then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. vv.8-9
Read chapter 5
A flying scroll and a woman in a basket. These two images in this chapter are hard to fully understand. Both images are ones we read of in the book of Revelation as well. There is the scroll with seven seals of wrath that is poured out on the wicked in the earth in chapters five through eight. In verses 1-4 here it says this scroll is a curse that goes over the whole earth. We also read of a woman in Revelation chapter 17 sitting on a beast with a name on her forehead saying "Mystery, Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth." Here in Zechariah this woman in the basket is called wickedness and brought to Shinar, which is Babylon (v.11), and will be open at the proper time. These connections lead us believe these images in the two different books are the same events that will happen in this future time of the Day of the Lord.
So why is Zechariah getting to see this vision and tell the Jews this after just having returned from exile under Babylon? I believe it's part because of all the wickedness that had corrupted them for the 70 years they were under Babylon's influence and God is showing through this vision His authority over evil having the power to remove it from them as He will in that future time when Babylon will seem to reign and control again, so they are to be aware and remember these things.
What wickedness have you experienced that is no more in your life but you are aware of signs or influences that could cause its return? (I.e drugs and alcohol influence, flirting with someone other than your spouse, over indulgence of something)
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