RUSSELL SANDERS
3-1-2021
ZECHARIAH THE PROPHET – LESSON 9
SHINAR
Zechariah’s seventh of his eight night visions (Zechariah 5:5-11) showed an epha (a measurement for corn or any grain) that would show the resemblance of the people of all the earth.
There was a woman sitting in the middle of the ephah of grain. A talent (weight measurement) of lead was cast into the ephah with the woman.
There then came two women with wind under their wings to bear them up. Their wings were like those of a stork. They lifted up the ephah between the earth and heaven. They carried it to Shinar to build for it a house and establish it upon its base.
Here is what Holy Spirit has shown me about this vision:
The ephah is a container for “corn” or any grain. In Isaiah 21:10 God speaks of His people Israel as His corn from the threshing floor. The ephah then represents that which held His people, not just Israel, but (v. 6) “through all the earth.” The woman in the ephah basket represents His chosen people Israel.
But Israel had pursued other gods, therefore a talent of lead was cast into the basket with her and all people. Lead is a “dead” element. It is heavy. It does not react with other elements. This lead represents the heavy burden of sin cast upon all people and nations across the world.
Verse 9 shows two women with wings of storks swooping down, taking the ephah with the woman, the lead, and the grain and lifting it up to carry it to Shinar where its new base will be in a new house built for it.
Shinar is Babylon. The ephah of grain is the people and nations of the world, including Israel. The two stork-winged women represent both the Jews and the gentiles. A stork represents that which brings us the “new baby.” The two stork-winged women are bringing a new established order to earth bearing a great burden (the lead) of sin which will be (or already is) established in Babylon, a land which represents the world powers which became the “house” or established base of the world system bound in sin.
Prophetically, this is the “Mystery Babylon” of Revelation 17:5 which is now merging us into “The New World Order,” the “Harlot” which sets the stage for the emergence of the Antichrist.
People (and scholars) have long debated the location of Mystery Babylon, perhaps Rome, or New York City, or wherever. It is none of that. The New World Order seeks to establish a single world government, economy, religion, and social order. Antichrist will at some point take full control of it. Revelation 17:6 will be fulfilled in the “blood of the saints.”
This house established in Shinar is Mystery Babylon, the emerging New World Order. Zechariah saw the vision prophetically of it, but without a full understanding. John shows us the understanding.
We must prepare our hearts unto God. We must remain free from sin. We must have our desire in the LORD (Psalm 38:4). This is how we prepare for the coming end-time events.
Do not despair. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart…” (Proverbs 3:5) and continually dwell “in the secret place of the Most High…” Psalm 91:1).
Isaiah 12:2 says, “For the LORD JEHOVAH is…become my salvation (Yeshuah).” (Yeshuah = salvation, safety.)
