Babylonian Captivity Of The Church

Commentary On Zechariah 5:5-11

In this short prophecy of Zechariah he speaks forth something that applies directly to Israel, but is in type fulfilled by the captivity of the church in a Babylonian system.

5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.

The word ephah is the typical Hebrew measurement for grain and therefore it speaks of a basket. So it is a basket that is going forth. This is what the basket is like through all the earth.

7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.

Next we read that there is a woman that sits in the basket. In the Bible the woman always represents either Israel or the Church. In the direct context we can see this is speaking of Israel or more specifically Judah.

8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

The angel tells Zechariah that the woman is called wickedness. That is her deeds are evil. The weight was then put on top of the basket.

9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

After this two women came that had the wings of a stork and they lifted up the basket from the ground and began to carry this basket where the evil woman sat. What do these two women represent that are carrying away the woman Israel? After we read verse 11 we will learn exactly who they are.

10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

The land of Shinar is where Babylon is. So the woman Israel is carried away to Babylon by two women. Who were the two nations that carried away Israel in captivity? Rome and Babylon did so. Thus this vision is saying that Babylon and Rome will carry Israel away into captivity. And while they are away they will build a house and upon these house they will sit.

In type this represents the spiritual captivity of the church. The church was carried away captive by Babylon and Rome. They were fought against by the government of the Roman Empire and mystery Babylon the whore which we know is the Roman Catholic Church. The church was carried away by the governmental and spiritual powers and they built a house and were set upon their foundation. The church was taken captive spiritually speaking by Babylon and Rome and her house and foundation became the revelation of the church of Rome, the false doctrines of Catholicism were its foundation. No longer was the church built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, but then it became built upon the foundation of the Pope’s and Council’s.

Thank God that he sent reformers and prophets to bring his church back to the original faith and out of Babylonian captivity.