The Flying Roll

Zechariah's prophecy of a flying roll is about a "curse" that goes over the whole earth. It describes a scroll that has been unrolled, like a banner.

Zechariah wrote: "Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof." [Zechariah 5:1-4]

The word "roll" refers to a "book rolled together". In ancient times there were no books of the form we have today. Writing was done on scrolls. This roll was a book or scroll, containing some writing. As scrolls go, the size of the one that Zechariah saw was enormous. It "cuts off" those who steal on one side, and those who swear falsely by the name of God on the other. These are two of the 10 commandments, the 3rd and the 8th. It enters into the house of those who transgress these two commandments, and consumes it. Even the timber and stones are consumed.

The dimensions of this flying scroll are 20 cubits by 10 cubits. A cubit is 18 inches, so its dimensions in feet are 30 x 15 feet, or 450 square feet. If we compare this to the size of a modern book, the number of sheets of paper is about 693 letter sized pages, (8.5" x 11"), or a book of 1386 pages since there is printing on both sides. This is comparable to the size of a typical Bible. So perhaps Zechariah's vision of the flying scroll represents the word of God contained in the Bible, and its distribution over the entire earth, and the application of the curse of God's law to all.

Zechariah's prophecy about the flying scroll pictures the word of God, and its effect in the world. It is displayed over the entire earth. Because it flies, the sea and mountains are no barrier to it. This represents the distribution of Bibles around the earth. God brings it forth. The Bible has been translated into every language. The Bible is even broadcast electronically, so there is nowhere that the scriptures are not available to man.

Why is it called a curse? In the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, death came upon man because of sin. Also, the curse of the law of Moses is set forth in the scriptures. This curse was poured out upon Israel during the captivity in Babylon [Daniel 9:11], and there has been no lapse since then. Because of the captivity, the word of God became known to the Gentiles. Both Jews and Gentiles are included in the curse of the law, which says: "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them" (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Matthew 4:4] The word of God applies to everyone, not just Jews!

Jesus said the wise man "builds his house on the rock". He said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." [Matthew 7:21-27]

Jesus compared our lives to building a "house"; everyone builds a house of some sort. If we build upon the words of Jesus, we are building on a rock solid foundation. If we ignore what Jesus said, we build upon sand, and our house will eventually collapse. [Matthew 7:21-27]

Zechariah's prophecy shows that everyone comes under the judgment of the law contained in the Bible, but according to the New Testament, those who believe the gospel are exempt. On them the curse has no more effect. Paul wrote: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." [Galatians 3:13]

Paul also said every believer builds a spiritual house, and he said, "take heed how you build". The materials can either be precious and of great and lasting value, or of very poor quality. Whatever materials we select, they will be tried, to determine what sort they are.

Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 3:9-15
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Paul said that each believer is a temple of God, and he warned against defiling that temple! "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." [1 Corinthians 3:16-17]

The woman in an ephah

Zechariah 5:5-11
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.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
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.
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.
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.

What is an ephah? It is a container having a known volume, probably one used for grain.

Ruth 2:17
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

Ezekiel 45:10
Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.

A talent is a unit of weight.

2 Chronicles 9:13
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

Ephah = Volume measurement
Talent = Weight measurement

Together, these seem to indicate commerce. Is it not wickedness that people have made merchandise of the gospel? Perhaps Zechariah's prophecy about the woman in an ephah means that the church is involved in buying and selling, trading the gospel, seeking a profit. That is the wickedness, surely.

The two women who come out carry the ephah to Shinar, the land of Babylon, where things of this world, such as buying and selling, trade, merchandise, etc., belong.

The ephah, and the talent of lead, may be symbolic of commerce, and trade. The woman inside probably represents the church. But the church should not be involved with worldly commerce and business.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

The apostles provided the gospel to people of their generation free of charge. Money making schemes belong in Shinar, not the temple of God. The two women who emerge from the ephah have wings like a stalk, big and powerful. Powerful wings of eagles picture the gift of prophecy, in other scriptures. The wings of a stalk are similar. The wind in their wings probably represents the spirit of God.