORD of hosts” to Joshua, and “thy fellows that sit before thee… men wonderedH4159 at” represent the body of Christ who are a special people “men of symbol (LITV)” or “men to serve as signs (Rotherham)” (2Co 12:12) who are reflecting the life of Christ that we are connected to as a branch to a vine (Joh 15:5). 

H4159  môphêth

1. wonder, sign, miracle, portent 
2. wonder (as a special display of God’s power) 
3. sign, token (of future event) 

Total KJV Occurrences: 36

“The BRANCH” represents Christ’s life in the body of Christ that only God can bring forth fruit in, seeing He is the one that gives the growth and increase to this branch (1Co_3:6 , Rom_11:16-21)]. 

Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 

Rom 11:17  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 

Rom 11:18  Boast not (Rom_3:27) against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 

Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith (Rom_3:27). Be not highminded, but fear: 

Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 

[God spared not the natural branches, and those who are granted to have the life of Christ in them today are spoken of as “The BRANCH” that is not bearing the burden of Christ in love if we don’t fully acknowledge the work that God is doing in the body of Christ as His workmanship (Eph_2:10) that we are (1Co_4:6-17)]

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast (Rom_3:27). 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1Co_11:18-19)

Zec 3:9  For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 

The stone “I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes” represents ‘Peter’ or the church that is built upon the rock Jesus Christ (Mat_16:17-19) and it is still the angel of the Lord who is telling us what “the LORD of hosts” is going to do, which is described for us in detail in (Rev_3:12) revealing to us that God already knows who it is that is going to move with fear in this age and “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” of the previous verse (Rev_3:11)].

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art PeterG4074 – piece of rock , and upon this rockG4073 –  a mass of rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God [“I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day” the day of the Lord], and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

Zec 3:10  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. 

The world during the thousand year reign of the saints will be called to learn of Christ’s righteousness (Isa_26:9) “under the vine and under the fig tree” meaning under the rule of the saints represented by “the fig tree”, the church, the Israel of God that is under the head of the church Jesus Christ represented by “the vine”. (1Ki_4:25 , Joe_2:22)

1Ki 4:25  And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 

Joe 2:22  Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 

May “the LORD of hosts” continue to give us eyes to see and ears to hear  (Mat_13:16) his voice through the body of Christ, that is our humble prayer: “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD”.