1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”
The third vision demonstrates the importance of the city of Jerusalem in God’s restoration of Israel as a nation. This vision points to a future Jerusalem protected by the presence of Jehovah. This third vision foreshadows Jerusalem, the capital of the earth when Jesus will reign as Messiah.
The destruction of the city by the Babylonians had to do with God removing His presence, not with the city’s military defenses.
2:1
Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
This vision has to do with a surveyor of the city of Jerusalem.
2:2
So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
A man began to survey the city of Jerusalem for the building of a wall around it. This act was not in God’s will.
2:3
And there was the angel who talked with me, going out;
This is Zechariah’s interpreting angel (Zech 1:9).
and another angel was coming out to meet him,
Another angel gave a message to Zechariah’s interpreting angel to relay to the prophet.
2:4
who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man,
The second angel dispatched the first angel to quickly tell the young man taking measurements for the city walls that it was not necessary.
saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
The future Jerusalem will be a city without walls. The city will be of such substantial size that it will be able to hold the population explosion of both men and beasts.
The remnant returned to Jerusalem amid its destruction. In 445 BC, the walls needed to be built under Nehemiah, but the point in this verse is that no walls will be built in the Millennial kingdom because Jehovah will be its walls.
2:5
For I [emphatic],’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her [Jerusalem],
Jehovah Himself will be the wall around Jerusalem, a wall of fire. Jerusalem will need no protecting wall because Jehovah will personally protect it by a “wall of fire,” which reminds us of the pillar of fire at the Exodus (Ex 14:24).
and I will be the glory in her [Israel] midst.’ ”
Instead of God’s glory residing in the tabernacle or Temple, it will dwell in Jerusalem. This is the Millennial glory of Christ residing in Jerusalem (Isa 60:19; Ezek 43:2-5). In Ezekiel, the glory of God gradually departed from the Temple, Jerusalem, and the nation, as seen in Ezekiel 9:3; 10:18; 11:22-23. God’s glory departed seven years before Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean soldiers entered Jerusalem. The departure of God’s glory meant that He no longer protected the city. However, one day the Messiah will manifest Himself visibly and rule on the Davidic throne.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians always have the assurance of the abiding personal presence of God with them.
APPLICATION:
God’s glory came again in the person of our LORD (Lu 2:9, 14; Jn 1:14). Jesus Christ was God’s glory incarnate, yet Israel rejected Him (Jn 1:11). With His death, God’s glory again departed. However, He will come again in great glory to establish His kingdom.
Today Christians experience God’s presence in a smaller way (He 13:5). He will never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave us (five Greek particles in that verse). We are God’s Temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. When we walk with the glory, we will reflect the glory of God (2 Co 3:18; 4:6-7).
